thethe universityuniversity registerregister page 03 op-ed Next Semester Needs More COVID Precautions Joey Daniwicz Staff Writer efore I start, I just want to say that the new must be minimized. I remain aghast that Sodexo has barrier-free test location at the Armory is fan- dragged its feet on making its order-ahead app avail- Btastic, and anyone even somewhat respon- able, and as a consequence I believe that Sodexo must sible for getting that established as a permanent thing transfer all unused meals this semester to next semes- deserves some credit. Everyone should get tested there ter. It looks like the app is finally somewhat close to fairly often from here on out. ready, but certainly not enough that UMM or Sodexo That said, I remain fairly concerned about the return has seen the need to advertise it. I would like to see a to campus in January. While UMM administrators de- much, much stronger culture of ordering food ahead of serve to be pretty pleased with how relatively well this time come spring semester, because standing in line for semester turned out, it would take a fairly miraculous food seems like an avoidable risk of spread. turnaround for mid-January COVID conditions to be Lastly, I highly encourage UMM to investigate the even around as kind as those of mid-August, and obvi- possibility of starting the semester with a two week ously the weather will drive us to spend even more time campus-wide quarantine. I do not personally think the in shared indoor spaces. There are three things I would strongly suggested quarantine over the two weeks prior like to see UMM adopt going forward. to move-in day is quite enough. There are a lot of logis- The first is frequent testing of the on-campus popu- tical questions of how this would be handled, namely lation. The University of Wisconsin’s campuses require how meals would be delivered, and I understand that. every on-campus resident to be tested at least once per Still, in the event that January’s COVID numbers are week for COVID, and it is frankly embarrassing that truly dire, this could prove a necessary step that must Minnesota is letting its neighbors to the East outdo us. be planned for. Testing is great for many reasons, but one is that we will I think next semester presents the true challenge of have an effective barometer of how we are progressing the COVID crisis. I really do think it was easier before as a campus. The current COVID dashboard is certainly peer institutions, and I have yet to hear a good reason and will be easier thereafter. I have been impressed better than nothing (and if you scroll down the page why it can happen at UW and not at UMN. I imagine with this campus’ commitment to our new reality. But there might be more data than you thought!), but the the reason is very much financial, and as such the ball especially at the system level, I have found the measures numbers lack context and positive case numbers mean is in the court of the larger system, and not our local taken fairly lax and disappointing. I hope by January I little unless they are plotted against total test numbers. administration. Still, I would hope that the desire for can be a little more hopeful that our University is the There are obviously legal barriers to acquiring test this at UMM is very much expressed to those system model to the community I know it can be. numbers currently, and the obvious workaround is to leaders. conduct our own mandatory testing. This happens at Second, I believe that time spent in Dining Services

Lesley Gore: Underrated Lesbian Feminist Icon?

Marie Anderson Contributor esley Gore is a lesbian feminist icon whose music you have probably heard Lesley Gore has said of, but you may not know it. This is a fact that I, as a fan, have learned to in interviews that she Lexpect anytime I consider mentioning her to people. Despite the fact that had already realized she she had several number one hits, songs that are still played today, and her producer was a lesbian and was was Quincy Jones, the same man behind several of Michael Jackson’s solo hits, it secretly dating girls at is understandable that there are so many people who do not recognize her name or the time that she was re- importance to pop culture. She is a singer who was most popular during the 1960s. leasing pop songs about It is also difficult to explain the importance of a singer whose most well known songs being in love with boys. have been labelled as bubblegum music.With all that said, I think that the reason After publicly coming many people do not know about Lesley Gore is that they mistakenly disregard or out, she said that she did credit someone else for music she made popular. not mind that her songs Her first single “It’s My Party” alone has been used and remade many times since were all about boys be- she released it in 1963. It has been covered by Donna Reed and Amy Winehouse, cause she was able to and sampled by Melanie Martinez in her song “Pity Party.” Another one of her songs separate her work life called “Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows” has been included in multiple films and from her personal life. television shows, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Simpsons, and But I do mind. Living The Umbrella Academy. However, arguably the most notable and definitely the one in a world where Hay- that has been considered most in terms of a feminist message is “You Don’t Own ley Kiyoko can success- Me.” fully sing about women The song “You Don’t Own Me” may stand out in your mind as that feminist an- makes me wonder what them that got a lot of airtime in 2015 after a version of it was used to highlight Lesley Gore’s music the character Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad movie. Even when I was annoyed would be like if she was that the original version of “You Don’t Own Me” was being disregarded in favor of young right now. I once Pictured above: Lesley Gore Photo courtesy of capitalizing on the G-Eazy and SayGrace version, I was happy because it meant that told someone that I felt biography.com more people from my generation were now more aware of this feminist song that like Lesley Gore career had been renowned by previous generations. Unfortunately, if you look through could be used as an example of historical homophobia to which they replied that her catalog, there isn’t really a consensus on views about gender norms. Songs like they didn’t think she needed to sing about girls just because she was a lesbian. I was “The Bubble Broke,” “Hey Now,” and “I’m Coolin’, No Foolin’” represent a sense taken aback by this response because I did not mean my comment as an attack on of liberation from the expectation that they should cater to a man and songs like the choices she made as an artist, but rather a criticism of the opportunities made “Sometimes I Wish I Was a Boy” are an observation of the unequal amount of power available to singers in the past. Maybe she still would have wanted to sing about that men had in 1960’s relationships. However, songs like“That’s the Way Boys Are” boys but she didn’t have the choice. and “Maybe I Know” send the message that it is acceptable for men to be mean to So with all the double standards through which you could analyze the career of women because it is part of their nature and women should be okay with that. Lesley Gore, I wonder what message we should actually take away from her life When I listen to Lesley Gore’s music, I usually cringe through the more sexist and her presence in pop culture. Is she a symbol to look back on and reflect on songs or skip them all together. I tend to blame downfalls in the messages of her how much we have progressed as a society? Is she a relatable role model for queer songs on the music industry of the time placing the expectation on her that this women today who are still closeted? Or is she someone whose legacy is mostly out of was what she should sing in order to be successful. Part of this is me being biased. touch with the current day except for all the ways that her songs can be repurposed. I know that she did have some say in the music she put out and Quincy Jones, who As I said before, I am biased. I have been a fan of her since I was six years old and produced quite a few of her hits, is very well respected and celebrated in the music know way too much about her life to turn back now. I don’t expect people to love her industry today. But I know that her music was definitely influenced by the time pe- as much as I do. I would just like to spread the word so more people at least know riod in one specific way. All of her songs were about boys. who she is when they happen to hear “You Don’t Own Me.”

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