Minnesota
Five notes on the debate about antisemitism at the University of Minnesota • Minnesota Reformer
Nothing is simple. Everything is complicated.
The state Senate’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee — led by chair Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park — convened on June 25 in order to spotlight “anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incidents at the University of Minnesota.”
These were the words on the Senate’s published meeting schedule. They neatly convey the entanglement of Middle East politics with debates over the question of antisemitism, here in Minnesota as elsewhere. That leads to the first of several points worth making.
1. You can’t keep the Middle East out of a conversation about antisemitism.
Latz cautioned witnesses to stick to events at the U of M and not to get into Middle East affairs. But he repeatedly broke his own ground rules by grilling witnesses about their views on Hamas, its Oct. 7 attack, the future of Israel, and his (questionable) representations of some U departments’ statements condemning Israel’s war on Gaza. He described these, as well as various protest rhetoric, as calls for the “extermination of Jews in the state of Israel.”
Even putting aside such tendentious claims, if much of the evidence for antisemitism concerns stances toward Israel, Palestine, and various political ideologies — as everyone seems to acknowledge — then there is no narrow, local scope to maintain.
Apparently, however, you can keep Muslim student voices and all Palestinian Americans out of this conversation. That’s not too hard. Such students, who were insistently smeared as genocidal antisemites, were not there to defend themselves.
2. Every word in this debate is disputed.
You say “intifada,” and pro-Israel spokespersons say “terrorism.” Latz advanced personal interpretations of Arabic-language terms — intifada, which refers to an uprising, and thawabit, a concept including the right to resist occupation. The chair and various friendly witnesses described each of these as code for the mass murder of Jews, “terrorist antisemitic language” in Latz’s words. It’s safe to say that many others disagree.
That’s how it is with Israel and Palestine. For many, ambiguity is an enemy and almost every word is ground for information warfare. These problems were visible in a tense exchange between Latz and Beth Gendler, the leader of Jewish Community Action, as she contended that the definitions of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism are disputed. He, apparently frustrated, responded by seeking to tarnish her as an apologist for anti-Jewish rape and murder.
3. Middle East politics makes for strange bedfellows.
Steve Hunegs, the longtime leader of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, was the final witness of the day. Before the hearing, he could be seen jubilantly embracing Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove. The JCRC long has made defending Israel its mission, and they will work with anyone who shares that mission.
The emerging division in the Jewish community over Israel and Palestine can’t be stifled, and it intersects with other cleavages to form two contending coalitions. On one side are the JCRC, Republicans, and some establishment Democrats. On the other are a diversity of identity-based social-justice groups, including JCA, and progressive Democrats. The reemergence of anti-Zionism among American Jews is driving this division wider.
Still, much of the conversation is familiar. In 1972, American and Israeli Jews met in Jerusalem and debated… wait for it… whether anti-Zionism equaled Jew-hatred. Many thought that it did. One prominent Israeli dissident, Simcha Flapan, cautioned in response, “There are many reactionaries who are pro-Zionist.”
4. Consistency is a constant struggle.
Oren Gross, a law professor at the U, and other witnesses remarked that, in liberal thinking, African Americans and other historically oppressed groups are authorized to define their own oppression, and that their experience of discrimination is deemed sufficient evidence of harm to them. So why not give the same consideration to Jews?
It’s a valid point. However, this whole discussion shows us how simplistic those precepts are. Groups who have suffered discrimination will disagree among themselves. Historically oppressed groups can be at odds with one another. The solution is not to extend problematic concepts, but rather to rethink them carefully.
5. Academic freedom is an orphan.
The U’s interim president, Jeff Ettinger, as well as Gross and another law professor, Richard Painter, testified, yet none of them forcefully defended free speech. In fact, the two lawyers ran over the idea with a truck, threw the truck into reverse, and then backed up. Gross, also an associate dean for academic affairs, was demagogic. He called Jewish antiwar protesters “Jews supporting Hamas” — which is absurd, and exactly the kind of terrorist-baiting rhetoric that fuels attacks on academic freedom.
Ettinger recently blocked the hire of a new faculty director of his school’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, after the JCRC raised a hue and cry because the search resulted in an offer extended to Raz Segal, an Israeli American historian. Segal had written an article calling Israel’s war a genocide. Ettinger occupied a middle ground at the hearing, as he defended his decision, unpopular with committee members, to negotiate a de-escalation of campus protests this spring. Ettinger had thrown the political establishment a bone by refusing to hire Segal, and he talked as if the JCRC might have veto power in a do-over search.
It seemed no coincidence when immediately after controversy erupted over Ettinger’s interference with academic freedom — which now has led to a faculty vote of no-confidence in him — Latz announced the antisemitism hearing,
A JCRC-approved search might still recruit a respected scholar. But then, the center’s director will be dogged by the perception they were hired because they met the JCRC’s political test. A comparative genocide studies center is relevant to multiple communities. Yet many continue to believe that any discussion of genocide ought to remain the turf of Jews — and specifically the right kind of Jews, the ones who continue to see in the memory of the Shoah a useful prop to support Israel.
It’s not a pretty picture.
The No. 11 USC Trojans lost to Minnesota 24-17 on Saturday, Oct. 5. It’s hard to win games on the road in conference play.
The Golden Gophers scored in the final minute on a fourth down quarterback sneak with Max Brosmer. The officials initially ruled Brosmer short of the end zone, giving the Trojans the ball in a tie game. However, the play was reviewed and changed to a touchdown.
After the game, a reporter asked Trojans defensive end Jamil Muhammad if he thought Minnesota reached the goal line on the Gopher’s last touchdown.
“Don’t ask him that. Next question,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley before Muhammad could respond. “Who cares what he says on that? Like what, a player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question.”
The Trojans once again found themselves in a dogfight on the road in the first half. The total yardage, first downs gained, and turnover battle were virtually deadlocked at the half. The score was10-10 thanks to a career-long 54-yard field goal from kicker Michael Lantz just before intermission.
The Trojans came into the game with a plus-32 second-half scoring margin and experience in close-ball games. They leaned heavily on that muscle memory to grind out a few hard-fought drives to take control of the game with a great scoring drive and two early defensive stops that had Minnesota on the ropes.
An early fourth-quarter near sack strip flew into the air and turned into a Miller Moss interception. That was a massive turning point because the Trojans had a 17-10 lead and were driving in Golden Gopher territory with a chance to essentially put the ball game away. It may sound like a broken record at this point, but it’s the truth, the same issues that have been on tape for the Trojans cost them a ball game.
The Golden Gophers reeled off 14 consecutive points, concluding with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that left the Trojans less than a minute to go in the game. At 24-17, USC’s only option was a touchdown. While quarterback Miller Moss got the Trojans in striking distance, it wasn’t quite enough as Moss was intercepted while taking a shot to the end zone.
Minnesota beat the USC Trojans for the first time since 1955.
The biggest issue with the offense, and honestly the team, is the trouble the Trojans have protecting quarterback Miller Moss. He came into the game as the most-hit and pressured quarterback in the Big Ten and the most-hit quarterback in the country. The Trojans didn’t fair much better today in that aspect.
The quick passing game and Moss’ decisiveness provided relief on some passing attempts, but when USC had to truly go five-step dropback it wasn’t pretty.
Moss notably added muscle mass and weight going into this season and he’s needed it. The Trojans must find a way to keep Moss upright. Their season ultimately depends on it.
As for the biggest red flag on the defense? Their inability to hold the line in the biggest moments of the game. The defense, much like the Michigan game, was superb up until the last stand. Minnesota ran for 193 yards, most of which came on the final two possessions. The Big Ten trenches discourse has surrounded the Trojans, but they’ve mostly held up.
The time of possession was virtually even so being worn down isn’t an excuse. The Trojans held the Gophers to 2/8 on 3rd downs, but the Gophers converted twice on 4th down, one being the go-ahead touchdown. Sometimes, the scheme isn’t the issue. The Trojans don’t have an issue there defensively. In this case, USC needs their playmakers to step up in the biggest moments. They’ve done it before, they must do it more.
Lincoln Riley-led teams have been in this situation multiple times. A lead, an offense that’s humming, and a decision to make: run the ball and control the clock or pass. On the drive that ultimately flipped momentum with the interception, the Trojans dropped back on third and four from the Minnesota 35.
Sounds fairly normal to throw there, right? Not so fast. The Trojans averaged 6.2 yards per carry and held a seven-point lead. At that point, the worst-case scenario if they failed to convert was a short fourth down attempt or a field goal attempt to potentially go up 10 points with 10 minutes remaining.
You could say that’s hypercritical, but the very next possession, tied at 17-17, there wasn’t a single rushing attempt. Minnesota got the ball back after a three-and-out and the rest is history. When will Riley trust his run game to close out these close contests?
USC has shown how resilient they are, maybe too much for everyone’s liking this early into the year. They’ll have to prove it every week from here on out to reach their goals. There’s no more wiggle room. There’s no more grace period. The Trojans have to win out.
Across the college football landscape, many ranked teams were tested against unranked foes. Georgia passed the Auburn test, and Ohio State passed the Iowa test. Alabama fell to Vanderbilt in one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Michigan faltered on the road to Washington. Tennessee was upset by Arkansas.
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The 11th-ranked USC Trojans seek their second straight Big Ten victory on Saturday with an evening matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) with TV coverage on BTN and streaming on-demand.
- How to watch: Live streams of the USC vs. Minnesota game are available with offers from FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).
- For a limited time, FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month after the free trial period. With $30 offer, plans start at $49.99.
#11 USC Trojans (3-1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3)
NCAA football matchup at a glance
When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
TV channel: BTN
Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial)
USC remains in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot and could still jump back into the mix for a Big Ten title, but a sound effort will be required for Saturday’s trip to Minneapolis. The Trojans toppled Wisconsin (38-21) last time out to rebound from their first loss to Michigan (27-24), driven by four total touchdowns (one rush) from quarterback Miller Miss.
A challenging stretch continues for the Golden Gophers who look to avoid an 0-3 start in Big Ten play after falling to Iowa (31-14) and No. 12 Michigan (27-24) in their two most recent games. Minnesota is an 8-point underdog against USC in a line that shifted from 9.5 points and an over/under of 51.5 to 8 points and 46.5 through early action banking on a lower-scoring affair.
USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Know your live streaming options
- FuboTV (free trial) – excellent viewer experience with huge library of live sports content; free trial lengths vary; monthly rate after free trial starts at $49.99 for duration of $30 first month discount.
- SlingTV (low intro rate) – discounted first month is best if you’ve run out of free trials or you’re in the market for 1+ month of TV
- DirecTV Stream (free trial) – not the same level of viewer experience as FuboTV, but the standard 7-day free trial is still the longest in streaming.
The Trojans and Golden Gophers are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on BTN. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate).
NEWBURG, MINN. — Driving down a winding road dotted with farms, churches and roadside produce stands, it can be easy to miss the only business in town here, an old red shop tucked behind rows of flowers and hanging ferns.
But make no mistake, behind those century-and-a-half-old walls is one of the top food destinations in Minnesota’s Driftless Area.
For the past seven years, Irene Fishburn has been delighting locals and road-trippers alike with made-from-scratch delicacies at Newburg Vintage Home and Garden and Small Batch Bakery.
Fishburn opened the business after she and her husband, Glenn, moved to southeastern Minnesota to be closer to family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After leaving the grind of their corporate careers in California, the couple settled on a former general store where Irene, a former merchandise buyer for more than 35 stores, could sell garden gifts and baked goods, and Glenn could fish in a nearby trout stream.
Their retirement was set — at least that was the plan.
“When we first bought it, we imagined sitting on the front porch and having coffee with neighbors who stopped by,” Irene said. “We had no idea that it would become a destination-type business.”
Open only on select Saturdays — and then for only three hours — the Newburg bakery regularly draws scores of people willing to stand in line for up to an hour during the busiest summer months to get a taste of authentic French baking. Others come from just down the road.
Mike and Cheryl Erickson, both retired military members, spend their summers in nearby Mabel, Minn., where Mike grew up. He remembers getting ice cream as a kid outside of the same building and said he initially came to the bakery with low expectations.
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