Peoria, Ill., was a place where marketers and politicians honed their messages. The pandemic and protests have made clear the sharply different realities of its Black and white residents. Associate Professor Terrion Williams is quoted in this New York Times article.

The Minneapolis City Council is moving forward with a proposed amendment to the city’s charter that would disband the current police department and replace it with a Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention. Voters will ultimately decide the fate of the council’s proposal in November if it passes some bureaucratic hurdles in meantime. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Sociology Michelle Phelps discusses systemic racism in our nation’s police departments and what a new vision for law enforcement might look like.

Once Jessica Oaxaca (BA ‘17) took her first political science class, “there was no going back.” Support from the department and her own outstanding work secured her a position as deputy press secretary to Minnesota governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan—and more recently as communications director for the Minnesota state senate.

For a developing country an IT revolution holds the promise of economic prosperity, but at what cost? Michael Goldman has been examining Bangalore, India over the past decade and whether its revolution has been the boon that people hoped it would be.

Even though her last semester at the U moved to distance learning, Hamy Huynh didn’t let it stop her from learning and growing. “I’m choosing to look on the bright side and have been using this pandemic as a reason to better myself mentally, physically, emotionally, and career-wise.”

Being from NYC, Cassidy Drummond hasn’t seen her family since January due to COVID-19. But with the help of her friends and professors, she built a support system that helped her through the semester.

Junior Jaden Lubarski had a hectic spring semester— he changed his major, and then classes went virtual. But amid the stressful circumstances, he kept his head up and didn’t let the pressure get to him. “I encourage everyone to focus on what you can control because I have learned that you really can do anything you set your mind to.”

While finishing up the semester away from campus and her friends wasn’t ideal, spring 2020 graduate Mariah Flores found some new skills within herself. Here she discusses her ability to be adaptable and resilient.

Even as the semester went virtual, senior Elizabeth Sirianni remained positive. With the help of professors, peers, and her liberal arts education, she has hope for a bright future. “I know that this won't last forever, and we as a people will need to be there to pick up the pieces when it's over.”