Biker Killed on Campus

Today, Kimberly Yeong Sil Hull, a 25-year-old student at the U studying film, was struck and killed by a semi-truck while biking on campus at 8am on her way to school. She was going to be graduating in May. It is not yet known whose fault this is or who had the right of way. But for my thoughts on this, it does not matter. I believe everyone should look at such a horrific tragedy like this and learn and grow from it, both individually and as a community.

As someone who bikes in Minneapolis year-round, I have grown increasingly upset with the other bikers I see around the city. I see people not wearing helmets, not using lights when biking at night, and doing both of those things WHILE they are plowing through red lights (sometimes even during rush hour times of the day). When you are biking around the city, you DO have as much of a right to be on the road as a car. And I will fight for that right, no matter what. But you do NOT have MORE of a right to be on the road than a car. Bikers need to start respecting the hazards that come with biking around hundreds of two to four ton metal coffins barreling down the road at 30-40 miles per hour. We do not live in a world that is safe for bikers. And to make it a safer place, we need to abide by the rules so more people will get the fuck out of their murder weapons and hop on a pedaled steed.

Take your lane when there is construction, snow, gravel, or potholes covering the side of the road or the bike lane. Don't move over and put yourself in harms way just because there is a line of drivers behind you. Bike defensively! But wear a helmet, wear some bright lights, put at least one break on your bike (I don't care what any of you say), and abide by the rules of the road.

I don't want a driver to see some idiot on their break-less fixie running a red light while not wearing a helmet and think to themselves, "no wonder Kimberly got killed, look how people are biking these days". Fuck that. And drivers, watch out for us bikers! We are here and we are en masse. Check your blind spots and mirrors. Look both ways even if the light is green.

Don't let Kimberly’s death be in vain. Learn and grow, Minneapolis.

My thoughts go out to her family and the other injured victims of this and the other recent accidents around campus.

Sources:
Star Tribune Article
Minnesota Daily Article

Undergraduate Research

This poster is the culmination of my past few months of research at the Moeller Lab in St. Paul. I will be presenting it this Wednesday (April 13th) at the Undergraduate Research Symposium from 3-4:30 in Coffman Memorial Union.

After you come to see my poster, vote for my photo which is a finalist in the 2011 UMN Study Abroad Photography contest in Heller Hall 230. Voting is open to the public all week (April 11-15).

Pollen Viability

Counted over 20,000 pollen grains of Clarkia xantiana in the past month and a half or so for my study: "Post-mating reproductive isolation and hybrid pollen sterility between two subspecies of Clarkia xantiana". Here are some photos:

Minnesota Spring