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Mankato act wins big nationally ‘Home Free’ wins competition, fans as local group makes it big. SAM WILMES News Editor An all-male a cappella group from the Mankato area has competed and won on a national scale in an NBC singing competition. Home Free was one of 10 groups that competed in NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” Along with the honor, the band won $100,000 as well as a recording contract with Sony. Groups performed for judges Ben Folds, Jewel and Shawn Stockman of the band Boys II Men. According to the Star Tribune, the band had a unique celebration after winning. “Everything we’ve ever done has been so worth it,” lead
singer Austin Brown said after accepting the trophy. “Can we rub the beard one more time? It works.” Home Free began in 2000, when Gustavus Adolphus graduates Matt Atwood and Chris and Adam Rupp competed in Hosanna Lutheran Church’s talent contest. Change in the band has been constant over the years. Home Free has risen from a small band performing at house parties and charities to performing at Fortune 500 companies, professional sport teams, Norwegian Cruise Lines and celebrities. However, the band has not forgotten where they came from. They performed a holiday con-
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Web Photo The five-member group Home Free has gained national acclaim while staying true to their Mankato roots.
MSU student named to executive board Junior Lauren Bach named to National Collegiate Honors Council board of exxecutives. MIKELL MELIUS Staff Writer
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A Minnesota State University, Mankato student has joined the executive board for a major honors organization. Lauren Bach, a junior at Minnesota State University, Mankato, is joining the National Collegiate Honors Council, a professional association that provides support for institutions and individuals involved with expanding honors education. NCHC has a governing board of 24 members, consisting of professionals, as well as six undergraduate students. the new NCHC board members were published in December. Bach is the first representative from Minnesota State University, Mankato to serve on the NCHC board. She is also the only member from Minnesota on the board for 2014. Bach’s recent election kicks off a one year term where she will be involved in ongoing projects undertaken by NCHC committees. Her duties as a
board member include traveling to three meetings in Omaha, Neb., Chicago, and to the NCHC annual conference, which is held in Denver this year. Bach had many goals when she decided to run for office. “I wanted to be a representative for honors students on a national level,” Bach said. “I hope to be a voice for students on the board and help make changes and decisions that will both benefit and challenge honors students to excel.” The NCHC board directs policy for the organization, so as a board member Bach will definitely have a valuable voice towards issues that affect honors programs across the nation. Bach is majoring in Psychology. Bach is an honors student and presidential scholar at MSU. Last year she was a member of an honors student research team that assessed awareness of the new “Parent Aware Ratings” of early childhood programs on behalf of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. In Decem-
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ber, the team presented their research at the 2013 NCHC annual conference in New Orleans. The NCHC was founded in 1966 and ever since has served honors professionals by following and executing their core values. Their mission statement reads: “The National Collegiate Honors Council values an atmosphere that promotes academic opportunity and challenge for Honors students and faculty. Within this intellectual environment, members of Honors communities demonstrate integrity, respect, and excellence. Through the Honors experience, participants realize enhanced personal, social, and intellectual development. The NCHC recognizes the importance of life-long learning and social responsibility in preparing individuals for an increasingly complex world. These beliefs and values are reinforced among member institutions through the collegiality and shared purpose of the NCHC.”
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
TelePresence connects those stuck in the throes of winter Service helps students who have trouble navigating difficult winter weather conditions. HANNAH KLEINBERG Staff Writer The past week has been a terrific example for why we should never leave our homes: plummeting temperatures, violent gusts of unforgiving wind, sheets of ice and an array of other mild weather-related inconveniences. In Minnesota, the land of a thousand frozen ponds, it’s become expected, if not custom. That is one of the reasons why Counseling and Student Personnel professor and former Floridian Diane Coursol took action with a new program, TelePresence. TelePresence is a gratuitously sized monitor with an HD camera built into it, each of which cost around $9,000. More evolved than the traditional Web-based videoconference technology, TelePrescence helps students more efficiently identify nonverbal cues. It also features a recording option, so either or
both parties may replay and review previously stated material, as well as get a closer insight. Coursol described TelePresence as viewing high-definition television. “Some of my students say, ‘I’ll have to wear makeup because every blotch is going to show,” Coursol said. This electronic pursuit was result of many of her students who commuted, some of which are from Fargo, ND, a sevenhour drive from Mankato. Coursol feared for their safety during these harsh winters. While Coursol hadn’t had a lot of experience with technology previous to this, she’s studied distance counseling and supervision starting in the late 1990s. Three years of TelePresence has also given her a lot of experience with the teaching tool. “I don’t think you can ever take away the human element,” Coursol said. Rather than completely eradicating the personal method of teaching, Coursol
dreams of a hybrid method of instruction, where the first meetings are face to face and the rest are periodic visits through videoconferencing technologies like TelePresence.
“I have lofty ideas about putting these systems in YMCAs and local community centers, so that people can access therapeutic services regardless of where they live,” Coursol explained.
“Here, when people can’t travelR due to snow and ice, TelePres-S ence could allow them to see a counselor and get the services that they need.”
TelePresence has helped connect the campus community to off-campus learners .
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
MSU nursing program expands to the Iron Range
lRYAN BERNDT -Staff Writer a s Members of the Iron Range community will be able to enroll in MNSU’s registered nurse baccalaureate program for the first time this semester. A master’s degree family nurse practitioner program and doctor of nursing practice degree program will also be added this Fall. Minnesota’s Iron Range region also has an engineering program, which opened in January 2010. Iron Range Engineering (IRE) focuses on third and fourth year students seeking a B.S. in Engineering. The model used for the unique program is a roughly a 40 hour-per-week experience in an engineeringtype office/lab setting where students learn engineering and design through actual practice and managing engineering projects for industry clients. The Iron Range nursing program aims at having students achieve
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their bachelor’s degree in three semesters. The nursing program will serve a similar population and hopes to help working nurses with their associate degrees already completed. “They will be the same exact courses (as are taught in Mankato) with an emphasis on family and societal health and, in particular, rural settings,” MNSU’s Dean of the College of Allied Health and Nursing Kristine Retherford told The Free Press. Prior to the program, graduates of the two year program at Hibbing Community College looking to continue their education had to travel as far as St. Scholastica, in Duluth. As with the Iron Range Engineering program, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) will be helping the program financially. The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board will be paying the salaries of the faculty who will be teaching the
courses. The need for registered nurses is expected to increase as the next generation ages into retirement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the field to grow by 26 percent between 2010 and 2020. Rural areas will be especially in need; according to a study conducted last April, only 16 percent of registered nurses live in rural areas, a small percentage compared to urban areas, which the study shows 46.6% of registered nurses having a bachelor’s degree, and 33.9% of registered nurses in urban areas. The Institute of Medicine (IOM), a non-governmental organization, published a report calling for 80% of nurses to hold baccalaureate degree by 2020. With current statistics, that will be a challenging goal for educators. Members of the National Community of Registered Nurses are split in whether that is achievable or not.
HOME FREE “Home Free is the first Minnesota group to win a national singing competition since Linda Eder, a well-known Broadway performer, starred on “Star Search,” in 1987.” continued from 1
cert in LeSueur last month. They have also evolved in their style. At the beginning the group featured a baritone, a bass and two tenors, along with Chris Rupp’s well-known beat-boxing skills. Their acts included doowop classics, contemporary hits and original material. They recruited singer Rob Lundquist from Brooklyn Park and lead singer Austin Brown from Georgia as well as bass singer Tim Foust from Texas. With the addition of two lead singers the band has crossed into country music, a genre in which they showed last May in their audition for “The Sing Off.” On opening night of the competition they performed with Jewel on “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” showing their unique close jazz harmonies, a major component of their victory.
Home Free, as well as other groups from season four, will be performing on tour at a March 21 concert at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis. They competed against the following acts: The Filharmonic of Los Angeles, Calle Sol of Puerto Rico, The Princeton Footnotes of Princeton, N.J, Street Corner Renaissance of Los Angeles, Vocal Rush of Oakland, California, Voiceplay of Orlando, Florida and Acoustikats of Lexington, Ky. Home Free is the first Minnesota group to win a national singing competition since Linda Eder, a well- known Broadway performer, starred on “Star Search,” in 1987. Limited Warranty, another pop band from Minnesota, took the $100,000 “Star Search” prize in 1985.
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Big Farm subsidies win, poor lose in proposed farm bill SAM WILMES News Editor The long-delayed farm bill that is being mulled around in the halls of Congress promises significant cuts — perhaps as much as $10 billion — to the Food Stamp program while continuing the subsidies to big farmers. Farm subsidies, according to Bloomberg News, are expected to top $120 billion, the highest inflation-adjusted mark since 1973, according to the United States’ Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. It’s a galling financial gift to businesses that don’t need it. The huge subsidies for the agriculture sector of this country would be needed if large farmers were struggling, but that is not the case. In 2011, the average farmer who earned more than half their income from the business made $84,649, nearly 70 percent more than the median American household. Farm equity in 2012 topped the two and a half trillion-dollar mark, signaling a 37 percent increase from the beginning of the recession. American household income has grown at less than a percent clip during the same period. In 2011, 26 farmers received more than a $1 million, while more than 10,000 received more
than $100,000, big numbers for a nation that supposedly can’t continue to spend excessive amounts of money. Dozens of groups advocating for taxpayer-funded crop insurance wrote a letter to the Senate last March defending crop insurance and they didn’t stop the lobbying effort at mere words or recommendations. These groups spent more than $50 million lobbying during the 2012 election cycles. Food stamp recipients will see their services cut while big farmers will continue to see taxpayer dollars because the poor do not have the lobbyists that corporate farmers have. While the farm bill is being held up until a compromise can be made between the food stamp cuts sought by both parties, these subsidies to big farming are being protected. While cuts to farm subsidies have been proposed by both President Barack Obama and Congressman Paul Ryan, unfortunately the House of Representatives seems less than willing to go along. While Obama’s 2014 budget proposed cutting $11.7 billion from farm subsidies over the next 10 years, the House-approved measure would expand the insurance program to protect as much as 90 percent of a farm’s income while extending coverage to peanut farms.
Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, claims that taxpayers should not be held accountable for financing a business sector that is successful. “With farm profitability – and deficits – continuing at high levels, it is time to adjust support to this industry to reflect economic realities. I call on the House Agriculture Committee to revisit current farm-support programs, such as the fixed payments that go to farmers irrespective of price levels and the current structure of crop insurance,” Ryan said. While some subsidies are needed to finance one of the most
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important sectors of American life, we also need to re-examine the influence lobbying has. Lawmakers are exasperating the ever-increasing gap between the haves and have-nots and this is direct proof. The right to food safety should not be decided by the highest bidder. The poor among us should not have their services cut. Too many in Congress think that the food stamp program is too generous — a falsehood that is easily dispelled. It’s hoped that the time when Congress delights in kicking the poor when they are down will end.
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Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan.
“How did you spend your time over winter break?”
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Egypt holds key vote in climate of fear
An Egyptian army soldier stands guard at a polling station in Cairo.
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptians are being asked to vote this week on a vision of their nation’s future sponsored by the powerful military, a two-day election widely seen as a referendum on a likely presidential run by the country’s top general — but held in a climate of fear and intimidation. An astounding 160,000 soldiers and 200,000 policemen were expected to deploy across Egypt on Tuesday and Wednesday to guard polling stations and voters following months of violence that authorities have blamed on Islamic militants. Supporters of Mohammed Morsi, the Islamist president ousted in a coup last summer, have said they would stage massive demonstrations and boycott the vote on a new constitution. In many ways, Egypt looks more like a country going to war rather than one preparing for what is supposedly a transition to democratic rule. The government and the overwhelmingly promilitary media have portrayed the balloting as the key to the nation’s security and stability over which there can be no dissent. Hundreds of thousands of fliers, posters, banners and billboards exhort Egyptians to vote “yes.” Posters urging a ‘no’ vote have led to arrests. “There appears to be a conviction among security officers that there should be zero accommodation for anyone who wants a ‘no’ vote,” said Heba Morayef, the Egypt director for Human Rights Watch. Authorities have threatened legal proceedings against the owners of cyber cafes, presses and stationery stores if they allow use of their facilities for the production of ‘no’ fliers or posters, according to security officials. They said police com-
manders have instructed officers to arrest anyone distributing leaflets or hanging banners against the draft charter. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in exchange for discussing security operations. “We are trying to mobilize the ‘yes’ vote. Anyone doing the opposite is a traitor and an American agent,” said Mohammed Hamdy, a politician and local dignitary from the city of Assiut, an Islamist stronghold with a large Christian community south of Cairo. In Washington, U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Monday: “We’re deeply concerned by reports of ongoing arrests for campaigning for a ‘no’ vote on the constitutional referendum. We are also deeply troubled by reports that at least one individual was beaten during his arrest.” The referendum is the sixth nationwide vote since the 2011 ouster of longtime authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak, with the five others possibly the freest ever seen in Egypt. While unlikely to be stained by fraud, this week’s vote is taking place at a time when many of the freedoms won in the uprising that toppled Mubarak have vanished in the months since Morsi was removed after just one year in office. The government has detained thousands of Brotherhood members including Morsi and most of the group’s leaders. Recently, the notorious domestic security agency set up hotlines for citizens to report members of the Brotherhood, which the government has declared a terrorist group. For their part, Morsi’s supporters have been waging near daily protests since the popularly backed July 3 coup that ousted him. The new charter, drafted by a
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liberal-dominated committee appointed by the military-backed government, would ban political parties based on religion, give women equal rights and protect the status of minority Christians. But it also gives the military special status by allowing it to select its own candidate for the job of defense minister for the next eight years and empowering it to bring civilians before military tribunals. The charter is in fact a heavily amended version of a constitution written by Morsi’s Islamist allies and ratified in December 2012 with some 64 percent of the vote but with a nationwide turnout of just over 30 percent. The current government is looking for a bigger “yes” majority and larger turnout to win undisputed legitimacy and perhaps a popular mandate for the military chief, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, to run for president this year. El-Sissi has yet to say outright whether he plans to seek the nation’s highest office, but his candidacy appears increasingly likely every day. Covering preparations for the vote, Egyptian TV news channels have been airing images of top army commanders, including el-Sissi, inspecting thousands of troops lined up in full combat gear. Convoys of military armored personnel carriers and fighting vehicles are shown plying city streets en route to their deployment positions. The resolve of the Egyptian government to do everything it can to bring out the voters and get a comfortable “yes” majority comes in the wake of a series of attacks attributed to Muslim extremists. In the six months since Morsi’s ouster, there has been an
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Iraq violence continues to drown future, past US involvement As Iraq is drawn closer to civil war, an MSU writer ponders the mistakes and miscalculations made by the US.
SAM WILMES News Editor Eleven years after the Iraq war started and two years after United States soldiers pulled out of Iraq, violence and uncertainty plague a country devastated by war. Whether you agreed with the decision to go to war or not, this is a nightmare for the United States, a black mark on our history as a beacon of freedom in the world. While senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham argue that we should still have a presence in Iraq, it begs the question on what their long -term goals for the region would have been. According to McClatchy News Service, some Iraqi civilians are not pleased with the end result of the war. “We are not opposing the government,” 19-year-old protestor Rahim Khalil said. “We are at war with the government.” Even more troubling is one civilian’s response to a question about whether they prefer the current government to Saddam Hussein. “In Saddam’s day, there was a government and law. Now there is no real government, or law.” More than 8,000 people were killed in Iraq last year, according
to the United Nations, mostly innocent civilians. A car bombing on Sunday in Baghdad killed 22 and wounded 80 and that wasn’t the only destruction that enveloped the wartorn country. Last Thursday a suicide bomber killed at least 13 people and wounded 25 more in Central Baghdad at an army recruitment center. Even though the violence is occurring in a far away land that we are no longer involved with, this is an American tragedy. According to Business Insider, $490 billion in war benefits is owed to War veterans and that number is expected to rise to seven trillion dollars by 2053, partially due to the war being financed by foreign money. Based upon the pain, sacrifice and death inflicted upon hundreds and thousands of Iraqis, as well as thousands of US servicemen, this would be an epic disaster if the country fails to stabilize, one of the worst situations in US history. While I was among the majority of Americans who approved of the troop pullout in December 2011, it makes me wonder about what the final legacy of the conflict will be. Right now it doesn’t look good for the U.S. After $2 trillion spent and a refute of the United Nation’s urging to not go to war, this could leave a permanent black mark on our eye to the rest of the world.
We have also burned some bridges with some important allies along the way. When we went to war in Iraq and the French government refused to support it, some of us mocked them.
In 2003, two representatives, Republicans Robert W. Ney and Walter B. Jones, initiated a movement that would eliminate the name French fries and replace it with a more Americansounding freedom fries.
We have a tendency to make fun of the French in this country, call them traitors and quitters, partially due to their opposition of the war. Looking at the facts today, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.
Burning cars give credence to the violence enveloping the new democratic nation of Iraq.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
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Central African Republic leader says chaos ‘over’
BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — The interim leader of Central African Republic vowed Monday that the era of anarchy in the tumultuous country was now over, a bold declaration made only days after the man who had seized power in a coup last year stepped down under international pressure. Alexandre Ferdinand Nguendet heads the national council that will now select a new interim president for the country by the end of next week. The council is due to convene on Tuesday to begin the work of replacing Michel Djotodia, the rebel leader who resigned on Friday. Djotodia came under mounting international criticism after his government failed to stem unprecedented levels of violence between the country’s Christian and Muslim communities. More than 1,000 people were killed in December alone, and the fighting prompted nearly 1 million people to flee their homes. “The pillaging and the chaos are over,” Nguendet told police officers on Monday, while encouraging them to retake their posts. “I’m calling for your help in re-establishing security across all of Central African Republic.” Babacar Gaye, the U.N. special representative to the Central African Republic, told reporters at U.N. headquarters in oNew York by video conference
from Bangui that the country is “at a critical stage.” “Today ... hope is within grasp, but not yet within our hands,” he said. Gaye said that hope lies in the reinforcement of the African force that is waiting for a contingent from Rwanda, in the continued operation of French forces, and on the election of a new president. He said the U.N. is “confident” that a new head of state will be elected within 15 days as required, and possibly earlier. “And my hope is that the nomination of the prime minister and of the government will reinforce this hope,” he said. Gaye, a Senegalese general, said there are fewer killings in Bangui now than in the aftermath of the Dec. 5 attacks when 1,000 people were killed. “But today people in Bangui can die because of their religious belief, because of their clothing style, or just because of their physical appearance,” he said. Last year’s coup plunged the deeply impoverished country into a state of near-anarchy where the top rebel leaders who took over the government exerted little control over their fighters in the streets. Many of the security forces loyal to ousted President Francois Bozize fled, leaving the rebels in charge of Bangui.
A rapid intervention team made up of 400 officers was put in place Monday and will work alongside the French troops and African peacekeepers, he said. However, the forces face an enormous task in securing a city where more than 500,000 people have fled their homes in fear, including 100,000 living in and around the airport guarded by French troops. While Djotodia’s departure was met with jubilation in the streets, retaliatory violence continues. Antoine Mbao-Bogo, president of the local Red Cross, said late Monday his organization had recorded 39 deaths and 27 injuries in Bangui since Friday, noting that most of the victims were civilians. Central African Republic’s woes began as a political crisis, but the conflict turned sectarian as resentment grew toward Djotodia’s mostly Muslim fighters in this predominantly Christian country. As Djotodia’s rule crumbled, Christian militias began hunting down and killing those they accused of collaborating with the Muslim fighters who had killed, raped and robbed civilians. The country’s national transitional council had rubberstamped Djotodia’s leadership last year after he seized power and now faces the task of choosing someone who can guide the country toward elections that
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Associated Press Central Africa’s interim leader Alexandre Nguendet will oversee the group who will make the choice for Central Africa’s new interim President.
are scheduled to be held before the end of the year. Already, though, there are doubts about how that can take
place, given that voter rolls and administrative buildings across the country were looted and destroyed during the rebellion.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
New Jersey democrats intensify Christie scandal inquiry New Jersey traffic complaints turn into a possible “abuse of power” on Governor and 2016 republican Presidential candidate Chris Christie.
Associated Press Christie has fired a top aide who engineered political payback against a town mayor, saying she lied. Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly is the latest casualty in a widening scandal that threatens to upend Christie’s second term and likely run for president in 2016. Documents show she arranged traffic jams to punish the mayor, who didn’t endorse Christie for re-election.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democrats in New Jersey sharpened their aim at Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Monday, forming special legislative committees to explore the role politics played in traffic jams last fall and announcing that the investigation has grown into an abuse of power probe. The intensifying investigation, which threatens to undermine Christie’s second term and his chances at a 2016 presidential run, revealed last week that highranking Christie aides and appointees were involved in ordering lane closings in September as apparent political payback that led to massive gridlock in the town of Fort Lee. A new special Assembly committee, given subpoena power and a special counsel, will be charged with finding out how high the plot went up Christie’s chain of command, said a leading state Democrat, Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald. “It is clearly an abuse of power,” he said. “The question is, who abused their power and how high did it go?” The committee will focus exclusively on the traffic jams in Fort Lee, whose mayor has said he believes the lanes were closed to punish him for not endorsing Christie. The panel will be chaired the head of the Assembly transportation committee who launched the initial investigation
into the lane closings, John Wisniewski. The state Senate announced that it planned to establish its own committee, also with subpoena power. Christie has apologized over the lane closings but denied involvement. He also fired a top aide and cut ties with a political adviser who’d been widely seen as a potential campaign manager if Christie runs for president. Wisniewski said Monday that both of them could receive subpoenas soon, though he could subpoena their emails first. Wisniewski also referred contempt charges against another Christie loyalist, David Wildstein, to a county prosecutor. A former Christie appointee to a powerful New York City-area transit agency, Wildstein was subpoenaed to testify before lawmakers but invoked his right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions or even confirm that he worked for the agency. Wildstein’s lawyer didn’t return messages seeking comment. The scandal widened last week when documents were released showing that, in addition to the apparent political retribution by Christie’s team, the mayor of Fort Lee asked Christie’s top deputy at the transit agency whether the lane closings were a punishment for him and why. The mayor, Democrat Mark
Sokolich, had noted that he didn’t endorse Christie for re-election but told CNN last week that he couldn’t recall “a specific request to endorse” from the governor’s campaign staff, though other events could be seen as an attempt to attract his endorsement. Sokolich shifted away from that assertion Monday, saying in an interview at his law office that he did consider a request from the Christie campaign but ended up supporting the Democratic candidate. He declined to say why he changed his account or answer other questions about his interaction with the campaign. The scandal has changed the tone of state politics. Christie must figure out how to address it when he gives his State of the State address on Tuesday. His administration has not revealed what he might say, but certainly it will now have a bigger audience and announcements about tax cut plans will no longer be the most anticipated part. The same could be true at the governor’s inauguration for a second term next week, set to take place on Ellis Island, historically a gateway to the United States for millions of immigrants. The setting is meant to showcase Christie’s inclusiveness and ability to appeal to a broad swath of voters. He also faces renewed interest in the state’s use of $25 million in federal money for an ad campaign to promote New Jersey
tourism after Superstorm Sandy. U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat, announced Monday that the inspector general at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will audit the campaign. Christie and his family appeared in the ads. His administration chose a politically connected public relations company over another firm that had bid $2 million less. The winning bidder proposed using Christie in the ads, while the other did not. Revelations about the contract caused a bit of a flap in New Jersey last year as Christie was seeking re-election. Colin Reed, a spokesman for Christie, derided the timing of Pallone’s announcement and noted that the ad campaign was part of a plan approved by the federal government.
EGYPT
“Federal agency reviews are routine and standard operating procedure with all federally allocated resources to ensure that funds are distributed fairly,” Reed said in a statement. “We’re confident that any review will show that the ads were a key part in helping New Jersey get back on its feet after being struck by the worst storm in state history.” Reed also noted that HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan praised the use of some money to promote a return to the state’s beaches, a major tourist attraction and economic driver for New Jersey. Ian O’Connor, a spokesman for the inspector general’s office, said the audit is being done at the request of Congress. He would not comment further. Pallone had requested an investigation in August.
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assassination attempt on the interior minister as well as deadly attacks on key security officers, soldiers, policemen and provincial security and military intelligence headquarters. Morsi’s supporters have labeled the draft charter a “constitution of blood.” In response, the government has put them on notice that it would deal harshly with anyone interfering with the referendum. “The resolve of the police will not falter until we realize the will of the sons of Egypt,” Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim said on Monday. “Maximum force and firmness will be used to deal with any attempt to spoil this feast. We will not show leniency toward any action that touches the will of the Egyptian people.”
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Men’s hockey team opens 2014 in Alaska DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer While Minnesota State University, Mankato students enjoyed a month long break from class, the Maverick men’s hockey team was hard at work for a good majority of that month. The Mavs kicked things off the Friday of finals week with an away series at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, the southernmost NCAA Division I hockey team and a first year member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks made the trip to Huntsville riding a five-game winning streak and were able to extend that streak to seven after a two-game series sweep over the Chargers, winning both contests 4-1. Senior captain Johnny McInnis and junior J.P. LaFontaine made their presence felt in Alabama, both recording four points on the weekend. For his efforts, LaFontaine was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. After returning from Huntsville, the Mavericks played an exhibition game at home against the United States World Junior team; a team consisting of the best American players under the age of 21. As far as relevance for
this game, it did not count for any WCHA or NCAA standings and served as preparation for Team USA before making their final cuts. In a tight game, the Mavericks were defeated 3-2 by the U.S., who had 20 players drafted by the National Hockey League on their roster. Interestingly enough, one of those players was Maverick freshman Zach Stepan, who played against his teammates, playing for Team USA. Stepan made the final roster and made the trip to Sweden for the World Junior Tournament, though the team did not place. The Mavs then had a couple of weeks to enjoy winter break before making the long haul to Fairbanks, Ak. just after the new year for a series with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks. This was a special trip for Maverick sophomore goaltender Stephon Williams, who hails from Fairbanks. It was Williams’ first time returning home as a collegiate player, though freshman Cole Huggins started both games between the pipes. Also notable was the return of senior defenseman and assistant captain Josh Nelson, who sat out the previous fifteen games with an injury. The Friday night matchup had MSU hopeful of extending their winning streak, tied with
David Bassey • MSU Reporter The Mavericks completed six WCHA games during winter break and added three more tallies in the win column. Throughout the six games, the squad outscored their opponents 18-15.
the Nanooks after two periods, but three-third period goals by Alaska ended the streak at seven, beating the Mavericks 4-2. In the Saturday night game, the Mavs were able to rebound. After Team USA’s early exit from the World Junior tournament, Stepan returned from Sweden and caught a flight to Alaska,
able to join his team for the sec- other series in Alaska. This time ond game of the series. In his at Anchorage against another return, he got the scoring started WCHA foe, the University of for MSU en route to a 6-4 victory Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. that included a three-point night These two teams faced off for both LaFontaine and junior against one another Thanksgivforward Chase Grant as well as ing weekend in Mankato, where a series split. the Mavericks earned a two To conclude their winter break, the Mavericks played an- MEN’S HOCKEY • Page 14
Up and down winter break for Women’s Hockey LUKE CARLSON Staff Writer
MSU Reporter Archives In 19 starts, senior goalie Danielle Butters possesses a 6-13 record while averaging 2.90 goals allowed per game and saving nearly 92% of shots taken.
As the fall semester at Minnesota State University, Mankato ended and the campus went quiet for winter break, one team at school was still hard at work. The Maverick women’s hockey team was in the middle of its season during the holidays and saw varying degrees of success in the eight games that it played on the ice. The Mavericks went 3-5 during the break with the three wins coming consecutively. During the last day of finals week last month, the Mavericks welcomed their first opponent of the winter break to All Seasons Arena. The home team hosted North Dakota twice for the beginning of a six-game home stand and ended up dropping both con-
tests to the visiting squad. In the first game, which took place on Dec. 13, the Mavericks
Kari Lundberg
into the game with goals from MSU junior forwards Casey Hirsch and Natalie Stoltz. But the Mavericks were unable to complete the comeback as North Dakota added two additional goals in the third period to charge to a 5-2 victory. The next night the Mavericks saw a little more success for the home team, but it was North Dakota that once again came out with the victory. Despite a 1-1 tie heading into the third period and stellar goaltending from MSU senior goaltender Danielle Butters, North Dakota eked out a 2-1 victory behind UND freshman Susanna Tapani’s two goals. But the story would be different for the Mavericks a couple weeks later when, on New
were outdone by North Dakota. After the Mavericks fell to an early 3-0 deficit, they WOMEN’S HOCKEY • Page 14 clawed their way back
12 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Battle of the quarterbacks
While the NFL is in the quarterback era, this Sunday will feature a matchup between the two best throwers in the last ten years and a game with possibly the best for the next decade. ADAM PIERSON Staff Writer The Broncos, Patriots, Seahawks and 49ers have been the NFL’s favorites since day one. With arguably the most talented teams in the NFL, any fan should clear their schedules Jan. 19 for the AFC and NFC Championships. The NFC Championship game will be played in Seattle at CenturyLink Field, one of the most overwhelming home-fields in the NFL. The Seahawks and 49ers have plenty of blood between the two, ranging from the 49ers knocking out the Seahawks in this game last year as well as undercover cops posing as “fans” to help tame any
fan-induced violence. The two explosive offenses can erupt at anytime with commanders like Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson at quarterback. The Seahawks are 16-2 at home during the regular season and postseason since Wilson has become their quarterback. Since the 49ers came in ranked 30th in passing yards this season, their best chance is to beat the Seahawks on foot. Not to mention the Seahawks 28 interceptions to lead the league. The 49ers ranked third in rushing this season with Kaepernick and running backs Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter. There will need to be some new and innovative running formations used against the Seahawks if the
with the Seahawks this season as the seventh-best run defense in the league. This game is more than any average game. The legacies of Brady and Manning are on the line to be considered the best of all time. Brady’s playoff record is 186, two more than the former record set by Joe Montana while Manning’s playoff record is 10-11, including eight one-anddone performances. While the Nevada oddsmakers have the Broncos as a sixpoint favorite, I don’t think the Broncos will be able to match up against Brady, the Patriots run game and of course, Bill Belichick. I’ll take the Patriots on the road by three. The most interesting part of these games is the fact that you have two of the best quarterbacks to ever play in Manning and Brady as well as two of the most-talented and explosive quarterbacks in Kaepernick and Wilson who are both young in their careers. One thing is certain, the Super Bowl will showcase a battle of a solidified quarterback who can beat you with his arm vs. a young quarterback with endless potential who can beat you with his feet.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Web Photo It’s quite something when Tom Brady has a down year and still has the sixth most passing yards this season with 4,343.
Web Photo Russell Wilson finished third in rushing yards for a quarterback this season with 539 yards and scored one rushing touchdown.
s l m w a a M t Web Photos Even with a laser of an arm, Colin Kaepernick had some struggles s throughout the regular season but will be ready for CenturyLink Field. M
Web Photo Peyton Manning had the best regular season of any quarterback in history with both records in touchdown passes (55) and passing yards (5477).
49ers look to compete. As of right now, the Nevada oddsmakers have listed the Seahawks as the three-point favorite at home. While I can’t argue that, the 49ers have proven to be the hot team heading into the game. Despite all of that being said, I’ll take the Seahawks at home by 10. As for the AFC Championship game, you have two of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game facing off in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Patriots will travel to Denver and play the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos became the first team in NFL history to score 600 points in a season, passing the 2007 Patriots’ record of
589 points. Manning also tied the NFL’s record of touchdown passes in a game with seven in the season opener as well as breaking Tom Brady’s 2007 record of 50 touchdowns with 55 touchdowns. The Broncos best chance to make the Super Bowl would be through their explosive offense. Brady has struggled while his teammates have fallen to injuries numerous times this season, including Rob Gronkowski recently. He threw his fewest touchdowns in a season since 2006 with 25. The Patriots have recently taken off on the running game averaging 214.3 yards in the last three games while Brady hasn’t topped 200 yards of passing. Denver’s run defense tied
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
MSU Reporter • 13
Sports
Mavericks to start 2014 campaign at no. 1 After making it all the way to the NCAA division II championship game in 2013, the purple and gold will have a target on its back come February.
MSU Reporter Archives Senior pitcher Jason Hoppe (above) set the all-division NCAA single-season record for consecutive scoreless innings with 55.1 in 2013.
REECE HEMMESCH Editor in Chief
The temperature remains sub-frigid and the external outlook still yields that of Christmas, but it is spring nonetheless, which means baseball season is a quick turn on the thermometer away from coming to fruition. Most teams head back to work this week gearing up for trips south before the conference season begins, but Minnesota State Mankato will be doing so as the
defending conference champions and the second-best team in last season’s final rankings. As if it were not enough to have every NSIC team targeting the Mavericks, who have now completely conquered the conference spectrum over the last five seasons, MSU now has to deal with another target on their back that has been set by over 230 teams that compete at the Division II level as the Mavs have pulled down the no. 1 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball
Lineup preseason poll. This will be the first time in school history the squad has graced the top of any poll out there, outranking last year’s returning champions Tampa and over the no. 2 squad in CB Lineup poll, the University of Southern California-Aiken. Most online polls rover these three teams in their top-three for preseason rankings, but MSU finds themselves at one or two in most preseason polls, as many believe Tampa has what it takes to repeat as national champions. Tampa of course knocked MSU out of the national championship last year with their overpowering 8-2 victory to conclude the season. Aside from MSU in the NSIC, just St. Cloud State and Augustana were the only other teams to be included in the 30-squad poll. Augustana tied for the final spot at no. 30 while St. Cloud State quietly made their way into the top-10 to begin the season. After finishing last season’s tumultuous run to the College World Series with a 42-9 clip, MSU brings back a good source of talent in their 2014 campaign that should be able to get them back to Cary, N.C. for the CWS. If there’s one aspect that can insure the outcome of the purple and gold taking another long vacation in Cary come June, it is starting pitching, where MSU is about as loaded as they come. Three seniors enter their final campaign that can easily put the squad on their backs and lead the team to the promise land. Jason Hoppe wrapped up 2013 leading the team in most pitching statistics, including ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts. He
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will more than likely be the ace of the rotation, seeing the better of two opponents over a fourgame weekend set. Past Hoppe, Tyler Ockuly and TJ Larson have both cemented their reputations in the NSIC as being leading pitchers for the Mavs, but will need to take that to the next step as they will now called upon on a weekly basis to keep opposing hitters in check.
Nolan Johnson
Ockuly missed most of last season as an early-year shoulder injury took him out of his junior season just 26 innings into it. If he can come back healthy and put up the numbers he did as a sophomore in the rotation when he led the team in ERA (2.31) and hoisted a 7-3 record, opposing teams will have no shot at a sweep. Larson saw action in nine games last year, starting six of them and finishing at 6-0. He, like Ockuly, has been seeing considerable action since his freshman year, which should help him as he enters the final stage. Aside from the seniors, sophomore Josh Matheson turned enough heads in the mere
17 innings he threw in ’13 to be drafted in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, who he declined to play for in order to come back with the squad. MSU head coach Matt Magers understands the importance of winning at least three games each weekend that four are played, but should now be almost looking towards a definitive sweep in conference actions with these four starters in the mix. Hitting-wise, MSU returns six of their top-eight averages from ’13, including catcher Nolan Johnson who astonishingly started 47 of 49 games and hit .359 from behind the dish. Johnson and senior Stetson Olson return as the 3-4 hitters in the lineup, where they both exceed in batting in runs. Olson tied for the RBI crown last year with now-graduated Lucas Skjefte and also led the team in homeruns with nine. Time will tell if these Mavericks can hold onto the top-spot in the College Baseball Lineup poll throughout the year as Magers will more than likely be wrapping up 2014 with a new cast of accolades and decorations to add to the MSU trophy case. The Mavericks began their ’14 campaign with a two-day road trip to Arkansas to take on Arkansas Monticello on February 8th, before spending the next weekend in Oklahoma and Missouri to take on Northeastern State and Southwest Baptist and completing their non-conference bouts at their annual trip over spring break to Winter Haven, Fla. for nine games.
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Sports
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
MEN’S HOCKEY “Though Ferris State seems to be running away with the WCHA regular season, the Mavericks hope to slow them down and fight their way back into second place. The Bulldogs come to Mankato this weekend to face the Mavs in a twogame series at the Verizon Wireless Center.”
WOMEN’S HOCKEY “The Maverick women’s hockey team was in the middle of its season during the holidays and saw varying degrees of success in the eight games that it played on the ice.”
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game sweep over the Seawolves during their seven game win streak. While this time the Mavs were the visiting team, it didn’t quite seem that way. After playing in Fairbanks, the Mavericks stayed in Alaska for the week leading up to the series with the Seawolves instead of returning home and then back to Anchorage in the same week. The Seawolves on the other hand, were stuck in Minneapolis for the week following a series at the University of Wisconsin Badgers. By Thursday of last week, one day before the series against MSU, the team from Anchorage was finally able to return home with little time to prepare for two important conference games. The Seawolves remembered being swept by the Mavericks in November, and they got their revenge. Defeating the Mavs by scores of 2-1 on Friday night and 3-1 on Saturday night, Anchorage earned the sweep and climbed to fifth place in the WCHA standings. Also notable from over the break, sophomore transfer Blake Thompson made his debut as a Maverick against Fairbanks and played both games in Anchorage. Thompson came to Mankato last January after playing five games for the University of Minnesota in 2011-2012, recording two assists. After sitting out one calen-
dar year under NCAA transfer rules, the defenseman from Eden
Jean-Paul Lafontaine
Prairie, Minn. became eligible to play after the conclusion of the fall semester. He becomes the second transfer player to play for the Mavericks after first being a Gopher. Former Maverick captain Michael Dorr also spent a season in Dinkytown before heading to Mankato. Compiling a 3-3 record in conference games over the month break from classes, the Mavericks maintain a record of 12-10 overall with a 10-6 conference record which is good for third place in the WCHA. Ahead of the Mavericks is Bowling Green in second place, one point ahead of MSU, though the Falcons have played two more conference games than the Mavs.
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Atop the WCHA are the Ferris State University Bulldogs, who have played fewer games than every team in the conference aside from Northern Michigan, who sits in eight place. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in the WCHA with a 12-0-2 record, and an overall record of 17-3-3 to go along with being ranked number three in the nation. Though Ferris State seems to be running away with the WCHA regular season, the Mavericks hope to slow them down and fight their way back into second place. The Bulldogs come to Mankato this weekend to face the Mavs in a two-game series at the Verizon Wireless Center. MSU is 7-1 at home this season, though Ferris State will be the toughest opponent to enter the Mavericks home arena to this point in the season. It will be interesting to see who Maverick head coach Mike Hastings decides to start between the pipes. The freshman, Huggins, has seen the majority of time this season ahead of last year’s WCHA Goaltender of the Year in Williams. The Mavs kick off spring semester Friday night when the puck drops at 7:37 p.m. in downtown Mankato with the series concluding with Saturday night’s 7:07 p.m. matchup.
Year’s Eve, the Lindenwood Lions visited All Seasons Arena for two games with the Mavericks. Behind career nights from senior forward Melissa Klippenstein (two goals) and sophomore goaltender Erin Krichiver, MSU stormed to a 3-0 victory over the Lions. Krichiver posted her first career shutout with 25 saves on the night, while the Maverick offense unloaded a barrage on the Lady Lions’ net minder with 48 shots in the game. Two of those shots came from Klippenstein and both found the back of the net. The next day, the Mavericks started out the New Year on a good note with another victory against Lindenwood, this time by a score of 3-1. Despite a solid 28-save effort by Lions sophomore goaltender Nicole Hensley, who carried her team all the way into the last 9 minutes of the game with a 1-0 lead, MSU finally broke out with goals from senior forwards Nicole Germaine (one) and Tracy McCann (two) in the final minutes to take the series sweep. The Mavericks’ success continued later in the same week when the Bemidji State Beavers came to town on Jan. 4. Kari Lundberg was the hero for MSU in this game when, with 4:32 left in the third period, the senior forward cruised into the Beavers’ defensive zone and snapped a wrist shot from the slot over the glove of Lindenwood freshman goaltender Brittni Mowat to give MSU a 2-1 lead and the eventual game winner. It was Lundberg’s first career game-winning goal. Krichiver continued her excellent play in net, stopping 24 of 25 Lions shots. The next night in the last game of the home stand, the Mavericks were not so lucky offensively. Struggling to get the puck out of the defensive zone much of the night, MSU succumbed to the Beavers by a score of 1-0. Butters ended the night with 32 saves, keeping her team in the game right up to the end. This last weekend, before the first week of spring semester began, the Mavericks had one final trip to make before starting school. After six games at home, the Mavericks turned into the visiting squad as they traveled up to AMSOIL Arena in Duluth to face off against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for a two game series. But in both games, the Mavericks seemed snake-bitten, dropping both contests by scores of 3-1 and 4-2. A lack of offense from MSU and excellent special teams play from the Bulldogs put UMD ahead in both tilts, despite great play from Germaine and Lundberg. The Mavericks get the first week of classes off before heading up to the University of Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers. The puck drops at Ridder Arena at 4:30 pm this coming Friday afternoon.
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MSU Reporter • 15
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
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Globes highlight slaves and swindlers HFPA’s star-studded event fortells Oscar picks while delivering a few laughs, intentional and not. JAMES HOUTSMA A&E Editor It was a night of celebration and skewering as awards season kicked off with the 71st Golden Globe Awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual ceremony was as glitzy and starstudded as ever with film and TV actors, writers and producers flooding in to celebrate the year in entertainment. Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Pohler took to the stage to lighten the mood with some self-deprecating humor as well as a few jabs at some big names. Cracks about George Clooney’s preferences in women and how supermodels welcome Leonardo DiCaprio garnered some of the biggest laughs of the night. 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle both tied the most movie nominations with seven. While it looked like Steve Mc-
Queen’s slavery biopic would finish the night empty-handed, the film took home the award for Best Picture – Drama. Meanwhile, American Hustle hit gold with Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence both taking home trophies for their roles in the film and the movie itself winning Best Picture – Comedy or Musical. While the film didn’t show up in any of the best picture categories, Dallas Buyers Club made its presence known with both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto winning gold for their performances, with McConaughey being his honest self throughout his acceptance speech (awright, awright, awright). Leonardo DiCaprio’s legendary streak of awards snubs was finally broken as he was awarded the Best Actor – Comedy or Musical for his role as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. Afonso Cuaron was rec-
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press The cast and director of 12 Years a Slave as they take home top prize.
ognized for his five years of crafting Gravity with the Best Director statue. Almost as satisfying was his on-stage story of how Sandra Bullock mistook an offer of an earpiece for
an offer of herpes. took Best Original Song for Edward Sharpe and the their tune “Ordinary Love” Magnetic Zeroes vocalist Alex from Mandela: Long Walk to Ebert won the Best Original freedom. Score award for All is Lost GOLDEN GLOBES • Page 16 while U2 and Danger Mouse
The Laughability of Hercules ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer The Legend of Hercules could have been a whole lot worse than it actually was. Loosely based on the legendary Hercules, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene – “loosely” as in barely resembling the Hercules myth, with a little of Gladiator and any movie where a disgraced prince comes back to reclaim his homeland thrown in– this tale follows Hercules (or, as his mortal father dubbed him, Alcides, which doesn’t roll of the tongue quite as well) as he becomes the hero, the myth, the legend. Except not really. If a proper presentation of Hercules is what a viewer is fishing for, the likes of the ‘90s television show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and even Disney’s Hercules, does a far better job at representing
Renny Harlan’s sword and sandals “epic” doesn’t hold weight against the myth. the true essence of character in the half god. This movie is more akin to a studio’s desire to make a really nifty, 3D, Gladiator/300esque, PG-13 clashing swords fiesta, and the long-standing legend of Hercules be damned. But since this is the day and age where heroes and myths are being reinvented, this is what The Legend of Hercules has to offer as its hero: King Amphitryion (Scott Adkins) is the typical blood-thirsty, egocentric, chronically angry and controlling bad guy one expects him to be, so his wife Alcmene makes a pact with Hera to bear Zeus’ child, who will one day bring the end of Amphitryion and bring peace to the lands. Twenty years later, sibling rivalry between Hercules/ Alcides (Kellan Lutz, Twilight Saga) and Iphicles (Liam Garrigan) come to a head over the lovely lass Hebes (Gaia Weiss). Double crossing and treach-
Web Photo
ery ensue, as the King and Iphicles plot to take Alcides out. Left for dead – but keeping his GQ model looks intact – Alcides learns of his true godly parentage, and with the assistance of Zeus, vows to purge his homeland of the king’s rule and bring
life back to the people, all under the guise of his god-given name, Hercules. It’s a blandly generic story that isn’t remarkable in any way, but truth be told, Legend of Hercules wasn’t as disastrous as it could have been. For one, there
are some decent visuals. The opening shot depicting the chaos of Amphitryion’s rule is very impressive, and a combat zone during Alcides tenure as a gladiator is well shot and shows off the
HERCULES • Page 16
16 • MSU Reporter
A&E
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
GOLDEN GLOBES “While the film didn’t show up in any of the best picture categories, Dallas Buyers Club made its presence known with both Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto winning gold for their performances, with McConaughey being his honest self throughout his acceptance speech (awright, awright, awright).”
LEGEND OF HERCULES “If a proper presentation of Hercules is what a viewer is fishing for, the likes of the ‘90s television show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and even Disney’s Hercules, does a far better job at representing the true essence of character in the half god. This movie is more akin to a studio’s desire to make a really nifty, 3D, Gladiator/300-esque, PG-13 clashing swords fiesta, and the long-standing legend of Hercules be damned.”
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continued from 15 quite deadly environment well. To play the lead of Hercules, there could have been worse than Kellan Lutz. He doesn’t have the range or skills to be a good actor, but he’s serviceable in the role – angry when he needs to be, all moon-eyes to his love, and heroic-y in the battles. If there’s one thing Lutz does well, it’s looking cool when he’s leaping in the air with a sword about to beat some Romans. Good but not great applies to generally the entire cast, who all seem mistaken they’re partaking in the latest Clash of the Titans sequel. Opening shot aside, veteran director Renny Harlin shoots the movie without enthusiasm or ingenuity, purely opting for the point-and-shoot method in hopes the rocky and forest scenery will be enough to hold audience attention. Plus, with
Associated Press Hosts Amy Pohler and Tina Fey weren’t pulling many punches for the audience members.
The television side was no less eventful as Breaking Bad and star Bryan Cranston were awarded Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a TV Series – Drama, respectively. Newcomer Brooklyn Nine-Nine pulled an upset over other seasoned series by winning Best Series – Comedy or Musical and star Andy Samberg come out on top as well in the Best Actor – Comedy or Musical race. Actress Robin Wright won for her role in Netflix’s House of Cards with caused a real stir among the faction of fans rooting for Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black. The actors and their awards were all well and good but the true star of the night was the sheer amount of snafus. Several presenters were either sent out at the wrong time or with a faulty teleprompter (kudos to Emma Thompson who must have said “the hell with it” and walked out with her shoes and a martini). At least nine out of ten speeches were interrupted by a seemingly anxious sound editor controlling the wrap up music. In one of the strangest moments of the night
(or in all awards show history – take your pick) Jacqueline Bisset’s presence became a thing of awkward beauty. The senior French actress’ journey to the stage baffled many as it took an ungodly amount of time. Once finally reaching the stage to accept her win for her work on Dancing on the Edge, Bisset was overwhelmed by emotion and basked in a good minute or so of choked speech. Once the speech did manage to come to her, Bisset managed keep the censors on their toes by releasing a barrage of cut audio – except for the one swear word that managed to slip through. The Globes are generally thought of as the more “viewer friendly” awards show during the season and sometimes Oscar voters go out of their way to distance their picks from the HFPA. However, several nominees look to remain the same for the upcoming Academy Awards and, at very least, Oscar could always take some entertainment tips from their foreign counterpart.
3D added to the mix, of course there would be no need to exercise some effort on his part. As expected, however, the 3D does little to even make its existence known. Bad acting and mostly lazy directing aside, the real loser in all this is Hercules. The hero who fought humanity against the spoils of gods is reduced to a bratty, love sick twenty year old who obnoxiously smirks, puffs out his chest a lot as if every man, woman and child wish to glaze at his pecks, and uses people for his own convenience to accomplish a goal. All this ridicule aside, The Legend of Hercules would be a fantastic late-night Redbox rental to watch with a handful of friends ready to laugh and poke fun at all the misguided turns this multimillion dollar movie unwisely takes.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
MSU Reporter • 17
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A round of applause for Her Spike Jonze’s futuristic love story has real spirit. JAMES HOUTSMA A&E Editor There’s a widely held belief that modern society is now married to their personal electronic devices. Given that, Spike Jonze’s new robo-love story, Her, couldn’t have come at a better time. Professional letter-writer Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is still beat down from his recent breakup with his wife. Taking a chance with a new operating system, Theodore soon forms a special bond with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), the persona his new A.I. has adopted. As if human-to-human romantic relationships weren’t hard enough, Theodore and Samantha are put through the ups and downs of a connection that brings the typical jealousy and insecurity, as well as the issues of loving someone without a physical body – someone who is capable of evolving beyond what we can comprehend. Belying its mechanical subject matter, Her comes off about as organic feeling as a love story can be. Phoenix looks to have no problem portraying the sensitive outsider and Johansson does a marvelous job creating a character out of just her vocal performance. The ever-great Amy
Adams is also, well, great (who could have seen that coming?). Writer/director Jonze has a real talent in crafting naturalistic
of jabbing at society’s love affair with their tech. The scary part? It’s incredibly close to how we exist today.
ally jump out against the melancholy backdrop but somehow only further point out the loneliness of the environment. Produc-
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dialogue. The interactions between the partners, be it tender, exuberant, awkward or guarded feel completely genuine. If that wasn’t enough, Jonze’s script also boasts punctuating moments of satiric comedy – a sort
The not-too-distant world Jonze has crafted is especially creative – a washed out, towering neo-Los Angeles that is occupied by people who don’t interact with each other. Pastel colors in Theodore’s workplace occasion-
tion design and cinematography are absolutely commendable for their part in breathing life to this picture. As a mixture of these strong elements, Jonze has something really special to work with. How-
ever, a few trims of extraneous scenes wouldn’t go amiss. Coming off of the filmmaker’s previous screen adaption of Where the Wild Things Are, Jonze is now attributed to sequences of frolicking, song singing and general life-affirming joy. Her features sequence upon sequence of lollygagging around in happiness and while they reinforce the bliss of being in love, they also stretch the movie out. The space in between events is too glacial, while the hold of the message begins to wear thin with too long a runtime. As a result, the conclusion, our final moment of emotional satisfaction after the ups and downs, comes off as a little rushed – disappointing, given this ending’s strong importance to the plot. Jonze may be too in love with his material in certain instances but it’s hard to argue that it’s not justified, for the most part. The script is clever and intuitive, the cast plays off each other well, the look is unique and, above all, the film feels like it has something real to say about love, technology and the odd ways they converge. To give into cliché for a moment, Her is a beautiful movie. Her may submit to some very mortal, human errors but its soul is transcendent.
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18 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014
OUAT delivers mid-season finale full of closure, hints at a far-fetched future MIRANDA BRAUNWARTH Staff Writer The Once Upon a Time midseason finale, “Going Home”, could easily have been the ending to this fairy tale story. Written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, Once told a fantastic storyline and finale in the first part of season three. While the show is currently on winter break and will begin again on March 9,, the first half of season three gave us new characters, as well as took away characters with major storylines. As well, the cast was split in order to continue in the midseason finale. One of the major components of the first half of season three was the trip into Neverland to fight Peter Pan to get Henry back. While the first couple of episodes were literally a walk in the forest, things steamed up when the true backstory of Pan was discovered. And with the new discovery, the story of Rumplestiltskin only got so much better. The development of this character has really been the leading beauty to this story and seeing which side Rumple would choose kept everyone on the edge of their seat. Rumple’s choosing to do the right thing would, in the end, be his undoing in the midseason finale. Seeing Rumple’s sacrifice was a wonderful moment. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out without a key player like Rumple. He will be missed. Likewise, the town of Story-
brooke will also be missed. In Pan’s destruction, he reenacted Regina’s Curse, this time over Storybrooke. With no way to stop the curse, Storybrooke will be destroyed, sending all the characters back to The Enchanted Forest -- everyone except for Emma and Henry, who were born in reality. Emma and Henry fight this wanting to be with their family but there is no solution. Regina does give one gift that they have new memories of always being together and never knowing Storybrooke. Though neither wants to forget, they accept it as their only option. Regina showed new sides in this gift as well this season. A peak into her past and her love for Henry showed that the gentle side she was as a child still remains. In Storybrooke Regina was all around more kind and gentle but what we have seen of Regina in The Enchanted Forest could mean Regina will go back to her old ways. The midseason finale ends with Emma and Henry driving away into a warm sunny day. The rest of the cast stands behind as the curse washes over them. Though there is loss, this easily could have been an ending we all could live with and accept as all loose ends have been tied. In the last five minutes, we get a flash to one year later of Emma and Henry in an apartment. Both are very happy and content until Hook bangs on the door exclaiming he needs help. And thus, Kitsis and Horowitz have done
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it again, adding new elements to their story. Rumors spur that another world will be added when the cast is introduced to the world of Oz and the Wicked Witch. This new spin is almost too farfetched when the show easily could have
been ended in that last episode. It seems that they are pushing their fairy tale boundaries. According to the writers, “we’re setting up the fight of all fights: Evil Queen versus Wicked Witch”. This far-fetched idea of Oz, as
d T a Web Photo t d well as the addition of Rapunzel,e babies and a wedding will returnt with the second half of Once Upon a Time’s third season onb Sunday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. on“ ABC. B To watch the first half of sea-t son three, visit abc.com. o t s
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Lone Survivor targets top spot at the box office
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Lone Survivor” triumphed at the weekend box office. The patriotic Navy SEAL drama starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch and Ben Foster smashed expectations to earn $38.5 million domestically in its first week,end in wide release, according nto studio estimates Sunday. e The Universal film directed nby “Friday Night Lights” and n“Battleship” filmmaker Peter Berg is based on Marcus Lut-trell’s memoir about a dangerous mission his Navy SEAL team embarked on in Afghanistan in 2005. “We’re thrilled for us, the filmmakers and Marcus, who — as brave as a man as he is — continues to be brave in telling this true story,” said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal. “It’s an amazing result. What’s most gratifying about this is that it’s been endorsed by every quadrant of the movie-going audience: young, old, male, female.” Rocco said “Lone Survivor” performed particularly
well in middle America. The movie’s launch marks the second biggest opening for a film in January, after the $40.1 million debut of the monster movie “Cloverfield” in 2008. “We had an inkling it’d do well when it opened in limited release in December, but projections had it coming in between $17 million to $28 million,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for boxoffice tracker Rentrak. “Nothing had it coming close to $40 million.” In its eighth weekend, Disney’s icy animated tale “Frozen” stayed cool in the No. 2 spot, earning $15 million and bringing its domestic total to $317 million, passing Disney Animation’s $312 million record set by “The Lion King” in 1994. “Frozen” also topped the international box office with $27.8 million from 50 international markets. Paramount’s controversial “The Wolf of Wall Street” scored No. 3 in its third weekend, earning $9 million and boosting its total domestic haul
to $78.6 million. The hedonistic tycoon drama directed by Martin Scorsese stars Leonardo DiCaprio as reckless stock broker Jordan Belfort. The film earned an additional $10 million from 17 international territories. Lionsgate’s “The Legend of Hercules,” the weekend’s only other major release, tied Sony’s “American Hustle” for the No. 4 position, with both films earning $8.6 million, according to studio estimates. “American Hustle,” whose domestic total now stands at $101.5 million, also earned an extra $5.2 million this weekend from four international territories. The con-artist caper leads the nominees at Sunday’s Golden Globes alongside “12 Years a Slave” with seven nods each. Several other awards contenders expanded into wide release this weekend ahead of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s glitzy ceremony, including the Weinstein Co.’s “August: Osage County” at No. 6 with $7.3 million, Warner Bros.’ “Her” at No. 10 with $5.4
million and CBS Films’ “Inside Llewyn Davis” at No. 14 with $1.9 million. Overseas, Universal’s animated sequel “Despicable Me 2” earned $13.8 million alone in China, where it opened this weekend seven months after its initial release. The original animated film featuring the voice of Steve Carrell was not released in China.
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___ Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak. Where available, latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday: 1. “Lone Survivor,” $38.5 million ($750,000 international). 2. “Frozen,” $15 million ($27.8 million international).
$9 million ($10 million international). 4. “The Legend of Hercules,” $8.6 million ($650,000 international). (tie) “American Hustle,” $8.6 million ($5.2 million international). 5. “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” $8 million ($22.2 million international). 6. “August: Osage County,” $7.3 million ($175,000 international). 7. “Saving Mr. Banks,” $6.6 million. 8. “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” $6.3 million ($15.5 million international). 9. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues,” $6.1 million ($3 million international). 10. “Her,” $5.4 million.
3. “The Wolf of Wall Street,”
20 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014