January 15, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 twitter.com/@msureporter

facebook.com /msureporter

Minnesota State University, Mankato

www.themsureporter.com

TUESDAY

H 26 • L 18

WEDNESDAY

H 30 • L 9

New year, new you Different types of How to keep a resolution New Year’s resolutions

MOLLY HORNER

staff writer

Whether your New Year’s resolution is to fit into your high school jeans again, save money, study abroad, quit smoking or you have no resolution at all, will you follow through with it?

As the New Year begins with higher expectations, the ugly truth of the matter is clear; it’s easier said then done.

According to statisticbrain. com, 45 percent of Americans typically make New Year’s resolutions, while 38 percent never do.

People in their 20s were 39 percent more likely to achieve their resolution each year, while only 14 percent of people over 50 years old do. In 2012, 8 percent of people were successful in achieving their resolution, while 49 percent of people had infrequent success and 24 percent failed or never even attempted their resolution.

Setting and maintaining a New Year’s Resolution results in having a really strong will, desire and discipline.

To make the process easier while achieving a resolution,

there are three keys to focus on.

First off, make your resolution specific. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose weight,” make it more specific.

“I’m going to loose 4 pounds

by March 10.” Creating a food journal is a great way to write down what you consumed all day and look back on what you could do different the following day.

Second, make it realistic. The resolution that you make should be reached in a specific time rather than just another one of those wish lists in the back of your head. For example, if you want to travel to Spain, don’t think its just going to happen over night. Meet with advisors, get on a budget plan and your traveling will become more realistic over time.

Third, make it known to your peers so that the people around you can help with maintaining your lasting goal. If your resolution is to quit smoking, you will need to re evaluate whom you are around so you don’t fall into your old habits. Family and friends will want you to succeed

How To / page 6

TRISH BJERKE

staff writer

January first might be the worst day of the year. It’s the day when one wakes up and realizes, “Oh, yeah, I have to make some changes today.” If you’re like most people you think, “Why did I ever say that?” From the time you wake up on New Years Day until whenever you break your resolution, life is a little more difficult for one reason or another.

There appear to be three main categories of resolutions.

The first is quitting something.

Common things include smoking, drinking, drugs, junk food, really any unhealthy thing in your life.

The second is to start something. You may say, “This year I’m going to start working out/eating healthy/knitting/ being more friendly.” If your resolution is to start something, there’s a high chance of it being a positive or exciting thing. No one desires to pick up more bad habits.

The last kind of resolution is changing something. Whether that is your job, a relationship, your attitude or your sleep-

ing patterns, changing may be the hardest kind of resolution.

You’re so accustomed to your old ways that changing them is seemingly impossible.

People either love New Year’s resolutions or they hate them.

They can signify starting fresh and proving to yourself that you really can change. Or, resolutions can mean unhappiness and the attempt to find happiness.

If it’s the latter, the resolution hangs over your head like a dark cloud, reminding you that you’ve really screwed your life up.

For college students, New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Students have pressure from other students: “Hey, come out and drink with us!” or “Hey, come get dinner!” Your resolution to drink less or save money is on one side of a scale, and your friends are on the other side.

Friends usually win.

For resolutions to really work, a group of people must work together. How easy would going to the gym be if your friends were going with you?

How easy would it be to save money if all your friends agreed to stop eating out and start making dinner together? Could this

Men’s Hockey Dominates Over Break See Page 9

be the future of resolutions?

Students at Minnesota State University, Mankato have a variety of resolutions; some that have been kept and some that haven’t.

Anna Snyder said she never makes resolutions.

“And I guess I’ve kept that resolution,” she said.

Benly Larson said he made a resolution to floss every day, and he’s already broken it.

“I didn’t make one because I knew I wouldn’t keep it. I thought about quitting smoking and losing weight and exercising more… But not happening!” said Kristi Kalk.

“Good luck to those who have kept theirs so far,” she added.

Why is it so hard to stick to resolutions? Perhaps people make them too big; doing something every day can be challenging and completely changing something about yourself can be even more challenging.

Maybe people should take Kaitlin DuChene’s approach.

“My resolution is to try something new every month,” she said, “and yes, I have kept

Resolutions / page 5

SPORTS

9

INDEX: A&E

12

CLASSIFIEDS

15

Page 2 • Reporter

News

Hoffner reassigned for remainder of contract

SAM WILMES

staff writer

Former Minnesota State University, Mankato head football coach Todd Hoffner has been reassigned as Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities Development. Hoffner, who served as Coach from 2008 until last August, had been the subject of a contentious investigation involving child pornography charges.

MSU Media Relations Coordinator Dan Benson said Hoffner’s new position will impact the University.

“Hoffner will be responsible for assisting in the development of the Master Facility Plan for Athletics and Recreation Facilities, which is part of the Minnesota State Mankato’s Campus Facility Master Plan,” Benson said.

“Minnesota State, Mankato will be evaluating possible upgrading or replacement of Blakeslee Stadium, as well as evaluating other athletic and recreation facility needs at the university in the coming years.”

According to Benson, the university will be conducting a nation-wide search for a head coach.

“Plans for a national search for a head football coach will be finalized in the coming months,” Benson said.

Hoffner’s will report to MSU’s Vice President for Finance and Administration, Richard J. Straka.

Hoffner’s legal problems began when he turned his school- issued cell phone in for repair. Found on the phone were videos of Hoffner’s nude children, ages 9, 8, 5, playing around after a bath. Hoffner’s charges included using minors in a sexual performance or pornographic work, and possession of child pornography.

While Hoffner was placed on administrative leave, Aaron Keen was named Interim Head Coach. Under Keen, the Mavericks had a historic season 13-1 season, and came within 2 wins of a Division II National Championship.

The case against Hoffner was thrown out on November 30th, when Blue Earth County District Court Judge Krista Jass ruled that the videos pertaining to the case against Hoffner were not pornographic.

After the case was thrown out, Hoffner was placed on a

20-day, unpaid suspension in early December. The Union representing Hoffner contested the suspension.

Hoffner’s attorney, Christopher W. Madel, insists that Hoffner does not plan on accepting the new position.

“We intend to do everything we can to have Todd Hoffner reinstated as head coach of the successful football team he created before next season,” Madel said.

Madel then pointed out that Interim Coach Keen’s record before inheriting Hoffner’s players was not nearly as successful- Keen had a 23-27 record at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Hoffner compiled a 34-13 record as head coach.

MNU has seen coaching reassignments in the past.

Former hockey coach Troy Jutting was reassigned from head hockey coach to special assistant to President Richard Davenport in April.

In 2009, women’s hockey coach Jeff Vizenor was reassigned to an assistant AD position, as was Women’s basketball coach Ann Walker in 2004.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013T

How tax increases will help ease burden of looming fiscal cliff

ERIC PERRINE

staff writer New Year’s Day congressional negotiations helped stop broad tax increases and spending cuts for most Americans while avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff.

The deal was struck by Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., early New Year’s Day, according to Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Government professor, Kevin Parsneau.

As part of the deal, there were tax increases for individuals who make more than $400,000 and couples who make more than $450,000 annually in taxable income, Parsneau said.

Later that night, the U.S. House of Representatives, led by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, approved the deal.

The tax increases will raise nearly $600 billion in new tax revenue over the next 10 years, according to cnn.com.

Included in the deal was

www.axelsbonfiregrill.com • 507-625-8443

IT'S SO NICE, WE DO IT TWICE!

HAPPY HOUR!

From 3-6 & 9-Close EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! $2 OFF all Drinks, Wine & Beer $3 OFF all Appetizers $4 OFF all Pizzas

an extension of the unemployment benefits for the “long-term jobless,” delayed spending cuts for another two months, and a prevention of a spike in milk prices and a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients, according to nbcnews.com.

The main part of the deal affecting individuals and couples earning less than $400,000 and $450,000, respectively, is the end of the “payroll tax holiday” that was part of the stimulus package, Parsneau said. “That will be an average increase of around one percent” in taxes deducted from wages, which means slightly smaller paychecks for Americans in 2013.

Most Minnesota residents won’t experience the higher marginal tax rates, but many will be affected by the end of the payroll tax holiday, Parsneau said.

The increased tax rates “should be good for a while,” Parsneau said. Also, Americans who experienced the 2001 and 2003 Bush-era tax cuts “should be happy”

Fiscal Cliff / page 6

10

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

ELISE KONERZA

News

Reporter • Page 3

ways technology will change your life in 2013

staff writer

Technology has a way of assisting us with about anything at the touch of a finger these days, even though we are not yet time traveling or commuting by hover board. But with holographic celebrities, it’s a safe assurance the future has indeed arrived.

Cell phones have transcended from physically being a suitcase, to actually being the suitcase withholding important documents, being your newsstand, your locator, your doctor, and even your car locator. The year 2013 opens up new cyber-possibilities that are sure to keep your resolutions in track or just help you catch an extra hour, or two, of sleep.

1. Mobile Payments. We’re getting closer to leaving everything behind at home and simply carrying one device with us at all times, a cell phone. This technology is new and is rapidly catching on with Androids and businesses everywhere. Currently, Google Wallet has the ability to store your credit and debit

cards on your phone and allows you to pay in stores with your mobile phone at over 100,000 merchants. Simply tapping your phone to a terminal by the register completes your payment.

No more mess and no more fuss of looking through a jumbled wallet and squeezing one credit card out of its place for a threesecond swipe.

Even more innovative, Wallaby – a single “smart” credit card app compiles all of your credit and debit card information and automatically chooses the best card for each transaction. A great way to decipher all those confusing cash back, miles or points rules making your smartphone really entice the title of “smart.”

2. Gesture-based user interface. Since the “tap-and-swipe” tablet and smartphone interface, we’ve moved along to far greater things that use our bodies to interact with our devices. Say hello to gesture based interfaces and the new “wave-and-point.”

Kinect for Xbox 360 has been picking up wind in the technology world as it allows us-

ers to select games, movies and more by waving a hand at the Kinect camera. Kinect brought physical activity into a gaming world that suggested otherwise.

It’s a great way to get your Zumba workout in without being embarrassed of gyrating those hips in a cluttered workout class.

The Samsung MV900F is a camera that’s expected to hit the markets this year. Your gestures help you get in the shot with distinct hand motions that aid in zooming in and out, as well as actually snapping the shot.

3. Tablets & E-readers.

Lugging around your 10-pound laptop to school has seen better days. Maybe to every college student, this is a top bonus to the technology that saves your back. Tablets are a resource that turns your favorite books into a transportable library. Maybe we’ll see the end of a physical textbook some day: another load off my back.

Another added plus for those without a detrimental and highly expensive smartphone

Technology / page 5

• web photo

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Ed/Op reporter-editor@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5454

Why I made a New Year’s resolution for the first time

MEGAN KADLEC

editor in chief With the start of 2013 and a new semester, faculty, staff and students alike are working on improving themselves with a little thing called a New Year’s resolution.

In an attempt to help those at Minnesota State University, Mankato keep their resolutions, the Reporter staff has decided to put together this issue, “New Year, New You.” Full of advertisers who want to help you keep your resolutions, we hope that this guide can help you. Advertisers include health clubs, nutrition specialty stores, employment services, salons, and financial services.

After all, the most common New Year’s resolutions revolve around exercise, weight loss, quitting smoking or drinking and dealing with money management or debt reduction.

Many people may find New Year’s resolutions silly, as only 40 to 45 percent of American adults make at least one resolution at the start of each calendar year.

However silly and unattainable one thinks resolutions are, they do work.

According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, people who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals then those who don’t make resolutions.

However, after only one week, the rate of those still working towards their resolutions dropped to 75 percent, and those still pursuing their resolutions after six months had decreased to a mere 46 percent.

I had never made a New Year’s resolution before. I’ve never seen the point, as most people in my life were off their diets as soon as they met friends for dinner at a restaurant or bar.

However, after reading all the statistics and taking a serious look at my life, I decided that this year, I was going to make a resolution and actually stick to it. There’s no better time to start, right?

I mean, if I didn’t start now, it probably would have never happened.

Boy, was that a good idea.

I decided that this year, I was going to start running again and blog more.

So far, I’ve run every day for the past two weeks, excluding the two days I was on vacation with my family and the 24 hours I was sick with the flu.

The blogging, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult – but I have started a list of all the blog posts I eventually want to write. I guess I have to work on that one a bit more. Oh, well – I’ll get around to it some day.

According to Goal Setting Guide, an online resource for becoming the best person you can be, there are five key characteristics a resolution should have in order to be considered effective. A resolution must be specific, realistic, known to others than yourself, measurable by time and rewarding.

If you’ve already made a resolution for 2013, I wish you the best of luck. If you haven’t, I’d urge you to reconsider. It’s never to late to start a resolution. It’s only Jan 15; you’ve only missed two weeks.

If you have a crazy, or daring, resolution you think the student body would be interested in hearing about, like learning how to speak fluent Latin in four months, email me at megan.kadlec@ mnsu.edu. Who knows, you might be featured in the Reporter, or on our website.

REPORTER STAFF - FALL 2012

POLICIES & INFORMATION

Editor in Chief: Megan Kadlec (507) 389-5454

• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Megan Kadlec at (507) 389-5454. The Reporter will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board, which can be contacted at (507) 389-2611.

NEWS EDITOR: Ryan Lund............................. (507) 389-5450

• The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a student-run newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at (507) 389-1776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $35.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

sports editor: Reece Hemmesch.................(507) 389-5227 Variety Editor: Emre Erku........................... (507) 389-5157 ADVERTISING sales: Natasha Jones.............(507) 389-1063 Business Manager: Jane Tastad................ (507) 389-1926 ADVERTISING DESIGN MGR.: Dana Clark....(507) 389-2793

T

• Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes.

Follow the Reporter on Twitter @MSUReporter or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/msureporter

Returning to the life of a student Tips and tricks for starting the semester off right

• web photo “I may be beating a dead horse here, but the professors teaching at the school are there to help.”

CHRIS HOUCK

staff writer

Well, here we are again. For most of us in the Minnesota State University, Mankato student body, this week marks the end of a carefree winter break and a return to the stressful and hectic life of being a college student.

So while we adjust to our new class schedules, figure out if we actually need the textbooks we’re told to buy, memorize which classrooms we have this semester, and dread the final projects we get assigned to, it can be a bit of a shock when returning to a life of learning.

I’m sure all returning students have their own strategy on how to deal with coming back to school and how to succeed in the classroom. However, over my time spent at the university, there have been some tricks and techniques that I’ve discovered and learned that have definitely helped in easing the long semesters of projects and homework.

First, I’ve found humor can go a long way in the classroom.

That’s not to say that being a smartass will help but, as long as it’s class-related, humor makes you noticeable and shows creativity and effort which will most likely help your grade anyway. For example, when giving a presentation on President Lincoln, it might not be a bad idea to include photos of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” every so often to lighten the mood of the class and let the professor have some fun with it as well.

Second, and many professors probably don’t want to hear this,

but use your absences if you want to, even if it’s just to goof off and relieve some stress. Honestly, if you know the subject in the class well enough to skip a couple of lectures, then why attend?

In my opinion, students are the ones paying for the instructing on a subject, so it is their own fault if they miss anything they wanted to learn. I’ve always appreciated when professors come out on the first day of class and say something like, “I know you’re all adults, so I won’t take attendance, but it is your responsibility to make up for what you miss.”

Obviously, it’s dangerous for a student to miss days of class at a time, but I believe that it is their own responsibility to show up to class, required attendance aside.

Third, I’ve found that some of the most important lessons that college teaches are outside of the classroom. One of the most successful semesters I’ve had gradewise came when I went out with friends almost every night.

It may sound counterintuitive, but after a night of fun and bad decision making, I was more relaxed and less stressed about school and actually started to perform better in the classroom, as well as study better. It takes practice to juggle a life of learning and fun, but I think students need to learn that at some point in their lives and both are needed if you want the full college experience.

Fourth is to be aware of how you learn. For example, I’m more of a visual learner than anything else, so when I took a second language class for the first time, I was completely lost in the almost purely vocal lectures until I

started reading more and stared at sentence structures until they made sense. But that’s just me.

Also, as I’m sure most of my fellow students would agree, the greatest source of inspiration and determination is last-minute-panic. I was recently told by a student that more work gets done in two hours of last-minute-panic than four hours of regular work. So I’ve been able to plan accordingly to a last-minute-panic schedule in recent years.

Sometimes you really do screw yourself over with doing everything at the last possible moment. However, I’ve found that it is better than starting a project early and staring at a blank word document, getting frustrated, and logging on to Facebook for a few hours anyway.

Fifth, and I may be beating a dead horse here, but the professors teaching at the school are there to help. I’ve found that if they offer to sit down individually with a student to discuss the class or overall grade, to always take advantage of the opportunity.

More often than not, the conversations are extremely helpful, enlightening and sometimes can be very fun. I mean, professors were college students like us at one point, after all, so it usually is easy to get along with them.

So, there you have it. I don’t know if all of this advice is beneficial to everybody or new to anyone, but if it helps fellow students to resist the possibility of being swallowed up by a demanding semester and disappearing from the world, I would call it a mission accomplished. Good luck on the semester, Mavericks!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

News

TECHNOLOGY “Who can put a price on quality rest?

It’s only $0.99.” continued from 3 data plan – your tablet, Nook or Kindle can be connected via Wi-Fi, so you can get most of the same apps of an iPhone.

4. OmniFocus App. Are you always forgetting about your laundry or do you always put off getting groceries ‘till just a piece of toast is left? The OmniFocus app is a location-based task manager founded on the principle that certain tasks are performed in certain contexts.

OmniFocus uses the GPS and Wi-Fi positioning of the iPhone to organize the user’s list of chores according their location.

For example, if the user has a number of chores to complete in the morning, the OmniFocus app will remind you of the task when they are in a relevant context – like passing the grocery store or the local Laundromat.

5. Find My Car App. Helplessly wandering the Mall of America parking lot in search of your parked car can be fun, said no one ever. The Find My Car App hopes to make the process ”as painless as possible, however many shopping bags you have. Using the iPhone location capability, the application allows the user to locate the position of the car and fix it on the iPhone’s map function. Those of you who have trouble following maps, the application also records surrounding visual information as a guiding tool using the phone’s camera, completing your excursion in a hassle-free manner.

-

6. Layar Reality App. Using augmented reality overlays of images, Web links, and data on top of the image displayed by the phone’s camera will provide you with resourceful contextspecific information. Hold up the iPhone’s camera to capture the area of a foreign city, and Layar displays additional information onto the smartphone’s field of vision. Some of this handy information includes the most popular bars nearby, hotels, or apartments to rent in the area.

Great for the student traveler or adapting to a new job in a new city.

7. Sleep Cycle App. Waking up for class made easy? This intelligent alarm clock analyzes your sleeping patterns on a day you’ve had coffee, to not waking you in your mid-dreaming slumber. It’s a natural way to wake up feeling rested and relaxed, and rejuvenated for classes. Sleep Cycle monitors your movement during sleep using the extremely sensitive accelerometer in your iPhone. The application then finds the optimal time to wake you in a 30-minute increment to wake you at your lightest sleep phase. Who can put a price on quality rest? It’s only $0.99.

8. Soundnote App. This little application is the next best thing to taking notes or recording an interview. Just hit ‘Record’ and everything that happens around you is recorded, with an added option to scribble on the

screen. Tap the scribbles and go straight to that point in the recording making it a perfect tool to transcribe interviews or conversations.

Reporter • Page 5

RESOLUTIONS continued from 1 it.”

Making a resolution for each month seems a lot easier than looking at the next twelve months and realizing, “I seriously have to floss every day? 52 weeks of flossing?”

Think about it: if you make a resolution for every month,

you have the ability to make 12 improvements instead of one.

Whether you’re a firm believer in resolutions or hate them, maybe 2013 is the year to make feasible goals, like floss more or only go out once a week. If you keep your resolutions realistic, they’re bound to work.

9. SnapChat. If you’re not on the bandwagon yet, you better jump on. This application originated as a sexting application that allowed you to take a picture and send it to another person who has the application. Senders can allot a certain amount of time for each photo to be viewed. The photo cannot be viewed a second time. New advancements in the technology permit 10-second videos, but be careful – some of your friends may know how to save that ugly face you made.

10. CamelCamelCamel.

Waiting on the best deal out there, just got easier. CamelCamelCamel.com is a resource that constantly tracks prices on Amazon for sales or discounts and includes prices from its third party sellers. Just enter the names of products that interest you and a list of products currently on sale will appear.

You can also create your own shopping watch by finding an item you plan to purchase in the future and at the price you want to pay. The site will email or tweet at you if and when it happens. You can view price history over time and see if sales are approaching in the future, for the savvy and considerable spender.

Pop Some Tags!

Got $20 in your pocket?

We Got Your Grandpa's Style!

It's Not Too Late to Start Snowboarding, Skiing and Snow Tubing!

Offering: • New Discounted Rates Monday and Tuesday Nights after 4pm • College Night on Thursdays

Mount Kato Ski Area 20461 State Hwy. 66 Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 625-3363 MountKato.com

COME BY AND HIT THE SLOPES!

Like working with Kids?

Now Hiring for: Paraprofessional Substitutes Mankato & St. Peter School Districts PT, On call, M-F $9-10/hr.

High school/GED and background check required

Sioux Road (Across from Shopko)

(507) 388-3867 Monday 9:30 - 6:00 | Tues.-Fri. 9:30 - 8:00 Sat. 9:30 - 6:00 | Sun. 12:30 - 4:30

Call to learn more! 507-387-5620

Page 6 • Reporter

News

Newtown parents launch anti-violence initiative

NEWTOWN, Connecticut (AP) — Parents of children slain in the Connecticut school massacre held photos of their sons and daughters, cried, hugged and spoke in quavering voices as they called for a national dialogue to help prevent similar tragedies.

The parents — members of the newly formed group Sandy Hook Promise — spoke out as politicians from Maine to New Mexico marked the one month that has passed since the shooting with renewed demands for tighter gun control.

“I do not want to be someone sharing my experience and consoling another parent next time. I do not want there to be a next time,” said Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan was among the 20 elementary school students and six adults killed by a gunman a month ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The Sandy Hook group says it wants to have open-minded discussions about a range of issues, including guns, mental health and safety in schools and other public places.

Several speakers said they did not believe there was a single solution.

“We want the Sandy Hook school shootings to be recalled as the turning point where we brought our community and communities across the nation together and set a real course for change,” said group cofounder Tom Bittman.

While the Sandy Hook group did not offer specific remedies, mayors and governors in favor of tighter gun restrictions lobbied for a series of them Monday.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed a summit on gun violence at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and argued for greater federal gun control, including background checks for all purchases and a federal crackdown on trafficking.

“Every state in the union has citizens killed by guns coming from another state and every state is powerless to stop the mayhem,” Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg is co-chairman of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, whose members spoke out Monday in cities including Portland, Maine; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he has ordered an analysis of city employee pension funds to see if they hold companies that make or sell assault weapons. In Cranford, New Jersey, a group of mayors backing new restrictions were joined by a man whose 23-year-old son was shot to death in the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech.

“I’m just one member of a Virginia Tech family, Newtown has theirs, Aurora has theirs, Tucson has theirs, and now we’re starting to come together,” Michael Pohle said.

“This coalition is growing, and it’s going to become more powerful, and we’re going to have the ability to influence elections as well.”

The gun control debate heated up after 20-year-old

Newtown / page 7

Downtown Eagle Lake • 257-3997 • Hosts: Rolene & Mark Fromm

Nightly Specials:

Tuesday: All You Can Eat Spaghetti Pork Chop Dinner*

5:00-9:00 p.m.

FRIday: All You Can Eat Shrimp* BBQ Ribs*

Wednesday: THURSday: Hamburger Steak* Baked Chicken Dinner* with Pie All You Can Eat Fish

* Includes choice of bowl of Soup or Salad, Potato, Vegetable & Bread

$1.50 Slices of Pie with Purchase of a Meal We Have Free Pie from 10-2 on Mondays!!

SERVING:

Monday:................... 6am-2pm Tuesday-Friday:... 6am-9pm

Saturday:................6am-3pm Sunday:.................... 8am-1pm

Let us cater your next function!

Staff: Campus Pastor Wong, Reverend Roger Knepprath, Mark Probst, Sr. Asst. Jesse DeDyne, RA Kody Green

1506 WARREN STREET • MANKATO • MN (Look for our electronic sign!)

507-345-4511

www.beaconwels.org

Mondays • Wednesdays • Fridays Bible Study Wednesdays • Vespers 9 pm Thursdays • $1 Supper 5:30 pm, Bible Study 6:30 pm

FOR ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS We offer a quiet place to study, a computer lab, a kitchen to prepare meals, TVs, free washer & dryer, Bible studies, counseling, and great friendships!

CENTER HOURS: 8am-10pm OFFICE HOURS: M-W, 12-5pm; Thurs 9am-9pm

Tuesday, January 15, 2013T

FISCAL CLIFF “We’re still limping along with relatively low growth and high unemployment, and the payroll tax cut ending is going to mean people have less money to spend.” continued from 3

because those reduced rates should also “be locked in for a while.”

The continued lower tax rates for most Americans means continued deficits, though, Parsneau said. The “last-minute deal” stopped spending cuts; however, those cuts will soon have to be addressed in order to increase government revenue.

Higher marginal tax rates will help reduce the deficit; however, not by as much as President Barack Obama or the “deficit hawks” would like, Parsneau said. If the House and the president are unable to agree on anymore tax increases or substantial spending cuts to raise revenue, there is the possibility of reducing tax

deductions.

It is unclear as to whether or not the last-minute deal will improve the country’s economic situation.

“We’re still limping along with relatively low growth and high unemployment, and the payroll tax cut ending is going to mean people have less money to spend,” Parsneau said. “However, going over the cliff would have been much worse. Any spending cuts would also mean there is less money in the economy. At the same time, it is tough to say how long the economy could have any long-term stability with the trillion-dollar deficits, and this deal should at least remove some of the uncertainty for people.”

Wagon Wheel Cafe 609 South Front Street Mankato

625-9604

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Every Wednesday at 9:00pm at Hosana Highland in the basement Dean Bowyer (507) 380-9615 ALL DEMONIATIONS WELCOME!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

NEWTOWN “Obama told reporters Monday he is looking at actions he can take on his own to confront gun violence amid resistance from the National Rifle Association lobbying group and wariness among lawmakers from both parties.” continued from 3 Adam Lanza shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14 and killed 26 people before committing suicide as police arrived. He also killed his mother at their Newtown home before driving to the school and carrying out the massacre.

President Barack Obama is reviewing proposals from Vice President Joe Biden, who is leading a task force on ways to reduce gun violence. Obama told reporters Monday he is looking at actions he can take on his own to confront gun violence amid resistance from the National Rifle Association lobbying group and wariness among lawmakers from both parties.

The NRA has fiercely opposed new gun control laws and has called for “a meaningful conversation” about school

safety, mental health issues and marketing violence to children.

A number of governors were already moving ahead with proposals to toughen state laws, including in New York, Delaware and Maryland.

Jeremy Richman, whose daughter Avielle was killed at Sandy Hook, said a deeper understanding of mental health issues is essential. He and his wife, Jennifer Hensel, started a foundation to explore issues such as risk factors and successful interventions.

Richman spoke at the same news conference as Hockley, who said she still finds herself reaching for her son Dylan’s hand or expecting him to crawl into bed with her for a hug before school.

“It’s so hard to believe he’s gone,” she said.

Frame & Auto Body Repair & Automotive Diagnostics Including Foreign Models

We also do

Alignments • Suspensions Brakes • Transmissions • Engines

507.388.6895

1129 Cross Street • North Mankato, MN Mike Zinke, Owner, CEO mwapinm1@hickorytech.net

GO MAVS!

• Single month to month for $32.50 (plus tax)

• 6 months for $165.00 (plus tax) Commit to your resolution, commit to Build 'n Tone, commit to a healthier, happier you!

• Unlimited Tanning $12/mo.

(507) 345-8663

261 Bunting Lane, Mankato, MN 56001 (Behind Jake's Pizza) www.buildntone.com

News

Reporter • Page 7

HOW TO KEEP A RESOLUTION “By getting out of your comfort zone and focusing on obtainable goals, soon a healthy lifestyle will be just an every day norm.” continued from 3

and they might even join with you.

By making the resolution specific, realistic, and making it known, your resolutions for the New Year should become more obtainable rather than out of reach.

As classes begin this week, prioritizing work, school and fun have just begun. Sleeping eight hours a night may seem difficult some nights but it is extremely important.

“A number of recent studies

have confirmed that you really do need at least 8 hours a night.

Among the many benefits: Adequate sleep makes you feel better, decreases risk for cardiovascular disease, boosts memory and reduces the likelihood of being in a car accident,” according to Dr. Nancy Norman, medical director of the Boston Public Health Commission.

By getting out of your comfort zone and focusing on obtainable goals, soon a healthy lifestyle will be just an every

day norm.

“Year after year we make resolutions to exercise regularly, eat well, and give up smoking and other bad habits. Following such basic rules can cut heart disease risk by 80 percent, diabetes risk by 90 percent and cancer risk by 50 percent,” according to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study.

Don’t let the New Years be another holiday that fizzles out fast, but rather an open opportunity for a new beginning and lasting results.

HUNTINGTON HILLS RENT RATES FOR 2013 SCHOOL YEAR:

$400 per room - Apartments $435 per room - Townhomes (Includes, FREE internet & cable)

744 James Avenue • Mankato, MN 56001

(507) 387-3771

Email: huntington.hills@live.com

Page 8 • Reporter

Advertisement

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

THIS WEEK IN MAVERICK SPORTS:

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sports

6:00 pm WOMEN’S BASKETBALL....................................@ Concordia 8:00 pm MEN’S BASKETBALL..........................................@ Concordia

TODAY

JANUARY 15TH

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED

FRIDAY

JANUARY 16TH

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED

SATURDAY

JANUARY 17TH

reporter-sports@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5227

FOR MORE COVERAGE OF your favorite Maverick TEAMS VISIT: MSUMavericks.com

Mavericks drop weekend series to border rival Wisconsin The No. 14 MSU men’s hockey squad was riding high after a stellar christmas break, but two overtime losses to Wisconsin puts MSU right back in the middle of the WCHA. Wisconsin No. 14 MSU

RYAN LUND

news editor

A cursory glance at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings would do little to alleviate the worries of longtime fans of the Minnesota State University men’s hockey team.

The Mavericks (8-8, 14-8-2 overall) currently sit in 8th place in the WCHA, a familiar position for a team that has spent the past several seasons in the conference cellar.

However, with just four points separating the Mavericks and league-leading Denver and Nebraska Omaha, eighth place isn’t such a bad place to be.

Minnesota State peaked at no. 11 over the break in the USCHO.com Division I men’s poll, before a visit from conference foe Wisconsin brought the red-hot Mavericks back to earth, and the no. 14 spot.

It’s worth noting however, that a sweep of the visiting Badgers would have put the Mavericks in a surprising tie for first place, meaning that with just 12 games left to play, college hockey’s toughest conference is still up for grabs.

Still, that all-important national ranking puts MSU

4 Wisconsin 3 No. 14 MSU

firmly “on the bubble;” a tenuous selection for the NCAA tournament in the spring, and a surprising position for a team that finished far outside the national polls, and the race for the McNaughton Cup, last March.

As with the rest of the WCHA, the Mavericks’ season will be defined in the second half, and with visits from topranked Minnesota and national no. 6 North Dakota on the horizon, the team will have its work cut out for it moving forward.

The team fizzled at the hands of the Badgers, who walked away with a pair of hard fought overtime victories in a series full of controversy.

Wisconsin defenseman Joe Faust kicked off the scoring near the end of the first period, converting on a pass from forward Derek Lee at 18:02.

MSU would respond less than a minute later however, as leading scorer Matt Leitner found the back of the net once again, deflecting a powerplay blast from fellow sophomore Zach Palmquist to make it a tie game.

Wisconsin’s Ryan Little

2 1

was responsible for the game’s only action in the second period, beating freshman netminder Stephon Williams to give the Badgers the lead once more.

Senior Tyler Elbrecht leveled the score once again at 8:59 of the period, wristing a shot past Wisconsin goaltender Landon Peterson.

A bizarre major penalty to Stephon Williams at 10:40 of the period forced a brief goaltending change, and Wisconsin’s attack took advantage.

Forward Jefferson Dahl converted on a backhand feed from Sean Little to make it 3-2.

Leitner however wasn’t done yet, tying the game with less than two minutes remaining to force overtime.

The sophomore’s heroics however, came up just short, when John Ramage’s wrister beat Williams with just 32 seconds remaining to give the Badgers a narrow 4-3 victory.

Goals were even harder to come by on Saturday, as the Mavericks found themselves in their third overtime contest in

MSU Hockey / page 13

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Sophomore Matt Leitner lit the lamp three times over the course of the weekend but it wasn’t enough as MSU was swept by Wisconsin to drop their season record to 14-8-2.

MSU takes over the top of the NSIC with six convincing wins over winter break

After a sour feeling from a rough loss to Upper Iowa in early December, the MSU men’s basketball team went on a rampage in the last month, winning all six of their contests to hoist them to the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

While a lot of students relaxed and went home for winter break, the Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s basketball team was still on the clock and worked their way to six victories in six games.

Since their loss to Upper Iowa on the road Head Coach Matt Margenthaler has noticed his team has improved greatly and is excited to see how good his team can be.

“The last month we have been playing better basketball. The great thing about this team is we can continually get better too,” Margenthaler said. “I don’t think we have come even close to reaching the limit yet for this team and if we continue to do that great things will happen.”

The no. 11 Mavericks started their winter break with two confer-

ence wins on the road against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs and the University of Sioux Falls Cougars.

In their 85-84 victory over the Mustangs, the Mavericks found themselves down 61-48 with 10 minutes to go. The Mavericks slowly crept back in to the matchup and were only down by one with 1:32 left in the second half and clinched the game with good defensive stands and sinking five of their six free throws.

Once the New Year begun, the Mavericks spent the next weekend out west and came home with two wins. In their 60-48 victory over Augustana, junior guard Gage Wooten went off for a team-high 19 points and tallied seven rebounds.

The next day the team found themselves in Wayne, Neb. to take a game from Wayne State 66-54.

Junior forward Connor O’Brien joined two other Mavericks with a team-high 13 points to go along with his nine rebounds.

To travel that much during break is a lot to ask for athletes to bring their all, but the Mavericks prevailed all of their road games and Margenthaler knows all road wins are tough.

“Good teams can win their home games, but great teams have to win on the road and that is what we have done so far,” Margenthaler said.

This past weekend the Mavericks got to stay home and went 2-0 with an 83-76 win over Northern State on Friday and 87-64 over MSU Moorhead on Saturday.

On Friday, the Mavericks sat comfortably with a 45-32 lead at halftime. The Northern State Wolves collected a comeback and

found themselves just down one with 4:18 left. Then it was sophomore point guard Zach Monaghan’s time. With some clutch jumpers and making all ten free throws down the stretch, Monaghan scored 18 of the Maverick’s 20 points to clinch the game. He finished the game with 29 points and four steals.

Sophomore forward Zach Romashko knew the team was going to be in a tough game, but they fought through and got the W. “They were a tough team and just kept fighting back,” Romashko said. “They almost had us but we came back and played good defense and made some free throws down the stretch with Zach Monaghan making some tough shots and got the win.”

In Saturday’s game against the Dragons, the Mavericks gained the first lead of the game and

never looked back. Even though the squad was outrebounded, the Dragons had no answer for the Maverick’s high flying offense with senior guard Jarvis Williams leading the way with 21 points.

With both of his great performances this weekend, Monaghan was awarded the NSIC player of the week. Along with his 29 points on Friday, Monaghan put up 13 points, six assists and three steals on Saturday.

“He creates a lot of problems for our opponents,” Margenthaler said.

“The nice thing is, as a point guard, you want a guy who demands the basketball and who is comfortable with the ball. He is that.”

Monaghan, who transferred from South Dakota State University this past summer, averaged just over

MSU Basketball / page 11

Page 10 • Reporter

Sports

Tuesday, January 15, 2013T

MSU goes 4-2 over winter break to heat things up for second half The Mavericks women’s hockey team went through an impressive run over the last month which included a couple series splits, and a trouncing of Lindenwood to bring MSU back into the picture.

TIM FAKLIS

staff writer

Students were dispersed over the majority of winter break, taking time off from their studies to spend time tending to other commitments. All while this was going on, the Minnesota State women’s hockey team was still hard at work, and getting positive results all at once, going 4-2 over the span of winter break.

The Mavericks, who now stand at 9-13-3 on the season, currently sit in sixth in the WCHA conference with a 5-10 record, still have 10 games remaining in the regular season, where they hope to continue to improve their record and make their way back over the .500 mark, a mark that has been

tough to re-approach since they fell back in November.

The Mavericks began their academic break period with a split on the road against the St. Cloud State Huskies. They won game one at a 2-1 clip with goals being scored by both Lauren Smith and Shelby Moteyunas, with Danielle Butters piling up 30 saves on the night. They were not as fortunate the following night, falling 5-2 to end the series with their conference rivals.

The following weekend on the road in St. Charles, Miss. against the Lindenwood University Lions, is where the Mavericks really began to gain large levels of confidence, and the scores reflected that. Minnesota State won both games by a combined score of 12-1,

dominating Lindenwood in virtually every phase of the game.

Lauren Smith led the Mavericks in the goal-scoring department over the weekend, totaling four for the set of games.

Kathleen Rogan also landed a hat trick in the second game, getting her third goal towards the end of the second period.

She was also able to get three more shots on goal in the first game. Danielle Butters had yet another solid weekend, compiling 56 saves and only giving up a single goal against the Lions.

The final series of the weekend, played just this past Friday and Saturday, was another split series, this one also being on the road, as the Mavericks headed north to take on the Bemidji State Beavers. Bemidji State was

Groups of 3 Come Rent Me!

Women’s Hockey / page 11

Looking for Something Flexible?

PT Direct Support Professionals (DSP) LivingLinks is looking for PT DSP’s to assist consumers with developmental disabilities in several group home settings. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and a flexible schedule, $8.48 - $9.50/hr. Hours vary depending on each site. We also have asleep overnight positions available, $7.25/hr. All positions require every other weekend and holiday. Pick up an application & availability sheet at LivingLinks, 1230 N. River Drive, or download at www.livinglinks.org.

Any questions, please call (507) 345-7458.

Cedar Meadow Apartment Homes • Right next to campus at 1300 Block of Warren St. • Large 1500 square ft. split level design • Drive up parking to your unit • Full size washer & dryer in each apartment • On-Site Caretaker

2 & 5 Bedroom Units Still Available!

Email us at:

info@warrenstreettownhomes.com

Call us at:

(507) 345-1599

New energy-efficient 3 bedroom apartments!

507-327-2831 701 S. Victory Drive Mankato, MN w w w.cedarmeadowapartments.com

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sports

MSU Hockey continued from 9 their last four games.

After a scoreless first period the Badgers struck first once again, when Jefferson Dahl converted on a partial breakaway to give Wisconsin a 1-0 lead.

Leitner came up big once again in the third period, redirecting Evan Mosey’s shot past Wisconsin goaltender Joel Rumpel at 12:27, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a split with the surging Badgers, as the team’s entered a fourth frame once again.

A second overtime, and a second game-winner for defenseman John Ramage, who found himself alone in front of the net with just six seconds remaining, burying a snap shot to give the Badgers their first, and last, sweep in Mankato.

Wisconsin is set to depart next season for the Big Ten Hockey Conference.

MSU will have a chance to redeem the tight losses with a trip to last-place Alaska Anchorage this weekend.

Women’s Hockey continued from 10 able to hold their home ice in the first game, shutting MSU out 2-0, but the Mavericks were able to bounce back in the second game winning in overtime 4-3.

Emilia Anderson had a goal and two assists in the game, as she was able to play a key role in the offense in their lone victory over the weekend.

After three consecutive sets of series on the road, the Mavericks finally get a chance to play at home this weekend when they face off against the University

of Minnesota Golden Gophers, who have yet to lose a game this year, sitting in first place in the WCHA at 22-0 overall, and 16-0 in conference play.

The toughest test yet for Coach Eric Means and his team thus far, this series is bound to test the success the Mavericks were able to muster on the road over break. With their confidence up and their play as a team noticeably improved, they may just be up to the task.

MSU Basketball continued from 9

14 points and three steals a game during winter break.

“I’m just trying to be more aggressive and just trying to look for my opportunities a little bit more,” Monaghan said.

With not a lot of players returning from last season, the Mavericks had some key players transfer to MSU and they have made a huge impact already this season, including Williams. Most fans know him for his high flying plays and scoring ability, but he has also been one of the Mavericks’ best on-ball defenders.

“He is one of our best defenders and he has done a great job lately of locking down the best offensive players on our opponent’s teams,” Margenthaler said. “Offensively he just continues to get better and better and feeling more comfortable.”

Williams is putting up 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a night so far this season.

The NSIC leading Mavericks are back on the road tonight against the 2-11 Concordia Golden Bears in St. Paul, Minn.

Start the New Year with a Up to $90 Off Select iPads for the month of January.

Stop down to the Campus Computer Store for details.

PHONE: (507) 389-1907 FAX: (507) 389-5289 EMAIL: store@mnsu.edu https://store.mnsu.edu

STORE HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm Join us on Facebook:

MnSU Campus Computer Store

CALL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS ON CAR ACCIDENTS OR ANY OTHER ACCIDENT CLAIMS ARE YOU BEING HARASSED

BY A DEBT COLLECTOR? We also handle claims against debt collectors for abusive practices. Debt collectors must be truthful and treat you with respect. They are limited in what they can do by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act among other state and federal laws. We can help you with those claims at no cost to you.

The law provides in part that debt collectors cannot call you at work if you have told them it is not allowed or if it is bothersome to you. They cannot tell your family, neighbors, co-workers, or your boss about your debt. They cannot threaten to garnish your wages or sue you unless they are a licensed attorney in Minnesota. These are only a few of your rights.

Call us to protect your rights.

881 Madison Ave. At the top of Madison Avenue Hill.

(507) 345-4543

Reporter • Page 11

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

A&E

APP OF THE WEEK:

NEW RELEASES

Fart_Bomb

IN THEATRES: Gangster Squad..................... January 11 Broken City............................. January 18 Parker.................................... January 25

Mohummad Safa Konuk Choose a sound, set up a timer, run away from your position, and fart sound goes off.

Free app.

IN MUSIC: Dropkick Murphys..................... January 8 Everything Everything............. January 14 A$AP Rocky........................... January 15

EMRE K. ERKU

a & e editor

On this date, 1977, what comedy sketch debuted on SNL?

Zero Dark Thirty Review JAMES SCHUYLER HOUTSMA

web editor

L

adies and gentlemen of the Maverick student body, anther New Year is upon us just in time to sweep the plate clean for best wishes and world peace. The year 2012 was, to say the very least, a fascinating year for the devil himself and all his minions. The blood of the innocent spilled all over our T.V. screens like we were addicted to it, the financial totals for presidential campaigning could have saved Haiti’s debt crisis, and the dead housing market bequeathed its business to upper-class pimps bottom feeding on broken prices. But it doesn’t matter – the world is always going to be messy, and the only thing we’ve learned to do is rock out the misery by unleashing high levels of dopamine and music upon the cells of our brains. It’s just the remedy for numbing our thoughts, our reflections – our nightmares. 2012 served us a cup of sour milk with a side of machine gun.

Many people, adults and children alike, received what they did not deserve. So good-bye 2012, burn in hell.

This New Year must be a year of love, lust, inconsequential beer drinking, selflessness, good music and good times.

It is our only hope, as Mavericks, to make sure that people – at least on our campus – aren’t deprived of socialization. Maybe an optional mass orgy in front of Armstrong Hall every Thursday afternoon would help deter some from committing massacres from the noses of AR-15s. And if that’s too extreme, maybe beautiful men and women, gay or straight, should be hired to greet students with Hawaiian leis around the neck and kisses on the cheek every time they step foot on campus. It may not work, but something indeed has to.

Realistically, all we can do is morph our feelings and thoughts about the past wretched year into music and fun, just like McCartney and Grohl did at the 1212-12 Benefit in New York. The anger, the disappointment, and the depression: all channeled through slick licks, drumrolls, and raspy roars. Something the lovely city of Mankato is definitely capable of doing.

And here we go again, friends. From the sneaky cigarette breaks at the side of Trafton Hall, to the last call at Mum’s the Word on a below zero night, semester two awaits our habitual escapes from the world like a cheetah patiently awaiting its prey. Downtown Kato has

QUESTION:

Bring the correct answer to CSU 293 to claim today’s prize!

reporter-arts@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5157

An Editors’s Thought: 2012, the Year of the Devil

TODAY’S TRIVIA

N

armed itself to the teeth with armies of kegs, batches of chicken wings, and bouncers for the disorderly. 2013 is now ready for the title wave of dumbness and disaster.

What better way to ride this wave by pretending to be a connoisseur in the art of brew? That is, on Saturday afternoon, attending the Mankato Craft Beer Expo at the Verizon Wireless Center for a taste of 40 different craft brews from Minnesota and beyond, a fine listen of live music, and a history lesson of how Minnesota and beer came to be. At just $35 a ticket, one can lose his or herself in the mists of a beer utopia, and forget the fact that 2012 was ever even a year.

Or maybe it’s lust you want. A fun fool around with a new consensual partner at the peak of a night’s high. Not to worry, you are in luck. Boomtown is the proper place to go and converse with young singles on a thirsty Thursday.

There you might be able to snatch up a treasure for the ages while enjoying $5 domestic pitchers. And if talking to strangers isn’t your thing, darts and billiards are always a good option for blending in with the atmosphere.

So this week – this year – lets set ‘em up and knock ‘em down. Find love with the courage of liquid, fun with the help of friends, and let the past be the past.

It’s the only way we can push forward without losing our sanity. Cheers.

ot many movies get the bragging rights to say they sparked calls for congressional hearings. Thus was the reception to Zero Dark Thirty, the new movie by the team behind The Hurt Locker. The story of the manhunt that led to the death of Osama Bin Laden, directed by Katheryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, has attracted controversy from the beginning, not only for its perceived promotion of torture by the CIA, but also for containing what may be classified information.

Almost as mysterious as the movie’s intentions is its title. As this reviewer sat and witnessed this catalyst of controversy, some very convenient thoughts sprang to mind in trying to decide what the title was really referring to.

Zero: - Sides taken by the filmmakers on issues. Zero Dark Thirty is supposedly based on actual documents and statements from individuals who were involved in the hunt. The entire movie plays as a very factual and cold procedural account of what led up to the raid on Bin Laden’s compound. The issue of torture (specifically to gather information) practically defines the first half hour of the movie.

However, the filmmakers are trying their best to stick to a completely objective take on what happened. It’s not an easy thing to do with something so important and recent, but the movie does a fine job of it. The thing is, so often it feels like the only thing that’s being said in

the movie about this challenging issue is “It happened. Decide for yourself whether or not it worked”.

If there is to be any controversy pinned to the movie, this is it. Some will find this ambiguity as thought-provoking and a genius move by Bigelow and Boal in turning something objective into subjective. Others may find it irresponsible of the filmmakers to essentially take no stand on something that could be interpreted incorrectly in a film that attempts to be procedural. As is, it’s left for each individual to decide what role torture played in getting from A to B, if any.

- Nearly how much character development the movie has. Zero Dark Thirty’s main concern is getting as much information about this event across as possible in its considerable runtime. The expense of this is that our cold and driven main character, Maya, is essentially the only player who is fleshed out in the movie. Everybody else is pretty much reduced to a cameo. So while it’s perfectly understandable to take this approach, some solid character interest would have helped the movie out in some of the longer stretches.

- Bad performances.

Even if some of the actors are just there for the sake of it, nobody gives a subpar performance. As expected, the cast brings intensity and helps us through the jargon that the script sometimes falls back on. Expect some serious consideration for

ZDT / page 14

T

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

TRISH BJERKE

staff writer

A&E

Reporter • Page 13

TB’s Take on College Dating

Winter break.

For some, it was a joyous time to see family members, reunite with old high school friends and make some extra money.

For others, it was a horrible, cringe-inducing month of seeing family members and old high school friends.

If you’re in the latter category, there are plenty of reasons why it sucked. Maybe your family is extremely conservative and you’re the opposite. Maybe your high school friends are all still living at home, working at Super America and playing World of Warcraft until four in the morning.

Or, maybe you hated break because of one simple question: “Are you dating anybody?”

That question sure ruined my break… especially because Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.

In a world filled with politics, celebrity blunders, family gossip and even the weather, why is that question so important to ask at gatherings? It’s as if getting an education at college isn’t the real thing people are concerned about; it’s weather or not you’ve found someone special.

Popular questions asked: “Oh, are you dating anyone?”

“How is (insert ex’s name)?”

“Are you and (insert ex’s name) still together?”

“Oh, no, we broke up five months ago and I told you that last time, but thanks for ripping open those old wounds.”

With that response, everyone seemed to give tips on how to meet people of the opposite sex.

Here they are: 1) “Meet people through your hobbies.” If your hobbies include playing pool, darts, skiing, snowboarding, etc. there’s a pretty good chance you could meet someone.

Not all people have hobbies like that though. Mine, for example, are going to movies, reading, writing and painting in the comfort of my own home.

Unsure of how you’re supposed to meet people in a dark movie theatre or while you’re reading in a recliner, so thanks for the tip. Then I was told, “Maybe you need to find new hobbies.”

2) “Meet people at work.”

This is a little hard to do with some jobs, and even more hard if you don’t have a job. Jobs where it is possible to meet members of the opposite sex:

bartending (but they probably won’t remember you), dental hygienist (but you won’t be able to understand what they’re saying)… Actually, let’s just veto this whole tip. If you work with someone, there’s a pretty good chance you’re already sick of seeing him or her every day.

Breaking up would be quite messy and awkward, too: “Is there someone else?” “Yes, John in accounting. See you Monday!”

3) “You should sign up for online dating! Match.com is where my girlfriend and I met.”

Sorry, dad, but you’re 58 years old and have exerted your options already. Online dating for college students seems to take the Facebook approach. Add that cute guy from the gym, add that cute girl in your class. Chat them up. It seems creepy, but if you’re desperate enough, creepy is okay.

4) ”Don’t meet people in bars.” This makes sense, yes, but most college students spend time in bars or at house parties.

It’s agreed that this is a terrible place to meet people. Meeting people while intoxicated is easy, but meeting them again sober might make you realize that you

have nothing in common with them besides your love of Red Rocks. Play it safe, I guess.

5) “Go to the gym!” This has potential to work, but most people don’t want to talk to attractive people when they’re dripping in sweat. A good piece of advice came from my father, though. He recommends asking guys for help. “Excuse me, I’m interested in making my arms less flabby. Could you show me some exercises that will help me?” Men like to be needed and women like to fight arm flab, so this could be the best way to meet someone-- hitting the gym

and getting your flirt on, all in one.

6) “Get involved on campus.”

How? “Go to events on campus, like sports games or comedy clubs or performances.” If that doesn’t interest you, I know the feeling. Maybe there should be a club called, “Singles looking for Singles” and get straight to the point.

Maybe next time your family asks, lie. Say, “Yes, I am seeing someone. He’s great. He’s really teaching the class a lot about engineering/sculpting/bowling.”

Sarcasm always gets the last word.

Hot New DJ Dirty Ruckus Live Every Tuesday and Thursday

Everyday 4pm-11pm #1 EntertainmeNT destination

Page 14 • Reporter

A&E

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

continued from 12 Jessica Chastain for this year’s Best Actress Oscar.

- Best Director nomination for Katheryn Bigelow at this year’s Oscars. Sad day.

Dark: - The tone of the movie. Not that it was really expected for anybody to break out into Rodgers and Hammerstein songs in a movie about the search for and decimation of one of the U.S.’ most hated enemies, but you get the idea. Still, it’s good to see such a challenging and serious movie get the awards consideration it’s received in contrast to the feelgood, some may say “fluff” that the Academy has so heavily favored in recent years.

- Where I was, concerning some of the details in this story. While it is a movie first and foremost and requires some molding here and there for script purposes, ZDT is nothing if not informative. The

devil is in the details, as they say, and the details of this highly secretive account remain a highlight of the movie.

Thirty: - A healthy amount of minutes that should have been shaved off of this movie. The final raid (the part most unaware audience members have paid to see) is a strange combination of methodical and intense and is perfectly thrilling as is. The two hours which come before it aren’t on quite as solid ground.

So while the first two acts can be both tough to watch in the torture sequences and intriguing because of the info, the bureaucracy of the whole affair can seem very tedious and sometimes, quite honestly, boring. This is where some kind of character development would have been beneficial to carry us along.

As is, the feeling our main character so often had of

With Land to Air Express and its connecting partner Jefferson Lines, you can get where you need to go, stress free! Land to Air provides connections to cities throughout Minnesota, in addition to the airport. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

No bothering family and friends, no parking issues, no fighting traffic, no trouble with the weather! Save time, money and aggravation.

Afternoon schedules. Pickup by the Waves sculpture on MNSU campus by reservation.

not gaining any leeway and being stuck in a rut is a bit too real for we the audience.

It’s easy to see that the writer and director were mainly interested in getting the most detailed account they could but cutting out some of the extraneous parts wouldn’t have hurt; on the contrary it likely would have made the movie all the more thrilling.

If it wasn’t clear, Zero Dark Thirty is undeniably good but isn’t the best movie ever, nor is it the best movie of the year. But as far as importance goes, that’s a whole different ballgame. Very few movies can match the weight of such a powerful subject or inform as well as this movie and due to that Zero Dark Thirty finds its true meaning.

Undergraduate Research Grants are available!

Deadline: Monday, February 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm in MH 265

Student grant writing workshop:

Tuesday, January 15th 12pm – 1pm CSU 202 Grant applications available at www.mnsu.edu/urc Questions? Contact us at urc@mnsu.edu

Small, One-Topping Pizza & a Fountain Beverage for only

$6.00 “Wouldn't a Jake's Pizza taste great after class?”

330 Stadium Road • 345-5420

Need to scrap your vehicle? $$ CALL US $$

Tuesday,Tuesday, January January 15, 2013 15, 2013

www.themsureporter.com www.themsureporter.com | (507) 389-1776 | (507) 389-1776 FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

NOTICES

FIND A PLACE TO RENT OR post rental listings at radrenter. com.

4/25 POST ROOMMATE LISTINGS, OR just connect with the people who live around you at radrenter.com/social.

4/25 1 BEDROOM IN 5 BEDROOM house, steps from campus $405 per month includes utilities.

Available now. Jim @ 507-3452049. No pets.

1/24 5 OR 4 OR 3 OR 2 OR 1 bedroom houses/apartments. Available right now. Some for next year.

Many to choose from. Check out our website. www.ottoH.com owner/agent or call 507-6251010.

6/19

BARTENDERS WANTED! $250/ day potential. No experience necessary. Training available.

Age 18+ OK. (800)965-6520 Ext 170.

5/2

FREE SHOTOKAN KARATE classes offered Monday 6-8 pm.

Tuesday 7-9 pm. Thursday 6-8 pm. Room PH 102. Beginners are welcome. Need not to be a MSU student to join. For info call Brad @ 507-388-5301 or lostgonzo@gmail.com or search MSU Shotokan on facebook or yahoo groups.

5/2

MISCELLEANOUS SECONDHAND BOOKSTORE & Exchange, South Front St. across from Fillin’ Shahon Coffee house. All types of leisure reading. Browsers welcome OnceRead 388-8144 Mon-Sat 10 to 5 pm.

1/17

Looking for Something Flexible?

• Used parts, cars, trucks & repairables!

• Purchasing all grades of metal!

• 70' scale on-site!

• Free Pick Up! • Friendly, Reliable Service • Top Dollar Paid • Online Parts Search

HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 8-5

507-524-3735

(10 miles south on Hwy. 22)

bandrautotrucksalvage.com

• Two Simulators • New & Used Clubs • Shoes and Clothing • Golf Accessories 201 N. VICTORY DR. BELLE MAR MALL MANKATO, MN 56001

PT Awake Overnight DSP LivingLinks is looking for a PT Awake Overnight Direct Support Professional (DSP) to assist consumers with developmental disabilities in a group home.

Duties include: evening and morning personal cares (bathing, toileting, dressing), meal preparation and house cleaning. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and a flexible schedule, $10.4911.77/ hour. Approximately 28 hrs a week; 10pm-7:30am, 3 nights a week, every other weekend and holiday. Pick up an application & availability sheet at LivingLinks, 1230 N. River Drive, or download at www.livinglinks.org. Any questions, please call (507) 345-7458.

507-386-7383 foreseasons@hotmail.com

PUMA • ADIDAS • OAKLEY • NIKE TAYLOR MADE • CALLAWAY

Like Us On Facebook

Now accepting small dogs!

Beautiful Outdoor Pool

Spacious Apartments

1 & 2 Bedrooms

Rent begins at $382.50/mo.*

FREE Parking on Campus

Heat & Water included

1 Mile from Campus

Laundry Facilities

* Based on double occupancy in 2 Bdr.

Page 16 • Reporter

Advertisement

Tuesday, January 15, 2013