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THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2017
Don’t evade this informative tax event Beta Alpha Psi to host Taxes 101 in Ostrander Auditorium.
LUKE LARSON Staff Writer Taxes may not be due for another three months or so, but an opportunity to learn more about the tax process is right around the corner for MNSU students. At 5 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium Thursday, Jan. 19, the MNSU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, a national honorary organization for accounting, finance, and information technology students, will be hosting a free event called Taxes 101. The event, which will run until 6:15, will feature speakers Akmal Abdulmumimov (president of the MNSU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi), Zain Ul Abedin (vice president of Community Engagement), as well as MNSU accounting professor Dr. Kristen Rosacker. The first half of the event will
(CC BY 2.0) by reynermedia be devoted to a presentation given by Beta Alpha Psi and the second half will consist of an open question and answer session. The event is aimed at providing “what [students] need to know and what [they] need to have in order to file taxes,” according to Abdulmumimov. Student Events Team’s description of Taxes 101
on OrgSync notes that the event will include discussion of “education related tax deductions/credits, earned income tax credit, renter’s rebate, tax benefits for parents, options for students to get their taxes done for free, and many more [topics].” A major theme will be how to make use of Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA),
a free service that will be offering tax preparation assistance to MNSU students every Friday in Armstrong Hall room 320 beginning next month. Abdulmumimov explains that “it’s an IRScertified program where students in the accounting department take a test to be certified and then [they] do
tax returns for lower income [families].” The VITA page on the MNSU College of Business website notes that the service is available to any individual with an annual income under $35,000 and any family with an annual income of under $55,000. Appointments can be scheduled at www. collegeofbusiness.fullslate. com. Ul Abedin notes that one common mistake students make is “that they don’t know that someone else is claiming them as their dependent. When they have their tax returns prepared, this can be a problem for the IRS and for them as well. Their tax returns can be rejected for that.” The tax process for both domestic and international students will be addressed in the speakers’ presentation. Abdulmumimov adds that the implications of new federal tax laws, which will delay some tax returns, will be also discussed. This is the second year that the event is being held.
Don’t sweat it: New fitness classes have you covered MNSU offers a range of fun new options to help get you in shape.
STEPHANIE VOGEL Staff Writer Want to keep striving to reach your New Year’s exercise goals? Then try taking advantage of the free fitness classes that are offered on campus for MNSU students. Fitness classes take place in PH102 and HN225, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. every week day except for Friday. All you need to participate is clean shoes, unless it’s yoga, then you can take your shoes off.
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Exercise can relieve stress and tension and provides a much needed break from school and work. Students only need to show up to the class and follow the instructor’s lead, so coming up with your own workout plan is not necessary. The classes also provide an opportunity to meet new people who want to be challenged to strengthen their body and improve their health. If you want to improve your health and well-being, then taking advantage of the
free fitness classes would be very beneficial for you. This semester, two new classes are being offered: Shred & Core class and Barre Yoga class. According to the group fitness class descriptions on www.mnsu.edu/campusrec/ fitness, Barre Yoga “is a highintensity, endurance-based workout. Class includes brief warm up and cool down with additional core conditioning.” Yoga has been a popular class in the past, so four different yoga classes
are now on the schedule this semester: Yoga Barre, Yoga Flow, and Yoga for Strength. According to Carly Hopper, the program coordinator for the fitness and wellness program, Yoga Sculpt incorporates strength moves into normal yoga. Yoga Sculpt students use free weights with yoga and exercise to energizing music. Yoga Barre is the same class as Barre, but the instructor is adding more yoga components added to it. In Yoga Flow, also known as vinyasa, the poses
How to get back into the swing of things
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flow together in smooth transitions. The poses need to be thought out ahead of time by the instructor. Yoga for Strength, which is taught by Hopper, is a mini power hour at 9 a.m. on Fridays, in PH102. This routine is also a yoga flow, but the poses are held longer and certain poses are done
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2 • MSU Reporter
News
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Pence promises big investment in infrastructure NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President-elect Mike Pence pledged to a group of mayors that the Trump administration will make a serious investment in infrastructure, and he told diplomats that Trump and his incoming team share “a commitment to engage with all of the world.” Speaking Tuesday to a meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, Pence said President-elect Donald Trump told him to pass on that “we’re going to do an infrastructure bill, and it’s going to be big.” Trump, who consistently lamented the state of American bridges, roads and airports while campaigning, has promised to invest $1 trillion in transportation and infrastructure spending, though he has provided few details. Pence also said the new administration will work with cities as partners. He looked ahead to Friday’s inauguration, saying it will mark “the dawn of a new era for our country, it’s an era of growth and opportunity and renewed greatness for
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press America.” Trump also made his first trip to Washington in weeks on Tuesday, as his inauguration festivities approach. Trump flew in for a blacktie dinner honoring Tom Barrack, his longtime friend and head of the Inauguration
Committee. The Chairman’s Global Dinner drew nearly 150 diplomats and ambassadors, well-heeled donors, soon-tobe White House staffers and Cabinet picks. “We have great respect for your countries. We have great respect for our world,” Trump told the group
after he was introduced by Pence, who assured that the future president was willing to engage with the world, despite his “America First” mantra. “I’m not sure that the national media here in America completely understands the president-
elect. I can assure you that the world will,” Pence said, adding that Trump “will be a president who puts America first, but we will work every day with nations around the world to advance the peace and prosperity of our allies and our friends across the world.” The president-elect is expected to return to New York after the dinner. He’ll make his final trip to Washington on Thursday to attend a concert at the Lincoln Memorial and stay, as is custom for incoming presidents, at Blair House, the presidential guest quarters, the night before he’s sworn in. In New York on Tuesday, Trump met with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg. Trump has criticized the cost of Boeing’s Air Force One program. “We made some great progress to refine
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 3
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Continued from page 2 requirements for Air Force One, to streamline the process, to streamline certain features, all of that will lead to a better airplane at a lower cost,” Muilenberg said after the meeting. He said Trump “is doing a good job as an agent of business” and added that more conversations would be forthcoming. He did not set a timeline on
circumstance of Friday’s inauguration. On Tuesday, the presidentelect continued his attacks on Rep. John Lewis, whom he berated Saturday for challenging his legitimacy to be the next president. Trump said that the veteran AfricanAmerican congressman from Georgia had wrongly claimed that it would be the
“Trump, who consistently lamented the state of American bridges, roads and airports while campaigning, has promised to invest $1 trillion in transportation and infrastructure spending, though he has provided few details.” settling on a final price tag. Trump’s comment s on Twitter and to news organizations threatened to overshadow the pomp and
first inauguration he’s missed since 1987. “WRONG (or lie!)” Trump tweeted. “He boycotted Bush 43 also because he ‘thought
it would be hypocritical to attend Bush’s swearing-in.... he doesn’t believe Bush is the true elected president.’ Sound familiar!” Lewis’ office on Tuesday confirmed that the civil rights icon had missed George W. Bush’s 2001 swearing-in, saying it was also a form of dissent. Trump has been widely criticized for the comments and more than 40 House Democrats plan to boycott his inauguration. Trump had sought to ease friction Monday, meeting with a son of Martin Luther King Jr. Asked about the boycott on a phone call with reporters, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said they would “love for every member of Congress to attend but if they don’t, we’ve got some great seats for others to partake in. It’s a shame that these folks don’t want to be part of the peaceful transfer of power.” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the boycott was a “reflection of the division” in the country.
Trump also put GOP lawmakers on the defensive Tuesday over their tax plan, after he called their approach “too complicated” in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. At issue is a proposal called “border adjustment” that would tax imports to the U.S. while exempting exports. It’s part of a sweeping planned rewrite of the U.S. tax code aimed at lowering overall rates on corporations from 35 percent to 20 percent. “Anytime I hear border adjustment, I don’t love it,” Trump said. Trump also appeared to outline a different health care goal than many Republicans over the weekend. During inter views with The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, Trump said that after the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, he’ll offer “insurance for everybody.” Congressional Republicans have been careful to say that they want to provide “universal access.” European Union nations bracing for Trump’s ascension
showed defiance Monday in the face of the presidentelect’s stinging comments on everything from NATO and German cars to the crumbling of the European Union. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the Trump’s view that NATO was obsolete and his criticism that European allied members aren’t paying their fair share had “caused astonishment.” Also this week, Trump’s picks for Cabinet posts continue their trek to Capitol Hill to win support from lawmakers considering their confirmation for Cabinet positions. On Tuesday, Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana made his case to be interior secretary. And Betsy DeVos, Trump’s pick for education secretary, has a confirmation hearing Tuesday evening.
4 • MSU Reporter
Thursday, January 19, 2017 EMAIL THE EMAIL THE EDITOR CHIEF: EDITOR IN IN CHIEF:
How to get back into the swing of things Banish the beginning of semester blues with a few helpful hints.
Opinion RACHAEL JAEGER Staff Writer We are now delving into the second week of the spring semester after a monthlong winter break. Even for me, it is easy to grow lazy despite how passionate I may be about classes, and it becomes even easier if taking courses one may find uninteresting. Despite what feels like gravity is pulling students away from classes, I have discovered a few tips that have helped me get back into the swing of things over the years. One key factor that helps me feel productive once again is planning. What I like to do for myself is plan and
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(CC BY 2.0) by DafneCholet time with friends or personal interests, especially later on in the semester when you feel like I do. With planning, you physically see the events set
“Despite what feels like gravity is pulling students away from classes, I have discovered a few tips that have helped me get back into the swing of things over the years.” work ahead in small amounts of time, especially in the first three weeks when classes begin. That way I can enjoy
RAE MATTHEW FRAME EBERLINE alyssa.frame
before you, and it becomes harder to ignore important assignments or meetings. It also doesn’t hurt to
Pulse
look at your schedule and write on your calendar the main assignments that are due and will affect your grade most. That way you are less surprised and can concentrate on other responsibilities you have or indulge in a mental break. Another thing I do to help get me back into the swing of things is begin assignments early. With a semester of events often planned in the syllabus, it doesn’t hurt to begin some of the easier tasks. This initial effort to complete some tasks will help you get back into school mode. So spend time reading about the subject and the
assignment, jot down a few thoughts in your notebook, and take pride in working ahead. When you aren’t planning or working ahead, take five. Believe it or not, it is great to take breaks. When your mind lacks the space to process what you listened to in a lecture or from information you read in a textbook, it freezes. Unless you have a class afterwards, sit down and observe your surroundings and interesting people who catch your eye.
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“What does it mean to be successful?
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POLICIES & INFO • If you have a complaint, suggestion or would or would likelike to point to point outout an an error error made made in the in the Reporter, Reporter, callcall Editor Editor in Chief in Chief Matthew Rae Eberline Frame atat 507-389-5454. 507-389-5454. The The Reporter Reporter will will correct correct any any errors errors of fact of fact or misspelled or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board. • 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 $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • 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. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.
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“Working hard toward your goals in life and doing what you can to achieve them.”
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 5
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Ice storm paralyzes parts of Oregon, Washington state TROUTDALE, Ore. (AP) — An ice storm shut down major highways Wednesday in Oregon and Washington state and paralyzed towns in the Columbia River Gorge with up to 2 inches of ice at the same time rising temperatures in Portland raised the prospect of flooding after the largest snowstorm in years. As temperatures hovered around freezing, Interstate 84 was shut down for about 45 miles in an area northeast of Portland and again farther east due to blizzard conditions. Transportation officials had no immediate plans to reopen the highway connecting Oregon and Idaho. Officials warned Idaho motorists not to head west toward Oregon on the highway where dozens of semi-trucks with no place to go were lined up and doubleparked along ramps near the point of the closure. “They just towed me out because they want to clear the road, but I don’t think I-84 is back open,” said Brad Cottle, a trucker who got stuck in the mess and spent the night in his cab. “I’m going to have to go back to the truck stop.” It was the latest weather drama in Oregon, which has been pummeled in recent weeks by intense snowfall and uncharacteristically cold
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press temperatures. Portland, a city more accustomed to mild, rainy winters, was hit last week by a storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas — the third significant snowfall since December. The frigid spell — with temperatures plunging as low as 13 degrees — is the second-coldest since 1941. Temperatures are usually in high 30s and 40s in the winter. Four homeless people have died of exposure in Portland. Schools have been closed for days throughout the state and businesses shuttered. Portland’s streets
remained coated with a thick layer of rutted ice for almost a week until Wednesday, when rain began to melt the snow. Por tland generally doesn’t use salt on its roads during winter weather but experimented with it in specific locations after a storm last month left commuters trapped in their cars for hours. On Wednesday, however, the problem was ice, forcing state officials to open the emergency management office. Bonneville, on the Washington state side of the Columbia River, had 2 inches of ice, and Hood River, on
the Oregon side, got 1.5 inches, said Andy Bryant, a hydrologist at the National Weather Service office in Portland. Meteorologists compared the scene to severe storms in 1996 and 2004. “That kind of ice accumulation is pretty unusual,” Bryant said. “This is a big one.” Billy Graham, 57, was trying to visit friends and family after driving from Texas but was stranded at a Motel 6 along Interstate 84 in Troutdale. He hadn’t been able to get out of his room, even on foot, because of the slick pavement, he said in a
telephone interview. “I haven’t eaten in a couple of days,” he said. “You can’t even walk. If you do, you fall down.” Farther east, I-84 was also closed again between Pendelton and Ontario, and Interstate 82 was also shut down between I-84 and the Washington border. In Washington state, Interstate 90, the main highway connecting western and eastern Washington, was to remain closed over Snoqualmie Pass because of hazardous winter conditions. Crews will re-evaluate the roadway Thursday morning. Charles McCaskill, a trucker heading to Nebraska to deliver frozen salmon, pulled over along the shoulder of I-90 waiting for the highway to reopen. “It’s just one of those things we’ve got to deal with,” said the Florida trucker who slept in his cab overnight. In Northern California, a wind storm led to the cancellation of dozens of flights at San Francisco International Airport. Muir Woods National Park was closed after several redwood trees toppled. California is bracing for two more storms through the weekend.
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Continued from page 1 “Students only need to show up to the class and follow the instructor’s lead, so coming up with your own workout plan is not necessary.” more than a few times. This class is quite popular as 20 to 45 students have come in the past. The popularity of each class depends a lot on people’s class schedules. Some of the benefits of yoga are relaxation, stress relief, and flexibility. In regards to yoga, Hopper said, “yoga helped me learn to accept my body where it’s at and learn to like myself. It’s an exercise anybody and any body can do.”
Yoga is a time to kick your shoes off and slow down a little bit. It gives busy students a chance to set aside time to release stress and let go. The end goal of yoga flow is the last pose, Savasana, where you simply lie there, relax, and restore. How many other exercise routines are there where you get to lie down at the end and take deep breaths? Your body deserves that time of relaxation and restoration.
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
Exiting rail safety chief looks to technology to save lives PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sarah Feinberg was on the job as the nation’s chief railroad regulator for just three weeks when a packed commuter train slammed into an SUV stopped on tracks north of New York City, killing six people. The February 2015 crash highlighted a problem that has plagued the railroad industry since the invention of the automobile: the potential for danger wherever tracks and roads meet. Feinberg, a former Obama White House adviser whose lack of railroad industry experience drew criticism early on, sought a new approach to safety at the nation’s 240,000 railway crossings. Signs, gates, bells and lights were fine where rail crossings had them, but what about using technology to empower motorists and keep them from harm? Feinberg, whose tenure as the Federal Railroad Administrator ends with Donald Trump’s inauguration
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press agency” beholden to the railroad industry, praised Feinberg’s “fresh approach” to the role. “She demonstrated a true willingness to work together and focused much-needed
“The February 2015 crash highlighted a problem that has plagued the railroad industry since the invention of the automobile: the potential for danger wherever tracks and roads meet.” as president on Friday, embraced her outsider status in the entrenched, slow-toevolve world of railroading. That meant not getting bogged down in past practice, the 39-year-old West Virginia native said, and not shying away from holding railroads accountable for wrongdoing. During Feinberg’s tenure, the Federal Railroad Administration has aggressively policed safety violations, closing cases at a higher rate and collecting more fine money per year than her predecessors. “There were a lot of potential improvements that would only come to fruition if the industry chose to embrace technology and safety improvements, and if the regulator chose to force their hand a bit,” Feinberg said in a recent interview. “That’s the moment we walked into.” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who criticized the FRA under previous administrators as a “rogue
attention on the problem of dangerous grade crossings,” said Blumenthal, a Democrat representing Connecticut. Three months after the New York crash, when an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia, killing eight people, Feinberg pressed the railroads to hasten the installation of automated speed controls that had been available for years. When the industry convinced Congress to postpone the installation deadline until the end of 2018, Feinberg fought back and said she would not accept further delays. To keep the pressure up, she had the FRA post quarterly updates to its website on each railroad’s progress. As oil trains continued to derail and catch fire, Feinberg again turned to technology, championing modern electronic braking systems. And, with a link between recent commuter train crashes and sleep apnea
becoming clearer, Feinberg issued a safety advisory urging railroads to test engineers for the dangerous, fatigue-inducing disorder. “The most important development that we’ve seen over the last few years is there’s now a public expectation for safety improvements in the rail industry,” Feinberg said. As she leaves office, Feinberg is seeing results from the new approach to rail crossings she embraced in her first weeks on the job. Technology companies have started adding railway crossing locations to GPS
devices and mapping applications, warning motorists as they approach. “That just seemed like common sense,” Feinberg said. “It’s a good example of, even when safety challenges and problems have been with us for a long time, you have to think about them in new and creative ways.” Other safety initiatives are a work in progress, with Feinberg’s yet-to-be-named successor left to shape the future of rail travel. There’s the looming, $120 billion redesign of the busy Northeast Corridor, planned
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high-speed service in Florida, Texas and California and aging infrastructure that’ll need billions in repairs. Trump, a Republican, has proposed spending $1 trillion on infrastructure, but his transition team has not discussed specifics about how that will apply to rail travel. At her confirmation hearing, Tr u m p’s Transportation Secretary nominee, Elaine Chao, was non-committal on the deadline for installing speed controls saying she needed a briefing on the technology before answering. Patrick Warren, the FRA’s acting executive director, will become acting administrator until Trump appoints a replacement for Feinberg. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who has been vocal on rail issues, called on Trump to appoint someone who “prioritizes safety as much as” Feinberg. “Certainly the incoming administrator’s priorities matter, because that’s the direction the agency tends to move in,” Feinberg said. “But, FRA has always been a safety agency. It has always been staffed by safety experts and I know that the team will continue the safety work no matter who’s leading it.”
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 7
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States argue in court for more say over endangered species
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press DENVER (AP) — The federal government asked an appeals court Wednesday to overturn an order that bars the release of endangered wolves in New Mexico without the state’s permission, a skirmish in a broader battle over states’ rights and the Endangered Species Act. New Mexico and 18 other states argue that the law requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to cooperate with them on how endangered species are reintroduced within their borders. Federal attorneys counter that the law allows the agency to go around a state, if necessary, to save a species. Many of the arguments attorneys made to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Wednesday focused on the legality of the court order restricting the release of more wolves, not the broader issue of the states’ role in restoring endangered species. But in hundreds of pages
of court filings, the states and the federal government staked out opposing positions on who has the final say. The fight is unfolding amid uncertainty about the future of the Endangered Species Act. Congress and the White House will both be controlled by Republicans who generally see it as an impediment to jobs and economic development. And even if the court sides with the Fish and Wildlife Service, it’s not clear whether president-elect Donald Trump’s administration will continue to fight after he takes office. The dispute before the 10th Circuit is over a Fish and Wildlife Service program to restore the Mexican gray wolf to parts of its original range in New Mexico and Arizona. New Mexico has multiple complaints about the way the program is managed, and in 2015 it refused to issue a permit to Fish and Wildlife to release more of the predators
in the state. New Mexico also announced it might sue the agency. Fish and Wildlife decided to release more wolves anyway, citing an urgent need to expand the wild population to prevent inbreeding. New Mexico officials went to court, and a federal judge in New Mexico issued a preliminary injunction last year blocking further releases while the dispute is resolved. At Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Department attorney Rachel Heron argued against the state’s rights position, saying the Interior Department — Fish and Wildlife’s parent agency — is required by law to protect the wolves. A coalition of environmental groups, led by Defenders of Wildlife, intervened on Interior’s side, arguing the state’s interpretation would wrongly give the state veto power over measures to save a federally protected species. New Mexico state attorney Matthias L. Sayer told the
judges that Fish and Wildlife had made it difficult for the state to manage big game because of uncertainty about how many wolves — which prey on big game — would be released. But one of the judges, Scott Matheson Jr., questioned whether New Mexico could show definitively that it would be harmed by the release of more wolves, and how much harm it would suffer. The three judges who heard the case did not say when they would decide. Appeals court judges generally take weeks or months to issue a ruling. Reintroducing wolves is always contentious because they sometimes attack domestic livestock as well as wild game. Last year, the Interior Department’s internal watchdog said Fish and Wildlife had not fulfilled its obligation to remove
Mexican gray wolves that preyed on pets and cattle. The Mexican wolf program has had other problems, including multiple failed attempts to update the original 1982 recovery plan. Fish and Wildlife has agreed to produce a new plan this year to settle a lawsuit filed by conservation groups. New Mexico officials also complain that federal officials tripled the target number of wolves in the wild — from about 100 to 300 — without sufficient justification. Only about 100 Mexican gray wolves live in the wild. They nearly disappeared in the 1970s, and the federal government added them to the endangered species list in 1976. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began reintroducing them in New Mexico and Arizona starting in 1998.
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Continued from page 4 In other words, relax in the world around you for a few moments. It doesn’t hurt to take a break from your phone, either. When your brain is constantly active, it has no time to create breathing space it needs so it can improve its efficiency. An online article from The Atlantic notes, “…Using phones for learning requires students to synthesize information and stay focused on a lesson or a discussion.” While earlier in the article it describes a cell phone as “a device with vast potential for learning,” it also says that it is
a challenge for students who have low literacy skills and who feel they must always be on their phone. With that said, phones can cut into your understanding, so try to limit your use of it on your free time. No matter how busy your schedule gets, don’t forget to eat fresh fruits or vegetables! I know, you probably hear it all the time but I’ve found when I make it a habit to choose them over chips, candy, or other junk foods, it enhances my focus when I am listening to a lecture or catching up on reading. All you have
to do is prepare and keep them in a small ziplock bag with a small, plastic leftover dressing container, ready to go! When you eat healthy, you may be surprised how much more energy you will have to complete tasks. In conclusion, I would encourage engaging your friends or fellow classmates about what academic courses that they are taking, their reasons why, and what they have learned so far. Relating to peers about the struggle of a new semester will help you see that you are not alone in this winter war.
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
U.S. stock indexes stay stuck; bond yields and dollar rise NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market hasn’t been this boring in years. The Standard & Poor’s 500 remained at a near standstill Wednesday, the ninth day in a row that it has moved by less than 0.4 percent, up or down. That’s its longest streak of listlessness since the summer of 2013. Other indexes were mixed. The S&P 500 rose 4 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,271.89. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 22.05 points, or 0.1 percent, to 19,804.72. The Nasdaq composite index added 16.93, or 0.3 percent, to 5,555.65. Slightly more stocks rose on the New York Stock Exchange than fell. Stocks have been in a wait-and-see period in recent weeks following their torrid run since Election Day. The S&P 500 is up 6.2 percent since Donald Trump’s surprise victory of the White House, driven higher by expectations for lower corporate taxes and less regulation. Trump will take the oath of office
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press Congress he’s got a higher probability of success than otherwise, but we don’t have the details.” One notable area of weakness in the stock market was retail. This past
“This past holiday shopping season was weaker than many traditional retailers were expecting, and Target became the latest to cut its forecast for fourth-quarter sales and profits as a result.” on Friday, and investors are waiting to see how much of his campaign-trail rhetoric will become government policy. “It’s natural after such a remarkable run postelection to have a bit of a flat, quiet period as investors wait for some more tangibles,” said Katie Nixon, chief investment officer at Northern Trust Wealth Management. “We know directionally where Donald Trump wants to go, and with a Republican
holiday shopping season was weaker than many traditional retailers were expecting, and Target became the latest to cut its forecast for fourthquarter sales and profits as a result. The discounter said that traffic levels at its stores were disappointing in November and December, and its stock fell $4.09, or 5.8 percent, to $66.85 following its announcement. Target had the secondlargest loss in the S&P 500, while Dollar Tree and other
retailers weren’t far behind. The biggest loss in the S&P 500 came from specialty biopharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt, which fell $2.89, or 5.8 percent, to $46.53 after it agreed to pay $100 million to end a government investigation. Antitrust regulators and five states said Questcor, a company Mallinckrodt bought in 2014, illegally bought the rights to a drug that would have competed with its Acthar gel. The agencies said that deal gave Questcor a monopoly. Questcor raised the price of Acthar from $40 a vial in 2001 to $34,000. On the opposite side of the S&P 500 was Fastenal, which jumped $2.81, or 5.8 percent, to $51.06 for the biggest gain in the index. The seller of nuts, bolts and other equipment reported stronger fourth-quarter earnings growth than analysts expected. Treasury yields rose sharply. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 2.42 percent from 2.33 percent late Tuesday. It more than made up its loss from the prior day, and continues the steady march
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higher that bond yields have been on since Election Day. Expectations of higher inflation, along with faster economic growth, have driven the trend. Consumer prices last month were 2.1 percent higher than the same time a year earlier, according to a Labor Department report released Wednesday. Economists say the inflation rate is still relatively modest, but it’s a clear acceleration from the very low levels of the last four years. The “Beige Book,” a survey of conditions by the Federal Reserve released Wednesday afternoon, showed that the U.S. economy grew a bit faster at the end of last year and that pricing pressures “intensified somewhat” since its last report in November.
The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates twice in the last two years, up from their record low of nearly zero. The central bank has said that it plans for a gradual rise in rates. Fed Chair Janet Yellen said in a speech on Wednesday that officials expect to raise rates “a few times a year” through 2019. But a big push higher in inflation could force the Fed’s hand. The dollar rose against many of its rivals, a day after it sank sharply against the British pound and other currencies. The dollar rose to 113.74 Japanese yen from 112.66 late Tuesday. The British pound fell to $1.2284 from $1.2396, and the euro fell to $1.0664 from $1.0709. In Asian trading, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 0.4 percent, and South Korea’s Kospi index dipped by 0.1 percent. In Europe, Germany’s DAX rose 0.5 percent, and the U.K. FTSE 100 rose 0.4 percent, while France’s CAC 40 fell 0.1 percent. Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell $1.40 to settle at $51.08 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell $1.55 to close at $53.92. Natural gas fell 11 cents to $3.302 per 1,000 cubic feet, heating oil fell 4 cents to $1.61 a gallon and wholesale gasoline fell 5 cents to $1.55 per gallon. Gold slipped 80 cents to $1,212.10 per ounce, silver rose 13 cents to $17.27 per ounce and copper fell 9 cents to $2.62 a pound.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 9
News
Study illustrates Facebook’s growth as campaign news source NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton voters had different media diets, but a study finds common ground in Facebook as an important news source — even if their individual feeds bore little resemblance to each other’s. Facebook was the top nontelevision source for election news cited by supporters of both candidates, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. The social media site’s import as a driver of political news has been underscored by the lingering controversy of people using it to spread false news stories. Eight percent of Clinton voters and 7 percent of Trump voters named Facebook as their main source of election news, Pew said. “That was a pretty important finding,” said
Jeffrey Gottfried, senior researcher at the Washingtonbased think tank. Facebook doesn’t produce news; members share stories from a multitude of sources and their news feeds tend to reflect the politics of their Facebook friends. With a multitude of web sites serving fake news stories with no basis in fact, Facebook announced last month that it would partner with outside fact-checkers to flag particularly egregious examples that are spread on the social media site. While other digital brands like Breitbart News, BuzzFeed, the Drudge Report and the Huffington Post received plenty of publicity during the campaign, they received little attention from the voters surveyed by Pew.
Forty percent of Trump voters cited Fox News Channel as their main source of campaign news, the winner by a huge margin. The second most-cited news source by Trump supporters was CNN, with 8 percent. “This is very much on par with previous research we have done,” Gottfried said. Pew didn’t ask similar questions after past campaigns, but in a 2014 survey, 47 percent of conservatives cited Fox as their top news source, he said. The finding shows Fox’s continued strength with conservative voters, and likely explains why the network has taken no change in direction following the ouster last summer of its founder and top executive, Roger Ailes, following sexual harassment
allegations. CNN was the top news source named by Clinton supporters, with 18 percent, Pew said. Although that was twice as much as any other news source, Clinton voters were much more likely to have more diverse media diets. MSNBC, with 9 percent, was second among Clinton voters. That network was named by only 1 percent of Trump voters. National Public Radio was another news source held in high esteem by Clinton voters but by few Trump supporters, the survey said. The New York Times was the most-cited newspaper source of news, with 3 percent of all voters saying it was their top news source, Pew said. Pew found little difference
in media choices among Republicans who supported dif ferent candidates during the primary, yet real differences between Democratic suppor ters of either Clinton or Bernie Sanders. For instance, 4 percent of Sanders voters cited the online forum Reddit as a main news source, with few Clinton voters saying the same. Pew surveyed 4,183 adults who are members of its American Trends Panel between Nov. 29 and Dec. 12. The margin of error is 2.7 percent among all voters.
60-year-old gorilla, first to be born in a zoo, dies in Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The world’s first gorilla born in a zoo, a female named Colo who became the oldest known living gorilla in the U.S., has died at age 60, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said Tuesday. Colo died in her sleep overnight, less than a month after her birthday, the zoo announced. She surpassed the usual life expectancy of captive gorillas by two decades. “Colo touched the hearts of generations of people who came to see her and those that cared for her over her long lifetime,” zoo president Tom Stalf said in a statement. “She was an ambassador for gorillas and inspired people to learn more about the critically endangered species and motivated them to protect gorillas in their native habitat.” Colo had been on exhibit in view of visitors on Monday, when the zoo offered free admission for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Fond of baseball caps, the gorilla was seen in her enclosure toting around a yellow cap with a gorilla on it, given to her by the zoo team caring for her. The zoo said the gorilla’s body will be cremated and the ashes will be buried at an undisclosed location at
the zoo. Colo was born at the zoo on Dec. 22, 1956. She eventually became a mother of three, grandmother of 16, great-grandmother of 12 and great-great-grandmother of three. Hundreds of people had gathered at the zoo last month to see Colo for her birthday, when the zoo decorated her enclosure with multicolored construction paper chains and cakes of squash and beet and cornbread with mashed potato parsley frosting. Zoo officials said a post-
mortem examination was planned to determine Colo’s cause of death. The median life expectancy for female gorillas in human care is 37.5 years. Veterinarians recently removed a malignant tumor from Colo, but the zoo had said she was doing well. The necropsy could help show whether the cancer contributed to her death, but the results aren’t anticipated for several weeks. Zoo officials said they also planned to take blood and tissue samples to assist with
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which has a geriatric gorilla specialty. Packy, an Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo, is now 54 and the oldest male of his species in North America. Nikko, a 33-year-old snow monkey at the Minnesota Zoo, is the oldest male snow monkey in North America. Zulie, a 30-year-old Black Howler monkey at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is the oldest living female Howler monkey in captivity.
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zoologists’ efforts to learn more about western lowland gorillas. Colo is the second zoo gorilla to die in Ohio this month. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo said one of its two male western lowland gorillas, a 32-year-old named Bebac, died Jan. 6. Zoo experts say animals in human care are living longer than ever as early diagnosis and improvements in medical care extend their lives. The oldest known living male gorilla, Ozzie, is 55 years old and lives at the Atlanta Zoo,
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Big names coming to St. Peter for Banjo Hour St. Peter Treaty Center to host Dean Magraw Jan. 21 for ongoing music series.
CHRIS BERTRAND Staff Writer Big names are coming to the St. Peter Treaty Center for the upcoming installments of “Banjo Hour with Captain Gravitone and the String Theory Orchestra” and they are – drumroll... –Dean Magraw on Jan. 21 and Lehto and Wright on Feb. 4. Dean Magraw has been in the music scene for over twenty years and has worked with some of the best musicians in the world. His collaboration list is just as impressive as it is extensive, and it seems he is nowhere near slowing down. Magraw describes his sound as “heavy meadow,” a lyrically pleasing phrase that encapsulates his skills and conceptual drive toward music. His flawless rhythmic technique spreads across the room as easily as room temperature butter on burnt toast. It’s the type of music that makes you think, “holy crap, how can two
Image courtesy of the Banjo Hour Facebook page hands do that?!” Magraw has upwards of fifteen albums; some solely contain Magraw’s own guitar work such as his 2004 album Heavy Meadow, while others are incredible collaborations, such as his most recent album, Fire on the Nile, which features expert percussionist Eric Kamau Gravatt.
Magraw’s first solo album, Broken Silence, earned him the NAIRD award, a prestigious honor from the American Association of Independent Music. With strong recognition spanning over two decades, it’s no wonder how Magraw has continued to impress the masses. However, despite his
universal understanding and extent of music performed with world-renowned musicians, Magraw has spent his past year playing music around Minnesota and its neighboring states. The fact that he will be performing in St. Peter should not be ignored. If you live around the St. Peter area and even if you
don’t, try not to miss this guy on Saturday, Jan. 21. Two weeks later, the powerful duo Lehto and Wright will be coming to the St. Peter Treaty Center on Saturday, Feb. 4. To try to describe the musical stylings of John Lehto and Steve Wright succinctly would be mistake, because it constantly changes in fantastic ways. Planting their roots in Celtic and American folk rock, the duo takes simple progressions and transforms them into cosmic adventures, vampy arias, and wisdom-filled lessons. A considerable chunk of Lehto and Wright’s music is classic mariner and folk songs from bygone days, successfully modified, by the duo, into transient renditions that reshape the contextual and lyrical reach of the songs.
BANJO HOUR
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Film review: Hidden Figures features all-star cast Meet the women you don’t know behind the mission you do.
DAVID PARPART Staff Writer Warning: This review may contain mild spoilers. Appreciation. It’s a condition which requires information and understanding and results in increased compassion, acceptance and inclusiveness. There are few ways to enhance appreciation for others more effectively than a well-made movie and the 2016 historical drama, Hidden Figures, takes full advantage of that opportunity. Without being too busy or too preachy, this film helps the audience better appreciate the struggles of being a minority and a working woman (and even a mother working outside the home). In the early 1960s, the pressure involved in competing with the Soviet Union in the early years of the space race
(CC BY-SA 2.0) by NASAKennedy included the difficult challenges surrounding getting man into space (and returning him safely to Earth) for the first time and the courage it required of those who were willing to go. Witness the inspiring and powering film of
how three African-American women and their team provide NASA with important and vital mathematical data needed to launch the program’s first successful space missions. As the United States raced
against Russia to put a man in space, NASA found untapped talent in a group of African-American female mathematicians that served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in U.S. history. Based on the un-
believably true life stories of three of the women, known as “human computers,” we follow these women as they quickly rise through the ranks of NASA alongside many of history’s greatest minds, specifically tasked with calculating the momentous launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit and guaranteeing his safe return. Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson crossed all gender, race, and professional lines while their brilliance and desire to dream big, beyond anything ever accomplished before by the human race, firmly cemented them in U.S. history as true American heroes. Dorothy (Oscar winner Octavia Spencer), is a mathema-
HIDDEN FIGURES
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 13
A&E
Timeless one of the best time traveling shows on TV Characters in NBC drama visit historical events to stop evil force.
HEATHER SCHUSTER Staff Writer Timeless is a TV show on NBC about a team made up of history professor Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), soldier Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter) and scientist Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett) sent to catch the criminal Garcia Flynn (Goran Višnjić) who has stolen a time machine and is destroying America by changing the past. The team chases Flynn through history using the machine’s prototype called the ‘lifeboat’. Eric Kripke, best known for Supernatural and Revolution, and Shawn Ryan, best known for The Shield and Last Resort, created the show. This show brings you through the history of important events such as Lincoln’s assassination, the Alamo, Watergate, Bonnie and Clyde, the moon landing, and many other events. Since I am very interested in history, I watch this show and look at accuracy and so far, it’s accurate to my standards. There are some things the producers get wrong, but if it is something I don’t know much about, I don’t really notice. This is a good show, not
(CC BY-SA 2.0) by RedCarpetReport only because of the history, but because it captures your attention and keeps you engaged throughout. Timeless fits into many genres such as, action, mystery, adventure, science fiction, and drama, which makes it a complex show that has something to entice many people. Some things that get a little annoying in the show is the way the show leaves it with cliffhangers and then takes longs break. For exam-
ple, NBC aired an episode on Jan. 16 and now will not air an episode until Feb. 2. For the winter finale, the airdate was Dec. 12 and the show did not return until Jan. 16. Both times, they left unanswered questions. Another annoying thing about this show is the main villain, Rittenhouse. It is not one person, but an organization and it seems that they are pulling the strings. Right now, there are many unanswered questions about
Rittenhouse. This is the group that Flynn is trying to destroy by going back to the past. Timeless has only eleven episodes and is still new but it has some comparison to other media, such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with the idea of a trio traveling back in time to protect the future or to change the present. Another comparison is that the structure of an episode of Timeless is similar to the structure of an
episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Timeless’ structure consists of Flynn jumping back to the past to a historical point of time and the main team (Lucy, Rufus, and Wyatt) find out that he went to the past and they travel back in time as well and try to stop Flynn’s scheme. Legends of Tomorrow’s structure is similar in that they go back in time to a certain period of time and try to stop the villain before the villain does something that will endanger the future or present. The cinematography in the show makes it feel that you are there. It shows zoomed out or low-angle shots to show something important that the characters do not see or notice. It uses close-up shots to show the characters’ expression and feelings, so you can relate to the characters by feeling their anger, sadness, and fear. The music also does a lot for the show by showing suspense and joy. If you like time-traveling shows, you should watch Timeless because it’s interesting and has its own uniqueness to it.
Reporter Rating
4 5
Film review: Tomboy examines feminism, sexuality 2011 French film questions whether we’re born into our true selves.
Tomboy is a French film with running themes of sexuality and coming of age that I watched for my International Cinema class last week. The film’s main character is Laure, an adolescent girl who masquerades as a boy named Mikael when she moves into a new neighborhood. As the story continues, the audience recognizes curiosity as a constant theme throughout Tomboy as they watch Mikael seek to understand who he is based on his interactions with his family and his new friends. The opening image shows the back of what looks like a boy’s slender head with wavy brown hair rustling in the wind during a car ride with his parents. His hand reaches up as though it is searching for something just beyond his reach.
MSU Reporter
RACHAEL JAEGER Staff Writer
NOW PLAYING: TOMBOY “One thing we also talked about in class is this character Laure/Mikael because he is so young, he lacks the labels that adults use to define others,” Film Studies professor Steve Rybin said. “But he is not there yet. He is still exploring through the scenes
in nature and his friends on the playground, whereas at home he is just seen as a conventional tomboy, that this is just a phase.” The complex theme of sexuality runs deep throughout the film’s family, putting its members into awkward
situations as they become aware of Laure impersonating a boy. Laure never backs down from being who he believes he really is, maintaining a short haircut and wearing baggy red shorts and loose shirts. “What was interesting
about our discussion in class is the uncertainty about the dress,” Professor Steve Rybin said. “I thought that was interesting and the whole point of Tomboy. I use both pronouns, depending on the context of the moment and the entity of that character.” While interacting with his friends, her physical appearance is challenged based on what activities they do. When his new friends decide to go swimming, for example, he does not show up. At one point, however, she does explore feminine interests by cutting her shorts shorter but, she is not comfortable when she examines herself in the mirror. It’s not until halfway through the film that we re-
TOMBOY
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14 • MSU Reporter
A&E
BANJO HOUR Continued from page 12 Among their most recognizable renditions is the famous and commonly covered “Shenandoah,” a song that exemplifies the love and wanderlust found in Lehto and Wright’s own lyrics. The group’s first collective album, Ye Mariners, All was released in 2001 through New Folk Records. Their most recent album, November, came out in 2012 on the same record label. Each of Lehto and
Wright’s seven albums has been released through New Folk Records and, considering their decade-and-a-half career together, it seems safe to assume there will be many more albums to come. Again, if you’re a fan of folk, missing this show would be highly unfortunate for you. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. and last until about 9 p.m. Just as with the previous installments of Banjo Hour, it will be sponsored
by Nechville Music, Patrick’s on Third, Morgan Creek Vineyards, Mankato Brewery, and the St. Peter Food Co-op. Tickets for Banjo Hour are available online at captaingravitone.com and at the Mankato Brewery. Tickets will also be available at the door. Banjo Hour is funded in part through the Minnesota State Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
TOMBOY Continued from page 13 alize that the character is female. When Mikael makes friends with Lisa, his mother remarks that it is nice he is hanging out with girls, because he is always around boys. The mother later becomes pregnant with a boy, which interestingly mirrors Mikael’s circumstances and the question of sexuality: is who and what we are born as truly who we are? One characteristic of Mikael’s that I adored is how he involves himself in his younger sister Jeanne’s life. He teases her and plays with her, and although he wants to have his own time with his friends, he still cares for her. She stands up to him when their mother does not know how to respond to finding out about about his behavior. “His sister seems to really understand what he’s going through,” Rybin said, adding
that while at first she reacted with confusion, she was still a child. Because of that, she is open. “The scenes between the two of them are my favorites.” Mikael’s parents do not admonish her for her choice of dress, who she hangs out with, or how she acts, except when her mother finds out she has lied about being a boy. As an audience we continue to wonder if they will accept her for who she will become. The bigger question then becomes whether Mikael’s peers will accept him, especially after having kept them in the dark. Mikael does not even tell Lisa, the friend who Laure gets along with best. It is quickly evident, however, that Lisa’s interest in Mikael is more than just friendly. The film’s open ending left me pursuing my own ques-
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tions in about change and growth. How much does society influence how you think, and how you see the world outside? Do your peers encourage your curiosity and development to help you discover who you really are? The answers do not come easily but what I saw from Tomboy is that the film encouraged you to embrace who you are with confidence, no matter what others might say. My passionate professor agreed. “I think one of things this film is saying is that we are always playing and performing our identities,” Rybin said. “We are in control in how we present ourselves.”
Thursday, January 19, 2017
PBS: No ‘red flag’ on funding under Trump PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — PBS is waiting, but not quietly, to see what the Trump administration’s impact on public broadcasting and its federal funding may be, PBS chief executive Paula Kerger said. “It’s too early to tell. But there’s been no red flag,” Kerger said in an interview Sunday. Given that change always presents uncertainty, she said, and “in this case, more uncertainty,” PBS and its member stations are conducting a vigorous effort to remind lawmakers about public television’s value. “We’re spending time talking to as many people as we can — but particularly legislators, both sides of the aisle, Senate and House — making sure they understand the role we play in civil discourse” and in providing meaningful programming, Kerger told a TV critics’ meeting. “Stay tuned,” she added. The effort coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Public Broadcasting Act that created what Kerger called “the best public-private partnership.” “For about $1.35 a citizen a year, we provide an extraordinary service,” she said. Federal money represents 15 percent of pub-
lic TV stations’ funding overall, with the rest provided by private and corporate donors, PBS said. Most of that approximately $400 million is divided annually among 1,500-plus locally owned-and-operated TV and radio stations nationwide. Individual TV stations’ reliance on federal funds varies widely — for those in Alaska, for instance, the money represents as much as 50 percent of their budgets, Kerger said. Government support for public broadcasting periodically comes under scrutiny. Many Republicans vowed to eliminate subsidies in 1995, but the effort fizzled. In 2005, Republicans controlling the House tried to cut subsidies for PBS, National Public Radio and hundreds of public radio and TV stations by $100 million, igniting an outcry from fans of “Sesame Street” and other defenders of public broadcasting. That bid failed, as did the most recent effort in 2011. Kerger said a “rigorous reassessment” of how federal dollars are spent is always legitimate, with lawmakers taking into account what their constituents think about PBS’ value.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 15
A&E
HIDDEN FIGURES Continued from page 12 tician who is also mechanically-inclined, develops a talent for programming IBM computers and is a natural leader, but is denied a well-deserved supervisory position by NASA culture and her supervisor (Kirsten Dunst). Katherine (Taraji P. Henson) is a brilliant mathematician who struggles to balance the demands of her increasing responsibilities at NASA with caring for her three young daughters whose father has passed away. Mary (Janelle Monáe) is an outspoken aspiring engineer who is held back from becoming an actual engineer because of her lack of education, which she has difficulty overcoming because of segregation. All three women make progress in their attempts to reach their goals and fulfill their potential, but with much difficulty, based on their gender and their race. Dorothy has been managing the women of the computer section for some time, but has to fight for the title and the pay. She even takes it upon herself to learn more about NASA’s newly-arrived IBM computer, while understanding that doing so could eventually cost her and her coworkers their jobs. Mary continues to make valuable contributions to NASA’s efforts, while trying to work through the catch-22 of needing additional education to become an engineer with the only nearby school offering such classes refus-
ing to accept any black students. Most of the screen time belongs to Katherine’s story. As the most talented mathematician of all of NASA’s human computers, she is called up to work in NASA’s Space Task Group where she works directly with the standoffish Paul Stafford (Jim Parsons) and is supervised by the group’s director, Al Harrison (Kevin Costner). Even as Katherine continues to demonstrate her capabilities, she is still subjected to drinking coffee from a pot labeled “Colored” and having to walk 20 minutes (each way) to the building where the nearest restroom for black females is located. Eventually, she earns the respect of her peers and comes to the attention of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) himself, who comes to trust her calculations above all others. Katherine also attracts a different kind of attention from the commander of a local Army Reserve base, Lt. Col. Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali), who is also single. Embodying the dual meaning of the movie’s title, Katherine works out the hidden figures needed for Glenn’s mission and Jim doesn’t mind that her figure is hidden beneath those unflattering 1960s dresses, as he comes to care more about her heart – and the very sharp mind hidden behind her even less flattering eye glasses.
The film punches all the buttons when it comes to segregation, space, engineering, and computers. The setting takes place in Langley, Virginia, in 1961. As women, they were employed as “human computers” because they were less expensive and they got their numbers right. As “colored folk,” they got their own separate and sparse restrooms and their own separate dining facilities. At the same time, civil unrest was rising in the towns. This is was all occurring during the time of Martin Luther King Jr.’s rise to prominence. It’s a time just before the rise of militant civil rights groups. It is a time when resistance to segregation and discrimination was still civil, but as the movie shows, that resistance was beginning to firm up and become widespread. Three remarkable women struggle to get their voices and, more importantly, their minds heard in an era where everything is against them, including the color of their skin. True stories are often the hardest to depict on the big screen for the simple reason that you must do the story the justice it deserves. Hidden Figures is not only a fitting immortalization of an awe-inspiring story, it is quite possibly one of the most powerful cinematic experiences one can behold. It is just a shame it was not in existence at the time it was needed.
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No film can be a success without the triumph of its actor and this film is no exception. It is rare that you find an actor that can fill a room with their presence alone and it is near impossible to find three in the same film. But Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae all perform with such ease that they send shivers down the spine. 1960s America is not the easiest of sets to compose and yet the production team has managed to create authenticity throughout. From intricately detailed costumes to cars that cast the mind back, every detail of this film has been thought of and executed to perfection. Hidden Figures is a marvelously entertaining film. The script adaptation by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi tells the true story accurately and engagingly, weaving its many storylines together seamlessly, educating and entertaining their audience throughout. Melfi also directs and uses his talented and award-worthy cast to thrill us, to make us cheer and give us moments of humor and just plain fun. I
was impressed at how much this movie packed in without seeming cluttered, how much it affected me emotionally without being manipulative, and how much appreciation I gained for these women, their struggles and the importance of the times in which they lived and accomplished so much. It’s also surprising that so little has been widely known about these women—until now. Don’t let Hidden Figures be a hidden treasure. This movie is truly an extraordinary achievement. There are several reasons to see this movie: from a civil rights perspective; from a feminism perspective; from the perspective of the early space race when we badly lagged behind the Soviet Union. If you lived during this time, see the movie to remember. If you were born later, see this movie to see what things were like. This is definitely worth seeing over and over again.
Reporter Rating
5 5
16 • MSU Reporter
Thursday, January 19, 2017 Have a story idea or a comment?
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Sports Editor Tommy Wiita
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Men’s hockey splits eighth series The Mavericks continue to show inconsistency with the postseason fast-approaching.
COLTON MOLESKY Staff Writer The Minnesota State Mavericks took two leads over the Bowling Green Falcons on Friday night in the Verizon Wireless Center, but could not shake them and ended up losing in the overtime period by the score of 3-2. “Our season has kind of been one day black, the next day white, and it’s been an effort thing and we have tried to be known for our effort at the very least. I liked our effort tonight,” said Falcons head coach Chris Bergeron. “I was happy with Chris [Nell] and I wasn’t happy with the rebound on the second goal, but our guys found a way to pick him up and I thought he had a good game.” The Mavericks jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an Ian Scheid goal late in the period, which was the highlight of a big offensive period for the Mavericks. They outshot
Photo by Ojaswi Singh The Mavericks continue to search for consistency as the season rolls on after splitting eight series in 12 tries. that lead… and get that going into the third period.” Despite a slow start, the defense for Bowling Green closed out far better in the second period, only letting nine shots get to the net and fighting up their transition
Photo by Ojaswi Singh the Falcons 15-6 in the period, while looking faster and sharper than Bowling Green. Both teams locked down on the penalty kill with one kill apiece in the period. “Opportunity missed; we had a couple upperclassmen that you’d like to maybe carry a little more of the load, but for the most part I don’t have an issue with our effort for the most part,” said Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings after the game. “I thought a real turning point too was when we got out 2-1 with just a little left in the second period and we don’t ice
defense. The goal from Kevin Dufour midway through the period evened out the score at 1-1. Then the Mavs came back to take a 2-1 lead with under three minutes to play, off a Zach Stepan goal. However, that was answered almost immediately with a break-away goal from Dufour to net his second and tie the game at two. “Minnesota State started better than we did, but we were not, not competing, we were competitive. We just were not as good as them and we weathered that storm,
going down in the first period and I really liked our second period,” said Bergeron of the comeback efforts. “We got more into our game and were more competitive in the second and third and I really liked our penalty-kill in the game.” Both defenses grounded the offensive production to a halt in the third period, as four more penalties failed to get either offense going. Both teams ended 0-4 on the power play in regulation. MSU would miss yet another opportunity, as the Falcons committed their fifth penalty in overtime, but the offense could only grab one shot on goal on the power play. Soon after, Bowling Green took the game on a game-winning break-away from Mitch McLain to lift the Falcons past the Mavericks, 3-2. “I think it shows a bunch of mental toughness, our guys know and respect Minnesota State and I’ve said this before: they’re a program we are trying to be like,” said the Falcons head coach of the OT period. “So, to come into a situation where we are tied in the standings and to have a first period where they seemed to be sharp, it was a good test for us, to hang in there and just keep playing.” Once more, the Bowling Green Falcons and Minnesota State Mavericks faced off in a nail-biter that featured a late comeback, great goaltending performances and eight goals. The combination
of the three is what it took to get MSU a 5-3 win to end the weekend Saturday night. “I think we let up a bit; yes, we weren’t moving our feet in the [offensive zone] and it all started from our [defensive zone],” said forward C.J. Franklin, who spear-headed the big comeback. “We weren’t sticking to our system and playing our game, and once we started attacking in the [offensive zone], moving our feet and cutting it back, it really turned around for us.” The first period started much like Friday’s game, with a quick start to seemingly spark the offense, as Daniel Brickley had a nice power play goal from the outside-right to take the 1-0 lead. Bowling Green was quick to snuff that out with goals from Sean Walker and Matt Pohlkamp to end the period up 2-1. “I really liked the first two periods and the start to the third. We just had a couple passengers tonight; would have liked to see a few guys more involved,” said Bowling Green head coach Chris Bergeron after the tight loss. “But this was not the black and white team from earlier in the year. That was a good effort - that was a team that had a mindset to win and it just didn’t go our way.” A major penalty charged to MSU finished out the first period and kept the Falcons up a man for the first five minutes of the second period, which helped them pad their lead as Walker added anoth-
er goal to give himself two on the day. The offense for the Mavericks looked sluggish, and goaltender Aaron Nelson seemed to be cracking. “There wasn’t much said in the locker room, [Hastings] just said ‘you know what we need to do’ and left it up to us,” said Franklin when asked about the mindset it took to comeback. “When we feel challenged we really like to respond, and we just have to get to a point where we can do that consistently.” Then C.J. happened. Franklin nabbed a late, second period goal to make it a one-score game and jumpstarted the offense. In the third period, Zeb Knutson netted a power play goal followed quickly by a Franklin break-away goal through the five hole on Falcons’ goaltender Ryan Bednard. “The third period featured the leadership group,” said Mavericks head coach Mike Hastings of the spark for MSU. “C.J. really exerted his will in the third period. Obviously not our best effort through two [however], as we faced some adversity. I thought our leadership group really stepped up in the third period, which we really needed them to do.” On the other end, the defense tightened up and Nelson found his groove. The final goal came in the final minute on an empty-netter from Marc Michaelis to finish off the game and cement the 5-3 win after going down 3-1 early. The phenomenal turnaround on offense and defense was spurred by the Franklin goal late in the second to get the team back on track. It was a crucial win to keep them around the top of the conference on points for playoff seeding. The Mavericks currently stand at 14-82 overall and 10-6-2 in the WCHA. Next weekend, the Mavericks face off against the Michigan Tech Huskies on the road for yet another WCHA conference head-to-head that will help them build on their point total. The first game will be Jan. 20 and the second will be the day after. Puck drops at 6:07 p.m. for each game.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 17
Sports
The people versus Ricky Rubio COREY YUMAN Staff Writer
There are three things that Minnesota Timberwolves fans have been able to count on these past few years: death, taxes, and Ricky Rubio trade talks. On Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of the The Vertical reported that Minnesota was shopping the sixthyear point guard along with fourth-year forward Shabazz Muhammad to teams before the trade deadline approaches in February. While the Timberwolves, who are currently sitting on a 14-28 record, have had a year that hasn’t met the large majority of pre-season hype and could use a boost. However, trading the veteran that provides an energy to a team that has lacked enthusiasm is the wrong choice. “He can’t shoot!” is the common go-to gripe when it
comes to Rubio and the argument as to why he needs to go. The one spot has evolved into a position that requires much more than just running the floor and the desire for a more consistent shot from him is a valid one, but it’s important to keep in mind that his shot percentage has steadily improved over his six years. His highest-percentage year was followed by his lowest-percentage year, but the latter was also an injury-plagued year of which he only played in 22 games. Even with his poor shot, it is unfair to pin the problem of Minnesota on his shot alone. The Timberwolves have a ‘Big-Three’ of sorts in Zach LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins. The inconsistencies in their offensive games and young-gun mistakes on defense are just as pivotal to the final score as Rubio’s shooting. Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s insistence on putting the ball in Andrew Wiggins’ hands at the end of games, and Wiggins proceeding to come up short on several occasions has directly caused losses more times than anything else for Minne-
sota this year. However, that is a different article for a different time. Going beyond the shot, it is no easy task to replace the stat-line that Ricky can provide, especially in the assist department. Rubio leads Minnesota this year with eight per game, LaVine is next closest with three. In Monday’s game at San Antonio, Rubio finished with 14 assists while the next closest were three others that had three each. To put his passing ability into perspective, Rubio’s double-digit assist game against the Spurs was his fifth in-a-row. Only two other players have had double-digit assists five games in a row this season, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The play-making and vision of Rubio cannot be understated. When Ricky Rubio is on the court, the Minnesota Timberwolves are better. What should be a much bigger concern for Minnesota is the state of the heir apparent to Rubio in Kris Dunn. Dunn was the first draftee of the Thibodeau era and was grabbed with the fifth pick of the 2016 draft. The pick
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press was made with Dunn being crowned the eventual replacement of Rubio before anyone even saw how he would play in an NBA setting. Mid-way through the season, it hasn’t been pretty. Dunn has averaged only four points, two assists, and two rebounds in 16 minutes per game this year. There is nothing in his stat line or play that has remotely shown that Dunn will be ready to take over the leading role of an already young Timberwolves team anytime soon. It’s also interesting to note that in his rookie year, Dunn has been
held to zero points in 10 games. Rubio was never held to zero points in his rookie year. The Ricky Rubio rumor mill is nothing new and Ricky Rubio detractors are nothing new. The frustration from Wolves fans in the lack of progression from the Wolves is understandable, and Rubio is a left over from the Flip Saunders-era that has never seemed to fit in. As people look for a reason as to why this season is the way it is, he’s an easy scapegoat, but not the right one.
Identity unknown: men’s basketball Minnesota State continues season after another split-weekend at home.
JAMES ANDERSEN Staff Writer It was an up-and-down weekend for the Minnesota State men’s basketball team. They hosted the Minot State Beavers on Friday night and the Mavericks soundly defeated them. This win gave the Mavericks 12 wins on the season. Saturday night, however, did not go as planned as the University of Mary Marauders stole one at the Taylor Center. The Mavs had the advantage in just about every category for the Minot game. They shot 55 percent from the field, compared to Minot’s 41 percent. The Mavericks also out-rebounded them 40-29 and won the battle in the paint, 40-24. Senior forward Jon Fuqua and sophomore guard Joey Witthus led the scoring for the Mavericks with 21 each. Fuqua also added five rebounds and assists to
the stat sheet, while Witthus notched seven rebounds and two assists. Both teams started with cold shooting from the field, but the Beavers found themselves with the lead at 10-5 five minutes into the game. The first half score was fairly close the whole way. Both teams were exchanging leads, with neither able to pull away. The Mavericks went into half-time down 3433, following a buzzer-beater three from Minot’s Nathan Moore. The half-time adjustments clearly worked for the Mavericks. Within the first minute of the half, they grabbed the lead and owned it for the rest of the game. Minnesota State buried the Beavers as they went on a 12-0 run with 13 minutes left in the second half. That run extended their lead to 15. Then the flood gates were opened soon afterwards. With seven minutes left in the game, the lead grew to 26, and that is Head Coach Matt Margenthaler made his move in replacing Fuqua and Witthus for the bench players. The Mavericks ended up winning the game,
81-66. In the University of Mary game, the Mavs struggled making shots and getting in rhythm. Meanwhile, the Marauders clicked as a team all game. University of Mary finished with a 50 percent field goal percentage and a whopping 70 percent from beyond the 3-point line. The Mavericks finished shooting an abysmal 36.5 percent and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc. They both finished with 37 rebounds each as a team and points in the paint with 18. Fuqua was the leading scorer for the Mavericks with 24 points. Witthus struggled all night and finished with six points, shooting 2-13 and 1-8 from three. MSU fell behind early and was playing catch-up the whole way through. Half-way through the first half, the Mavericks were down 22-16 and they just could not chip away at the deficit. By halftime, MSU found themselves down 42-31. The lead hovered around 11 throughout the entire second half. The Mavericks failed to get a run going and the attempt at a comeback was never there.
Photo by BoHyun Ahn After last weekend, the Mavericks are currently sitting at a 12-6 overall record, with a 7-5 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record, which puts them at fifth in the South Division of the Conference. Up next for the Mavericks, they will be traveling to Sioux Falls to take
on the University of Sioux Falls Cougars. Tip-off is on Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. After that, they head to Marshall to compete against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Tip-off for that game is set for 7 p.m.
18 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, January 19, 2017
NBA mid-season report: Cavs, Warriors remain on top Staff writer Colt Johnson gives his take on what to expect the rest of the season.
COLT JOHNSON Staff Writer The NBA All-Star game is approaching, marking the mid-way point of the season, so it’s time to look back at the first half and point out the stars that have shined brightest. It’s more of the same for this season compared to last; teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs are sitting atop the NBA. There are even some who think the Finals are already set in stone and believe we will see a rematch between LeBron James’ Cavaliers and Stephen Curry’s Warriors. Both are dominating their divisions and lead their respective conferences. Golden State has the best record in the NBA, going 34-6 through their first 40 games. Chasing them in the Western Conference are teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio sits three games back of Golden State, according to ESPN.com with a 31-9 record and are lead by the two-time Defensive Player-of-the-Year Kawhi Leonard. Only half a game back of the Spurs and 3.5 behind the Warriors are the Houston Rockets, who have been one of the more surprising teams this season. Even though they managed to slide their way into the playoffs last year, they had only finished with a 41-41 record. Just halfway through the season, they are only 10 wins away from tying last season’s win total. Their 32-11 record is due in large part to the play of MVP-candidate James Harden. In 43 games played, Harden has averaged 28.4 points per game, with a league-leading 11.7 assists per game, and adding 8.2 rebounds per game. Teams like the Clippers, the Utah Jazz, and the Oklahoma City Thunder all sit seven or more games back of the Warriors, but are still in playoff positions. After Kevin Durant left the Thunder for the Warriors after losing to them in the Western Conference Finals, questions about Oklahoma City began to
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press Will Kevin Durant (left) and the Golden State Warriors be matched up against LeBron James (right) and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third straight season in the NBA Finals? Most odds are saying yes halfway through the 2016-2017 NBA season. arise, and Russell Westbrook was there to answer. Losing a four-time scoring champion in Durant is never easy, but Westbrook has put his name into the contention for MVP just as his ex-teammate Harden has. Westbrook has averaged a triple-double this season with 30.9 points, 10.5 assists and 10.7 rebounds per game. Westbrook leads the league in triple-doubles with 19, eight more than Harden, who’s second in the league with 11. Both Westbrook and Harden have carried their teams all season and are undoubtedly the two front-running candidates for MVP this season. Filling in the last two spots of the Western Conference are the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trailblazers. Memphis and the seventh-seed seems to be almost a lock even midway through the season. The Grizzlies have a 25-18 record, while Portland is 6.5 games back at 18-24. The eighth seed will be up for grabs; the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets are only one game back of Portland and there’s plenty of season left. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves are the fourth team behind Portland and the eighth seed in the West, but they only sit 3.5 games back of that eighth spot. Playoffs are in reach; it’s just going to take a lot of effort and more consistent play from the team as a whole. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has the Timberwolves playing good defense as of late and maybe Minnesota can regroup and turn
their season around after the All-Star break. Over in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland reigns supreme. The Cavaliers have had their ups-and-downs this season, but the second-half of the season could turn things around in a hurry. With a 29-10 record, the Cavaliers are 2.5 games up on the Toronto Raptors, who are in the second seed sitting at 27-13. The Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wiz-
ards round out the top five teams in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls finish off the teams that are sitting in a playoff spot. Much can change however from now until playoffs. Washington, Milwaukee and Indiana all share a 20-19 record, while the Bulls and Charlotte Hornets are only half of a game back of the Wizards in the fifth seed. Charlotte, at 20-20, is the last
team above the .500 mark. There is still a lot of basketball to be played and we could still potentially see a lot of movement in the standings from now, to the last game of the regular season. However, teams are starting to separate themselves and take on their mid-season form. We know the teams that are going to finish in the top few spots; what will be interesting to see is what shifting takes place in the lower seeds throughout the rest of the season. The Western Conference seems to be the stronger conference once again. Golden State and San Antonio are the favorites from that conference, yet maybe the Rockets, Clippers, or even the Thunder can make some noise in the playoffs. Cleveland is really the only team in the East that has a chance at winning an NBA championship. It would not be wise however to sleep on Toronto. If Cleveland continues to struggle in finding their rhythm, anything could happen in the East. For the time being, most basketball fans are gearing up for a rematch between Golden State and Cleveland. There’s more basketball to be played, and all the more excitement for NBA fans.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
MSU Reporter • 19
Sports
Women’s hockey searches for answers Coming off a two-game sweep against UND, the Mavericks have lost their past four of five.
COLTON MOLESKY Staff Writer The Minnesota State Mavericks came out firing early in their Friday afternoon game against the tenth-ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the Verizon Wireless Center, but the defense of UND outlasted MSU in a 3-2 win for the Fighting Hawks. “Some of our older kids on the defensive core stepped up and made plays,” said UND head coach Brian Idalski after the game. “I also thought we stopped turning pucks over as much as we did in the first [and] didn’t give them as much in transition as we were early in the game.” Coming into the game, UND has had their number over the last 10 games with a 9-0-1 record against MSU. Opening the first period, the Mavericks played very aggressively, pressing the opposition deep in their territory and harassing the UND offense, forcing them to take contested shots from way outside. The Fighting Hawks began to settle into their offense midway through the period with a goal from their leading scorer, Emma Nuutinen, who netted her eighth to pull UND ahead 1-0. Nuutinen and Charly Dahlquist were a big part of the offensive pressure early, as UND outshot MSU 11-3 in the period. To finish the last six seconds of the first period, Gracen Hirschy was sent to the box for body-checking. That lead to the tying goal 22 seconds into the second period on the redirect score from Lindsey Coleman. Then, on another UND penalty from Dahlquist, Magen Hinze netted her fifth goal of the season to make it a 2-1 lead for
Reporter Archives The Minnesota State women’s hockey team has struggled for the most part during their 20162017 campaign. They have not had a winning season since the 2003-2004 season. MSU. Keep in mind, this team was 6-59 on the power play going into this weekend. That is an abysmal 10.2 percent. MSU was up despite being outshot 24-11 through two periods. “We got the opportunities that got us back in the game there. They were quick and strong on the puck, and we didn’t have the position time that we had last weekend against Minnesota in that Hall of Fame game,” said MSU head coach John Harrington on their power play. “But we went back on the power play, won some draws, and showed some poise.” The third period, however, is when all the shots Minnesota State was allowing finally caught up with them. In the first three minutes, the Fighting Hawks scored two goals right out of the gate. Hirschy and Halli Krzyzaniak scored to make the game 3-2 and evaporate the MSU lead immediately in the third period. North Dakota looked like the tenth-best team in the coun-
try in the third period, with 12 shots on goal and their goaltender, Lexi Shaw, snagging six saves in the period. “I think we just got a little more sense of urgency to shoot the puck and did a little better job of creating traffic around the net,” said Idalski on the third period production. “You’re not going to beat their goaltender clean, so you just have to get dirty and lucky to get some bounces and a couple goals.” The defense for MSU had been outshot all game and finally crumbled late, unable to get out of their zone for the majority of the period. MSU’s Brianna Quade made 33 saves out of 36 shots to Shaw’s mere 15 for 17. The Mavericks continued play against the Fighting Hawks on Saturday, with hopes of stealing one at home against a top-ten team. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks kept yesterday’s third-period momentum as they gave the Minnesota State Mavericks a 4-0 shel-
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lacking in Saturday’s rematch at the Verizon Wireless Center. The game was won in the first period as UND came out firing and playing fast. In the first three minutes, Jordan Hampton scored on a snipe from the blue line to put the Fighting Hawks ahead early. MSU’s Taylor Gulenchyn committed a penalty soon after. Before the power play for UND could be enforced, they pulled their goaltender and were able to score on a Ryleigh Houston shot. Amy Menke then netted a power play goal. The difference between Friday and Saturday was the
MSU defense’s lack of aggression. They were run all over through the middle of the ice and took loads of shots right around the crease, leaving players open for uncontested shots on the outside with plenty of players around the goaltender for put-backs. This is how Rebekah Kolstad scored the fourth goal for UND five minutes into the second period and then proceeded to lock up on defense. The remainder of the game went scoreless for both sides, and despite the success Friday’s power play, MSU failed to score on any of the eight power plays they went on. Freshman Kristen Campbell got the nod in the net to start over Lexi Shaw and performed admirably, earning her first career shutout on 22 saves. While the defense for MSU kept the shots on goal from North Dakota down, Brianna Quade saw 29 shots and had 25 saves. While her slump in the net continued, the defense was on their heels most of the game, which wasn’t helped by the seven penalties MSU committed. Minnesota State will take on another WCHA opponent on the road next weekend in a double-header against St. Cloud State.
20 • MSU Reporter
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