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TUESDAY • FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Climb to the Top with Maverick Adventures
SCOOTER MANIA!
University to bring electric scooters to students on campus
By ASHLEY OPINA Staff Writer The rock climbing wall at Minnesota State University, Mankato has been a popular activity among Mavericks since its opening. Unfortunately, like many others, the climbing wall was forced into closure as a result of COVID-19. “We want students to climb all the time,” began Sam Steiger, Program Coordinator of Maverick Adventures, “So the COVID-19 shutdown has been pretty tough.” Steiger, along with everyone at the Campus Recreation Center, have prioritized the health and safety of students and staff over the activities they usually offer. “We wanted to wait until we were sure that we could keep things clean and sanitized,” said Steiger. After careful preparation to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved, including looking to other climbing gyms for protocol ideas, Maverick Adventures have decided to reopen the climbing wall and are ready to welcome the eager students back. “I do feel like it’s a good time to reopen the wall,” said Steiger. This is not without new protocols, however. Aside from extra sanitization and a mask mandate, there are now limits put in place on the number of climbers and climbing hours. “In order to monitor our numbers [of climbers and staff], we’re requiring reservations,” said Steiger. According to Steiger, reservations can be made through a link available on the Campus Recreation Center’s website. Students can use their StarID’s to reserve a one
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Biden Meets Republicans on Virus Aid, but no Quick Deal ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOHN MINCHILLO • Associated Press MNSU plans to bring electric scooters to campus as an inexpensive mode of transportation for students
By BAILEY BRENDEL • Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato will partner with a company to provide scooters to the university,. which could give students inexpensive and quick transportation around campus. The University says it’s been working for years on a plan to introduce inexpensive student transport vehicles to campus. At first they considered providing bikes for students’ use. How-
ever, this mode of transportation was not ideal with the winter weather. That is when the conversation switched to electric scooters. With the scooters, students can go to a charging station, find a scooter to use, put in their desired location and ride. Students are charged 10 cents per minute for scooter use. Students must park scooters in recharging sta-
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Mavericks Split Series against Sioux Falls at Home By DANIEL MCELROY • Sports Editor The Minnesota State University men’s basketball team split their series against the No. 19 University of Sioux Falls Saturday’s game gets started with Quincy Anderson draining an unassisted 3-pointer, Willingham did just the same on the next possession. The Mavs went up 10-4 following Ryland Holt’s 3-pointer and Kelby Kramer’s layup from under the basket. A 13-3 run that started with just less than ten minutes left in the first quarter would give the Mavericks a 30-20 lead with four minutes remaining. The first half ends with a score of 35-27, with seven of USF’s final points coming from free throws. Ryland Holt started the second half scoring with a 3-pointer followed by a jumper for two, with more points from Willingham and Kramer. Anderson keeps this momentum going, scoring five points while drawing two fouls giving the Mavs a comfortable 49-31 lead.
ARE SCOOTERS WORTH IT?
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MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter Sophomore guard Quincy Anderson (10) led the Mavs in scoring against the Sioux Falls Cougars with 21 and 25 points over the weekend series at home.
The Mavs outscored the Cougars 55-32 in the second half, ultimately giving them the 9059 win over the undefeated N0. 19 University of Sioux Falls.
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WOMEN’S HOCKEY SWEEP BEAVERS
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President Joe Biden met for two hours late Monday with a group of Republican senators who have proposed a slimmed down $618 billion coronavirus aid package that is only a fraction of the $1.9 trillion he is seeking. Skeptical Democrats vowed to push ahead in Congress with or without GOP support. No compromise was reached from the lengthy session, Biden’s first with lawmakers at the White House. But the Republicans said there was agreement to keep discussions going over their smaller, more targeted package that would do away with Democratic priorities but might win GOP support and appeal to Biden’s hopes to unify the country. “All of us are concerned about struggling families, teetering small businesses and an overwhelmed health care system,” said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a leader of the effort, flanked by the other GOP senators outside the White House. She called it a “frank and very useful” conversation, noting that the president also filled in some details on his proposal. The two sides are wide apart, with Republicans focused primarily on the health care crisis, tapping into bipartisan urgency to shore up the nation’s vaccine distribution and vastly expand virus testing with $160 billion in aid. That is similar to what Biden has proposed. But from there, the two plans drastically diverge. With less economic aid, the GOP’s $1,000 direct payments would go to fewer households than the $1,400 Biden has proposed, and the Republicans offer only a fraction of what he wants to reopen schools.
ICE SCULPTURE IN PA LAWN
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