February 5, 2015

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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VASA to ring in Year of the Goat Vietnamese American Student Association continues a decade-old tradition at MSU. YUSEONG JEON Staff Writer Vietnamese American Student Association at Minnesota State University, Mankato is hosting a 2015 Vietnamese Lunar New Year event, called TẾT, Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

at Centennial Student Union Ballroom.

“Basically it’s like our New Year, we don’t celebrate New Year like how Americans celebrate it in the normal calendar,” said Anh Cong, activity coordinator of VASA. “We follow a lunar calendar,

it’s our tradition for generations and it’s probably the most special, important event in the year for Vietnamese people.”

According to Cong, Lunar New Year’s Day is always on a different date, depending on the year because Vietnamese follow the lunar calendar. Even

wikipedia.org

A Vietnamese lion dance celebration.

mnsu.edu

though several Asian countries follow the lunar calendar, they celebrate New Year’s Day differently in a different time because each country has their own unique culture.

For the performance in the event, students in a part of VASA will provide a lion dance,

fan dance, martial art-like skit, Vietnamese traditional songs with traditional string instruments, and fashion show.

“Lion dance is very important in our culture. We believe lions bring good luck to our

VASA • Page 2

“Justice for Draco” hearings continue Public protests, online petitions grow longer amid animal abuse case.

LAUREN SIEBENALER Staff Writer Dedicated protesters made their voices heard outside the Sherburne County Courthouse in Elk River Wednesday, Jan. 28th, during a hearing for Anthony Sather, 25. Sather is a Princeton man who video recorded himself torturing and killing his girlfriend’s dog. In the video, he repeatedly beat the dog before he shot it with his firearm. The dog’s name was Draco, a Husky and Shiba Inu mix. Sather’s girlfriend found the videos on Sather’s computer and then took them to the authorities.

“I think this situation is absolutely terrible and I cannot imagine how someone could do something like this to any animal. I do believe that the man should receive the maximum punishment for animal mistreatment,” Claire Pomaville said, a child development and family

INSIDE:

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

studies major here at MSU who is known by many for her love of dogs.

The hearing was short, and the judge ruled that Sather’s next hearing would be on March 5. This case is getting widespread attention because of the new laws put in place for animal cruelty. All 50 states have a new law that went into effect last year that make acts of cruelty towards animals a felony.

Under this new law, Sather

could get up to two years in prison, but he is also being charged with two other counts: one is for firearm use and drug possession and the second count for a probation violation. The “Justice For Draco” protesters don’t think that is enough time for the wrongdoing he committed; their protest lasted longer than the actual hearing was in session.

In court, a man yelled out to Sather saying, “Sather, you

bottom-feeder, there’s a special place in hell for you!”

“However, I believe the protesting is going a little overboard. I feel like it is obvious and straightforward what he did, especially with the video.

Therefore, I believe he will receive that maximum punishment. Although this is a horrifying situation, there are other things that I could see as more important to be protesting,” Pomaville said.

ASSASSINS - PAGE 9

A Facebook group was started titled “Justice for Draco.” The page has more than 15,000 likes, and was founded

by Emily Randolph. Page managers keep everyone on the page updated with the current status of an online petition for Draco, and explain what is going on in the courtroom.

An online petition was also started for Draco. The website reads “Prosecute Anthony Sather to the fullest extent of the law; convict him of felony animal cruelty.” The petition reached an initial goal of 100,000 signatures, and now has almost 102,000 as of Wednesday morning.

If any of you feel like you would like to join the fight against Sather, please sign the petition. You can get more information about the case on the Facebook page dedicated to Draco, “Justice for Draco.”

There will be more coming out

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SPORTS

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News

NEW YEAR “We follow a

lunar calendar, it’s our tradition for generations and it’s probably the most special, important event in the year for Vietnamese people.”

Thursday, February 5, 2015

St. Peter hosts Polar Plunge Public encouraged to sign up for event that supports Special Olympics.

continued from 1 people and chase evil away from us. You will see the lion dance in the opening ceremony,” Cong said. “All the Vietnamese students, we all try to participate in the event as many as we can.”

Vietnamese Lunar New Year’s Day event is an annual event on MSU campus organized by VASA and it has been celebrated for over 10 years.

“Although it is a traditional event here, this is our first time to host this event as part of the new board member in VASA. But this event always has been a big event on campus. I am just hoping for the best this time as well. I hope everybody will enjoy the event on Saturday because we did try our best in coordinating and hosting this event,” Cong said.

Audiences for the event will be able to enjoy Vietnamese culture and traditional foods.

The tickets are available for $5 for MSU students and $6 for general public who buy them in advance. Audience members can buy the tickets at the door of CSU on the event day for $7 as well.

Seniors over 65 and children under six years of age are allowed to join the event for free.

The Vietnamese American Student Association aims to preserve the Vietnamese culture by promoting it on campus, recruiting and unifying students at MSU, remaining in contact with other multicultural communities and encouraging the students from other schools to come to this university.

VASA is included in Asian American Affairs with Asian Pacific Student Organization, Hmong Student Association and Hmong Men’s Circle.

Asian American Affairs is a subdivision of Multicultural Center along with African American Affairs, American Indian Affairs and Latino Affairs.

Institutional Diversity is an umbrella organization of Multicultural Center, Opportunity Access Success Intercultural Services (O.A.S.I.S.), LGBT Center, and Women’s Center at MSU. For more information, please contact VASA President Nhi Nguyen at nhi. nguyen@mnsu.edu or Vice President An Nguyen at an.nguyen@mnsu.edu.

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2014 Polar Plungers in St. Peter, MN

VALISA FAIR Staff Writer St. Peter will hold The Polar Bear Plunge at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 at Hallett’s Pond. The event is organized

by Special Olympics Minnesota and local law enforcement. Last year’s Polar Bear Plunge had about 700 plungers and raised approximately $120,000 for Minnesota Special Olympics.

St. Peter has gained 588 plungers from their plunge in 2013, which had raised $101,401.

The public is encouraged to attend and watch, or even sign up early to plunge. You are encouraged to recruit a friend, family member, co-worker or acquaintance and get them to take the Plunge with you. You’ll raise more money and it’s a way to make it more fun for you.

All Plungers must raise a

minimum of $75. If plunging as a team, the team must raise at least $75 per person. Each plunger who raises the minimum amount will receive an incentive.

Incentives are distributed at the following levels and are based on individual fundraising totals: • $75 — Long-sleeved Plunge shirt • $200 — Long-sleeved shirt and TBD • $400 — Long-sleeved shirt and sweatshirt • $750 — Long-sleeved shirt and duffle bag • $1000 — Long-sleeved shirt and 3-in-1 jacket • $1500 — All items If preferred, an incentive that is lower than what you earned (for example, you earned $1,000 but want the incentive for the $750 level), you’ll be able to

request the lower item when you check in.

It is advised to not Plunge after drinking alcohol. Intoxicated people will not be permitted to Plunge. You and a team are allowed to wear a costume that’s appropriate and nondiscriminatory. Anyone wearing an offensive costume won’t be allowed to plunge.

There is no age requirement to participate in a Polar Plunge.

During the online registration process, all Plunge participants must approve the waiver, and participants under the age of 18 are required to have a parent or guardian present at the event, and they must also approve the waiver. Young children are welcome to participate, but that decision is left to the sole discretion of the child’s parent

PLUNGE • Page 6

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MSU Reporter • 3

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MSU Photo Moment: Art in the Lincoln Lounge Local artists celebrate history, create gorgeous display in Centennial Student Union.

Photos by Trevor Cokley Artists Kenneth Caldwell (left) and GeeEm (above).

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Email the Editor in Chief: reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

Editorial: A helping hand is always there

Minnesota State University, Mankato

SPRING 2015 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Schuyler Houtsma........ 389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Rae Frame.................. 389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: Derek Lambert.............. 389-5157 A&E EDITOR: Chelsey Dively..............389-5227 ADVERTISING SALES: Mac Boehmer............. 389-5097 Jase Strasburg.............. 389-1079 Jacob Wyffels..............389-6765 Allie Bigbee................ 389-5609 Brandon Poliszuk......... 389-5453 Amber Masloski...........389-1063 Sam Rosenzweig..........389-5451

h d e s v BUSINESS MANAGER: a Jane Tastad.................. 389-1926 “ AD. DESIGN/PROD. MGR.: t Dana Clark..................389-2793 o t POLICIES & a

INFORMATION

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

The tragic events that unfolded on campus Monday afternoon have left a ripple of sorrow throughout the university.

We are saddened by the tragic loss of one of our own here at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Whatever problems he was experiencing and whatever drove him to believe suicide was the answer, we grieve that he could not see another way – to live.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. in 15 to 24-year-olds and third in adults age 25 to 34; it is tenth overall for the country. White males tend to be at greatest risk.

Spring is the season when sui-

cide occurs most.

Suicide is most often the result of clinical depression, a condition that is too often undiagnosed and even more often left untreated.

The major symptoms of depression may include:

thoughts

• Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

• Drinking more and engaging in reckless behavior

• Having trouble concentrating or finding formerly easy tasks difficult

• Experiencing thoughts that life is no longer worth living

• Feeling hopeless or helpless • Uncontrollable negative

• Loss of appetite or overactive appetite • Becoming more irritable, short-tempered or aggressive than normal

ter (CSU 285) at 507-389-1455 or the MCHS Hospital Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800865-0606. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. Or, you can call 911 to get immediate help.

There is no shame in reaching out; no one should have to suffer in silence. Help is waiting, eager and willing.

Please know that if you are feeling any of these symptoms, there are places you can turn to now. On campus, you can call the Counseling Cen-

• 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.

“Where’s the first place you go for news updates?”

Compiled by Yohanes Ashenafi

JOSEPH GRANO, CIVIL ENGINEERING

NJI MOU-BAYONG, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

MARIAHYA CHRISTENSEN, HUMAN BIOLOGY

BRYAN KUE, COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ZACH NEWELL, PRE-DENTISTRY

“I usually go to CNN or BBC.”

“I go on my phone to check Facebook, Twitter, and I watch CNN.”

“I check Facebook.”

“To keep myself updated, I go to APSO and HSA meetings.”

“CNN for national news and KARE11 for local news.”

I c e e n o f f d i o t i c

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Exploring cultural diversity We hear plenty about it these days, but what does this popular concept mean today?

LUKE LARSON Staff Writer

The concept of “diversity” has become one of the most deeply-held values of our modern globalized society. It is a seemingly unquestionable social value, on par with such ideals as “equality”, “freedom”, and “peace”. My goal is not to come to conclusions about the worth of this societal value, but simply to raise questions that I believe are often overlooked.

First of all, what is diversity?

In today’s world, diversity is constantly incorporating an ever-expanding litany of new categories. For my purposes I will not be touching on the concept of diversity in all of its manifestations, but will rather be focusing specifically on cultural diversity. I will define the term in this way: the encouragement of the presence and participation of a wide array of cultures in society. It is the idea that all cultural backgrounds should be

welcomed and incorporated.

How applicable this is to a campus that draws students from all corners of the globe?

As seen on the front page of the Dec. 4 edition of the Reporter, MSU was recently ranked “31st among master’s institutions in the United States in international student enrollment according to the ‘Open Doors Report,’ released by the Institute of International Education.” I personally have met students from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, China, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and Togo, just to name a few. That’s all six habitable continents! As a geography major and a lover of the world’s cultures, I have been thrilled with the opportunity to meet people from places I have only read about and to experience their cultures through the many international events offered on campus. The assumption of cultural diversity, one that I agree with, is that it provides all peoples with a better understanding of one another, thus allowing us to make more informed and just decisions.

That being said, I wonder how this notion of cultural diversity affects culture itself.

Are there potential downfalls?

Is it possible that culturally diverse societies in fact dilute the cultures that exist within them? I often wonder about my own culture. What is it exactly?

MSU Reporter • 5

News

If I were to travel abroad and were asked “what do you eat?”

I would probably respond, out of habit, “hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza.” But the fact is, I probably eat tacos more often than hamburgers and stir fry more often than hot dogs. And pizza, though it’s been very Americanized, is still Italian. I love North American sports like baseball, hockey, and basketball, but I’m also fascinated by cricket, rugby, and Gaelic football.

Is my true culture a conglomeration of many different cultures – a product of a globalized planet? Does that make my culture less authentic than those who have lived their whole lives immersed in their own culture, uninfluenced by others from around the world? The question is this: is it possible to participate in foreign cultures while maintaining one’s own culture?

By participating in and incorporating from other cultures do you in some sense become a part of those cultures? In other words, are cultures diluted by consistent contact with other cultures? Is this homogenization something to be feared and avoided? Foreign cultures seem to be as much a part of my daily life as my own “American culture”, whatever that may be.

If cultural diversity really does dilute and homogenize

DRACO “The hearing

was short, and the judge ruled that Sather’s next hearing would be on March 5. ” continued from 1

about the case when the next hearing happens on March 5th.

Information on animal cruelty, and how to report animal abuse, please visit

the Minnesota Humane Society website at mnhumane. org or call 763.489.2236.

PLUNGE “The public is en-

couraged to attend and watch, or even sign up early to plunge.” continued from 2

or guardian.

Trained Dive Team and EMTS are at the Plunge hole for assistance for those who aren’t strong swimmers or if anyone needs assistance.

Each year, the Polar Plunge challenges thousands of brave jumpers at numerous locations around the state. It’s a great way for everyone—individuals,

organizations and businesses—to get involved in supporting Special Olympics Minnesota. All funds raised go towards programming and events for more than 8,000 athletes statewide.

DIVERSITY • Page 6

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News

Blue Earth County awards art scholarships Over $6000 to go towards student education in music and dance.

VALISA FAIR Staff Writer Out of 97, 21 students in Blue Earth County were awarded $300 scholarships from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

“The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council is pleased to announce that Youth Scholarships of $29,100 from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund have been awarded to 97 students in grades 7-12 throughout the region. Youth Scholarship recipi-

ents live in twenty-two different communities representing nine counties,” noted Brenda Byron PLRAC Executive Director.

The students that have been awarded the $300 Youth Scholarships will be able to study their chosen art with a practicing professional artist, take lessons, or perform with a youth arts organization.

“We are excited about the

wonderful arts activities these students will be involved in,” Byron proclaimed.

Prairie Lakes provided additional scholarships of $6,000 to students of grades 3-6, as part of a pilot program this year.

These specific scholarships were funded by a grant from the Carla and Verna Schmidt Foundation, Rochester. The Youth Scholarships will provide these students the opportunity to study their choice of art with a practicing professional artist

Southern MN, Mankato Ballet Company and Fine Arts School of Ballet; figure skating lessons and a variety of music lessons in flute, cello, piano, and violin lessons—all taught by independent instructors. There is also music lessons available at Mankato Suzuki School of Music and New Ulm Suzuki School of Music. Students are also able to participate in Mankato Area 77 Lancers Marching Band and Mankato Children’s Chorus.

Prairie Lakes provides grants

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during the year. Four of the thirty students who received the $200 scholarship were from Blue Earth County. The other 26 students resides in fourteen different communities and several different counties.

Students are able to be involved in a variety of activities including: dance classes at the Dance Conservatory of

for arts activities including dance, music, theatre, literature and visual art classes and exhibitions. The first day of February and March of this year are the next deadlines to be awarded up to $2,500 in grants.

The grants will be awarded for Small Arts Projects by community groups and Arts-InEducation school residencies. If students of grades 7-12 are interested in applying for a Youth Scholarship, there is a yearly deadline of October 1, 2015.

Grant program information and applications are available at www.plrac.org or contact Brenda Byron, Executive Director, at the PLRAC office in Waseca, 1-800-298-1254 or plrac@hickorytech.net for information. The PLRAC serves a nine county area in south central Minnesota.

The Arts and Cultural Heritage fund was created by the people of Minnesota to support the arts and preserve our heritage. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, passed by the voters in November 2008, created new resources for land conservation, water conservation, parks and the Arts.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

DIVERSITY “First of

all, what is diversity? In today’s world, diversity is constantly incorporating an ever-expanding litany of new categories.” continued from 5

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cultures, it is ultimately self-defeating. Its intent is to celebrate and promote authentic culture, yet by its very nature it seems to place culture in an environment hostile to authenticity. Could it be that cultural diversity’s unintentional result will be the slow creation of a single world culture drawing from all the regional cultures of the world? This, it could be argued, is the very definition of globalization. In such a scenario, Mexican culture, and Swedish culture, and Korean culture would all become relics of history.

Their shadows would still exist in the global culture but as independent entities they would no longer exist.

Maybe the idea that the whole world will ultimately

be swallowed up by a single homogenous culture seems a little extreme. But is this not the inevitable, albeit unintentional, result of cultural diversity and its cousin globalization? Have we not, in some way, joined this global culture by taking on aspects of so many different cultures in our own lives?

What should be the balance between maintaining one’s own culture and benefitting from the experience of other cultures? I don’t claim to have the answer to that nor to any of the questions I’ve posed. I do think, however, that they are good questions to ponder.

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Thursday, February 5, 2015

MSU Reporter • 7

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Miami Orca still technically November letter asks endangered in seaquarium to remove Chancellor Federal government requires animals in captivity to be listed as endangered, may end in release.

Lolita, an orca whale, and her trainer perform together.

on Wednesday.

Activists say that she belongs in the wild, not a small pool, and should be returned to her home waters. They want her released into a protected marine pen near the San Juan Islands north of Seattle, where she would be monitored and cared for until she can gradually reconnect with other wild orcas.

But the Miami Seaquarium is not proposing to move the whale, according to Fisheries Service, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“She’s not going to be released,” Robert Rose, curator for the Miami Seaquarium, reiterated Wednesday. “We’re disappointed with the rule. We do not agree that she should

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Documents reveal that at one point a union for faculty in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system asked the Board of Trustees to fire Chancellor Steven Rosenstone.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports that leaders of the Inter Faculty Organization union wrote to trustees in November asking for Rosenstone’s removal over his plan to overhaul MnSCU. “The chancellor has been alarmingly divisive and punitive, at times resorting to personal attacks,” faculty leaders

wrote in the letter. “This, along with his lack of transparency and dishonesty, have exhausted any possibility of restoring trust.”

The trustees rejected the plea, but MnSCU board Chairman Tom Renier said trustees saw a need to intervene in the dispute after receiving the letter. Jim Grabowska, the union president, said it stands by the letter but has “moved on” since relations have improved with trustees. Rosenstone hasn’t participated in talks between the

MNSCU • Page 8

be listed. We feel that there’s flawed science there.”

Rose said more efforts should be focused on the conservation of Puget Sound orcas, rather than an animal that has been well-cared-for over the past 45 years, and that releasing Lolita into the wild would not only harm her but the wild orcas, as well.

NOAA officials made clear Wednesday that they’re far from weighing her release and that any future decision to release Lolita will require extensive scientific review. Such a review would take into consideration not only what’s good for Lolita, but what’s good for the wild population of endangered orcas,

ORCA • Page 8

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MSU Reporter

SEATTLE — A captive killer whale that has been performing for decades at the Miami Seaquarium deserves the same protection as a small population of endangered orcas that spend time in Washington state waters, the federal government announced Wednesday.

But the National Marine Fisheries Service said the whale’s inclusion in the endangered listing for southern resident killer whales does not impact the animal’s stay at the Florida facility where she has been since 1970.

“This is a listing decision. It is not a decision to free Lolita. It’s not a decision that she should be free,” said Will Stelle, regional administrator for the Fisheries Service’s West Coast region.

It does not affect the conditions of the orca’s captivity or care at this time, nor is the Miami Seaquarium required to do anything as a result, Stelle said. He added the agency is focused on doing what it can to recover the wild population of Puget Sound orcas, which now numbers 78.

Animal rights groups called it a victory and said the decision opens the way for them to argue that the whale’s living conditions violate provisions of the federal endangered-species law.

“Now that Lolita is protected, a whole host of remedy is open to us to demand that Lolita be treated with respect,” said Jessica Blome, an attorney with the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Lolita was 4 or 6 years old when she was legally rounded up in 1970 and later sent to the Miami facility. When the federal government protected Puget Sound orcas as endangered species in 2005, it excluded captive animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation and others petitioned in 2013 for Lolita to be included, and the Fisheries Service did so

Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press

Union members requested trustees act due to MnSCU overhaul.

Expires 4/30/15.

Expires 4/30/15.

8 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 5, 2015

ORCA “Activists say that she belongs in the wild, not a

MNSCU “Minnesota Public Ra-

continued from 7

continued from 7

Stelle said.

Stelle added that it’s not as simple as opening the gates and freeing the animal. The agency noted concerns over disease transmission and the ability of a captive animal to find food, among other worries.

“Imagine if you’ve been in captivity in a tightly managed

trustees and the union.

“In order to make progress, we believe that at least initially, the conversations would be most constructive without him,” Grabowska said.

Rosenstone said in a statement given to MPR News on Tuesday that he is “pleased we are moving in the right direction together.”

The chancellor says the overhaul plan, called “Charting the Future,” tries to make college cheaper and would see campuses coordinate more for programs and support services. But union

small pool, and should be returned to her home waters. They want her released into a protected marine pen near the San Juan Islands north of Seattle, where she would be monitored and cared for until she can gradually reconnect with other wild orcas.”

grayline.com

environment, fed by humans for the last 40 to 45 years,” he asked. “Are you ready to be released out in to the wild and fend for yourself?”

But animal activists are hopeful. They say Lolita is being kept under deplorable conditions — in a small tank that’s not shaded and without other whales for companions — that

would violate provisions of the Endangered Species Act. “We hope that this listing decision will help her transition from a life of captivity to a life with her family in the wild,” Blome said.

dio News reports that leaders of the Inter Faculty Organization union wrote to trustees in November asking for Rosenstone’s removal over his plan to overhaul MnSCU.”

leaders say it would result in a one-size-fits-all approach.

Gov. Mark Dayton said last month that he won’t make a budget recommendation for MnSCU until the dispute is resolved.

Faculty and administration at MnSCU released a joint statement in response to Dayton’s decision, saying they are “taking positive steps and having substantive dialogue to resolve our disagreements regarding Charting the Future.”

MSU Reporter • 9

Thursday, February 5, 2015

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507-389-5157

Assassins review

A script you can sink your knife into.

LORIEN MEGILL Staff Writer This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the MSU De-

Center for Performing Arts.

This Stephen Sondheim musical examines nine individuals throughout American history, who assassinated or attempted

Photo courtesy of Mike Lagerquist

partment of Theatre and Dance’s production of Assassins in the Andreas Theatre of the Earley

to assassinate the President of the United States. These nine

people exist together in a circuslike sort of purgatory (which is watched over by Jeff Libby as the Proprietor) in between the depictions of their assassination attempts.

One of the things that stood out to me was the immediate commitment to the atmosphere, which extended throughout the show, including intermission.

As soon as I entered the theatre it felt as though the show had essentially begun, although it had not technically started. In the moments before the musical begins carnival music plays throughout the intimate theatre.

The stage is visible, with red and white striped fabric surrounding the playing space from floor to ceiling, and in the center is a carnival wheel with lights in the middle and pictures of the presidents who will come into play throughout the show (the wheel is later used to indicate whether or not an assassin is successful).

The cast members who play roles other than the assassins walk through in red and white striped vests selling popcorn, candy, and water; and handing out “assassin trading cards” with biographies and pictures of the assassins. Libby as the Propri-

etor began building his character and setting the tone for the show in this time as well, making announcements and doing concession giveaways, all with a

the audience again during the intermission time.

The nine cast members who make up the assassins were both strong individually and quite

Photo courtesy of Mike Lagerquist

highly commanding personality.

There was also no intermission for these actors as they roamed

impressive when all together.

I was particularly struck by

THEATRE• Page 10

Current ousts Abney

Is The Current switching to pop music?

RAE FRAME News Editor For those of you who listen to Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current for the latest and greatest in undiscovered indie rock and up-and-coming pop hits, it is no secret that longtime DJ Barb Abney has been let go by the station. Station producers have stated Abney’s departure as a “programming decision,” leaving many listeners asking why Minnesota’s premier underground radio station would alienate a true lover of bands that began what we now call the “hipster” music trend. Abney, who hosted shows like “Cover 2 Cover” and “Tonal Recall” was known as a self-professed music nerd with a passion for 90s music that she sold to listeners with a

kare11.com

winning radio personality and knowledge of the material.

Abney published a tweet January 27 saying, “I loved my job;” it was later confirmed by the station that the two had parted

ways. Many artists, including hip hop singer Lizzo, have come out in support of Abney as The Current has brought in overnight host Jade Tittle to fill the 10 a.m.

– 2 p.m. slot.

Following the decision, some members have threatened to pull their funding if Abney is not reinstated—an intimidating proposal, because The Current gets nearly all their funding from

members who donate during their member drives either one time or on a reoccurring basis.

Despite member support, it seems Abney will not be returning to The Current, thanking her fans on Twitter in her usual, humorous way: “Still overwhelmed by all of the kind correspondence I have received. I’ve begun working “funemployment” into my everyday lexicon.”

Questions have been raised as to why a station popular for embracing the undiscovered music of America would distance themselves from such passionate music experts; many assume that the decision follows a shift in popular music to favor bands who are increasingly acoustic and soulful. With

MUSIC• Page 11

10 • MSU Reporter

THEATRE

“One of the things that stood out to me was the immediate commitment to the atmosphere, which extended throughout the show, including intermission. ” continued from 9

Adam Yankowy as Leon Czolgosz; his deep voice helped lend a gravity and emotional depth that he was already putting across through his acting; and Jordan Oxborough as the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald. Oxborough’s shift from the Balladeer in his narratorlike capacity, to Oswald was well executed, with the two roles coming across as different as night and day. Leigh Jacobson as Lynette Fromme and Erin Horst as Sara Jane Moore was a good match in the scenes that they shared; they played well off each other and the differences in the two women made for plenty of interesting and amusing moments.

The show itself feels a little bit uneven (this is no fault of any of the actors), with the scenes between the two women presenting a fair amount of levity, making them occasionally hard to reconcile with the more serious scenes at the beginning and making it somewhat difficult for me to reengage with the heavier moments presented at the end of the play. Despite this I was highly entertained for the entire performance by this very talented cast. Assassins is running for six more shows from Wednesday through Sunday of this week and is well worth a watch. For more information visit http:// www.mnsu.edu/theatre/.

A&E

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Good Thunder Reading Series Students learn the importance of time management with writing.

JENNA VAGEL Staff Writer Last Thursday was the first of the 2015 Good Thunder Reading Series (GTRS) events. This month GTRS brought two poets to spend the day on MSU cam-

fruitapulp.com Above is Ed Skoog author of Mister Skylight

pus. These poets were Traci Brimhall, author of two books of poetry, the second of which Our Lady of the Ruins was selected

by Carolyn Forché for the 2011 Barnard Women Poets Prize; and Ed Skoog, the author of Mister Skylight and Rough Day both published by Copper Canyon Press.

Thursday morning Skoog and Brimhall sat with undergraduate and graduate students, as well as members of MSU faculty for casual questions and answer session. Both were personable and engaging, setting the room at ease and perhaps waking some of the attendees up. Both poets talked about some of the ways

that their writing processes have changed over time. They also agreed that having a child was part of the impetus for their change in process. Having less time in which to write and having to use your time more creatively was a factor for both. For Brimhall this means building poems a little bit at a time, collecting pieces as she said “like a magpie,” and working in her head. Skoog said that he will “work through the motions of the poem before I write it down.”

That afternoon, Skoog and Brimhall gave an informative craft talk in the CSU Ostrander Auditorium. Brimhall, who is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Kansas State University, gave a very condensed version of what she would usually teach as a three-week seminar.

She spoke about building tension in a poem and changing the levels of different elements (narrative, imagination, form, and music) as needed. Included in the handout that attendees received were several poems that she used as examples. These poems displayed tension in craft and content, juxtaposing the magical and the real and using sentence length. Brimhall finished her portion of the craft talk by suggesting a writing exercise, the beginning of which she had included in the handout as well.

Skoog talked about Sappho, who he called the greatest poet, but who, he said, is mostly forgotten. He talked about tapping into a certain spirit that stays in our language and almost co-

writing with that other, hard to

lection Our Lady of the Ruins,

thebloodjet.wordpress.com Above is Traci Brimhall author of Our Lady of the Ruins.

capture, made-up voice. Skoog told listeners to use and access the natural restlessness that one feels, and that one way of doing this was to start writing three poems at the same time, exhorting that “Poetry will never come through the front door; it will always come through the side door, in through a window.” The two finished the afternoon session by taking a few more questions from the audience.

Closing out the day Traci Brimhall and Ed Skoog gave a reading of their poetry on Thursday evening. Brimhall read several poems from her second col-

which is about a group of women wandering through a mid-apocalyptic world. She also read some new pieces, including two lullaby poems for her son. Skoog read longer, narrative pieces including some from his upcoming third book. During his reading he would interrupt himself to offer background information or amusing anecdotes about his poems.

This month poet Natalie Diaz and fiction writer Danielle Sosin will be in Mankato for the Good Thunder Reading Series. For more information, visit http:// english.mnsu.edu/gt/events.html

Maymester & Summer Term Registration OPEN! Looking for transferability, short class length, credits?

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Thursday, February 5, 2015

MSU Reporter • 11

A&E

MUSIC

Rap star pleads not guilty to murder

continued from 9

Suge Knight could face life in prison if convicted.

publicradio.net

increasing frequency, music that appears on shows like the Current seems to be drawn from these underground sources who found fame with the Current before appearing on mainstream billboards: 3OH!3, Mumford & Sons, MGMT, and F.U.N., to name a few.

So are pop listeners changing their taste away from hooks, baselines, and simplified lyrics, or are we about to see two genres collide because previously undiscovered talents are changing their sound in order to score a record deal?

“Bands like Walk the Moon seem to be gearing for pop.” says Michael Maurer, who formerly hosted Radio a la Carte, a KMSU program

that features “undiscovered” musicians like Hoosier who occasionally end up on pop charts a few years after their music is released.

“Sell-out is a really harsh term, but maybe they change their sound to appeal to a wider audience. The problem is that it eliminates that sense of connection you had with a really unique artist or group of artists.” Maurer said.

It is clear that we may be seeing significant changes in the Current and other similar stations if they continue to part ways with more experienced DJs, but it is not clear whether they will actually morph with the pop genre or simply reduce the amount of 90s tunes played on a regular basis.

COMPTON, Calif. — Former rap music mogul Suge Knight pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and attempted murder charges before complaining of chest pain and being rushed to a hospital.

No further information about his condition was immediately available, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Officer John Gardner said.

Knight’s attorney David Kenner said he was on the way to the hospital to see his client but had no further details.

Knight wore orange jail attire at the morning court appearance where he entered not guilty pleas to four felonies, including hitand-run charges, filed after the Death Row Records founder struck two men with his pickup truck last week.

The 49-year-old Knight could face life in prison if convicted.

Knight is accused of intentionally running down two men, including a friend, in Compton on Thursday. Knight’s attorneys have said he hit the men by accident as Knight fled a vicious attack.

Knight is charged with killing Terry Carter, 55, and attempting to kill Cle “Bone” Sloan, 51, in a

burger stand parking lot after an argument occurred at a separate site where the movie “Straight Outta Compton” about the rise of the rap group N.W.A. was being filmed.

Kenner, said his client is remorseful about Carter’s death but that does not mean he’s guilty of the crimes.

“He feels bad that somebody that he knew is deceased,” Kenner said. “It’s not his fault.”

Michael R. Shapiro, an attorney who represents Sloan, said his client has a mangled left foot and some neurological issues and is recovering from his injuries under heavy security.

Knight was at the center of one of the most notorious rap conflicts of the 1990s, pitting Tupac Shakur against Biggie Smalls in an East Coast-West Coast rivalry.

Knight was sent to prison for nearly five years for badly beating a rival with Shakur at a Las Vegas hotel, just hours before Shakur was fatally shot while riding in Knight’s car in 1996.

In the current case, Knight struck two men with his pickup in a Compton parking lot.

The collision killed his friend

Carter, a founder and owner of Heavyweight Records who was viewed as a community father figure who tried to mentor young men, said Doug Young, a friend and hip-hop music promoter. Sloan is an actor and film consultant.

Authorities said Knight visited the set for “Straight Outta Compton” and argued with Sloan, who was working at the location. Sheriff’s deputies providing security asked Knight to leave.

A short time later, the argument resumed in a parking lot a few miles away where Knight and Sloan exchanged punches through a window of the pickup before the two men were run down, authorities said.

Knight’s former attorney James Blatt has said Knight was attacked by four people, including Sloan, as he pulled into the lot after Carter requested he show up for a meeting. Blatt said Knight hit the gas as he fled in fear.

Knight is due back in court on Feb. 9 when a judge will consider whether to set bail.

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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Pigeons on Parade

The 93rd Grand National Pigeon Show kicks off in 2015 with attendee Mike Tyson.

ONTARIO, Calif. — Dogs aren’t the only animals that vie for best in show. Hundreds of breeds of pigeons compete in their own version of the Westminster show, strutting on long, thick legs or fluttering curly, lacy feathers in their bid to be best bird.

These pigeons aren’t the nuisance flocks that swarm food scraps at outdoor restaurants.

They are genetically rich birds, including variations bred to look like turkeys or sound like trumpets, that drew thousands of enthusiasts — including ex-boxer and pigeon lover Mike Tyson — to the National Pigeon Association’s 93rd annual Grand National Pigeon Show.

Showing pigeons is one of the oldest and largest hobbies in the world. It thrives at a time when pets are becoming a more important part of people’s lives and animals kept as companions range from the traditional to the unique, such as rats and tarantulas.

More than 7,800 birds packed the Ontario Convention Center in Southern California last weekend, cooing and strutting in their cages, which sent feathers and feed flying. But the well-behaved show birds wouldn’t let one drop of waste fall on a judge’s shoe as they were examined for build, color and weight.

There were birds in blacks, whites and browns with feathers on their feet, circular crests framing their faces and 8-inch necks. Some looked like street pigeons but bigger and stronger, with massive shoulders and thick necks.

Tyson, the four-time heavyweight world champion, kicked off the three-day event by releasing 100 white pigeons. He agreed with the mostly older male owners about the need to infuse young blood in the aging hobby.

“Take this opportunity at a young age to enhance your responsibility and enjoy it,” he told youngsters who asked for photos

and autographs.

Tyson, 48, who had pigeons as a kid, keeps 1,800 birds. He said he was 10 when he won his first fight because a bully killed one of his birds in front of him.

“They teach you a lot about yourself,” Tyson said of pigeons.

Nearly a thousand different breeds of pigeons exist. Not only can these birds become pampered pets, they can be raised for racing and stunt performances.

Racing pigeons can fly for hundreds of miles a day and flap as fast as 80 mph, and performers will unleash death-defying stunts midair.

“Racing pigeons are the Ben Johnsons of the world and fancy pigeons are the Naomi Campbells of the world,” said Fadiel Hendricks, president of the National Fancy Pigeon Association of South Africa.

The performers are dubbed rollers and tumblers because of their motion during flight. The popular Birmingham roller dives into a series of backward somer-

saults, stops the roll before hitting the ground, then heads back up and performs the feat again.

Hendricks, who traveled 36 hours from Cape Town, South Africa, said age is a problem in his country, too. In his group, 90 percent of the members are over 50.

“We are up against computers and computer games,” he said.

Bob Nolan of Dana Point, a historian and 60-year member of the Los Angeles Pigeon Club, which hosted the show, said new variations are rare because “kids aren’t much interested in breeding anymore.”

“All these pigeons are manmade. None of them occur in nature like this,” said Nolan, who raises English trumpeters, known for their acoustic sound of distant trumpets. “All of these breeds have evolved from man’s creative genius.”

Samantha Wendell of North Hollywood and her fantail Francis, which looks like a turkey, are inseparable.

today.com

“Pigeons are just like dogs, they love you like a dog if you spend time with them and love them back,” she said. “He is all hugs and snuggles.”

Tyson says he will watch his birds for hours. The fighter who bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear explained his softer, pigeon-loving side by saying: “What I am just wasn’t what I did for a living.”

MSU Reporter • 13

Thursday, February 5, 2015

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Email the Sports Editor: reporter-sports@mnsu.edu

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Mavericks hit home ice for the first time as no. 1

The MSU men’s hockey team has been ranked no. 1 in the country three of the last four weeks, but this weekend will be their first time playing as no. 1 in front of a home crowd.

DEREK LAMBERT Sports Editor The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team reached the pinnacle of college hockey just under a month ago when they were ranked the no. 1 team in the country. The Mavericks held that spot for two weeks before dropping a non-conference tournament game to rival Bemidji State, dropping them to the no. 3 ranking.

Though the Mavs slipped two spots, their following stayed just as strong. Last Saturday night, over 4,600 fans cheered the Mavericks on at the Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato as they completed a sweep of Ferris State with a 5-1 victory on home ice. Both the fans and the team would be rewarded.

On Monday, MSU was once again ranked as the no. 1 team in the country, for the third time in the past four weeks. This weekend will mark the first time in the program’s history during the Division I era that the Mavericks will play as no. 1 on home ice, giving Maverick fans their first opportunity to see the purple and gold at VWC as the best of the best.

Coming into the weekend, the Mavs are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games, and hold a nationalbest record of 21-5-1. Not only do they hold the top ranking and record in college hockey, they also rank first in the NCAA pairwise rankings for the NCAA postseason, and are atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference standings.

Their opponents this weekend haven’t had quite as much success this season.

The University of AlaskaAnchorage was a quality team in the WCHA last season, even making it to the WCHA Final Five tournament in March. This season, however, they haven’t been able to find that same rhythm.

At 7-13-4, the Seawolves have struggled to find wins this season after their initial 3-0-1 start to the year, and the wins they

have collected have been few and far between. The problem Anchorage seems to be having is not being able to get the needed offense to steal some of these games from their opponents.

Averaging only 2.21 goals per game, the Seawolves give up an average of 2.83 goals per game.

Not a terrible defensive statistic, but when the average team goals against are more than goals scored, wins will often be hard to come by.

Seniors Scott Allen and Brett Cameron lead the offense for Anchorage, scoring eight and seven goals on the year, respectively. Blake Tatchell is the playmaker of this squad with a team leading 15 assists and 19 points on the season. The strength for UAA, and what could help them steal a point or two from the Mavericks this weekend, rests between the pipes.

Freshman goaltender Olivier Mantha has collected a .922 save percentage this season, impressive alone, but considerably impressive given the lack of success his team has had that he is still capable of recording such good numbers. He’s carried the majority of the load on the back end, and has even posted a shutout this season in a victory over Northern Michigan.

Mantha may have his hands full with a potent Maverick offense this weekend, though.

MSU boasts the third best offense in the nation, averaging 3.74 goals per game, and at a 23.66 success rate, their power play ranks fourth best among the nation. Their depth is unmatched, which is a major reason why they have been so successful this season.

Six players on the Maverick roster have eclipsed the 20-point mark this season; with four others recording ten or more points this season already. Senior Matt Leitner leads the way for the MSU offense with a WCHAleading 23 assists, many of them going to the WCHA’s leading goal scorer Bryce Gervais, who has buried 18 on the year. These two aren’t the only ones carrying the load, though.

Four different Mavericks

Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Head coach Mike Hastings and his no. 1 Mavericks look to keep their top ranking with a home sweep over UAA this weekend.

have recorded three-goal games this season, and 15 players have recorded at least one multi-point game. It will be a tall task for UAA to slow down this MSU offense, who put up ten goals over two games last weekend against one of the nation’s top goaltenders, C.J. Motte of Ferris State.

A dual-threat of a team, the Mavericks aren’t just heavy on the front end, they also have one of the best between the pipes.

Junior goaltender Stephon Williams has posted an eye-

opening 17-3-1 record on the season due to a .921 save percentage and 1.7 goals against average. Williams ranks fifth among all goaltenders in the NCAA. If he gets the nod to start this weekend, it could prove to be deadly for UAA, whose offense has already struggled this season.

The Seawolves will look to climb out of the WCHA cellar and make a move towards home ice for the playoffs, while MSU looks to extend their four-point lead over second place Michigan

Tech in the conference standings. With only five weeks remaining in the season, each game and each point is starting to hold much more weight.

Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Center, where the first place Mavericks and last place Seawolves will match up against one another with four conference points on the line this weekend.

14 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Young players showing promise, but Wolves still struggling LUKE LONIEN Staff Writer The Minnesota Timberwolves season has been a disappointing one. Injuries have plagued a team that some had pegged to reach 30 wins. Thirty wins is no longer in the minds of Timberwolves fans, as we all now want to see the development of the younger players.

The biggest downfall of the year was the 15-game losing streak from mid-December to mid-January. The injuries of the top players on the team was evident, as every game seemed impossible to win. The development of the young players is great, but wins will always trump development.

The streak was broken when 32-year-old Mo Williams erupted for 52 points against the Pacers. Mo was absolutely on fire and was knocking down everything in sight. Including going 6 of 11 from beyond the arc and knocked-down 19-33 field goals. Williams’ performance was needed to break the streak as the Timberwolves won 110-101.

Andrew Wiggins has been

everything that ownership and fans could have wanted. The rookie is averaging 15.5 points per game and pulling down four rebounds a game. Wiggins had a lot on his plate early in the year, as team leaders Kevin Martin, Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic missed extended time due to injuries. Wiggins saw his usage increase in January, he led the team in scoring, but the wins were not there.

Wiggins won Rookie of the Month honors in both November, December and all signs are pointing to Wiggins winning the award again for going on an absolute tear in January.

Wiggins averaged 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.5 assists per game in January.

The Wolves now sit with an 8-40 record, and are in the running to land the number one pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

Now I do not believe in tanking, and technically the Timberwolves did not tank because of the injuries, but the team has to be looking toward the future.

Landing a top-pick player like Jahlil Okafor would really give the Timberwolves a solid core for the future.

Now that the team is getting healthy, they will be much more entertaining to watch. The highlight-reel passes from Rubio were shown in his first game back from injury. Rubio played 21 minutes in his return from missing 43 games, and his jump shot looked better than ever. We also saw what the combination of Rubio and Wiggins could be, as Rubio tossed up a lob pass that Wiggins converted with dunk.

Andrew Wiggins

Martin was on fire before his injury. In the two games before Martin broke his wrist he scored 37 and 34, respectively. He has looked solid in his return, but he

hasn’t been shooting the ball as well as he could be. He gives the Timberwolves a different look, as he can slash to the hoop and finish some of the most acrobatic shots, while he also a threat beyond the three-point line. The only downfall of Martin back is Wiggins moves to the forward spot were he has to take on taller opponents. Martin leads the team averaging 19.8 points per game.

The surprise of the season has been the improvement of Shabazz Muhammad. The second year man out of UCLA is averaging 13.7 points per game and grabbing 4 rebounds as well. Muhammad really came on strong when Martin was injured. He was then placed in a starters role were he flourished as a scorer. He had four consecutive games scoring over 20 points, and he also had a 30-point outing against the Jazz in December. Muhammad has been relentless on the offensive glass as well. His injury has really hurt the bench production off Timberwolves, and when he returns later this week the bench should get a big boost.

Two of the new additions

Thad Young and Anthony Bennett have had better days as basketball players. Young has established himself has a scorer, but his rebounding and free throw shooting have not been up to standards needed. When a stretch four is shooting under 70 percent from the line there’s a problem, and both Young and Bennett are struggling from the line.

Bennett looked really good early in the season, but when his mid-range jumper quit falling, his game really suffered. He is an explosive player, and we have seen what he is capable of with some incredible dunks, but he has to cut down on his outside jumpers, and use his strength and athleticism to help develop a post-up game.

The Timberwolves have shown improvement, and have a healthy roster coming back soon. The Timberwolves will be much more fun to watch with the returns of Rubio and Martin.

The development of Wiggins has also been great to watch as he is looking to be turning into an NBA star.

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Wednesday February 11, 2015

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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Mavs fall to Augustana on the mat DENZELL OATS Staff Writer In Souix Falls, SD the wrestling team fell short last Thursday against #17 opponent Augustana in a 19-18 loss.

“We had an alright showing,” Freshman Cole Abernathy said. “I feel that if we would’ve had everyone show up with their 100% we could have displayed a better performance.”

The Mavericks started the day off slow but gained some momentum going at 141 lbs.

They gained there first points of the competition through junior Alphonso Vruno after pinning Augustana’s #4 Jeremiah Peterson setting the score at a 6-7 Augustana advantage.

Corey Abernathy

Sophomores Adam Cooling and Darick Vacura and senior Cody Quinn contributed their skills as Cooling kept the momentum rolling. In the 157 lbs.

Cooling recorded a takedown in his swift victory over Augies Brandyn Neises to lock in a 4-2 win. This set the score at MSU 9 to Augustana’s 10.

Quinn and Vancura would both go on to win their matches by decision putting the Mavericks ahead at 15 to 10 with three matches to go.

But the tides would change for the Mavericks. Freshman Cole Abernathy took a fall to Augustanna’s Aero Amo at the 1:21 mark yielding 6 points to the Vikings putting them ahead of the Mavericks by one point.

MSU’s Scott VanDeLoo took the mat at 197 lbs but was overtaken by the Vikings Jayd Docken in a 4-1 decision.

The Maverick’s would earn there last points of the day at 285 lbs. through wrestler Malcolm Allen as he won in a 3-1 decision over Augie’s Michael Lowman.

Unfortunately for the Maverick’s those three points wouldn’t contribute to an MSU victory over the Vikings as the day finished at 18-19 with Augustana the victors.

“Despite the score, I think we had a good day overall.”

Senior Quinn explains. “Augustana came to compete but a few mistakes cost us some points.

It was crucial, but that’s how we learn to execute when it becomes more important.”

And as the Mavericks close in on the end of the regular season they look to tie up any loose ends in an attempt to put their best foot forward for the NCAA Region III Championships in three weeks.

“I have faith we can bounce back,” Abernathy continues.

“We have to make some little changes before we enter next week but last Thursday should motivate myself and the team while we close out our regular season and head into the post season.”

Wild starting to inch towards the playoffs TOMMY WIITA Staff Writer After losing 8 of 11 games during the month of January, the Minnesota Wild are looking to turn it around this season. The Wild have won the past four games, including an exciting home win on Tuesday against the rival Chicago Blackhawks.

With the new acquisition of goaltender Devan Dubnyk, the Minnesota Wild have gone 6-1 with him in the net. The team currently sits tenth in the Western Conference and sixth in the Central Division. They have been hovering around the same place for most of the season, but it sure would not hurt to see a hot streak from this club come playoff time.

The new goaltender Devan Dubnyk hopefully can be the answer for this team. The Wild have already experienced a carousel of goaltenders this season between Darcy Kuemper, Niklas Backstrom, and John Curry, and are seeing positive things with Dubnyk. Dubnyk has already recorded three shutouts on the season, which is more than he has had in any of his five previous seasons.

The 6’6” 28 year old Canadian was acquired on January 14th from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2015 entry draft. He was not getting as much playing time with the Coyotes, but the Wild have given him his shot and he has helped them get back on track for a playoff push.

The five warriors this season that have played in all 50 games so far are right wing Jason Pominville, left wing Thomas Vanek, center Mikko Koivu, right wing

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Nino Niederreiter and newly resigned center Charlie Coyle. Star left winger Zach Parise missed some time midway through with an upper body injury, and took some time off after his father passed away, but he still leads the team in goals with 21, points with 39, power play goals with seven, and a team high 162 shots on goal.

Coach Mike Yeo has tried to put in more emphasis on the defensive side of the puck, but the offense has had an up and down season as well. As of late they are on fire, as they snapped a six game losing streak in January by exploding for seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres to win 7-0. Ever since, the Wild have been playing much better hockey.

The key is staying consistent, and the Wild are currently on a four-game winning streak. Not to mention these teams were not exactly inferior to the Wild, as three of the four were on the road against the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. The Wild are 12-13-1 on the road this season, as that has been a weak spot to improve on if they want to make a run. Their only home game during this streak was against an always-tough Chicago Blackhawks team, in which they blanked Chicago 3-0.

This is the kind of game that could start something fierce.

The next four of five games are on home ice, which a streaking team will gladly be thankful for.

The next three are all against teams that are currently ahead

of the Wild in playoff regards: the Colorado Avalanche (9th in Western Conference), the Vancouver Canucks (7th), and the Winnipeg Jets (6th). With 32 games left to play, all is up for grabs for Minnesota.

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4/30 LOFTS@1633: 1-4 bedroom loft units Loft1633.com.

4/30 QUARTERS AT MANKATO: 2-4 bedroom multi-level townhomes and flats RentMSU.com. 4/30 4 BED/2 BATH and 6 bed/2 bath house for rent. Across the street from campus. Call or text 507995-5300. 4/30 FIND A PLACE TO RENT ON RadRenter.com.

Mankato’s Rental Listing Website. 4/30 NOW LEASING FOR AUGUST 2015. 4 Bedroom Townhome 1 block from Campus. Max. Capacity 5. W/D, Dishwasher, A/C off street parking. Lease for 12 months $1490 507-327-5699 for appt.

2/5

LIVE ALONE. APARTMENT NEAR MSU. For 1 lady-student, grad student, or teacher. In beautiful home.

Separate entrance. Garage Parking.

Owner pays utilities. No smoking, drugs, alcohol, or pets. Available Aug 1, 2015. Rent $350 a month.

Call 1-507-388-7373.

2/12

Western Conference Wild Card Race Team WPG CGY COL MIN

Record 26-189 28-203 22-1811 24-206

Points 61 59 55 54

Western Conference Standings Team T1.

NSH T1.

ANA 3.STL

Record 33-116 33-126 33-134 4.CHI 31-182 T5.

27-17SJS 7 T5.

26-18WPG 9 10.

MIN

Points 72 72 70 64 61 61

24-20- 54 6

HELP WANTED

BARTENDER/ WAITSTAFF. MULLY’S ON MADISON 1030 Madison. 388-1441.

2/12

NOTICES

FREE SHOTOKAN KARATE classes offered Monday 6-8 pm, Tuesday 7-9 pm, Thursday 6-8 pm. Room PH 102. Beginners are welcome. Need not to be a MSU student to join. For info call Brad @507-388-5301 or lostgonzo@gmail.com or search MSU Shotokan on Facebook or Yahoo Groups.

4/30

16 • MSU Reporter

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Thursday, February 5, 2015