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A thousand and one nights in Mankato Middle Eastern Student Association hosts a magical event February 14. PRATAKSHYA BHANDARI Staff Writer The Middle Eastern Student Association is organizing the Middle Eastern Night on February 14 at the Centennial Student Union. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with an exhibition followed by dinner and entertainment at 7 p.m. The night will end with a masquerade dance starting from 9 p.m. The theme of the night is One Thousand and One Nights. It comes from a famous Arabic folk tale that has many versions, the most famous being Arabian nights. A lot of countries in The Middle East have a tradition of royalty, and it is often reflected in their culture as the event follows the concept of a royal folk tale, told as a story through performances. The event is open to the public and students. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased online at MSU website or at the ticket booth in CSU. For those who just want to attend the dance, the price is $1 at the door and will include a mask.
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“We want to showcase the good stuff that we have. Our culture, dance, music, food and our values. There are about 22 to 24 countries that are represented. We have a lot in common, but we also have a lot of differences, and we want to show them all,” said Jessica
Farah, event coordinator for Middle Eastern Night. Entertainment for the night includes dance and music representing different regions of the Middle East. Apart from MSU students with different cultural backgrounds as performers, there is a group of student per-
formers coming from St. Cloud State University. The menu, however, is kept a surprise. “We can’t tell you what the menu is just yet,” Mohammed Al-Baloushi, president of Middle Eastern Student Association said. “But we can tell you
that we have an interesting mix of taste and spices. For now, it’s classified.” The date, coinciding with Valentine’s Day, wasn’t a deliberate choice. However, the association is hopeful that the event will have a good turnout, especially from students looking to celebrate the occasion on a budget. “It’s the ideal date for college students. For $8 you are getting food, entertainment and masquerade dance. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?”Al-Baloushi said. The Middle Eastern Student Association is the biggest RSO within ISA. It is because Saudi Arabian Student Association, while an RSO of its own, is also a part of the association. Saudi Arabian students currently have the largest international student population at MSU. The event is one that the MSU community looks forward to, because of the representation of so many countries as well as cultures. A chance to celebrate the unique culture, as well as anticipation of signature food
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Looking backward to move forward Students to explore the tradition, culture, and beauty of Oromia. LUKE LARSON Staff Writer What do you know about Oromo culture? Can you find Oromia on a map? Do you know any Oromo students here at Minnesota State University, Mankato? Next Saturday, February 21, the Oromia Student Union is offering an opportunity to grow in awareness of the culture and traditions of an ethnic group that is wellrepresented both here at MSU and in the state of Minnesota as a whole. “One of our main goals is to affect the Mankato community with the recognition of the Oromo people,” says Aliya Hussein, president of the Oromia Student
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Union, the group hosting the event. “It’s about distinguishing Ethiopians and the Oromo. It’s so complicated and when you try to explain it to people who don’t know, you can’t really sit there and lecture them about the
Oromo people. So I feel like this night is an opportunity to show that we are very much different from the Ethiopians.” Abdi Mude, a member of OSU who immigrated to Minnesota four years ago, explains
that the Oromo are the largest ethnic group in east Africa and live primarily in Oromia, a region of Ethiopia. “At one point, the Oromo had everything.” says Hussein, “They were the richest people in
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the east until they were conquered by the Abyssinians in the 19th century.” Mude notes that the Oromo are best known for both their world-class runners, which include Kenenisa, Darartu, and Abebe Bikila, the first African to win an Olympic marathon, as well as their world-renowned coffee. He adds that the Oromo are not unified religiously; some are Christians, some are Muslims, and others practice Waaqeffannaa, a traditional religion. The night will feature a host of events offering insight into the Oromo people and their culture. Traditional Oromo cuisine will be served begin-
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OROMO “One of our main
goals is to affect the Mankato community with the recognition of the Oromo people”
Thursday, February 12, 2015
MN missing emission goals State cannot meet reduction expectations.
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ning at 6 p.m. in the basement of the CSU. In addition to rice and salad, dishes will include injera, a flatbread typically eaten with a variety of sauces, sambusas, a beeffilled pastry, and collard greens, known in the Oromo language as “rafu shana”. The performances will begin at 7:30 in the CSU ballroom. The entertainment lineup includes nine traditional dances, poetry recitation, a skit, a fashion show and a performance by Adnan Mohamed and Elemo Abdushakur, very well-renowned singers within the Oromo community. A speech will be given by MSU professor Lencho Bati on Oromo culture and history. The OSU chose “looking backward to move forward” as the theme of the night. “Where I’ve come from has shaped who I am,” says Geda Woliye, the OSU program coordinator who immigrated to Minnesota when he was ten years old. “You have to look back to see who you are.” For Mude, the memory of his African roots is still strong. He found the transition to life in the United States very difficult. Coming without any knowledge
of English, he says “it felt like being in a dark room.” After about a half a year of ELL classes at Como Park High School in Saint Paul, he had overcome the language barrier. Mude interprets the event’s theme in relation to the struggles of the Oromo people. “We’ve been through a lot under the repression of the Ethiopian government. We’re still struggling for freedom and independence,” he says. “So in order for us to move forward, we need to look back and see what happened to our grandparents, our fathers, our mothers.” The Oromo are a substantial minority in Minnesota. Woliye notes that the Twin Cities are affectionately known as “Little Oromia” for their high Oromo population. He believes Minnesota constitutes the largest community of Oromos outside of Africa. According to the Oromo Community of Minnesota’s Facebook page, the estimated Oromo population of Minnesota is over 40,000. The Oromo even have a street named in their honor in Min-
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YUSEONG JEON Staff Writer Minnesota passed a proposal in 2007, setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 15 percent in 10 years between 2005 and 2015. However, according to Minnesota Public Radio News, Minnesota did not achieve even half of its goal for cutting the greenhouse gases by 2012. The state is far behind its goal for 2025 as well: “We are not on track to meet the 2025 reduction goals, either,” said David Thornton, assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “ the kinds of things Given that are in place now, we only see a little bit more additional reduction occurring out to 2025 and 2030.” Even though the gas emissions from power companies in Minnesota have been decreased from 31 percent in 2005 to 17
percent present, David Thornton, assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, said the state is still struggling with the efforts to cut the greenhouse gases because the industries in Minnesota are not centralized. In addition to the power sector, Minnesota will have to take action on agriculture and buildings as well because these two are also main reasons increasing greenhouse gas emissions enormously. Agriculture makes up 19 percent of emissions because cows and fertilizing crops release nitrous oxide, which is widely known as a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gas emissions also generate from methane from landfills and carbon dioxide from plowing cornfields and driving cars. Carbon dioxide emissions in Minnesota decreased as well from 166 million tons in 2005
to 155 million tons in 2012 but experts say this was a short-term effect created by Xcel Energy’s coal-fired Sherco plant, which stopped temporarily in the year. “In my opinion, the whole situation does not make any sense,” said Dominik Werner, exchange student at Minnesota State University, Mankato from Germany. “Minnesota has to participate in this effort to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that all countries around the world are endeavoring to prevent global warming. If Minnesota is behind on the efforts, it means other states in America or other countries have to take more actions to counter balance on cutting down the amount of gas emission. America is already one of the most energy-consuming countries in this world. Minnesota should try to be a role-model on cutting greenhouse gas as a part of the United States.”
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
MSU Reporter • 3
News
National Prayer Breakfast President’s comments on religion deemed both “offensive” and “humbling.”
NIGHTS “It’s the ideal date
for college students. For $8 you are getting food, entertainment and masquerade dance. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?” continued from 1
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, right, talks with the Dalai Lama during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington
NICOLE SCHMIDT Staff Writer President Barack Obama is not a Christian. Hold on, keep reading. “President Barack Obama is not a Christian” is something that’s probably been uttered this last week following the National Prayer Breakfast. This past Thursday, the president appeared and spoke at the annual National Prayer breakfast held at the Hilton’s International Ballroom in Washington D.C., an ongoing tradition for 63 years. However, it seems as though the traditional breakfast is receiving more attention this year than previously. In a statement that has sur-
prised many, Obama declared in a roundabout way that Christians are just as guilty as the Muslims or other terror groups that have existed. The president compared the acts of Muslim terrorism to the Crusades, the Inquisition, and Jim Crow. Here are his words that have inspired such criticism: “And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.” From CNN to Fox News, the reaction to this statement in this venue was taken poorly. Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore
was particularly bothered, saying, “The president’s comments this morning at the prayer breakfast are the most offensive I’ve ever heard a president make in my lifetime. He has offended every believing Christian in the United States. This goes further to the point that Mr. Obama does not believe in America or the values we all share.” Andrea Mitchell of NBC News was also in disfavor of the comments made at the breakfast. “You don’t use the word Crusade in any context right now. It’s too fraught,” she said. “And the week after a pilot is burned alive and a video shown, you don’t lean over backward to be philosophical about the sins of the fathers. You
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and spices, make it one of the biggest cultural nights every year. “We as an organization could not have pulled this event together without the help of international student association, and help from students of other Registered
Student Organizations,” Farah said.
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
MN postpones marijuana decision State officials will not address controversial issue this year. ST. PAUL, Minn. — State officials will hold off for another year on deciding whether to expand Minnesota’s new medical marijuana program to residents suffering chronic pain. The move could someday extend the potentially potent medicine to tens of thousands more Minnesota residents and dramatically increase business for the state’s two medical marijuana manufacturers. But the state is waiting until next year to make the call. Officials say it could overextend manufacturers as they rush to launch the program this summer. That means patients with chronic pain won’t be able to get medical marijuana until August 2016 at the earliest, if ever. The updated timetable was posted this week on the Department of Health’s website and confirmed by The Associated Press. Manny Munson-Regala, an assistant commissioner leading the rollout of medical marijuana, said they “didn’t see a way to do this in a thoughtful, structured way” in time to make the medicine available for pain treatment this year. State lawmakers passed a law last year legalizing limited forms of medical marijuana for a handful of serious conditions
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press Medical marijuana advocates gather at the Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., to watch as lawmakers pass a bill legalizing limited forms of medical marijuana for a handful of serious conditions like cancer and AIDS.
like cancer and AIDS. But their bill left open the question of providing marijuana to those with chronic pain, giving the health commissioner until July 2016 to make a ruling. News of the decision to wait another year disappointed Sen. Branden Petersen, an Andover Republican with a bill that would OK chronic pain for medical marijuana starting July 1. Peterson said he didn’t buy
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the concern that manufacturers couldn’t cope with the expanded demand. “I don’t see why we need to wait that long,” he said. “If we acted this session, we could do something that would serve the interests of those patients a lot sooner.” The state will now take its time. A new panel weighing the question will start meeting
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To make marijuana available to chronic pain patients by August 2016, Ehlinger would have to move to add it as a qualifying condition by Jan. 15 of that year — the law requires the health commissioner to act
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this spring with the goal of finalizing their recommendation to Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger in December, according to the group’s timeline.
by that date to give lawmakers time to block a new condition from being added. A delay could add another year. Chronic pain has been the biggest source of patients in states with medical marijuana nationwide — more than 90 percent of registrants in Colorado were prescribed the drug due in part to severe pain. In Minnesota, the state expects about 5,000 patients to sign up for medical marijuana under its current rules. The state doesn’t have a firm grasp on how that would increase with chronic pain, but Munson-Regala noted it could be enormous. A recent report pegged the number of Minnesota residents being treated for chronic pain at about 88,000, he said. LeafLine Labs, one of Minnesota’s two medical marijuana producers, is focused on gearing up to serve the patients who currently qualify for the program, co-founder Andrew Bachman said Tuesday. But Bachman said the company is eager to find better ways to serve patients suffering from other ailments, including chronic pain.
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
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MSU Reporter • 5
MSU Photo Moment: Painting in Preska Hall
Photos by Trevor Cokley
Students decorate door mats in Preska J hall. The event was organized by CA Madison Peterson and held in the Preska lounge.
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The truth as told by advertising Super Bowl commercials went straight for the heart this year.
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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
NICOLE SCHMIDT Staff Writer
The Super Bowl is an advertising dream. With 114.4 million viewers (a new record viewership for the Super Bowl), the stage was set for the best commercials to make their debut. Some of the best creative geniuses were hired to make an unforgettable commercial promoting a product. Seeing that ads were sold at $4.5 million for a 30 second spot ($150,000 dollars a second), the stakes were high to get it just right. It seems that great marketing minds thought alike this past Super Bowl. The 2015 commercials resulted in a large reaction in society, and not for their funny wit and charm, instead, social media sites exploded with comments on how the commercials were excessively depressing. Such a reaction got me thinking about exactly why commercials were largely the way they were this year. If advertisers aim to create the most impact on a person, something that will stay with them, does the “sad” commercials this year mean some-
BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad.................. 389-1926 AD. DESIGN/PROD. MGR.: Dana Clark..................389-2793
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thing for us as a society? Is this the beginning of a change in our values and schema in America? Well, it turns out I had just the person to ask those questions. I recently interviewed Amy Lauters, professor of Mass Media here at Minnesota State University Mankato. Lauters came to mind because first and foremost, she is professor of one of my classes. It also helps that she is extremely passionate and highly versed in mass communication, receiving a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a master’s degree in mass communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a doctorate in mass communication with an emphasis in history and American Studies at the University of Minnesota. Needless to say, she is qualified to speak on the matter.
I sat down with Doctor Lauters to discuss the nature of the Super Bowl’s super solemn ads. Q: Let’s start off simple. What was your favorite commercial and why? A: I sort of don’t think in terms of favorites—I like to see what every one’s been thinking. I do particularly like the Dove commercials, because they’re consciously attempting to direct a more positive conversation about women and girls and their achievements. Q: How do the commercials from this year compare to commercials 15 years ago? A: This year’s batch seemed to be more serious than previous years, although that’s a trend that started in the wake of 9/11. The pre-9/11 ad world was a different space, in a way, and the commercials reflected a more upbeat, celebratory atmosphere.
Q: There’s been a negative reaction for the commercials being sad and depressing. Why do you think a majority of the commercials were serious? A: I don’t know that they were depressing so much as they weren’t as celebratory as some would have liked. That “party” atmosphere really wasn’t there— it’s like advertisers wanted to show us there was something to think about. It’s also important to remember that the Super Bowl commercials really reflect some of the best creative work that can come out of a campaign, and the trend this year was quality aesthetics and storytelling—both of which can be humorous, but always make things seem a bit more solemn. Q: What was the most prominent theme you picked up on, and why do you think that was
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“Do you prefer commercials that are funny, smart, or serious?
POLICIES & 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 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.
Compiled by Yohanes Ashenafi
SHANTELLE KRUEGER, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
FARES IBRAHIM, CHEMISTRY
ALI AHMED, ACCOUNTING
CONNOR DONOHUE, MARKETING, BUSINESS
TAHIR FAROOQI INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
“Smart and funny. Something educational or interesting but funny at the same time.”
“Something to combine funny and educational. At my age I need fun and educational aspects involved.”
“I myself prefer commercials that are serious because it won’t create misunderstanding for viewers.”
“I prefer smart because I feel that usually commercials can be a waste of time.”
“The tone depends on the message, e.g. you can’t have a funny commercial on serious medical issues.”
Thursday, February 12, 2015
MSU Reporter • 7
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RSO Spotlight: Secular Student Alliance SHESTON STEELE Staff Writer On one cold Wednesday night, I was invited to join the welcoming group of The Student Secular Alliance on campus. This expanding group is a part of the larger SSA national group, and is a group of students that spends its meeting time discussing various upcoming events on campus, both its own activities as well as other events of similar interests. The mission of these groups is to promote and educate students and student communities on the ideals of scientific and critical inquiry, secularism, and human-based
ethics. They provide an environment where nontheistic students are respected and have a place to voice their thoughts and opinions. The SSA is an educational nonprofit organization and you can find more information about their mission, goals, available contests, and scholarships on the SSA official website. The group on campus does not solely focus on beliefs, or lack thereof, during meetings. Members spend time talking about their shared interests and hobbies, and develop meaningful friendships. During my time with the group, they participated in a couple lively banters on various topics with each
Photo by Trevor Cokley
other. They also brainstor med what topics they wanted to cover in the meeting, what activities they wanted to participate in and host themselves, and discussed upcoming campus activities. The Secular Student Alliance on campus is hosting a table on the main floor of
the Centennial Student Union on Thursday, February 12th, Darwin Day. They will be selling delicious cupcakes in a variety of flavors at a low cost, just in time for Valentine’s Day! On the night of Thursday, February 12, the group is discussing several common misconceptions about evolution in room 288 of Wissink Hall from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting time for SSA is every Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. in Wissink Hall room 288. There will not be a meeting on Wednesday, February 11th. This group is open to those who are Atheist, Agnostic, are unsure of their beliefs, or looking for a
different perspective. There is a Facebook page titled SSA Mavericks, currently with over 100 members and growing where you can find their mission statement, informational videos, and participate in friendly discussions. It is also posted when the group is planning activities, keeping information available about changed meeting locations or times. Any questions, comments, or concerns can be directed to the group’s President David White, who can be reached at the following email: david.white-1@ mnsu.edu.
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PRAYER “This past Thursday, the president ap-
peared and spoke at the annual National Prayer breakfast held at the Hilton’s International Ballroom in Washington D.C., an ongoing tradition for 63 years.” continued from 3
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press Actor Richard Gere listens as President Barack Obama speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington
have to deal with issues that are in front of you or don’t deal with it at all.” There is no doubt that people are offended. Considering the majority of the nation claims to be Christian, the president’s justification of Muslim terror through past blunders from Christians was not received well. Another point that drew attention was this statement in the speech: “I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt—not being so full of yourself and so confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow we alone are in possession of the truth.” Christians are allowed to
cringe at this point, as many delight in the truth of the resurrection and wish to convey it to all people. Bottom line, this last sentence reads that Christians should be all right with other “truths.” It’s kind of encouraging the old, “If you’re ok, I’m ok,” notion. In response to the statement of truth, Erick Erickson at RedState.com said, “Barack Obama is not, in any meaningful way, a Christian. Christ himself is truth. When we possess Christ, we possess truth. The President is a moral relativist.” In spite of all of the motivation behind the negative reactions, it is easy to see how this statement could be met with favor. It is hard to see the world through the eyes of a religious person. A world unseen drives
and motivates believers in ways that people unconnected with religion cannot understand or feel. So when the president makes a reference to the Crusades or the Inquisition, that’s all it is; a history review. Steve Benen of MSNBC displays solely a fact-based view. He said, “All of this happens to be 100% true. No faith tradition has a monopoly on virtue or peace; none of the world’s major religions can look back in history and not find chapters they now regret.” Even people who are considered religious have met this speech with favor. David Brooks, conservative writer for the Wall Street Journal, was surprisingly supportive of the speech. In an interview on NBC News, Brooks explained why he
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Thursday, February 12, 2015 supported the speech: “I think he said the right thing. It was a gospel of humility. What sorts of people need a little gospel of humility? People in Washington, pundits, religious believers—I happen to be all three of those things—and so we are told to walk humbly in the path, that the Lord’s paths are mysterious. And so he was saying we are prone to zealotry. As Jon said we are fallen. So to underline that, that’s useful in Washington today. That’s useful always.” He also went on to say, “We are most in moral danger to ourselves when we are caught up in a righteous fervor against an evil foe. Which is what we have. So while we exercise hard power, we have to take morally hazardous action, we are prone to get caught up in our own self-righteousness. This is exactly the moment you want this” Brooks statements address truthful points. All are in danger in getting caught up in the politics of religion, and the trap of self-righteousness. Obama’s remarks gave Christians an unwelcome knock down, reminding them of the sinful beings we all are. No one likes being reminded of that. This topic not something that should be put under a huge umbrella of truth and lies—the right thing and the right answer are not black and white. Christians are called to be humble, yet bold in Christ. This line is hard to distinguish. But that is a part of the struggle of faith. It’s tricky. No clear cut right and wrong is present in this situation. The comments at the National Prayer Breakfast are something with which the individual needs to find their own answer, and their own peace.
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neapolis. Family has been a major pull factor for Minnesota’s Oromo immigrants. “When people come from back home, I think this is the first place they come. My dad had a lot of family here,” says Hussein. “Our people really lean on each other.” The Oromia Student Union was founded in 2008 as a way to bring together Oromo students on campus and immerse themselves in their own culture. As the Oromo people say, “tokkummaan humna” – “unity is strength”. The group, which meets on a biweekly basis, boasts 15-20 active members. Tickets for Oromo Night can be bought in the CSU on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $7 for students and $9 for non-students. “It’s a way of learning about a different culture and ethnicity,” says Woliye. “Come and see something you’ve never seen before!”
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
Huge demand for gritty pioneer autobiography Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writings provide a new perspective on previous novels. BROOKE EMMONS Staff Writer The story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, writer of The Little House on the Prairie series, continues to captivate audiences today—almost 70 years after her death. Thanks to the South Dakota Historical Society, the millions who have read Wilder’s books will have another opportunity to enjoy her story. Wilder, originally from Wisconsin, passed away in 1957 in Mansfield, Missouri. Unknown to the public then, she had written an autobiography. The Pioneer Girl Project began years ago as experts but together the archives of Wilder’s autobiography. The project is dedicated to publishing the autobiography as well as continuing research on the great American Storyteller. The finished work called, Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography, has been selling so rapidly that the Historical Society has announced the book will be on back order until March of this year. Already a No. 1 best-seller
MSU Reporter • 9
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COMMERCIALS “The 2015 commercials resulted in a large reaction in society, and not for their funny wit and charm...” continued from 6
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
on Amazon, the book is receiving great ratings and reviews from book experts around the world. The book features black and white photos and maps of Wilder’s journeys across the Midwest from Kansas, Mis-
souri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakota territories. For avid readers of Wilder’s series, some of the stories may sound familiar. But, the majority of what she encounters in the autobiography is new information to fans and researchers. Illustrating sixteen years of adventures, Wilder’s stories are joined with Editor Pamela Smith Hill’s annotated notes, adding context and information to the book. The autobiography is currently a hit in South Dakota, home of the publication. Visit pioneergirlproject.org to find more information on Pioneer Girl as well as order your own copy to enjoy.
the most prominent theme? Does this reflect a shift in society? A: I noticed an acute theme of men as caring fathers, and a significant attempt to portray women and girls as strong figures, as opposed to objects of beauty. (With the exception, as always, of the Victoria’s Secret commercials.) I found it interesting that they were trying to play up equal gender roles, as women are becoming an increasingly larger part of the football audience. I suspect, in part, that might have something to do with the NFL’s struggles this season at the national level with issues of domestic violence. My Mass Media Research class and I viewed and counted the commercials as part of our ongoing class activities, and we found that more than a quarter of the ads that played during the Super Bowl were actually promotions for other television shows. As such
promos are traditionally used as filler, I do have to wonder if NBC was able to sell all the space they wanted. There were also only four alcohol commercials overall, and our old favorites, Doritos, only appeared once during the game proper. After TV show promos, vehicle ads took up most of the space. It does make me wonder if the relative lack of historically good-natured or funny alcohol and food commercials contributed to the overall solemn nature of this year’s Super Bowl advertising. Americans may change the way they feel about the yearly sporting event if they find themselves patting their eyes or calling up a family member—but that may be a good thing.
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News
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Best Buy says “Yes!” to wedding registry Company famous for gadgetry enters the wedding business.
NEW YORK (AP) — Move over china and pretty linens. Best Buy Co., the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain, has launched its first wedding registry, catering to couples interested in the latest gadgets, from flat-panel TVs to Apple iPads. The Minneapolis-based chain quietly launched the wedding registry www.BestBuy.com/ WeddingRegistry late last month and will be updating its mobile app to include the registry next week. The retailer will also have kiosks in its 1,000-plus largeformat U.S. stores by early April, where customers can check out the registries that will give them access to all the items online and
in stores and allow them to print out lists. They won’t be able to use the kiosks to order. Couples will have the option of syncing their registries with MyRegistry.com and Theknot. com. The move comes as Best Buy is trying to look for new ways to increase sales and make itself more relevant to shoppers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s who are digital natives. Wendy Fritz, Best Buy’s head of gift strategy, told The Associated Press the registry is catering to both men and women, but at the same time, it wants to get grooms more engaged in the registry process. chicago.suntimes.com
“Electronics and small appliances are as important to today’s newlyweds as silverware and towels,” said Fritz. She said anecdotally an increasing number of its customers are interested in getting gadgets as wedding gifts. There’ll be a group gifting option for those who want to contribute to larger items like tablets. There’ll also be free shipping on all gifts with no minimum purchase.
Nancy Lee, president of MyRegistry.com, believes more registries will cater to grooms. Among some of the most popular items sold on Best Buy’s registry program through MyRegistry.com so far: GoPro Hero3 cameras, Sony PlayStation 4 consoles and Apple TVs. Overall, MyRegistry.com noted a 30 percent increase last year from the prior year in items like tool sets and Kobalt fiberglass dig-
ging shovels often associated with male shoppers. “It’s the year of the groom. Best Buy is a trend setter, and this trend is going to multiply,” Lee added.
MSU Reporter • 11
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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Fifty Shades of Grey preview Student perspectives on the upcoming film and its controversy. LAUREN SIEBENALER Staff Writer Fifty Shades of Grey is coming out this weekend and everyone seems to have an opinion on the highly controversial trilogy. Some have been waiting for years for this movie to come out while others have been dreading it. Either way, it has been widely talked about since the book de-
buted. Fifty Shades of Grey has been a big controversy and there are groups who are against the book and especially the movie. Critics have cited many reasons of why the movie is sending bad messages to society. A campaign was started to protest the movie (look out for the hashtag #50DollarsNot50Shades). The idea of the campaign is that peohollywoodreporter.com
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ple donate money to domestic abuse causes instead of spending money at the movie theater. Yet, the series has a huge following, and from a wide range of people—it isn’t a secret that women are the main followers of this book. Laura Schultz from MSU’s Women’s Center explained the controversy: “Though I have not read the book, I understand that generally the argument against Fifty Shades of Grey is that although sexual practices that fall under the umbrella of BDSM are ideally rooted in ongoing consent, conversation, safe words and aftercare, this film and book did not portray that type of complex and nuanced relationship and sexual behaviors, but rather could serve to idealize, glamor-
ize and romanticize sexual violence.” An MSU student, Nicole Brekken, says she is hoping to see the movie this weekend, and has been looking forward to it for a while. “I’m worried the book will be better and that they’ll miss a lot of the important non-sex stuff,” she said. “I definitely think it will be good though.” Many of the people who are excited for the movie have read the books, and sometimes more than once. Another MSU student, Kaci Engesser, read the books all twice and is also excitedly anticipating the movie even though the steep movie prices will make her wait to see it. “I’m looking forward to seeing how
GREY• Page 12
A history of Valentine’s Day
The theories range from saints to goddesses.
LUKE LARSON Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again. A time to come together to celebrate romantic love on a day that commemorates the beheading of
a third century priest. Let’s explore the bizarre history of our most lovely holiday. First of all, who was Saint
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Valentine? The answer to that question is trickier than one might expect. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia there are, in fact, three Saint Valentines, all of whom are honored on Feb. 14th. One was a priest in Rome, another a bishop in modern-day Terni, and another a martyr in Africa. The most well-known, it seems, was the priest from Rome. According to Catholic Online, Valentine (or Valentinus) lived during the reign of the Roman emperor Cladius II and was imprisoned for performing the marriages of Christian couples. After attempting to evangelize the Emperor while in prison, “he was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn’t do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.” Despite his rather horrific death, he is the patron Saint of markedly more cheerful
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things like love, happy marriages, and young people. Though it’s not entirely clear how the feast of Saint Valentine transformed into the Valentine’s Day we know today, the book
HISTORY• Page 12
12 • MSU Reporter
A&E
GREY “Critics have cited
many reasons of why the movie is sending bad messages to society.” continued from 11
Best non-rom coms this Valentine’s Day
Alternatives to The Notebook and P.S. I Love You.
SHAWN CLOSE Staff Writer it compares to the book,” Engesser said. On the other hand, freshman Makayla Wichmann has not read the books. Her main reason for seeing the movie this weekend is to check out what all the fuss is about: “I am going to see the movie this weekend. I’d like to see what all the hype is about. I’m not really sure what to expect from the movie. I feel like since so many religious people have been up in arms about it then it will be on the more conservative side. However, from what I’ve heard, I don’t know how they would make it conservative,” she said. The criticism of Fifty Shades of Grey has been interesting. A lot of people think it is giving society the wrong
impressions about sex and relationships. Kelsey Goeman is another student at MSU, but she will not be seeing the movie at all. She doesn’t support the messages the book displays. “I could not finish the first book. It was portraying an abusive relationship,” Goeman said. “(Grey) was very controlling. It was very one sided…It was his rules, in his hands, without her consent.” Despite the controversy, Fifty Shades of Grey is in theaters this weekend. Whether or not you are supportive of the movie, please consider the supporting the #50DollarsNot50Shades campaign or any organization that fights against domestic violence.
HISTORY continued from 11 “Celebrations: the Complete Book of American Holidays” by Robert Myers offers three possible answers. The first theory is etymological. It points to the fact that in the Norman language the word “galantin” meant “lover of women”. Since the letters g and v were interchangeable, this word could also be written as “valantin”. This, some suggest, could have contributed to the connection between Valentine and love. Another theory points to the common medieval belief that birds looked for their mate on Feb. 14th, the feast of Saint Valentine. The third possibility is that the tradition grew out of Lupercalia, an ancient Roman celebration of the god Lupercus held in February. As a part of the festivities, the goddess Juno Februata was honored by an event in which the names of young women were drawn from a box and paired with eligible young men. This practice was later adapted and modified by Christian communities, who drew the names of Saints from a box and attempted to emulate the virtues of the Saint they had drawn. Over the years, this practice drifted back to its earlier connotations of love. According to “Celebra-
tions: the Complete Book of American Holidays”, there is no doubt that by the Middle Ages the feast of Saint Valentine was clearly connected to the idea of romantic love. The book offers a poem written in 1757 which states: “And both the men and maids incline / To chuse them each a Valentine; / And if a man gets one he loves, / He gives her first a pair of gloves; / And, by the way, remember this, / To seal the favour with a kiss.” English literary legends William Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer played a big role in popularizing Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday, according to NPR. Valentine’s letters gained popularity in that time period and eventually morphed into modern Valentine’s cards, a roughly $18 billion annual industry. It’s clear that Valentine’s Day has evolved over the years. It has little connection to its ancient Roman and medieval origins and the Saint for whom it is named. The feelings of love and romance that were experienced in ages past are, however, the same ones we experience today. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
SSo it’s that time of year again, the time when heart-shaped everything is for sale and love is in the air despite the fact that there is still snow on the ground every where north of the Mason-Dixon line. So how can you celebrate this day of corporate-induced romance? If you’re an anti-social
you’re sole purpose this Valentine’s Day is to convince your girlfriend that you are the most sensitive/romantic guy to ever walk the earth, then you’re better off just renting a rom com (try The Holiday, that should serve your purposes), but if your significant other wants to watch a movie that doesn’t suck, then these are my picks. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
cause while having to deal with some of his own baggage before he can move on with his life. If only we could deal all with our problems with tiger uppercuts and flaming swords, life would be so much simpler. Fight Club So this might not seem like the most romantic movie, and in a lot off ways its not. It’s a gritty, bloody, and at times hard to
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like me you will probably want to stay home and watch a movie. Now the obvious choice for the romantically inclined would be a romantic comedy, its so obvious, I mean its right in the title. So this is where a good movie reviewer such as myself would make some well researched and educated suggestions on what rom com you and the recipient of your romantic affection should watch so you can avoided eye contact for a few hours. Personally, I despise rom coms So the amount of rom coms I’ve seen is the number of rom coms that I have been tricked into/forcibly made to watch, so I’m not really an expert on this genre genre. So instead I’m going to give some recommendations on some movies that don’t suck that also have some romance/relationship themes. Now if you’re a guy and
This is one of my all time favorite movies. This movie has a lot going for it, even though it’s a little off kilter and moves kind of fast (Its based on a graphic novel series with over 1500 pages so they had a lot of stuff to fit in a two hour film) but its also an action packed and legitimately funny movie that at it’s core is a pretty great love story. The crux of the film is that the titular character, Scott Pilgrim, has become obsessed with inter-dimensional ninja/Amazon delivery girl Ramona Flowers and must fight her seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to date her. Despite this movie being just plain awesome, it’s also a great (if a tad outsized) representation of the baggage that can crush an otherwise great relationship. Scott has to work hard to overcome the problems that Ramona’s past relationships
watch. But at its heart, beneath all the blood, domestic terrorism, insecurity of the male image and anti-consumerist messages, Fight Club is a love story. In the middle of all the chaos and destruction that happens in the movie is the love triangle between a corporate drone dissatisfied with his life, a woman who has given up on life and a charismatic ‘perfect man’ with a deadly anarchist streak. It’s the driving force behind the film, and without it Fight Club would lose most of its punch. Goon Goon is the story of a part time bouncer turn hockey enforcer, Doug Glatt, and his journey through Canada’s minor league system. The movie is mostly about hockey and fighting, but it also spends a significant amount
MOVIES• Page 13
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
e n o
TEREASA HATTEN Staff Writer My Valentine There really aren’t words for this Or to tell you how I feel But there’s no harm in trying to prove my love is real Your smile takes my breath away it knocks me off my feet Your blue eyes see right through me and my defenses are all beat Your strong arms hold me close and keep away the dark Your kisses give me butterflies and ignite a hidden spark I never thought I’d feel this way Not in a million years I always thought no one would stay and confirm my deepest fears But that all changed when you showed up All smooth and always charming I felt a brand new warmth inside In truth it was alarming You gave me hope and won my heart You show me love so we’ll never be apart
h . s n e n a a e , d continued from 12 of time displaying Doug and his relationship with Ava. e Doug’s somewhat naive at, tempts to be romantic with y Ava are cavity-inducing e sweet, and as Ava starts to y return Doug’s affection you t can’t help but feel a little sapt py about it. It’s a nice little love story in an all-together great film. Kill Bill (Vol. 1+2) Kill Bill is all about the love between the main character, The Bride, and the titular Bill, and how scorned love and a violent reaction had some extremely deadly consequences. Bill’s act of violence and The Brides revenge are the center of the film, and none of it would have happened if they hadn’t loved each other. Even in the final confrontation between the two there’s a sense that they still have affection for each other, even if its far too late to make everything right again.
MOVIES
Singles Awareness Day Bittersweet holiday the perfect time to learn to love thyself.
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JENNA VAGEL Staff Writer There is no doubt Valentine’s Day is no longer about appreciating those you love. It’s become a day dedicated to purchasing overpriced chocolates, flowers and teddy bears. Where is the originality? Where, in the abyss, has the romance gone? Valentine’s Day has become nothing but commercialized and depressing for those of us who don’t have a honey to take us out on cupid’s holiday. Go into any grocery or retail store and you’ll see the excessive amount of advertisements hanging from the ceiling leading you to the candy aisle. The candy and large stuffed animals overflow from the shelves for the procrastinators that hurry to get their significant others’ last minute gifts pulled from the idea that you have to get a card and flowers for them. Here is what bothers me: Valentine’s Day is the one day a year that is dedicated to showing the one you love affection and showering them with gifts. Shouldn’t you do that every day? Shouldn’t every day be a celebration in honor of that beautiful person you wake up next to every morning and fall asleep to each night? This Feb. 14, I will be celebrating Singles Awareness Day both because I am single and because it’s just another day, a Saturday in the middle of February. I won’t come home to can-
dles and a bouquet of roses and I won’t have a spectacular dinner planned for me. Boo hoo. The reason I’m so bah humbug about Valentine’s Day is because even when I did have a boyfriend, we never really dedicated the day to each other because we didn’t need society to tell us how to prove our feelings.
that is what makes me happy. If you happen to be single, you should remember to do what you want to do and the right person might end up doing the exact same thing. Single ladies (and dudes) unite! Celebrate Singles Awareness Day with the one person you love the most—yourself!
Society pressures us to feel like we’re going to be an old maid or a bachelor forever if there’s not someone taking out on Valentine’s Day. So, what will I be doing on Valentine’s Day? The same thing I do every Saturday: working and making money to do the things that I want to do by myself because
MSU Reporter
h e f r s d
My Valentine
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Music to mingle to Setting the mood for this Valentine’s Day. JENNA VAGEL Staff Writer Creating that perfect play list for Valentine’s day can be tough with all the sappy, but happy love songs. The most popular ones range from slow and sensual to up beat and silly. Billboard’s top 50 Love Songs is a great place to start when trying to find that perfect song to say “I love you.” Here’s the top ten. 10. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Ray Charles 9. “Best of My Love” by The Emotions 8. “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” by Stevie B 7. “Let Me Love You” by Mario 6. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston 5. “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and The Wings 4. “How Deep Is Your Love,” by Bee Gees 3. “We Found Love” by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris 2. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men 1. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie There is not a single song on that list that doesn’t have the word “love” in the title. Also
making the list were some of my personal favorites, “I knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden, “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder and “What’s Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner. Most of the list was classics such as those. So what about music of today? BuzzFeed’s top 53 love songs of 2014 includes all the mainstream hits that were overplayed on the radio these past few months. Here’s the top five. 5. “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift 4. “You & I (Forever)” by Jessie Ware 3 “Take Me To Church” by Hozier 2. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith 1. “Boom Clap” by Charli XCX There doesn’t need to be a declaration of love to be a meaningful love song. What speaks to you and gives you butterflies? What song immediately makes you think of that one person who makes you happiest in the world? Who comes to mind? That’s the playlist you should make for your honey on Saturday. Show them your love with a song, it’ll last a lot longer than a bouquet of flowers.
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
Spider-Man returns home
Shocking deal made to loan out friendly-neighborhood Spider-Man to Marvel Studios. JAMES HOUTSMA Editor in Chief “Does whatever a spider can” just took an exciting new meaning. Late Monday night, it was announced that Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment have reached a landmark deal to share the cinematic rights to the world-famous wallcrawling superhero, Spider-Man. This announcement comes after months of speculation, following the hacking of Sony Pictures in December, that the two creative forces had been discussing sharing the highly popular character on screen. Under this new plan, SpiderMan is getting the input of both Marvel Studios head-honcho Kevin Feige and former Sony Pictures chair Amy Pascal. Spider-Man will be reintroduced in an unannounced film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (all but confirmed to be Captain America: Civil War) before taking center stage in his own new solo film, co-produced by the two entities, which is scheduled for July 28, 2017. Lest it sound like Marvel has pulled a coup and completely taken back the Spider-Man rights, not so fast. Sony will continue to have full ownership over the Spider-Man film rights, including the previously announced spin-off films, which are still happening (Sinister Six has moved from its previous date of Nov. 2016 to an uncertain
Tangled in legal webbing no more.
date). Instead, Marvel is acting as a lender of sorts. Reportedly, no money was exchanged in this agreement, with Sony keeping 60 percent of the ticket sales and Marvel continuing to bank on the merchandizing. The producers felt the increased box office popularity from this cooperation would be its own reward for both studios. This news confirms that Sony will be calling it quits on the Amazing Spider-Man film series. Andrew Garfield will not be reprising his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, nor will Marc Webb be directing further films in the franchise. Also taking a step back are producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Arad, who has been involved at Marvel for decades and whose creative decisions on the SpiderMan franchise have come under heavy criticism in recent years, will be given an executive producer credit. The hunt now begins for who will inhabit the red and blue tights. Details are scarce at this
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time as to what iteration of the Spider-Man character the filmmakers are looking to portray, but it has been confirmed that the character will be going back to high school, hence a younger actor is being sought. The news of Spidey’s imminent rebirth also shakes things up for Marvel’s lineup. The new Spider-Man film is now slated for the July 28, 2017 spot that Thor: Ragnarok previously held, which has now moved back to Nov. 3, 2017. That also moves Black Panther back to July 6, 2018, Captain Marvel to Nov. 2, 2018 and Inhumans to July 12, 2019. The two-part Avengers sequel, Infinity War, remains unchanged. Marvel Comics sold the film rights to many of its characters in the ‘90s when it was in difficult financial times. Several Marvel characters film rights are now owned again by Marvel/Disney, with Spider-Man being the biggest outlier alongside the X-Men and Fantastic Four, which are owned by Fox.
MSU Reporter • 15
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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Mavericks even series with Golden Bears After dropping a game to Concordia-St. Paul earlier this season, MSU was able to get even after defeating the Golden Bears at home on Tuesday night.
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
Redshirt freshman T.J. Lake drives the lane.
LUKE LONIEN Staff Writer The shots were falling Tuesday night at the Taylor Center as the Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s basketball team took on Concordia-St. Paul in a NSIC matchup. The Mavericks were able to get revenge after falling to the Golden Bears earlier in the year. “It was one of those games to thank gosh that we were shooting the ball well,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. Shooting the ball well is always great, but it is also great to play these types of games at home. “At home these games are fun for our fans and they are fun
for our guys to play in,” Margenthaler continued. “Going into this next weekend after shooting the ball well, you gain confidence and the more shots you
Assem Marei
make the better you defend.” The Mavericks’ came out of the gate scorching, grabbing an early seven-point lead in the half. The hot shooting continued throughout the first half as both teams shot over 60 percent from the field. The Mavericks led by as many as 15 points, but the sharpshooting of the Golden Bears got them back into the game late in the first half, closing the gap to eight when Nuni Omot hit two three pointers in the final minutes of the half. Senior Zach Monaghan led all scorers with 19 first half points on 8 of 10 shooting. Senior Assem Marei was a perfect 5 of 5 from the field scoring 12 first half points. Omot was CSU’s first half leading scoring, putting up 12 points. Cole
Olstad scored 11 for the Golden Bears. The second half saw the hot shooting continuing, as the Golden Bears were able to cut
Zach Monaghan
the Maverick lead down to four on two separate occasions, but the Mavericks would not let them get any closer than that. MSU went on a quick 6-0 run to push their lead to double digits five minutes into the second half. CSU was able to cut the lead back to single digits for a final push, but MSU again responded with a short run to push the lead to 16 on a Monaghan layup. The Mavericks were able to cruise the final minutes to a solid 91-79 victory. The Mavericks shot 56.9 percent from the field, including going 14 of 28 from downtown. The Golden Bears shot just as well at 56.6 percent from the field, but only hit 7 threes on their 14 attempts. The percentages matched up, but the extra 7 threes benefited the Mavericks. The Mavericks saw themselves pass the ball well with 22 assists on 33 field goals made, while the Golden Bears only assisted on 9 of their 30 field goals. Monaghan led all scorers with 25 points, going 9 of 15 from the field. Monaghan also passed out nine assists. Freshman TJ Lake scored 15 points, going 4 of 7 from deep. Marei also scored 15 for the Mavericks and grabbed four rebounds. Senior Connor Miller scored 14 and grabbed seven rebounds, while Sophomore Mike Busack scored 14 points going 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Margenthaler was pleased with the play of his seniors. “Monaghan has really picked up his game and is playing with confidence,” said Margenthaler. “We will go as far as our seniors take us.” Keith Crockett led the way for Concordia scoring 21 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Omot followed with 17 points, while Olstad scored 14 and grabbed six rebounds. “I thought we played extremely well, we had a great pace to our game both offen-
MEN’S BASKETBALL • Page 19
16 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Women’s hoops looks to rebound after loss to Concordia-St. Paul After Tuesday’s loss to Concordia ended a three-game win streak, the Mavericks look to start another winning streak versus Winona State on Friday. TOMMY WIITA Staff Writer The last time we checked in with the Minnesota State Women’s basketball team, they were 10-4, with a 7-2 record in conference play. They also were undefeated at home, with a 6-0 record. The Mavericks have gone 6-3 since, losing their first game at home on Tuesday night to Concordia-St. Paul 86-73. The ladies have still been playing good basketball, as they are nearing the end of the season and hoping to finish strong just in time for the NSIC Tournament starting February 25th. Tuesday’s matchup against the Golden Bears of ConcordiaSt. Paul did not go like the first matchup of the series this season, as the Mavericks won in St. Paul 64-60 on December 20th. Both teams were in the middle of a back-and-forth type of game, as the Mavericks kept grabbing a decent lead. The Golden Bears would not back down, as they always seemed to come back to tie it. Towards the end of the half, Concordia-St. Paul would grab the momentum with a 12-2 run, and the Golden Bears would hold a one point lead going into the half 38-37. The stat-line would provide a different story however, as the Mavericks were only shooting 34 percent from the field, compare to the Golden Bears’ 50 percent. In the paint, CU was also holding the edge 20-6. The stats spoke a story of how this game was a lot closer than advertised, and the Mavs knew they had to grab some momentum in the second half to change the course. Concordia-St. Paul took control of the game in the second half, as they got the lead up to eight towards the middle of the half. The Mavericks could not
cut into that lead, as the Golden Bears shooting was just too hot to handle. The Mavericks ended up losing the contest 86-73, as the Golden Bears ended up shooting around 52 percent from the field for the entire game. Senior Aubrey Davis led the team in scoring with 16 points, while Senior Jamie Bresnahan led the team in rebounds with seven. Senior Ashley Olson had 13 points in a team-high 32 minutes of play. Concordia-St. Paul Junior Ameshia Kearney dropped 27 points to lead her team. She is originally from Minneapolis. Before the loss, the Mavericks were on a three-game winning streak, as they captured a road victory over MSU Moorhead, and two home wins over the University of Mary and Minot State. On the season, the Mavs are 16-7, with a 13-5 conference record. Their main focus of improvement is winning on the road, as comparing home and road records are distant differences from each other. The Mavs are 10-1 at home, but are only 5-6 on the road. Davis is leading the team in scoring this season, averaging 13.4 points per game. Senior Lexie Ulfers is up towards the top for scoring this season as well, averaging 12.6 points. Next up for the Mavericks is a home game on Friday, February 13th against the Winona State Warriors. The Warriors this season are 17-5 with a 13-5 conference record. Both teams are oddly similar in strengths and weaknesses. Both are dominant at home, WSU is 12-0 on their home court, and both have some struggles on the road. The Warriors do have a four game
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
MSU Reporter • 17
Sports
Maverick Tennis gets the start they were looking for
In their first weekend of competition, the MSU tennis team came away victorious at Southwest Minnesota State University with an 8-1 win.
DENZELL OATS Staff Writer The Minnesota State women’s tennis team started its season on a high note this past weekend. On Saturday, in their debut competition against Southwest Minnesota the Mavericks overtook Mustangs 8-1. “Our first match was exactly how we wanted to start our season,” Sophomore Dani Barr states. “We’ve worked hard all off season and put in a lot of skill development into our practices so being able to show case that was a satisfying feeling.” With this win, the Mavericks start with a 1-0 record to kick off the season. Since the win was over a conference competitor, the Mavericks stand 1-0 in league action as well. With the loss, Southwest Minnesota falls to 0-2 on the season, and a 0-1 record in NSIC action. The Mavericks began Saturday’s competition winning two of their three doubles matches. In a slow start the Maverick duo of freshman Killian Doran and junior Sarah McCann took a tough lost to Southwest’s Gabi Tellijohn and Katie Kienitz in their doubles match as the Mustangs took over 9-7. Fortunately for the women of the Maverick tennis team, that would be the only loss they would see of the day. Going on with the rest of the double matches, the team duo of
sophomore Melissa Mashburn and freshman Destiny Lee won their doubles match against SMSU’s Crystal Overbaugh and Nicle McQueen by a score of 8-3. The third pairing of doubles matches would be the freshmen duo of Andrea Erdman and Lisa Dobbelaere. Their win would come over SMSU’s Mariya krumm and Ashley Hoehne in an 8-0 fashion. And the wins would keep turning in for the Mavericks. Going into singles competition, the Mavericks found even more success in the day as they went on to finish the dual winning all six of their singles matches. Starting with the No. 1 singles match. This matchup of two freshman ended in the first singles victory for MSU. Maverick freshman overtook Mustangs’s Tellijohn with a score of 7-6, 4-6 and 10-7. Mashburn would follow suit for the Mavericks in her match up against SMSU’s Overbaugh. She went on to overtake her match with a score of 3-6, 6-2 and 13-11. Junior Sarah McCann won her No. 3 singles match 6-1, 6-1, while Lee won the fourth singles match of the day 6-0, 6-1. Dobbelaere and Erdman won the fifth and sixth singles matches of the day, respectively, by the scores of 6-0, 6-1 as well. Feeling accomplished after the team’s performance, junior
r S S SE CL A E AT E L PO K E GR MA IF TS! G s!) ( Ye
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Maverick sophomore Melissa Mashburn in action.
captain Sarah McCann is optimistic about the development to come of the team the rest of the season. “Sweeping singles is always a tough task and I’m very proud of how our girls rallied in some tough matches to come out on top,” She explains. “But overall I’m happy with our effort. It was a great confidence booster and
an even greater opportunity for our five freshman to earn some experience; especially as we head into this weekend.” The Mavericks women’s team will see two conference matchups at the Swanson Tennis Center in St. Peter this weekend. They’ll host a 2-1 Augustana team this Saturday Feb 14th at 1:30pm and will see the Souix
Falls Cougars the following day. “I feel we feel confident about our matchups this weekend,” captain McCann explains. “We got the first match out of the way and now we know what we’re capable of, so I’m excited to see how we game.”
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18 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Maverick Hockey headed north
MSU senior captain Brett Stern.
DEREK LAMBERT Sports Editor The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team hits the road this weekend for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series in hopes to maintain their spot atop the WCHA conference standings. Actually, they’re hitting the air, so to speak, as they are headed north to Fairbanks, Alaska to face off against the
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks. The Nanooks are ineligible for the postseason this year as their program was discovered earlier in the year to have violated NCAA rules, but they are still a threat to MSU nonetheless. Earlier in the season when UAF came to Mankato, they walked away content with walking away from the weekend with a series split back in early December. The Nanooks are one of
two teams to beat the Mavericks on home ice this season, with a 5-4 overtime victory over MSU during that series, only to have MSU win the series finale the next night with a 5-2 victory. The Mavs were playing well back then, but they are nothing short of scary to face off against now. With a 12-1-1 record in their last 14 games since that loss to the Nanooks, MSU has been as good, if not better, than any other team in the country. Don’t
believe me? Take a look at the NCAA Division I men’s hockey rankings. The Mavericks have been the no. 1 team in the nation for four of the last five weeks, and have held the top spot in the NCAA pairwise rankings for the postseason for months now. Their offense is nearly unmatched, ranking second in the country with 3.79 goals per game, trailing only Michigan’s 4.2 average. Their defense? Nearly just as good, ranking fourth in the country, averaging 1.97 goals against per game. While the Nanooks were ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation for six weeks early on in the season, even reaching as high as no. 16, they’re struggling at a time where a hot team is coming to town. UAF is 2-5-1 in their last eight games, and rank 32nd in the nation in team offense with an average of 2.71 goals per game, which is paired with the 29th ranked defense in the country, allowing 2.57 goals against per game. With a record of 14-13-1, 12 of the 13 losses the Nanooks have suffered have come in conference play. Their depth is a big question mark. The Mavs on the other hand, have plenty of depth; it’s what makes them the team they are. MSU is led by senior Matt Leitner, who has 32 points on the season. Leitner has a WCHA-leading 25 assists and is on pace to become MSU’s alltime leading scorer during the Division I era. He isn’t doing it all alone, though. Leitner’s line-mate Bryce Gervais has a WCHA-leading 20 goals on the season, and both have quite the supporting cast. Six players on the Maverick roster have eclipsed the 20-point
mark this season, and 11 have surpassed the 10-point mark on c the year. UAF has one player who has surpassed 20 points in leading scorer Tyler Morley, who has ten goals and 29 points for the season. The Nanooks lack of offensive production could bode well for the Mavericks, who are very confident between the pipes. Junior goaltender Stephon Williams has been stellar in the net this season. He ranks as the third best goaltender in the country behind a 19-3-1 record to go along with a 1.65 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Williams’ return to greatness has been a major contributor to the Mavericks’ success. First in the country and first in the conference, the Mavericks seem to be peaking at the right time of the year, but there is no margin for error for this team. Sitting four points ahead of second place Michigan Tech in the WCHA standings, the Mavericks cannot afford a hiccup, especially considering they square off against Tech in two weeks. With only four weekends remaining in the WCHA regular season, each point is becoming more valuable by the minute. The puck drops between the Mavericks and Nanooks at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday night at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Ineligible for the postseason, UAF is playing for pride, while the Mavs are playing for some breathing room J s atop the conference standings on their way to the program’s first MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA regular season champions.
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Thursday, February 12, 2015
MSU Reporter • 19
Sports
MEN’S BASKETBALL “Going into this next weekend after shooting the ball well, you gain confidence and the more shots you make the better you defend.”
WOMEN’S HOOPS “Their main focus of improvement is winning on the road, as comparing home and road records are distant differences from each other.” continued from 17
continued from 17 sively and defensively,” said Margenthaler. With only a few weekends of play left, it is a great time for the Mavericks to start peaking. “Our confidence continues to be on the rise…this is a perfect time to start peaking.” With the win the Mavericks improved to 19-5 (14-4) record while CSU falls to 15-9 (11-7). The Mavericks also improved to 11-0 in the Taylor Center, extending their winning steak at home. MSU is back in action in the Taylor Center Friday and Saturday for some NSIC action as they look to continue their climb towards the top of the conference standings. The Mavericks take on the Winona State Warriors on Friday, with tip-off set at 8 p.m. Then Saturday night’s contest will feature the Upper Iowa University Peacocks, with tip-off scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. It should be an exciting weekend as the Mavericks close in on the postseason.
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
Junior Lucas Brown takes down an opposing defender earlier in the season on a dunk.
Aubrey Davis
Lexie Ulfers
Jamie Bresnahan
Ashley Olson
winning streak coming into Friday’s contest, as this looks like a key matchup this season. Winona State won earlier this season on December 13th in Winona, 73-62. A key player to watch for the Mavericks is Senior Lexie Ulfers, as she scored 22 points in the last meeting on 10-15 shooting. She also dished out two assists and swatted two blocks. A
key player for Winona will be Sophomore Tara Roelofs, as she scored 21 points in the last meeting. That has been her second highest scoring game of the season, as the first was against Concordia-St.Paul with 22. Tip-off for this match up is set for 6 p.m. at the Taylor Center.
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RENTMSU H O U S E S: 1-10 bedroom houses. RentMSUcom. 4/30 COLLEGE TOWN: 3-5 bedroom cottages CollegeTownMankato. com. 4/30 C O L LEG E S TAT I O N: 1-5 bedroom apartments CollegeStationMankato.com. 4/30 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 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 QUARTERS AT MANKATO: 2-4 bedroom multi-level townhomes and flats RentMSU.com. 4/30
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20 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, February 12, 2015