February 14, 2019

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2019

ILE

SM

UR G8 E LOV BUG

H

BFF

MUA

...with your sweetie ...with your friends ...with your kids ...and

CUTE

VE

E LOV BUG

LO

BE MINE

A M LL IN E

DA RE YA

KISS ME

MY BABY

XO

XO MINE

Gals celebrate Galentine’s day Page 2

TE M XT E

Numerous boyfriends forget about Valentine’s day

Page 10

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Workshops look to foster dialogue on racial issues

JOSHUA SCHUETZ STAFF WRITER It was a small group, gathered in the Centennial Student Union Tuesday evening. But the issues that they discussed were as large as American history itself.

In order to foster better community dialogue and engagement on racial issues, the Greater Mankato Diversity Council has sponsored a series of workshops concerning these issues, designed to both inform people and foster discussion among them.

“We thought that our conversations on race, as we’ve currently had them, could be more productive,” Bukata Hayes, the Executive Director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council, said.

Maria Ly | MSU Reporter Executive Director, Greater Mankato Diversity Council Bukata Hayes facilitating racial issues engagement workshop on Feb. 12

The workshops rely on the use of journals, discussion sections, video presentations, and oral presentations. Hayes

stated that the journals, as a way of allowing people to commit their thoughts to writing before discussing

them was an important part of the process.

“One of the things that we thought, as we were coming

up with this process is ‘do we allow time to provide for personal reflection before responding?’” Hayes said.

“That was the idea behind using journals, to let people work through those things.”

Hayes added that this method of approaching the issue is unique to the program. “In our research, this is the only effort of its kind in the country, and it is the only protocol that uses journaling as an intentional way to foster the conversation,” he said.

According to Hayes, one of the primary drivers behind the establishment of these workshops was a simple question: if a racial incident happened in Mankato (like what happened in Minneapolis with the shooting of Philando Castile), how would the community respond, and would it, upon reflection, be proud of that response?

ISSUES PAGE 4

Gals come together to celebrate Galentine’s Day

MARIA LY STAFF WRITER

This past Wednesday, Her Campus hosted a Galentine’s Day party in the Women’s Center to celebrate love and bring friends together.

The Women’s Center was decorated from head-to-toe in hearts, the color pink and red, and most importantly chocolate! Students were also fed waffles, fruits, mousse, and mock-tail mimosas!

While some students laughed amongst one

Maria Ly | MSU Reporter

PJ Gurung, a student at the event, says as she fills her glass capsule with glitter

“Whether you’re single or dating, like Her Campus’s Galentine’s day event, you can celebrate with friends, family, side chicks, or complete strangers.” another, some also decorated cards and glass capsules. While eating candy hearts and Hershey’s kisses, conversations ranged from being desperately single to plans on Valentine’s day.

Valentine’s snaps, and when you go to Walmart, there’s teddy bears everywhere!”

Unlike PJ, another student, Cecelia Schaefer, has differing opinions as she

claims, “I love Valentine’s day. You can love anybody, and the colors are really pretty. I’m going out to a fancy dinner with my boyfriend.”

PJ yells from across the room, “See that’s what people in relationships say!

That’s the difference!”

A student worker for the LGBT Center and Women’s Center, Molly Gruszynski, doesn’t think Valentine’s day is just about couples, “You think of Valentine’s day as your significant other and romance, but at the same time I love my friends, and a lot of people that are either in relationships or are single, they still have a chance to celebrate their friends because you love them.”

Whether you’re single or dating, like Her Campus’s Galentine’s day event, you can celebrate with friends, family, side chicks, or complete strangers.

Like Molly says, “Valentine’s day is basically a Halloween kind of thing!”

Be one of the first to know about snow emergencies in Mankato: u Subscribe to receive snow emergency alerts by text message at:

mankatomn.gov/snowalerts. u Sign up for snow emergency information by email at:

mankatomn.gov/subscribetonews. u On Twitter.com, follow @MktoSnowAlerts for snow emergencies;

glue, “I don’t like anything about it, it’s gross...” she begins to fake cry, “... because I’m single. I feel like it’s different for couples. It makes me sad. I always see

@CityOfMankato for all city news alerts; or @MktoStreets for street conditions, street maintenance and water main breaks. u On Facebook.com, subscribe to Mankato Snow Emergency or City of Mankato u Go online to mankatomn.gov

Thursday, February 14, 2019

News

MSU Reporter • 3

New bus locator app currently under development

MADISON DIEMERT NEWS EDITOR Minnesota State University, Mankato students are in for a treat as the university plans on creating a bus locator app.

The app has not yet been created, but there is a web hybrid for the time being.

The web page can be used by students to locate where their bus is in real time. David Cowan, Facilities Services Director and Parking & Transportation Administrator, said, “If you’re not used to bus schedules, it can be quite intimidating.”

Cowan said that the locator app can be used for the purple city-wide busses, the Maverick Shuttle, and the Red Eye Shuttle. As of right now, the web page only supports the city-wide busses.

Progress is being made to include the Maverick Shuttle and the Red Eye Shuttle.

It is also important to note that the web page and the app have been a collaborative

project between IT Solutions and the city of Mankato.

Cowan also said that many students have been involved in the development of both the web page and the app.

He said, “We could go out and by this commercially for 35,000 dollars a year- I was not prepared to do that… but the need was there.”

The inspiration for this bus app stemmed from the Student Senate, who approached Cowan and made note of our bus system, saying, “you don’t have shelters at every stop and during the winter months it would be nice to have a hope that something’s coming your way.”

This is true. As a bus rider myself, it is daunting to know

Photo courtesy of mnsu.edu

times, knowing that your bus could be late, or not even come. Accidents happen and

“As a bus rider myself, it is daunting to know that you have to completely rely on a chart with scheduled times, knowing that your bus could be late, or not even come.” that you have to completely rely on a chart with scheduled

weather is an especially big problem in Minnesota, so knowing exactly where your

ride home is can be a huge relief.

One Mass Media student at MNSU said, “I used a bus locator app when I went to community college in Rochester and it saved me so much time. I didn’t have to walk anywhere or ask my friends for rides.” She also said it was a huge weight off her shoulders.

There is not an exact date as to when the locator app will be done. Although Cowan said he expects it to be “available by the summer,” it is important to know that developing apps take time.

It could be a while before we reach that goal.

For now, students may rely on the web hybrid for the citywide busses. The city-wide busses can take you to all the bus stops around campus, nearby apartments such as Live Active and Highland Hills, and even Wal-Mart.

It is exciting to know that, with the app in the making, students will no longer have to worry about missing a bus, or even being too early.

To access the web based hybrid app, go to https://secure2.mnsu.edu/ bustracking/

SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED! Residence Hall Green Permit Holders Must Relocate Temporarily

SNOW REMOVAL - DIG OUT AND REMOVE YOUR VEHICLE! Shovels available for checkout at Residence Community Front Desks VEHICLES IN

DATE TO MOVE

TIME TO MOVE

RELOCATE TO

RETURN TO

COMMENTS

Lot 14

Saturday, Feb. 16th

Noon to 2 p.m.

Gold Lot 18

Lot 14 after plows leave

Lots 1 & 2

Saturday, Feb. 16th

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Lot 20a (South) Purple

Green Permit cleared stalls in Lots 1 & 2

Though you can park in Gold permit stalls on any Saturday, you cannot park past 2 a.m.

Sunday. No overnights in Gold Lots. Green permit holders are allowed to park in Lot 20 Purple until 3 p.m. Sunday.

Lot 16

Sunday, Feb. 17th

Noon. to 3 p.m.

Lot 20a (South) Purple

Lot 16 Green permit cleared stalls

Though you can park in Gold permit stalls on any Sunday, you cannot park past 2 a.m.

Monday. No overnights in Gold Lots. Green permit holders are allowed to park in Lot 20 Purple until 3 p.m. Sunday.

Do not stay in Lot 18 Gold overnight or you risk a parking ticket

MOVE YOUR VEHICLES OUT OF THE WAY OF THE PLOWS OR RISK BEING TICKETED AND/OR TOWED!

4 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Spotlight: Student Events Team President, Bailey Hofmeister

NABIN BISTA STAFF WRITER “Get involve. I bust my butt, work hard, try to push my myself as much as I can.

It’s hard being a female in a network force and lack of female athletic trainers already is a down hand,” says Bailey Hofmeister, President of Student Events Team at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

She is majoring in Exercise Science and a Sports Medicine Minor, and graduating spring of 2019.

Bailey overlooks all the board members, making sure they complete their duties, get things done on time and lead all the meetings every week. Making sure everything is running smoothly is her agenda. She grew up in New Ulm, and has a deep love for Hockey games since

she was 6 years old. As a regular attendee at every sports game and her brotherin-law getting tickets every weekend to watch games as a kid, made her join MNSU as a student.

“I never had intention of joining the team at Student Events Team, a friend of mine invited me in one of the meetings but instead of my friend, I ended up being of the team” says Bailey smiling with enthusiasm. She has been member ever since, presently working as a president. She is currently applying to a graduate school for athletic training. After finishing two years of graduate school, she is going to become a certified athletic trainer.

She sat down for a conversation graciously giving her time out of her busy schedule.

What is your most memorable time at MNSU? Past football season when our football team played during a blizzard, I stayed there for the entire game.

Watching them play football in the blizzard was the craziest thing ever. It was fun to watch

Photo courtesy of Bailey Hofmeister

though.

Do you believe in dreams?

Oh yes, I do. Once you are passionate about something and love what you do, every small thing, every other hindrance, gets out of you once you start busting your butt. That’s what I do to make my dreams come true.

What is meaning of life?

I guess, living your life to fullest. You have your life for once, do what you love, follow your guts, figure what works for you and what you want in your life. Then, you will find your purpose.

As a hardworking woman, you get tired and stressed out. What is your medicine at such condition?

I am a nature person.

Whenever, I have time, I go for fishing, go out to the lakes, explore and give in to the nature. Going to Minneopa State Park and watching the waterfall just

SPOTLIGHT PAGE 7

SG Update: VP Omar and Senator Bejarano sworn in DAVID BASSEY EDITOR IN CHIEF It has indeed been a long spell as the search to fill up the vacancies for the 86th student Government positions came one step closer to a close.

On Wednesday, the Student Government swore in graduate studies senator, Alejandra Bejarano and vice president Anisa Omar.

Although, the vicepresidential position was a highly coveted position with several passionate candidates such as Senator Melanie Ramsey and Senator Emma

Alimatou Bah | MSU Reporter Graduate Studies senator, Alejandra Bejarano being sworn in

Zellmer coming out in the running over the past weeks, VP Omar emerged victorious clinching majority votes of

the senators.

This election comes at an opportune time where communication and ability to steer current projects seem to be at the priorities of the senate.

Other items discussed at the meeting this week were a technology fee presentation by the IT Solutions by CIO Mark Johnson. Following that was a presentation on the health services fee by Senator Okaro and Director Wendy Schuh. They highlighted the 36% increase in mental health services utilization, stability of the health service fee and the goals for the upcoming year.

With the election of vice president Omar, a new

vacancy opens for the at-large senator position.

HOUSES FOR RENT

ISSUES

2019-2020

Continued from page 2 The format of the workshop consists of the sharing of information through a variety of mediums, including oral, literary, and video presentation, followed by a period of time wherein the participants can commit their own thoughts on the information presented into writing. Thereafter, a period of time, typically between two and four minutes, is provided for people to discuss their own thoughts, including but not limited to

Alimatou Bah | MSU Reporter Vice President Anisa Omar being sworn in

what they wrote down.

This particular workshop focused on the definition of race, particularly within its social context throughout American history, as well as historical policies carried out by the federal government on a racially discriminatory basis, with a particular emphasis on redlining.

Redlining was the practice by which the government would designate a neighborhood as being unfit to invest in, often on

discriminatory grounds.

This designation would then be accepted by the private sector, resulting in widespread housing discrimination that continues to shape the conflict in many American cities to this day.

These issues are neither comfortable nor pleasant to discuss, but in many ways, that is precisely the point of these workshops.

As Frederick Douglass once said, “If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress.”

1228 HIGHLAND AVE. 5 bedroom/2 bath: garage, laundry, washer/dryer, 50 ft. from MSU campus. $1900/mo. + utilities.

1 small pet okay.

1103 HIGHLAND AVE. 4+ bedroom/2 bath: garage, CA, laundry, washer/dryer, 2 blocks from campus. $1600/mo. + utilties.

1 small pet okay.

AVAILABLE AUGUST 1, 2019 Contact Jim at: 507-345-2049 or eagleridgekato@gmail.com

Thursday, February 14, 2019

News

MSU Reporter • 5

Spotlight Photos: Greg Wilkins donates to Clips for Kids

John Shrestha | MSU Reporter

Greg Wilkins donates 17 inches to Clips for Kids, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2019. Wilkins grew out his hair for seven years before donating.

Mankato Area’s Choice For Convenient, Affordable Travel Three great services: 1 MSP Airport Express • Up to 6 daily trips to MSP airport • Only $35 one way (online)

Minneapolis MSP

2 Highway 169 Connection • 2 daily trips to Minneapolis Bus Depot • Only $5-$15 one way

1

2

3 Southern MN Connection

Rochester /Mayo Clinic

• 3 trips daily to Rochester/Mayo • Only $8-$15 one way

Plus, affordable charters

Mankato /St.Peter

3

Take advantage of our convenient schedules and low fares today!

Book Now: landtoairexpress.com | 507-625-3977

6 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 14, 2019 EMAIL THE EDITOR IN CHIEF:

No greater lo ve

DAVID BASSEY

david.bassey@mnsu.edu OR AT reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

SPRING 2019 FALL 2015

EDITOR IN CHIEF: David Bassey .......................389-5454 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rae Frame ............................389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Madison Diemert ..................389-5450 NEWS EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: Nicole Schmidt ......................389-5450 Kevin Korbel .......................................

SPORTS EDITOR: A&E EDITOR: Luke ...........................389-5227 LucasLonien Torborg .....................................

DAVID BASSEY EDITOR IN CHIEF It is Valentine’s day. And if you’re like most students on campus, you wonder what love really is or perhaps whether you really love that person that keeps giving you the butterflies as they walk into class.

Love. The four-letter word that’s so powerful, it brings warring nations together, so strong it can tear families apart.

Meriam-Webster defines it as a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.

Although many millennials today struggle with a myriad of issues, with one of the topmost being how to find love. The young freshman comes to college looking to break out of their former self and get connected to that dashing guy or the swaylooking girl s/he saw last night.

But what is love? Love is giving your best to another, as Reese Witherspoon says, “you always gain by giving love.”

The desire to love and care for others is a hard-wired trait

PHOTO EDITOR: VARIETY EDITOR: Jeremiah Eberline Ayodele.................. ................................

Matthew 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: ADVERTISING SALES: Riley Grinstead.....................

389-1079 Mac Boehmer .......................389-5097 Kole IgouPoliszuk .............................

389-6765 Brandon ...................389-5453 CodyCrew VanDenEinde ..............389-5097 Josh .............................389-5451 Jacob Wyffels .......................

389-6765 Nathan Norman ...................389-5453 Emily Benz ........................... 389-1063 BUSINESS MANAGER: Max Mayleben .................... 389-5451 Jane Tastad ........................... 389-1926 BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane DESIGN/PROD. Tastad ..........................

389-1926 AD. MGR.: Dana Clark ........................... 389-2793 ADVERTISING DESIGN/ PRODUCTION MGR.: Dana Clark .......................... 389-2793

David Bassey | MSU Reporter

in humans and of course, it is the cause of the deep sense of fulfilment of our happiness levels. Having spoken to some students on campus, “we love because we want to feel loved and giving love brings a hope of reciprocation,” this love brings with it a sense of comfort, security and trust.

When asked how she will give love, one student says she will be giving out agape’s- these are fun sized acts of kindness delivered around campus.

For men seeking a longterm relationship, wondering what women want. In general, the experts (ladies) say women need love and affection, a need for conversation and

emotional intimacy, financial and emotional security and -naturally- a man who puts family first.

For the ladies, men generally desire a physically attractive spouse, a need for sexual intimacy, respect and admiration, good food -yea that’s right, and recreational companionship -that means learning what he likes.

If you’re already in a relationship and wondering ways to improve it: check out resources like the strengthbased marriage by Allan Kelsey and Jimmy Evans and five languages of love

by Gary Chapman. These languages hep to grow your communication and they are:

words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time and physical touch.

To be honest, I’m such an old-fashioned guy, so when I think about love, I think more about the future – courtship, marriage and the likes. I’ve been thinking of what I love most, it is Jesus Christ. To me, there’s no greater love.

If you don’t have that special someone today, go out there and make someone’s day, give a hug, smile and support the valentine’s day bake sale to financially support fellow student Deisy Canon, who was recently diagnosed last semester with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatments.

“What’s your favorite pickup line?”

SAMANTHA SCHNEIDER, LAW ENFORCEMENT “Are you religous? ‘Cause you’re the answer to all my prayers.”

HALIMUR RASHID KHANDKER, AVIATION “I don’t need pickup lines.”

POLICIES & INFO POLICIES & INFO

• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made call Editorsuggestion in Chief Rae •inIfthe youReporter, have a complaint, or Frame like at 507-389-5454.

The Reporter will would to point out an error made in the correct any orDavid misspelled Reporter, callerrors Editorofinfact Chief Bassey at 507-389-5454.

TheFormal Reporter will correct names in this space. grievances any errors fact or misspelled names in against theofReporter are handled by the this space. Formal grievances against the Newspaper Board.

Reporter are handled byUniversity the Newspaper • The Minnesota State Mankato Board.

Reporter is a student-run newspaper •published The Minnesota State University twice a week, comingMankato out on Reporter a student-run newspaper Tuesdaysisand Thursdays.

The Reporter published twice a week, coming out on generates 78 percent of its own income Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Reporter genthrough advertising and The receives erates 78 percent its ownfrom income through approximately 22ofpercent Student advertising and The receives approximately 22 Activities fees.

Reporter is free to all percent from Student Activities fees. The students and faculty, but to start a subReporter is free to all students and faculty, scription, please call us at 507-389-1776. but to start a subscription, please call us Subscriptions for the academic school at 507-389-1776. Subscriptions for the year are $55.00 and subscribers will academic school year are $55.00 and subreceive will the paper threewithin to fivethree days scribers receivewithin the paper after to fivepublishing. days after publishing.

Letters exceeding exceeding400 400words wordsmay maynot not •• Letters be accepted. accepted.The TheReporter Reporterreserves reservesthe the be right to to edit editletters letterstotofitfitspace spaceororcorrect correct right punctuation.The TheReporter Reporterreserves reservesthe theright punctuation. right to publish, not publish, at its disto publish, or not or publish, at its discretion. cretion.must Letters mustyear, contain year, major or Letters contain major or affiliation affiliation with the or university, or lack therewith the university, lack thereof.

All letters of. All lettersphone must contain numbers must contain numbersphone for verification purposes. for verification purposes.

THE OPINIONS OPINIONSEXPRESSED EXPRESSEDININTHE THEMSU THE MSU REPORTER ARENECESSARILY NOT NECESSARILY REPORTER ARE NOT THOSE THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY. OR STUDENT BODY.

Compiled by Maria Ly

AFNAN HUSAIN, IT

JACOB STERNITZKE, BUSINESS

KALEAB FETENE, IT

MARS CHALLY, NURSING

“Is there a phone in your back pocket? ‘Cause your booty is calling to me.”

“Are you from Tennesee?

‘Cause you’re the only ten I see.”

“Do I know you from somehwere?”

“Do I know you? Well you look like my next boyfriend.”

Thursday, February 14, 2019

News

MSU Reporter • 7

The Grammys: Were they well deserved?

JOSHUA SCHUETZ STAFF WRITER

I had hoped that after the 2016 election, the question of which candidate was the most “electable”, would finally be consigned to the dustbin of political history.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case, and the 2020 campaign, barely in its infancy, is already reeling with arguments over electability.

The problem with electability, as with so many other political terms, is that there is no real definition of what constitutes an “electable” candidate.

For example, some argue that more centrist candidates are inherently more electable, since they might have the chance of bringing in voters from the other side. Recent political history has shown that not to be the case.

Look no further than the fact that President Donald Trump won the Republican nomination, and then the presidency, rather than a moderate in the mould of Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney.

Is electability a matter of being scandal-free?

Again, it’s difficult to see how this is the case. Both candidates in 2016 were plagued by allegations of scandal, the extent and severity of which will often depend on who you ask.

Simply put, there’s little evidence that the traditional hallmarks of electability matter to the extent that they used to, if they even exist at all. This is not to imply that they do not matter at all (an unreasonable claim, in my estimation), but that their importance has diminished.

Parties have less control of their nominations than they once did, leaving the nomination process to more ideologically inclined primary voters.

My view is that the Democrats ought to nominate the candidate whose positions are most congruent with the policy preferences of the American public writ large. That’s the only “electability” that matters.

OLUWATOMIKE BALI STAFF WRITER The Grammy Awards are one of America’s biggest award shows which has been going on for years.

Every year the Grammy Awards come with a lot of highs and lows, and of course, the controversies. This wasn’t left out at the just-concluded 61st Grammy Awards over the weekend.

My favorite Grammy moment has to be Alicia Keys opening the show, joined by Lady Gaga, Jada Smith, JLO and Michelle Obama. Their entrance was electrifying and they gave a lot of “women supporting each other” vibes. Obama definitely stole the show and the standing ovation she got can tell she’s loved amongst many. But I can’t help but wonder if this is just love or people are straight up worshipping her?

After the Grammys, then comes the question of “if the winners deserve the category they won?” I personally think most of those who won this year deserved the awards they were nominated for, from Childish Gambino winning the Song of the Year category to Lady Gaga and Bradley

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

Cooper Best Performance by a Duo and many more.

Childish Gambino got about seven nominations for his song “This is America” and it would have been shocking if he didn’t win any. His song

“A lot of people might not be a fan of Cardi B, but she really worked hard on all of her songs this year, topped Billboard charts and rocked the radio stations.”

“This is America” was a good one and the message passed across through the visuals and the performance. It really was the song of the year.

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were also a well-

SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 4

makes everything smooth.

When you wake up in the morning, what drives you to do stuff and bust your butt?

Listening to music just makes my day and drives me go out into the world and do my stuff.

Do you think you can change the world?

I think so, at least I try. I think anybody can. Having a passion is key, and being able to push yourself to the next level changes everything around you. Hence, making a difference in the world.

Who is your role model?

Herb Brooks, he was a coach for 1980 US Olympic team. I have read everything about him, I am pretty sure everyone who works with me knows my respect towards him.

What do you do during winter when you can’t go work outdoors?

deserved win, judging after watching the movie “A Star is Born” and watching a couple of their live performances for the song “Shallow”. One can’t help but notice their chemistry and energy in all

I just binge watch Grey’s Anatomy. And work out a lot.

Do you always get what you want?

Not really. I applied for grad school at Winona, Boston and here at MNSU. I have been accepted everywhere besides MNSU, where I really want to go for grad school. I cannot just keep worrying about it, rather go where life takes me.

Are you a pessimist or an optimist?

I am more of a realist.

However, I always prepare myself for the worst which makes me somewhat a pessimist.

Any advice for our students at MNSU? Go for what you want, do not hesitate or spend anytime thinking about it.

Just make sure you are 100 percent passionate about it, and NEVER GIVE UP.

their performances. Even social media fans didn’t pass on a chance to “ship “them.

A lot of people might not be a fan of Cardi B, but she really worked hard on all of her songs this year, topped

Billboard charts and rocked the radio stations. It isn’t surprising that she won in the Rap Album of the Year category.

The most controversial moment for me was when Drake was cut off while giving his acceptance speech. He started off by dissing the Grammy Awards and got cut off midway. I think this was a deliberate act to stop him from talking as he really was on to something.

Some popular celebrities were noticeably absent like Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Arianna Grande and many more. You can’t help but wonder if there is more to their absence, especially with Arianna Grande’s series of tweets attacking the award show.

PHILOSOPHY AT THE MOVIES We will watch Quiz Show, a story about cheating that occured in association with the popular TV Quiz Show, Twenty-One during the 1950's. Ron Yezzi will provide a study guide raising issues about morality and justice.

Thursday, Feb. 14 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Oak Terrace 1570 Tower Blvd. (west side) North Mankato ALL WELCOME! $10.00 Non-Lifelong Learner Members Questions and further information.

507-389-2011

8 • MSU Reporter

Advertisement

Thursday, February 14, 2019

BUS ROUTE 7 - HUBBARD/MSU RIVERFRONT - MSU CONNECTION

z Cherry Ridge Apts.

Ramsey St

ce) rity

Ve ter

P Offiost ce

Ri ve r

fro nt Dr

Wa rre nS t

hS t

I

Nelson Hall Dining Center

KEY Bus Stops/Shelters

t tS on Fr

an sM e Ve mo ria r C iz Ce ivic on l Brid Ma nt ge (So nka er cia to l Offi SecuPlac e

4t

E Pleasant St

yS t

Ma in St Wa Hi ck l n or ut yS St t

lbe rr

F

HUBBARD BUILDING Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

St en r r Wa

Birchwood

Mankato

S

I n r ie t Sp ternsen’s r a F Ma ing tion ami Wa nk St al G ly B a roc ake s Co hin to C ery ry & E. Plu ffee gto om & H Bi pu n H m ala stro St ag St ter l Re pa ir Mu

ck St

2n dS t

Elm

N

Ro

Ma

dis

on Av e Vin eS t

EXPRESS BETWEEN MSU - DOWNTOWN MANKATO - OLD TOWN - HUBBARD BUILDING/MSU RIVERFRONT

Locations of Interest

THE HUBBARD/MSU RIVERFRONT - MSU CONNECTION The new BUS ROUTE 7 will operate 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, making trips from Nelson Hall to Downtown Mankato every 30 minutes.

ROUTE 7 EXPRESS EXPRESS BETWEEN

MSU - DOWNTOWN MANKATO - OLD TOWN HUBBARD BUILDING/MSU RIVERFRONT Nelson Hall

(5 MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN)

Hubbard Building

ROUTE 7 - EXPRESS BETWEEN MSU AND HUBBARD BLDG-MSU RIVERFRONT Hours of Service 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Departs Nelson Hall

Birchwood/ Warren

Cherry Ridge Apts

Warren/ Front

Hubbard Bldg MSU - Riverfront Dr

Cherry St

Ramsey St

Arrives Nelson Hall

10:00 am

10:02 am

10:05 am

10:06 am

10:10 am

10:16 am

10:18 am

10:25 am

10:30 am

10:32 am

10:35 am

10:36 am

10:40 am

10:46 am

10:48 am

10:55 am

11:00 am

11:02 am

11:05 am

11:06 am

11:10 am

11:16 am

11:18 am

11:25 am

11:30 am

11:32 am

11:35 am

11:36 am

11:40 am

11:46 am

11:48 am

11:55 am

12:00 pm

12:02 pm

12:05 pm

12:06 pm

12:10 pm

12:16 pm

12:18 pm

12:25 pm

12:30 pm

12:32 pm

12:35 pm

12:36 pm

12:40 pm

12:46 pm

12:48 pm

12:55 pm

1:00 pm

1:02 pm

1:05 pm

1:06 pm

1:10 pm

1:16 pm

1:18 pm

1:25 pm

1:30 pm

1:32 pm

1:35 pm

1:36 pm

1:40 pm

1:46 pm

1:48 pm

1:55 pm

2:00 pm

2:02 pm

2:05 pm

2:06 pm

2:10 pm

2:16 pm

2:18 pm

2:25 pm

2:30 pm

2:32 pm

2:35 pm

2:36 pm

2:40 pm

2:46 pm

2:48 pm

2:55 pm

3:00 pm

3:02 pm

3:05 pm

3:06 pm

3:10 pm

3:16 pm

3:18 pm

3:25 pm

3:30 pm

3:32 pm

3:35 pm

3:36 pm

3:40 pm

3:46 pm

3:48 pm

3:55 pm

4:00 pm

4:02 pm

4:05 pm

4:06 pm

4:10 pm

4:16 pm

4:18 pm

4:25 pm

4:30 pm

4:32 pm

4:35 pm

4:36 pm

4:40 pm

4:46 pm

4:48 pm

4:55 pm

5:00 pm

5:02 pm

5:05 pm

5:06 pm

5:10 pm

5:16 pm

5:18 pm

5:25 pm

5:30 pm

5:32 pm

5:35 pm

5:36 pm

5:40 pm

5:46 pm

5:48 pm

5:55 pm

6:00 pm

6:02 pm

6:05 pm

6:06 pm

6:10 pm

6:16 pm

6:18 pm

6:25 pm

6:30 pm

6:32 pm

6:35 pm

6:36 pm

6:40 pm

6:46 pm

6:48 pm

6:55 pm

7:00 pm

7:02 pm

7:05 pm

7:06 pm

7:10 pm

7:16 pm

7:18 pm

7:25 pm

7:30 pm

7:32 pm

7:35 pm

7:36 pm

7:40 pm

7:46 pm

7:48 pm

7:55 pm

8:00 pm

8:02 pm

8:05 pm

8:06 pm

8:10 pm

8:16 pm

8:18 pm

8:25 pm

8:30 pm

8:32 pm

8:35 pm

8:36 pm

8:40 pm

8:46 pm

8:48 pm

8:55 pm

Minnesota State Mankato is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.

10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. Monday - Friday

,

Thursday, February 14, 2019

MSU Reporter • 9 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

A&E Editor Lucas Torborg

lucas.torborg@mnsu.edu

Musician Tim Cheesebrow serenades the CSU Serendipity Music Series brings local singer and songwriter to campus MANSOOR AHMAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Tim Cheesebrow serenaded the lively crowd of the house of serendipity, the Centennial Student Union, Wednesday, Feb. 13 on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Cheesebrow, a singer-songwriter based in St. Paul, sings mainly to remind people to have a positive outlook on life. When he was young, he had a friend whose aunt used to perform locally.

Cheesebrow attended her shows and soon found out it was an environment he felt comfortable in. Since then, Cheesebrow has released five studio albums, with another one coming out in March.

While performing, Cheesebrow sang an unreleased song from his upcoming album, exploring his emotional side. Cheesebrow sang about how “no one said it will be easy”, deliberating about couples struggling in relationships. It fit in rather seamlessly, given it was right

before Valentine’s Day. And if you haven’t guessed it by now, Cheesebrow definitely doesn’t shy away from sharing love with people around him.

To describe Cheesebrow’s music as just “country and rock” would be rather unfair.

Cheesebrow sings with a passion which is quite relaxing, enlisting the help of his acoustic guitars to add a nice layer of country sounds.

Essentially, they are songs you’d listen to while driving through the countryside on a sunny summer afternoon.

Although love and country go together, the kinds of love Cheesebrow sings about are unparalleled; from talking about loving one another, to singing about his wife as a mother, Cheesebrow‘s take-away message from his performances is that there is hope for everybody in this world; that “you’ll never walk alone.”

When asked about what advice he would give to aspiring artists, Cheesebrow said, “Find a place where your music fits.” Once that’s taken care of, he advises

Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter

to be “extra polite” when communicating with venue owners and any potential clients. To sum up, building a reputation is key.

Cheesebrow also shares his love for songwriting with kids. He is the founder of the “Discover Music Program”

which is a platform to help the younger members of the community to discover expression and spiritual healing through songwriting.

The project started eight years ago when Cheesebrow found out that a very small percentage of students in

public schools are involved in

CHEESEBROW PAGE 12

MNSU students excel at Regional Festival

Seven MNSU theatre students adavance to finals at KCACT festival away with 1st place in the national lighting design category for Talley’s Folly.

MNSU student Cam Pederson competed in the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship for his work in the campus production of The Mousetrap. Pederson explained the process for this scholarship, “we select a scene partner and present a brief acting package.”

Six other MNSU students advanced to the semi-final round and three MNSU students, Martha Juliana Cubillos Caceres, Ashley D’Lyn Gunn and Gary Du Charme II, advanced to the final round. Pederson stated,

ALYSSA BUNDE STAFF WRITER This past month Minnesota State University’s Mankato Theatre & Dance had seven students advance to finals at Region V Kennedy Center American College 51 Theater Festival. They participated with 1,581 registrants, representing 87 colleges and universities.

The festival was January 20-26 in Sioux Falls and was hosted by South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, among others. This regional festival is the largest of eight

Photo courtesy of the MSU Theatre Department

in the country and represents Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

Senior Minnesota State University, Mankato student Alex Rollins explained she wasn’t expecting to win any

awards, “when there’s 20 people in your category your like, ‘there’s no way’.”

However, the senior walked

THEATRE PAGE 10

10 • MSU Reporter

A&E

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Album Review: “Thank U, Next” Ariana Grande releases her best album yet Opinion

KOLBY SPOMER STAFF WRITER Ariana Grande has, in my opinion, not made very good music during her highly successful career. Art is subjective in any of its many forms, but to me she has not created anything that set her apart from the hundreds of attractive pop icons who came before her. All of that changed, however, with her latest album “thank u, next”.

Focusing on her interpretation of relationships and what they truly mean to her, she has crafted by far her best album. The production is very well constructed, adding to the mood of the whole thing.

Her vocals are kept relatively in check, which was a big positive to me. I found her belting to be tedious on previous records, but here she doesn’t go as over the top as she had in previous years.

These, among other reasons, are a large part of why this album works so well.

Ariana’s release of this album on its own warrants merit. Dropping a full-length

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

studio album only 6 months after the previous effort is a very foreign concept in the world of pop music. Typically, there would be a whole release plan involving tours and merchandise and singles but due to the way Ariana worked on these two albums, she has forgone the majority of that to pursue something a little more artistically valuable. Regardless of your opinion, the release of this album at all deserves praise.

The music thankfully, is very well crafted. Ariana delves into her personal life and romance in a smart, thoughtful way for the majority of the album. The only exception to this that I could find was on the track “7 Rings”. While this song is fun to listen to, the lyrics leave a whole bunch to be desired.

However, stand out tracks like “Ghostin” and “Needy” more than make up for this small hiccup. Production is

a surprise plus to this record as front to back it grooves you in a way reminiscent of a slower hip-hop album. The atmosphere is cool, personal, and honestly kind of sexy and the production plays a big part in creating and maintaining this. Stand out

GRANDE PAGE 12

Numerous boyfriends forget about Valentine’s Day, use snow as excuse Satire LUCAS TORBORG A&E EDITOR & KOLBY SPOMER STAFF WRITER A large majority of men in the Mankato area, most of who have been self-described to be in a serious relationship, have woken up to the horrifying realization that today is, in fact, Valentine’s Day. These men have been reported to be using the increase in snow and subsequent poor road conditions as a last-ditch excuse for not making any plans or reservations for the holiday.

MNSU Junior Dirk Donson had this to say, “I forgot it was Valentine’s Day, okay?

I’ll admit it. You know what else I’ll admit? The roads?

They’re like, stupid bad right

now. And honestly, I’d rather spend Valentine’s day safe inside my apartment alive, than frozen and dead in a ditch somewhere! I’m not being the bad guy here!”

Donson’s girlfriend, Kardi Bee (no relation) stated “I have been waiting all year for this day, I love it so much.

I’ve been telling him for weeks about it, dropping it into all our convos and texts.

I swear, if he says he forgot I’ll-” She paused, seemingly out of rage. “I honestly cannot believe him.” Bee stormed off, refusing to answer any further questions on the matter. According to her best friend Natasha Denim, Kardi was “so p*ssed” hours after the interview.

According to Denim, Donson drove to Minneapolis last Thursday, during the snowstorm to go to the bars for his friend’s birthday. Donson reportedly lost control of the

vehicle on the way to Minneapolis and crashed into a ditch. Bee drove all the way to rural Belle Plaine to drive Donson home. “Don’t tell Kardi I told you guys this stuff though, okay?” Denim said.

According to an online survey nearly 40 other partners within the Mankato area have also discovered that their boyfriends have failed to plan a date for Valentine’s day “due to the snow.”

When asked on the survey if they were mad at their boyfriends, 85 percent said they were “really mad”. The other 15 percent reported just being “mad”.

In contrary, numerous single men are also using this “snow” excuse to answer why they do not have plans for the holiday. According to MNSU Louis Tuburg, who does not have a girlfriend, its “great for the first Valen-

tine’s Day in years, I can just sit at home by myself, watch Netflix, eat pizza and not feel judged. Like, yeah, I’m not with anyone, but who cares?

It’s cool to chill by yourself?

Right?

“Oh no, we’re definitely judging him” Tuburg’s roommates said. “The dude hasn’t left the couch in weeks. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with his break-up with Lindsay. Apparently, he had big plans or something, I don’t know.”

One thing is known, however. This “snow” has ruined Valentine’s Day for seemingly all of Mankato. Hopefully next year it will be a little nicer. Somehow, this reporter doubts that will be the case.

THEATRE

Continued from page 9 “I was proud of the work we did and enjoyed watching a couple of my fellow MSU friends shine throughout the week!”

In addition to the awards there were also shows and classes going on during the week that individuals could attend.

MNSU first year student David T. Loudermilk stated that while he wasn’t able to attend all of the classes, he had wanted to he enjoyed the feedback that came from the director competition.

Loudermilk explained, “we were given 11 scenes to choose from and you were expected to present it for the adjudicators.”

While Loudermilk did not receive any awards, he did tie for second with an Honorable Mention.

Other awards given to our MNSU students included, two singers advancing to the Musical Theater Intensive Showcase and performed on the festival mainstage: Cam Pederson and Lydia Prior.

Two dancers also advanced: Mitchel Evans and Zoe Hartigan. Seth Honerman claimed first place for the Society of Directors and Choreographers. Natasha Singh was the Region V winner in Stage Management and Ben Kramer tied for second place for his scene design of 1984.

Jameson Bernhagen won 1st place for the Don Childs Award. Cam Pederson, Erin Wegleitner and Alex Rollins all won the Stagecraft Institute Awards.

Regional awards were given to: Sam Buckley for 1st place in Dramaturgy, Jameson Bernhagen for 1st place for Lighting Design and Cam Pederson 1st place for Make Up Design. The Legacy Award was given to Reegan Tolk.

Certificates of Merit were also awarded to: Ben Kramer for his scene design of 1984, John Paul for his scene design for Ragtime; Natasha Singh for Production Stage Management of Ragtime, Erin Wgleitner for her scene design for “Bye Bye Birdie” and Alyssa Thome for production stage management for “Bye Bye Birdie”.

FIND A PLACE TO RENT AT

M A N K AT O ' S R E N TA L L I S T I N G W E B S I T E

Thursday, February 14, 2019

A&E

MSU Reporter • 11

Art comes to life in Netflix’s “Velvet Buzzsaw” Jake Gyllenhaal’s new horror movie shows the darker side of the art business

JANESSA HAMMERS STAFF WRITER The last time we saw Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo in a movie together was “Nightcrawler” back in 2014.

Fast forward to the present, and if you take a look at the new February Netflix lineup you will find a new movie in which both Gyllenhaal and Russo appear together once again. “Velvet Buzzsaw” has been a stand-out on Netflix, from the promo photos they used to advertise in splashy colors and dripping multicolored paint to the exploitation style draw to the film.

Reminiscent of past exploitation style cinema, “Velvet Buzzsaw” featured the high art world and murder as selling points in the trailer, and the film was produced by a company relatively outside of Hollywood (Netflix) with a

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

famous actor in Gyllenhaal to draw audience’s attention.

The world of high art has been the subject of satire for many writers and filmmakers including short stories like “The Real Thing” by Henry James and pictures like “A Bucket of Blood” directed

by Roger Corman. Art after all is subjective meaning a piece that one person finds priceless may be worthless to

the next, because of this it is hard to judge what makes a piece good or bad, priceless or worthless art. These rules dividing good and bad art are so insubstantial that many people find the art world to be a scam that people use to climb social ladders, not to mention a shallow environment.

In the 1959 film by Corman, a young man who is

mentally handicapped accidently kills a cat and pours plaster over it to cover it up.

A local art critic sees his creation and heralds him as the next big thing, but to make more art he kills and plasters more and more people. Basically, the film is making fun of art people saying that they would take anything, even a dead person, and call it art.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” is along

those same lines making fun of the shallow, money-oriented art world and the greedy people living in it by making it appear as over the top and glamorous as possible before all the murder begins.

A struggling, young art aficionado working for a prestigious art dealer finds numerous priceless paintings when her neighbor suddenly dies and she finds his body, but the art has a dark secret.

As the film delves into the artist and his life the horror is amped up and the gore begins. There were a lot of elements I really enjoyed in this movie, the old-school horror tactics being one. The amount of fake blood used would have probably filed a swimming pool in addition to the suspenseful no-don’topen-that-door-there’s-amonster-that-the-audienceknows-about-but-you-don’t! feeling.

This movie made me laugh at the stupidity of rich people and made me happy when they met their doom. Things get that dirty in the art world.

TODAY

IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE! Cast your vote for your favorites for The Reporter’s

First Annual

Student Choice Awards Visit our website: www.msureporter.com for click-thru ad or simply scan this QR code with SnapChat!

WINNER

12 • MSU Reporter

GRANDE Continued from page 10 moments production wise include tracks like “‘NASA” and “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored”.

Is this album getting a lot of buzz because not much of note has released yet this year? Maybe. In a few months, we’ll know how good this album really is. As of now, though, this remains the best album of the year and something that will be on your playlist for weeks to come. Nice job Ariana, I honestly didn’t think you had it in you.

CHEESEBROW Continued from page 9

music-related classes and projects.

The Serendipity Music Series highlights and brings multi-talented artists to the campus, and Cheesebrow definitely left his mark with powerful, acoustic love-melodies. As he said, “Sometimes you’ve got to make 10 bad songs, to get one good song.” And that’s not just true for music, but everything else in life as well.

A&E

Thursday, February 14, 2019

MNSU Theatre presents Shakespeare’s Macbeth

MANKATO – Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Department of Theatre & Dance will open “Macbeth” on Feb.14 in the Ted Paul Theatre at the Early Center for the Performing Arts.

Macbeth is the story of a brave Scottish general named who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia.

This a show that completely captures the realities of war and its aftermath. Macbeth is truly a marvel that will leave you torn between what is light and true darkness of the heart and mind.

“False face must hide what false heart doth know.”

-Act I, vii page 12 The production has a cast of 45 people, including a large cast of students, as well as several community members, including six children.

Photo courtesy of the MNSU Theatre Department

Macbeth runs Feb. 14-16 and Feb. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 23-24 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ted Paul Theatre at the Earley Center for Performing Arts, Minnesota State Mankato.

Tickets are $16 regular; $14 for seniors ages 65 and older, children under 16 and groups of 15 or more; and $11 for Minnesota State Mankato students.

The Box Office is open

4-6 p.m. weekdays in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center, or buy single tickets online at MSUTheatre.com.

Call the Box Office at 507389-6661.

Need help paying for college?

We have scholarships for you!

Apply now! mnsu.edu/scholarshipfinder An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

MSU Reporter • 13 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

Sports Editor Kevin Korbel

kevin.korbel@mnsu.edu

Spring sports biggest enemy: winter weather

The last couple of seasons have been difficult for athletes in outdoor spring activities

AARON YOUNG STAFF WRITER With Minnesota this time of year filled with snowstorms, flurries, and crazy temperatures, Mankato State has had to cancel classes, affecting students and professors alike. However, this also impacts the sports teams and athletes in particular.

Weather issues cause delays and postpones for all spring sports. It can take a toll on athletes and how they approach their game.

How bad has it been for spring sports this season?

Valerie Bresnahan, who is a senior on the tennis team, explains how the snow affects traveling to practice.

“Having more snow during the winter usually means

there are poor road conditions. This makes driving to the indoor tennis courts in St. Peter extremely difficult.”

She then continued by saying how much of a toll the weather takes on the team as a whole.

“Teammates who are able must warm up their vehicles, shovel them out of parking spaces, plan accordingly to be able to pick-up and dropoff teammates from various locations, and take extra time to drive safely to practice.”

Last semester, the tennis team only had one meet before weather intervened.

Senior Jordan Hart, who is an outfielder for the baseball team, expressed his thoughts on the matter.

Since I play baseball, it is ideal to not have snow on the ground when playing. Seeing snow on the ground every day, makes me think, “When will we actually get to play a home game?” And “how much class will I miss for traveling to make up cancelled

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

games?’”

When asked how it affects his routine, not much changes except that there is more preparation.

“My routine doesn’t really change due to weather. I prepare for the scheduled date and if it gets cancelled, then I

will get more time to prepare for the next.”

More time to practice is never a bad thing. Although his routine doesn’t change, Hart gave some insight into the difference between playing inside against outside, and the result of it.

“Yes, it can be frustrating at times. Just by practicing inside is a physical and mental challenge. It’s physical, because the surface is differ-

WINTER PAGE 11

Three teams we love to hate in pro sports Staff writer John Laforest looks at the three biggest teams everyone loves to hate

JOHN LAFOREST STAFF WRITER In Professional sports, there are very few teams in each sport that can carry the reputation of being hated.

Fans, members of the media and even opposing teams possess that extra molecule of hate upon teams for many reasons: success, always winning, outlandish, etc. With Valentine’s Day being a day about love, you can feel that the love for hating certain teams is in the air on this day from fans, players, and even owners.

Why do we hate? In the sports world from the outside looking in, we hate winners. We hate the fact someone is dominating our teams.

The dominance as far as con-

tinuous winning, which most of the teams mentioned have done, has bothered generations of fans, players and even owners. Here are the three biggest teams we love to hate in pro sports today: New York Yankees New York has won 26 World Series titles and 39 American League Pennants over the course of the franchise’s life, and many of the game’s greatest players, including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig, have helped to strengthen the club’s legacy.

It doesn’t help that they also have the highest payroll in the MLB, and can always buy the top talent in the world because of that. This is why it’s more memorable when the team loses to someone in the playoffs, rather than winning the whole thing, because it rarely happens, and nobody wants to see this team win and when they do, everyone prefers to put their

Photos courtesy of the Associated Press

The Yankees and the Lakers have been hated by sports fans everywhere since each franchises inception. head in the ground.

Dallas Cowboys They have one of the most outspoken and superstar owners in the league in Jerry Jones. They always seem to have a headline-grabbing wide receiver who may well be the most talented player

at his position in the game and isn’t shy about letting anyone who is in the way who might be subjective.

This starts going back as Michael Irvin who is the most successful out of all notable wide outs on the Cowboys.

Terrell Owens, Dez Bryant,

and now Amari Cooper seem to follow the role of that Cowboy receiver.

Worse than all that, how-

LOVE TO HATE PAGE 11

14 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Thursday, February 14, 2019

The Alliance of American Football makes debut

The league’s first set of games were played Saturday, launching a new era for pro football

BRADY OLSON STAFF WRITER Last weekend marked the beginning of the upstart Alliance of American Football, a new eight team football league that will play in the spring rather than the fall.

Opening up to mixed reviews, this new brand of football will have to climb an uphill battle for it to become a mainstay in American sports.

The Alliance, co-founded by film producer Charlie Ebersol and NFL Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian, is being billed as a developmental league rather than as a competitor to the NFL. The Alliance carries some names you may know, like Trent Richardson or Christian Hackenberg, but the real star power is at head coach.

Numerous big name coaches such as Steve Spurrier, Rich Neuheisel and Mike Riley are heading AAF teams this season.

Unlike other sports leagues, all teams in the

league are owned by the Alliance and not individual owners.

Additionally, all players signed onto teams are signed to non-guaranteed 3-year, $250,000 deals, making the pay comparable to CFL salaries.

Currently, six of the eight teams play in markets without an NFL franchise, with the exceptions being in Arizona and Atlanta.

Also, the league is experimenting with rule changes such as banning kickoffs and extra points, having no field goals in overtime, and allowing only five defenders to blitz on any given play. If anyone tuned into CBS on Saturday night to watch the league opener, you were treated to a defensive battle.

In front of a crowd of over 27,000 at the Alamodome, the San Antonio Commanders defeated the San Diego Fleet, 15-6. The fans in attendance already sounded like die-hard supporters of the Commanders, and gave hope that the league could attract people to its product.

We even saw Orlando draw 20,000 people in a rainy 40-6 victory.

The other side of the coin was shown a day later, when

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Former NFL player Will Hill III (pictured) jets out of the tunnel for the Orlando Apollos in a game versus the Atlanta Legends on Saturday. the Salt Lake/Arizona game turned out less than 12,000 fans.

Additionally, the game in Birmingham barely scratched 17,000 attendees, very bad for a stadium with a capacity of over 71,000 fans. The Birmingham statistic is even worse if you consider the fact that the only competitors in the city are a minor league

hockey team and the UAB Blazers.

There is a lot of work to be done with the Alliance, but the early signs are intriguing.

Despite the low attendance, the CBS broadcast of San Diego/San Antonio outdrew the Rockets-Thunder game on ESPN. On top of that, the quality of football being displayed

was actually quite enjoyable to watch, even if the quarterbacks made some questionable throws. Hopefully the Alliance can blossom into the NFL’s minor league system that is has failed to achieve, and hopefully it won’t be thrown to the wayside like its predecessors.

LOVE TO HATE Continued from page 13

Photo courtesy of Flickr

ever, the team believes it deserves the right to call itself “America’s Team” as though people all over the country pull for them to win on Sunday when, quite often, nothing could be further from the truth.

Either you’re going to hate the Cowboys and root for them to lose every Sunday and make that mistake they always do, or you’re sitting in your seat expressing the love for the cowboys, always

seems to be no in-between with the cowboys.

Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers for decades now show little signs of relinquishing their status as a team fans love to hate.

Since the days of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, the team that originated in Minneapolis has enjoyed a great deal of on the court success, but it is the flash and dazzle of the “Showtime” era Lakers

where haters emerged.

Coach Pat Riley at the helm and stars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy leading the way with the Magic’s smile and the whole team charisma.

The Lakers claimed five titles in the 1980s. But it wasn’t their victories that drove basketball fans nuts. It was Pat Riley and his slicked back hair, Kareem and his skyhook, Kurt Rambis and his crazy dives

across the court, Magic’s no look.

Even newer fans have found plenty of reasons to dislike the Lakers as well, Kobe Bryant, his allegedly selfish on-court play, his soap-opera like feuds with Shaquille O’Neal and the ensuing tell-all book by former/current Lakers coach Phil Jackson, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

No other teams in the NBA are even compliant in doing

business with this organization.

A perfect example of this would be the recent Anthony Davis situation where the New Orleans Pelicans were reported by ESPN to just see how desperate the Lakers were in trade talks for the AllStar Forward.

The San Antonio Spurs displayed similar disrespect during negotiations last year when Kawhi Leonard was on the Trade Block.

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Cowboys are among the biggest sports organizations people love to hate whether it’s Valentine’s day or not.

Other teams that could be mentioned in this article: Any team from Boston, the Golden State Warriors, Duke basketball, and Alabama football.

Valentine’s day wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t explain exactly why there is so much hate even in the sports for some of the most wellknown teams which people love. Don’t worry though, these teams have no problem playing the roles of the bad guy.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Sports

MSU Reporter • 15

MLB Free Agency gets hit with a curveball

Sports Editor Kevin Korbel takes a look at why many free agents are left unsigned

KEVIN KORBEL SPORTS EDITOR With spring training almost upon us in the MLB, there are many players still left unsigned across the league. Not only could many of these players play key roles on impending ballclubs this season, but they could also be the difference for many teams making that extra push for the playoffs this season.

If this is the case, why are former all-stars like Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel still on the market, and left unsigned by teams in the league? While there isn’t one simple answer for each of these players, Age Keuchel and Kimbrel, who are now in their 30’s, no question have had great production throughout their careers, but the tricky thing with free agency is that you don’t pay a player on how they performed in the past, it’s how they’ll perform for your team in the future.

Both these players have produced in the past, but will a 3.71 ERA in 2018 be enough to convince a ball club to sign Keuchel to a long-term deal?

While he did win the AL Cy Young award in 2015, three seasons are a long time in the MLB. As for Kimbrel, he sits in

a better spot than Keuchel.

Coming off a World Series championship with the Red Sox, he looks to help a ball club do the same thing in 2019, and he sure has the arm talent to do it with 333 saves so far in his career, the fastest ever at his age to do it.

Both over 30-years old, look for both these players to garner no more than a threeyear deal with the ball club that ends up signing them.

History of Bad Contracts Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who are both 26-years old, are projected according to FanGraphs to earn a total of $586 million in guaranteed money.

Harper is reportedly commanding a 10-year, $300 million-dollar contract to suitors, while Machado is also reportedly asking for a contract in the $200 million-dollar range.

If you look back at history, most big contracts like this have failed miserably in the past.

For example, Giancarlo Stanton when he inked a 13-year deal worth $325 million-dollars with the Miami Marlins back in 2015. Since then, the team trade him off to New York, the team has traded all of their talent for future assets, and now are one of the worst teams in baseball.

If you look from a hometown perspective, look at former Minnesota Twins catcher and first baseman, Joe Mauer. While he did still perform when he was on the field, his injuries during this period were detrimental to a ball club who couldn’t afford to

WINTER

Continued from page 10 ent and the its nothing like the real thing. The mental challenge is not being able to see the ball travel inside the cages, not getting an actual fly/ground ball, and the atmosphere is just different.

We went to Arkansas last weekend for a three-game series and coming back to practice inside was draining mentally.”

When a game gets postponed, Hart explained he does worry about the missed time and how that affected the schedule.

“When games get cancelled, there is a sense for frustration and knowing there isn’t anything we can do about the weather. I know we will have to make

it up eventually and then thinking about missing class time and worrying about falling behind.”

As mentioned earlier, the tennis team has had a delay, and so far, this semester, the softball team had a game cancelled on them as well due to weather.

With how unpredictable the weather can be in Minnesota, athletes and coaches have to be prepared for cancelled practice or delayed games.

Hopefully, the snow will be gone soon and the sun will appear so these athletes can get back on the field/ court and compete against the best in their conference.

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Bryce Harper (left) and Dallas Keuchel (right) were two of the most free agents in this year’s class, yet they’re still left unsigned going into spring training. have him go down.

Since re-signing Mauer in 2010, the Minnesota Twins have made it back to the postseason only once. You can blame coaching, you can blame pitching, you can also blame ownership which played a huge part in the team’s failures during the last few seasons, but you also can’t ignore the hefty price tag the Twins paid for a player who hit his peak season in 2010.

Now today, it’s hard for many teams to sign many free agents to long-term deals

due to things like injury and poor production.

Recent stats favor pitchers over hitters While Harper and Machado are two of the most talented players in the game today, both are stuck in the era of pitching.

Harper struck out a career high 169 times in 2018, which was ninth in the Major Leagues. Machado comes out better in this category with only 104 strikeouts.

For the first time in the history of baseball, there were more strikeouts last season

than base hits during the season. That’s an outstanding stat, taking into effect that baseball has been around since 1869.

With pitching being more important than ever, this lowers the market for Machado and Harper quite a bit due to the success of pitchers over batters in recent years.

Overall, these four players will be signed by a team at the deadline, but don’t be surprised if they sign at a lower price-tag going into spring training.

THE SUN IS ALWAYS SHINING IN THE LIBRARY. FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE MEMORIAL LIBRARY

http://lib.mnsu.edu

16 • MSU Reporter

Advertisement

Thursday, February 14, 2019