February 22, 2022

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022

MSU gives scholarships for vaccination

Cybersecurity: How students can stay safe Cybersecurity and protecting online data is something the average student may not think about daily. However, being cyber aware today may save a headache down the road.

With the internet rapidly advancing in the past few decades, there has been an influx of cybersecurity companies.

“Once the bad guys realized it was an avenue to make lots of money, that’s when the need arose,” Bradley Ammerman, adjunct Computer Information Science faculty and Minnesota State University, Mankato alumnus, stated.

Ammerman has taught multiple courses in MSU’s CIS department since 2014.

With hundreds of cyberattacks a day, protecting one’s

personal data online can be as important as locking their car.

“One thing I tell my students is, ‘How would you feel if your phone is cryptolocked and you couldn’t gain access to your photos?’ It can be crippling to some,” Ammerman said. “Ransomware is huge.

People pay thousands, or millions, to get that information back.”Ammerman has conducted numerous cybersecurity workshops, interviews and podcasts. He has been in the cybersecurity field for about 10 years and in IT since 2001.

“I’ve had a really good experience being able to educate and find those individuals who are passionate and cater their career and watch them take off,” Ammerman shared.

Being security-minded is an important aspect in protecting one’s identity online.

By MAX MAYLEBEN Editor in Chief

File photo

By JULIA BARTON News Director

“There is so much security awareness training available out there. If you’re at least mindful about it, you can implement that not only at work but into your personal life,” Ammerman voiced. Something as simple as making your pass-

words more complex is a start to making it harder for criminals to obtain your information.

“Don’t click stuff,” Ammerman said. “That is the best way to protect yourself.”

CYBER on page 2 

WINGIN’ IT

Last November, second-year student Mallory Stiff reacted how most would react when receiving a phone call from an unrecognized number. She hung up.

But after a follow-up email and another phone call, she finally decided to answer.

To her surprise, it was Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment, David Jones, calling to inform her that she had been selected at random to receive a scholarship covering an entire semester at Minnesota State.

At the request of the Minnesota State System Chancellor Devinder Malhotra, MSU has enacted incentives for students to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

It was announced in the fall of 2021 that the University SCHOLARSHIPS on page 3 

Safe spaces provided on campus

By JEREMY REDLIEN Staff Writer

Rhye, a 2-year-old peregrine falcon, makes an appearance at the Clinical Sciences Building this past Friday to promote the Peregrine Falcon Program. Celebrating 35 years, this program raises awareness of the recovery project of peregrine falcons and stands as an outreach for hospital patients, giving a warm smile to those who are waiting for test results or in-between procedures.

Photo by DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Mankato State University, Mankato is home to many resources related to gender and sexuality, including the Jim Chalgren LGBT Center, the Women’s Center, and the Violence Awareness Response Program.

Located on the first floor of the Centennial Student Union, the LGBT Center is the second oldest college LGBT center in the country. When the center opened in the McElroy Dormitory in 1977, thanks to the work of James “Jim” Chalgren, the center was literally the size of a closet.

Over the years the LGBT center has expanded and gone through multiple name changes. In 2004, following a student-led sit-in, MSU Mankato hired Jessica Flatequal RESOURCES on page 5 

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Minnesota Rep. Jim Hagedorn dies at 59 after cancer battle

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Jury adjourns for day without verdict in Arbery case

SARAH BLAKE MORGAN • Associated Press

A mural depicting Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Ga. Travis McMichael, the man convicted of murder for shooting Ahmaud Arbery is withdrawing his guilty plea on a federal hate crime charge.

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press JIM MONE • Associated Press

In this June 10, 2018 photo, then, Minnesota 1st District congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn works a parade in Waterville, Minn.

By STEVE KARNOWSKI U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a conservative Republican from southern Minnesota who followed his father’s footsteps into Congress, has died after a battle with kidney cancer, his wife said. He was 59.

Jennifer Carnahan said in a Facebook post Friday that Hagedorn “passed away peacefully” Thursday night.

“Jim loved our country and loved representing the people of southern Minnesota,” Carnahan wrote. “Every moment of every day he lived his dream by serving others. There was no stronger conservative in our

state than my husband; and it showed in how he voted, led and fought for our country.”

Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags flown at half-staff through sunset Saturday in Hagedorn’s honor.

Walz is expected next week to call a special election to fill out Hagedorn’s term. It must be held on Aug. 9, which is also the date Minnesota will hold primary elections statewide.

Secretary of State Steve Simon said the filing period must end

by March 15, and it probably will be open for at least two weeks. A special primary will be held May 24. Hagedorn’s district leans Republican, and that didn’t change much with

the updated map.

Hagedorn carried the district by less than half a percentage point over Democrat Dan Feehan in 2018 and by 3 points in a rematch in 2020.

No Democrats have launched campaigns for the seat in the current cycle. President Donald Trump carried the district with nearly 54% of the vote in 2020.

Hagedorn was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer in February 2019, shortly after he began his first term, and just a couple months after he married Carnahan, then state chairwoman for the Minnesota Republican Party.

CYBER from page 1 “If you see links from someone unfamiliar, don’t click them,” said Ammerman.

Philip Chervenak, a junior majoring in CIS and minoring in networking information security, agreed.

“Don’t have a password, have a passphrase; it is more complex than a single word,” Chervenak said. “It’s a lot easier to break into someone’s account than you might think.”

Multifactor authentication is another way that can further protect online users’ information.

This may involve confirming one’s identity on another device to ensure they are the person responsible for the account.

He also shared another way people can further protect their online accounts.

“Using a VPN like Norton can change your network locations to anywhere in the world,

making it more difficult for those people to ping you,” said Chervenak.

Minnesota State University, Mankato offers various cyber awareness videos and tips to ensure students and faculty have the knowledge to protect their information.

MSU also has a cyberaware podcast that shares insight on the current cybersecurity world from experts in the field.

Associated Press



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Three white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery on a residential street acted out of “pent-up racial anger” and should be convicted of hate crimes, a federal prosecutor told a jury Monday.

Defense attorneys argued that the Black man was fatally shot in self-defense and had acted suspiciously during prior trips to the neighborhood.

The jury of eight white people, three Black people and one Hispanic person adjourned without a verdict Monday evening after deliberating about for about three hours following closing legal arguments in U.S. District Court.

Verdicts on hate crime charges rest not on whether the pursuit and shooting were justified, but whether they were motivated by racism.

The jury was to resume deliberations Tuesday morning.

The trial, which began a week ago, has been taking place simultaneously with that of three former Minneapolis police officers who have been charged with violating the civil rights of George Floyd.

Floyd died on May 25,

2020, when then-officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground and pressed a knee to his neck for what authorities say was 9 1/2 minutes.

Defense attorneys for the third officer rested their case Monday, paving the way for closing arguments.

In Georgia, prosecutor Christopher Perras argued that Travis McMichael “was just looking for a reason” to hurt a Black person when the 25-year-old Arbery jogged past his home on a Sunday afternoon. Perras cited a slew of racist comments and videos the defendant had posted online.

And when McMichael, his father and a neighbor began chasing Arbery, they had no evidence he had done anything wrong, but they assumed he had because he was Black, Perras said.

When McMichael’s father, Greg McMichael, saw Arbery jogging down the street, “he didn’t grab his phone and call police,” Perras said. “He called his son and grabbed his gun.”

“There’s a big difference between being vigilant and being a vigilante,” said Perras, later adding: “It’s important for you to understand the full depth of the defendants’ racial hatred.”

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022

News

MSU Reporter • 3

Trump’s social media app launches year after Twitter ban

Colombia’s highest court legalizes abortion

FERNANDO VERGARA • Associated Press

Abortion-rights activists celebrate after the Constitutional Court approved the decriminalization of abortion, lifting all limitations on the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy, in Bogota, Colombia.

By Associated Press Colombia became the latest country in Latin America to expand access to abortion Monday as the nation’s Constitutional Court voted to legalize the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy.

The decision by the tribunal of nine judges fell short of the expectations of pro-choice groups.

Those groups had been pushing for abortion to be completely decriminalized in Colombia.

But it was nevertheless described as a historic event by women’s rights groups, which estimate 400,000 women get clandestine abortions in the country each year.

Before the ruling, Colombia allowed abortions only when a

JOHN RAOUX • Associated Press

Former president Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. Trump’s messaging app challenging Twitter launched Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

By BERNARD CONDON Former President Donald Trump’s social media app that he hopes will rival Twitter launched Monday as he seeks a new digital stage to rally his supporters and fight Big Tech limits on speech, a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

His Truth Social app was offered for download from the Apple App Store to a limited number of subscribers who had preordered. Others who were added to a waiting list are to be given access over the next 10 days. The site encountered technical glitches shortly after launch, with reports that subscribers were shut out for hours. Others had trouble signing on. The site is not expected to be open to anyone who

wants to download it until next month.

“Due to massive demand, we have placed you on our waitlist,” read a message to some of those trying to access the platform, adding, “We love you.”

Trump is hoping Truth Social will attract the millions who followed him on Twitter as he hints at a third presidential run, triggering a wave of other subscribers to justify the billions of dollars that investors have bet on the venture. Shares in a company that plans to buy Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social, have soared in recent months. According to Apple’s rankings, Truth Social was the top free app in the U.S. on Monday morning, besting the “Talking Ben the Dog” children’s game, streaming service

HBO Max, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

The partial launch Monday follows an experimental “beta” launch to test the platform last week. Trump was banned from top social media platforms following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot last year that critics accused him of inciting. The ban has raised difficult questions about free speech in a social media industry dominated by a few tech giants — an issue that Trump and conservative media have seized upon.

Republicans were quick to use the launch of Truth Social to raise money for their election efforts. “After over A YEAR of muzzling by the Liberal Big Tech Tyrants: TRUMP. IS. BACK,” wrote GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in a fundraising email.

SCHOLARSHIPS from page 1 would randomly select one fully vaccinated student to receive a scholarship for a full semester of tuition beginning Nov. 1. They moved on to offer the same scholarship to two more students during December, and another two in January.

Stiff was the first student to receive this award last November, and was surprised to say the least.

“I didn’t really believe it at first,” said Stiff. “That doesn’t really happen, you know?”

Jones was tasked with making the phone calls and said many of the winners took a few calls to reach.

“Not everyone believes me when I tell them,” said Jones, who then goes on to tell them, “No, this is legit, thank you for protecting the herd by getting vaccinated.” The winner of the award is chosen from the pool

of students who are vaccinated and have reported this to the school.

Students are automatically put in for the drawing from the statewide confidential system that stores immunization records.

This month the University is changing it up, deciding instead to split up the larger award to give five students $1,000 toward their tuition every month, starting on Feb. 1.

“Based on my experience from the fall, it was my recommendation to spend about the same, but spread the money among more people,” said Jones about the decision.

Stiff noted that she was vaccinated last March in hopes of being able to spend time with her family.

“As soon as I qualified for it, I got it,” said Stiff, “It was more so I could see my grand-

parents.”

While she was among the first to be vaccinated, Stiff understands that getting the vaccine is up to each individual.

“It is a personal choice,” said Stiff.

“I made the personal choice to get vaccinated.”

The hope of the program is to incentivize students to get vaccinated. According to Jones, seventy-three percent of students that attend MSU are currently vaccinated, as stated by MSU’s Student Health Services, and the University aims to keep increasing that number.

Jones cites the high vaccination rate as a main cause of a so far successful year of in-person classes.

“Our low rates are a result of people getting vaccinated,” said Jones, “We have been able to be here all year because of that.”

Associated Press

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Now women in Colombia will be able to get abortions until the 24th week of their pregnancy without having to provide any justification.

After the 24th week of pregnancy, abortion will still be restricted to women whose health is in danger.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba also allow abortions without restrictions until certain stages of pregnancy.

Latin America is also a region where some countries prohibit the termination of pregnancy without exception, like in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

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4 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

SPRING 2022 EDITOR IN CHIEF:

MAXWELL MAYLEBEN

Protecting your online data is crucial

maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu

MADISON DIEMERT

madison.diemert@mnsu.edu

Editorial Imagine getting all of your personal information stolen just because you clicked a link that said “You won a $100 Visa gift card”. Unfortunately that isn’t so far fetched in today’s society as everyone is active online.

With the digital age booming, almost everyone young or old has a form of an online presence used for work related situations, banking or other communication purposes like email. Not to mention the variety of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok plaguing every teens phone in which you post intimate details about your personal life.

There is no surprise that criminals have found a way to obtain money and personal information from innocent online users. More often than not it is upsetting that the majority of the people scammed are either the youth or elderly as they are easily targeted.

This is why we as students need to put in a greater effort to protect our information.

How much would you pay if every private photo, message and bit of personal information was leaked? Not only is it human nature to keep your life private, it should be a concern that there is potential for that information to get stolen.

Whether you know it or not you are being vulnerable online by sharing your vacation photos, tagging where you are

NEWS DIRECTOR: Julia Barton julia.barton@mnsu.edu SPORTS EDITOR: Kole Buelow kole.buelow@mnsu.edu VARIETY EDITOR: Emma Johnson emma.johnson.5@mnsu.edu MEDIA/DESIGN DIRECTOR: Mansoor Ahmad mansoor.ahmad@mnsu.edu

File photo

and sharing your location with your friends or followers. You are also leaving a digital footprint on the internet for practically everyone to see forever.

Being mindful of that and limiting your personal posts or realizing when it might not be a good idea to post certain information is one of the keys to keeping yourself safe.

Being cyberaware is just as important as making sure your house is locked up before you leave.

Many don’t take advantage of the resources out there

for the public that will teach them how to be safe online.

Something as simple as changing your password on different accounts can benefit you in the long run. Also having your password be one simple word is a common mistake.

Having complex passphrases mixed with multiple characters and numbers is a way to create a stronger barrier between you and those whose mission it is to steal your information.

Multifactor authentication is a good way to make sure you are the one who is

signed into that account. If you receive a message that someone is trying to sign into your account that isn’t you then you should contact someone as soon as possible.

The Minnesota State University, Mankato even offers a cyber awareness podcast that talks about the cyber world as well as videos and tips on how to shield your social media.

Regardless, there are ways an online user can protect their information. You owe it to yourself to do the best you can to not end up getting scammed.

“How do you keep your online identity secure?”

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• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, contact Editor in Chief Maxwell Mayleben at maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu.

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 studentrun 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.

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THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

News

Ukraine-Russia crisis: What to know in the escalating crisis

MSU Reporter • 5

Putin orders to ‘maintain peace’ in eastern Ukraine

ALEXEI ALEXANDROV • Associated Press

People wave Russian national flags celebrating the recognizing the independence in the center of Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, late Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV ment came just hours after Putin, in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history, Russian President Vladimir recognized the independence Putin ordered forces Monday of the eastern separatist reto “maintain peace” in separat- gions, paving the way to proist regions of eastern Ukraine, vide them military support and hours after the Kremlin recog- antagonizing Western leaders who regard such a move as nized the area’s independence.

The announcement raised a breach of world order. The fears that an invasion was U.S. and other nations scramimminent, if not already un- bled to respond, calling for an derway. The Kremlin decree, emergency meeting of the U.N. spelled out in an order signed Security Council on Monday

by Putin, left unclear when, or night.

The White House issued an even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought executive order to restrict inswift promises of new sanc- vestment and trade in the septions from the U.S. and other aratist regions, and additional Western nations and under- measures — likely sanctions scored the steep challenges they — were to be announced Tuesface in staving off a military day. Those sanctions are indeconflict they have portrayed as pendent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a near-inevitable.

The Kremlin’s announce- Russian invasion

Associated Press OLEKSANDR RATUSHNIAK • Associated Press

Ukrainian border guard officers patrol the Ukrainian-Belarusian state border at a checkpoint in Novi Yarylovychi, Ukraine, Monday, Feb.21, 2022.

By VANESSA GERA Global efforts to head off a Russian invasion of Ukraine were dealt a serious blow Monday when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered his military to “maintain peace” in the disputed areas.

But Putin’s moves, made as shelling continued in those areas, could be a precursor to the Kremlin sending in troops and weapons to support Rus-

sian-backed separatists.

Doing so is sure to deepen already inflamed tensions between Russia and the West.

The White House said President Joe Biden had agreed “in principle” to meeting Putin only if the Kremlin refrains from launching an assault on Ukraine.

Even in advance of any invasion, however, both Biden and the European Union said they would move ahead with targeted sanctions in response to Putin’s decrees.

U.S. officials said Biden would soon issue an executive

order prohibiting Americans from investing and doing business in rebel-held areas.

The order would also allow the U.S. to impose sanctions on anyone in the area, a move to exact economic pain on key supporters of the breakaway incursion.

In a joint statement, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel called Russia’s recognition of the disputed territories “a blatant violation of international law” and also vowed economic repercussions.

 RESOURCES from page 1 as a full-time director to lead the center. Up until that point the center had been staffed by graduate students, following Chalgren leaving Mankato in 1987.

Today, the center is located on the first floor of the Centennial Student Union and provides many resources for students while also sponsoring educational and social events on campus. Students stopping by the center today can pick up condoms and pamphlets related to LGBTQ issues, such as information on PREP and LGBTQ friendly housing. The center provides a safe space for LGBTQ students and allies to hang out or watch tv.

According to MSU student Ingrid Stumo, who often visits the center, this place is important to have on campus.

“This place can inform [students] about LGBT things.

Not just issues, but also safer sex practices. It’s just good to have a quiet, safer place,” Stumo stated. “I met a lot of my friends here.”

The Women’s Center, located on the second floor of

the CSU, which partners with the Violence Awareness and Response Program, also has a lounge area for students to relax, hang out, and hold thorough conversations on current events.

Students can pick up a variety of useful items, such as menstrual products, condoms and pregnancy tests right in the center.

Furthermore, the Women’s Center hosts a variety of programs. Director Liz Steinborn-Gourley spoke about upcoming programs for Women’s History Month, which is in March. These upcoming events will include a Women’s History Month Trivia event and an ongoing book club conversation on “All About Love: New Visions” by bell hooks.

The book club allows students to pick up a free copy of “All About Love: New Visions” and a study guide at the center, which will culminate in a Zoom discussion on March 15.

According to Director Steinborn-Gourley, the origins of MSU’s Women’s Center lay began in 1978 in a program called

Weekend College, which held classes on Fridays and Saturdays to allow students in rural areas to attend college. In the beginning the center provided advising to women who were a part of the Weekend College program.

“The initiative was established to support women who were like, ‘I can’t leave my family and responsibilities behind in order to be fully enrolled five days a week.’ So, that was a really good bridge to help open some doors for women on campus,” said Steinborn-Gourley.

According to Interim Director Shadow Rolan of the Violence Awareness and Response Program, there are two sides to VARP. One side is educational and helps raise awareness of the issues of domestic and sexual violence.

“The other side of VARP is where I am a confidential advocate where students can come and confide in me and I help them through a healing process,” said Rolan.

Both the Women’s Center and the LGBT Center are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Associated Press

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6 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Blockades over, but emergency powers needed

By ROB GILLIES Associated Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday emergency powers are still needed despite police ending border blockades and the occupation of the nation’s capital by truckers and others angry over Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions.

“The situation is still fragile, the state of emergency is still there,” Trudeau said.

Lawmakers in Parliament will vote Monday night whether to allow police to continue to use emergency powers. Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said his party will support it, ensuring Trudeau should have enough votes.

Trudeau noted there are some truckers that are just outside Ottawa that may be planning further blockades and his public safety minister noted there was an effort to block a border crossing in British Columbia on the weekend. The emergencies act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no go zones.

It also allows police to freeze truckers’ personal and corporate bank accounts and compels tow truck companies to tow away vehicles.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said those who had their bank accounts frozen were

COLE BURSTON • The Canadian via AP

A camper is towed away by authorities clearing a trucker protest that was aimed at COVID-19 measures, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022.

“influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area.” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said anyone affected has an easy way to have their accounts unfrozen: “Stop being a part of the blockade,” she said.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said allowing police to designate Ottawa’s downtown a no-go zone has been particularly effective. About 100 police checkpoints remain. “We saw calm, peace and quiet,” Mendicino said.

Singh, the opposition New

Democratic leader, said they know there are protesters waiting in the surrounding areas of Ottawa and in the capital itself.

“They need to be cleared out,” Singh said. Singh also noted there have been convoys that have been intercepted.

“This is an attack on our de-

mocracy. This is a group of folks who are very clearly connected to the extreme right wing,” Singh said. “The organizers clearly have a goal in mind to undermine democracy. That’s something we can’t allow to continue.”

The trucker protests grew until it closed a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts and shut down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks.

But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet. Ottawa protesters who vowed never to give up are largely gone, chased away by police in riot gear. The relentless blare of truckers’ horns has gone silent. A large police presence remains in Ottawa and some areas are fenced off.

The protests, which were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers but also encompassed fury over the range of COVID-19 restrictions and hatred of Trudeau, reflected the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and rightwing anger.

The self-styled Freedom Convoy shook Canada’s reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted trade, causing economic damage on both sides of the border.

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022

MSU Reporter • 7

‘BEYOND SPECIAL’

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

The Mavericks won their fifth straight MacNaughton Cup on Saturday in a 5-1 win over CCHA rival Bemidji State. With the win, MSU clinches home ice in the CCHA playoffs.

MSU sweeps Bemidji State to clinch fifth straight MacNaughton Cup

By KOLE BUELOW • Sports Editor The Minnesota State men’s hockey team returned back to the Mayo Clinic Health System Events Center this past weekend after their one-week break.

The team had previously traveled to Bowling Green before their week off,

defeating the Falcons 3-1 and 5-0.

The week off gave time for the team to work on areas of their game as well as a chance to watch their fellow Maverick teammate Nathan Smith and head coach Mike Hastings compete in the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.

Team USA eventually got knocked out of the games in the quarterfinals on Feb. 16 with the Mavericks back home not knowing the next time they would see their fellow teammates.

In a presser on Feb. 16 associate

head coach Todd Knott said, “I do not. It is so new for them” on whether he knew when Hastings or Smith would return back to the States.

To everyone’s surprise Hastings returned to the building for the first game of the series against Bemidji State and was behind the bench back to his head coaching duties.

The Mavericks were prepared to perform for their head coach, getting into the swing of things right away on Friday with a goal from junior defenseman Jake Livingstone. A boarding

penalty at the 10:05 mark of the first period gave the Mavericks their first man advantage.

Senior Benton Maass collected a pass from Livingstone near the blue line and immediately passed it back for Livingstone to snipe the puck in the top corner of the net to give MSU a 1-0 lead on the power play.

With less than five minutes to go in the period, the Mavericks found a fast break opportunity. Lutz collected a half-ice pass from junior Ryan SanCHAMPS on page 9 

By KARSON BUELOW • Staff Writer The Minnesota State women’s basketball team completed a historic weekend with matchups against Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Mavericks came into this weekend with a record of 18-5 overall and 14-5 in the NSIC. The Upper Iowa Peacocks got off to a hot start against the Mavericks putting up 4 points quickly.

MSU sophomore guard Joey Batt would answer with a three-ball that would lead to back-and-forth action for the next four minutes.

Redshirt sophomore Jessica Musgrave would start a 6-0 scoring run for Upper Iowa with a layup

in the paint. This scoring run would see the Peacocks up by five points with a little over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

MSU would respond with an 11-0 scoring run of their own highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from freshman guard Emily Herzberg. The Mavericks would own a 20-14 lead heading into the second quarter.

Upper Iowa pushed to add pressure starting the second quarter, but Minnesota State would respond with pressure of their own. The first three minutes would see back-and-forth action before the Mavs opened up the scoring.

HOOPS on page 9 

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Mavs claim 20th win, clinch NSIC South

The Mavericks clinched the NSIC South Division on Thursday.

8 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Women’s hockey clinches fifth seed, to play Duluth in tourney

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Men’s basketball splits, onto Northern State Wednesday

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Freshman guard Harrison Braudis (5) sank three shots in the final 30 seconds of the Mavericks’ home win against Winona State to propell the Mavs to a 89-85 victory in their final regular season game.

By KARSON BUELOW Staff Writer MADDIE BEHRENS • The Reporter

Senior forward Brittyn Fleming (19) tied the all time points mark in the women’s hockey program at 109 with three points in Saturday’s game against Bemidji. Fleming also set the single-season points record at 40.

By KOLE BUELOW Sports Editor

The Minnesota State women’s hockey team returned home this weekend to face off against in-state rival Bemidji State. The Mavericks and Beavers came into the matchup within one point of each other in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings, and the outcome of the series would decide who is seeded fifth for the end-of-season Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament.

Mavericks’ head coach John Harrington expressed the importance of winning the series this weekend saying, “It’s a big series for us and a chance at fifth place in the league. To have a matchup with the fourth place team in the league instead of the possibility of getting a matchup with Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Ohio State, is going to be really important for us.”

Injuries plagued MSU coming into the weekend, which was most notably highlighted by the absence of starting goaltender and junior Calla Frank.

With Frank’s absence, Penn State transfer Chantal Burke got the start this weekend and came up huge for the Mavericks.

Junior forward Kelsey King explained in a postgame presser on Friday that Burke was not expecting to play. Burke ended up getting the start on Friday and collected her first career shutout as a Maverick.

“I was so happy for her along with the rest of the team,” said King on Burke’s performance. “She said ‘Hey, I got your guys’ backs. I love this team.’”

Senior center Brittyn Fleming got the Mavericks on the board first, scoring a one-onone fastbreak through the Be-

midji State goaltender’s fivehole with 7:07 remaining.

Nearly half of the second period remained scoreless until sophomore forward Madison Mashuga crashed the net on a breakaway. Mashuga was unable to get a shot off and was tripped in the process, allotting a penalty shot.

Mashuga made a nice move near the restricted area, but the puck was blocked by the Bemidji State netminder’s stick to keep the game 1-0.

Shortly after, a three-on-one fast break ensued for the Mavericks’ first line. Junior forward Kennedy Bobyck carried the puck into the offensive zone and eventually had the puck knocked off her stick to a trailing King. King ripped a shot to the left side of the net, sailing it under the goaltender’s glove side for a 2-0 lead.

The third period ended scoreless although each team had quality chances. With the win, Burke collected her first shutout of the weekend stopping 28 shots, and the Mavericks clinched the fifth seed in the WCHA playoffs.

“It was a good game for us from start to end,” said Harrington.

The Mavericks then moved onto senior day on Saturday where they celebrated the last season for Fleming, Jessica Kondas, and Taylor Wemple as Mavericks.

Nerves were apparent in the beginning of game two, with the Mavericks ending the first period down in shots 3-10.

The first period ended scoreless with MSU coming out hot in the second.

Freshman forward Alexis Paddington got MSU on the board first, collecting a rebound in front of the net and scoring it past the right side of the BSU goaltender. Over ten

minutes later the Mavericks scored again, with freshman Shelbi Guttormson collecting her first collegiate goal.

Another goal from Bobyck extended the MSU lead to three before concluding the second period.

Nearly the entire third period went by uninterrupted until a 10 minute game misconduct penalty from Bemidji’s Makenna Deering sent MSU on the power play at the 15:02 mark for the remainder of the contest. Just 32 seconds into the major penalty Fleming scored her first goal of the night, with freshman Sydney Shearen scoring her first collegiate goal on the power play as well to go up 5-0.

The Mavericks finished the game with a 5-0 win despite the slow start.

“It started from our third line. They brought the intensity, which got everything else going,” said Fleming after the game when discussing how the team got hot in the second period. With three points on Saturday Fleming tied the school record in points at 109.

Fleming also set the school record for points in a season with her 40th career point.

Burke earned WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors for her 47-save, two shutout weekend in her first two starts as a Maverick.

MSU now moves onto the end-of-season WCHA tournament where they will face fourth-seeded Minnesota Duluth in a best of three series.

The Mavericks finished out the season with a 14-17-1 overall record while going 10-17-1 in conference play. The Mavs will ride a two-game win streak into the final tournament of the season with the hopes of making the NCAA tournament beginning March 11.

The Minnesota State men’s basketball team battled in hard-fought games this past weekend against No. 15 Upper Iowa and unranked Winona State. The Mavericks came into the weekend 15-8 overall and 8-8 in the NSIC. Thursday night’s game against Upper Iowa started slow for the Mavericks as the Peacocks started out with an 11-4 scoring run just over three minutes in. Sophomore guard Quincy Anderson would respond for the Mavericks hitting three shots in a row and tying the game up at 11.

With 10 minutes left in the first half, Anderson would convert a three-point play that would bring the score to 22-21 Peacocks.

The remainder of the first half would see both teams go on smaller scoring runs, and would have Upper Iowa up 3634 going into the second half.

The second half started out with back and forth action going in favor of the Mavericks and would have them up 4645 with 15 minutes remaining.

The next five minutes would see Minnesota State go on a 12-4 scoring run and have

them up 58-49 with 9:31 remaining.

A dunk by senior guard Cade Moritz would spark a 12-3 scoring run for the Peacocks. This run would tie the game up 61-61 with just under five minutes remaining.

Two free throws by redshirt freshman Brady Williams would be the final points the Mavericks would score in the game. The Peacocks ended the game with a 7-0 scoring run and took the game by a score of 68-63.

MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler remained optimistic about the future despite the disappointing outcome against Upper Iowa.

“We played well against a top-20 team in the nation, but we let that get away,” said Margenthaler. “[This] shows how good of a basketball team we can be.”

The Mavericks would have a break on Friday before being back at home Saturday against Winona State. Saturday night’s game against Winona started out with back-and-forth action that had both teams knotted at 12 just five minutes into the game.

A jumper by senior guard Devin Whitelow would spark SPARK on page 9

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Sports

FIVE STRAIGHT

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

Sophomore winger Lucas Sowder (21) backhands a shot assisted by teammate David Silye past Bemidji State goaltender Mattias Sholl for his fourth goal of the season and first goal of the game on Saturday.

CHAMPS from page 7 delin and sped past a Bemidji defender before sneaking the puck under the BSU goaltender’s left arm.

Just over half of the second period went by without a score, until MSU junior winger Lucas Sowder tapped the puck towards junior Cade Borchardt while getting hooked, who eventually backhanded it into the open net.

Only two minutes later, senior winger Julian Napravnik collected a pass at the top of the faceoff circle and eventually ripped a pass to a net-crashing Wyatt Aamodt who was able to tip it in for the 4-0 lead.

The third period allotted goals for both squads with the final score coming down to 5-1.

Following Friday’s game, while reminiscing on his 30hour travel day back from the Olympics, Hastings said, “I had some time today coming back,” with a laugh.

Minnesota State then moved onto Saturday where they would celebrate their seniors on their final season as a Maverick.

Hastings looked back on the success the seniors have achieved over the past years.

“You cannot paint the script

and have someone believe it from what they have done since the beginning of their time here to where they are at right now,” said Hastings, “It is beyond special.”

The Mavericks celebrated seniors Jack McNeely, Andy Carroll, Reggie Lutz, Dryden McKay, Aamodt, Maass, and Napravnik before the game and all of their accomplishments with the team.

The Mavericks thanked their seniors in the only way they knew that night, claiming a 5-1 regulation win.

MSU got off to a slow start in the first period, trailing in the shots on goal category 1-7 halfway through. It didn’t matter, however, as they still managed to light the lamp first.

Sophomore David Silye collected the puck in the offensive zone corner and dished the puck middle to a net-crashing Sowder, who gave the Mavs a 1-0 lead. Not too long later Napravnik got his first goal of the night, as he collected a rebounded puck off the Bemidji goaltender’s blocker to up the lead to two.

Borchardt and sophomore Ondrej Pavel tallied goals in the second period, giving the Mavs a 4-0 lead heading into the final

period of play.

BSU got on the board first on a goal from Will Zmolek, brother of Maverick freshman defenseman Bennett Zmolek, to bring the MSU lead down to three. Under two minutes later the Mavericks brought the lead back up to four as Napravnik buried his second goal of the game on a two-on-one break.

With the 5-1 win, the Mavs claimed their fifth straight MacNaughton Cup, which is awarded to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular season champion. The Cup is made from 40 pounds of handcrafted silver and is the second oldest trophy in hockey, only behind the prestigious Stanley Cup. “Winning it every year in general is a great feeling, but knowing as a senior you will be leaving soon, it just sums everything up,” explained Napravnik postgame.

The Mavs will now travel to Michigan Tech’s home ice for their final regular season series before the CCHA tournament.

After winning the MacNaughton Cup, the Mavericks will have home ice advantage all throughout the CCHA playoffs heading into the NCAA tournament.

SPARK from page 8 a 10-1 scoring run for the Warriors. This scoring run would have Winona up 22-13 with just under ten minutes remaining in the first half.

It was back-and-forth action for the final ten minutes in the first half as both teams were able to score on key opportunities. Winona State led Minnesota State 43-33 heading into the second half of play.

The Mavericks opened up the second half red-hot as they climbed back within three points with 15 minutes left.

Winona responded with a 6-0 scoring run of their own.

Minnesota State would not shy away by putting up a 9-0 scoring run led by Anderson.

This scoring run evened up the game at 57 with 11:46 remaining in the game.

A hard-fought ten minutes for both teams saw the score even at 85 with 1:43 to go in the game. Freshman guard Harrison Braudis broke the tie for the Mavericks with a clutch driving layup to put them up by two with 30 seconds remaining.

Braudis would hit two free

throws with four seconds left to seal the deal for Minnesota State by a score of 89-85.

Minnesota State will be back in action against Northern State on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. for the first round of the NSIC playoffs. Coach Margenthaler was straightforward about what his team needs to do to secure a victory.

“Guard the three point line,” said Margenthaler.

“They’re one of the top three point shooting teams in that nation. That will give us a good chance to win.”





MSU Reporter • 9 HOOPS from page 7 Sophomore guard Taylor Theusch converted a jumper that would ignite a 12-0 scoring run for Minnesota State and have them up by 16 points with just over two minutes left in the half. The Mavericks allowed just five points in the final six minutes and led 43-27 going into the second half.

Both teams converted on key opportunities through the first five minutes of the third quarter as the Mavericks controlled their lead. However, the Mavericks dominated the final five of the third period with a 13-1 scoring run and building a 27-point lead.

Upper Iowa created good offensive pressure in the fourth quarter, however, solid defense saw the Mavericks holding a dominant lead.

Minnesota State’s lead never got below 19 points and they finished strong with a convincing 91-67 win over Upper Iowa.

With their win against Upper Iowa, the Mavericks clinched the NSIC South regular season championship.

Head coach Emilee Thiesse stressed the importance of obtaining the first round bye heading into playoffs. “It’s a huge benefit to be in that spot,” Thiesse said. “Teams that have that extra game have a shorter turnaround. It puts us in a really good spot right now.”

Saturday afternoon’s contest against Winona State began with Minnesota State honoring their five seniors for their history with the program, which consisted of Maddy Olson, Rylee Menster, Tayla Stuttley, Jinda Guidinger, and Mikayla Nachazel The Mavericks and Warriors got into a tough backand-forth battle to open the 

game. Late in the first quarter, Batt would drain back-to-back shots to give the Mavs a 17-14 lead. A free throw by the Warriors would get them back to within two and would end the first quarter with the Mavericks up 17-15.

The Mavericks began to find consistent offense in the second quarter as Nachazel and Batt both found hot hands.

Nachazel and Batt contributed a combined total of 11 points in the second as the Mavericks were up 39-24 at the end of the first half.

MSU continued to add to their lead opening up the third quarter with a 9-3 scoring run.

Winona would respond with offense of their own, however, Minnesota State was able to match their offense and lead 62-38 heading into the final frame.

The Mavericks continued to control scoring for most of the fourth quarter, putting up 16 points in 8 minutes. Winona would provide a late push, but it was too little too late as Minnesota State took this game by a score of 78-55.

With this weekend’s wins, the Mavericks also eclipsed the 20-win mark for the fourth time in head coach Thiesse’s career. While Thiesse is proud of achieving 20 wins, she remains focused on the future for her team.

“We love being able to achieve great things in our program,” Thiesse said. “But 20 wins isn’t our goal, it’s about being in the NCAA tournament.”

Minnesota State will be back in action Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. They will take on the winner of MSU-Moorhead and Southwest Minnesota State.

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10 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Serendipity spotlights Sesay

By EMMA JOHNSON Variety Editor

Being able to take a passion and turn it into a career isn’t as simple as it seems, but the success that follows makes it all worth it. Minneapolis-based singer Abdul Sesay understands this all too well, as he has lived it.

Sesay’s love for music started when he was five years old. Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, he started singing with his church which eventually led him to play guitar.

“I started singing in church when I was five, and when I moved to the United States around the age of nine I played guitar here and there,” said Sesay. “Little by little, I built it up and it turned from a hobby to a passion to a career.”

Sesay’s music includes a variety of genres. His main genre consists of modern R&B and cover songs of pop artists, such as Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes. He also performs some of his own original songs like “Colours,” “Back Down” and “Energy.” Despite his first album, “Colours,” dropping in 2020, touring during the pandemic has been a struggle for Sesay.

“Some venues have certain restrictions and I have to say that I can’t meet that criteria right

By LINDSEY BAHR Associated Press

Courtesy photo

Minneapolis-based artist Abdul Sesay will be performing in the Centennial Student Union Hearth Lounge Feb. 23.

Sesay’s favorite part of performing is interacting with the crowd by asking questions based on his songs.

now,” said Sesay. “Venues vary, but sometimes you might get to a gig that might be full and others will be empty because people are still trying to quarantine and stay home. It’s been all over the place.”

Sesay’s songs are inspired by Bob Marley and Kendrick La-

mar and their pain and messages of freeing their mind from mental slavery and being confined to one genre. “[Marley’s] idea was freeing your mind in the sense that we are all stuck in a bubble and how do we escape. [Lamar’s] message is him trying to escape this bub-

ble that he’s been put in and categorized in as a black man and using music as an outlet,” said Sesay. “I don’t like to put myself in a box when it comes to genre.

I like to do it all.”

Sesay’s excited to perform at Minnesota State UniversiMUSIC on page 11 

Gospel night spiritually moves Mav students

By LILLY SCHMIDT Staff Writer

Student Events Team and African American Affairs teamed up to bring gospel music artist, Jovonta Patton, to Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Patton’s music has landed him five number one Billboard topping songs, and last Friday, brought him to Mankato.

Student Events Team concert company chair William Keebler played a large role in planning the event and how the partnership between the organizations brought gospel music to MSU. “[The concert] was a part of the African American Affairs Black History Month programing. Most of our events don’t really feature this type of music typically, so when African American Affairs had this idea, we wanted to be involved,” said Keebler.

Gospel music has a connective component that a lot of other music doesn’t.

Lindi Ruhamah Johnson is a member of a Christian Fellowship group on campus and

‘Uncharted’ tops the box office last weekend

attended the concert, and felt moved by the performance.

“The songs were really interactive, so you really feel seen when you’re worshiping and singing together with people who know the Lord,” said Johnson.

“There’s a connection there where even if you don’t know each other personally, there’s something there. We have the same spirit.”

Patton himself agreed with the sentiment. He shared that his favorite part of performing for Mankato was the diversity of the students who worshiped with him.

“There was one student with a hijab on and she was worshiping with us. It touched my heart, because worshiping goes beyond creeds and nations and differences, and I feel like we can all worship God,” said Patton. “Just to see that was very moving.”

For Patton, his relationship with music is not just therapeutic, but also a passion. “[Music] is a lifeline for me and it’s also a piece of my iden-

Courtesy photo

Billboard gospel artist, Jovonta Patton, performed for students at the Maverick Gospel Night Feb. 18. Patton performed the concert as a part of the African American Affairs Black History Month programming.

tity,” said Patton. “Whether I’m alone or in public, that’s what I do.”

He was more than happy to be a part of MSU celebrating Black History Month. To him, the month allows him to connect with not only his heritage, but also his faith simultaneously. “[Black History Month] is so

amazing because it gives us the opportunity to know what the Black future looks like. I try to make sure I am celebratory with my fashion, with everything. I can’t be nothing but black all year round, but I try to go above and beyond in February,” said Patton.

GOSPEL on page 11

Tom Holland might be without his Spider-Man suit in “Uncharted,” but his latest action-adventure is still doing good business at the North American box office.

The video game adaptation starring Holland and Mark Wahlberg is on its way to earning $51 million over the long Presidents Day weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Sony Pictures estimated its Friday through Sunday grosses will be $44.2 million, putting it at No. 1.

Though not a superhero payday, it’s enough for the industry to breathe a sigh of relief as it’s the biggest opening weekend since “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

The weekend’s other new opener, “Dog” found a modest audience too and landed in second place.

The unpredictability of pandemic-era audiences made “Uncharted” a bit of a wild card, and the poor reviews from critics had some going into the weekend with cautious optimism.

The Ruben Fleischer-directed pic, based on a PlayStation game, opened on 4,275 screens.

“This result is yet another extraordinary testament to the appetite for the theatrical experience that Sony Pictures bet on,” said Josh Greenstein, the president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, in a statement. Sony also released the megahit “Spider-Man: No Way Home” exclusively in theaters late last year.

That Holland-led enterprise has now earned over $770.1 million in North America and is the No. 3 domestic release of all time.

“Tom Holland is a megastar regardless of whether he’s Peter Parker or Nathan Drake,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “For many of the actors who have portrayed superheroes, breaking out of that role and having big box office success outside of that is a tough go.”

“Uncharted” has a ways to go to make up its $120 million production budget, which will likely be heavily offset by overseas earnings when it opens in China.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Variety

Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for COVID-19; mild symptoms

MSU Reporter • 11

UK’s musical entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, dead at 31

JOHN STILLWELL • Associated Press

Music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, who helped launch the careers of artists including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and Stormzy, has died. He was 31.

He died Sunday Feb. 20 due to a sudden illness.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

STEVE PARSONS • Associated Press

Buckingham Palace said Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 that Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19, has mild symptoms and will continue with duties. She is the latest monarch to contract the dangerous virus.

By JILL LAWLESS Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, Buckingham Palace said, adding that she still plans to carry on working.

The diagnosis prompted concern and get-well wishes from across Britain’s political spectrum for the famously stoic 95-year-old.

Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a fixture in the life of the nation, the queen reached the milestone of 70 years on the throne on Feb. 6, the anniversary of the 1952 death of her father, King George VI. She will turn 96 on April 21.

The palace said the queen, who has been fully vaccinated and had a booster shot, would continue with “light” duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week.

“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” the palace said in a statement.

People in the U.K. who test positive for COVID-19 are now required to self-isolate for at least five days, although the British government says it plans to lift that requirement for England this week.

Both the queen’s eldest son

Prince Charles, 73, and her 74-year-old daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. Charles has since returned to work. There are also thought to be several recent virus cases among staff at Windsor Castle, where the queen is staying.

Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, said the queen would likely be given one of several antiviral drugs that have been approved in the U.K. to treat COVID-19.

“If you do get them early enough, it does reduce the risk of severe disease developing, so I would imagine any doctor for a patient in their 90s would be considering giving these antivirals,” he said.

A host of senior British politicians sent get-well messages on Sunday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid wrote that he was “Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a quick recovery,” while opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wished the queen “good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am.”Australian

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also sent well-wishes.

“We wish her a full recovery and there are few more resilient people than Her Majesty. She has demonstrated that over a long lifetime,” Morrison said Monday, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Elizabeth has been in robust health for most of her reign and has been photographed riding a horse as recently as 2020.

In the past year she has been seen using a walking stick, and in October she spent a night in a London hospital for unspecified tests.

The queen’s doctors ordered her to rest after that and she was forced to cancel appearances at several key events, including Remembrance Sunday services and the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland in November.

This month she returned to public duties and has held audiences both virtually and in person with diplomats, politicians and senior military officers.

During one exchange caught on camera last week, she walked slowly with a stick and said “as you can see I can’t move” in apparent reference to her leg.

The queen delivered two televised messages to the nation early in the pandemic in 2020, and has sought to lead by example.

MUSIC from page 10 ty, Mankato’s Serendipity Series because it will allow him to connect with the audience, which is his favorite part of performing.

“I just love interacting and having a little banter with the audience. If I play a song that deals with the subject of home, I’ll ask the audience ‘what’s your home like? Where do you

come from?’” said Sesay. “I feel like I sometimes almost talk more than I play. I want to connect with the audience because it’s fun.”

Sesay’s advice to those wanting to pursue music is to remain passionate about their art and stay consistent with it.

“I wanted to [perform] because I wanted to be “famous” but that’s not how you do it.

When you connect with people and you got the passion, that’s what creates the audience.

That’s what people see and what brings people back,” said Sesay. “Perform because you love it.”

Sesay will be performing on Wednesday, Feb. 23 in the Centennial Student Union Hearth Lounge from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Associated Press



Jamal Edwards, a British music entrepreneur who championed U.K. rap and grime and helped launch the careers of artists including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and Stormzy, has died.

He was 31.

His mother, broadcaster Brenda Edwards, said Monday that her son died the day before after a sudden illness.

She said the family was “completely devastated. He was the center of our world.”

Edwards founded the online music channel SBTV as a teenager in 2006.

Frustrated that he could not find the music he loved online, he began filming performances by friends in his west London neighborhood.

SBTV now has more than 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube and has helped a generation of performers, including

rappers like Stormzy, Skepta and Dave, gain national and international attention.

“It was a frustration of going to school and everyone talking about ‘How do we get our videos on MTV,’” Edwards later recalled. “YouTube was like a year old. I was like ‘I’ve got a camera for Christmas, I’m going to start filming people and uploading it.’

“Everyone was looking at me like ‘what are you doing, like you can compete with these major corporations.’ But I think I was early enough to believe that I could make a change.”

Edwards was given an MBE, an honor from the queen, in 2014 for services to music and was an ambassador for Prince Charles’ charity, the Prince’s Trust.

Edwards’ sudden death shocked Britain’s entertainment business.

GOSPEL from page 10 He continued, “It looks like a cool career, but I really don’t have a choice but to do it. I love that God planted me here on the Earth for a call to help people and encourage people at their lowest moments and be

the soundtrack at their highest moments.”

Patton encourages people to attend The Wave Church in Big Lake Minnesota, where Patton performs. The pop church holds services on Sundays at 1:45 p.m.



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Tuesday, February 22, 2022