February 25, 2021 by MSU Reporter

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THURSDAY • FEBRUARY 25, 2021

MN Supreme Court

“Bandana Project” Promotes Safety on Campus

Copper Mine

Student Gov Discusses Student Fees

ASSOCIATED PRESS

By BAILEY BRENDEL

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed an appeals court’s rejection of a critical air emissions permit for the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine and sent the case back for further proceedings. The Supreme Court ruled that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was not required under federal law to investigate allegations by environmental groups and a Native American tribe of “sham permitting.” PolyMet and the state agency took the case to the state’s highest court after the Minnesota Court of Appeals last March sent the air permit for the $1 billion mine back to the regulators for further review. The appeals court said the agency had not adequately evaluated whether the air permit understated the company’s real plans. That court took note of securities filings indicating that PolyMet was considering expanding the mine to four times the size that the air permit would allow, but that would require a new permitting process. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the Court of Appeals to consider whether the agency correctly concluded that PolyMet would comply with all terms of the permit, and whether PolyMet had failed to fully disclose all relevant facts or submitted false or misleading information to the agency. The open pit mine and processing plant near Babbitt and Hoyt Lakes would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine. Environmentalists have fought the project because of the potential for acid mine drainage upstream from Lake Superior. The opponents are a coalition of groups led by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy plus the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Staff Writer

Courtesy photo

By BAILEY BRENDEL • Staff Writer Imagine, when looking around the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus, a whole swarm of students are walking around with green bandanas tied around their backpacks. What exactly does this mean? The bandanas symbolize a greater community of MNSU students supporting others who are experiencing mental health issues. The bandanas signal that they are a safe spot for people to go to. This is what the Green Bandana Project stands for. This initiative was started by

two girls on the track team from Winona State University. One of the girls was struggling mentally with depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies. She reached out to her friend for help, and through the healing process they decided to form the Green Bandana Project. The green bandanas symbolize someone who is there as a mental health advocate, or someone who is there to talk to you if you are going through some mental health struggle. This can also show someone that may also be going through

mental health issues to show they are not alone. After seeing the success take off from UW Madison, other schools across the country adopted this program and implemented it into their own system. This program has recently been started by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at MNSU. In addition to the green bandanas, the team is also including bag tags to wear around campus. When asked how students can get involved, Track and

BANDANA page 2

One Win away from MacNaughton Cup, Mavs take on BSU By DANIEL MCELROY Sports Editor

Sixteen weeks in the top 10, 12 weeks in the top five, five weeks in the top three, and one win away from the fourth straight regular season championship. With an overall record of 152-1 and a perfect conference record of 11-0-0, the No. 3 Minnesota State men’s hockey team is one win shy of the team’s fourth straight MacNaughton Cup going into a home and home series against Bemidji State (9-6-3, 4-3-1) beginning tonight with a non-conference game in Mankato. The Mavericks are 2-1-1 this season against the Beavers, with MSU outscoring their opponent 12-9 over the four games,

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

Hands Victory to

Senior defenseman Riese Zmolek (25) will take on his younger brother, Will Zmolek, when the Mavs play the Bemidji State Beavers.

allowing more goals than any other team they’ve faced this season. “They’ve always given us a handful,” head coach Mike Hastings said in a press confer-

ence on Tuesday. “They battle year in and year out...

FOUR-PEAT page 9

As Minnesota State University, Mankato moves into the budget season, the different conversations revolving around fees were a hot topic at the Student Government meeting, including a proposal for a slight increase -- 50 cents -- in student fees to cover technology upgrades. Bryan Schneider, assistant CIO and Director of Technology Services on campus, said the university is working to upgrade technology to fit with the new COVID-19 learning environment. IT Solutions conducts five-week information sessions with students to identify the areas the department needs to focus on over the next year. IT Solutions uses its funds to pay for staff fees, upgrading technology, and software updates to name a few. This also is supported through IT Solutions and Computer Store. Technology consumes a large portion of the university’s budget, Schneider said, especially with COVID. Students and staff rely on fast technology for Flex-Sync and virtual courses. IT Solutions, he said, wants to do more to help students. IT Solutions is proposing a 50-cent student fee increase (4.5%) increase in the student fees to help create Flex Sync 2.0 and continue to make updates to the WiFi. “I think the presentation on technology fees seemed relatively routine and reasonable,” Student Sen. Joey Novack said. “I am especially more comfortable with their allocation request due to the opportunities they provide for employment and resources.”

GOV page 5

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Bust of Black Hero of Lewis & Clark Trip goes up in Portland ASSOCIATED PRESS Last year, protesters against racial injustice toppled numerous statues around the country. Now, one of the first works of art to emerge in their place depicts an unsung hero of the Lewis and Clark expedition. A huge bust of York, a Black man who was enslaved by William Clark and who was the first African-American to cross the continent and reach the Pacific Ocean, is sitting atop a pedestal amid a lushly forested park in Portland, Oregon. It was placed there in the dead of night last weekend by persons unknown. People have flocked to the bust, which seems to be at least four feet tall, in Mount Tabor Park. The artist’s depiction of York shows him seemingly deep in thought or even sad, his eyes cast downward. York hadn’t been painted contemporaneously so how his face really looked is unknown. Officials in the city, which has been an epicenter of Black Lives Matter protests since the killing of George Floyd, love what the head of

the parks department called “guerrilla art.” “This past summer, there’s been concern about some of the public art that many states have displayed, and so folks really see this installation as a bit of a reckoning,” Portland Parks and Recreation Director Adena Long said in an interview. “The story of York is really compelling and very sad.” Passersby stare up at the bust or touch the tall stone pedestal. The anonymous artist affixed a plaque describing how York was an integral part of the 1804-1806 expedition to find an all-water route to the Pacific, but then was denied his freedom by Clark after it was over. Since the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis last May, hundreds of symbols of racism and other dark chapters of U.S. history have been removed. Among them were at least 167 Confederate symbols, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Pedestals that used to support statues that were torn down by Black Lives Matter protesters or removed by officials now are empty.

BANDANA Continued from page 1 Field senior thrower Brea Perron said, “Reaching out to SAAC is a great start to getting involved because we can get them set up with the right toolkit to be successful. along with answering any questions that they might have so we’re probably the best place to start in terms of getting involved.” SAAC is currently working with other Registered Student Organizations on campus to build traction for this project. Panhellenic Council President Clare Kasten stated, “I believe that this is a great idea because it will help shine a light on the mental health issues happening within our campus community and show that there are people there to support others.” The Panhellenic Council is the governing body for the

four women’s sororities at MNSU that stand for good scholarship, good health and serving the college community. Standing in solidarity with the Green Bandana Project is a new-founding standard of the council. This committee is working with Printing Services at MNSU to make bag tags and bandanas to allow other students to get involved. The goal of the SAAC committee is to help this program spread across the campus. Many people do not seek help until it is almost too late. The goal of this program is to help catch those before they fall and help them gain the resources they need. Check out foundation2. org for more information about the organization and for a list of helpful resources.

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Thursday, February 25, 2021

FDA says Single-Dose Shot from J&J Prevents Severe COVID

Associated Press This Dec. 2, 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows vials of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine offers strong protection against severe COVID-19, according to an analysis released Wednesday by U.S. regulators that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic. The long-anticipated shot could offer the nation a third vaccine option and help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two. Food and Drug Administration scientists confirmed that overall the vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, and

about 85% effective against the most serious illness. The agency also said J&J’s shot is safe. The analysis is just one step in the FDA’s evaluation. On Friday, the agency’s independent advisers will debate if the evidence is strong enough to recommend the shot. With that advice, the FDA is expected to make a final decision within days. The COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. topped 500,000 this week, and the vaccination drive has been slower than hoped, hampered by logistical and weather delays. So far, about 44.5 million Americans have received at least one dose of vaccine

made by Pfizer or Moderna, and nearly 20 million of them have received the second dose required for full protection. Tests showed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 95% effective at protection against symptomatic COVID-19. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is part of the FDA advisory panel that will scrutinize the J&J data on Friday and cautions that none of the vaccines have been directly compared. Still, he was encouraged that one dose of the J&J vaccine appears as good at preventing serious illness as its two-dose competitors.

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Thursday, February 25, 2021

Ghana 1st Nation to Receive Coronavirus Vaccines from COVAX

News

MSU Reporter • 3

Senator Spotlight: Jack Wheeler By BAILEY BRENDEL Staff Writer

FRANCIS KOKOROKO • Associated Press This photograph released by UNICEF Wednesday Feb. 24, 2021, shows the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines distributed by the COVAX Facility arriving at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Ghana received the world’s first delivery of coronavirus vaccines from the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative on Wednesday — the long-awaited start for a program that has thus far fallen short of hopes that it would ensure shots were given quickly to the world’s most vulnerable people. The arrival of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the West African country marks the beginning of the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, according to the World Health Organization and UNICEF. It is a linchpin of efforts to bring the pandemic to an end and has been hailed as the first time the world has delivered a highly sought-after vaccine to poor countries during an ongoing outbreak. “Today marks the historic moment for which we have been planning and working so hard. With the first shipment of doses, we can make good on the promise of the COVAX facility to ensure people from less wealthy countries

are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines,” said Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, which delivered the vaccines. But the initiative, formed to ensure fair access to vaccines by low- and middle-income countries, has been hampered by the severely limited global supply of doses and logistical problems. Although it aims to deliver 2 billion shots this year, it currently has legally binding agreements only for several hundred million shots. It already missed its own goal of beginning vaccinations in poor countries at the same time immunizations were rolled out in rich ones. The overall campaign thus far has been extremely uneven: 80% of the 210 million doses administered worldwide thus far were given in just 10 countries, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week. That delay led numerous poorer countries to rush to sign their own deals, potentially undermining COVAX’s efforts to get shots to the neediest people.

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Jack Wheeler is one of the many Student Government Senators here at Minnesota State University, Mankato who keeps himself busy. Wheeler is a junior at MNSU majoring in Political Science with a Business Law minor, and with this he plans to go pre-law. Outside of being a senator Wheeler is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the President of Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha, two honors fraternities on campus, as well as being part of the honors program on campus, working in the Student Activities Office, and volunteering with the Community Engagement Office. Senator Wheeler is one of the Off-Campus Senators for this year. In his position he listens to the problems the students who live off-campus are having and works with others around the campus community to try and solve those issues. Being a part of Student Government includes introducing and employing projects to help the campus and students. “I’m currently working on a basic needs project right now, which is going to highlight food insecurity, emergency grant programs, finding mental health resources,” Wheeler commented. He further explained this process by stating, “I’m using the MavLife app as a platform

FABIO CASTEL GARCIA • The Reporter

to communicate with students about my project. This way we can communicate with not only new students, but people who have been on-campus or who live off-campus in the next coming years.” On the MavLife app he is working on creating a discussion board for students to directly contact staff departments and other students on resources they may need help finding. The Senator joined this organization because, “It’s a great way to get involved, voice your opinions, and listen to the people.” Wheeler further explained, “This is the one way that I figured out how to make change in our community, and starting at the student

level is where I want to start my political career in the future too.” There is lots learned in this organization, and Wheeler stated, “I think the big takeaway is to not be afraid to voice your opinions and to ask for help when you need it. We have so many resources from staff or other students that are here to help and support you.” Wheeler plans on using his experiences to help further him and his career in the future. “I think Student Government relates a lot to my career as a Political Scientist. I plan on taking my skills of building relationships through team building and being able to speak out about issues and be willing to listen to what others have to say.”

4 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 25, 2021

SPRING 2021 EDITOR IN CHIEF:

MAXWELL MAYLEBEN

Mayleben: It’s Time to Take a Break

maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu

MADISON DIEMERT

madison.diemert@mnsu.edu

Opinion

By MAXWELL MAYLEBEN Editor in Chief

If you grew up in a Christian household, or knew people in those households, you more than likely have heard of people “giving up something” up for Lent. While I am not here to argue the religious implications and traditions of the Christian church, I am here to argue that this practice can be beneficial to anyone. Whether it is coffee, chocolate, social media or even alcohol, we all have our vices that seemingly run our day-to-day lives. It is important every once in a while to let those vices go and try to free yourself from the negative impacts they can have on everyday life. I myself have given up social media for a few months to try and recenter, and it was extremely beneficial to my overall mental health. I was less tied to my phone and much more present in my interpersonal relationships. If I was getting coffee with a friend, I never had the urge to see what Facebook notification popped up or to see who was Snapchatting me. Another great example of a break from a vice would be “Sober January” or any month would do. This is a month where you completely take off from drinking any sort of alcohol. This gives you an excellent amount of time to focus in on who you are, without alcohol. Plus, it gives you

NEWS DIRECTOR: Jenna Peterson jenna.peterson-3@mnsu.edu MEDIA/DESIGN DIRECTOR: Mansoor Ahmad mansoor.ahmad@mnsu.edu SPORTS EDITOR: Daniel McElroy daniel.mcelroy@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING SALES: Anna Lillie 507-389-1063 anna.lillie@mnsu.edu Logan Larock 507-389-5453 logan.larock@mnsu.edu

Associated Press

a great opportunity to sober cab all of your buddies for a bit, which is never a bad thing. I am by no means saying you should quit your vice completely, because they can be super fun and beneficial to you. Social media can be an amazing way to connect with others, chocolate and coffee taste delicious, and that sweet sweet alcohol can be oh so much fun. What I am saying is that whenever you feel like you use something too much, you most likely are. These things are not inherently bad for you, but overuse can often drive them to be bad for you. So take a break. Let go of

those things for a set amount of time. It can be a week, a month, or a few months, but just let them go for a little bit to remind yourself of who you are without it. The time that you are away from your vice will be extremely valuable to recenter and remember who you are without the thing that you feel like you “need” so badly. You will remember that you are not your vice. You can live without that caffeine hit, you will survive if you aren’t the most drunk one at the party, and it will be okay if you aren’t the first to like your bestie’s new selfie. All of these things that seem so

vital to your day to day life, are very much non-essential in the grand scheme of things. Your Instagram will still be poppin’ when you come back, in fact, you will get to post a fire “I’m back” post. That first cup of coffee is going to hit so different when you go back. And the ice cold beer is going to be the most refreshing drink of your life. And, hopefully, you’ll return with an added perspective that can only be gained from abstaining for a period of time. A perspective that informs you that, while you do not need your vice, sometimes, they can be nice.

“What is your biggest vice, and could you give it up?” Compiled by Jessica Hagglund

HANNAH MULLIN, SOPHOMORE “Having a bad attitude, and I think I could.”

ELSHADIE ZERGAW, SENIOR “I binge watch shows too much, and I can probably stop.”

EMILY LOPEZ, SENIOR

DALTON BLOCK, FRESHMAN

TONY VANG, SENIOR

“Pressing the snoze button, “I procrastinate too much, but “Doing things last minute, and and I want to stop doing that.” I’m procrastinating on fixing I could give that up.” that.”

Baylee Sorensen 507-389-5097 baylee.sorensen@mnsu.edu Olivia Haefner 507-389-1079 olivia.haefner@mnsu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad 507-389-1926 jane.tastad@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING DESIGN/ PRODUCTION MANAGER: Dana Clark 507-389-2793 dana.clark@mnsu.edu

• 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. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

News

Amid Surge, US tries to Expedite Release of Migrant Children ASSOCIATED PRESS With its long-term facilities for immigrant children nearly full, the Biden administration is working to expedite the release of children to their relatives in the U.S. U.S. Health and Human Services on Wednesday authorized operators of longterm facilities to pay for some of the children’s flights and transportation to the homes of their sponsors. Under the agency’s current guidelines, sponsors can be charged for those flights and required to pay before the government will release children, even if the sponsors have been vetted by the government. Those costs can sometimes exceed $1,000 per child. An internal memo sent Wednesday and obtained by The Associated Press authorizes facility operators to use government funding for transport fees “in the event that a sponsor is not able to pay fees associated with commercial airfare, and a child’s physical release would be otherwise delayed.” HHS declined to say how many flights would be funded. HHS has drastically cut its capacity due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly all of

ERIC GAY • Associated Press Migrant teens line up for a class at a “tender-age” facility for babies, children and teens, in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

the department’s 7,100 beds for immigrant children are full. Meanwhile, Border Patrol agents are apprehending an average of more than 200 children crossing the border without a parent per day. Most Border Patrol facilities aren’t equipped for long-term detention, with children forced to sleep on mats in cells where the lights stay on around the clock. To take children from the Border Patrol, HHS reopened a surge facility at Carrizo Springs, Texas, that can hold up to 700 teenagers, and may

soon reopen another site at Homestead, Florida. While they have beds, classrooms and dining areas, surge facilities cost an estimated $775 per child per day and are not subject to the same licensing requirements as regular facilities. Democrats sharply criticized them during the administration of former President Donald Trump, and news of Carrizo Springs’ reopening has drawn criticism from some Democrats as well as Republicans who argue Trump was unfairly blamed.

MSU Reporter • 5

GOV Continued from page 1 Outdoor facilities, dome Director of Campus Recreation Todd Pfingston discussed the Outdoor Facility and Dome Fees. Over the past years, Pfingston said, these fees have been used to create newer and safer facilities for students. He said the funds received this year will help pay for the upkeep and payment of the athletic facilities. Money growing in the repair fund will eventually help pay to renew some of the sports fields. They also need fees to keep the sports dome open throughout the winter for students. Parking Facilities Services Director David Cowen to talked about parking and transportation. He said that affects from COVID devastated his department. The lack of visitors’ parking passes, fewer parking tickets issued, and fewer students needing parking permits contributed to the department’s budget woes. Cowan said the department uses that income to update the parking facilities. Next year, the plan is to institute a new system regu-

lated by license plates. The department also plans a $1 million upgrade to lot 1, which sits between the football and softball fields. In other news ... In the senator reports, Emma Gabbert gave her project update. “My project this semester is integrating Film and Media students into the video production program on campus that is currently run by the IT department.” Gabbert then explained this further by stating, “I wanted to give film and media students another opportunity to get real-world experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, where internships are limited.” College of Science, Engineering, and Technology Senator Nathan Pham said he is also working on a project to better enhance studying skills for the students. “I want to establish an active community with a study group that is easy to access. This should be run by students with staff supervision.” Pham continued with, “We also want new students to come to a welcoming and supportive group on campus.”

6 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 25, 2021

MSU Reporter • 7

Thursday, February 25, 2021

MSU Reporter • 8

MAVERICK SCOREBOARD Women’s Basketball Friday February 19 CSP WON 89-63

Saturday February 20 CSP LOST 99-93

THIS WEEK

Men’s Basketball Friday February 22 CSP WON 86-58

Women’s Basketball

Saturday February 23 CSP WON 93-89

Friday February 26 St. Cloud State 1 p.m.

Mavs battle Dragons in NISC Tourney

Men’s Basketball Friday February 26 MSUMoorhead 1 p.m.

Mavericks Baseball begins In St. Louis By DANIEL MCELROY Sports Editor

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter The Mavericks will take on the MSU-Moorhead Dragons in a tough road ahead in the NSIC Championship tournament.

By DANIEL MCELROY • Sports Editor Finishing the season with a 10-6 record, the Minnesota State men’s basketball team is prepared to head to Sioux Falls, where they will take on Minnesota State University-Moorhead in the first round of the NSIC tournament. MSU is going into the tournament as the third seed in the South Division after sweeping Concordia-St. Paul in their season finale last weekend. The MSU-Moorhead Dragons snagged the second seed in the NSIC North Division after closing their season with a 9-3 overall record, closing their season with a series split against the No. 2-ranked Northern State. The Mavericks entered the NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional Rankings this week after the Augustana Vikings dropped out. The top six out of eight teams in the central region will qualify for the NCAA Regional Tournament taking place March 13-14, and 16 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. MSU leading scorer Quincy Anderson earned the NSIC South Division First Team honor after averaging 17.4 points

per game and second on the Mavericks in rebounds with 6.2 per game. Junior guard Devonte Thedford earned the NSIC South Division Newcomer of the Year Award with 14.1 points per game, and leads Minnesota State-Mankato in assists with 58 in his first season as a Maverick. The Dragons rank second among NSIC teams in scoring with 84.4 points per game, and seventh in defense allowing 73.5 points per game, while the Mavericks rank fifth and sixth in both categories, respectively, scoring 79.8 points per game and allowing 72.9 points per game. MSU-Mankato holds an all-time record of 65-33 against the Dragons in a history dating back to 1932. In their last five meetings, Mankato stands tall with a 4-1 record. When the Mavericks played in the NSIC tournament last season, their run came to an end in the championship game when they lost to then No. 21-Northern State by a score of 80-59.

Mavericks take on the St. Cloud Huskies in the NSIC Tournament The Minnesota State women’s basketball team secured the third seed in the NSIC South Division after closing out their season with a 9-6 record. The Mavericks will play the St. Cloud Huskies (10-4) in the first round of the tournament. The Mavs played their season finale last weekend with a win and a loss against Concordia-St. Paul, the second seed in the tournament who will be taking on Bemidji St. The Mavericks lead the NSIC in scoring with 79.3 points per game, although allow one of the most points with 71.7 points per game. St. Cloud nears the bottom of the NSIC scoring with 65.6 points per game, but leads the NSIC in defense, allowing just 54.7 points per game. Joey Batt leads the Mavericks in scoring with 13.9 points per game, 14th in the NSIC. Batt is shooting .388 in field goals and .349 in three-pointers. She also leads the NSIC with 3.2 steals per game. In last week’s loss against CSP, Batt scored her career-high 29 points. Rachel Shumski is right behind Batt in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. She leads the Mavericks in field goal

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

By DANIEL MCELROY • Sports Editor

Tayla Stuttley (23) is averaging 12.3 points per game.

percentage with .480 and rebounds with 7.1 per game. Minnesota State is 43-63 all-time against the Huskies. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Minnesota State baseball team’s season will be underway this weekend in a four game series against the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons. In the Mavericks last full season in 2019, they put up a 39-15 record and finished second in the NSIC. At the end of a COVID-19 shortened season last year, the Mavericks finished with an 8-5 record, and tied for third in the NSIC. Head coach Matt Magers has coached the Mavericks for 12 seasons and has a 466-151 record and has won five NSIC championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament 10 times in the span. The Mavericks will play a total of 36 conference games this season.

Mavs Volleyball to Play non-conference Games By DANIEL MCELROY Sports Editor The Minnesota State volleyball team will begin a season of scrimmages this weekend when they travel to Southwest Minnesota State University to take on the Mustangs. The Mavericks season was originally set to begin on Oct. 2 against the UMD Bulldogs, until the season was canceled due to COVID-19. MSU will play a total of 10 games between Feb. 27 and April 24, including a double-header against Sioux Falls on March 6 in the Taylor Center. In the Mavericks last full season in 2019, they finished with an overall record of 18-10 and a conference record of 11-9. The team is coached by Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth, who has been the head coach of the Mavericks since the Spring of 2015. She is 181-110 in the span

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Sports

NBCA says it has ‘concern’ about T-wolves’ coaching change

MSU Reporter • 9

MSU Prepares for Regional Tournament

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

By DANIEL MCELROY • Sports Editor

MORRY GASH • Associated Press Minnesota T’wolves head coach Chris Finch reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game.

ASSOCIATED PRESS The leadership of the National Basketball Coaches Association spoke out Wednesday about its “concern and level of disappointment” with the way the Minnesota Timberwolves went about their coaching change earlier this week. The statement came from NBCA president Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks and NBCA executive director David Fogel. “The NBCA understands and respects each organization’s right to hire and fire whomever and whenever it chooses,” said their statement, first released only to ESPN before being

distributed to other outlets. “But it is also our responsibility to point out when an organization fails to conduct a thorough and transparent search of candidates from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.” The Timberwolves fired Ryan Saunders on Sunday night and struck a deal to hire Toronto assistant Chris Finch almost immediately. Finch was formally announced as the coach Monday morning. “There were other candidates, minority candidates we considered at this time,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said.

FOUR-PEAT Continued from page 1 It’s a challenge that we’re looking forward to at least being in our own building because it’s been awhile, but we know it’s going to be a challenge.” The Mavs hold an all-time record of 57-40-15 against their conference rival. The Mavericks stay dominant as the top team in the WCHA with the top scoring offense averaging 3.83 goals per game, the best defense allowing just 1.22 goals per game and the best power play unit scoring on 29.7% of opportunities. BSU holds the third spot in the WCHA in scoring with 2.83 goals per game and fifth in scoring defense allowing 2.44 goals per game, but excels on the penalty kill, killing 91.8% of penalties, the best in the conference. One of the top goaltenders in college hockey had a short stint in MSU’s first game at Ferris State last weekend when Dryden McKay was replaced after allowing four goals in two periods. McKay picked up the pace the following night and allowed just one goal on 15 shots.

McKay leads the NCAA in win percentage at .929 with a 14-1-0 record and seven shutouts on the year. McKay is also the leader in the NCAA in save percentage and goals against average with a .946 save percentage and 1.03 goals against average. Goaltending isn’t the only success the Mavericks have seen this year, as their offense is scoring almost four goals per game. Cade Borchardt leads this effort with eight goals and 12 assists on the year and the highest shooting percentage of any Maverick, scoring on .235 percent of shots. Senior Captain Riese Zmolek has one goal and eight assists in his final year as a Maverick. “It feels like the season just started last week,” Zmolek said in a press conference on Tuesday. With one more win, Zmolek will win his fourth MacNaughton Cup in his four years of collegiate eligibility with the Mavericks. The Mavericks will play at home on Thursday and in Bemidji on Saturday.

The Minnesota State wrestling team is set to travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota where they will take on schools throughout the region in the NCAA Super Region V Championships. The Maverick squad ended their regular season with a record of 5-1 in a year that was shortened due COVID-19. In their most recent meeting, MSU took down the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers by a team score of 20-15. Their lone loss of the season came against the No. 1-nationally ranked St. Cloud State Huskies, only winning four duals and ended with a team score of 25-13. No. 2-ranked Kyle Rathman leads the Mavericks with an undefeated record of 6-0 at 149 pounds. Rathman’s victories came by a decision, a fall, and four major decisions. His largest margin

of victory came in their most recent duel against Parkside’s Nathan Hensley by a score of 16-4. No.2-ranked Trevor Turriff also is undefeated on the year with a record of 6-0 at 174 pounds. Turriff took away four decisions and two major decisions to reach his flawless record. His largest margin of victory also came against UW-Parkside when he took down Ryan Neu 175. Both of the wrestlers that are ranked above Rathman and Turriff come from Lindenwood University, the No. 2-nationally ranked team in Division II. Kolbe O’Brien and No. 8 Trenton McManus have also had phenomenal seasons with each dropping just one duel and winning five. Their losses both came from top five nationally ranked wrestlers.

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10 • MSU Reporter

Mariners CEO Mather Resigns ASSOCIATED PRESS In one 45-minute conversation, Kevin Mather undermined the Seattle Mariners far beyond being the organization with the longest playoff drought in baseball. He took insensitive shots at a former All-Star from Japan and a top prospect from the Dominican Republic for their English skills. He admitted to the team possibly manipulating service time for some of its top prospects. All this from a top executive who once was accused of harassing a female employee and kept his job despite a settlement. The latest transgression by Mather ended up costing him his position as president and CEO of the Mariners. Mather resigned on Monday after video surfaced over the weekend of him expressing his views of the club’s organizational strategy and making insensitive remarks about players during a recent online event. Mariners Chairman John Stanton announced the decision and said Mather resigned before a decision had to be made whether he’d be fired. But the choice seemed predetermined as the firestorm over Mather’s comments raged since they were first posted to Twitter on Sunday — which is how Stanton first learned of their existence. There’s been no determination whether Mather will receive a severance or what will happen to his small ownership stake in the franchise. “There were a number of comments made by Kevin that, as I’ve said, didn’t reflect the Mariners, don’t reflect what I believe, what our ownership believes, and were inappropriate,” Stanton said. “Those comments included some of the things that have been referenced with respect to our players, and in particular the importance of diversity and inclusion in our organization.” Mather apologized Sunday after his comments from Feb. 5 made to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club were posted online. They were revealing and unfiltered.

Sports

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Lucky to be alive, Tiger Woods faces difficult Recovery ASSOCIATED PRESS In a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces perhaps his toughest recovery of all. The golf star was driving alone on a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal Los Angeles suburbs when his SUV struck a raised median, crossed into oncoming lanes and flipped several times. The crash caused “significant” injuries to Woods’ right leg, and he underwent what was described as a “long surgical procedure” at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Anish Mahajan, chief medical officer, said Woods shattered bones in his lower leg in multiple places. Some of his fractures went through the skin and were stabilized by a rod, while screws and pins were used for his ankle and foot injuries. A statement on Woods’ Twitter account said he was awake and recovering. “I will say that it’s very fortunate that Mr. Woods was able to come out of this alive,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who was the first to arrive after a neighbor called 911. Police said there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday on a Facebook livestream that it was “purely an accident” on a downhill section of road known for crashes. Dr. Joseph Patterson, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, said injuries like Woods’ are among the most common seen in emergency rooms. Patterson didn’t treat Woods and wouldn’t com-

RINGO H.W. CHIU • Associated Press A crane is used to lift a vehicle following a rollover accident involving golfer Tiger Woods, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in the Rancho Palos Verdes suburb of Los Angeles.

ment specifically about the golfer’s injuries but said the risk of infection is extremely high for patients with fractures that break the skin. “Tissue can be exposed to bacteria, dirt and clothing. The outcomes can be a lot worse if that tissue gets infected,” Patterson said. Such open fractures can require multiple surgeries to repair. Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith suffered an open fracture to his lower leg while being tackled. He nearly lost the leg due to infection but made a remarkable recovery and played last season. The crash was the latest setback for Woods, who at times has looked unstoppable with his 15 major championships and record-tying 82 victories on the PGA Tour. He is among the world’s most recognizable sports figures, and at 45, with

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a reduced schedule from nine previous surgeries, remains golf’s biggest draw. He won the 2008 U.S. Open with shredded knee ligaments and two stress fractures in his left leg. His personal life imploded on Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 when he was caught having multiple extramarital affairs and crashed his vehicle near his Florida home. He returned to win his 11th award as PGA Tour player of the year and reach No. 1. And then after four back surgeries that kept him out of golf for the better part of two years, he won the Masters in April 2019 for the fifth time, a victory that ranks among the great comebacks in the sport.

Now it’s no longer a matter of when he plays again — the Masters is seven weeks away — but if he plays again. Woods was in Los Angeles over the weekend as the tournament host of the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Monday and Tuesday had been set aside for Woods to give golf tips to celebrities on Discovery-owned GOLFTV. A tweet Monday showed him in a cart with comedian David Spade. He also worked with NBA great Dwyane Wade, who posted a video on Instagram. “It was a great day,” Wade said Tuesday night on Turner Sports, where he is a studio analyst.

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Thursday, February 25, 2021

MSU Reporter • 11

‘Wich chicken is best? Chick-fil-A By JULIA BARTON Staff Writer The debate between which fast food chain carries the best chicken sandwich is on-going as McDonalds joins the conversation having hatched a pair of new sandwiches Tuesday -- regular and spicy. Other honorable fast food chains such as Chick-fil-A, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Burger King and Wendy’s have been a part of the chicken sandwich debate for years as they seem to improve their recipes each year. And to be clear, McDonald’s has offered some version of a chicken sandwich for years. With the release of McDonald’s new sandwiches, many food bloggers and critics are also ranking it on the scale of best fast food chicken sandwiches. Daym Drops, a food critic with more than 1.4 million YouTube subscribers, ranks McDonald’s new chicken sandwich at four of five (he ranks the spicy version a little higher than the regular one). Being from Minnesota, I can only judge fast food places common in my area which include Chick-fil-A, McDonalds, Popeyes, Wendy’s, and Burger King, although other fast food chains such as Jack in the Box, Jollibee and Hardee’s are mentioned to have chicken sandwiches as well. Now the real question is: Which chicken sandwich is best? For me it comes down to three aspects that determine the ranking of a fast food chicken sandwich: chicken-to-bun ratio, crispness of the fried chicken, and overall flavor/sauce. Starting off in the tie for last place is Burger King and Wendy’s. Judging by their chicken to bun ratio they both lack the height and real chicken breast

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texture. Both give off more of a large chicken nugget vibe with a flimsy, soggy bun. Burger King and Wendy’s would be the last place I would visit for this delectable meal and only is palatable if it were to be dipped in a bucket of ranch or hot sauce. Looking at the prices of each, Wendy’s stands at $4.69 and Burger King at $4.99 per sandwich. Coming in third place is Popeyes. Not only is Popeyes less common in Minnesota, especially in my area, but it is also out of the way and not worth the drive. Located only near the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, Popeyes is known for its crispy deep

fried chicken. Starting with the chicken to bun ratio, the chicken on the Popeyes sandwich is huge compared to the bun. Texture wise it does taste like a real chicken breast but is almost too meaty for me and lacks sauce. Coming in at $3.99 it is a good deal for the amount of chicken you get, but I would rather spend a $1 extra for a better sandwich closer to home. McDonald’s new chicken sandwich, which I tried the day it came out, takes second place. Although the new sandwich is a big upgrade from their McChicken texture and size wise, the blandness

of the chicken itself does not meet my expectations. Most fast food places toast their buns and put some sort of sauce on it, but this new sandwich only comes with two measly pickles and the signature flat buns. For the taste it actually is really good despite the lack of sauce. One notable thing is that the sauce put on the spicy sandwich will be sure to have you reaching for a drink. The spicy version is better than the regular as the sauce really adds a nice flavor and juiciness to the sandwich. McDonald’s is selling this for $3.39 which is noticeably cheaper than most places, and is very accessible as McDonalds is in almost any town you visit in Minnesota. Finally, the winner: Chick-fil-A has the best chicken sandwich. The ratio of chicken to bun is perfect; it has the best quality of buns out of all the fast food places. Chick-fil-A’s chicken by far is the freshest and most authentic while also being crispy, filling and tasty. Having simple and limited items but doing them right is something Chick-fil-A prides itself on. All they do is chicken. Another aspect is that the spiciness of Chick-fil-A’s sandwich doesn’t come from the sauce. It’s in the breading on the chicken. That aspect alone is a game changer as most places just slap hot sauce on their sandwiches and call it spicy. The pickles are thick and crispy when you bite into it, which doesn’t compare to other fast food chains. Coming in at $3.75 per sandwich, it is well worth the extra few cents and choose Chick-fil-A. Try one. Try all of them, in fact. Decide for yourself which is best.

Cooking in the Kitchen with Sydney: Mighty Breakfast Bowl By SYDNEY BERGGREN • Staff Writer I mentioned a couple articles back that I would eventually discuss my typical breakfast. Well, that time has come. Behold: The Mighty Breakfast Bowl. And while yes, it can be fairly similar to the ones the dining hall provides, I prefer it for two reasons: It tastes fresher and I don’t actually have to leave my dorm to get it. Living in Julia Sears, that’s a big plus. This breakfast bowl is pretty dang easy to make with the only cooking requirements being a stove and pan which, while mildly inconvenient, are located in every dorm on campus. Despite this, once you have cooked the vegetables and meat on the stove, the rest is just a process of throwing ingredients together and microwaving them. The batch will also last ages, making for a convenient and quick breakfast. When making this recipe myself I tend to use ground sausage as my meat, along with salt, pepper, and garlic powder as my seasonings. However, those components are completely customizable to your own tastes. I will also occasionally add a small handful of

SYDNEY BERGGREN • The Reporter

Mighty Breakfast Bowl: • • • • • • •

3 small potatoes 1 bell pepper 1 onion 1-cups meat of choice Handful shredded cheese 2 eggs Seasonings of choice

spinach to the mix if I have it. This bowl is a delicious, hardy way to start the morning, and the preparation process allows for some time to hone in on those scarcely used kitchen skills. Finely chop the potatoes, pepper, and onion. Sautee each separately on a pan over medium to high heat, cooking the potatoes until golden, pepper and onion until soft, and meat until cooked. Allow to cool, and then freeze in a gallon Ziploc bag or large container. When ready to use, mix eggs, a half cup of veggie and meat mixture, cheese, and seasonings in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for one minute, then stir, pulling cooked egg into the center of the bowl. Repeat until no liquid is left. Let cool slightly, and enjoy! This is my classic, day to day breakfast, and I’m loving it. After the short period of prep time, this breakfast takes just a few minutes to make and is filling enough to get me through the morning. It is super easy to put together and then enjoy while doing some light reading (or YouTube watching). Plus, you get at least 10 meals out of one big batch, which makes it an easy meal-prep breakfast.

12 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 25, 2021

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