February 27, 2014

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

THURSDAY

TUESDAY L: -13

H: -6

Partly sunny H 86 & frigid L 66

FRIDAY WEDNESDAY a bit of snow L 66 H: 10 L: -12

Mostly cloudy, H 86

SATURDAY

A chanceH 86 for

THURSDAY snow or flurries L 66 L: -12

H: -1

OASIS open house today SAM WILMES News Editor The Opportunity Access Success Intercultural Services (O.A.S.I.S.) college access pro-

gram will be holding an open house on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Centennial Student Union room 284.

Lunch will be served and socialization will be a feature of

Opportunity Access Success International Services.

Web Photo

the festivities.

Student supervisor David Vang knows the Oasis program is essential to the lives of potential college students.

'It’s critical because it’s a way to give back to the multicultural community through aiding first-generation college students into higher education,” Vang said.

A part of the Institutional Diversity program, OASIS identifies and recruits high-risk underrepresented students who show high potential. Part of the program includes a summer bridge project that serves as an intense bridge from high school to post-secondary.

During this time, students are challenged to identify problematic areas and work together with staff to incorporate learned strategies for increased

success throughout their collegiate careers.

The College Access Program works in several ways to ensure the likelihood of first-generation student success: •Providing provisional admittance for high school seniors to Minnesota State University, Mankato •They maintain a two-year academic performance contract with students •They provide planned activities that address the needs of urban rural underrepresented students •They work with students of different ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds.

•They provide year-round advising and tutoring to all participants.

The Oasis program has several other branches that help

students, including: •Bilingual and bicultural services •Academic advising •ACT Prep Workshops •Discover MSU •Saturday Preview Days •Asian American Recruitment Day •Financial Aid Help •Tailored campus visits •Admissions Open House Days According to Oasis, the student is their priority.

“OASIS staff is dedicated in recruiting underrepresented first generation college students to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato. We provide enhance recruitment opportunities to reach out to diverse students in all areas of the state of Minnesota.”

Presentations to mark anniversary SAM WILMES News Editor To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Library Services has scheduled showings of portions of two documentary films that portray the history of the civil rights movement.

The second portion of the film “The Abolitionists,” will be shown on Thursday, March 6 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Centennial Student Union’s Ostrander Auditorium.

The event will be free to the general public. Early attendees will be rewarded, as the first 50 community attendees will be able to get parking passes in the visitors pay lot, located just south of the CSU. The anti-slavery movement will be chronicled through reenactments of the lives of people who lived through the troubled time.

“Attendees can learn an important part of US history and about what abolitionists have been able to accomplish,” Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of History Lori Lahlum said.

“The films discuss the varied responses of abolitionists,

INSIDE:

different views on what abolitionists should have been doing and in doing so the films take a broad, different look at the abolition movement.”

“The Clips will be shown in a seamless sequence,” Lahlum said.

Following the showing of the parts of the film, Lahlum will moderate a discussion.

“Slavery by Another Name,” the first film in the series, was shown on Tuesday and was sponsored by Twin Cities Public Television.

These two films are half of the four-film documentary set, “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle,” that portrays the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

This will be the first year MSU is hosting the documentaries.

MSU is one of 473 institutions nationwide that are awarded the set of films.

There will be two more documentaries shown in the fall: “Loving Story,” a documentary about the trials and tribulations of bi-racial marriage told through the lens of the right of a black man to marry a white woman and “Freedom Riders,” a documentary about the struggle to integrate racially segregated

public facilities.

The National Endowment for the Humanities will be sponsoring the event. The agency, created in 1965, serves as one of the larges funders of humanities

programs in the United States.

According to the organization, “NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history

to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.”

Web Photo Various abolitionists will be spotlighted in this presentation, including Frederick Douglass and Angelina Grimke.

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2 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Beyond The Horizon PART 1 A look at American portion sizes, the stereotype of “Minnesota nice” and cultural differences by an international student from Russia.

ANYA ZHUKOVA Staff Writer Hello everyone, my name is Anya and I am an exchange student here at Minnesota State University, coming to you all the way from Russia. Being an exchange student means having a limited time here and of course, just like any curious student from abroad, I’m willing to try and see everything in America and have had tons of different experiences during my stay.

To make this experience even more fruitful, together with soaking in all the new information around, I’ve decided to share my thoughts about it with you. Every week I will try to put together the most interesting thoughts and facts about Russian and American cultures and also break some of the existing stereotypes about its residents.

Today I am going to talk a little about culture shock, the process of adaptation in a new environment and things that can help you with it.

According to Wikipedia, culture shock is “the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country”.

Before going to the U.S. I had quite an experience with going abroad. That’s why I didn’t really worry or expect any culture shock. But, as you know, things rarely follow the plans you make.

To be more detailed, I made a list of the things that I found “unfamiliar” or just weird.

Food portion sizes No matter where I go, I always find places that serve great amounts of food on giant plates.

I guess America just brings people together. You seriously need an “eating buddy” to finish the whole thing.

Everybody is smiling This is one of the most accurate stereotypes about Americans. The only one that beats it is probably about grumpylooking Russians, but both things are quite explainable.

The American smile can be a sign of being polite and respectful, also some Americans told me they smile to “attract” a good mood, while Russians only smile when they’re in high spirits. I personally had to learn (I know, sounds ridiculous) to smile without a reason.

Clothing styles It’s not better or worse, but

like all the other things, it’s just different. My experience here is, people prefer wearing something casual, with a high level of comfort over something fancy-looking. Again, the situation in my hometown is quite opposite, though I’d love to try and combine both options.

Inability to get to places without a car

This is one of the first problems I faced in Minnesota as there are long distances between places here. Although Russia’s two-times bigger than the U.S., you generally can get everywhere using public transport. In theory, you can do it here, too. But if you’re a little spontaneous like I am, you’re most likely going to struggle with timing and end up spend-

ing a night at the airport waiting for a shuttle bus back to Mankato.

Minnesota nice is not a myth Probably one of my favorite experiences concerning culture shock is from the pleasant approach from inhibitors of this

BEYOND THE HORIZON • Page 6

Anya Zhukova • MSU Reporter A look at the traditional Russian meal of Borscht, a type of soup comprised of beets, potatoes and cabbage, created here with American groceries. Notice the size portions of this typical Russian meal as compared to an American meal.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

MSU Reporter • 3

News

Arizona religous bill that angered gays vetoed

Arizona governor makes decision amid debate across the country.

PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Jan Brewer on Wednesday vetoed a Republican bill that set off a national debate over gay rights, religion and discrimination and subjected Arizona to blistering criticism from major corporations and political leaders from both parties.

Loud cheers erupted outside the Capitol building immediately after Brewer made her announcement.

“My agenda is to sign into law legislation that advances Arizona,” Brewer said at a news conference. “I call them like I seem them despite the tears or the boos from the crowd. After weighing all the arguments, I have vetoed Senate Bill 1062 moments ago.”

The governor said she gave the legislation careful deliberation in talking to her lawyers, citizens and lawmakers on both sides of the debate.

But Brewer said the bill “could divide Arizona in ways we could not even imagine and no one would ever want.” The bill was broadly worded and could result in unintended negative consequences, she added.

The bill backed by Republicans in the Legislature was designed to give added protection from lawsuits to people who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays. But opponents called it an open at-

tack on gays that invited discrimination.

The bill thrust Arizona into the national spotlight last week after both chambers of the state legislature approved it. As the days passed, more and more groups, politicians and average citizens weighed in against Senate Bill 1062. Many took to social media to criticize the bill, calling it an attack on gay and lesbian rights.

Prominent Phoenix business groups said it would be another black eye for the state that saw a national backlash over its 2010 immigration-crackdown law, SB1070, and warned that businesses looking to expand into the state may not do so if bill became law.

Companies such as Apple Inc. and American Airlines and politicians including GOP Sen. John McCain and former Republican presidential nominee were among those who urged Brewer to veto the legislation.

Brewer was under intense pressure to veto the bill, including from three Republicans who had voted for the bill last week.

They said in a letter to Brewer that while the intent of their vote “was to create a shield for all citizens’ religious liberties, the bill has been mischaracterized by its opponents as a sword for religious intolerance.”

SB 1062 allows people to

claim their religious beliefs as a defense against claims of discrimination. Backers cite a New Mexico Supreme Court decision that allowed a gay couple to sue a photographer who refused to document their wedding, even though the law that allowed that suit doesn’t exist in Arizona.

Leading Republicans in the state had mixed reactions to Brewer’s veto.

House Speaker Andy Tobin, a Republican who voted for the bill, said he respected Brewer’s decision.

“I respect the Governor’s position to veto SB1062, especially in light of the concerns brought up over the past week.

I understand the concerns of people of good faith on all sides of this issue,” Tobin said.

But Sen. Al Melvin, a Republican who is running for governor, said he is disappointed by the veto.

“I am sorry to hear that Governor Brewer has vetoed this bill. I’m sure it was a difficult choice for her, but it is a sad day when protecting liberty is considered controversial,” Melvin said in a statement.

Republican Sen. Steve Yarbrough called his proposal a First Amendment issue during a Senate debate.

“This bill is not about allowing discrimination,” Yarbrough

said. “This bill is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith.”

Democrats said it was a veiled attempt to legally discriminate against gay people and could allow people to break nearly any law and cite religious freedom as a defense.

“The heart of this bill would allow for discrimination versus gays and lesbians,” said Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.

“You can’t argue the fact that bill will invite discrimination.

That’s the point of this bill. It is.”

The bill is similar to a proposal last year brought by Yarbrough but vetoed by Brewer, a Republican. That legislation also would have allowed people or religious groups to sue if they believed they might be subject to a government regulation that infringed on their religious rights. Yarbrough stripped that provision from the bill in the hopes Brewer will embrace the new version.

Civil-liberties and secular groups countered that Yarbrough and the Center for Arizona Policy, a powerful social conservative group that backs anti-abortion and conservative Christian legislation in the state and is opposed to gay marriage, had sought to minimize concerns that last year’s bill had

far-reaching and hidden implications.

Yarbrough called those worries “unrealistic and unsupported hypotheticals” and said criminal laws will continue to be prosecuted by the courts.

The Center for Arizona Policy argues the law is needed to protect against increasingly activist federal courts and simply clarifies existing state law. “We see a growing hostility toward religion,” said Josh Kredit, legal counsel for the group.

Similar religious-protection legislation has been introduced in Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Oklahoma, but Arizona’s plan is the only one that has been passed by a state legislature.

The efforts are stalled in Idaho, Ohio and Kansas.

The push in Arizona comes as an increasing number of conservative states grapple with ways to counter the growing legality of gay marriage. Arizona’s voters approved a ban on gay marriage as a state constitutional amendment in 2008.

It is one of 29 states with such constitutional prohibitions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Federal judges have recently struck down those bans in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, but those decisions are under appeal.

CREATED EQUAL: AMERICA’S CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE Film Showings & Discussions The Abolitionists Thursday, March 6, 2014 • 4:00-5:30 pm Ostrander Auditorium, Centennial Student Union Minnesota State University, Mankato This event will include film clips followed by a discussion led by Dr. Lori Lahlum, Minnesota State Mankato History Professor.

EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Additional information about the event, film, and Created Equal grant program is available on the Library Services website. http://libguides.mnsu.edu/ Sponsored by: Library Services, Kessel Institute for Peace and Change, Dr. Michael T. Fagin Pan African Student Leadership Conference, History Department A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact [insert Department or Office Name] at 507-389-5952 (V), 800-6273529 or 711 (MRS/TTY) at least 7 days prior to the event. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the above numbers.

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Use of torture, drones unacceptable SAM WILMES News Editor Expansive American use of drones on those abroad and its potential use on its own citizens threaten to derail our founded principles in the constitution.

Over the last ten years, it is estimated that American drone strikes conducted outside the battlefield have killed over 3,500 people. Bombing done outside the lines of battle is dangerous and unacceptable, for even the most accurate strike can kill innocent civilians.

Unfortunately for the last ten years, that has been proven true.

It is estimated that from June 2004- mid-September 2012, drone strikes have killed from 2,562-3,325 people in Pakistan., of whom 474-881 were civilians, including nearly 200 children. It is estimated that somewhere between 1,300 have been injured in these strikes.

President Obama, the man who campaigned on changing the status quo has instead used the program even more than his predecessor did.

In May, Obama explained that he would never use the drone on an American citizen, no matter the circumstance. Reports now say the Administration is debating on whether that rule could be loosened to not include Americans suspected on working with international terroristic organizations overseas.

Unfortunately for them, even the possibility that they will be

using terrorist tactics on us isn’t a good enough reason to loosen the law. When we start denying American citizens the right to a fair trial, it will only be slippery slope towards harsher policies, whether a Republican or Democrat occupies the White House.

You can’t bend the rules to strengthen your stance on terrorism, because that is not how being a leader works. Even under the toughest circumstances, you can’t sacrifice your basic principles because then you fail to be what you claim to be.

Unfortunately, this isn’t what we have been doing as a nation in the past decade. President Bush’s declaration that we don’t torture didn’t stand the test of the time and numerous studies that cited that torture tactics didn’t work couldn’t sway our leaders to continue the policy.

If we continue to use drone strikes and kill innocent civilians, while spying on our comrades at home, how can we claim to be the beacon of freedom? What separates us from Russia, one of our main rivals?

Being a leader means standing tall even in tough times. Our continued practice of changing the rules when we want is not the sign of a leader, it is instead the sign of a bully who decides to follow the rules only when it suits their interests.

Do the rules to a fair trial end with the name of your nationality? It is a safe bet that some of the thousands killed at the hands of drones were not American citi-

zens. It is a safe bet that not all were guilty.

Did they not have the right to a fair trial? Are our rules exclusive to our nationality?

These continued tactics only

stand to strengthen worldwide opposition to our policies. A commitment to the principles upon which we are founded on is the only way to gain a piece of mind while gaining friends abroad.

“No, we have a field that is torn to shreds during the summer by the Vikings and left for MSU athletes to play on. The athletes deserve a new field, but not the school.”

MICHAEL LUX, SPORT MANAGEMENT “Yes, I believe it will attract more fans to the games, more than before.”

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POLICIES & INFORMATION • If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Reece Hemmesch at 507-3895454. 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 507-3891776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

Web Photo Protests occur overseas over the continued use of drones by the US.

“Do you support the possible construction of a new football stadium on campus?”

MATNIQUE WILLIAMSON, GRAD STUDENT

Minnesota State University, Mankato

SHANNON BOROWICZ, DENTAL HYGIENE

“No, I think our stadium is fine. I don’t go to many of the games and I think the money could go to a better use. We have a beautiful stadium already.”

TANVIR KALAM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS “Yes, they need to make a new stadium because we need more advanced technology and better equipment.”

• 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.

Compiled by Arnold Bagamba

KAYLA CLARK, SOCIAL WORK “Yes, we need a new stadium because we need more seating at football events.”

Thursday, February 27, 2014

MSU Reporter • 5

News

Nugent’s comments raise concerns over racism Aging rocker’s choice of words are indicative of a past not long ago.

SAM WILMES News Editor Ted Nugent’s recent characterization of President Obama as a “subhuman mongrel,” is not too distressing. Nugent has a history of making inflammatory comments to keep his old name in the news.

What is more surprising and eye-opening, as well as indicative of the society we live in, is a Republican congressmen refusing to cut ties with someone who seems quite proud of exclaiming his racist leanings.

Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Gregg Abbott has been seen campaigning with Nugent since his comments.

Nugent was quoted as saying: “I have obviously failed to galvanize and prod, if not shame, enough Americans to be ever-vigilant not to let a Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communistnurtured subhuman mongrel like the ACORN community organizer gangster Barack Hussein Obama to weasel his way into the top office of authority in the United States of America.”

I respect Nugent’s right to voice his opinion, for that is what the founding fathers fought for, however, when you have someone openly campaigning for Governor of a state seemingly endorsing these views, it becomes disturbing.

In an interview with CNN earlier this month, Florida congressmen Marco Rubio didn’t rule out the possibility of campaigning with Nugent if offered the chance, sidestepping the issue when asked.

This situation leaves us with

the enduring question of where we stand with race decades after the civil rights movement.

While racism has undoubtedly and thankfully curbed in many respects, the words used to describe President Obama in the last fove years have sometimes crossed the line.

Facebook posts have described Obama as a village idiot. There are still many that claim Obama wasn’t born here.

Others claim he is a communist.

These sayings, especially the one claiming Obama is a foreigner, aren’t necessarily indicative of Obama the politician, who has many flaws. What they are indicative is of the man, half-black and half-white whose father was born in Kenya.

The first black president hasn’t been perfect. There have been many mistakes, including the Obamacare rollout, the IRS scandal and other crises. But, what has been shown in the last five years is that racism is like a cancer. Left unchecked, it tends to grow. We as a nation have a duty to ensure that the Commander-in-Chief of the United States is shown respect, no matter the color.

The various criticisms, some legitimate, some not, give credence to the fact that we may have longer to go on this issue than many would believe.

Web Photo

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6 • MSU Reporter

News

MSU represented with posters at St. Paul Inaugural event features different schools from across the state.

ALEX KERKMAN Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato was well represented at the first ever Posters at St. Paul event held at the state capitol rotunda yesterday. According to the event’s website, of the 35 college students from all over the state of Minnesota, six MSU students were chosen, more than any other school at the event.

The students representing MSU are Psychology majors Angela Graske and Jake Johnson, Human Biology major Amber Hindt, Biology major Kali Trukki, Chemistry major Hilary Deragisch and International Relations major Elizabeth Lohrenz. Each presenter was partnered up with a member of MSU’s faculty.

The multi-disciplinary poster presentation allowed undergraduate students to share the results of their work with state government leaders and highlight the

work being done on Minnesota State Colleges and Universities campuses throughout the state.

All of the participating students showcased their research for a two hour session on Wednesday afternoon.

Posters at St. Paul was hosted

by Minnesota Undergraduate Scholars, a consortium of MnSCU institutions that supports research, scholarly works and creative activity of undergraduates. Interim Associate Dean for Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology and Director of Minnesota State Mankato’s Undergraduate Research Center, Marilyn Hart, coordinated the event.

Many different fields were covered at the event, including Biology, Chemistry, Elementary Education, English, History Physics and Theater.

The topics covered by MSU students were Influences of Student Mindset and Motivation

on Study Habits and Learning Skills by Graske and Johnson, The Effects of MontessoriBased Activity on Affect and Engagement in Persons with Dementia, by Hindt, Effects of Strontium in the Bone Density of Mice, by Trukki, Substitution of Calcium by Lanthanum (Ill) in Synthetic Calcium Vanadate Apatite, by Deragisch and Comparison of Inter-Cultural Compentency Between American and Russian University Students, by Lohrenz.

MSU was one of twelve schools to represented at Posters at St. Paul, along with AnokaRamsey CC, Bemidji State, Inver Hills CC, Minnesota Community and Technical Colelge, Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State, Moorhead, North Hennepin CC, Rochester Community and Technical College, St. Cloud State, Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State.

BEYOND THE HORIZON “Probably one of my favorite experiences concerning culture shock is from the pleasant approach from inhibitors of this state.”

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Civil Engineering program participates in de-icing project HANNAH KLEINBERG Staff Writer While this winter has been a struggle of blizzards and rapid temperature changes, for some, like Professor Druschel and his assistants, the challenges have presented a unique situation that have come to fruition.

Steve Druschel, a Civil Engineering Professor at Minnesota State University, has been leading research on the most effective way to de-ice local roads, along with two students, Danielle Alinea and Tony Adderley.

For these three, the past few snowstorms have resulted in groundbreaking work in their

PROJECT • Page 9

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continued from 2 state. When I first read about this phenomenon, I didn’t really believe it existed. I was very skeptical and thought that it may have some sarcastic meaning underneath, but here I am, staying here for about two months already, and I’ve only had good experiences with Minnesotans.

Everybody’s been so friendly and hospitable, I can see how it overwhelms people who come here and sometimes make them stay in this state for a lifetime, even though the weather conditions are very special. Yes, they are special.

I guess that’s about it, all the major things that surprise a Russian that comes to study to Minnesota. Next time we’re going to talk more about the stereotypes that exist between Russians and Americans.

What are the first things that come to your mind when you hear Russia? Share this and your other thoughts/questions with me by email: anna.zhukova@mnsu.edu.

research. This past Thursday’s blizzard, in particular, helped their efforts greatly.

Alinea, a junior at MN State, said that the research has helped her by giving her reallife experience. “I’m getting a good perspective of designing an experiment and how much work it takes.”

Adderley, who is now a senior, had previously worked with Druschel on a different project he’d led, that had looked M at methods to reduce the flood- S ing of the Zumbro River.

“I really liked that study because we went to town hall meetings and presented studies

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Anya Zhukova • MSU Reporter The Minnesota State Capitol building shown here, directly affected by the throes of winter. Without a strong public transport system, like in Russia, students at MSU cannot go back-and-forth to the cities as easily as students in other countries could.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

MSU Reporter • 7

News

Spring Car Care

Checkup a certainty for car owners heading into spring

Minnesota spring means uncertain road conditions MSU REPORTER Staff Report

Web Photo

MSU REPORTER Staff Report Spring will soon be upon us, which means that if your car started this morning on your way to class, it has likely made it through the treacherous and tepid times also known as winter. Let’s be honest, your whip probably took a little bit of a beating this time around as this winter produced some of the coldest months anyone of us can remember.

You wiped over a foot of snow off your windshield by just turning on the wipers, you didn’t leave it run long enough on subzero days and caught yourself constantly praying it would turn over while revving it up every morning before class, its okay, it happens to everyone.

Luckily for all of us there is enough auto shops and car dealerships in the Mankato area to suit your entire automobile needs when it starts to warm up. Even if you think you took proper care of your vehicle during the winter, a routine checkup is supposed to happen at the culmination of every winter so your vehicle can get the proper care it needs to be fully back to healthy.

So get your car in to one of the dozens of shops around town and let them take care of all the work for you. Through diagnostic testing and general automobile knowledge, these people can make sure you have no problems until it is time once again to take your vehicle back in and prep it for the winter months.

Here are some regular spring checkup items to look for next time you’re driving to ensure

that your vehicle is in the best condition it can be heading into the magnificent season of spring.

Battery If your headlights appear a little more dim than usual or your interior lights flip on and off, or just seem dim, you might have a battery problem. With the constant starting and stopping of your vehicle in the cold months combined with the neglectful nature of starting up your car and driving it immediately, your battery takes the biggest hit in the cold.

A lot of times people get brand new batteries put in for the winter months and are aghast at how they need to replace them by the time spring comes around. With another two months of winter on the horizon, make sure your battery has enough juice to get you through all of it, and the spring

as well.

Tires Much like how you have to check your tires before winter to make sure they are intact, the same must be applied for postwinter, where your tires have been slushed and snowed on one too many times to be considered in decent shape. A good idea is to try the coin test: take a quarter and place it inside several grooves in each of your four tires. If just a part of Mr. Washington’s head is covered, you will probably be okay, but if George’s face completely shows up, it’s time for a change.

If the treads made it through winter, keep them inflated to the designated pressure that they should be under. If you open you driver’s door, you should see a

It’s Minnesota and springtime is upon us, even if it does not feel that way. Throughout spring, we face many different challenges regarding the weather as it is absolutely a day-by-day basis for what it will be like outside. Preparing yourself and knowing the consequences of driving in every condition in Minnesota can be useful through these months to know exactly what you are dealing with while taking off on the road. Here are some suggestions for some predictable driving conditions in the spring months of the upper Midwest.

Excessive rain - Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling - One foot will float many vehicles

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Heavy winds - Expect sudden gusts of wind at any time on the road, but especially on open stretches of road, going over bridges or gaps in hedges or when overtaking highsided vehicles.

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MAINTENANCE • Page 9

COLLEGE NIGHT

- Two feet can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups.

- According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, you should never drive through flooded areas or standing water.

Shallow, swiftly flowing water can wash a car from a roadway.

- If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and head for higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle as well as the occupants inside.

- Be cautious at night when it’s harder to recognize flood dangers.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

ROAD CONDITIONS “Preparing yourself and knowing the consequences of driving in every condition can be useful through these months to know exactly what you are dealing with while taking off on the road.” continued from 7

- Keep both hands on the wheel and keep your speed down.

The faster you travel, the further off-course you’re likely to drift in a sudden gust before you get your vehicle back under control.

- High-sided vehicles and caravans are most affect by high

winds but a sudden gust can blow any vehicle off course. Stay apart from other vehicles on the road and proceed with caution around motorcyclists.

- Watch out for heavy debris on the road. Branches or whole trees can come down when

winds are high. If you start seeing twigs or small branches on the road, there could be a large branch waiting for you a little further down the line. Hitting debris at high speeds can be fatal so remember to drive with caution during heavy forces of wind.

Two more months of snowy roads

- If you must drive, keep your phone charged with a charger ready in your car to help you out of a pickle.

Severe thunderstorms and hail - Turn on your low beams and slow down.

- Allow extra distance for braking. Rough storms can alter what you are seeing in front of you so make sure you brake early for any and all stops.

- Do not drive unless absolutely necessary. If you must drive and cannot proceed on the road, pull safely onto the shoulder away from any trees that could fall. Also, stay in the car and turn

on your emergency flashers until the heavy rain begins to dwindle.

- Check your windshield wipers and tires regularly to insure that they are ready for severe weather.

- Avoid downed power lines.

- If you find glass damage due to hail, remove all the glass from the interior of the car and cover the damaged area to prevent further water damage to the interior.

- It is a myth that rubber tires on a car will protect you from being injured by lightning, but the steel frame of any hard-topped vehicle provides some protection if you are not toughing metal.

Web Photo Here is a depiction of how to drive with a snowplow in front of you. Notice the gravel and sand coming into the line of the driver, also note that attempting to pass a plow is equally, if not more hazardous than staying behind it. If you must pass it, make absolutely sure that you have enough time and space to do so.

The time of winter is closing out, yet here in Minnesota, we still possibly have another two months of snowy roads and dangerous snowplows as we begin to move towards spring.

I know, we are all Minnesotans and we all know how to get from point A to B, especially with snow on the ground and a plow directly in front of you. But not many people truly know how to handle driving behind a plow or how to effectively get through the snow when it is an absolute necessity to drive in harsh conditions.

- Allot extra time on the road to reach your destination.

- If you are behind a snowplow, remain there until it is safe to pass. Remember, a snow plow driver has a limited field of vision so stay back anywhere from five to 10 car lengths until you are sure it is safe to pass, or until the plow goes off the road.

- Slow down on everything: speed, acceleration, braking and steering should all be slower during any condition where there is ice or snow on the road.

- Use your headlights and stray from using cruise control. A rough patch of ice with the cruise on is a perfect storm for an accident waiting to happen.

- All-wheel and four-wheel driving will not stop or steer any better in icy conditions. A common misconception among northerners, these types of vehicles are more safe but off no better production when the roads get rough.

- Always slow down when approaching any intersections, roundabouts, suspicious spots or bridges.

Web Photo Sometimes it may seem like the roads are just a little wet during a rain storm, but anything over six inches of rain should be taken with caution.

If you find yourself in a situation like this (above), don’t panic,abandon the vehicle and head for higher ground.

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MAINTENANCE “Luckily for all of us there is enough auto shops and car dealerships in the Mankato area to suit your entire automobile needs when it starts to warm up. Even if you think you took proper care of your vehicle during the winter, a routine checkup l .should is supposed to happen at the culmination of eevery winter.”

e

continued from 7

elittle place card in the top corner mof the door or windshield that rtells you how much air to put in.

-A good tip: check the pressure .when it is cold, not when your car shas been running. eWipers d An easy target for post-winter ncare, your wipers take a pounding through the cold with constant snow to be pushed off and even more snow piling up on top of them. To make things easy for you, replace them. Most dealerships carry deals on wipers so you never have to feel like you can’t afford them, or that you don’t need them. Think of all the rain in Minnesota during the spring next time you feel your wiper are fine, get them replaced and you will be safely on your way.

Power steering Do you feel something is just not right when steering your car

o

in early March? That’s because low fluid levels or old fluids can drain the power of your steering wheel and make a little fork in the road your worst nightmare.

If something feels amiss, take it in to the auto shop and tell them what you are experiencing.

When it comes to your personal health and safety on the road, every precaution should be taken into consideration. Even though it feels like the times of ruthless roads are dwindling down with every day that reaches above 20 degrees, the last thing you want is a little bit of ice left on the road and no control on an important facet of a vehicle.

Brakes Arguably the most important aspect of any automobile, your brakes take a beating in the winter due to the constant cold and continuous hard brakes on icy roads. A good rule of thumb for any car owner is to have your

MSU Reporter • 9

News

brakes checked twice every year.

Being this is Minnesota, the beginning and end of winter would be the perfect times to get them checked out.

Get your car into a body shop and get some work done immediately to give yourself and your passengers the safest trip possible the next time you set out to drive. Even if you think everything is perfect except a little twitch that might not even cause any problems, ask about it and get it taken care of.

The worst thing you can do is let a problem in your automobile go unfixed, leaving you in a shoddy situation on the road.

Speak up when you have a problem and the dealership will assist you in any way they can to help keep your vehicle running smooth.

Be smart, be safe and get your vehicles fixed up for the ongoing spring.

PROJECT “Among other researches, Druschel led a project with MnDOT and his students in 2010 that examined 25 combinations of different salts and searched for which were the most responsive.” continued from 6 to people. I learned a lot from that,” Adderley told the Mankato Free Press.

Besides looking for the best way to de-ice our roads, Professor Druschel is looking into the most ideal times to do so. A common method we use, rock salt, is typically delivered during the summer off -season, and sells for approximately $80 a ton. Due to increase in demand and recent shortages, however, rock salt can cost as much as $250 a ton.

Among other researches, Druschel led a project with MnDOT and his students in 2010 that examined 25 combinations of different salts and searched for which were the most respon-

sive.

Beyond salt, highway workers have begun using magnesium chloride, which is a greenish liquid that is sprayed onto concrete prior to snowstorms.

In effort of their research, Druschel and his team of two have been placing barrels under the North Star Bridge, where Highway 169 goes over the Minnesota River. Drainage goes into the barrels and then taken for further testing.

They’ve also set up traffic cameras to measure the number of cars, as well as the ratio of semis vs. trucks and cars. Much of the results will be taken and further examined in the spring.

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From fresh eyes: Veronica Mars JAMES HOUTSMA A & E Editor

Cancelled teen mystery series has charm aplenty, as one convert finds out for himself.

You can’t keep a good show down. Seven years since its cancellation on UPN/The CW, fan fervor for Veronica Mars is still strong, with the Kickstarterfunded feature film hitting theaters in a matter of days.

For those who have seen the three-season teen mystery series, it’s a beloved slice of television history. For those who are still unaware (this writer up until a month ago), it’s a hidden treasure waiting to be opened.

Created by Rob Thomas (not the singer), Veronica Mars is a highly addicting, wholly entertaining show that is smart in its plotting, snappy in its dialogue and compelling in its characterization. In fact, it’s so terrific that it’s hard not to cave and apply that one “M” word to it (masterpiece).

Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell in her breakout role) is just your average 17-year-old private in-

vestigator working under her father. If all the troubles of being a high school outsider weren’t enough, Veronica’s keen investigative skills are always put to use in a town as affluent and salacious as Neptune, Calif.

Season one’s main arc sees Veronica investigating the murder of her best friend, Lilly Kane.

Veronica has some allies; her former-sheriff father, Keith (Enrico Colantoni), the new-to-Neptune Wallace Fennell (Percy Daggs II), computer-savvy hacker Mac (Tina Majorino) and gang leader Weevil Navarro (Francis Capra).

But not everyone wants this case looked into, which may cause friction with the powerful Kane family, especially Veronica’s exboyfriend Duncan Kane (Teddy Dunn) and the unstable Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), Lilly’s ex-boyfriend and Duncan’s best friend.

The identity of the killer is one matter, who to trust is entirely another.

Season two shows the fallout of the events at the end of the

Web Photo Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) takes center stage in the season two cast lineup.

previous season, including the intense season finale and some sticky romantic entanglements that continue to develop. All that gets mixed into an overarching conspiracy involving a fatal bus crash, a gang war, a gambling

debt and a healthy handful of terrible secrets.

The final season sees Veronica attending college and working not only to solve a string of brutal rapes and the murder of a key official but also to overcome

her own natural distrust of her boyfriend.

Every show has its ups and downs but thinking back on Ve-

VERONICA MARS • Page 14

The pratfalls of (maybe) becoming an actress Comedienne’s novel humorously shows breaking into showbiz isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Web Photo

ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer Lauren Graham, best known for her roles in The WB’s Gilmore Girls and NBC’s Parenthood, released her debut novel

last year, titled Someday, Someday Maybe, and it’s sensational.

Loosely based on her journey to become a professional actress in the mid 90’s, the novel explodes with a conversational attitude and page after page of clever quips and witticisms that makes the book so ridiculously fun to read.

Franny is an aspiring actress in New York, trying to make it to the big leagues while paying her bills. She’s had plenty of unsuccessful auditions, a couple small bits on stage, no agent, and little self-confidence. Knowing the cutthroat world of acting isn’t always successful for everyone, she sets up a realistic three-year plan: if she doesn’t make it as a professionally paid actress in that timeframe, she’ll quit, pack up her bags, and head back home.

Now facing the last six months of her plan, Franny frantically tries to get her life together, and make one (or two, or quite a lot) last ditch effort to succeed.

As a premise, it sounds like something that’s been done before from the likes of NBC’s Fame and FOX’s Glee, and to an extent there is very little here in the plot department that deviates from the expected, but what sells this novel is its tone/voice, and that is the most important quality any book must possess. Graham is no stranger to dialogue that just bounces off the page with energy, and here, Graham seems to channel the meta-commentary and quick quips of her Gilmore Girls days and the clever innuendos and turn of phrases from the works of Joss Whedon. All this to say, Graham’s writing is crisp, concise, layered, charming, and hilarious.

To its credit, the novel is more than a humor-filled account of an aspiring actress; it’s more of a coming-of-age story told with a funny bone, allowing the novel to branch off into areas more compelling or insightful than a difficult climb to the top. Ro-

mance, as integral to a person’s story in nearly any tale, rears its head here in a funny fashion.

In one scene, after exiting a romantic comedy with roommate Dan who she could have feelings for but doesn’t necessarily want them, the two discuss the absurdity and Hollywood-ized construction of the love triangle.

It’s here, as Franny monologues about the lack of reality in it, that the meta-commentary sneaks in as Franny ironically doesn’t realize she’s in a love triangle of her own.

Another memorable scene involves up-and-coming actors poised with the question of what they’re willing to do and what lines to cross to find success, as Franny is faced with the possibility of appearing nude for a role, and whether or not that’s a line she’s willing to cross. The intensity of first love and the disillusionment when not everything is at it seems is another spectacularly poignant and powerful

sequence that pulls at the heartstrings. She’s absorbing new experiences and growing as a person because of these physical and emotional obstacles that stand in her way, and eventually Franny faces the difficulty of choosing between what is right, and what is easy. The tone of the novel comes off as light and fluffy, but by no means is Franny’s journey without personal dilemma or easy luck.

Someday, Someday Maybe is a quick read. At 344 pages, the writing and the story breezes by, helped all the more by every page being highly entertaining. Reportedly, a sequel is in the works, and the CW has already optioned the novel for development as an hour-long drama. Ridiculously charming in its prose and characters, Someday, Someday Maybe will have the reader instantly hooked by the first chapter, and chuckling before the first page is even over. (Ballantine Books, 2013, $24.99, Hardcover)

12 • MSU Reporter

A&E

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Trailer of terror Latest preview for the update of Godzilla shows this isn’t your father’s fire-breathing reptile.

Web Photo Destruction will rain down in the new Godzilla.

ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer With all the positive word of mouth flying about with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (and rightfully so) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, there is one movie, hitting theaters May 16th, that trumps all others in excitement and importance, and just yesterday released a new, riveting trailer – Godzilla.

Just in time to celebrate The Big G’s 60th birthday, it’s been a decade since Godzilla was on the big screen in any capacity. Godzilla: Final Wars, produced in Japan, paid homage to the fifty years of what came before, embracing both the darkness of the 1960s and the child-centric levity of the 1970s in this weird amalgamation of the weird and ridiculous. Suffice to say, it wasn’t Godzilla’s finest hour. Neither was 1998’s GODZILLA, the first attempt to remake the King of the Monsters in America, which was a colossal misfire.

But this two minute and thirty-three second trailer intends on remedying all of that.

Godzilla is back to his atomic roots, the monster born of suffering and death, a walking embodiment of mankind’s

mistakes and fallacies.

In a fashion similar to trailers for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, the trailer starts off slow, methodical, with paced fade ins and outs of the destruction caused

by Godzilla and, as the trailer suggests, whatever other beasts of mass destruction make their mark here. Somber looks from Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Elizabeth Olsen (Oldboy) and Ken Watanabe (Inception) speak volumes of the level of chaos and loss left in the monsters wake.

Brief glimpses of what appears to be other monsters, missiles, and planes dropping from the sky build up the tension. And then, at the halfway point, accompanied by the spine-tingling chill of Godzilla’s roar, a quick succession of shots – of running, of toppling buildings, of monster limbs, and finally, in the closing shot, a chest-up view of the mighty Godzilla in all his charging glory.

The most infuriating aspect of this spectacularly crafted trailer is how little it reveals, which is both brilliant from a marketing strategy – hint, hint, hint, but leave just enough obscured to guarantee that ticket’s sold – but intensely frustrating for that desire that

demands to be satiated in seeing Godzilla in all his big, money shot glory. In the two officially released trailers thus far, the gargantuan monster has been hidden in thick clouds of smoke-y debris and shut out by closing doors. If and when the third trailer comes, enough hiding: bring on the monsters of mass destruction!

One of the disappointing things from Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 epic Pacific Rim is that the monsters, undoubtedly one of the top two things viewers paid money to see, were nearly indecipherable in splashes of rain, splashing water, and debris. Give the viewers the monsters in their unobscured beauty -- it’s the reason these films have $200 million dollar budget anyhow.

Perhaps the most shocking revelation in the trailer is how it appears to be a sequel of sorts to 1954’s Godzilla. In voice over, Watanabe remarks, “in 1954, we awaken something.”

Even more interesting, is that nuclear warfare was exacted in the Pacific to kill it. A shot of men in hazmat suits surveying a boneyard could lead credence to this idea, perhaps walking through the remains of the ’54 Godzilla. Nevertheless, the mythology Godzilla seems to be presenting is quite intriguing.

The marketing campaign for Godzilla is in full swing, with new trailers, posters, merchandise, and magazine previews well on their way. The second trailer perfectly succeeded in

grabbing ones attention immediately, raising the stakes, hinting at the monumental hugeness of the movie, and just being thrilling. May 16th can’t come quickly enough.

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Celebrity wedding report Paparazzi will be having a field day with all the celebrity engagements, weddings coming up.

MADELINE ZAFFT Staff Writer Wedding bells are ringing in the celebrity realm. From Leighton Meester and her secret wedding, to the recently engaged Christina Aguilera.

A hush-hush wedding was under wraps between Meester and new husband Adam Brody. The co-stars of 2011’s The Oranges have been dating and Brody recently announced that they did indeed secretly tie-the- knot.

“Leighton and Adam exchanged vows in Northern California, by the ocean a couple of weeks ago.

It was a very small and intimate wedding with only family and close friends. It was beautiful,” a source told E! News. Details about the former Gossip Girl actress and her new hubby’s wedding are still not confirmed. The two lovebirds were seen at Mexico’s St. Regis Punta Mita Resort during Feb. 12-15, only weeks after it was said that Meester had her bachelorette party.

Hit singer Christina Aguilera first showed off her brand new bling from her film producer boyfriend on twitter with the words “He asked and I said...,” along with a picture of the sparkling rock. It is said that Aguilera’s’ fiancé, Matthew Butler had been working on the ring for a year, making sure every detail is perfect. Along with the main

Web Photo Leighton Meester and Adam Brody are just one celebrity couple to tie the knot recently.

diamond it is said that nine different colored gemstones are placed underneath along the band. “So they always touch her actual skin in forever-encouraging love . . . and surrounding her at all times,” the insider shared with US Weekly.

Emma Roberts is another newly engaged celeb. The 22-yearold and new fiancé Evan Peters met on the set of Adult World in 2012 and now are co-starring on

American Horror Story: Coven.

Roberts was arrested last July for allegedly attacking Peters in a hotel in Montreal, so their engagement was a little surprising.

Kanye West popped the big question to Kim Kardashian and it has been one of the most talked about engagements lately.

West asked Kim for her hand in marriage on her 33rd birthday in October of 2013. West planned an elaborate engagement, renting

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Francisco Giants play and even arranged to have an orchestra playing in the background when he asked for Kim’s hand in marriage. West also surprised Kardashian by inviting her whole family to witness him getting down on one knee to ask the big question. The lavish moment was filmed for the reality TV show Keeping up with The Kardashians. Now that the two are engaged the next questions is when the wedding will be? It is rumored that E! Network could be filming, airing and paying for the entire wedding. Kardashian’s rock is a 15-carat stone in a Lorraine Schwartz ring. The duo is new parents to their 8-month-old daughter North West.

With love in the Hollywood air, wedding plans should be coming together. Celebs will be trying to keep all the details secret from the paparazzi and designers will be hard at work to make sure they get their due credit in the wedding pictures.

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VERONICA MARS “Season two shows the fallout of the events at the end of the previous season, including the intense season finale and some sticky romantic entanglements that continue to develop. All that gets mixed into an overarching conspiracy involving a fatal bus crash, a gang war, a gambling debt and a healthy handful of terrible secrets.” continued from 11 sodes consisting of mostly falling action due to a late renewal.

This causes the biggest complaint of the series: the ending.

Thomas and company knew the plug was being pulled and opted, still, to set up story arcs that would never be resolved on the small screen. Veronica Mars ends on a “well enough” note but begs for follow up, which if not for the film, fans may have never

got.

At 64 episodes, Veronica Mars is an easy enough show to power through and one that holds endless reward for doing so. I can’t recommend it enough. Veronica Mars is now available for free streaming on Amazon Instant Video for Prime members.

The follow-up film opens in 270 AMC theaters and on same-day video on demand on March 14.

Web Photo

ronica Mars, the former instantly takes precedence. Thomas’ concept of a teenage mystery series goes so far beyond the initial base idea and knocks it out of the park in every aspect. Thomas and his writers craft a show that is overflowing with cleverness and intrigue. The creative team put a lot of time and thought into making the series into a well-rounded experience. Spoiler alert: they succeeded.

The neo-noir mood of the show oozes cool; the plotting of each season’s central mystery is tightly knit with the serialized individual mysteries of each episode, cliffhangers here are nerve-wracking, the dialogue is punchy in a natural way the actors bring to life and the references throughout (usually to The Big Lebowski) are always ap-

preciated by those who can spot them. Not to mention, The Dandy Warhols’ title song “We Used to be Friends” has become an anthem of awesome TV themes.

The cast must all have honed in on what a special thing they had at their disposal because they all bring something unique. Bell is magnificent in the lead balancing out the main character’s snark and intelligence with vulnerability and mistrust. Thanks to Bell and the writers, Mars is a character we can care about and feel a need to follow. Colantoni, a veteran TV actor, brings a lot of likeability and charm to a character that could have been a wash. Dohring (looking distractingly like a young Christian Bale) brings Echolls to life as the character with the most drastic growth, going from a nefarious,

sardonic antagonist of Veronica’s to a brooding friend, and in a most satisfying final twist, something even closer.

Each episode is a delight as Veronica and company come closer to finding answers and, as cliché as it sounds, finding themselves. The series rarely veers into forced territory like other high school dramas, opting instead to go clever and cool when things get too heavy. Though that doesn’t mean that things aren’t intense with some final episode arcs reaching the max anxiety level.

Due to studio concerns that ultimately caused the cancellation of the show in 2007, season three is a big switch in format from the first two, with two halfseason mysteries instead of one big one and the final five epiExpires 4/30/14.

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Shooting display at Bresnan Arena ends in 106-63 MSU victory Senior forward Ali Wilkinson dropped 31 points in her last game in Mankato.

JOEY DENTON Sports Editor The Minnesota State University, Mankato women’s basketball team dropped 13-three pointers in their 106-63 victory over Minnesota, Crookston in a first-round match of the NSIC

Karlee Gengenbacher

Arnold Bagamba • MSU Reporter

tournament.

Junior guard Ashley Olson led the no. 19 Mavericks with a season-high five makes from downtown to go along with her four rebounds and two steals.

The Blue Earth native hit two big three-pointers in the beginning of the game and the Golden Eagles just couldn’t keep her in their sights.

“I was just creating off my teammates. They were setting good screens and the defense

was sagging and switching a little bit,” Olson said.

Shooting 50 percent from long range (13-for-26), seven Mavericks hit from downtown, including two from junior forward Jamie Bresnahan and senior Hillary Paulson. Bresnahan grabbed five boards and dished a team-high four assists to go with her 12 points and two steals.

Once the Mavericks proved to be too dominant in the paint, Crookston started to collapse; that’s when the shooting fest commenced.

“It started with our inside game. We never want to be a team that relies on threes. We want to be the team that gets the ball inside and then that gets the defense to collapse,” head coach Emilee Thiesse said.

After obtaining a 47-35 lead at the half, the Golden Eagles brought the margin back down to eight at the 17:41 mark of the second half, just before the Mavericks poked three of their 18 steals and went on a 29-6 run to clinch the first-round win to eliminate the Golden Eagles.

Freshman Tyra Johnson swiped a team-high four steals with eight points and two boards. It was some of the best defense the Mavericks have put on the floor in quite some time, according to head coach Emilee Thiesse.

Ali Wilkinson

“Our team has had a lot of games where they’ve really done well, but I would say that’s the best defensive effort that I’ve seen from our team in awhile, and let’s make that a habit,” Thiesse said.

A 43-point victory was the perfect way to send off the four seniors on this year’s Mavericks’ roster as it was their last time stepping on the Maverick at center court of Bresnan Arena.

“It was great for all of our seniors. I’m just happy for all of them to be able to have a lasting memory like that of playing together with the emotion and the chemistry they played with,”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL • Page 16

Mavericks cruise through first round LUCAS RYAN Staff Writer The Minnesota State men’s basketball team began the final portion of the season Wednesday with a dominating win against Minnesota Crookston. The game was one-verse-eight matchup in the opening round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament, played at Bresnan Arena.

The Mavericks were led by senior forward Tanner Adler with 19 points while junior forward Assem Marei posted his 16th-career double double with 15 points

and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Gage Wooten finished with 14 points and nine rebounds in a game the Mavericks matched a career best 12 total bocks.

Minnesota Crookston began the game making their first three field goals to take a 6-0 lead, but the Mavericks were able to counter at the 12:26 mark of the second half with a 14-0 run of their own to take a 18-12 lead that they would not give up the rest of the way.

“We came out real slow today.

They Jumped on us 8-2, but we just all came together and knew what we had to do. Its play-

Matt Margenthaler

off time and it’s time to play,” said Wooten. “We know that it is win our go home, we want to

stay strong and make it to Sioux Falls.”

Marei led the Mavericks in the first half with 12 points and eight rebounds while senior forward Tanner Adler made three, three point field goals in the first half.

The Mavericks ended the half on a 12-5 run to take a 42-32 lead into halftime.

The second half was back and forth basketball, but the Mavericks were able to coast to the win not allowing the Golden Eagles to cut the lead to less than 13 points in the final half. The Golden Bears were led by forward Tyler West with 20 points and Brandon

Burns with 11 points.

The Mavericks extended their longest winning streak of the year to 10 games with their performance. The game featured two teams going in distinctly different directions. Minnesota-Crookston ended their season with a 4-23 record overall, while finishing 1-22 in the NSIC, losing their final 21 games, while the Mavericks look to make some noise in the NCAA DII tournament.

The No. 15 MSU moved to the top spot in the NCAA Central Re-

MEN’S BASKETBALL • Page 16

16 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Thursday, February 27, 2014

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL “It started with our inside game. We never want to be a team that relies on threes. We want to be a team that gets the ball inside, and then that gets the defense to collapse,” Thiesse said. continued from 15 Thiesse said.

Forward Ali Wilkinson dropped 31 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor and 12of-13 from the charity stripe, while Karlee Gengenbacher

added seven points with five rebounds and two steals Guard Alli Hoefer finished with three steals, four assists and eight points, and Paulson came off the bench to score six points

and two blocks in their last game in Mankato.

The Mavericks’ first game in Sioux Falls will feature the University of Mary, who defeated Winona State 72-66 last night.

Arnold Bagamba • MSU Reporter Junior guard Zach Monaghan drives to the hoop against MinnesotaCrookston Wednesday in NSIC tournament action.

MEN’S BASKETBALL continued from 15 gion rankings Wednesday before the win. With what the Mavericks have already accomplished this season, MSU should be a lock to make the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

However it may not be wise to let off the gas with the most important games of the season just ahead. Especially when the Mavericks seemed to have built some

Arnold Bagamba • MSU Reporter

momentum in this final stretch of the season. Now MSU will travel to Aberdeen S.D to continue their NSIC Tournament. MSU will play in the quarterfinals against Augustana Saturday.

“In Sioux Falls if we play Augustana that’s like a home game for them. Like coach says, we thrive in a position where we got the crowd against us so it will be

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a fun atmosphere,” Wooten said.

Augustana earned 66-64 victory over Northern State earning the right to play the Mavericks in the quarter finals. The Vikings will host the remainder of the NSIC tournament and will want to have a good showing in front of their fans in what could be their final game of the season.

The Mavericks narrowly beat the

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if overlooked. Forward Casey Schilling finished the season with the second most points in the NSIC, averaging 18.8 per game and third most rebounds with 8.3 per game.

“On our next game on Saturday, we have to come out and play hard from the get go,” Wooten said.

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Vikings in both games early this season. MSU earned an 86-81 early this season in Sioux Falls, before winning 84-77 at home.

The Vikings beat Winona in the final game of the regular season to give the Mavericks sole possession of the NSIC regular season championship. Augustana features the leading scorer in the NSIC and could be dangerous

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

MSU Reporter • 17

Sports

Hobey Baker nominees lead surge for WCHA title Junior forwards Jean-Paul Lafontaine and Matt Leitner were nominated for the Hobey Baker award before the season started, and they have lived up to that hype. for the award, Boston College’s Johnny Gaudreau.

Although Leitner got off to a slow start, scoring just three points in his first ten games, he has scored 33 points in the 20 games since to bring his total to 36 which paces him for second among scoring leaders in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and 23rd in the NCAA. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native’s 27 assists are good for seventh in the NCAA and first in the WCHA by a wide margin. With 112 career points, Leitner has a good shot at breaking the 150 point barrier next season, placing him among the top scorers in Maverick history during the division one era. LaFontaine could also accomplish this feat.

Like Leitner, LaFontaine carried some expectations into this season. After an impressive

r

Jean-Paul Lafontaine

freshman campaign where he was named to the WCHA AllRookie Team, J.P. stepped up his play even more and posted 35 points last season which was good for third on the team. This season, LaFontaine has posted a career high 20 goals to go along with 18 assists for a career

HOBEY BAKER • Page 18

EXPERT AUTO REPAIRS Arnold Bagamba • MSU Reporter

DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer

The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team is enjoying a successful season. After collecting a school record of 24 wins in the division one era last season, the Mavericks look to be on pace to collect just as many victories this year.

Since former Mav and St. Louis Blues captain David Backes left

the program for the NHL in 2006, MSU has had trouble finding a player that can be among the top of the NCAA leader board in scoring, a trend that has come to an end.

Junior forwards Jean-Paul LaFontaine and Matt Leitner are the Mavericks’ top players this season, and are two players who are on everyone’s radar. Both players have been scoring at a high rater, and each broke 100

career points this season. The pair have been playing so well in fact, that they have been nominated for the 2014 Hobey Baker Award, awarded annually to college hockey’s top player. During the 2013 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, college hockey analyst Dave Starman named Leitner as one of his top three picks to win the Hobey Baker Award, alongside Miami University’s Austin Czarnik and this year’s favorite

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Sports

HOBEY BAKER “We’ve all been playing together awhile and just find each other,” Lafontaine said. “We all played together (on the power play) most of last year.”

Thursday, February 27, 2014 DAVID BAC K ES

continued from 17 high 38 points, which is good for 13th in the NCAA and first in the WCHA. After the Mavs had a weekend off last weekend, LaFontaine slipped from the top of NCAA power play goals, but still sits in second in the nation with 14 goals on the man advantage. LaFontaine credits his success on the power play to team chemistry.

“We’ve all been playing together a while and just find each other” he said, “We all played together (on the power play) most of last year.”

With 101 career points in a Maverick uniform, LaFontaine could also land among the top career scorers in Maverick history, but he and Leitner still have some season left in them this year.

The focus is not so much on the Hobey Baker Award, as Gaudreau is practically running away with the award, after which he will likely sign with the Calgary Flames of the NHL who drafted him in 2011. The pair can wait till next year to worry about chasing college hockey’s top honor, for now the focus is on making a consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.

As things are now, the Mavericks are 19th in the NCAA pairwise rankings, with the top 16 making the NCAA tournament, but there is a loophole so to speak. Any team that wins their conference tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA regional tournament, so it is likely the Mavs will have to win the WCHA Final Five in Grand Rapids, Mich. next month to qualify, as conference rival Ferris State University is a lock for the top 16, currently tied for

SOCHI SPOTLIGHT

Arnold Bagamba • MSU Reporter MSU’s points leader Jean-Paul Lafontaine has accumulated 34 points (17 goals and 17 assists) in 29 games.

third in the pairwise rankings.

This weekend the Mavs travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to take on a new conference opponent in Lake Superior State University. The Lakers hold a 16-15-1 record while going 12-12 in WCHA play which has them in a three way tie for fifth place in the conference. With the Mavs sitting in second place, four points behind Ferris State, both with four games remaining, it seems unlikely that MSU will catch the Bulldogs. However,

should Ferris slip up and the Mavs win out, a tie would result in the Mavericks taking the regular season WCHA crown, given the head to head sweep over the Bulldogs.

After the two game series with LSSU, the Mavs return home for their final home series next weekend when the Michigan Tech University Huskies come to town to close out the regular season before the Mavs start postseason play.

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Team USA men’s hockey didn’t get quite the finish they were looking for in Sochi.

Wanting to avenge the overtime loss in the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal game against Canada, the US lost to Canada in the semifinal game of the medal round 1-0, sending them to the bronze medal game.

Canada would go on to win the gold over Sweden, while USA fell 5-0 to Finland in the bronze medal game, going home empty handed. Former Minnesota State University, Mankato Maverick David Backes tallied three goals and an assist in the 2014 Winter Olympics, which was good for fourth on the team. Backes, 29, could certainly make the Olympic squad in 2018, but that may be his last shot at a gold medal. It is likely Backes will make the team, but could be limited to a leadership role, such as Jamie Langenbrunner had for the 2010 Olympics, when he captained the team at 34 years old.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

MSU Reporter • 19

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ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING

Parking & Transportation Policies, Budget, and Capital Improvements Wednesday, March 5, 2014 Armstrong Hall 316 • 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

HEARING DOCKET:

1) Opening statement establishing ground rules for Annual Public Hearing on Parking & Transportation Policies, Budget and Capital Improvements.

2) Introduction of volunteers serving on Parking Advisory Committee and the independent Parking Citation Appeals Board.

If you cannot attend the public hearing, please email your comments or concerns to david.cowan@mnsu.edu by 10 a.m., March 5th.

Constituency

Parking Advisory Committee

Parking Citation Appeals Board

Administration or Excluded or MAPE (Minnesota Assn. of Professional Employees)

David Cowan, PAC Chairperson

Kyle Snay (MAPE)

Classified Employees

Patrick Pearce (Alternate – Julie Dornack)

Stef Regenold

IFO Faculty Association

Autumn Hamilton

Bonnie Shult

Student Association

Zak Silker (Off-Campus)

Peter Piotrowski

Student Association

Rebecca Wegscheid (Residence Halls)

Karson Kueger-Grant

MSUAASF (Minnesota State University Association of Administrative & Service Faculty)

Mike Lagerquist

Kate Hansen, Board Chairperson

Ex-officio Nonvoting – Student Financial Services Representative

Jodi Orchard

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting – Parking & Traffic Services Coordinator; Parking Citation Appeals Board Liaison

Sue Edstrom

Sue Edstrom, Appeals Board Liaison

Ex-officio Nonvoting – Planning & Construction Department Liaison

Chris Hoffmann

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting - Residential Life Office

Cynthia Janney

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting - Residence Hall Association President

Rebecca Wegscheid

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting - Minnesota Assn. of Professional Employees (MAPE)

(Vacant)

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting - Minnesota Management Assn.

(MMA)

(Vacant)

Not Applicable

Ex-officio Nonvoting – University Scheduling

Shirley Piepho

Not Applicable

3) Proposals for Change • 7 Year Capital Improvement Plan for summers 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

• Proposed Income and Spending Plans for 2014-15 - $1,555,516 Income Forecast; $1,213,616 Spending Estimate.

• 3% rate increase proposed for permits. Annual 3% rate increases are tied to 7-Year Parking Capital Improvement Plan.

• Additional 5¢ per credit hour added to existing 85¢ mandatory “Green Transportation Fee.” The $15,000 estimate generated from the 5¢ increase would help cover costs of a 30 minute earlier start-up time (7 AM instead of 7:30 AM) for Routes 1, 8, and 9 (Stadium Heights). Earlier start will help spread out the demand that now hits at 7:30 AM. Student riders with 7:30 AM classes will be better served by the buses.

• New 410 stall parking lot (designated 'Lot 2') to be divided into 47 Golds (North Curb) and 363 Dark Greens (west curb of Ellis Ave. South) near new lot would lose 15 stalls, east side would be turned into Gold Permit parking.

4. Open forum for input from public.

5. Adjourn the Annual Hearing on or before 1:30 PM.

www.mnsu.edu/parking/hearing

20 • MSU Reporter

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Thursday, February 27, 2014