March 14, 2023

How to celebrate Women’s History Month

By AMALIA SHARAF Staff Writer

The Women’s Center holds many events in March dedicated to Women’s History Month. Students from all backgrounds are welcomed at each of the events.

Women’s Center Director Liz Steinborn-Gourley said Women’s History Month is about celebrating women.

“I think a call to recognize that women have historically been written out of history,” she said. “Not that they weren’t a part of it actively but that it was strategic to uplift men’s voices and to quiet women’s voices.”

The historical background of Women’s History Month started back in the 1970s.

“It was through the Civil Rights Movement and into the 1970s, as the second wave of feminism was moving to the United States, there was an international day of the women. There was a huge women’s conference that happened in Mexico, I believe, where people from all over the world came together to talk about the well-being of women internationally. And that sparked International Women’s Day which is March 8. Then Women’s History Month to surround it in March,” shared Steinborn-Gourley.

Women’s History Month recognizes the historical contributions women made to society.

According to Idman Ibrahim, a senior student in Social Studies and Women and Gender Studies, celebrating the month means

The Women’s Center is helping host several events throughout Women’s History Month including crafternoons working on a zine, a STEM networking event and a BraveHeart’s discussion on reproductive rights.

acknowledging women’s work.

“To me, Women’s History Month is encouraging and inspiring. To see all the work in the past and the things that they have done, and I think see-

ing how far women’s work has come from the past,” said Ibrahim.

Steinborn-Gourley described several events that take place throughout Women’s History

Month. The first is Zine Crafternoons, which is a piece of literature on countercultures.

“We are working on a zine and we’re still accepting submissions. Our zine’s theme for

Women’s History Month is a body because we can see it in any state in any country around the world. We can see issues that are affecting the bodies of women, whether it’s earthquakes, legislation or state-sanctioned violence,” said Steinborn-Gourley.

The networking event for women in STEM will help female students with their career paths.

The event is not gender exclusive and it welcomes everyone. However, the event will feature the voices of women.

“We also have women in STEM networking events. And so we have women in the science, tech engineering and math learning community that is new this year, but it’s not new that the Women’s Center in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology have partnered to host these opportunities to help women see themselves in their career of choice to feel like there’s a path for them, to see that it’s critically important to the communities that we have women in STEM,” said Steinborn-Gourley.

Later during the month, other events will be hosted with Women’s Center participation.

“And then on March 30th, there’ll be our Bravehearts discussion will be on reproductive justice. Also, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division is 50plus years old. So we’re having a big event on March 15 to celebrate the anniversary of DEI,” said Steinborn-Gourley.

Attending the events will

Hollis hopes to help through hydration and home-tech

By EMMA JOHNSON News Director

When Minnesota State alum Cortez Hollis first attended MSU, he knew he wanted to own his own business. A talk with an advisor changed his trajectory.

“I was saying to them ‘What do I want to study?’ and I came across this course called Gender and Women’s Studies. I took that course for the heck of it, but ended up majoring in it, along with ethnic studies,” Hollis said.

Hollis said the diversity at MSU opened his eyes and prepared him for life after graduation.

“I think that MSU is an important melting pot to preparing

students for the future,” Hollis said “Everyone works interchangeably and I see it like it’s a huge piece of the puzzle that’s leading us in a forward direction.”

Graduating in 2014, Hollis is now getting a master’s degree in Ethnic and Multicultural studies through MSU while living in Irvine, Calif. Hollis said taking these courses helped him serve a wider audience for his sports drink business, Protein Water.

“If you want to be in any type of business where you’re serving people, you want to have a basis of understanding all people. I realized that if you want to be in a business or serving, you want to be in a business of serving everyone, especially people who don’t

look like you,” Hollis said.

Hollis got the idea for his company after watching his cousin Adrian Battles — MSU alum and former NFL offensive guard for the Green Bay Packers — chug standard protein water with friends after practice.

“I was like ‘Why do they not have protein water that actually tastes good? One that’s beneficial for you guys at the top 1%?’ That question ended up burning like fire in me,” Hollis said.

Hollis used the bit of money he had and spent hours doing research, finding certain ingredients to mix and having Battles and his friends test out the drinks.

Hollis wanted to give the

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Photo courtesy of Cortez Hollis

MSU Alum Cortez Hollis created Protein Water after seeing his cousin and friends gulp sports drinks that weren’t beneficial for their recovery.

Oregon mandate for climate change lessons in schools

Biden OKs major Willow oil drilling

By MATTHEW DALY and CHRIS MEGERIAN The Associated Press

The Biden administration said Monday it is approving the major Willow oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope, one of President Joe Biden’s most consequential climate choices that is drawing condemnation from environmentalists who say it flies in the face of the Democratic president’s pledges.

The announcement comes a day after the administration, in a big move toward conservation, said it would bar or limit drilling in some other areas of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean.

By CLAIRE RUSH

Oregon lawmakers are aiming to make the state the second in the nation to mandate climate change lessons for K-12 public school students, further fueling U.S. culture wars in education.

Dozens of Oregon high schoolers submitted support of the bill, saying they care about climate change deeply.

 ALUM from page 1

Protein Water flavors meaning, naming drinks after motivating characteristics.

“‘Perseverance,’ is our fruit punch flavor, ‘Confidence’ is our tropical flavor and ‘Will’ is our blue raspberry flavor,” Hollis said. “Everybody can relate to the names whether you’re in sports or whether you’re trying to make it through on a college campus.”

Protein Water is currently in the midst of funding for a nationwide launch. Hollis said the drinks will soon be available on Amazon for purchase.

In the meantime, Hollis currently works with Outreach Program Services of America, a non-profit providing communities with necessary resources. He later learned of the Affordability Connectivity Program, a $14.2 billion federal program created during the COVID pandemic to connect low-income families with internet access.

Hollis reached out to MSU due to his connections with faculty.

“I connected with MSU to see if some students needed these tablets, so I reached out to institutional diversity. They had to go through the steps and procedures to figure out the legitimacy of it and once we went through that, they sent it out to students,” Hollis said. “I always want to make sure that I’m giving more than I’m receiving.”

Students have to show proof of financial aid, whether it’s a Pell Grant, scholarship or Fed-

Some teachers and parents say teaching climate change could help the next generation better confront it, but others want schools to focus on reading, writing and math after test scores plummeted post-pandemic.

Schools across the U.S. have found themselves at the center of a politically charged battle over curriculum and how matters such as gender, sex education and race should be taught.

eral Pell Grant. Students can also show state health insurance, food assistance or any additional state and federal benefits to qualify for the free Android tablet.

“They’ll input their name, proof of aid and press submit. Within minutes we’re able to get a response and approval to prepare for shipping, but because of the influx, sometimes it can take up to about an hour before they get a response,” Hollis said.

Between 500 and 1,000 tablets have been distributed to MSU students. Hollis said the tablet program is an entity of the ACP, so students should take advantage of the opportunity while they can.

“The program is in place as long as the funding is, so the more students that take advantage of the program, the longer it stays. We try to give students a sense of urgency that way like this just won’t be around forever,” Hollis said.

Hollis said the feedback he’s received has been emotional, specifically from students saying the tablets couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We see college students and think that they’re okay, but a lot of students aren’t and they’re dealing with things privately. Students are in the library as long as they can or they’re borrowing laptops from the library for as long as they can,” Hollis said. “I couldn’t be more thankful for MSU for being the first college in the country who was able to take it to a level like no other college has.”

Biden’s Willow plan would allow three drill sites initially, which project developer ConocoPhillips has said would include about 219 total wells. A fourth drill site proposed for the project would be denied. The company has said it considers the three-site option workable. Houston-based ConocoPhillips will relinquish rights to about 68,000 acres of existing leases in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Climate activists have been outraged that Biden appeared open to greenlighting the project, which they said put Biden’s climate legacy at risk. Allowing oil company ConocoPhillips to move forward with the drilling plan also would break Biden’s campaign promise to stop new oil drilling on public lands, they say.

The administration’s decision is not likely to be the last word, with litigation expected from environmental groups.

ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day, create up to 2,500 jobs during construction and 300 long-term jobs, and generate billions of dollars in royalties and tax revenues for the federal, state and local governments, the company says.

The project, located in the federally designated National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, enjoys widespread political sup-

port in the state. Alaska Native state lawmakers recently met with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to urge support for Willow. But environmental activists have promoted a #StopWillow campaign on social media, seeking to remind Biden of his pledges to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy.

Christy Goldfuss, a former Obama White House official who now is a policy chief at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said she was “deeply disappointed’’ at Biden’s decision to approve Willow, which NRDC estimates would generate planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 1 million homes.

“This decision is bad for the climate, bad for the environment and bad for the Native Alaska communities who oppose this and feel their voices were not heard,’’ Goldfuss said.

Anticipating that reaction among environmental groups, the White House announced on Sunday that Biden will prevent or limit oil drilling in 16 million acres in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean. The plan would bar drilling in nearly 3 million acres of the Beaufort Sea — closing it off from oil exploration — and limit drilling in more than 13 million acres in the National

The withdrawal of the offshore area ensures that important habitat for whales, seals, polar bears and other wildlife “will be protected in perpetuity from extractive development, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, as part of an environmental review, advanced in February a development option for Willow calling for up to three drill sites initially, which it said would include about 219 total wells. ConocoPhillips Alaska said it considered that option workable. Alaska’s Republican U.S. senators warned any further limits could kill the project, rendering it uneconomic.

Alaska’s bipartisan congressional delegation met with Biden and his advisers in early March to plead their case for the project, while environmental groups rallied opposition and urged project opponents to place pressure on the administration.

The conservation actions announced Sunday complete protections for the entire Beaufort Sea Planning Area, building upon President Barack Obama’s 2016 action on the Chukchi Sea Planning Area and the majority of the Beaufort Sea, the White House said.

CLAIRE RUSH • The Associated Press

In a hearing room at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore., high school students testify, at right, and others sit, awaiting their turn.

The Associated Press

Petroleum Reserve.

CONOCOPHILLIPS via The Associated Press President Joe Biden will prevent or limit oil drilling in 16 million acres of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, an administration official said on Sunday.

COVID-19 pandemic 3 years later: how it’s changed

By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press

On the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still spreading and the death toll is nearing 7 million worldwide. Yet most people have resumed their normal lives, thanks to a wall of immunity built from infections and vaccines.

The virus appears here to stay, along with the threat of a more dangerous version sweeping the planet.

“New variants emerging anywhere threaten us everywhere,” said virus researcher Thomas Friedrich of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Maybe that will help people to understand how connected we are.”

With information sources drying up, it has become harder to keep tabs on the pandemic. Johns Hopkins University on Friday shut down its trusted tracker, which it started soon after the virus emerged in China and spread worldwide.

Saturday marks three years since the World Health Organization first called the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and the United Nation’s health organization says it’s not yet ready to say the emergency has ended.

A look at where we stand:

THE VIRUS ENDURES

With the pandemic still killing 900 to 1,000 people a day worldwide, the stealthy virus behind COVID-19 hasn’t lost its punch. It spreads easily from person to person, riding respiratory droplets in the air, killing some victims but leaving most to bounce back without much

harm.

“Whatever the virus is doing today, it’s still working on finding another winning path,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute in California.

We’ve become numb to the daily death toll, Topol says, but we should view it as too high. Consider that in the United States, daily hospitalizations and deaths, while lower than at the worst peaks, have not yet dropped to the low levels reached during summer 2021 before the delta variant wave.

At any moment, the virus

could change to become more transmissible, more able to sidestep the immune system or more deadly. Topol said we’re not ready for that. Trust has eroded in public health agencies, furthering an exodus of public health workers. Resistance to stay-at-home orders and vaccine mandates may be the pandemic’s legacy.

“I wish we united against the enemy — the virus — instead of against each other,” Topol said.

FIGHTING BACK

There’s another way to look at it. Humans unlocked the virus’ genetic code and rapidly

developed vaccines that work remarkably well. We built mathematical models to get ready for worst-case scenarios. We continue to monitor how the virus is changing by looking for it in wastewater.

“The pandemic really catalyzed some amazing science,” said Friedrich.

The achievements add up to a new normal where COVID-19 “doesn’t need to be at the forefront of people’s minds,” said Natalie Dean, an assistant professor of biostatistics at Emory University. “That, at least, is a victory.”

Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, said the current omicron variants have about 100 genetic differences from the original coronavirus strain. That means about 1% of the virus’ genome is different from its starting point. Many of those changes have made it more contagious, but the worst is likely over because of population immunity.

Matthew Binnicker, an expert in viral infections at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said the world is in “a very different situation today than we were three years ago — where there was, in essence, zero existing immunity to the original virus.”

That extreme vulnerability forced measures aimed at “flattening the curve.” Businesses and schools closed, weddings and funerals were postponed. Masks and “social distancing” later gave way to showing proof of vaccination. Now, such precautions are rare.

“We’re not likely to go back to where we were because there’s so much of the virus that our immune systems can recognize,” Ray said. Our immunity should protect us “from the worst of what we saw before.”

On Friday, Johns Hopkins did its final update to its free coronavirus dashboard and hotspot map with the death count standing at more than 6.8 million worldwide. Its government sources for real-time tallies had drastically declined. In the U.S., only New York, Arkansas and Puerto Rico still publish case and death counts daily.

DAVID J. PHILLIP • The Associated Press

On the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, the virus is still spreading and the death toll is nearing 7 million worldwide. Yet most people have resumed their normal lives, yet vaccines have improved life quality.

1) Review of Proposed Income ($1,580,200) and Spending Plans ($1,666,000) for 2023-24.

• Includes a 4% increase in Permit prices for Gold (From $354 to $368) and Purple (From $225 to $234), a 4% increase for Residence Hall Light Green (From $292 to $304) and Dark Green (from $226 to $235) permits.

2) Lot 22 Orange Space & Free Lot Update:

• “Free” over ow for Lot 23 (a.k.a. “Free Lot”) users –Fall Semester until Nov. 1, 2023.

• Orange semester charge of $35.

• No ban on employee use of Lot 23 (a.k.a. Free Lot).

• Registration still in place for users of Free Lot.

Administration or Excluded or MAPE (Minnesota Association of Professional Employees)

Classi ed Employees

IFO (Inter-Faculty Organization/Faculty Association)

Student Governemnt On-Campus Res. Community

Student Government Off-Campus Res. Community

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

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Student Financial Services

Representative

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Parking & Traf c Services

Coordinator; Parking Citation Appeals Board Liason

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Planning & Construction Department

Liason

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Of ce of Residential Life

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Residence Comm. Assoc. President

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Grounds Maintenance Department

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - University Scheduling

Ex-of cio Nonvoting - Student Government President

3) Green Transportation Fees Proposal:

• Fee of $440,000 requested to keep current bus routes active for 2023-24. Hourly rate @ $105.

• Proposal before SAC (Student Allocations Committee) and Student Senate. SAC recommended $409,200 on March 1, 2023. Proposed limited cuts in ser vice to compensate for potential shor tfall.

4) Capital Improvements

• Continue $195,000 annual installments to pay off $1 million internal interest free loan for last August’s Lot 1 Resur facing (330 stalls).

• Lot 17 (Back of Wiecking Center) Resur facing.

• Install gravel on grassy strip by outdoor track south facing fence line.

David Cowan, Advisory Committee Chair

Mike Hulscher

Seong Jin “Tommy” Kim

Bennett Hanson

Jordan Mueller

Kathryn Hanson

Jodi Orchard

Adam Kruger

Nathan Huettl

Matt Burns

Sierra Roiger

Adam Morris

Vacant

Jane Kolars

Emma Zellmer

Casey Boone, MAPE

Not Applicable

Mary Hadley

Jacob Glogowski

Vacant

Jeremy Riesenberg and Lindsay Henderson

Not Applicable

Appeals Board Liason

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Deb Sanford

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Gun bills coming in Michigan after 2nd school mass shooting

In post-Roe world, college coaches search for middle ground

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI The Associated Press

Armed with two handguns and dozens of rounds of ammunition, 43-year-old Anthony McRae open fired on the Michigan State University campus on the night of Feb. 13, killing three students and wounding five more.

The mass shooting has pushed Michigan Democrats, who had already planned to prioritize changes to gun laws, into action.

Democrats are expected to bring a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package before the Michigan Legislature this week, emboldened by their sweeping victories in statewide elections in November that gave them legislative control. Responding to two mass school shootings in 15 months, the party’s leaders say it is only the beginning of gun reform in the state.

“Nothing is off the table,” said Democratic state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, who leads the firearm safety caucus. “But every state has a culture. So I think we’re trying to be conscious of Michigan and how we do things.”

The package aims to establish safe storage laws, universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws. Lawmakers will consider the package less than three years after protesters armed with guns entered the statehouse.

“Tyrannical government, like we’re witnessing here today, is why the Second Amendment is here in the first place,” Republican Rep. Angela Rigas said on the House floor prior to Democrats voting to approve universal background checks last week.

The bills were introduced in

the days following the shooting at Michigan State University. Students across the vast campus were ordered to shelter in place for four hours while police hunted for McRae who — when confronted by police — killed himself near his Lansing home.

Students killed in the shooting were Arielle Anderson, 19; Brian Fraser, 20; and Alexandria Verner, 20, all of suburban Detroit.

Much of the package was crafted by Democrats nearly 15 months ago following a shooting at Oxford High School that left four students dead and seven others injured. The bills saw little movement with Republicans controlling the House and Senate.

But now, with Democrats in full control of state government for the first time in decades, the bills quickly came before House and Senate committees earlier this month.

Gun violence survivors and the families of victims packed committee meeting rooms and gave tearful testimony to lawmakers.

“I’m not asking for your pity. I’m asking for your change,” Oxford High School senior Reina St. Juliana told lawmakers during a hearing March 2. St. Juliana’s younger sister, Hana, was killed in the Oxford shooting.

Krista Grettenberger attended a hearing Wednesday to tell lawmakers about a phone call she received Feb. 13 from her 21-year-old son, MSU student Troy Forbush.

“My son called my cellphone and said: ‘I love you mom. I’ve been shot. There’s a shooter,’” Grettenberger said. Forbush was critically injured in the shooting, but survived.

“We are victim of a failed

• The Associated Press

system that can’t keep guns from those who aim to inflict devastating harm,” Grettenberger said.

Mass shootings across the U.S. in recent years seem to have widen the political divide on gun ownership. In Democratic-led states with restrictive gun laws, elected officials have responded to home-state tragedies by enacting and proposing even more limits on guns. In many states with Republican-led legislatures, the shootings appear unlikely to prompt any new restrictions this year, reflecting a belief that violent people, not their possession of weapons, is the problem.

Michigan law requires someone buying firearms such as rifles or shotguns to be 18 years or older and at least 21 years old to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer. Certain licenses allow 18-year-olds to purchase handguns from private sellers.

Police said they found dozens of rounds of ammunition on McRae, the MSU shooter, in addition to two handguns that were legally purchased but never registered.

Legislation passed in the House Wednesday would address that loophole, shifting the responsibility to perform the background check and register the firearm with police onto the seller.

Democrats say safe storage and red flag laws could have stopped the Oxford attack.

“The whole story of Oxford was this kid just grabbed his parents’ gun and took it to school and it wasn’t locked up. There was no safe, there was no gun lock. There was no check on this kid,” said U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who represents East Lansing.

By WILL GRAVES The Associated Press

The conversation Cecile Landi never imagined she’d feel compelled to have with the gymnasts she coaches came abruptly last summer, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Landi, who competed for her native France at the 1996 Olympics before going into coaching with her husband, Laurent, gave her athletes a brief, heartfelt message: I’m here for you no matter what.

“I literally will do whatever they need me to do (if they get pregnant), even if I guess it puts me in trouble,” said Landi, who coaches in Texas, a state with one of the country’s strictest abortion bans.

For Landi, whose athletes have included seven-time Olympic medalist and fivetime world champion Simone Biles and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles, having a public conversation about such a private matter is part of her evolving role.

“It’s just way more than coaching, the relation we have with the athletes, talking to them about everything,” she said.

Landi’s holistic approach to her job reflects the rapidly shifting tectonic plates of the athlete-coach relationship at all levels of sports, particularly those involving women.

For some coaches, the constantly shifting landscape is making their profession more demanding than ever.

GOOD LUCK MAVERICKS!

BRICE TUCKER

SETH WENIG • The Associated Press

Protesters hold signs to protest gun violence at a student sit in at the Michigan state Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Feb. 15, 2023, following a mass shooting at Michigan State University earlier in the week.

When the daughters of Salim-Beasley were making a list of potential college destinations, she crossed off states where abortions were restricted.

US government ponders the meaning of race and ethnicity

School pulls test question equating politics to race, gender

By MIKE SCHNEIDER The Associated Press

Nyhiem Way is weary of people conflating African American and Black. Shalini Parekh wants a way for South Asian people to identify themselves differently than East Asians with roots in places like China or Japan. And Byron Haskins wants the U.S. to toss racial and ethnic labels altogether.

“When you set up categories that are used to place people in boxes, sometime you miss the truth of them,” said Haskins, who describes himself as African American.

Way, Parekh and Haskins’ voices are among more than 4,300 comments pending before the Biden administration as it contemplates updating the nation’s racial and ethnic categories for the first time since 1997.

There’s a lot to consider.

Some Black Americans want their ancestors’ enslavement recognized in how they are identified. Some Jewish people believe their identity should be seen as its own ethnic category and not only a religion.

The idea of revising categories for ethnic and racial identities, both in the census and in gathering demographic information between head counts, have fueled editorials and think-tank essays as well as thousands of written comments by individuals in what is almost a Rorschach test for how Americans identify themselves.

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget is set to decide on new classifications next year and is hosting three virtual town halls on the subject this week.

Some conservatives question the process itself, saying

the overarching premise that Americans need more ethnic categories will only accelerate Balkanization.

“By creating and deepening sub-national identities, the government further contributes to the decline of one national American identity,” wrote Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, in his personal comment posted on the OMB web page seeking public input.

That view contrasts sharply with those who say previous categories have overlooked nuances.

“This is certainly a singular moment and opportunity to greatly improve and enhance the accuracy and completeness of the data,” Mario Beovides, director of policy and legislative affairs for the NALEO Educational Fund, said during a recent forum.

The proposed changes would create a new category for people of Middle Eastern and North African descent, also known by the acronym MENA, who are now classified as white but say they have been routinely undercounted.

The process also would combine the race and ethnic origin questions into a single query, because some advocates say the current method of asking about race and separately about ethnic origin often confuses Hispanic respondents. With the revisions, the government would try to get more detailed answers on race and ethnicity by asking about country of origin.

Another proposal recommends striking from federal government forms the words “Negro” and “Far East,” now widely regarded as pejorative. The terms “majority” and “minority” would also be dropped because some officials say they

fail to reflect the nation’s complex racial and ethnic diversity.

Several Black Americans, like Way, whose ancestors were enslaved, said in public comments to the OMB that they would like to be identified in a category such as American Freedmen, Foundational Black Americans or American Descendants of Slavery to distinguish themselves from Black immigrants, or even white individuals born in Africa, as well as reflecting their ancestors’ history in the U.S.

Way also recommended substituting the word “population group” for “race.”

Conflating “African American” with “Black” has “blurred what it means to be an African American in this country,” Way, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Athens, Georgia, said in a telephone interview.

Haskins, a retired government worker from Lansing, Michigan, suggested eliminating race categories like “white” and “Black” since they perpetuate “deeply rooted unjust socio-political constructs.”

Instead, he said people should be able to self-identify as they wish.

When his sociologist daughter points out the difficulty of aggregating such data into something useful to address inequalities in housing or voting, or tailoring health or education programs to the needs of communities, he tells her, “Go crazy at it. That’s what you’re being paid for.”

“You need to search for the truth and not just stay with the old categories because someone decided, ‘That is what we decided,’” Haskins said.

Parekh is asking the government to distinguish South Asians from East Asians.

By MATTHEW BARAKAT The Associated Press

Virginia’s largest school system is removing a test question given to a college-level social studies class that equated liberals and conservatives with specific racial and gender demographics.

The question appeared on a test given to students of an AP Government class at Fairfax County Public Schools’ Online Campus. The multiple-choice question asked students, “Which of the following is an accurate comparison of liberals versus conservatives?”

The potential answers for “liberals” included “Young, white males;” “Middle aged, urban lesbian;” “College-educated black male professional” and “White, upper-middle

class suburban male.” The potential answers for “conservatives” included “East Coast, Ivy League educated scientists;” “Southern male migrant laborer;” “Catholic, midwestern middle-aged male” and “West coast, Hispanic teacher. ”

Rory Cooper, a Fairfax County parent and school system critic who posted the question on Twitter, said it is offensive.

“It’s one thing for adults to analyze demographic trends,” he said. “It’s another to tell students that their identity defines their political philosophy.”

The school system said in a statement that the question will be removed from future tests because it “did not meet the division’s high expectations.”

ALEX SLITZ • The Associated Press

MATTHEW BARAKAT • The Associated Press

Nyhiem Way, of Athens, Ga., poses for a portrait. Changes to how people are identified on surveys and censuses based on race and ethnicity have been proposed by the federal government.

Virginia’s largest school system is removing a test question given to a college-level social studies class that equated liberals and conservatives with specific racial and gender demographics.

Biden tells U.S. to have confidence in banks

By KEN SWEET, CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, CHRIS MEGERIAN and CATHY BUSSEWITZ The Associated Press

President Joe Biden on Monday told U.S. residents the nation’s financial systems are sound, following the swift and stunning collapse of two banks that prompted fears of a broader upheaval.

“American can have confidence that the banking system is safe,” he said from the Roosevelt Room before a trip to the West Coast. “Your deposits will be there when you need them.”

U.S. regulators closed the Silicon Valley Bank on Friday after it experienced a traditional bank run, where depositors rushed to withdraw their funds all at once.

It is the second largest bank failure in U.S. history, behind only the 2008 failure of Washington Mutual.

In a sign of how fast the financial bleeding was occurring, regulators announced that New York-based Signature Bank had also failed.

The president, speaking from the Roosevelt Room shortly before U.S. markets opened, said he’d seek to hold those responsible and pressed for better oversight and regulation of larger banks. And he promised no losses would be borne by taxpayers.

Governments in the U.S. and Britain are taking extraordinary steps to prevent a potential banking crisis after the failure of California-based Silicon Valley Bank prompted fears of a broader upheaval.

U.S. regulators worked

through the weekend to find a buyer for the bank, which had more than $200 billion in assets and catered to tech startups, venture capital firms, and wellpaid technology workers.

While those efforts appeared to have failed, officials assured

all of the bank’s customers that they would be able to access their money on Monday.

The assurances came as part of an expansive emergency lending program intended to prevent a wave of bank runs that would threaten the stability of the

banking system and the economy as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Bank of England and U.K. Treasury said early Monday that they had facilitated the sale of the bank’s London-based subsidiary to HSBC, Europe’s biggest bank, ensuring the security of 6.7 billion pounds ($8.1 billion) of deposits.

Regulators in the U.S. rushed to close Silicon Valley Bank on Friday when it experienced a traditional bank run, where depositors rushed to withdraw their funds all at once.

It is the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, behind only the 2008 failure of Washington Mutual.

In a sign of how fast the financial bleeding was occurring, regulators announced that New York-based Signature Bank had also failed and was being seized on Sunday.

At more than $110 billion in assets, Signature Bank is the third-largest bank failure in U.S. history.

Another beleaguered bank, First Republic Bank, announced Sunday that it had bolstered its financial health by gaining access to funding from the Fed and JPMorgan Chase.

The developments left markets jittery as trading began Monday.

LOUISE DELMOTTE • The Associated Press

Asian shares mostly fell Monday, shaken by a Wall Street tumble that set off worries the biggest U.S. bank failure in nearly 15 years might have ripple effects around the world. President Joe Biden told citizens not to worry.

‘It’s hard to focus’: Schools say American students are hungry 9th grader sues over Pledge of Allegiance confrontation

By JEFFERY COLLINS The Associated Press

The parents of a ninth grade South Carolina student who said she was accosted by a teacher for walking to class instead of stopping and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are suing the teacher, principal, school district and state education officials.

Marissa Barnwell said she was walking quietly to class and decided not to stop for the pledge or a moment of silence that followed.

A teacher yelled at her, confronted her and pushed her against a wall.

Barnwell was then sent to the principal’s office, which she said was humiliating because she feared she was in trouble.

The principal sent her back to class, but Barnwell said he never let her know that the teacher was wrong and she was right.

“I was completely and utterly disrespected,” Barnwell, 15, said at a news conference Thursday, according to The State newspaper.

“No one has apologized, no one has acknowledged my hurt. ... The fact that the school is defending that kind of behavior is unimaginable.”

Barnwell’s parents are suing the River Bluff High School teacher, the principal, Lexington School District 1, and the South Carolina Education Department in federal court, saying they violated the girl’s civil rights and her First Amendment rights to both free speech or not to speak at all.

A state law passed more than 30 years ago requires public schools to play the Pledge of Allegiance at a specific time every day.

But that law also prohibits punishing anyone who refuses to recite the pledge as long as they are not disruptive or do not infringe on others.

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY and ARLEIGH RODGERS The Associated Press

America’s schools say kids are hungry — just as pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. There is growing concern about the effects on kids’ ability to learn.

Congress temporarily made school meals free to all American schoolkids, but since that ended last fall, the need has only seemed to grow.

Soaring food prices are adding strains on families who are seeing reductions in multiple kinds of financial assistance. One federal program that ends this month had given nearly 30 million Americans extra food stamps during the pandemic.

School cafeterias typically don’t turn away a hungry kid, but debts for unpaid school meals have been rising — showing the level of need, and raising questions about how schools will keep feeding everyone, without federal money to do it. The neediest kids are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as before the pandemic, but qualifying for those benefits requires applications that haven’t been necessary for several years.

“Programs that provide direct food assistance are hugely critical and we are going to see the effects of not having them over the next couple of months,” said Megan Curran, policy director for Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy.

In the last academic year, with nearly all schools back operating in person, the number of school meals served to students jumped dramatically, and was slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to a report Thursday from the Food Research & Action Cen-

ter. Already, it said, states now are reporting drops in the number of meals served.

More than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure, according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for every person in their family to be healthy.

Children in such households are more likely to struggle academically and repeat grade levels, among other challenges, according to researchers.

For fourth-grader Fabian Aguirre, it’s hard to think about math equations when he’s sitting in class with a growling stomach.

When he arrives in the morning, Fabian eats breakfast served by the school in South Phoenix, but he can get hungry in the classes before lunch. On days he doesn’t eat at home first, even the meals offered by the school aren’t enough to keep him feeling full.

“It’s hard to focus in class when I’m hungry. Food helps me pay attention to what I’m learning,” said Fabian, 10.

At his school, V. H. Lassen Academy of Science and Nutrition, all students are eligible to receive free meals.

The Roosevelt School District, where 80% of students are Hispanic and 12% are Black, covers the meals with aid from a federal program for low-income school communities.

To reach students who might be embarrassed about not having eaten at home, the school recently changed how it distributes free breakfast. Carts filled with prepackaged breakfast meals are rolled outside by the entrance to the school, instead of being kept in the caf-

eteria.

“We realized that a lot of our students were going straight to the playground and not going into the cafeteria to eat before school, from the 7 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. timeframe,” said Jessica Padilla, a sixth-grade math and science teacher.

While they lasted, the universal free meals addressed several concerns about student hunger. There was no paperwork involved. And kids who needed them didn’t have to worry about stigma because they were available to everyone. Some states including California are using state money to continue these programs, but most have gone back to charging all but the neediest kids for meals.

When the free meals for all came to an end, “families were left scrambling and confused,” National PTA President Anna King said.

They weren’t prepared for the paperwork after two years without it — and many families with young kids had never filled them out.

It can be difficult for parents to ask for the help they need, said Jillien Meier, director of No Kid Hungry. Immigrant parents, she said, might also avoid filling out forms requesting free or reduced-price meals out of concern it could bring unwanted attention if they are in the U.S. illegally.

Teachers often are the ones to pick up on chronic hunger in students.

Martissa Moore, a teacher at Bainbridge Middle School in Bainbridge, Georgia, recalls a seventh-grade student who had his head on his desk during class, picked arguments with other students and struggled to keep up academically. Moore sensed he wasn’t getting enough to eat.

ALBERTO MARIANI • The Associated Press

Students select their meal during lunch break in the cafeteria at V. H. Lassen Academy of Science and Nutrition in Phoenix, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Students aren’t able to focus on classes since they don’t eat at home.

Made in China: Embrace the Journey

Julia Lin Editor In Chief Emma Johnson News Director Joey Erickson Variety Editor

Alicia Reed Sports Editor Dylan Engel Photo Editor

The importance of Women’s History Month

The month of March is reaching its midpoint, which means we’re almost halfway done with Women’s History Month. Starting as a one-day celebration to now being a month-long celebration, we as students see it is clear that highlighting the achievements of women in both the past and present is more than important; it’s necessary.

March 8, 1911 was the first occurrence of International Women’s Day. However, it was not widely celebrated in the United States until the United Nations began sponsoring it in 1975. Over the next few years, the celebration gained popularity across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter took it upon himself to declare that March 8 was to be the official start of Women’s History Week. When 1987 rolled around, it was decided that one week wasn’t enough, so Congress dedicated the entire month of March to honor women.

Why is it necessary? Women have had to fight for basic human rights for centuries and continue to do so today. With a whole month dedicated to women, it gives us the chance to reflect on the trailblazers who have paved the way for change.

Some may argue that Women’s History Month is unfair because there is no such thing as Men’s History Month. However, while men have contributed a great deal to our society, it is important to recognize the obstacles women have had to go through to get to where they are today.

Some key moments of women’s history include: earning the right to vote, the Equal Pay Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments. The 19th Amendment was passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified in 1920. This amendment granted women the right to vote, a fight that lasted decades and was a part of the women’s suffrage movement. The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963 during John F. Kennedy’s presidency. It is a labor law that prohibits gender-based wage discrimination, as women were still earning less than twothirds of what males were for the very same position. In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed. It prohibits federal education institutions from sex-based discrimination for both students and employees.

For hundreds of years, men have had significantly more power than women. While women have the same rights now, it is crucial to remember that they once did not, as they are often taken advantage of by today’s generation. Furthermore, the women who worked their entire lives to give other women these opportunities deserve the utmost respect and recognition. Without them, women would not have nearly as much freedom as they have today.

Although the fight is not quite over to be seen as equals, women have in fact come a long way and that should not be overlooked.

By JULIA LIN Editor in Chief

Now that we are over halfway done with the semester, the realization of inching closer to true adulthood is daunting. Although the school year is coming to an end, my journey feels like it is just beginning.

If you had asked three years ago that I’d be a few months away from graduating and on my way to start a full-time reporter job in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I would’ve laughed.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about my future and how caught up we as students can get at times doing the same routine day after day.

When you’ve been in the loop of school since you were five years old, it can seem never-ending until you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. As someone who is graduating in May, it is start-

ing to hit me. This is going to be my last few months of school ever. However, even though this chapter is ending, I have the rest of my life to look forward to.

I’m anxious yet equally as excited to finally put my skills to the test and give my best shot at journalism in a professional setting.

I feel like this opportunity to work for a real broadcast news company is something I’ve always dreamed of and it’s finally coming true. Being able to share other people’s stories on a big platform has always been a goal of mine.

And if that’s not enough change in my life this year, I’d also like to share that I’ve been accepted into The European Journalism Institute program held in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. This week-long trip in July will gather about 25 early-career journalists and upper-level journalism students worldwide. Hosted

by The Fund for American Studies this program aims to, “engage with industry professionals to expand their understanding of religion in public life, explore fundamental issues related to journalism ethics, and boost reporting skills through lectures and workshops.”

I’ve never been to Europe before. As someone who was born outside of the United States but has never really traveled outside of the states, I am so thrilled to embark on this new experience. Being able to learn from my peers and journalism professionals is a dream. I am so grateful to be given this opportunity in hopes to gain knowledge and have a more worldly view of culture in connection to journalism and storytelling. This year feels like the year where I’ll finally be able to see the fruition of my hard work. I could not be happier or more excited about what is in store for me.

Compiled by Dylan Engel

STEVENS, FRESHMAN

SIMS, JUNIOR

SHAWN BAGLEY, SENIOR

JACOB FORD, FRESHMAN

BRIANNA JOHNSON, FRESHMAN

ALLAN KIBET, JUNIOR

Editorials represent the opinions of The Reporter editorial board. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the college, university or student body.

Letter to the Editor: Avoid excessive alcohol use during March Madness

How a see-through fish gets its rainbow shimmer

By MADDIE BURAKOFF The Associated Press

Its skin is almost completely transparent. But when the light hits it just right, its body flickers with shimmering rainbow colors.

Now, scientists have figured out how this fish — called the ghost catfish — creates its iridescent glow.

That glow comes from within, according to a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. As light passes through the fish’s skin, it hits tiny structures in the muscle that turn the light into a colorful spectrum.

The ghost catfish — sometimes known as the glass catfish — is a small species native to rivers in Thailand, averaging just a few inches (centimeters) long. It’s sold around the world as an aquarium fish.

Other creatures are also iridescent, creating the shimmering rainbow effect where colors shift as you move. Usually, they have shiny outer surfaces that reflect the light — like a hummingbird’s feathers or a butterfly’s wings, explained Arizona State University biologist Ron Rutowski, who was not involved with the research.

But the ghost catfish has no scales, said senior author Qibin Zhao, a physicist at China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who became fascinated by the fish after seeing it in an aquarium store.

Instead, it has tightly packed structures in the muscles that can bend light into rainbow hues, which researchers found after shining different lights and lasers onto its body in the lab. As the ghost catfish swims, those muscles relax and tighten, sending off a glinting range of colors.

Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the field of substance abuse and addiction recovery. He strives to provide current, up-to-date facts about drug and alcohol abuse to his readers. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance abuse.

The NCAA tournament, known as March Madness, is one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. It showcases some of the best up-andcoming basketball talents in the nation.

Yet, it can be a sure bet that for every tip-off, students and fans are tipping back an excessive amount of alcohol.

It can be challenging at any time of the year to avoid excessive alcohol use. It can be particularly difficult for someone in recovery or the average person choosing sobriety for their health.

Fortunately, there are practical approaches that anyone can utilize to avoid excessive alcohol use during March Madness and maintain their sobriety.

However, if you know someone struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, they must receive help. Addictions always worsen with time and no treatment.

“Binge drinking is most common among young adults aged 18 to 34, primarily among men,” said Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org. “We have found that adequate preventative information and awareness about the dangers of binge drinking has helped numerous people

WOMEN from page 1

help students learn more about women’s contribution to society and inspire them to work in the field that they choose. Steinborn-Gourley said she believes women’s history should not be confined to a month.

“Women’s History is every day for women. Anyone who

avoid the pitfalls.”

Avoiding binge drinking or relapsing is not possible. It takes work and awareness, and one can still enjoy March Madness.

Suppose someone is in recovery from addiction or choosing sobriety.

In that case, begin by identifying relapse triggers, such as places, people, groups, events, or environments. Avoid these and set clear boundaries and limitations.

Manage any negative emotions with healthy outlets, such as exercise or hobbies. Attend the game or post-game celebrations with other sober like-minded people. Bring non-alcoholic drinks. Practice saying no when offered alcohol.

Finally, have an exit plan if things become too much to manage and lean on support, such as family, peers, friends, or group meetings.

In contrast, suppose someone is a casual drinker of legal age. Stick to one or two alcoholic beverages during the game. Drink lots of water and have a full meal to avoid drinking on an empty stomach.

Avoid drinking games and any environments promoting

has an ancestor who’s a woman, our history is a part of us. It’s intertwined in us. To honor that, to hold space for that at some point in your month, of what that means to honor the women who have gone before us. We’ve all descended from incredible women, and we should acknowledge that,” said Steinborn-Gourley.

excessive alcohol use. Do not drink and drive, even if you do not feel intoxicated.

Binge drinking is a method of consuming alcohol that rapidly increases blood alcohol concentration to or above 0.08%. Among men, this may take five or more drinks within two hours, and for women, four or more drinks in two hours.

There are significant dangers associated with this type of drinking. The unfortunate consequences negatively affect college students, their families, and college campuses.

While poor academic performance is obvious, the more severe consequences include alcohol poisoning, suicide attempts, health problems, personal injury, DUIs, unsafe sexual behavior, violence, sexual assault, assault, and even death.

All of this is avoidable with awareness and prevention. It is some of the best basketball in the nation.

Yet, participating in the festivities should never cost someone their health or future. Make good choices, stay aware, and be responsible.

Nick Hayes Healthcare Professional

“Keep celebrating the Women’s History Month inspires many girls and young women to look at them and say ‘I can relate to that’ and ‘I can do what she did and she’s my superhero’,” added Ibrahim.

To learn more about Women’s History Month and the event, email wcenter@mnsu. edu.

Photo courtesy of Nick Hayes

SPORTS S

Mavs advance to CCHA Championship

By KARSON BUELOW Staff Writer

It wasn’t long ago that the Minnesota State Mankato men’s hockey team fell short of Ferris State en route to giving up their first sweep on home ice in several years.

But that memory seemed in the distant past last weekend as the Mavericks blanketed the Bulldogs by a final score of 7-2 to advance to the CCHA championship for a second straight year.

“It’s not the first time we’ve not exactly started the game the way you wanted to,” said Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings. “But I liked how we reacted.”

That poor start Hastings referenced was a late goal scored by the Bulldogs with under five minutes to go in the first.

Sophomore forward Bradley Marek found freshman forward Connor McGrath alone in front who potted the first goal of the contest.

But the lead wouldn’t last long, as freshman forward Christian Fitzgerald buried a loose puck off a rebound by junior forward David Silye to tie the game. The Mavericks kept buzzing as Silye buried the goahead power play goal 32 seconds later with a snipe from the slot.

“We were fortunate enough to be playing in our own building,”

The MSU Men’s Hockey team advances to the CCHA tournament championship game after a 7-2 win over Ferris State last Saturday.

said Hastings. “I thought that once we scored that first goal, the energy in the building increased and we were able to draw a little momentum from that.”

The Mavericks carried that

momentum along with a 2-1 lead into the locker room following the first period. The momentum carried over very quickly into the second period as the Mavs found themselves up 3-1 thanks to a nif-

ty backhand goal from senior forward Brendan Furry.

But the goal-scoring didn’t stop there. Senior forward Cade Borchardt increased the lead just six minutes later with a one-timer

to improve the score to 4-1. The Mavericks saw their lead cut to 4-2 just over a minute later as the Bulldogs converted on the power play on the strength of Bradley’s eighth goal of the season.

That would be all the Bulldogs put past sophomore goaltender Keenan Rancier, but the Mavericks still continued the onslaught of goals into the third period. At the 12:17 mark of the third period, junior forward Ondrej Pavel tallied his fifth of the year on a breakaway to open up a 5-2 lead.

With under three minutes left in the third, Ferris State pulled their goaltender in the hopes of spawning a late comeback.

But that effort fell short rather quickly as senior forward Lucas Sowder went the distance for the empty-net goal, improving the lead to 6-2.

Junior defenseman Jake Livingstone tallied a final power play goal late in the period en route to a 7-2 win for Minnesota State. The Mavericks were four-for-four on the power play in the game and Rancier stopped 19 of 21 shots.

With their win against Ferris State, Minnesota State advances to the CCHA championship game against Northern Michigan in defense of the Mason Cup. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. this Saturday in Mankato.

Dittel dazzles in NCAA Indoor Championships

By MOHAMED WARSAME Staff Writer

The NCAA Indoor Championships took place last weekend in a two-day event March 10 and March 11 in Virginia Beach. The Minnesota State Men’s Indoor Track and Field team made Maverick fans proud by producing two All-American performances. The No.18-ranked Mavs finished the competition in 16th place with a 16-point tally.

Along with coming away from the competition with multiple All-American performances, the Mavs were able to add another feather in their cap by extending their streak to 11 consecutive years of posting points in the indoor national championships. This current streak is tied for the ninth active streak in the country along with Missouri Southern State.

Junior Carson Dittel made his mark on the competition with a tremendous outing during the finals of the pole vault. Dittel came in as ninth-ranked in the nation in the pole vault and he made sure to let everybody know that he meant business.

He started off with a bang by clearing the first two heights on his first attempt. He then went on to impress throughout the rest of his performance by missing on his first attempts and then clearing on his

second attempt in each of his next four heights.

With an excellent showing up to that point, Dittel’s best was yet to come, which came on his next height. Dittel staggeringly cleared his seventh height at 5.35 meters. This was a personal best for Dittel as he shattered his previous record of 5.19 meters.

Dittel went on to finish as the National Runner Up to Vlad Malykhin of Harding after the next height of 5.40 meters proved to be a bridge too far for him. He dwarfed his performance from last year’s meet that saw him finish in 14th place.

Dittel’s excellent showing puts him in a small but esteemed company as he becomes the eighth person in MSU history to earn All-American honors in the pole vault.

Making his debut in the indoor national championships and ranked 16th in the nation was sophomore Onyekachi Ukaobasi in the men’s triple jump. He managed to finish in 14th after his best jump of 14.26 meters. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to see him go through to the championship flight.

The MSU 4x400 relay team held it down during the final event of the meet. The team, consisting of freshman Qai Hussey, sophomore Marvin Dure, senior Rashion

Walker and senior Kenry Atubel came into the indoor national championships off the back of winning the title in the 2023 NSIC Championships. The quartet also went into the meet as the 15thranked team in the nation with a

qualifying time of 3:16.20.

In the opening heat, the squad put on a phenomenal display as they posted a time of 3:11.57. This became the second-fastest time in MSU history to win the heat. Following MSU’s efforts, eight teams

still had the opportunity to post times in two heats. The Mavericks finished in sixth and earned themselves first team All-American honors. They became the fifth team in MSU’s history to earn that status for the 4x400 relay.

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

The MSU Track and Field teams conclude their indoor season after competing at the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend.

Bulldogs end Maverick’s season Life after Thielen

By LUKE JACKSON Staff Writer

The Minnesota State Women’s Basketball team made it to the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament before the University of Minnesota Duluth put an end to their season Saturday.

The fifth-seed Mavericks started the tournament Friday against the fourth-seed Central Missouri Jennies where they won in dramatic fashion with a score of 8380. Saturday’s contest brought them their first-seed rivals UMD.

The Bulldogs already beat the Mavericks in two tight games. The first time was in the regular season and the second was in the NSIC Conference Championship game. In the Maverick’s third chance at redemption, they still could not figure out the mystery of how to stop UMD’s fifth-year senior, NSIC Player of the Year and Central Division Player of the Year, Brooke Olson. Olson scored a career-high 43 points, putting the team on her back and scoring half of UMD’s final 86 points. The game ended in a blowout of 86-70, ending the Mavericks’ season.

Going back to Friday’s game, the Jennies began the game on a scoring streak which was the first of many throughout the game. Central Missouri came out strong with a 9-2 run which was later pushed to 16-8 at the 2:26 mark of the first quarter. The Mavs were able to stay level-headed and found their game as they scored eight quick buckets to close out the first quarter 21-16.

The Mavs continued this momentum and found themselves on a run of their own early in the second quarter. They took their first lead of the game as they went on a 10-4 run in the first two minutes of the quarter making the score 26-25. The score went back and forth throughout the remainder of the quarter as the lead switched four times but Maverick guard Joey Batt was the deciding factor

in the first half. Batt tallied 13 of her 15 first-half points in the second quarter and hit a three with five seconds remaining in the half to push the Maverick lead to 4238.

Coming out of halftime, both teams found themselves on two huge runs. The Jennies started off firing on all fronts. They shut down the Mavericks and put themselves in a 22-2 run only five minutes into the half. In turn, Mavs head coach, Emilee Thiesse, called a key timeout to regroup her team in hopes to build a run of their own.

“We called a timeout there and that’s when our leaders started really taking over saying, ‘hey right now we have to come together, we really got to pull on each other.’ We took it one possession at a time. We had big play after big play defensively and put ourselves in a great position,” said Thiesse.

After this timeout, the Mavericks cut Central Missouri’s lead to four after scoring 14 points in two minutes. Despite the scoring run, MSU didn’t find the lead until the fourth quarter at the 4:58 mark. The game stayed neck and neck until the very end when Maverick’s guard, Dentinee Bursch, called the game. The score was tied 81-81 with 14 seconds left. MSU held on to the ball until two seconds remained and trusted Bursch to hit her shot. She hit a pull-up jumper finalizing the score, 83-81. The game concluded on hard defense from the Mavs stopping the Jennies from getting a shot off.

In both previous games versus UMD, the Mavericks found themselves trailing heavily early on and finding their rhythm in the second half. Saturday’s game was different, the Mavericks were close with the Bulldogs early on and found themselves in a large deficit later on.

Neither team in the first half found themselves with a lead greater than seven. In the second quarter, there were four lead changes in the final five minutes.

The Bulldogs gained the final lead

• The Reporter

going into the locker room as Mason Thiesen laid in two points with two seconds remaining to make the score 40-37.

The advantage for the Bulldogs throughout the first half was Olson as she recorded 20 of the team’s first-half points and continued to dominate throughout the rest of the night.

“She is nearly unstoppable, she’s just an incredible basketball player that has improved year after year,” said Thiesse.

The Bulldogs showed up in the third quarter and proved that they were the better team once again. UMD outscored the Mavs 20-8 in the third and completely broke down MSU. In the fourth, their reign continued as the Mavs brought the lead down to ten points but could not break through into single digits.

The two main contributors to the Bulldog’s win were Olson and fouls. The Bulldogs kept breaking through the Maverick’s press defense and giving Olson the ball for her to feast in the paint. Olson earned 23 points in the second half and shot 9-9 on free throws.

As a team, UMD shot 93% from the free-throw line making 27 out of 29. The Mavericks could not stay out of foul trouble as they recorded 27 throughout the game. Two Mavericks had four fouls while five Mavericks had three. The mixture of Olson and fouls was the winning recipe for the Bulldogs.

With the loss, MSU’s season ended with an overall record of 26-5. The Mavs made it to the NSIC conference championship and to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Looking ahead, the Mavs will only be losing one player this season and will be having three new recruits for the 2023-24 season.

“We love each other on and off the court. I mean, we’re sisters and everything we do is together and for each other and I think that’s what we did prove this season,” said junior guard Taylor Theusch.

By HAYDEN LEE Staff Writer

In his 10 seasons with the Vikings, Adam Thielen has worked his way up from a practice squad/ special-teamer to a sure-fire member of the Ring of Honor. Now, his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings is officially over.

The Detroit Lakes native went undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2013. In four seasons with the Mavs, Thielen played in 46 games, catching 198 passes for 2,802 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is the greatest player in Maverick football history, and an inspiration to many who attend the university. His departure from his hometown team is devastating.

“It’s a damn shame,” said my roommate.

The 32-year-old Thielen’s fu-

ture with the team hung in the balance this offseason, and their partnership eventually came to an end due to contract and role disputes. The Vikings will save $6.417 million by releasing the two-time Pro Bowl receiver, while also eating $13.55 million in dead cap by letting him go.

The Vikings’ organization moved on from a legend Friday, and Thielen has been so much more than just a wide receiver for the Vikings. In 2022, Thielen was the Vikings’ nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year. Mr. Minnesota, as he has been called, represents every Minnesota boy’s dream, and to see him live the life myself and many others wished for has been nothing short of amazing to watch.

“I have always felt a brotherly

THIELEN on page 16

DYLAN LONG

Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

MSU Women’s Basketball team falls to Minnesota Duluth with a 86-70 loss in round two of the NCAA tournament.

If Adam Thielen signs with the Packers, I take back everything I said in this article.

Another RussMatt Invitational in the books

By CHARLIE GROEBNER Staff Writer

While many people spent their spring break resting, Minnesota State Baseball was strictly business during theirs, coming off an impressive stint at the RussMatt Central Florida invitational and wrapping up its spring training.

The Mavs entered the invitational in thunderous fashion with a 15-0 shutout over Gannon University. The night started slowly for the Mavs, who notched just two runs by the fourth inning. However, the Mavs launched a barrage on the Golden Knights, scoring 12 runs in the final two innings. While it certainly boosted their confidence, that confidence was short-lived after falling to Tiffin University (Ohio).

Following the loss to the Dragons, something clicked for the group. They won four straight before falling to California University of Pennsylvania. They concluded the Invitational with a loss against Grand Valley State University. While they had several highs and lows during the tournament, Head Coach Matt Magers sang the praises of his guys for their work.

“Coming back with a 6-2 record is definitely something we’re excited about. We were able to answer some of the questions that we had going into the trip regarding the lineup and rotation. Guys like Chandler Fochs, Zach Stoh, Tanner Shumski, and Aiden McGee really were able to step up and show they can play at a high level.” said Magers.

One of the week’s standout performances on the offense was sophomore infielder Aidan Byrne. The native out of Eagan did not see any action in his freshman year as a multisport athlete from

Eagan High School. Even before the invitational, he didn’t show a lot of potential, notching just five RBIs and one HR in the preseason.

However, during the Invitational, he flourished into an RBI machine by doubling his original total and becoming a crucial part of the hitting lineup, making a strong case that he is ready for the next step in his career with the Mavs.

Another one of the heroes from the week is a familiar name to fans in junior pitcher Nathan Culley. Following an incredible 2022 campaign that earned him All-NSIC Second Team honors, the native of Andover hasn’t skipped a beat in spring training, earning a record of 3-0 on the mound, an ERA of 2.01, and 28

strikeouts before the regular season has even started.

One thing that is clear with the current squad is that they are a unique team in terms of skills. They have veteran experience and young bucks looking to be given their shot in the lineup. Coach Magers said he thinks it’s a great thing to have a group of guys like this with opening day approaching.

“I have been pleased with the progress,” he said. “Ten and four overall records, and at this point our pitching and defense have done a job holding up to the expectations. Offensively hitting-wise, we have a lot of potential there. However, I think once we can play outside, we can get things better and have some more quality at-bats.”

An even split down in the Sunshine State

By JADE JACKSON Staff Writer

Last week, the Minnesota State Women’s Softball team traveled down to Clermont, Florida with 10 games on their plate. They left with a 5-5 record. Here’s a recap of the week in the Sunshine State.

The Mavericks began their trip with a win over the Assumption Greyhounds. Minnesota State began the day with a 9-1 win in five innings. Junior McKayla Armbruster picked up the win for the Mavericks as she allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out five, in the complete game effort.

In their second game, which was more exciting, the Mavs took on the Dominican N.Y. Chargers and triumphed with a 10-4 victory. Sophomore Sophia Del Vechhio picked up the win as she

threw five shutout innings, while giving up just five hits. RBI-doubles from Sullivan in the top of the first and sophomore Cheyenne Behrends at the top of the third gave the Mavericks an early 2-0 lead. MSU added three more runs in the top of the fourth to go up 5-0. Smithson drove in a run with a single to left field, before a fielder’s choice from junior Sydney Nelson and a sac bunt from Newman drove in two more. The Mavericks drove in five more runs in the top of the sixth to go up 10-0. Newman doubled in the first run, before Behrends drove in a run with a single to left field. Three more runs were scored off the single from Tallman and an error by the Charger left fielder. The third and fourth games a day later didn’t exactly go the way

GOOD LUCK

File Photo

The MSU Women’s Softball team concludes their participation in the Spring Games event.

File Photo

The MSU Men’s Baseball team returns home after competing in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

THIELEN from page 14

kinship with Adam from the day we met. So grateful I got to play with him. Lots of great football left up ahead in his career,” said Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The G.O.A.T. Cousins helped Thielen to some of his most productive seasons in his career, but his production saw a dip in 2022. Although it has been four years since his last 1,000 yard season, Thielen remained productive in the red zone and a good no. 2 to Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson.

He earned every bit of the payday he received in 2019, and it is unfortunate that he had to be cut, but the sides seemed destined for a divorce since the team’s Wild Card round loss to the Giants. On that day, his wife posted an Insta-

the Mavericks had wanted. They fell to California, Pennsylvania 6-2 and Tiffin 3-0. However, the third day they regained some heat as they bested Ashland 4-3, but lost to Saginaw Valley State in a nail-biter, 5-4.

Toward the end of the trip, on Day 4, the Mavericks were upended by both Northwood and Grand Valley State.

With fuel to their fire, they went into the last day in Florida with a vengeance and won both games. The Mavericks defeated Franklin Pierce 12-0 in five

gram story hinting that they may be moving on from their time in Minnesota.

“Adam will forever be a part of the Minnesota Vikings family and history,” general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “Setting the standard with his play on the field, being a selfless teammate, and making a permanent impact in the community, Adam’s influence is significant. We are grateful for everything he brought to the Vikings organization since arriving in 2013, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to work with him over the last year. He is the best representation of what the Minnesota Vikings should stand for. I wish nothing but the best for Adam, Caitlin and their entire family.”

innings and Lynn 2-0. Against Lynn, junior McKayla Armbruster earned the win as she allowed just six hits while striking out 10 batters. Armbruster struck out the first 11 batters she faced. The first four innings of the game saw neither team advance a runner beyond second base. With both teams scoreless into the top of the fifth, Tallman struck out but advanced to first on a wild pitch to open the inning. Tallman then stole second, before Lara reached first via an error. After a sac bunt moved the runners to second and third, junior Sydney

Given that the wide receiver market is relatively slim this off-season, some team will come calling for Thielen’s services. Hopefully just not the Packers, Lions or Bears.

The Vikings are ready to start a new chapter in 2023, with K.J. Osborn primed to take over the no. 2 role behind Jefferson. Linebacker Eric Kendricks was also cut earlier this off-season, Cameron Dantzler was waived and up next may be Harrison Smith, Dalvin Cook and C.J. Ham.

It sucks to see Thielen and the fellas leave, but I have hope that after these moves the Vikings can start to build up a new group of players that we can all grow to love and appreciate just as much. Skol.

Nelson ended the scoreless tie with a two-run double to right center to put the Mavericks up 2-0. Lynn managed to get five hits in the final three innings but the Knights could not get a run across the plate as Armbruster completed her third shutout of the season.

Minnesota State continues their season in St. Joseph, Missouri as they take part in the three-day Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic.

MSU opens the weekend Friday, March 17, with a pair of games against UW-Parkside at 10:00 a.m. and Northwest Missouri State at 2:00 p.m.

Garoppolo heads long list of QBs on move in free agency

By STEVE REED The Associated Press

Jimmy Garoppolo is finally out of San Francisco, ready to start the next phase of his career wearing the Raiders’ silver and black. Sam Darnold is heading out West, where he’ll replace Garoppolo and join Trey Lance and Brock Purdy with the 49ers. Mike White, Case Keenum and Jarrett Stidham have new teams, too.

Deshaun Watson is staying in Cleveland, but with a restructured deal with the Browns.

As for Aaron Rodgers, who is not free agent but whose name has widely been circulated in trade rumors, his future remains unclear because, well, he’s Aaron Rodgers.

Quarterbacks took center stage on Monday as NFL free agency began with teams allowed to negotiate — and agree to deals — with unrestricted free agents. The deals can’t be announced until Wednesday and therefore were confirmed to The Associated Press.

File Photo

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 30, 2022, in Inglewood.

Vikings reach deals with DE Davenport, TE Oliver

By DAVE CAMPBELL The Associated Press

The Minnesota Vikings ramped up their pass rush and run blocking on Monday by agreeing to terms with former New Orleans defensive end Marcus Davenport and former Baltimore tight end Josh Oliver, according to two different people with direct knowledge of each deal.

The people confirmed the agreements to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agent contracts can’t be finalized until the new league year begins on Wednesday.

Davenport agreed to a oneyear, $13 million contract, the person with knowledge of his deal said. Oliver agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with $10.75 million in guaranteed money and attainable incentives that would push the total value to $24 million, the person with knowledge of his deal said.

The 26-year-old Davenport was the 14th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Saints, but he had trouble staying healthy. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Davenport had a career-high nine sacks in

just 11 games in 2021, but he only had a half-sack last season. He spent the 2022 offseason recovering from shoulder surgery and multiple procedures on his pinky finger, which was partially amputated.

The addition of Davenport has put the status of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith further in doubt. Smith had 10 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in his Vikings debut in 2022, but he’s carrying a salary cap hit of more than $15.9 million.

Oliver was the highest-ranked tight end in run blocking in 2022 by Pro Football Focus. The Vikings ranked 26th in the NFL last season with an average of 4.1 yards per rush and tied for 27th in total rushing yards.

Oliver was a third-round draft pick by Jacksonville out of San Jose State in 2019, but he played in only four games in two seasons for the Jaguars. He suffered a severe hamstring injury in his first training camp and, after a brief return, saw his rookie season end with a back injury.

The following year, he broke a bone in his foot in camp and was again placed on season-ending injured reserve. The Jaguars traded him the next spring to the Ravens,

for whom he had a limited role in 14 games in 2021.

Oliver flourished as a run blocker last season, playing in all 17 games and 47% of the snaps on offense. He had 14 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

The move was the first made by Minnesota after the market opened for formal free agent negotiations. The Vikings still needed to clear more than $7 million in salary cap charges when Monday began, even after releasing linebacker Eric Kendricks and wide receiver Adam Thielen last week. Talks can take place over the first two days and agreements in principle can be reached, but contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday.

The deal with Oliver all but assures the Vikings will not resign tight end Irv Smith Jr., whose injury-limited four years with Minnesota ended with him in a complementary role to Pro Bowl acquisition T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson was sixth overall in the Pro Football Focus tight end rankings for 2022, and Oliver was eighth. The Vikings also have Johnny Mundt under contract at tight end. He primarily is a run blocker as well

Kendricks says he’s agreed to terms with Chargers

Eric

By JOE REEDY The Associated Press

Eric Kendricks agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, giving the fran-

chise a veteran inside linebacker on a unit that has struggled the past couple seasons.

Kendricks posted about joining the Chargers on his Instagram account.

EMILE CHINN • The Associated Press

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL • The Associated Press

Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver looks on before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 8, 2023, in Cincinnati..

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks stands on the field before an NFL wild card playoff football game against the New York Giants.

March Madness betting guide

By MARK ANDERSON

The Associated Press

March Madness isn’t just about filling out — and later trashing — brackets. There are more ways to bet the field in the NCAA Tournament, an event that will consume basketball fans over the next three weeks. Here’s a look at the favorites, underdogs and longshots.

WHO’S FAVORED TO REACH THE FINAL FOUR?

Top-ranked Houston is the plus-120 favorite to emerge as the Midwest Region representative and play in Houston, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That means a $100 bet pays $120. The next top team in the region is Texas at plus450.

No. 4 Alabama, which is the No. 1 overall seed, is plus-190 to come out of the South. Next is No, 8 Arizona at plus-440.

The most competitive region appears to be the West. No. 3 Kansas is a slight favorite at plus320, just ahead of No. 2 UCLA at plus-350. No. 9 Gonzaga isn’t far behind at plus-400.

No. 5 Purdue is at plus-300 to come out of the East, with No. 6 Marquette next at plus-420.

WHO’S FAVORED TO WIN THE TITLE?

Oddsmakers agree with the NCAA selection committee that the No. 1 seeds are the favorites — Houston at plus-500, Alabama at plus-800, Kansas at plus-1,000 and Purdue at plus-1,200.

After that, oddsmakers favor UCLA at plus-1,400, Gonzaga at plus 1,500, Arizona at plus-1,600, No. 7 Texas at plus-1,900, and No. 10 Baylor and Marquette each at plus-2,100.

WHO IS THE BIGGEST UNDERDOG?

If you’re looking for the next

Saint Peter’s or Loyola-Chicago, check out these options.

Sixteen teams are listed at plus-50,000: Colgate, Furman, Grand Canyon, Howard, Kennesaw State, Kent State, Louisiana, Montana State, Nevada, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas Southern, UC Santa Barbara, UNC Asheville and Vermont.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST SPREAD DIFFERENCE?

Kansas is a 21 1/2-point favorite over Howard in their firstround matchup. Beyond that, Houston is favored by 19 1/2 points over Northern Kentucky, UCLA by 17 1/2 over UNC Asheville and Gonzaga by 15 1/2 over Grand Canyon.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST OVER/UNDER?

The old saying is that life is too short to bet the under, but it’s often the wise play. Some of these totals may give bettors second thoughts before taking the over, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong move. The highest totals are Gonza-

Edwards scores 32, Timberwolves beat Hawks 136-115

ga-Grand Canyon at 156 1/2, Missouri-Utah State at 154 1/2, Texas A&M Corpus Christi-Southeast Missouri State at 153 1/2, Auburn-Iowa and Xavier-Kennesaw State each at 151 1/2 and Florida Atlantic-Memphis at 150 1/2.

NOT REAL UNDERDOGS

Just because the committee seeds one team over another doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the better team in the minds of the oddsmakers. Here are the games where the lower seed is the favorite on the early line: Tenth-seeded Utah State by 2 1/2 points over seventh-seeded Missouri, 10th-seeded Boise State a half-point over seventh-seeded Northwestern and ninth-seeded West Virginia by 2 1/2 over eighth-seeded Maryland, BRACKETS

More information will be available later this week on this year’s brackets, but history can be a guide. Looking back at 2022, there were no perfect brackets on ESPN’s Tournament Challenge bracket game after the first round.

By GEORGE HENRY The Associated

Anthony Edwards scored 32 points in his hometown, Kyle Anderson had his third career triple-double and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 136-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

“It’s the first time I’ve beaten Atlanta, and it’s in Atlanta, so I’m super happy,” Edwards said. “I’m at a loss for words.”

Trae Young finished with 41 points for the Hawks, who dropped to 3-5 under new coach Quin Snyder and have lost four of six. Atlanta went 4 for 22 beyond the arc and handed out 17 assists compared to 39 for Minnesota.

Edwards, a former No. 1 overall draft pick who starred at Georgia and grew up in Atlanta, dazzled with several dunks, one of which put the Timberwolves up

91-67 midway through the third quarter. The lead soon swelled to a game-high 28 on a layup by Mike Conley, who finished with 21 points.

Anderson scored 12 of his 14 points in the third and had 12 assists and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game skid. Jaden McDaniels scored 19 points.

Edwards praised Anderson’s awareness.

“Every time that they made a run, he’d do something,” Edwards said. “He just knows the game. He makes it look so easy. Basketball, he knows the ins and outs.”

Atlanta went on a 19-7 run to trim the lead to 13 with 7 minutes to go, but Edwards hit an alley-oop layup to push the lead back to 17 at the 6:19 mark, and the Hawks never closed within single digits.

BRETT DAVIS • The Associated Press

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) shoots past Atlanta Hawks Clint Capela, left, De’Andre Hunter (12) and Trae Young (11).

Press

JOHN AMIS • The Associated Press Alabama forward Nick Pringle celebrates after an NCAA basketball game against Texas A&M in the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

VA RI ET Y

410 Gallery exhibit gives viewers versatility

By JOEY ERICKSON Variety Editor

The 410 Project is back with another exhibition, showcasing the talents of local artists around the Mankato area. Headlining this exhibit is St. Peter abstract artist and art aficionado Emily Kretschmer.

Kretschmer made art occasionally as a kid, and had flurries of interest about making art throughout her life. It wasn’t until five years ago, with the passing of a close furry friend, that she really decided to dive deep into the creating process.

“She wasn’t my dog, but I took care of her a lot. I was there during her final months. I was very attached to this dog, she was very special. Her name was Tsas. She belonged to a friend who had actually bought my childhood home,” Kretschmer said.

As Kretschmer watched the dog’s health fade, she put a pen to paper and drew her, permanently cementing Tsas’s existence in her life.

“When Tess was getting ill in her final months, one day I was up there, and she was just sitting there. And I picked up a pencil and I drew her and it seems like to me, I didn’t stop making art from that moment,” Kret-

schmer said.

The drawing of Tsas, along with other animal artworks, are up for display at Kretschmer’s exhibit, a part of a collection called “Tsas and Friends.” Despite painting pieces focused on

other animals, Tsas continued to appear in the paintings in one form or another, leading to the collection’s creation.

In 2020, Kretschmer’s art style switched from animal to abstract, with an emphasis in

what she calls “process art.”

“I do process art, so I don’t know what I’m going to make when I start. I just start the process and I let it become something,” Kretschmer said.

Kretschmer’s art is abstract

and ethereal as it covers myriad themes. The tonal contrast between her positive feelings with art and the dire subject matter is what keeps Kretschmer returning to the canvas.

“In a way, (my) art is somewhat existential. It’s an expression of feelings about existence on this planet and all of all the problems and difficulties, and for me, art is like the opposite. It’s the antithesis. I suppose I feel powerless to really fix anything. So the most I can do is express how I feel about it,” Kretschmer said.

Though Kretschmer’s art is abstract in nature, she still has a message behind her works she hopes to share with viewers: Art is for everyone, and if you want to do it, just do it.

“I really think that if they feel like they’re creative, they shouldn’t be hampered by comparing themselves to others. It took me a long time to get to this point, and I think it’s because as I’ve gotten older, I’m like, ‘Well, who cares? I don’t care. I don’t care what people think about my art. I’m just gonna do it. What do I have to lose?’” Kretschmer said.

“Versatility,” Kretschmer’s current multimedia art exhibition, is available to view at the 410 Project until March 25.

Masters’ Exhibition hails students back to Ancient Greece

By LAUREN VISKA Staff Writer

Greek mythology can be inspiring. It inspired the beloved Disney movie, “Hercules.” “Moulin Rouge!” is based on the Orpheus myth. Even the book series, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” is based on Greek mythology.

Greek mythology inspired Sam Brown’s MA exhibition gallery in the Centennial Student Union Art Gallery, which is on display through March 24. He describes his pieces as “all over the place.”

“With these painting series here, I’ve been interested in more or less narrative storytelling. All these are in some form of Greek myths,” said Brown. “I thought about the topic of Greek myth because it’s something that I’ve known ever since I was a little kid, but at the same time, it’s also been a huge focal point in the history of painting and definitely at this scale, and kind of going from right to left here.”

Each of Brown’s four paintings tells a different Greek myth; Daedalus and Icarus, the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, the Minotaur and Odysseus being tied to the pole while he listens to the sirens. Of all his works, the one about the Minotaur is his favor-

ite.

“This red one is about the myth of the Minotaur and how the Euro ascends to the labyrinth and is tasked with slaying the Minotaur. The king’s daughter, the princess in the story, gave Perseus a golden thread to wrap around his ankle to find his way out of the labyrinth after he kills the Minotaur,” said Brown. “I kind of wanted to play around with this piece and make the Minotaur almost more of a sympathetic character, and I also wanted to experiment a little bit with the color of red. Just how visceral and how powerful it is.”

Brown’s piece about Daedalus and Icarus leaves it up to the viewer to decide who is who.

“I kind of wanted to experiment and to have a little play with the viewer where I want to leave the title to this work just Icarus, just something very simple and plain,” said Brown.

Brown hopes that he can continue working on art when he finishes his master’s program. This is something he wants to do full-time.

“I’ve been posting these onto my Instagram stories, and somebody has actually asked for the price for this one. So hopefully, I sell this one,” said Brown. “I know for a fact I have to do this with my life.

me

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Pictured above, some of Emily Kretschmer’s works. Kretschmer’s art pieces are the latest installations in the 410 Project’s new local exhibition, entitled “Versatility.”

LILLY ANDERSON • The Reporter

The CSU Gallery art exhibition, pictured above, were all created by Sam Brown, Minnesota State Master’s Student. Much of his work is inspired by ancient Greek mythology.

OPINION: The best foods to get from Kwik Trip

By JOEY ERICKSON Variety Editor

On the first day of my junior year of college here at Minnesota State, I was feeling many, many different things. I had just moved into my studio apartment and didn’t have any roommates, so I felt lonely.

The long, careless, sunny days of summer vacation were over, replaced by school rearing its ugly head (no hate to you Stomper, you’re gorgeous) in my rear view mirror as I drove to campus.

But the feeling I felt the strongest, the feeling that started in my gut and rumbled up to my heart like a scene from Indiana Jones, was hunger. I had just moved into my apartment and I didn’t have any food in the place yet. The only thing stocked in my cabinets was dust, and the only thing in my fridge a mysterious stain that the previous tenant had left without cleaning.

My apartment sat right next to a local gas station, Kwik Trip. I figured I was in the mood for food that resembled a pre-packaged Fisher Price kids’ kitchen set, so I decided to check it out and see what grub they had.

Imagine my shock when I bit into my gas station cheeseburger and didn’t immediately contract food poisoning; imagine my further stupefaction when I realized that this food was actually tasty!

I have since gone to Kwik Trip to get a quick bite less times than is financially smart, and more times than I’d care to admit. I also had a brief stint as a Kwik Trip crew member for the first semester of my junior year, so when it comes to unwarranted opinions on the best food to get at the gas station, I’m practically a Selena Gomez in a sea of Hailey Biebers. (For those not keeping up with the drama, that’s Gen-Z for saying ‘I’m a pro.’)

Number one on my list of best foods to get during a quick trip to Kwik Trip is the macaroni and cheese. Words cannot fully encapsulate my feelings toward the gooey grandeur; rather, a series of pleasured squawks, happy wails, and volcanic exhales as I realize the food is too hot to eat.

The boneless wings are also very delicious. They come in many different genres: barbecue, buffalo, Caucasian (plain, no sauce or seasoning.) You can even buy them frozen if you’re too ashamed to eat them in the store. Wimp.

Number one for me though, beating out all the other foods, is the frozen pizza. There are many different frozen pizza brands placed throughout the store, set up to deter you from reaching the finish line and getting the actual good frozen pizza.

Pothole pizza, Meat Sweats. If you don’t like meat on your pizza it may not be the type of pizza for you, but if you’re the type of person that eats pizza with just cheese on it, I fear for your mental stability and advise an immediate mandatory 72-hour-hold in your nearest asylum.

A smattering of sliced pepperoni. Jumbo sausages all over, great flavor with no rubbery feeling. The cheese is perfect, not a pathetic skimpy amount like many others. The crust gets crispy but not burnt. And for under ten dollars, the pizza isn’t a steal. It’s a fivestar robbery.

Kwik Trip also has a delicious set of dessert options, ranging from donuts, to pies, to cookies. The Peanut Butter cookies are the best, undeniably. If you throw a four pack in the microwave for thirty seconds, close your eyes and only half-taste them, they’re essentially the same as fresh baked cookies.

There was a brief period of time where Kwik Trip discontinued their peanut butter cookies, in an effort to expand their cookie palette. Imagine my horror when I walked into the gas station, went to the cookie section and saw nary a peanut butter cookie. Where did they go? Who’s going to eat white chocolate macadamia berry? Why are there tears in my eyes?

Listing draws lawsuit from Maine lobster industry

By PATRICK WHITTLE The Associated Press

A coalition representing the Maine lobster industry is suing an aquarium on the other side of the country for recommending that seafood customers avoid buying a variety of lobster mostly harvested in their state.

Industry groups including Maine Lobstermen’s Association are suing the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California for defamation, arguing in a lawsuit filed Monday that their prized catch shouldn’t be on a “red list” published by Seafood Watch, a conservation program it operates.

Last year, Seafood Watch put lobster from the U.S. and Canada on its list of seafood to avoid due to the threat posed to rare whales by entanglement in fishing gear used to harvest American lobster, the species that makes up most of the U.S. lobster market.

Endangered North American right whales number only about 340 and they’ve declined in recent years.

But the lobster industry is arguing to the U.S. District Court in Maine that the aquarium’s recommendation relies on bad science and incorrectly portrays lobster fishing as a threat to the whales. The lawsuit asks the court to force the aquarium to remove “defamatory statements” from its website and materials, court records state.

“This is a significant law-

suit that will help eradicate the damage done by folks who have no clue about the care taken by lobstermen to protect the ecosystem and the ocean,” said John Petersdorf, chief executive officer of Bean Maine Lobster Inc., one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, in a statement.

The aquarium says its recommendations are correct based on the best available evidence. It says right whales are indeed vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear. The lawsuit ignores “the extensive evidence that these fisheries pose a serious risk to the survival of the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and they seek to curtail the First Amendment

rights of a beloved institution that educates the public about the importance of a healthy ocean,” said Kevin Connor, a spokesperson for the aquarium.

Another group, Marine Stewardship Council, last year suspended a sustainability certification it awarded Maine’s lobster industry over concerns about harm to whales. The loss of sustainability recommendations has caused some retailers to stop selling lobster.

The U.S. lobster industry is based mostly in Maine. The industry brought about 98 million pounds of lobster to the docks last year. That was less than the previous year, but historically a fairly high number.

 GREECE from page 19

Students will notice that Brown’s work looks like an oil painting but isn’t quite that. It is a process he developed using cattle markers.

“Cattle markers are essentially livestock markers really, and it’s oil paint with a wax base. So

it dries quicker than typical oils. But at the same time, I also get that sort of drawer ability that I can achieve in comparison with just using a brush,” said Brown.

To learn about upcoming art exhibits on campus, go to the MSU website and search for art galleries.

ROBERT F. BUKATY • The Associated Press

A group of Maine businesses and trade groups filed a lawsuit against a California aquarium Monday, March 13, 2023, for recommending seafood customers avoid buying lobster.

For Asian Americans, Yeoh, Quan’s Oscar wins are theirs too

The meaning behind the blue ribbons worn at the Oscars

By TERRY TANG The Associated Press

Edward Dion Farinas watches the Academy Awards every year but the Filipino American didn’t expect to have such a visceral reaction when hearing Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh’s awards announced.

“I had a squeal come out that I was not expecting,” said Farinas, who was watching Sunday from his Austin, Texas, home, complete with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” themed pastries from a local Asian American-owned bakery.

“I was surprised by how heavily invested I got. It’s not even about the acting. It really just kind of lets us feel like we can accomplish things that normally are not in our lane.”

Quan’s best supporting actor win and comeback story from childhood star of ‘80s flicks, coupled with Yeoh’s historic win as the first Asian best actress winner ever had viewers of Asian descent shedding tears of happiness — and grinning. The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” co-stars bring the total number of Asians who have earned acting Oscars to just six in the awards’ 95-year history.

For many Asian Americans, the film’s seven Oscars, including Best Picture, feel like a watershed moment — that Hollywood is moving past seeing them only in tropes. It represents an opportunity for optimism after three years of anti-Asian hate brought on by the pandemic.

Written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known as the Daniels), who won best-directing and best original screenplay Oscars, the story centers on a

glammed-down Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a frazzled laundromat owner preparing for an IRS audit. Meanwhile, she is struggling with an unhappy husband (Quan), her critical father (James Hong) and an openly lesbian daughter (Stephanie Hsu).

When Yeoh said, in accepting her Oscar, that the award was for children who look like her, the message landed “straight to the heart” said Jasmine Cho, who is Korean American.

“Now I’m like looking at when I’m in my 60s,” the 39-year-old said. “I want to be like Michelle. She’s my forever badass woman role model.”

Cho, of Pittsburgh, is nationally recognized for her cookie portraits of forgotten and famous Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and has drawn social media attention for her tributes to Yeoh and Quan. She hopes to give the cookies to them one day because she’s been so inspired by their performances and how they’ve carried themselves.

“I feel like they already like completely made history with being like the most awarded film and just all the other awards that they’ve been receiving,” Cho said of the possibility the two might not have taken home Oscars. “So yeah, I would have been somewhat disappointed” had they not won. “But in my mind, they already won.”

Yer Vang, a Hmong American living in Minneapolis, was moved to tears by Quan and Yeoh’s acceptance speeches. She recalls coming out of the theater hoping for this scenario. To actually see it happen was “phenomenal.”

Quan’s remarks about coming to the U.S. as a Vietnamese

refugee and living in a refugee camp resonated particularly because that’s what her parents lived through.

“It’s crazy because ... that’s my mother’s story,” Vang said.

But all the movie’s Oscars (it also won best supporting actress for Jamie Lee Curtis and film editing) mean a lot to Asian Americans, she said. “It does tell the community that we have done enough ... and we deserve to be celebrated, whether in like the highest of courts or just back home.”

Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation, let out a scream and fist pump for every Oscar the movie picked up. Among the foundation’s initiatives are scholarship and fellowship programs with the Sundance Institute. He called the impact of the wins massive.

This is going to elevate the narrative ... to create more future actors, directors, screenwriters” of Asian descent, Chen said.

“The recognition is there finally. Just across society, people will be appreciating more even in education with more interest about Asian and Asian American history. It will change the mindset of Asian Americans being foreigners.”

Yeoh’s achievement was particularly poignant given the history of anti-Asian discrimination in Hollywood. Merle Oberon, a best actress nominee in 1935 for “The Dark Angel,” hid her South Asian heritage and passed for white, according to birth records discovered after her death. In 1937, Chinese American actor Anna May Wong suffered the greatest disappointment of her life when she was rejected to play a lead role of a Chinese villager in “The Good Earth.”

Small and subtle, the blue ribbons worn by many celebrities at the Oscars nonetheless had an important message: support refugees.

According to a statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, donning the #WithRefugees ribbons Sunday “sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, whoever, wherever, whenever they are.”

The ribbons were made by Knotty Tie Co., which the agency says provides employment, training and education to refugees resettled in the Denver area.

“In many of the films nominated at festivals and awards ceremonies this season, the hu-

man themes of conflict, separation and loss are present,” the agency said in the statement, citing movies like “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.”

“Through effective storytelling, these films help erode discrimination and misunderstandings, offer new perspectives and help to build compassion for people forced to flee,” the statement continued.

The number of displaced people globally now tops 103 million, a figure augmented by significant factors like Russia’s war in Ukraine, other conflicts around the world and climate change.

Best supporting actor Ke Huy Quan, born in Vietnam, referenced his own story of being a refugee during his acceptance speech.

VINCENT THIAN • The Associated Press

JORDAN STRAUSS • The Associated Press

Janet Yeoh, mother of Michelle Yeoh, celebrates after her daughter won in the best actress category during the 95th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, as seen in a live view event at a cinema in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Cate Blanchett arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Versace reaches for the stars with glittery Hollywood show

Michelle

Yeoh wins best actress award, making Oscar history

By TERRY TANG The Associated Press

Decamping from her usual base in Milan to show her wares in Los Angeles — only three days before the Oscars — Donatella Versace says she was inspired by the energy, glamour and power of Hollywood. She had plenty of that, but she needed one more thing to make it all work: good weather.

And so, with rain expected on Friday, Versace was forced to move her show ahead by a day. It may have been chaotic, but it was the right move. Her star-studded runway show Thursday took place on a cool but gorgeous Los Angeles evening on a spectacular rooftop overlooking the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains, sleek downtown skyscrapers and the Hollywood hills.

Oh, and daylight ceded to darkness right as the show ended — just in time to turn on the floodlights, blast “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince and head to cocktails.

The sun was still out when the crowd began making its way up to the roof of the imposing Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue, with its distinctive blue glass exterior. Guests jostled to be photographed with the stunning view behind them, and staffers warned them not to step too far backward and fall off the building.

As for the stars, they were on the runway and in the audience.

Naomi Campbell, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski and Irina Shayk strutted the catwalk, in front of a cross-section of no-

table names from music, film, fashion, sports and beyond.

Causing the most excited stir was Cher, who showed up alongside fellow music luminaries Elton John, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X and others. From cinema, there were no less than two best supporting actress Oscar winners — Ariana DeBose and Anne Hathaway — plus a favorite for best supporting actor this year, Ke Huy Quan. Former NBA star Dwyane Wade was there with Gabrielle Union. Jeff Bezos, Channing Tatum, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and Lily James (who played Anderson in a Hulu series) were among other notable names.

In creating her 2023 fall-winter line, Versace harked back to a 1995 collection of Atelier Versace, the label’s couture line, with a campaign starring Madonna. Color choices began with black and included caramel and chocolate, as well as apricot, turquoise and pink. Prints included an animal print from the Versace archive and a falling flower motif.

Gigi Hadid opened the show in a black hourglass jacket and knee-length pencil skirt, a sleek tailored look that gradually segued to more glittery ensembles (she reappeared later in a flowing gown with sheer bodice and sleeves). Campbell came later, in a stunning black gown with elbow-length gloves.

After a cascade of black outfits for both women and men, a sudden burst of bright pink surfaced, in a wool cropped jacket and miniskirt, then a minidress in a tangerine hue. More than halfway through the show came the luxurious, satiny printed dresses — often

minis, and accompanied by those elbow-length gloves for added glamour.

Streetwear was nowhere to be seen — this was about luxury — and the long gloves seemed to evoke the Golden Age of Hollywood, which began in the mid-1920s and continued for several decades. Paired with the up-to-there minis, and often accessorized with big sunglasses, the effect was to create what Versace described as “energy from clashing Golden Age glamour with contemporary attitude, and confident power.”

How confident? The designer has called this collection a form of armor. As for Los Angeles, Versace has called it “a natural home for us” — a place that makes her feel free and close to nature.

Los Angeles is also, of course, a city of stars — and never more than during Oscar week. The moments before the show felt like a dry run for the Oscars red (or this year, champagne-colored) carpet, with celebrities reuniting or meeting for the first time.

Lipa was shown on social media meeting and sitting next to Cher. Wade, in an orange suit, chatted with DeBose, who wore a see-through fishnet number. And one set of stars seemed particularly thrilled to be meeting: Quan, of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and Hathaway, who each expressed their fandom for the other.

“I’m fainting!” Hathaway said when she laid eyes on Quan. “Everyone is so happy for you!”

Quan replied: “I love you so much.”

By TERRY TANG The Associated Press

Michelle Yeoh has won the Academy Award for best actress and made history all at once.

The Malaysian-born actor became the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress on Sunday night for her multifaceted performance in the multiversal “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibility. This is proof that dreams dream big and dreams do come true,” she said. “And ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re past your prime.”

Yeoh’s victory comes almost 90 years after Luise Rainer, a white actor, won the same category for donning “yellowface” to play a Chinese villager in “The Good Earth.”

As a nominee, Yeoh was the first in the category who identified as Asian. Merle Oberon, who was nominated in 1935 for “The Dark Angel” but didn’t win, hid her South Asian heritage, according to birth records.

She joyously acknowledged the historical moment in front of reporters in the press room.

“I think this is something we have been working so hard towards for a very long time and tonight, we freaking broke that glass ceiling! I kung fu-ed it out and shattered it,” Yeoh said.

JORDAN STRAUSS • The Associated Press

JOHN LOCHER • The Associated Press

The Versace Fall/Winter 2023 collection is modeled by Naomi Campbell on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif.

Michelle Yeoh poses with the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

World Baseball Classic players get artsy with custom cleats

Chaim Topol, Israeli actor, dies THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. He was 87.

The cause was not immediately released.

Israeli leaders on Thursday tweeted their memories and condolences to Topol’s family.

Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, hailed Topol as “one of the most outstanding Israeli actors,” who “filled the movie screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts.”

By RONALD BLUM

When Joc Pederson takes the field for Israel in the World Baseball Classic, he’ll be wearing bright silver cleats with blue Stars of David inside each Nike swoosh.

Edwin Díaz commissioned two different designs to wear for Puerto Rico: blue with a bronze trumpet across the Adidas stripes, and red with white and blue trumpets, a reference to the closer’s intro music.

Flashy footwear is the work of Stadium Custom Cleats, a company owned by Alex Katz, a pitcher for Israel at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and at this year’s WBC.

“You can express yourself more,” Pederson said. “It’s pretty boring when it’s just

plain Jane black-and-white shoes. I like to spice my shoes up a little bit, add some extra flair.”

When Israel plays its Group D opener against Nicaragua at Miami on Sunday, Katz’s cleats will feature the Mensch on a Bench mascot of Israel’s team, the Western Wall, Haifa. The 28-year-old left-hander’s shoes even have multicolor reflective soles.

Others with the spiffy shoes include Daniel Bard of the U.S., Didi Gregorius and Jurickson Profar of the Netherlands, and Robinson Canó of the Dominican Republic. In all, Katz’s company supplied 42 pairs of cleats to 36 players.

A 27th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in the 2015 amateur draft, Katz came up with the idea in 2016.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Topol’s “contribution to Israeli culture will continue to exist for generations.”

Benny Gantz, Israel’s former minister of defense, praised Topol for helping Israelis connect to their roots.

“We laughed and cried at the same time over the deepest wounds of Israeli society,” he wrote of Topol’s performance.

Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition, said Topol taught Israelis “love of culture and love of the land.”

Topol’s charity, Jordan River Village, also announced his death, paying tribute to him as an “inspiration” whose “legacy will continue for generations to come.”

A recipient of two Golden Globe awards and nominee for both an Academy Award and a Tony Award, Topol long

has ranked among Israel’s most decorated actors. More recently in 2015, he was celebrated for his contributions to film and culture with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, his country’s most prestigious honor. Up until a few years ago, he remained involved in theater and said he still fielded requests to play Tevye.

Topol got his start in acting in a theatrical troupe in the Israeli army in the 1950s, where he met his future wife Galia. His first major breakthrough was the lead role in the 1964 hit Israeli film Sallah Shabati, about the hardships of Middle Eastern immigrants to Israel. The film made history as the first Israeli film to earn an Academy Award nomination and also gave Topol his first Golden Globe Award.

Two years later, he made his English-language film debut alongside Kirk Douglas in

“Cast a Giant Shadow.” But the role of his life arrived in the long-running musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” in which he played the dairyman protagonist, Tevye, a Jewish father trying to maintain his family’s cultural traditions despite the turmoil gripping their Russian shtetl.

With his rich voice, folkish witticisms and commanding stage presence, Topol’s Tevye, driving his horse-drawn buggy and delivering milk, butter and eggs to the rich, became a popular hero in Israel and around the world.

After years of playing Tevye on stage in London and on Broadway, he scored the lead role in the 1971 Norman Jewison-directed film version, winning the Golden Globe award for lead actor and being nominated for a best actor Academy Award. He lost out to Gene Hackman.

BEBETO MATTHEWS • The Associated Press Many players in this year’s World Baseball Classic—where Alex Katz is a pitcher on Israel’s team, will be wearing custom-designed cleats.

The Associated Press

ARIEL SCHALIT • The Associated Press Israeli actor Chaim Topol speaks during an interview in Tel Aviv, Israel, on April 8, 2015.