March 16, 2023

Dinner with DEI marks 50 years

By JOEY ERICKSON Variety Editor

Mavericks from all walks of life gathered in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom Wednesday for a Diversity Dinner, hosted by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Diversity Dinner, which features cultural cuisine, sentimental speeches and diverse dances showcasing Minnesota State’s wide variety of student cultures.

The purpose behind the dinner event is to shine a light on the communities that often go unrepresented, offering attendees the chance to hear unique stories from all over the world, and from all the MSU culture departments.

“African American Affairs, Asian American Affairs, we’re all going to have our own speakers there. It’s really just a great way to kind of see everyone and appreciate all the work that we do. It’s important work that we do and we want to shine a light on everyone in each department,” said Stephen Thomas, interim director of the LGBT Center.

Two of the Diversity Dinner speakers, MSU alumni Wyatt and Alec Otto, were handpicked by Thomas to represent the LGBT center for the event.

The two of them, known in drag under the stage names

Wanda Gag and Ava Cado, built the south central drag scene in Minnesota from the ground up.

“The business that they started, creating opportunities for drag performers down here in the greater Mankato area was just phenomenal,” Thomas said.

“They knew who to talk to. They knew how to get it. And it just worked out so perfectly.

And now there’s a show each month. They started something that I thought would never happen.”

At the dinner, Wyatt and Alec Otto spoke on the recent bills passed in Tennessee and spreading throughout the country, criminalizing the artform of drag and working to eradicate transgender people from the

country entirely. No existence should be criminalized for your expression,” said Alec Otto. “And honestly, that is all we’re doing: expressing ourselves. I said in my speech, ‘Drag is the purest form of expression.’ We’re out there so that people can feel less worried about themselves,” Otto said.

“Right now the (LGBT) community needs to be louder and prouder than ever,” Wyatt Otto said.

Despite all these cultures being around for centuries, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Center is a more recent creation, only coming to its full fruition as a resource center offering all three tenets in its title in the last couple decades.

Moving forward, the center plans to offer more support to students who need it so they can achieve academic success to the best of their abilities.

“Right now we are here for the students, making sure they have a good time and making sure that this is a safe and welcoming environment for all. One of our focuses is closing the opportunity gap for students of color,” Thomas said.

Equity 2030, an agenda created by the Minnesota State Colleges Office, focuses on closing educational attainment gaps for students of color, low-income and first-generation students by the year 2030.

“A lot of students are dropping out because they don’t feel like this is a place for them, or they drop out or withdraw because of financial situations and hardships. The reason why we have so many resources is so we try to focus on those [hardships] so that way they can walk across that stage and get that degree,” Thomas said.

Competitive decisions in the Dental Hygiene program

By MERCEDES KAUPHUSMAN Staff Writer

Last year, Jessica Fette was denied admittance into Minnesota State’s competitive dental hygiene program.

So she buckled down. Repeated a course to get a better grade. Picked up a minor in communication sciences and disorders.

The hard work paid off.

“I was so happy I cried,” said Fette, a junior.

The dental hygiene program is known for its competitive application process as well as its clinic, located in the Clinical Science Building, which was renovated in 2017.

The dental hygiene program offers a four-year bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene. The curriculum offers a handson experience that also provides

healthcare services through students at the university. These components attracted more than 60 students to apply, but only 30 were accepted.

Fette was one of 30 student admitted to the program this year. Sixty students applied. Adding the communications sciences and disorders major, she said, will help her do her job better.“I want to be able to communicate with all of my patients better and help understand where they’re coming from,” Fette said.

In her future, Fette aspires to be a pediatric dental hygienist, and encourages students hoping to pursue a career in dental hygiene to not be intimidated by the rigorous application process.

“I don’t want to be too cheesy and say ‘Don’t give up,’ but it is a very competitive program, so if you want to do it, I think you

should be all in,” Fette said.

Trisha Krenik-Matejcek, a professor in the department of dental education,, went through MSU’s dental hygiene program 25 years ago. After teaching for 9 years, she stresses the value of the dental clinic that is visible to the entire Mankato community.

“We have this beautiful, beautiful clinic,” Krenik-Matejcek said. “We are so lucky to have a beautiful building.”

The dental clinic on campus offers a restorative functions course, a course that certifies students to complete teeth fillings. It also incorporates a simulation lab that contains all state of the art equipment and latest technology.

“It’s just like a regular dental office, it just takes a little longer because students are doing it, but they get a lot of really great experience with a lot of patients

that are medically compromised or have extensive dental needs,”

Krenik-Matejcek said.

Also involved in the applica-

process is MSU professor, Alyssa Delgado. She said the rigid selection process helps pre-

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Alec (left) and Wyatt Otto, respectively known in drag as Ava Cado and Wanda Gag, spoke on the creation of their company Drag Me with a Spoon and the ban on drag shows in Tennessee.

tion

The Dental Hygiene program only accepts 30 students each year to learn hands-on experience through students at the university.

Student Government prepares for big budget meeting

By JULIA LIN Editor in Chief

In less than a week Minnesota State’s Student Government will conduct the annual budget meeting. In this week’s meeting, however, IT Solutions and the Centennial Student Union chair and vice chair came on behalf of the senate to share why they need an increase in budget fees this fiscal year.

Bryan Schneider, assistant CIO & director of technology services at MSU, said. Currently, MSU students pay $11.50 for technology fees. This proposal would raise it to $12 due to the decrease in enrollment and inflation.

“All students benefit from the tech fee. It will provide the technology and support we have today,” Bryan Schneider, assistant CIO & director of technology services at MSU, said. “Even with the 50cent increase it doesn’t cover the cost of inflation and still leaves us 13 cents less a credit than we got a year ago.”

This 4.35% increase request, however, does not impact the 2% increase cap that requires students to go to a referendum. Others who proposed a budget increase were the chair of the CSU board, Tyler Pickel, and vice chair Douglas Roberts. They proposed a 1.5% increase (a 15cent increase from $10.37 to $10.52) in CSU Student Fees due to enrollment numbers continuing to decline.

“It’s a pretty small increase overall to cover the decline of enrollment,” Roberts said.

Commenting on the future of printing services in regards to how that impacts expenses at MSU, president Emma Zeller voiced ways to help keep costs low.

9 $ 27.9 9

“We go through a lot of paper at the university like printing posters and different advertisements. Obviously this isn’t an immediate thing but something more digital that could have multiple things on it at once,” Zellmer said.

Pickel said they sent out a survey to

a random group of students to investigate how to better reach their students in an eco-friendly way. The annual public hearing for parking policy, budget and improvements will take place at noon today. The meeting will discuss the percentage increase in parking units justified by

inflation, potholes and bus routes schedules.

“Following the public hearing the advisory board will make a decision and recommendation for bussing next year as well as parking next year,” said David Cowan, facilities services director.

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Bryan Schneider, assistant CIO & director of technology services at MSU, proposes an increase in students tech fees at Wednesday’s meeting.

Long-used US abortion pill under threat in Texas lawsuit

Honda recalling 500,000 vehicles to fix seat belt problem

By SEAN MURPHY

PERRONE

A federal judge in Texas raised questions Wednesday about a Christian group’s effort to overturn federal regulators’ decades-old approval of a leading abortion drug, in a case that could threaten the country’s most common method for ending pregnancies.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard more than four hours of debate over the Alliance Defending Freedom’s request to revoke or suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone. Such a step would be an unprecedented challenge to the FDA and its authority in deciding which drugs to permit on the market.

Kacsmaryk said he would rule “as soon as possible,” without giving any clear indication of how he might decide and leaving open the question of whether access to the standard regimen for medication abortions might soon be curtailed throughout the country.

Mifepristone, when combined with a second pill, was approved in 2000 and is used to end pregnancies until their 10th week.

It has been increasingly prescribed since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

The Texas lawsuit has become the latest high-stakes legal battle over access to abortion since the question of its legality was returned to the states.

Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump, saved some of his most pointed questions for attorneys representing the alliance, which filed the case in Amarillo in anticipation of getting a favorable ruling.

“Explain to me why this

court has that sweeping authority?” Kacsmaryk asked, in reference to the group’s request to pull mifepristone from the market.

The judge also questioned whether the group had the legal standing to obtain a pretrial ruling, grilling both sides on U.S. Supreme Court cases that set out when such extraordinary relief is allowed.

Still, the judge also posed questions suggesting he was considering how he might draft a preliminary injunction in the plaintiffs’ favor, at one point asking the alliance’s lawyers if the issue of standing had been clearly addressed by appellate courts.

At another point, he told them that their outline for the order of their arguments “tracks the elements for an injunction nicely.”

Lawyers representing the FDA argued that pulling mifepristone would disrupt reproductive care for women across the U.S.

“An injunction here would interfere with the interests of every state in the country” said Julie Harris of the U.S. Justice Department, which represented the FDA.

Harris and her colleagues also questioned whether the alliance — which filed its case on behalf of several anti-abortion doctors — had standing to bring the lawsuit, given that none of the plaintiffs could show the type of harm typically needed for such a legal action.

One of the chief arguments leveled against the FDA in the lawsuit is that the agency misused its authority when it originally approved the abortion pill.

The FDA reviewed the drug under its so-called accelerated approval program, which was created in the early 1990s to

speed access to the first HIV drugs. Since then, it has been used to expedite drugs for cancer and other “serious or life-threatening diseases.”

“The plain text is clear it applies to illnesses,” argued Erik Baptist, the alliance’s lead attorney. “Mifepristone is used to end pregnancies, and pregnancy isn’t an illness.”

The FDA rejected the group’s argument on multiple accounts. First, attorneys said FDA regulations make clear that pregnancy is considered a “medical condition” that can be serious and life-threatening in some cases.

Second, government attorneys said the terms of mifepristone’s use were replaced more than a decade ago by subsequent FDA programs passed by Congress, rendering the argument irrelevant.

Finally, while the FDA reviewed the drug under its accelerated approval regime, it didn’t expedite the drug’s review. In fact, approval only came after four years of deliberation.

Instead, the FDA used regulatory powers under the accelerated program to add extra safety restrictions to mifepristone.

Legal experts have long been deeply skeptical of many of the arguments made by the alliance. And there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling an FDA drug approval decision.

At one point, Kacsmaryk asked the alliance’s attorneys about the possibility of suspending mifepristone’s approval, without withdrawing it completely.

“Any relief you grant must be complete” and apply nationwide, Baptist said. “The harms of these abortion drugs know no bounds.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly.

The recall covers some of the automaker’s top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018 through 2020 Odyssey and the 2019 Insight.

Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019 and 2020 model years.

Honda says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that the surface coating on the channel for

the buckle can deteriorate over time.

The release button can shrink against the channel at lower temperatures, increasing friction and stopping the buckle from latching.

If the buckle doesn’t latch, a driver or passenger may not be restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Honda says it has no reports of injuries caused by the problem.

Dealers will replace the front seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies if needed.

Owners will be notified by letter starting April 17.

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE via The Associated Press

GENE J. PUSKAR • The Associated Press

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk is holding a hearing in a case that could throw into jeopardy access to the nation’s most common method of abortion. He is a former attorney for a Christian legal group.

Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, Wednesday, March 15 because the front seat belts may not latch properly. The recall covers some of the automaker’s top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V and the 2018 and 2019 Accord.

and MATTHEW

The Associated Press

Stocks tumble on Wall Street on renewed fears

By STAN CHOE The Associated Press

Stocks are back to falling on Wall Street Wednesday as worries worsen about the strength of banks on both sides of the Atlantic.

The S&P 500 was 1.3% lower in midday trading, while markets in Europe fell more sharply as shares of Switzerland’s Credit Suisse tumbled to a record low.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 461 points, or 1.4%, at 31,694 as of 11:15 a.m. Eastern time after earlier being down as many as 639 points. The Nasdaq composite was 0.9% lower.

Credit Suisse has been fighting troubles for years, including losses it took from the 2021 collapse of investment firm Archegos Capital. Its shares in Switzerland sank more than 16% following reports that its top shareholder won’t pump more money into its investment.

Wall Street’s harsh spotlight has intensified across the banking industry recently on worries about what may crack next following the second- and third-largest bank failures in U.S. history over the last week. Stocks of U.S. banks tumbled again Wednesday after enjoying a brief, one-day respite on Tuesday.

The heaviest losses were focused on smaller and mid-size banks, which are seen as more at risk of having customers try to pull their money out en masse.

Larger banks also fell, but not by quite as much.

First Republic Bank sank

16.9%, a day after soaring 27%. Fifth Third Bancorp. dropped 5.8%. JPMorgan Chase slid 4.4%.

Much of the damage is seen as the result of the Federal Reserve’s fastest barrage of hikes to interest rates in decades. The

Fed has pulled its key overnight rate to a range of 4.50% to 4.75%, up from virtually zero at the start of last year, in hopes of driving down painfully high inflation.

Higher rates can tame inflation by slowing the economy,

C anary in the Coal Mine: Reinvesting in theHealth, Prosperit y, and Wellne

ss of America

but they raise the risk of a recession later on. They also hurt prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. That latter factor was one of the issues hurting Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed Friday, because high rates forced down the value of its bond investments.

The U.S. government announced a plan late Sunday to protect depositors at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which regulators shut over the weekend, in hopes of shoring up confidence in the banking industry. But markets have since swung from fear to calm and back again.

There’s still great uncertainty about the banking industry as it struggles to absorb the past year’s blizzard of rate hikes following years of historically easy conditions.

In his annual letter to investors, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink pointed to prior eras of rising rates that led to “spectacular financial flameouts,” such as the yearslong savings and loan crisis.

“We don’t know yet whether the consequences of easy money and regulatory changes will cascade throughout the U.S. regional banking sector (akin to the S&L Crisis) with more seizures and shutdowns coming,” he wrote.

Please join the Center for Rural Behavioral Health as th ey welcome Dr. William Cooke, physician, au thor, and rural health advocate , to campus to speak about his book “Canar y in the Coal Mine” which chronicles his inspirational journey of fighting two unprecedented healthcare disaster s: an opioid epidemic and the worst drug-fueled HIV outbreak ever seen in a rural American community

Dr. Cooke and his message o ers inspiration for anyone fighting in the face of daunting obstacles and a road map for those concerned abou t the future of our nation’s healthcare.

Abou t Dr. Cooke: William Cooke, MD, is a fellow of the American Society of Family Phy sicians and the American Societ y of Addiction Medicine. In 2019, Dr. Cooke was named the Family Phy sician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Phy sicians

Thursday, March 23, 2023 10:00am – 11: 30am

Ostrander Auditorium

FREE event for all Minnesota State Mank ato student s, sta , and faculty. Registration is not required.

Interested in reading Dr. Cooke’s book ? The Minnesota State Mank ato L ibrar y has unlimited free eBook access to the text and the book store will be selling hard copies .

SETH WENIG • The Associated Press

A display shows most indicators down on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Stocks are falling on Wall Street as worries worsen about the strength of banks on both sides of the Atlantic.

Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment

ChatGPT has a new AI model

By KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press

The company behind the ChatGPT chatbot has rolled out its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-4, in the next step for a technology that’s caught the world’s attention.

The new system can figure out tax deductions and answer questions like a Shakespearan pirate, for example, but it still “hallucinates” facts and makes reasoning errors.

Here’s a look at San Francisco-based startup OpenAI’s latest improvement on the generative AI models that can spit out readable text and unique images:

WHAT’S NEW?

OpenAI says GPT-4 “exhibits human-level performance.” It’s much more reliable, creative and can handle “more nuanced instructions” than its predecessor system, GPT-3.5, which ChatGPT was built on, OpenAI said in its announcement.

In an online demo Tuesday, OpenAI President Greg Brockman ran through some scenarios that showed off GPT4’s capabilities that appeared to show it’s a radical improvement on previous versions.

Generative AI technology like GPT-4 could be the future of the internet, at least according to Microsoft, which has invested at least $1 billion in OpenAI and made a splash by integrating AI chatbot tech into its Bing browser.

By JOHN SEEWER

The Associated Press

Ohio filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern to make sure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a fiery train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last month, the state’s attorney general said Tuesday.

The federal lawsuit also seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in the years ahead and economic losses in the village of East Palestine and surrounding areas, said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

“The fallout from this highly preventable accident is going to reverberate throughout Ohio for many years to come,” Yost said.

No one was hurt in the Feb. 3 derailment, but half of the roughly 5,000 residents of East Palestine had to evacuate for days when responders intentionally burned toxic chemicals in some of the derailed cars to prevent an uncontrolled explosion, leaving residents with lingering health concerns.

Government officials say tests over the past month haven’t found dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or water in the area.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized before Congress last week for the impact the derailment has had on the area, but he didn’t make specific commitments to pay for long-term health and economic harm.

The railroad has promised more than $20 million so far to help the Ohio community recover while also announcing several voluntary safety up-

grades.

Norfolk Southern said Tuesday in a response to the lawsuit that it was listening to concerns from the community and planning to take additional steps to deal with some of those.

The railroad is working on creating a long-term medical compensation fund, a way to provide protection for home sellers if their property loses value because of the derailment, and improving drinking water protections, it said in a statement.

The lawsuit also asks for the railroad to reimburse first responders and state agencies for the costs of dealing with the disaster.

How much money the state is seeking isn’t known yet because the response is ongoing, but Yost made it clear the cost will be enormous. “This was an epic disaster. The cleanup is going to be expense, ” he said.

Ohio officials met with Norfolk Southern representatives on Monday and talked about several possible ways to help the people in East Palestine, including enhancing the village’s water treatment operations, Yost said.

The state attorney general said he was pleased that the railroad has indicated it wants to do the right thing and that the lawsuit will make sure it keeps its promise.

Many in East Palestine remain outraged at the railroad and worried about what will become of the village.

Those fears include concerns about their long-term health, their house values and the economic future for local businesses.

He demonstrated how the system could quickly come up with the proper income tax deduction after being fed reams of tax code — something he couldn’t figure himself.

“It’s not perfect, but neither are you. And together it’s this amplifying tool that lets you just reach new heights,” Brockman said.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

It’s part of a new generation of machine-learning systems that can converse, generate readable text on demand and produce novel images and video based on what they’ve learned from a vast database of digital books and online text.

These new AI breakthroughs have the potential to transform the internet search business long dominated by Google, which is trying to catch up with its own AI chatbot, and numerous professions.

“With GPT-4, we are one step closer to life imitating art,” said Mirella Lapata, professor of natural language processing

at the University of Edinburgh. She referred to the TV show “Black Mirror,” which focuses on the dark side of technology. “Humans are not fooled by the AI in ‘Black Mirror’ but they tolerate it,” Lapata said. “Likewise, GPT-4 is not perfect, but paves the way for AI being used as a commodity tool on a daily basis.”

WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS?

GPT-4 is a “large multimodal model,” which means it can be fed both text and images that it uses to come up with answers.

In one example posted on OpenAI’s website, GPT-4 is asked, “What is unusual about this image?”

It’s answer: “The unusual thing about this image is that a man is ironing clothes on an ironing board attached to the roof of a moving taxi.”

MATT FREED • The Associated Press

The Ohio attorney general said Tuesday, March 14, that the state filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern to make sure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage.

RICHARD DREW • The Associated Press

The company behind the ChatGPT chatbot has on Wednesday, March 15 rolled out its latest artificial intelligence model, GPT-4, in a new advance for the technology that’s caught the world’s attention.

Belfast: Study Abroad How-to

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

Alicia Reed Sports Editor Dylan Engel Photo Editor

The history of St. Patrick’s Day

Friday marks the Irish holiday in which those from all walks of life, Irish blood or not, commonly participate.

However, when you think of St. Patrick’s Day many may think of rainbows with pots of gold, leprechauns and clovers. In reality, this green-labeled holiday of festivities actually has a lengthy history behind it.

It all started with a man named Saint Patrick who is known to bring the religion of Christianity to Ireland during the fifth century. This British native religious figure ironically has no Irish bloodline.

This dedicated Christian spent the six years of his enslavement in Ireland converting the Pagan Celtic religion to Christianity. Dying on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day became the well-known holiday we all know.

St. Patrick’s Day has a lot of long standing traditions of both performances, food and symbols. Varying shades of green are a part of a decorations, drinks and clothing items. Irish music blares from speakers around Ireland and the U.S.

Bigger cities like Chicago even go as far as dying their river green for the week as well as New York City hosts annual parades filled with floats and costumed goers to pay tribute.

So why do Americans celebrate this holiday? During the Great Potato Famine in 1845, many Irish people immigrated to the United States to seek a brighter future.

With that came many families who still upheld their traditions and shared them with the melting pot that is the United States. Because of this, potatoes are worked into a number of dishes.

As for the leprechauns and four-leaf clovers, those originated from the speculation that when Saint Patrick was spreading the word of God, he was using a shamrock to explain to others what the Holy Trinity was. The leprechauns were deemed more as common fable beings that were Celtic folklore characters.

However, Ireland adapted to this brand and embraced the color green, shamrocks and leprechaun fun. In fact, many elementary schools embrace leprechaun shenanigans for children.

Those in Ireland or more specifically cities like Dublin, Belfast and Cork showcase their Irish pride by bringing together the community with festivals and parades. At these celebratory events programs highlighting cultural music, dance and comedy are encouraged.

So no matter if you are in the United States or Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, do not forget to wear something green, unless you want to get pinched.

Pulse

By ALEXANDRA TOSTRUD Staff Writer

My decision to study abroad was one of the best I’ve made. The journey that led me to Queen’s University Belfast was long and challenging, but worth every second in the end.

There’s no wrong way to study abroad– this is my personal experience, and this is what worked for me to relieve as many stressors from the process as possible.

I’m in the minority of students who chose a program early on in the planning process– I set my sights on Belfast my first semester at Minnesota State University, and worked from there.

Queen’s is a Russell Group university, and I knew

that the courses I took while abroad would have a great impact on my experience. I’m happy with the classes I ended up taking: a poetry workshop, women’s writing, and Irish gothic.

However, like most who study abroad, I also wanted to make sure I still graduate on time.

I met with my academic advisor to discuss which degree requirements made the most sense to pursue abroad, and narrow down the list of courses I could take at Queen’s so I made sure to wait on those requirements.

Queen’s has a large international student population and held many information webinar sessions, which I made an effort to attend before I was even able to apply.

Spreading out my “to-do” list ensured I wouldn’t be sorting through piles of information during or after the application process, and I felt prepared when the time came to apply for my program.

I also made sure to use my resources in the Study Abroad and Away Office at MSU.

Most of the faculty studied abroad themselves and can provide tips and tricks for everything from packing to university life at the specific institution one is applying for.

These resources led me to the most important step in my journey– the Gilman Federal Scholarship, which provides aid for students who receive the Pell Grant.

I knew that the budget

Compiled by Lauren Viska KENYA MOALLIN, SOPHOMORE “Lifeguarding.”

ALICIA CARDOZO, SOPHOMORE

ADRIAN LOPEZ, SOPHOMORE “Landscaping and lawncare.”

JOCELYN JOHNSON, JUNIOR “Child care/babysitting.”

PATRICK KARL, SENIOR “Taking inventory.”

DEVON FRIDLUND, FRESHMAN “Movie theater.”

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Tostrud Spring weather in Belfast can’t make up its mind– alongside a beautiful sunset you might find snow or freezing rain, as I did before taking this picture on campus.

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

Experts say attacks on free speech are rising across the US

By REBECCA BOONE The Associated Press

In Idaho, an art exhibit was censored and teens were told they couldn’t testify in some legislative hearings. In Washington state, a lawmaker proposed a hotline so the government could track offensively biased statements, as well as hate crimes.

In Florida, bloggers are fighting a bill that would force them to register with the state if they write posts criticizing public officials.

Meanwhile, bans on books and drag performances are growing increasingly common nationwide.

“We are seeing tremendous attacks on First Amendment freedoms across the country right now, at all levels of government. Censorship is proliferating, and it’s deeply troubling,” said Joe Cohn, leg-

pare students to start seeing patients after their first semester in the program.

“They’re really spending nearly a year and a half actually in clinic, seeing patients, doing what they would do on the job,” Delgado said. “They’re getting that real-world experience right out of the gate because it really is practice makes perfect.”

Students across MSU as well as in the Mankato area are able to schedule appointments at the dental clinic on campus.

“It’s kind of a win-win for the students,” Delgado said. “They get the practice and the technical experience by seeing patients, and then our patients are getting the experience of having a dental clinic that’s lower cost and takes all insur-

islative and policy director with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

“This year, we’re seeing a wave of bills targeting drag performances, where simply being gender nonconforming is enough to trigger the penalty. We’re also seeing a wave of bills regulating what can be in public or K-12 school libraries,” Cohn said. “On college campuses, we have been tracking data about attempts to get faculty members punished or even fired for speech or expression and the numbers are startling — it’s the highest rate that we’ve seen in our 20 years of existence.”

First Amendment rights had been stable in America for decades, said Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, but in recent years many states have reverted to the anti-speech tactics employed by people like Sen. Joe McCarthy

ances.”

New member and junior at MSU, Ashley Rademacher, was also a second year applicant for the dental hygiene program. Despite being initially turned down, Rademacher was persistent with achieving her degree.

“I feel like I’ve come this far, I’ve put in all this work, why would I give up on it?” Rademacher said.

After repeating a few prerequisite courses and working at Mankato Family Dental, Rademacher was granted acceptance February 24.

“I felt like there was a big weight lifted off my shoulders,” Rademacher said.

Rademacher recalls being in the position of those who were denied acceptance for this fall, but motivates these students to

during the “Red Scare” of the early 1950s.

McCarthy and others tried to silence political opponents by accusing them of being communists or socialists, using fear and public accusations to suppress basic free speech rights.

The term “McCarthyism” became synonymous with baseless attacks on free expression, and the U.S. Supreme Court has referred to the phenomena in several First Amendment-related rulings.

“We are seeing a concerted wave that we have not seen in decades,” said Paulson, highlighting states like Florida where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for legislation that would criminalize drag shows, limit what pronouns teachers can use for students, allow parents to determine what books can be in libraries and block some history classes entirely.

keep trying.

“Don’t cut yourself short,” Rademacher said. “It is worth it in the end to get that acceptance letter and get to take the next step.”

Department of dental education chair, Brigette Cooper, ensures trust in these students and their capabilities as dental hygienists.

“They have lots and lots of hands-on experience working on patients in the clinic, and then also in clinics out in the community,” Cooper said. “The dental clinic in the clinical sciences building is always looking for patients.”

Any type of dental service is available at the clinic on campus. Anyone can explore this cheaper alternative and support the incoming applicants by contacting (507) 389-2147.

A 2nd wave of layoffs

at Meta; 10,000 jobs are cut

Facebook parent Meta is slashing 10,000 jobs, about as many as the social media company announced late last year in its first round of cuts, as uncertainly about the global economy hits the technology sector particularly hard.

The company announced 11,000 job cuts in November, about 13% of its workforce at the time. In addition to the layoffs, Meta said Tuesday that it would not fill 5,000 open positions.

“This will be tough and there’s no way around that,” said CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta and other tech companies have been hiring aggressively for at least two years and in recent months have begun to let some of those workers go.

I had for studying abroad would be tight, even though I pay MSU tuition while abroad. This opportunity shaped what experiences I would have while abroad, and I am so thankful for this opportunity.

The most decisive part of the Gilman Scholarship is the follow-on service project, where recipients promote this opportunity in their community.

I decided to use my platform with the MSU Reporter and share my experiences with this column, something I planned to do regardless of receiving a scholarship.

As I said, I’m thankful for

Hiring in the U.S. is still strong, but layoffs have hit hard in some sectors.

Early last month, Meta posted falling profits and its third consecutive quarter of declining revenue. On the same day, the company said that it would buy back as much as $40 billion of its own stock.

The Menlo Park, company said Tuesday it will reduce the size of its recruiting team and make further cuts in its tech groups in late April, and then its business groups in late May.

Zuckerberg has invested tens of billions of dollars building out its metaverse, its virutal reality concept, and renamed the company Meta, signaling a new focus for Facebook.

The biggest tech companies in the U.S. are cutting costs elsewhere, too.

this opportunity, and I hope that sharing my life abroad will encourage other students to consider education abroad themselves.

There are countless scholarships and grants available beyond the Gilman Scholarship, and the study abroad office is always prepared to discuss someone’s options. Interested in studying abroad or away through MSU?

Contact the Center for Global Engagement at ipo@ mnsu.edu located on the ground floor of Morris, or reach out to myself with questions about the Gilman Federal Scholarship for studying abroad.

AUGUST FRANK • The Associated Press

Artists said some of their works weren’t allowed in the exhibit by LCSC, which cited Idaho’s No Public Funds for Abortion for removing some of the pieces. In Idaho, an art exhibit was censored and teens were told they couldn’t testify in some legislative hearings.

 DENTAL from page 1

 COLUMN from page 6

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

SPORTS S

Mavericks inching closer to Mason Cup

By KARSON BUELOW Staff Writer

With its 7-2 steamrolling of Ferris State last weekend, the Minnesota State Men’s Hockey team returns home to host Northern Michigan for a winner-take-all game Saturday for the Mason Cup.

The Mavericks held a convincing 4-2 lead over the Bulldogs in last Saturday’s contest heading into the third period, but three goals in the latter half of the period propelled the Mavs to their second straight Mason Cup Final.

Sophomore goaltender Keenan Rancier made 19 saves en route to a .905 save percentage against the Bulldogs.

The road to the Mason Cup for the Wildcats looked rather similar as they pummeled Michigan Tech 4-0 on the road Saturday. Brothers Rylan and Michael Van Unen each tallied one goal in a game that saw their freshman netminder, Beni Halasz, pick up his third shutout of the season.

With their dominating wins and hot streaks since the turn of the calendar year, it only makes this Saturday’s contest all the more interesting. The Mavericks hold a 14-2-1 record since Jan. 1 including a series sweep against Northern Michigan, while the Wildcats sit at 9-1-0 since Feb. 4.

And while their Jan. 6-7 matchup in Marquette seems like good news for Maverick fans, it’s safe to say that wins at home haven’t come easy for the Mavericks this year — an uncharacteristic statistic of Maverick head coach Mike Hastings’ teams. The Mavericks own a 13-7-0 record at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center this year with six of those wins being decided by one goal.

Good news for Maverick fans is the Wildcats haven’t done much better on the road with an 11-8-0 overall record including a series split with the Mavs in mid-November. But a win on the road against the No. 2 team in the conference last weekend ought to spark a boost of confidence heading into this weekend.

Confidence and composure will be a huge test for the two young netminders likely to start in Saturday’s game. But both have also shown consistency all year long in their respective categories.

Rancier leads the CCHA in goals allowed average with a mi-

nuscule 1.81, and sits third in save percentage with a .916 behind only Halasz and Blake Pietla of Michigan Tech. Halasz has made a name for himself this season as well as the freshman sits fourth in the CCHA in saves per game and goals allowed average.

The Mavericks also have a lot to be proud of heading into this weekend beyond their goaltending. The CCHA recently announced that junior Maverick defenseman Jake Livingstone was named the league’s Defenseman of the Year for the second straight season after accumulating 27 points in 26 conference games this season.

Batting at the Bank

By CHARLIE GROEBNER Staff Writer

While the grounds of the campus are covered in snow and ice, a new chapter is about to be written. After a month in the sunshine and warm weather, Minnesota State baseball returns to campus grounds. They are slated to kick off the 2022-23 season this Saturday at noon against Northern State.

In addition, junior forward David Silye was named CCHA Forward of the Year which marks the second straight season a Maverick won the award. Silye, a unanimous decision to the league’s first team, leads the league in goals and sits second in points during conference play this season.

Both teams have been playing their best hockey heading into the final and most-anticipated game of the CCHA season with the winner getting a guaranteed spot in the NCAA tournament. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

Former MSU football player to star as Butch Cassidy

By ALI REED Sports Editor

From the Midwest to the Wild West, former Minnesota State football player Ross Jirgl is set to star as Butch Cassidy in the Tubi Original film, “Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.”

“Being from a small town in Wisconsin, people don’t act, it wasn’t a profession that you could actually do,” said Jirgl. “Being a professional actor was the longest shot possibility and maybe that’s what attracted me to it.”

A native of Wausau, Jirgl grew up playing football from a young age. He attended high school at Wausau East where he led the conference in both interceptions and tackles.

After high school, Jirgil took his football talents to MSU, tallying 82 tackles in 34 games in his collegiate career. He said his time as a Maverick played a big part in shaping him into who he is today.

“It taught me how to prepare with championship-level focus and how to rely on your training to execute under pressure, when the stakes are high,” said Jirgl. “It taught me how to meet adversity with grit, embrace it and overcome it. And it taught me that if you want to do anything great in life, you need to surround yourself with a great team.”

Upon graduation, Jirgl decided it was time to pursue his dream: acting.

“I remember being like 6 or 7 years old, and my parents let me watch ‘Schindler’s List.’ That movie messed me up for weeks,” said Jirgl.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do!’ I want to create films so thought provoking that they are able to shift people’s perspectives of themselves, of each other and of the world.”

His second chance at life after a car accident, however, changed his perspective.

“I thought, ‘Don’t be selfish, give back,’ said Jirgl. “So, I pursued the path of the most influential people in my life to that point, and pursued the coaching profession. I became a certified strength

and conditioning specialist, which allowed me to work in a college weight room.”

Jirgl’s coaching career brought him all around the country. By

Coming off a successful spring break trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, The Mavs prepare to start the new season. The only change is that, instead of Bowyer Field, they will play under the lights of US Bank Stadium until the snow melts. Last year’s NSIC Championship victory, the Mavs were gut-punched in the NCAA tournament and sent home in the first round. Entering the new season, the Mavs look to defend their title as the reigning NSIC champions. With a very mixed group this time around, Head Coach Matt Magers is excited to finally get things going, entering his 14th season as the team’s manager.

“This time of year, we kind of need to roll with the punches and be flexible in terms of where and when we play. But still excited about our non-conference fourteen-game schedule now that it’s a 36-game conference and playing five games a week. So that is something we are excited about,” said Magers.

It will certainly be tested as they prepare to open their season against fellow NSIC rival, Northern State University. Last season the Wolves struggled against their competition, only going 15-26 in regular season play and picking up just one win against the Mavs in a bestof-three series. However, after a respectable 5-6 campaign in their spring training and the RussMatt Invitational, they look to get the ball rolling with a win against the defending champs in their house. The person that the Wolves will be counting on to pick up the win is their senior catcher, Niko Pezonella.

The native of Sparks, Nevada has been the go-to battery maid for the team since his sophomore year. During his career, he has compiled 59 hits, 7 HR, 39 RBIs, and a .225 batting average, making him a very balanced hitter. However, where he shines the most, is behind the plate as in his four years he has only committed six errors. This makes him one of the top defensive catchers in the conference.

With the countdown to Sat-

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

The MSU Men’s Hockey team plays Northern Michigan for the CCHA tournament championship game at 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 18 at the Mayo Clinic Event Center.

JIM SHEPKA • Courtesy of Ross Jirgl Ross Jirgl as Butch Cassidy on the set of “Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch” at Eaves Ranch in Satna Fe, New Mexico.

Kwesi deserves the Nobel Peace Prize

By HAYDEN LEE Staff Writer

Lol, every team should feel embarrassed that they don’t have Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the helm of their organization.

He had to make some tough decisions, but the Vikings’ second year general manager is starting to build a new version of the Minnesota Vikings that he always saw. Kwesi is like the guy you think is skinny, but when you eventually see him without a shirt on, he’s actually jacked.

By that I mean that last year, he played it safe, signing Jordan Hicks and ZaDarius Smith in free agency, and having a pretty subpar draft. Over the past year, Kwesi has been making some pretty big splashes within the Vikings organization.

By making savvy moves like trading for T.J. Hockenson, cutting Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks, and restructuring the contract of Kirk Cousins, Kwesi has begun to make his mark on the team and clear cap space to sign new free agents that will lead to the Vikings becoming top tier contenders, or suck. Only time will tell.

In the time since Thielen, Kendricks and Dantzler were cut, a few moves have been made.

The first domino to fall in the 2023 offseason for Kwesi and the Jockstrap Cowboys was the signing of TE Josh Oliver. Oliver was signed to a three year, $21 million contract with $10.7 million guaranteed.

Oliver is a 25 year old Tight End who has spent the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens after spending his rookie year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite only having 230 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his entire career, Oliver got a big payday. Why?

Well, Oliver is a better blocker than Penei Sewell, who caught a pass against the Vikings last season, and Sewell is an offensive tackle. Oliver also posted a 71.5 overall grade on Pro Football Focus, which landed him as the eighth best tight end in the league, two spots behind Hock.

Oliver’s blocking ability makes him a dual threat that will really open up the Vikings’ offense. If and when he is in the game, the Vikings can play smash mouth football with whoever the running back is. When the opposing defense brings in a heavier set to

A-Rod to the

J-E-T-S

is about to take off

deal with essentially a sixth offensive lineman, the Vikings can then blow the top off with Kirk and Jefferson, as the defense will have had to switch out of their nickel package, making it tougher to guard their play action and passing game in general.

That’s enough nerd shit. You will just have to see.

The second signing KAM made was signing OLB Marcus Davenport away from the Saints.

Davenport is entering his sixth year in the league at 26 years old, and is coming off of a relative down year, posting just half a sack in 15 games played. That is why he only received a one year, $13 million prove-it deal from the Vikings.

Davenport has 21.5 career sacks, but on the Vikings, playing in Brian Flores’ scheme and rushing alongside Danielle Hunter, Davenport will top 10 sacks, at least. Another thing I like about Davenport is that with his arrival, it likely means the departure of Za’darius Smith, who should have some good trade value.

Some lowkey re-signings that you may not have heard of include re-signing Pro Bowl LS Andrew DePaola to a three year, $4 million contract. K Greg Joseph was resigned to a one year deal, because Kwesi also hates us as much as he loves us. TE Ben Ellefson, EDGE Kenny Willekes, and QB Nick Mullens were re-signed to play backup roles.

But the two major re-signings are C Garrett Bradbury and RB Alexander Mattison. The Bradburger has pissed me off for many years now, but last season he showed a lot of promise and improvement to warrant a new

contract. His three year contract extension is worth up to $15.75 million, and that is a steal of a contract for someone like him. Mattison’s extension was announced Wednesday night as a two year, $7 million deal that will come in handy if Dalvin Cook is dealt in the coming days, which he very well could be.

With all of these signings, I believe that Kwesi’s true shining moment comes in the acquisition of former Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr., who was signed to a two year, $22 million deal Tuesday night.

Murphy was the 33rd pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and has been unfairly punished by having to play for the Arizona Retirement Homes.

In the pit of death, he has been a bright spot, and you may know him from his game-winning fumble return touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders this season.

Murphy has primarily played in the slot in his career, but when matched up against elite receivers such as Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp, he allowed just four catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. Make no mistake, Murphy is the real deal, and the Vikings got him for a BARGAIN.

As Kwesi continues to create a new version of the Vikings, I can say that I believe in him and trust in him to lead us to another great few years where maybe we have some playoff success and I don’t have to hide on Twitter.

There is still a lot more to be done this offseason, and I am so excited to continue to watch it all unfold. Skol.

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A legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback is on verge of becoming a New York Jet after 15 seasons as their starting quarterback. The multiple time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion is being pushed out the door by the organization after the quarterback has mentioned potentially retiring several times over the last few years. The Packers have also been keen to see what they have in the first round quarterback that they selected to be the heir apparent.

No, this isn’t about Brett Favre. This is about his successor, Aaron Rodgers, whose time as a Packer is coming to a shockingly similar end to the man he sat and waited behind for, three years prior to becoming the starter himself.

After weeks of speculation about the future of Rodgers, there have been many hints that the Packers were ready to move on from their future hall of fame quarterback. Since the Packers season ended in humiliating fashion in January after losing to the rival Detroit Lions in a must-win game to get into the playoffs, the weeks that followed consisted of several reports and speculation that the Packers would like to

move on from Rodgers.

By MOHAMED WARSAME Staff Writer RODGERS on

A major sign that they are ready to move on was when they granted the Jets hierarchy permission to speak with Rodgers to gauge his interest for a potential trade. Their intentions became quite blatant Friday, when Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy was asked whether there was a scenario that would see Rodgers as the Packers quarterback next season.

“Yeah, I mean unless, if things don’t work out the way we want them, yeah we would. He is a great player,” Murphy said.

Rodgers has remained mostly tight-lipped about his future as the speculation about his future has ramped up in the last few weeks. This includes a period of time where he went on a darkness retreat, in which he hoped “to have a better sense of where I’m at in life,” Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show.

This darkness retreat consisted of Rodgers in isolation and in a dark room for three days. He also said that during this retreat he would “contemplate all things’’ and “make a decision that I feel like is best for me moving forward in the highest interest in my happiness.” He also stated that this retreat wasn’t to figure out

page 12

JEFFREY PHELPS • The Associated Press

HAYDEN LEE • The Reporter

Rodgers says his intention is to play for the New York Jets in the coming season as the quarterback waits for the Green Bay Packers to trade him.

Please never get rid of this guy, he knows what he is doing. Pound sand Spielman.

Senior spotlight Claire Butorac

urday’s opening pitch, all eyes will start to focus back on the champs as they take the field. A full offseason and months of training have finally led to this very moment for the guys taking the field.

While they certainly have a chip and eagerness to show out, Coach Magers mentions that they just need to take it one game at a time. Especially when it’s opening day against a rival and a very good team.

“I think with what I have seen from our group of guys is that if we can go out and can control what we can, our opponent does not matter to us. During the RussMatt we had times where we crushed our opponent and times where we got crushed. So just being able to go out and play consistently is something we hope our guys can do. If we go out there and pitch well, hit well, and play defense well, there are not many teams that we can’t beat,” said Magers.

By KOLE BUELOW Staff Writer

Often in ice hockey goaltenders have the most obscure pregame rituals. Still, graduating senior Claire Butorac gives fellow netminders a run for their money when it comes to preparing herself for a game.

Butorac needs to do two things consistently before every contest: go to the highest point in the rink to sit and tape her stick, and meet with her teammates to play sewer ball. (Sewer ball is common for hockey players and is a two-touch game that focuses on keeping the soccer ball off the ground to warm up mentally and physically.)

A soccer player in her youth, Butorac was naturally good at sewer ball and has made a habit of playing before every game. Although her two rituals may seem common to most hockey players, it’s what Butorac does before returning to the locker room that is the most interesting.

“My pregame ritual is a little funny. My teammates do make fun of it a bit,” explained Butorac with a laugh. “I played soccer competitively growing up so I like to play sewer ball. After we are done playing, I have to get a hundred touches consecutively before I can go into the locker room and get ready for the game.”

Although Butorac has strayed away from soccer as she has grown in the game of hockey, she always finds fun in returning to the sport before games.

Butorac has had the classic Minnesota upbringing, playing hockey from age two. Her two brothers are the reason she started playing hockey because she always wanted to keep up with them.

It is fair enough to say she has done a great job in doing so, earning several career accolades along her career path in the sport including a Miss Hockey semi-finalist honor in 2018, over 50 career points as a Maverick, three WCHA All-Academic Team honors, and much more.

Hockey was not the only sport

Butorac excelled in before college. She also had collegiate coaches’ interest in her lacrosse skills.

“I joined lacrosse my sophomore year of high school because my best friends played,” explained Butorac. “It was going to be my fun sport, but I fell in love with it. Honestly, I loved lacrosse so much and had a few lacrosse coaches reach out, but I had already committed to hockey. I knew my career path was set.”

She says coming from Andover, Minnesota to the Mavericks turned out to be the best choice after high school, and a small part in getting her to Minnesota State came from Butorac’s familiarity with fellow Adover Huskie, McKenzie Sederberg. Sederberg, a former Maverick defenseman who also committed to Mankato from Andover, played with Butorac for two years in high school.

“I was a couple of years younger than McKenzie so she had already committed and left Andover before I had really started looking,” explained Butorac. “I don’t want to say that she was a huge influence but it was definitely a pro to coming here.”

Butorac said she tried to do the same in recently helping acquire current junior forward Jamie Nelson to the team.

“Then my linemate of so many years, Jamie, came here,” said Butorac. “I don’t think I was much of an in, and I tried to stay out of her recruiting process. In the end, she ended up choosing here, and I definitely loved having her here.”

Upon graduation, Butorac has a few options on the table as far as jobs go which include either finding a job related to her major, continuing to play hockey at a pro level, or coaching hockey. One thing is for certain, though, and that is that she will be graduating with an exercise science major along with a minor in sports medicine.

Right now, Butorac is focused on staying in shape in case an opportunity arises to continue playing hockey while also taking care of and enjoying her new golden retriever puppy on her path to graduation.

2017, he already had six jobs within three years, all while earning his master’s degree through Indiana State University.

Less than a year later, Jirgl was offered a coaching position at Stanford University for their football team. While he was doing what he liked at Stanford, there was still something missing.

“The romance seemed to fade. I was happy to work with amazing people and make a positive impact on the lives of young men, but it came down to a couple of things. I knew I didn’t want to grow old coaching back-squat, and I didn’t want to grow old having regrets of dreams left unchased,” said Jirgl. While leaving football behind was a challenge and a big change in identity for Jirgl, he allowed himself to find his true purpose

in life.

“When I finally committed to pursuing this goal of being an actor and surrounded myself with a community of teachers and actors that couldn’t do anything else in life but this, I fell in love with the art. It’s the art that drives me today,” said Jirgl.

In 2018, Jirgl made an appearance on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” in an attempt to win back ex-girlfriend Becca Kufrin. The pair dated for seven years, prior to the show, but Kufrin had no interest in rekindling their romance.

Although he has only been acting for a short period of time, Jirgl has also starred in a variety of shows and movies. He is most proud of his first film, “Heart of the Manor,” along with his most recent and upcoming film, “Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch,”

where he plays Butch Cassidy himself.

It follows the story of the legendary Butch Cassidy and his rowdy group of outlaws, “the Wild Bunch.” While Cassidy’s life has been masked with such a broad history full of myth, Jirgl said they were able to take the story in a completely different direction than anything that has been done before.

“In a way, we are retelling the tale of these outlaws with our own spin on the legend. It’s fast, it’s fun, there’s action, horses and gun fights. It was a thrill of a lifetime to work on and a pleasure to bring this story to life,” said Jirgl.

“Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch” will be available for streaming on Tubi, Thursday, March 16.

LILLY ANDERSON • The Reporter Senior forward, Claire Butorac, completes her Maverick career with a total of twenty one goals with seven of them from this season.

File photo

The MSU Men’s Baseball team competes in a double-header today and a single game Friday in the U.S. Bank Stadium against Northern State.

JIRGL from page 9

where he’d be playing next season.

The Rodgers saga reached new levels during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, where Rodgers said “since Friday my intention was to play for the New York Jets.”

He also added that it was the compensation that is holding things up on this potential trade. Well there we have it. The man has spoken. The world now awaits the Packers and Jets to agree on a deal. Assuming this deal goes through and Rodgers switches out the green and gold for the green and white, how does this experiment work out for Rodgers and the Jets?

The Jets have been one of the most dysfunctional franchises in all of football for many years now. They’re constantly chopping and changing quarterbacks and going through multiple head coaches.

The 2022 season was their most encouraging season in a long time. They had an excellent draft that led to them having both the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and AP Defensive Player of the Year Sauce Gardner. The defense also improved dramatically under second year head coach Robert Saleh, whose specialty is on the defensive side of the ball.

With all those positives, their poor quarterback play casted a dark cloud over the franchise. There were 37 quarterbacks that took at least 150 snaps during the 2022 season The Jets remarkably had the bottom three in passer rating amongst those quarterbacks. This included former no.2 overall pick in the 2021 draft Zach Wilson, along with Mike White and Joe Flacco.

With quarterback play that bad, I totally understand the desperation from the Jets to find competent play from the position. Is go-

ing after Rodgers the right move? I believe so. Rodgers is coming off of arguably his worst season as a starter, with his passer rating a career low of 91.1.

A concern for the Jets will be whether or not Rodgers is too old to get back to playing at a high level or if he will gel with the young offensive talent they have. The 39-year-old struggled to get on the same page with his young receivers for a large chunk of the season last year after the Packers traded away his best receiver in Davantae Adams last offseason.

The thing is, even Rodgers at his worst is still way better than anything the Jets have had in years. If the Jets had average quarterback play last year, they would have made the playoffs easily. I believe Rodgers will give them that and more. I believe that he will have a bounce-back year.

He has some familiar faces that he has great relationships with in former offensive coordinator Nathanial Hackett and former Packer receiver Allen Lazard.

I classify success with the Jets as being competitive for a playoff spot and possibly making some noise if they can get there. The last time the Jets made it to the playoffs was during the 2010 season which is ironically the year Rodgers won his first and only Super Bowl.

We’ve seen Rodgers have a few down years not too long ago, before he bounced back by winning the MVP in both 2020 and 2021, after the Packers ticked him off by drafting the guy they intend to replace him with in Jordan Love.

Rodgers has always had a chip on his shoulder and I’m willing to hitch my wagon to that competitor in him. I’m sure the four-time MVP would love to prove the Packers and his doubters wrong once again.

Capitals tie it late, beat Sabres

By STEPHEN WHYNO

Associated Press

The

A little more than a minute away from their already slim playoff hopes fading a whole lot further, Tom Wilson scored arguably the biggest goal of the Washington Capitals’ season.

After making it through overtime, Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie scored in the shootout to give Washington a 5-4 comeback victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night that may have saved the Capitals’ season.

“There was some desperation out there that you typically see in the postseason, some big goals out of our big guys,” said Oshie, who also scored in regulation. “Every game has to kind of be a playoff mentality for us, and there’s no time like playoffs when you’re down goals and able to fuel comebacks.”

It’s still a major uphill climb for Washington to make the playoffs after selling at the trade deadline and dealing with a growing list of injuries. But this win pushed the Capitals three points back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to play.

“When you look back at the game, you can see the urgency in our game and just the compete level and just the will — the will to win,” said goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who stopped Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson in the shootout after making 23 saves in regulation and overtime. “For us to come back and win the way we did, this might be the best-feeling win all year.”

It was only possible after Kuznetsov scored early in the third period and Alex Ovechkin cut the deficit to one with under

10 minutes left in regulation. Then Wilson’s scored a 6-on-4 goal with Lindgren pulled for an extra skater with 1:08 left on the clock.

It was Washington’s first tying or go-ahead goal in the final two minutes this season.

After getting Ovechkin back from missing the game Tuesday at the New York Rangers because of a lower-body injury, the Capitals lost defenseman Nick Jensen in the third period. Coach Peter Laviolette said there was no update on Jensen’s status.

The team got a scare late in the second when trade pickup Rasmus Sandin took a slap shot off his left knee and departed the game, before returning in the third.

“When he goes down and comes back it’s a good feeling for our team,” said Dylan Strome, who had two assists.

The feelings were mostly bad in the visiting locker room for the Sabres, who have lost seven of nine to hurt the chances of ending the franchise’s 11-season postsea-

son drought, which is by far the longest in the NHL. But Buffalo’s playoff hopes are still alive after picking up a point, and it has extra games left to play compared to other teams in the race, including the Capitals

“Down the stretch, every point matters, so it’s huge and everyone realizes this in the locker room,” Buffalo’s Tyson Jost said. “We care so much and want it and that’s good to see and we’ve just got to keep pushing and focus on the next game and keep putting together wins here.”

Still, the OT loss represented a missed opportunity after goals in regulation by Ilya Lyubushkin, JJ Peterka, Jost and Zemgus Girgensons and 35 saves in net by Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen, who lost his stick in the corner before Wilson tied it on a goal Tuch blamed himself for allowing.

“We had the lead for the whole game and then a couple bad mistakes — mine in particular,” Tuch said.

CAROLYN KASTER • The Associated Press Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) scores against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) during a shootout.

 RODGERS from page 10

VA RI ET Y

Club brings clothes to those in need

By LAUREN VISKA Staff Writer

Tuition. Rent. Pizza for latenight cram sessions.

When it comes to finances, college students are often strapped for cash and stressed from all angles.

Luckily for them, the Dream Closet is here to help.

Kylie Romashko and Kam Cone created Dream Closet in 2013 to provide clothing to those in need. Dream Closet allows people to come and “shop” from donated clothing. All items are free. Dream Closet events happen each semester. This semester’s event takes place 2-4 p.m. April 2 in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom.

Club President Anna Gruenes oversees it all and ensures everything is in order. She said she thinks this club is a great idea, which is why she chose to join back in 2021.

“I am in the club because I want to help people. There are many other reasons, but I think helping people is the main goal of joining Dream Closet,” said Gruenes. “I joined in 2021, and COVID was still pretty heavy. We didn’t have an event until 2022 in the spring. It was pretty slow when I started, but since

I’ve taken over as president, I think it’s been a little more involved.”

There are a few ways students can donate clothing, whether by going to the donation boxes

directly or contacting them via Facebook or email.

“Some people contact us directly because they have a large amount of clothing they want to donate. Or they can go to

our donation boxes and donate that way,” said Gruenes. “We have boxes at Coffee Hag and at Body Concepts. They’re both downtown Mankato.”

Gruenes hopes people re-

ceiving the clothes benefit from them. She also hopes they get some excitement from it by receiving what is trending in the world.

“I just hope they kind of get some relief. It doesn’t matter what situation you’re in, whether you’re a struggling college student or a family struggling to get by, you know, we don’t ask questions,” said Gruenes. “I just hope they get some relief and maybe some excitement. Trends are constantly changing, so maybe they’ll find something they’ve really wanted or have been looking for and then have a little bit of excitement.”

Gruenes also encourages them to join the club and says that they should join because “it’s a good cause and feels philanthropic.”

The group will meet a week before the event to go through the clothes and organize everything. Clothes will be laid out on tables with signs on what is what.

For more information on the club and how to donate or join, students can find them on Facebook at Dream Closet, Instagram @dreamclosetkato, or email them at dreamcloset@ mnsu.edu.

Ruel breaks ‘4th Wall’ in new album

By EMMA JOHNSON News Director

Laidback, emotive and real. All words can be used to describe Ruel’s debut album “4th Wall.” The album, which dropped March 3, covers topics such as heartbreak, recovery and growing up over 14 songs, all from a wise Gen-Z eye.

Born Ruel Vincent van Dijk, the British-Australian artist is known for having catchy beats that contrast serious lyrics. Releasing his debut EP “Ready” in 2018, Ruel found success through his 2019 love song “Painkiller” and the soulful, mellow pop of the 2020 EP “Bright Lights, Red Eyes.” Told through a variety of genres, “4th Wall” reflects the roller coaster of maturing in a self-aware, brutally honest manner.

Off the bat, “GO ON WITHOUT ME” brings upbeat, snappy pop to the table. Upon a second listen, the listener discovers the lyrics deliver the story of letting a crush down by telling them to move on while they’re ahead.

Later on, the underlying motives are revealed through “JAPANESE WHISKEY.” The piano-laden song is a metaphor for thinking a relationship will be

perfect, only for it to become the complete opposite. Lyrics like “we only fall in love with things that ain’t really real” and “I can’t decide/if I like it or just can’t let go” dig deep into the psyche of what teens go through, the balance of deciding if young love is meant for them.

The loss deepens through songs like “SITTING IN TRAFFIC” and “LIE.” The former song is a beautiful ballad highlights being devastated about the promise of being friends post-breakup. Sob-inducing crooning lyrics such as “don’t ever hate me when we’re not in love” show just how deep the love runs. The latter is an acoustic track telling an ex to lie and say they’re still taking a while to recover when they’ve clearly moved on.

Covering all stages of grief, Ruel pens anger in retort and relief. “I DON’T WANNA BE LIKE YOU” takes a modern twist on hatred. Surprisingly positive, the song digs at the immaturity of the ex and realizing leaving them is for the better.

“SOMEONE ELSE’S PROBLEM” is a sly, snarky remark about “rain finally letting up” and “dodging a bullet” of not having to deal with an ex anymore.

Heartbreak isn’t the only feeling young adults experience. A tumultuous twister of change, “GROWING UP IS ___” discusses the commonalities of growing up and trying to

manage yourself through it all.

“SET YOURSELF ON FIRE”

reassures listeners it’s okay to not know where they’re heading in life and to have fun while figuring it out.

Teen angst takes center stage on “YOU AGAINST YOURSELF.” The infectious beat of drums and guitar blends to create a message of needing to get

Photo Courtesy of Dream Closet

Dream Closet, pictured above, has been working since 2013 to provide good quality clothing for those in need. This semester’s Dream Closet event takes place on April 2.

Photos Courtesy of Rolling Stones Australia Ruel’s 4TH WALL is out now via Sony Music Australia/RCA.

OPINION: The best McDonald’s items, ranked

By JOEY ERICKSON Variety Editor

On February 14, 2016, I walked into a McDonald’s in Woodbury, Minnesota and applied for a position as a crew member. It was Valentine’s Day; love was in the air, along with the distinct smell of french fry grease. I was 14 years old and my parents had told me that it was time to get a job. I decided to apply to the closest place to my house, since my only means of transportation was walking.

I continued to work at that suburban McDonald’s all throughout high school and part of college, before transferring to a Mankato location last year. I’ve made enough cheeseburgers to circle the Earth twice. I’ve mixed McFlurries by hand due to a broken ice cream machine with such vigor that my carpal tunnel has increased from tunnel to full on Underground Railroad.

I’ve become well acquainted with the ins and outs of the corporate McBeast that is McDonald’s, and have seen up close and personal how most of the menu is put together in the kitchen. Similarly to last week’s column, thus commences my completely unbiased, completely factually based list of the best foods to order at McDonald’s.

(If you are Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, or some high-up McDonald’s CEO, kindly do not read this article, as I will more than likely expose behind-the-scenes secrets that go on in the kitchen. I’d recommend reading the Associated Press article to my right, it’ll be much better for you!)

The chicken nuggets take number one spot, with absolutely no competition. At all. The other food items are battling for second place, really. Kind of embarrassing for the other foods, really.

Coming in second place, blowing everyone out of the water, is the Bacon McDouble. The elusive sandwich has sent many a customer into a tizzy with its name. Despite the innocent McMmoniker preceding it, a McDouble and a Double Cheeseburger are two completely separate entities. Both sandwiches have two frozen, never fresh patties, but a Double Cheeseburger has two slices of cheese, not one.

The Bacon McDouble comes with two sauces served in perfect quantities. A dollop of mustard so small you can barely taste it, and a hearty serving of ketchup, sizable enough to drown out the mustard so you can barely taste it. The Joey Erickson household (consisting of me and only me) is a mustard-free one, but I’m not going to ask for no mustard on my burger. That’s embarrassing.

The bacon in the kitchen is usually so old that scientists can carbon date it to explore how dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic Period, and so dry that simply looking at it with the intention of touching it will cause the entire piece to crumble a way in the wind, like a Thanos blip from Avengers: Endgame. Despite that, it goes deliciously on a McDonald’s burger.

Paired together, the chicken nuggets and Bacon McDouble offer a meal worthy of five stars in any Michelin guide. Those stars may be the gold stickers you can buy in bulk at Office Max for $1.99, and smell like kindergarten glue, but they’re stars nonetheless.

 MUSIC from page 13

it together. Truthfully harsh lyrics of “you’re going out almost every night/and you wonder why you feel f–ked up” act as a wake-up call to let listeners know they’re the only person who can pull themselves out of trouble.

“MUST BE NICE” closes out the album with an anthem of still struggling to be happy when everyone else is. The piano creates a melancholic lullaby of a melody of the listener sitting in grief, trying to pick up all the pieces of what’s been left.

Just entering his twenties, Ruel’s already experienced a lot of life and is not afraid to bear his feelings about it all through illustrative storytelling. Without a doubt, Ruel is just getting started with his success and he’s bringing us along for the ride.

Kevin Hart signs new deal with SiriusXM

By JONATHAN LANDRUM The Associated Press

Kevin Hart will keep his comedic candor going with SiriusXM. But this time he’ll bring along more recognizable figures from outside the comedy realm.

The satellite radio company announced Wednesday that it has signed Hart and his entertainment company, Hartbeat, to a multi-year deal. As part of the deal, the superstar actor-comedian will continue to curate content involving comedy and culture on his Laugh Out Loud Radio channel.

“At the end of the day, this is a great partnership,” Hart said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “When you put yourself in a position to create partnerships that will last and can grow, those are the big wins. You’re looking at a relationship that has evolved, that is growing and going in the right direction. I think this is one where the hard work has been put into the growth of the station and the platform is just paying off.”

Hart will host his podcast “Gold Minds with Kevin Hart,” a rebranded show that will premiere its new season Wednesday on SiriusXM. Some comedians will still occasionally appear on his show, but he’ll feature more conversations with notable figures including Emmy winner Jason Bateman, “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler, actor-rapper Method Man, filmmaker Neil Burger along with broadcast journalists Anderson Cooper and Stephen A. Smith.

In the “Gold Minds” premiere, Hart will speak with

Coogler about his career journey, working with Michael B. Jordan and receiving guidance from Denzel Washington, Forrest Whitaker, Sylvester Stallone and Christopher Nolan.

Hart said he felt compelled to rebrand “Gold Minds” because he wanted to expand beyond comedy to a “larger pool of individuals with interesting stories.”

“I’m going further to entrepreneurs, big businessmen, TV personalities, amazing actors, actresses, directors. It’s expanding,” he said. “There’s a volume of people out there that should be talked to, and there’s not a volume of people that can truly access them properly and execute after getting to them. I think I’m one of the few that have this opportunity and I’m taking advantage of it. I want people to enjoy these authentic conversations.”

Hartbeat will produce the slate of new programs includ-

ing “Love Thang with Punkie Johnson” and “One Song with Diallo and Luxxury,” hosted by HBO Max’s “South Side” co-creator Diallo Riddle and music producer Blake “Luxxury” Robin. His channel will exclusively release the late comedian Bernie Mac’s first-ever solo standup special.

Comedian Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman will return to Hart’s channel for the fifth season of his show “Quake’s House.”

Hart along with The Plastic Cup Boyz — including Joey Wells, Will “Spank” Horton, Harry Ratchford, Wayne Brown and Na’im Lynn — will continue to host “Straight From The Hart.”

“Kevin has become a cornerstone of SiriusXM’s comedy programming, and we’re absolutely thrilled to deepen our relationship with Kevin and the whole Hartbeat team,” said Scott Greenstein.

RICHARD SHOTWELL • The Associated Press

The satellite radio company announced Wednesday that it has signed Hart and his entertainment company, Hartbeat, to a multi-year deal.

Oprah Winfrey reflects on book club

By HILLEL ITALIE The Associated Press

For her 100th book club pick, Oprah Winfrey relied on the same instincts she has drawn upon from the start: Does the story move her? Does she think about it for days after? In a work of fiction, do the characters seem real to her?

“When I don’t move on, that’s always a sign to me there’s something powerful and moving,” Winfrey told The Associated Press in a recent telephone interview.

On Tuesday, she announced that she had chosen Ann Napolitano’s “Hello Beautiful,” a modern-day homage to “Little Women” from the author of the bestselling “Dear Edward.” The novel was published Tuesday by Dial Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Winfrey believes its themes of family, resilience and perspective give “Hello Beautiful” a “universal appeal” that makes it a proper milestone.

A Winfrey pick no longer ensures blockbuster sales, but it retains a special status within the industry; for authors, a call from Winfrey still feels like being told they’ve won an Oscar. Winfrey told AP that she is in “awe” of the club and its history, “the very notion” that some-

one might go and buy a copy of “Anna Karenina” or a little known book simply because she suggested it.

“She is the queen,” says Jenna Bush Hager, who hosts the popular “Read With Jenna” club on NBC’s “Today” show.

“I remember being a high school senior, in AP English, and reading (David Guterson’s) ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ because I had walked into the local bookstore and seen that Oprah had recommended it.”

Kristen McLean, an analyst

for NPD Books, which tracks industry sales, says that Winfrey is especially effective these days when promoting a known author such as Barbara Kingsolver and her novel “Demon Copperhead,” a bestseller since Winfrey picked it last fall that has far

outsold her two previous works of fiction.

Since 1996, Winfrey’s book choices have set her on a journey of extraordinary influence and success, frequent reinvention and the occasional controversy. It has endured through changes for both Winfrey and the publishing industry, through the rise of the internet and the end of Winfrey’s syndicated talk show, through immersions in the classics and unexpected lessons in the reliability of memoirs and the lack of diversity of book publishing.

Thanks to Winfrey, contemporary authors such as Jacquelyn Mitchard and Jane Hamilton found audiences they never imagined, while picks published decades or even centuries earlier, from “Anna Karenina” to “As I Lay Dying,” placed high on bestseller lists. Winfrey didn’t invent the mass market book club, but she demonstrated that spontaneous passion can inspire people in ways that elude the most sophisticated marketing campaigns.

Her most troubled choices — James Frey’s fabricated memoir “A Million Little Pieces,” Jeanine Cummins’ “American Dirt,” a novel criticized for stereotypical depictions of Mexicans — made so much news in part because of the spotlight of a Winfrey endorsement.

CHRIS PIZZELLO • The Associated Press

Oprah Winfrey, a producer of the documentary “Sidney,” about actor Sidney Poitier, appears at the premiere on Sept. 21, 2022 in Los Angeles.