The
Minnesota State University Mankato
www.msureporter.com
Stammering my way through it all My story of a friend overstaying their welcome
GABE HEWITT Editor-in-Chief Speaking at my high school graduation ceremony was one of the most rewarding and terrifying moments of my life. They never tell you to increase the font size of your speech before you give it so it’s easier to read. They also never tell you how incredibly dry your mouth becomes as soon as you get in front of a microphone. But here I was. In front of a crowd of 300. All eyes on me. It was a surreal moment for me because just 10 years earlier, I was being called on to read in class and I-I-I couldn’t do it. I’ve had a stutter for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to describe what having a stutter feels like. Imagine your flow of speech
is doing the hurdles event in track and field except the other peoples’ flows in the race don’t have hurdles in their lanes. These hurdles are called “blocks.” Some hurdles are bigger than others and sometimes you just have to bypass the hurdle because it’s too big. The number of hurdles increase when you’re nervous. A common phrase among family members growing up was “spit it
out” whenever I would get blocked. Some advice: saying that does not help. It took me a while to come to terms with it. I was terrified to speak in early grade school because of it. Kids at that age are awful when they realize you’re different from them in any way. So I never spoke and that alone made me different. They called me “quiet” or a “mute.” “He doesn’t talk,” someone would say
Photos courtesy of Gabe Hewitt
whenever a substitute teacher was taking attendance. I was forever known as the kid who didn’t talk. It appeared my plan had backfired. Reading was a pain. If I was a called on to read, I would sit in my chair and look at the words on the paper
until it was all over. All eyes on me. I would sit silently until the teacher realized it was time to call on someone else. What a relief when they
STAMMER PAGE 3
Columbia University professor to talk at Kessel Memorial Lecture Todd Gitlin to discuss “Democracy at Risk” at 32nd annual lecture April 3 Mankato, Minn. – Todd Gitlin, a media scholar and professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University in New York City, will deliver the 32nd Annual Kessel Memorial Lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Ostrander Auditorium, located on campus in Centennial Student Union. Gitlin’s presentation, “Democracy at Risk: The Urgency of Action,” is free and open to the public. According to his biography, Gitlin, also a novelist and activist, was a leader of the student “New
TODAY’S FEATURED STORIES
Left” in the 1960s as well as the movement to divest from economic relations with apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. He is today a
His most recent book is a forthcoming novel, “The Opposition.” Gitlin is currently the chair of the Ph.D. program in
“Gitlin writes regularly for many newspapers and magazines.”
climate activist and a member of the board of Partners for Progressive Israel, and he writes regularly for many newspapers and magazines.
communications at Columbia University. Prior to that, he was a professor of culture, journalism and sociology at New York University for seven
years, and before that, he was a professor of sociology and director of the mass communications program at UC Berkeley for 16 years. During 1994-95, he held the chair in American Civilization at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. He has been the Bosch Fellow in Public Policy at the American Academy in Berlin, a resident at the Bellagio Study Center in Italy and at the Djerassi Foundation in Woodside, Calif., and a fellow at the Media Studies Center in New York. He has served as a visiting professor at Yale University,
the University of Oslo, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, East China Normal University in Shanghai, the Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis in Tunisia, the American University of Cairo and the Université de Neuchatel (Switzerland). For more information about the lecture, contact Judie Bjorling, office manager in the University’s Department of Government, at 507-389-2721 or judith. bjorling@mnsu.edu, or Jackie Vieceli, professor of political science, at 507-389-6938 or jacqueline.vieceli@mnsu.edu.
Gen X fed up with gun violence
Bye Bye Birdie opens next week
Softball sweeps Concordia
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alissa.thielges@mnsu.edu
News Editor Alissa Thielges
2 • MSU Reporter
News
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Dream Closet Judge tosses involuntary manslaughter charges in frat death
announces April 8 as next free shopping event
Dream Closet, a recognized student organization at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has officially released the date of their next expense-free shopping event. The Dream Closet team will be hosting their free shopping event at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Centennial Student Union Ballroom on April 8th 2018 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Dream Closet team has been actively collecting clothing in boxes around the Mankato area for this event. Boxes are located at The WowZone, Primp, BackPack School Program, CubFoods on Riverfront, The Coffeehag and Jacob and Summit Heights. They have been accepting men, women’s, and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories. “My favorite part about the event is seeing how excited people are when they get to pick out the clothes that they want for free.” said Mikayla McDonough, president of the organization. Guests are encouraged to allow Dream Closet personal shoppers to guide them through all of the clothing to help them find what they are looking for. Other attractions at this event include face painting along with snacks and refreshments. “Truly was just like a dream,” said a guest at a past event. For more information about this upcoming event like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dreamclosetmankato.
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
A judge threw out involuntary manslaughter and many of the other most serious remaining charges Wednesday against 11 of the former Penn State fraternity members arrested in a pledge’s hazingrelated death last year, the second major blow to the prosecution’s case. District Judge Allen Sinclair dismissed all five involuntary manslaughter charges, along with all reckless endangerment and hazing counts before him during the three-day hearing that wrapped up late Tuesday, sending to county court for trial only alcohol violations and, against two defendants, single counts of conspiracy to commit hazing. The case involves the February 2017 death of 19-year-old sophomore engineering student Tim Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey, who died of severe head and abdominal injuries after falling several times at the house the night of a bid acceptance ceremony and party. Security video recovered from the house showed him and other pledges being plied with alcohol, and authorities later estimated Piazza had consumed three to four times the state’s legal limit of alcohol for drivers. The district judge had
CONGRATULATIONS
ON A GREAT SEASON!! Dan Baker, Agent/Veteran
previously tossed many of those same counts on Sept. 1, after an eight-day preliminary hearing. The county district attorney subsequently refiled many of those charges, and more were added. There also were new defendants charged after the FBI was able to recover deleted security camera footage from
“Security video showed him and other pledges being plied with alcohol...three to four times the state’s legal limit of alcohol for drivers.”
the basement. A preliminary hearing for those defendants is scheduled to begin May 2. Defense attorney Leonard
boxing match where they lost the major issues in the first fight, demanded a second fight and lost,” Ambrose
FRAT DEATH PAGE 3
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sociology & corrections SOCIOLOGY COURSES: SUMMER 2018 GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE # SOC 101 SOC 150 SOC 202 SOC 209 SOC 255 SOC 255
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DATES 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 6/1 6/25 – 7/6
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FACULTY GOAL AREA DIVERSE CULTURES Anwary 5, 8 Purple Anwary 5, 7 Purple Graham 4 Waskul 5, 7 Purple Truesdale 5, 9 Truesdale 5, 9 -
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DATES DAYS TIME ROOM # 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 5/21 – 6/22 Tuesdays 9:30-12:00 AH 232 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 6/25 – 7/27 Online Online Online 5/21 – 6/22 Online Online Online 5/21 – 7/27 Online Online Online
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Ambrose, representing Joseph Sala, called the refiled charges “a total waste of time.” All 39 counts against Sala that were in play during the hearing were dismissed, leaving him with 14 counts of hazing and four alcoholrelated charges that Sinclair had upheld in September. “This is the equivalent of a
said. “That’s it — they were knocked out of the ring.” Attorney General Josh Shapiro, whose office took over the case upon the request of a new district attorney in January, said their review of the case was continuing. “We will move forward with our case and the charges that were held for trial today,” said Shapiro, a Democrat. “I am disappointed by the decision of the magisterial district judge and we are assessing our legal options. My office is committed to seeking justice for Timothy Piazza and his family and holding responsible individuals accountable for their actions.” Felony counts of aggravated assault that would have carried the lengthiest potential prison sentences had been tossed at a prior hearing, and prosecutors eventually opted not to pursue them again. The defense attorney for Gary DiBileo, Michael Engle, said prosecutors made essentially the same argument about involuntary manslaughter that was unsuccessful in September. “Despite our feelings of gratitude to the court for today’s legal ruling, Gary and his family recognize that a
GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE # CORR 106 CORR 255 CORR 255
SECTION CREDITS TITLE 1 3 Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems 1 3 Juvenile Delinquency 2 3 Juvenile Delinquency
DATES 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 6/1 6/25 – 7/6
DAYS Online Online Online
TIME Online Online Online
ROOM # Online Online Online
FACULTY GOAL AREA DIVERSE CULTURES Dennis 5, 9 Purple Truesdale 5, 9 Truesdale 5, 9 -
UPPER LEVEL CORRECTIONS COURSES
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COURSE # SECTION CREDITS TITLE CORR 442/542 1 3 Criminology CORR 472/572 1 3 Drugs and Society CORR 485/585 1 3 Topics: Community Reentry CORR 496 1 10 Field Practice CORR 497 1 2 Capstone
DATES 5/21 – 6/22 6/25 – 7/27 5/21 – 6/22 5/21 – 7/27 5/21 – 7/27
DAYS Online Online Online Arr. Arr.
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ROOM # FACULTY GOAL AREA DIVERSE CULTURES Online Vaughan Online Dennis Online Thomas Arr. McLaughlin Arr. Truesdale -
Thursday, March 29, 2018
News
MSU Reporter • 3
STAMMER
Continued from page 1 “I would always ask myself, ‘Why me?’ I listened to other kids who clearly had no challenges in speaking and it hit my selfesteem pretty hard... You don’t realize how powerful language is until you’re able to fully express it.” did. I remember my face would get really warm and my classmates would snicker. I’d get called on during every session of ‘popcorn reading.’ It’s like I was a circus act and everyone wanted to see the awkward and silent show. It’s hard to make friends when you don’t talk. This fear of talking spread over into my overall ability to express my emotions. I would rarely express my happiness or excitement over something. Refer to any school picture for evidence. How do you make friends when you come off as a quiet, emotionless kid? Speech therapy saved me. Before, I was under the impression that my stutter levels had reached its peak and there wasn’t any going back. That it would be my permanent crux. I started therapy when I was in kindergarten. My speech therapist, Kathy Brandt, would come to the classroom every now and then and take me to a room in another part of my elementary school. I’m not a religious person, but I am certain that Kathy was a saint sent from someplace holy. She had this iconic bowl cut for a 40-something and her smile could end world wars. She had this aura about her that made you want to better yourself. She had the patience needed to listen to this six-year-old child struggle to get through even the simplest sentences. “Just slow down…sound it out,”
she would say. There’s no way to get completely rid of a stutter. It’ll always be there resting on the back of your tongue like a friend in between homes that’s overstayed their welcome at yours. The only thing you can do is tame it and find ways to get around it. This includes word selection and tactics like breathing and pausing. You learn what sounds work better for you and how to mask things. Learning all these tools and techniques was both great and frustrating. This was the first time I had fully confronted this speech impediment and that came with a lot of selfdoubt. I would always ask myself, “Why me?” I listened to other kids who clearly had no challenges in speaking and it hit my self-esteem pretty hard. Even to this day, I get jealous of how well and easily people speak. Kathy set milestones for me. One of the first ones was reading in class in any kind of capacity. If I did it, she would reward me with McDonald’s. That’s an offer you can’t turn down, right? My 4th grade teacher knew what was going on when she called on me to read. It was my time to shine. Like when you get up to the drive-thru microphone box. Let’s do this. I remember feeling like a complete idiot because one of the techniques I learned involved taking deep breaths between words and sentences.
FRAT DEATH
People must have thought I had asthma. I read nearly a paragraph. I couldn’t tell you what I read all these years later. Probably something published by McGraw-Hill. But I did it. I conquered my fears of speaking and I got McDonald’s for it. This was the first crack in the shell. Kathy and others like my 5th grade teacher, Coleman Nemerov, continued to push me to open myself up more. To get more comfortable. It was becoming more clear that this friend that was overstaying their welcome was actually right at home. I started talking more and coming out of my shell each grade year in school. I gained the self-esteem to better express my emotions and overall self by doing this and started to make friends from it. You don’t realize how powerful language is until you’re able to fully express it. My five-year-old self would think I was crazy if I told him I gave a speech at my high school graduation. He would be right, I was crazy. I stuttered and stumbled through the speech. Between stammering and trying to find the little saliva that was
student who had been a fraternity member for all of a couple of weeks and who handed six pledges a beer (only five of whom were underage) is guilty of nothing more than handing six pledges a beer,” said Kubera’s lawyer, Andrew Shubin. Tom Kline, a civil lawyer for Piazza’s parents, said they were disappointed that involuntary manslaughter charges were thrown out but heartened that the judge upheld the counts of conspiracy to commit hazing.
remaining in the ground zero of my pallet, it was difficult, but I expected that and I was still proud of myself. I was once scared of being made fun of in a class of 20 and I had built up the courage to speak in front of a crowd of 300. I’ve come to accept everything more and more since my graduation. The stutter is still there. Some days are better than others and some days I want to super glue my mouth shut. I always get excited whenever I meet someone with a stutter because it reminds me that I’m not alone in a world of fluid speakers. There’s a point where you cross over from being an innocent child with a stutter
to an adult where people ask you if you’re okay when you get blocked. They must think I’m having a stroke. I fear the day when I get pulled over and law enforcement accuses me of being drunk because I can’t form a competent sentence due to how nervous I am. My speech impediment isn’t any kind of gift, but it’s not a curse either. I have no idea why I have it and at this point, I’m too afraid to ask. My stutter is a part of me and it wasn’t easy coming to terms with that. Life will throw challenges in your face because it can. How you handle those challenges can help shape who you are and oh my gosh, why is my mouth so dry right now?
Now Accepting Nominations for:
MSSA Teacher of the Year Award
FACU LTY
and
Continued from page 2 young man tragically lost his life and they continue to pray for Mr. Piazza’s family during this extremely difficult time,” Engle said. Nick Kubera saw all 11 counts against him get dismissed, leaving him to defend the charges that Sinclair had previously forwarded to court — six counts of reckless endangerment, 14 counts of hazing and alcohol violations. “Two preliminar y hearings of unprecedented length conducted by two prosecutors doesn’t change the obvious — that a freshman college
Photo courtesy of Gabe Hewitt
FACU L & STA TY FF
MSSA Student Friendly Award
If you know a professor or staff member who deserves to be recognized for his or her service to the university submit nomination at: www.mnsu.edu/mssa/awards or stop by CSU 280.
Nomination Deadline: April 5th, 2018
4 • MSU Reporter
Thursday, March 29, 2018 EMAIL THE EDITOR IN CHIEF:
March For Our Lives biggest march in US history Gen X fed up with gun violence, advocating for stricter laws
GABE HEWITT
gabriel.hewitt@mnsu.edu OR AT reporter-editor@mnsu.edu
Opinion KARLY KAUFMAN Staff Writer On March 24, 2018, the United States saw one of the biggest protests in its history as a country. March For Our Lives is a movement in support of gun control after the Parkland High School shooting on Feb. 14 that killed 17 people. Emma González, David Hogg, and Cameron Kasky, survivors of the Parkland shooting, as well as Naomi Wadler, Yolanda Renee King, Alex King and D’Angelo McDade, and so many others chose to speak out about the injustice of gun violence in America. Generation X is not to be reckoned with, as they are the ones who are telling the stories of those who are ignored and oppressed everyday by our society. What makes this movement
SPRING FALL 2015 2018 EDITOR IN IN CHIEF: CHIEF: EDITOR Gabe Hewitt ........................389-5454 Rae Frame ............................389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: NEWS EDITOR: Alissa Thielges .....................389-5450 Nicole Schmidt......................389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: Kevin Korbel ....................................... Luke Lonien ...........................389-5227 A&E EDITOR: Caleb Holldorf .................................... VARIETY EDITOR: Matthew Eberline .................. 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: Travis Meyer ........................389-5097 ADVERTISING SALES: ReedBoehmer Seifert ......................... 389-5451 Mac .......................389-5097 Brandon Poliszuk ...................389-5453 Lucas Riha ........................... 389-1063 Josh Crew .............................389-5451 Carter Olsen ........................389-5453 Jacob Wyffels ....................... 389-6765 Kole Igou ............................. 389-6765 BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER: MANAGER: Jane Jane Tastad Tastad........................... .......................... 389-1926
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
using social media. Not only that, but students are fed up with the situation at hand. They are including the conversations about victims who were silenced, mostly people of color. Eleven-year-
“What makes this movement different than previous school shootings is the quick exchange of communication using social media.”
different than previous school shootings is the quick exchange of communication
old Naomi Wadler spoke out for all African-American girls who have died from gun violence, stories often
Pulse
ignored by the media. “We might still be in elementary school, but we know…” Wadler said in her speech. “We know life isn’t equal for everyone. And we know what’s right and wrong. We also know that we stand in the shadow of the Capitol. And we know that we have seven short years until we, too, have the right to vote.” Alex King and D’Angelo McDade took to the podium with duct take over their mouths, signaling how they are silenced by our society and ignored in the face of gun violence. “I come from a place where minorities are controlled by both violence and poverty… but today we say, ‘No more!’” McDade said.
Yolanda Renee King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s granddaughter, used her grandfather’s speech to enact her own version. “I have a dream that enough is enough,” she said. “And that this should be a gun-free world, period.” Survivors of the Parkland shooting had their own versions of how victims are silenced through gun violence. Emma González began her speech addressing the victims of her high school followed by silence until her timer went off to signify the time it took, six minutes and twenty seconds, for the
MARCH PAGE 5
“What is the most used app on your phone?”
AD. DESIGN/PROD. DESIGN/PRODUCTION AD. MGR.: MGR.: Dana Clark ........................... 389-2793 Dana Clark .......................... 389-2793
POLICIES & INFO
• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would or would likelike to point to point outout an an error error made made in the in the Reporter, Reporter, callcall Editor Editor in Chief in Chief Gabe Rae Hewitt Frame at at 507-389-5454. 507-389-5454. The The Reporter Reporter will will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board. • The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a student-run newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-389-1776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.
Compiled by Cassidy Dahl
STEVEN OVRAITI, BIOTECHNOLOGY
MARISSA JOHNSON, BIOLOGY
RANDY SOLORZANO, POLITICAL SCIENCE
ARNAVEE MALTARE, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
BHARAT ESSARANI, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
“Snapchat.”
“Instagram.”
“Twitter.”
“Outlook.”
“Facebook.”
Thursday, March 29, 2018
News
MSU Reporter • 5
Don’t ban guns, promote gun safety, says one writer Opinion
KEVIN KORBEL Sports Editor An issue that’s caused a stir over the last couple of months—the Second Amendment—is under the public eye again after another recent mass shooting occurred in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL in February. This crime was a disgusting act made by a disgusting human being, who doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in this article. With this recent case, everyone’s looking for a new solution to what’s been a nationwide debate over not just the last couple of months, but for years. Here are some arguments that I have for the gun rights of citizens of the United States: Current background
checks in place are just not persistent enough According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), 77 percent of criminals in state prisons for firearm crimes get firearms through theft, on the black market, from a drug dealer or “on the street” sales, “criminal acts,” and relatives, whereas only six percent had acquired firearms from dealers or nondealers at gun shows and flea markets. This is not to say that background checks should not be fixed. When a person registers for a driver’s license, they don’t point at the first car they see in the lot that they want and drive home with it. You have to go through a process of getting that license. This means attending driver’s ed courses, passing a written test, taking behind the wheel courses. Then you have to pass a test with an instructor in order to complete the process of receiving a driver’s license. For a gun purchase, you don’t need experience whatsoever; in fact, you don’t even need a gun license
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
of any kind to purchase a weapon. All you need is to pass a simple background check and have an ID. There’s no indication of if the person is having mental health issues, being bullied in school, being in toxic relationships with family and friends. All it states is that you have never committed a crime, so you’re allowed to have a gun. No further questions. This is a problem for background checks and it needs to be updated to
MARCH
Continued from page 4 shooter to kill all seventeen people. She ended her speech with, “Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.” González, in that moment, raised awareness to this movement by telling everyone to stand up for their lives and fight for gun control in the United States. Arming teachers is not an effective solution to protecting schools. Neither are clear backpacks as some have proposed.
As someone who has had family survive the Columbine shooting in 1999, it is extremely difficult to try and understand why school shootings—and shootings in general— keep happening. It is incomprehensible. No one wants to be a part of a club they didn’t sign up for. We need to start paying attention to victims and survivors of gun violence. We need to stop ignoring the effects it has on people of color in low-income
communities. We need to change our policies to help fight for injustice. If we aren’t paying attention to everyone who is affected by violence we are part of the problem. As Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Listen to what these students, this generation, this movement are saying. They are the change we need to see in our country.
today’s times. H i s to r y ’s s how n banishment laws fail Let’s take a look at past instances when things were banned from the hands of US citizens. In 1920, the purchase and consumption of alcohol was banned nationwide. This law was put into place after problems with family violence and alcoholism almost a hundred years ago. Once alcohol was banned, consumption rates dropped in half, but crime rose at a rapid pace, as well as organized criminal gangs coming into the picture, taking control of alcohol sales in many cities. The law was heavily disregarded during this time. It sparked the creation of speakeasies, which were underground liquor
establishments that people went to for the purchase and consumption of alcohol. As we all know by now, we learned prohibition didn’t last long. Ending in 1933, after public scrutiny, alcohol sales were made legal again, after the country had lost supporters every year and lost tax revenue that the government needed when the Great Depression began in 1929. The point I’m making with this is that if you ban guns in a country that’s historically always had guns, it would not be easy to put into place. With the black market and countless gangs
GUN LAWS PAGE 6
President & Vice President Debates Come hear your student body presidential & vice presidential candidates as they debate important issues concerning YOU, the students at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4TH, BEGINNING AT 12:00 NOON. CSU Hearth Lounge (by the fireplace)
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
6 • MSU Reporter
News
Thursday, March 29, 2018
California pot shops decry online ads for illegal sellers LOS ANGELES (AP) — Weedmaps is a go-to website for people looking to find a marijuana shop. With a few clicks on a cellphone, customers can find virtually any type of cannabis product, along with the fastest route to the place selling it and ratings from other consumers to help them decide what to buy. But legal and illegal operators advertise next to each other, and licensed operators in California say that’s put them at a disadvantage in a cutthroat marketplace. To them, Weedmaps is helping illegal sellers flourish without having any of the obligations licensed operators endure — collecting and paying taxes, insuring their businesses and employees, and abiding by safety rules for their products. In other words, illegal shops can sell pot at cheaper prices, sometimes 30 percent to 50 percent less. “That’s Weedmaps’ business model, to confuse the difference between legal and illegal,” said Jerred Kiloh, a licensed dispensary owner in Los Angeles who heads the United Cannabis Business Association, an industry group. “It’s an unfair playing field. They are pitting us against each other.” Weedmaps operates in over two dozen states, but the issue is coming to a head in California, which in January became the nation’s largest legal marketplace. State regulators last month warned Weedmaps to stop advertising shops operating outside the law. In a response, Weedmaps executives said they are eager to work with the state but asserted that the online directory doesn’t fall under state authority and is shielded
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
by provisions in federal law. The company sees the core of the problem as a scarcity of legal outlets and hefty taxes that scare off consumers from licensed shops, not its online ads. In Los Angeles, where the pace of city licensing has been sluggish, only about 130 retail shops have authority to operate, while city officials acknowledge hundreds more are making illegal sales. Weedmaps says its experience dropping unlicensed businesses from its listings in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Massachusetts had no impact on the size of those unlicensed markets. “Scrubbing the internet of the reality of unlicensed operators ... does nothing to fix the underlying issues,” Weedmaps CEO Doug Francis and President Chris Beals wrote to the state Bureau of Cannabis Control earlier this month. The company some call a Craigslist for cannabis defines itself as an “interactive computer service” that falls under the federal Communications Decency Act. A key section of that law is designed to protect
internet publishers, generally providing immunity to them for content posted by users. But Kiloh is among those who argue Weedmaps is far more than an advertising platform, noting consumers can use the site to submit orders and summon deliveries from shops legal and otherwise. “They are acting like Amazon, saying, ‘Here is a shopping cart,’” Kiloh said. “They are creating a marketplace, not a platform for advertising, and it’s driven by dollars.” The dispute over the online ads goes to basic economics for an emerging market sprung from what was mostly an illegal one: Lawful operators will struggle if they’re competing with a robust black market that can undersell them. Complaints have surfaced elsewhere, including over fees that in some cases can be tens of thousands of dollars a month for prime ad space. The company says some advertisers pay nothing. “I strongly believe their response to advertise for unlicensed cannabis companies is a black eye
GUN LAWS
Continued from page 5 still in existence, we as a nation would run into more problems than solutions with banning the sales of guns. Conclusion While I’m heavily in favor of having some sort of gun reform, I think we need to put more emphasis on the mental health side of this issue, rather than the guns side of the issue. In almost all of the mass shooting cases over the last couple
of years, almost all of the criminals had an unknown case of mental health issue. If we do this, we make a great first-step into stopping mass shootings from happening ever again. Digging deep into the mental health crisis and licensure for guns will not prevent the event of mass shootings from ever happening again, but at least it shows that we’re making an effort as a
nation to prevent putting guns into the hands of the wrong people. If we, as a nation, come together, sit down and think of a knowledgeable answer to this issue, we can resurrect our country as a whole. Baby steps still have to be made in order to lay a blueprint fixing what’s right now a nation under public fire.
to the industry,” said Peter Marcus, a spokesman for Denver-based Terrapin Care Station. Terrapin has three licensed dispensaries in Colorado and has advertised with Weedmaps for years, Marcus said. He said Terrapin worries Weedmaps’ high-profile spat with California regulators will bring unwanted attention from the U.S Justice Department, which continues to prosecute marijuana offenses under federal law that still sees cannabis as an illegal drug. The appeal of blackmarket shops — and the lure of their ads — was illustrated this month after a raid at an illegal dispensary near Los Angeles. Even after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies
shuttered the Compton 20 Cap Collective, hauling out employees and customers in handcuffs and seizing bags of illicit pot, the shop’s page on Weedmaps advertised deals and displayed the dispensary’s products, which included dozens of varieties of cannabis buds, extracts and edibles. Despite the bust, prospective customers were asking about making purchases. “Are they back open again?” one comment read. In its warning to Weedmaps, one of hundreds of letters sent to businesses that California regulators believe are operating improperly, the state said the company should take down ads from illicit operators and warned the company it could face criminal penalties. But it wasn’t immediately clear how far that threat would go, since Weedmaps appears to be operating largely as usual. In their letter, the company executives said they would eliminate an internal “identifier” that appeared in business listings that state regulators said could be confused with a valid license number. The company said in a statement it wants the licensed market to reach a “functional state where the unlicensed market is minimized.”
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Thursday, March 29, 2018 Have a story idea or a comment? EMAIL
A&E Editor Caleb Holldorf
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Bye Bye Birdie to open next Thursday at MSU
Latest theatre production brings audience to previous era DENA SCHEDIVY Staff Writer
With “Talley’s Folly” closing this Saturday, the theatre department isn’t slowing down. “Bye Bye Birdie” will be opening next Thursday night in the Ted Paul Theatre and will be the closing musical for the sesquicentennial season. Set in 1958 and inspired by Elvis Presley during his Army draft, “Bye Bye Birdie” spotlights Conrad Birdie, a rock and roll star and teen heart-throb. When Birdie is drafted into the Army, his agent, Albert Peterson, is lofted into a panic. In an attempt to help, his secretary and girlfriend, Rosie Alvarez, compile a plan to have one last hurrah before he’s sent across the world. In order to have her help, Albert must promise
Photo courtesy of Amanda Dyslin
Conrad Birdie (Billy Gleason) is a rock & roll idol, and 15-year-old Kim McAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio (Megan Fischer) is the girl who wins a kiss from him.
to start teaching English in schools after Birdie is gone and drop the music business. Together, they decide to have Conrad
sing a new song written by Albert titled “One Last Kiss” and one lucky girl from his thriving fan club will be able to send him
off with a goodbye kiss. The girl that every other teen would kill to be is fifteen-year-old Kim McAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio. Re-
cently, Kim started going steady with Hugo Peabody and is so excited to have a boyfriend that she claims to be more “mature” and quits the Conrad Birdie fan club via telephone. Showing up in Sweet Apple, Conrad receives a hero-like welcome which worries Hugo that Kim will want Conrad instead of him. Becoming a guest in the McAfee household, Conrad doesn’t make a great impression on Kim’s father, thus making him not want his daughter to kiss this selfish rock star. Birdie is able to turn it around quickly when he informs Mr. McAfee that their family will be on the Ed Sulli-
BYE BYE BIRDIE PAGE 11
Wrinkle In Time lacks a good plot to drive film Director Ava DuVernay could improve her imaginitive vision
RACHEL JAEGER Staff Writer
What is the answer to creating space for a real world as well as matters of the heart and being different in the world you live in? Director Ava DuVernay experienced a few answers when she translated from print Madeleine L’Engle’s novel “A Wrinkle in Time” to a cinematic piece. The film clearly showed that while DuVernay has the imagination to share, she still has room for improvement. Tendo Nagenda, Disney executive, handed the script to DuVernay who had never read the book but still crafted a coherent cinematic piece. DuVernay added personality to the movie since she has
had to overcome her own challenges in the obvious sense in her goal to build a name for herself, especially since she is a woman director. She started as a film publicist, then proceeded low-budget independent films like Middle of Nowhere by which she acquired a director’s award in a Sundance festival. “A Wrinkle in Time,” both the film and the book, explore an adventure of two siblings, Meg (Storm Reid) and Charles Wallace Murry, who search the universe for their missing father. Their friend Calvin joins them in their quest under the guidance of three unearthly women: Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling).
After Mr. Murry discovered a new planet, he used a traveling means that only he understands called tesseract. The children learn to read what and who to trust and believe what you cannot see, especially when it comes to love and is the key to appreciating the plot. As an audience, we each have illusions that blind us because of our fears and no matter how brave we rise to face them, they do not go easily away like we wish they would. When the negative focuses build up, it strengthens the force in the Universe which is called “The It.” The It chases all joy away
IN TIME PAGE 11
Image courtesy of aphrodite-in-nyc
Thursday, March 29, 2018
A&E
MSU Reporter • 11
MSU’S Violence Awareness and Response Program Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events Announced Mankato, Minn. – April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout the United States, and the Violence Awareness and Response Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato has scheduled a series of events throughout the month intended to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals about prevention of sexual violence. In an effort to show community support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Minnesota
State Mankato Women’s Center and several other campus, local government and community organizations will hold a joint media conference Friday, March 30 at 12 p.m. in the Centennial Student Union’s Hearth Lounge (lower level) to discuss local events scheduled in April. Local government and community participants in Friday’s media conference will include the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office, Committee Against Domestic Abuse and many more organizations.
A complete list of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month events is posted online at http://www.mnsu. edu/varp/events.html. All the events are free and open to the public. Events that require an RSVP are noted. To get involved or for more information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month at Minnesota State Mankato, contact Laura Schultz at laura.schultz-1@mnsu.edu or 507-389-5127. This year’s national theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “Em-
brace Your Voice.” There are many ways to embrace one’s voice, from practicing or providing consent to speaking out against stereotypes or gender biases. This campaign will provide the tools and resources needed for individuals and communities to take actionable steps toward ending sexual violence—starting with recognizing the power of one’s voice. About the Minnesota State Mankato Violence Awareness and Response Program The Violence Aware-
ness and Response Program (VARP) provides a safe, supportive space for students and others affiliated with Minnesota State Mankato. The Violence Awareness and Response Program’s mission is to reduce the pervasiveness and effect of sexual violence, domestic/relationship violence, and stalking. Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,712 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
I enjoyed the narrative aspects of the film with a particular nod to the chosen actors and personalities that emerged through their characters, parts of the plot felt like it dragged. Also, depending on what you expect when it comes to special effects, I believe the audience needed more time to feel like they had an actual presence in the other world. In the end, the audience only sees Meg reaching out to the girl who scoffed and bullied her earlier by
waving at her in the window. I believe an encounter between the two girls would have served as better closure. I also believe more of Charles Wallace’s exposition and additional character development would have helped make sense to his sudden change of personality when he joined The It. After discussing the film with several other friends who also have seen it, we all agree the plot could’ve gone much farther than it did. We all really wanted to
like it but we felt when the credits rolled in after the screen faded to black, the film was still lacking. The character development had an intriguing start it could have been expanded more than it had. I am hoping for a sequel that might do more of that and increase fan interest for the potential Director Duvernay certainly has.
tory are recognizable to me from my earlier days. It’s kind of fun to play in that world,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of film as part of this live show and that’s forced us to look at commercials from that time. We actually made a film, so the first scene in the show isn’t live,” she said. “It’s just fun seeing the world of TV in that time because the show talks so much about it. I’m also excited because our season has had some heavier topics and I think ending with a musical comedy is going to be the one yellow balloon in the sky.” “Bye Bye Birdie” opens this upcoming weekend,
running Thursday, April 5 through April 7. The show will re-open the following weekend on April 12 and will close on April 15. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 as well as two matinee performances on April 14 and 15 in the Ted Paul Theatre. Tickets are available to purchase online at http:// www.mnsu.edu/theatre/, by phone at 507-389-6661 or in-person at the box office Monday-Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Regular tickets for “Bye Bye Birdie” sell for $22, discounted for seniors at $19 and are $17 for Minnesota State University, Mankato students.
IN TIME Continued from page 10 and cowers from the light and is the thing the children eventually face in order to free Mr. Murry. Meg, one of the key characters, has big curly hair and glasses and faces taunts at school from catty classmates and a note with a smiley face on her locker that states “…if only you would disappear too.” When Meg plays basketball, Charles Wallace cheers her on which embarrasses her more because her classmates’ scoffs only increase. Meg
has had enough and punches one of the girls in the face and causes detention. The principal remarks to Meg about her being a bright student and questions her rather than the girl who was causing the issue. It upset Meg. It would have me too. Being somewhat of an outcast for most of my own life, I have some of that awkward personality so I could relate to her as I am sure other viewers like me might have. In many senses, while
BYE BYE BIRDIE Continued from page 10 van Show. Hugo’s jealousy of Conrad grows when he sees Kim’s attraction grow. Coming out of nowhere, Albert’s mother, Mae Peterson, attempts to convince him to replace Rosie as his secretary with Gloria Rasputin, an aspiring tap-dancer. This upsets Rosie and as a result, she dreams of many ways she could murder Albert. Deciding not to kill her sweetheart, she and Hugo hatch a plan to ruin the broadcast. As Conrad is about to kiss Kim after he sings “One Last Kiss”, Hugo runs onstage and punches him in the face, causing him to faint.
From this failed broadcast, plans are made to refilm but this encourages Kim and Rosie to break up with their significant others. Kim sneaks out of the house after her father stops her from trying to leave with Rosie. Wanting to enjoy his last night before being shipped across the world, Conrad encourages the teens to go out. The Ice House is the place to be in Sweet Apple for teens who want to party without adult supervision. All of the teens head there along with Kim and Conrad, without Hugo. When Mr. McAfee finds out Kim is missing, Hugo
snitches on the teens and reveals where they go to party. When asked, Director, Melissa Rosenberger wasted no time telling what her favorite parts of working on this show were. “My favorite part for this show is the fact that it’s a time era that so many things are not a part of our world now and it wasn’t a time I grew up in. [But] it’s nostalgic for me because it’s a time that starts to blend in with my youthful days so I just feel nostalgic about my parents’ upbringing. I think about my parents being the kids and we’re just getting to the point where things in his-
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12 • MSU Reporter
A&E
Thursday, March 29, 2018
DMX faces the music, sentenced one year
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge heard a DMX rap song before adding his own lyrics to a court proceeding on Wednesday, ordering the rapper imprisoned for a year in a tax fraud case. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff took requests, accommodating DMX’s desire to hear his autobiographical hit “Slippin’” before DMX faced the music over his admission of guilt. The judge called DMX’s fraud a “brazen and blatant” crime that could not go unpunished. The 47-year-old rapper, known to law enforcement and the courts as Earl Simmons, has been incarcerated since his bail was revoked in January. He sobbed during the proceeding as his lawyer Murray Richman recalled his nightmarish childhood. “I never went to the level of tax evasion where I’d sit down and plot ... like a criminal in a comic book,” DMX said when given an opportunity to address the court. He said, at times getting choked up, that he “wasn’t following the rules.” DMX, whose albums include “It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot” and “Flesh
Image courtesy of The Associated Press
of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,” recalled that the judge ordered him imprisoned in January for failing to obey bail restrictions that had allowed him to continue performing concerts while he received treatment for drug addictions. “It woke me up,” he said. Before that, he said: “I was in a cloud. I wasn’t
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thinking straight.” Richman said DMX, who has appeared in movies such as “Last Hour” and “Romeo Must Die,” has been a model prisoner. Still, prosecutors sought five years in prison for him, citing a lengthy rap sheet and drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Cooper said DMX engaged in tax
fraud for six years after having paid taxes previously. “He essentially went off the grid at a certain time,” the prosecutor said. Richman said he wanted his client free to support his 15 children and pay back nearly $2.3 million in taxes that are part of a restitution order. Another defense law-
yer, Stacey Richman, called DMX “the American dream,” saying he raised himself out of the ghetto with music that was so inspirational that a former Troy homeless woman called the lawyers to say that hearing one of his songs stopped her from killing herself. The woman now is married and raising a child, Stacey Richman said. As “Slippin’” played in the packed courtroom, DMX nodded his head slightly to the beat while some of his supporters nodded more enthusiastically. Murray Richman got choked up as he spoke of his client, saying he felt terrorized after listening to DMX describe his childhood to a probation officer for six hours. “I’ve never seen a more horrific background in my life,” he said, describing physical and psychological abuse that left DMX’s teeth knocked out and led him to repeated encounters with the law at an early age. The judge said that in the court’s view DMX “is a good man.” “In many ways,” the judge said, “he’s his own worst enemy.”
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MSU Reporter • 13 Have a story idea or a comment?
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Sports Editor Kevin Korbel
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Softball powers past CSP on the road JAKE RINEHART Staff Writer The Mavericks softball team traveled to St. Paul yesterday for a double-header contest against the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears at the Northwestern University softball field in St. Paul, MN. The Mavericks got the victory in the first game, winning by a score of 9-7. The team was down early in the game, after allowing three runs in the first inning. The bats came alive for MSU in the third inning, though, as senior outfielder, Jess Meidl, got the ball rolling when she hit a double down the base line, allowing junior McKenzie Paap, and freshman, Rae Dose, to score. Sophomore, Amber Kral, singled to left, which brought in Meidl for the score. Minnesota State and CSP would exchange runs through the next few innings, exchanging leads throughout the game. The Mavericks had a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning, until sophomore, Kris McIntyre, scored on an RBI single by senior, Lizzy Swenson, for the Golden Bears.
Photos courtesy of photos.paap.net
Rae Dose (pictured above) puts the barrel on the bat during Tuesday’s doubleheader versus Concordia-St. Paul. The Mavericks ended up winning both games, pushing their record to 21-5 on the season. The game was tied 6-6 heading into the final inning of play, until Meidl delivered a shot to the moon in the top of the eighth inning. Paap and Dose would come around the bases to score, after Meidl hit a monster three-run homerun to give MSU a 9-6 lead. Senior pitcher, Haley Schanks, hit a sacrifice fly that scored junior, Carlie Hart, for CSP, making it a 9-7 game. Meidl would finish the
game with four hits in five atbats, including one home-run and six RBIs. Freshman pitcher, Mackenzie Ward, picked up the victory for the Mavericks on the mound. She finished a complete game with four strikeouts, three earned runs and six walks. Ward moves to 9-3 on the season. Game two of the double-header was more of the same, as both teams scored
three runs in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder, Carly Esselman, started things off for MSU with a three-run homerun in the top of the first inning. The second inning was capped off with another homerun, this time a solo shot to left field from sophomore, Kennedy Rieck. The Golden Bears would counter with a run of their own in the second inning,
making it a 4-4 ball game. The game would begin to be out of reach for CSP during the third inning. Kral was a slugger again this inning, as she hit a two RBI homerun to give the Mavs a 6-4 lead. Junior catcher, Cori Kennedy, snuck a ball past the third baseman and shortstop later in the inning, allowing Esselman to score. Dose was walked in the fifth inning, but an error on CSP would allow Kennedy to score, making it a 9-4 Mavericks lead. The game would end the same way it had begun, with a homerun. This homerun that capped off the doubleheader came off the bat of freshman Hailey Forshee. The game would end with a 10-4 Maverick victory in the second game of the double-header. With the sweep of CSP, the Mavericks have won five consecutive games, bringing their record to 21-5 on the season. Minnesota State is also currently ranked No. 13 in the nation, according to the latest NFCA Poll. Minnesota State will travel to Wayne State on Thursday for another double-header. They will also travel to Sioux Falls for a matchup with Augustana this Friday as well to wrap it up.
14 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Minnesota Twins begin regular season tonight
AARON YOUNG Staff Writer Get your gloves out, put on your foam fingers, and don’t forget to buy your peanuts and cracker jacks, because it’s finally here. Baseball is back and, for the first time in 50 years, every team will be taking the field on opening day. In particular, the Minnesota Twins are facing the Baltimore Orioles at 2:05pm this afternoon in Baltimore, MD. The Twins finished second in the division last season with a record of 85-77. They reached the playoffs before losing to the Yankees in the Wild Card round, who lost to the eventual AL champions, the Cleveland Indians. The Twins will enter the season with a new-look pitching rotation. The Twins’ stud right-handed pitcher, Ervin Santana, will begin the season as the number one pitch-
Photos Courtesy of the Associated Press
Logan Morrison (pictured) looks to add power to the Twins’ batting order after getting acquired this offseason by the ball club. er in the rotation, despite having a finger injury. Last year he led the rotation in ERA with 3.28, strikeouts with 167 and wins, 16. After him is the promising young pitching star, Jose Berrios, who trailed only 30 strikeouts behind
Sports
Santana. Berrios also finished the season with a 3.28 ERA. To round out the pitching rotation, it’ll be newly acquired pitchers, Jacob Odorizzi and Lance Lynn, with Kyle Gibson finishing it off. Second baseman, Brian
Pulse
Dozier, is looking to keep the momentum going after having a great season. Dozier led the team in RBI’s (93), HR’s (34), and hits (167) last season for the ball club. Dozier can not only can hit the ball into the stands, he can also steal bases, with 16 last year. He is joined by fellow speedsters Byron Buxton (29) and Jorge Polanco (13). Behind the plate is Jason Castro and his backup Mitch Garver, both ready to call the pitches and catch baserunners stealing. Alongside this young club is Miguel Sano, who was the runner up in last year’s Home Run Derby. Other sluggers on this team include Max Kepler and Logan Morrison. And as always, the one and only Joe Mauer, will be in the starting lineup for his 15th season with the club. Manager Paul Molitor will be returning to the heir for his fourth year as the Twins
“Favorite part about going to a baseball game?”
head coach. After falling to the Yankees last year, and not being in the playoffs prior to 2010, he will be looking to put the bar for success high. With a city, which hasn’t witnessed a World Series in over 30 years, the pressure is on for the Twins to be successful. The Minnesota Twins had quite the offseason. What seems to be a complete overhaul could very well appear to be an experiment of sorts, as more than 15 players have been optioned to either the AAA or AA team. At the same time, the ballclub signed many free agents right after the season ended as well as assigning players from the minors to an upgrade as they will get their shot as a Twin. After an exciting season and what looks to be a promising future, the Twins will be walking onto the field today, expecting big things and ready to get the ball rolling.
Compiled by Jeremiah Ayodele
AUSTIN CLARK SPORT MANAGEMENT
CARTER HENNESSY UNDECIDED
EVAN NELSON MARKETING
JUAN DAVID LOPEZ ECONOMICS
MARISSA JOHNSON BIOLOGY
“Favorite part of going to a baseball game has to be the concessions.”
“I love just watching the game in general. It’s always nice to see a competitive game of any kind.”
“The casual atmosphere and just being able to enjoy the game.”
“The home run.”
“Socializing with friends.”
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Sports
MSU Reporter • 15
ODB, Giants in public eye with contract dispute While Odell Beckham Jr. might be the most talented player in the game, his current contract says otherwise
COLTON MOLESKY Staff Writer The New York Giants are reeling, following an injury-riddled 3-13 regular season last year. Heading in the offseason this year, their most pressing assignment is retaining Pro Bowl wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. It’s rumored that the Giants are actually open to trading the star-studded receiver this offseason, despite the production Odell has produced on the field. Desperately seeking to reboot their roster and find success this offseason, the Giants have made known to NFL teams Odell Beckham Jr. is available, at a price, this offseason. Beckham is set to make just a shade over $800,000 this upcoming season in the final stage of his five-year rookie deal. Next season, the LSU product is an unrestricted free agent and has already expressed a desire to be the highest paid NFL player. Giants general manager John Mara showed his hand too early, with word breaking all over Twitter as early as June that he wanted to retain the 25-year-old wide-out: “We want Odell to be a Giant the rest of his career,” said Mara, “I mean we’re certainly not shopping him if that’s what you’re asking. But when you’re coming off a season where you’re 3-13 and played as poorly as we did, I wouldn’t say anyone is untouchable,”
Photos Courtesy of the Associated Press
Odell Beckham Jr. (pictured above) is in the face of public scrutiny again after going out in public to say that he feels he deserves to be paid the most in the NFL. This begs the question: where would Beckham go? However, the better inquiry is if he should ever be considered to be moved in the first place. Since the earth-shattering catch made against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, when Beckham tossed aside a defensive back to make a spectacular one-handed grab while falling backward into the end zone, his stats have since backed up the gravitas that seems to follow him, with 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns through 47 games. For comparison, Randy Moss racked up 4,121 yards in his first 47 games. When compared to the draft class he entered, the contrast becomes starker. Sammy Watkins has 3,052 yards and 25 touchdowns in 52 games while Mike Evans needed 61 games to reach 4,479 yards and 32 scores (both receivers were taken ahead of Beck-
ham at 12). Beckham is the centerpiece of a very thin offense, which desperately needs talent on the roster. At wide receiver, the Giants have B-level role players and aging veterans on both sides of the ball. Despite the crop of running back talent in the NFL sitting at maybe its richest ever, New York still has no reliable running back at the helm. Then at quarterback, if Eli Manning is still the signal caller, he desperately needs Beckham to remain startable. But, it begs the question, even if this is the next step for the Giants, the young wide receiver will make a perfect pairing for the next franchise passer. Even with the tight wallet New York has this season and next, they still need to make an investment on Beckham. They have roughly $7 million in cap space this season and $44 million next free agency.
No one on the market can impact the Giants like Beckham can, which means retaining him is the top priority. If the Giants don’t retain the talented wide-out, where could the man possibly go? While the cap is tight for Baltimore, the Ravens need offensive talent at their skill positions almost as badly as the Giants. With bust, after bust, at wide receiver via the draft, the Ravens should be willing to spend money on a proven
game-changer. The Ravens could also pull off a deal by sending defensive help to a team that took a step back on that side last season and lost Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason. The Colts have huge amounts of capital to burn through, with around $61 million free to spend. If they could figure out a trade to obtain Beckham, the ceiling of Andrew Luck passing to T.Y. Hilton and Beckham is extremely high.
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