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THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017
Today’s technology evolution shapes education From computer labs to software, students demand more tech in classrooms.
ALISSA THIELGES Staff Writer The presence of certain technology today has become a given in our society. We don’t think twice about pulling out our smartphones to look something up, check e-mails, or scroll through our social media. But with technology constantly evolving and new gadgets and gizmos continuing to emerge, what impact has technology had on the learning environment here at Minnesota State University, Mankato? Mark Johnson, Vice President for Information and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, said that there was no classroom technology when he first came to campus as a student.
(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Coti_
“That was hundreds of rooms,” he said. “Now, you can see, there’s virtually no room that doesn’t have some level of technology in it.” Johnson says that the important thing to remember
“But with technology constantly evolving and new gadgets and gizmos continuing to emerge, what impact has technology had on the learning environment here at Minnesota State University, Mankato?” “We had carts we rolled around the classrooms,” he said. “And we had six carts.” The first thing he did when he came here in 2001 was install technology in every general-purpose classroom across campus.
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about technology is that it doesn’t last. Upgrades are always just around the corner and newer and better technology will outdate what is currently installed, which is why each time the university invests in technology, it must
also make sure it has both the resources to maintain it when it breaks and eventually to replace it with the “latest and greatest.” “We try to keep about the same level of costs, but get better and better technology for it,” said Johnson. “We continue to be sure that we are on the leading edge of technology for the students, because that’s what the students are asking for.” MNSU students and faculty members are gradually choosing to embrace the use of technology as a tool of the learning environment. MNSU technical communication professor Roland Nord, who teaches mainly in computer labs in the Academic Computing Center, recalls a time when students still wrote their essays in class by hand before typing them up on typewriters. It’s not a new idea that technology can be both a resource and a distraction for students, Nord believes. “When we were first connected to the Internet,
browsing was a huge distraction,” he said. “On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to write and research these days without browsing and using the Internet. And so, things that are a distraction in some context turn out to be more of a necessity than others.” When faced with the question of whose responsibility it is to keep up with the latest technology, both Nord and Johnson believe the obligation rests on the shoulders of both the student and the university. “As you specialize in your major you will find that you have needs that you may have to fulfill,” Nord said, referring to professional development. “In order to take that next step in your career,” investing in a piece of software is similar to joining professional organizations. Johnson believes that the responsibility of students, when possible, is to come prepared with the basic knowledge of how technology works, while it’s the job of faculty to utilize
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technology as part of their instruction. “We as an institution have to enable the students to use the technology they want and allow the faculty members to integrate the technology into their classes,” Johnson said. Johnson added that students who aren’t as prepared as faculty may need them to be can also take advantage of a program called Lynda, which offers courses designed specifically to help students with technology and is free for MNSU students to use. Among other new products and services that Johnson mentioned students should be aware of are Office 365, about which he explained that “students use the e-mail portion of it, but there is a lot more to Office 365 than that;” the MavCLASS Student Success App, which is a mobile app that reminds users of their upcoming deadlines; and 3D printing, which the Memorial Library Copy Shop offers on the building’s first floor to any student. Johnson said further that MNSU is also starting to look into virtual reality as a tool to help students engage in learning activities around the world. “[Students] want to be able to see the technology,” said Johnson. “They want to be able to use it themselves and they want to use their technology that they bring onto campus…It’s really interesting that we have those capabilities and that we are able to build on those capabilities based on the needs of the institution, specifically the needs of the students.” How do you think MNSU is doing in keeping up with technology? Let us know on Twitter at @MSUReporter.
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News Editor Nicole Schmidt nicole.schmidt-3@mnsu.edu
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Thursday, March 30, 2017
Dennis Waskul leads “Ghostly Encounters” discussion STEPHANIE VOGEL Staff Writer The 38th Annual Frontier Forum Lecture put on by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences was held in the Ostrander Auditorium of the CSU on Monday, March 27. The lecture, titled “Ghostly Encounters: The Hauntings of Everyday Life,” was presented by MNSU faculty member Dr. Dennis Waskul of the Department of Sociology and Corrections. In it he addressed how people experience uncanny events and ghosts in everyday life. There is not a lot of scholarly research on the topic of ghosts, as many scholars have regarded belief in ghosts as idiotic and crazy. Scholars in the past thought that belief in ghosts would disappear along with the arrival of advances in technology and increased intelligence. These scholars have been wrong, however, as ghost beliefs have prevailed despite our advances in technology. To conduct his research, Dr. Waskul interviewed people who had experienced
a ghostly presence, and traveled to places said to be haunted. In his study, 71 individuals reported 91 hauntings. He found that people who live relatively normal lives are just as likely to have had supernatural experiences as those who are marginalized by and alienated from society. To demonstrate just how widespread these types of beliefs are, he cited a 2005 Gallup poll claiming that 47 percent of Americans believe in aliens, 43 percent believe in ancient advanced societies, like Atlantis, and 49 percent believe in ghosts— this is surprisingly the same percentage of Americans who reported believing in global warming. Dr. Waskul focused mostly on “everyday ghosts,” which are reported ghost experiences that have not been interpreted by a medium. Ghosts are often seen in between things, which is called liminality; for example, they could be seen standing in between a wall or a door. This denotes the ghost’s state of existing somehow between the dead
(CC BY-NC 2.0) by robjstanley and the living. According to Dr. Waskul, when people encounter ghosts, they either struggle with or against the will to believe. To illustrate this concept, Dr. Waskul introduced an experience recounted by a young woman named Riley. The ghost that haunted her materialized in her will to believe that her sister was still present despite having died in a car accident. Riley would notice simple yet out of the ordinary occurrences in her house, such as objects being
Muslim immigrant to join California lieutenant governor race LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Pakistani-born doctor announced Wednesday that he is joining the 2018 race for lieutenant governor on a platform of saving Obamacare, providing free community college education and fighting what he termed “Donald Trump’s hate.” “I am a proud Muslim and I love America,” Dr. Asif Mahmood said at a news conference in front of the downtown federal building that houses a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office. “President Tr ump continues to attack people like me: immigrants, people of color and Muslims,” Mahmood said. “I say President Trump has it all wrong. It’s time to get tough on hate. California must be the leader of the Trump resistance, and I will fight him every step of the way.” The pulmonologist said he came to the United States because he wanted his family to live in a place “that celebrates diversity and tolerance.” Born in a small, rural village, Mahmood moved
to Kentucky in the 1990s to complete medical school. He came to Southern California in 2000 and lives near Los Angeles with his wife and three teenage children. As a first-time candidate, Mahmood’s challenge is to build a statewide coalition, potentially anchored to civil rights. He starts as a virtual unknown and Muslims make up a tiny percentage of people living in California. To be competitive and grow beyond a niche candidacy, he must craft a message that resonates with the large, diverse pool of voters in a state that is home to 1 of every 8 Americans. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the incumbent, is barred by term limits from seeking a third term and is running for governor. Mahmood, a Democrat, said he did not think his religion would be an obstacle in a state known for diversity. Mahmood said his experience running a medical practice and volunteering at free clinics that treat poor populations gave him the credentials to campaign for health care reform.
He supports protecting Obamacare and expanding Medicare to cover everyone. California’s lieutenant governor post is largely ceremonial, but the lieutenant governor leads the state when the governor travels outside it and can break tie votes in the state Senate. The lieutenant governor also has a seat on the board of regents of the 10-campus University of California. Mahmood said he would use it to influence higher education reform. Mahmood said he wants to provide a free community college education and doesn’t support fee hikes, such as the recent California State University tuition increase. “I believe that education is the main asset that any nation can have, any society can have,” he said. State Sen. Ed Hernandez, also a Democrat, is the only other declared candidate for lieutenant governor. The field is sure to grow ahead of the November 2018 vote.
mysteriously misplaced, which fueled her desire to believe that a ghost had been responsible. The ghost, then, was a source of comfort for Riley because it reassured her that her sister was still looking out for her. In contrast, people struggle against their will to believe when they experience something uncanny but remain unconvinced and skeptical. They tend to begin believing, however, if the uncanny event reoccurs, happens in conjunction with other events, or if someone else notices and says something about the event. Dr. Waskul explained this with the experience of a man who was watching television when a heavy door opened and he heard a booming sound, like footsteps going up and down his stairs. When he first experienced this, he thought it was strange but didn’t attribute it to a ghost. However, it was when this event kept repeating for him over and over that the man
admitted that he might be having an encounter with a ghost. Another example that Dr. Waskul gave was the story of a man who would see the faint figures of a woman and two children in his bedroom but thought that they might be hallucinations because they usually appeared when he was about to fall asleep. Finally, he asked his wife, who slept next to him, “Do you see that?” She said, “Yes,” so the thought that there might be ghosts in his room became a lot more believable to him. People seldom conclude immediately that they saw a ghost, and instead this belief develops over time. Ghostly encounters are complex, as they are often personal and emotional. An uncanny event can become a ghost as a result of grief, the history of a place, or a tragic or traumatic event. Whether or not ghosts actually exist is subject to debate. Do you believe in ghosts?
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Environmental groups file lawsuit over Trump climate actions CHICAGO (AP) — Environmental groups that vowed to fight President Donald Trump’s efforts to roll back his predecessor’s plans to curb global warming made good on their promises Wednesday, teaming up with an American Indian tribe to ask a federal court to block an order that lifts restrictions on coal sales from federal lands. The Interior Department last year placed a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands to review the climate change impacts of burning the fuel and whether taxpayers were getting a fair return. But Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order that included lifting the moratorium, and also initiated a review of former President Barack Obama’s signature plan to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Environmentalists say lifting the moratorium will worsen climate change and
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press “This is not what most people elected Trump to do,” said David Goldston, director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Poll after poll shows that the public supports
“Environmentalists say lifting the moratorium will worsen climate change and allow coal to be sold for unfairly low prices.” allow coal to be sold for unfairly low prices. “It’s really just a hail Mary to a dying industry,” said Jenny Harbine, an Earthjustice attorney who filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Montana on behalf of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity. The White House and Department of Justice did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the lawsuit. Environmental groups have been preparing for months to fight the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks, including by hiring more lawyers and raising money. Trump, who has called global warming a “hoax” invented by the Chinese, said during his campaign that he would kill Obama’s climate plans and bring back coal jobs. Advocates said they also will work to mobilize public opposition to the executive order, saying they expect a backlash from Americans who worry about climate change.
climate action.” A poll released in September found 71 percent of Americans want the U.S. government to do something about global warming, including 6 percent who think the government should act even though they are not sure that climate change is happening. That poll, which also found most Americans are willing to pay a little more each month to fight global warming, was conducted by The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. While Republicans have blamed Obama-era environmental regulations for the loss of coal jobs, federal data show that U.S. mines have been losing jobs for decades because of automation and competition from natural gas; solar panels and wind turbines now can produce emissions-free electricity cheaper than burning coal. But many people in coal country are counting on the jobs that Trump has
promised, and industry advocates praised his orders. “These executive actions are a welcome departure from the previous administration’s strategy of making energy more expensive through costly, job-killing regulations that choked our economy,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas J. Donohue. Trump’s order also will initiate a review of efforts to reduce methane emissions in oil and natural gas production, and will rescind Obama-era actions that addressed climate change and national security and efforts to prepare the country
for the impacts of climate change. The administration still is deciding whether to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. And on Wednesday, the administration asked a federal appeals court to postpone a ruling on lawsuits over the Clean Power Plan, the Obama initiative to limit carbon from power plants, saying it could be changed or rescinded. A coalition of 16 states and the District of Columbia said they will oppose any effort to withdraw the plan or seek dismissal of a pending legal case, while environmental
advocates said they’re also ready to step in to defend environmental laws if the U.S. government does not. “The president doesn’t get to simply rewrite safeguards; they have to ... prove the changes are in line with the law and science,” said the NRDC’s Goldston. “I think that’s going to be a high hurdle for them.” Environmentalists say Trump’s actions will put the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage to other countries that are embracing clean energy, which they say could create thousands of new jobs. Even so, they believe efforts to revive coal ultimately will fail because many states and industries already have been switching to renewable energy or natural gas. “Those decisions are being made at the state level and plant by plant,” said Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen, who said his group is “continuing to work aggressively to retire dirty coal plants.” “Coal is not coming back,” Van Noppen added. “While the president is taking big splashy action, he is actually doomed to fail.”
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Thursday, March 30, 2017 EMAIL THE EMAIL THE EDITOR CHIEF: EDITOR IN IN CHIEF:
Is Facebook losing its appeal to users? As social media changes, outlets are trying to keep up.
Opinion RACHAEL JAEGER Staff Writer Do you use Facebook as a last-minute thought or do you actively post? It is often difficult to determine individual preference of social media such as SnapChat or Instagram. However, Facebook still remains pretty popular in its use for various reasons. Savannah Davila, a graphic design major, said she checks Facebook to see what her family and friends are doing, and especially enjoys the photos of pets and kids. She also likes to share her fun social events with the people she hangs out with or use Facebook as a brain break from when she is working on her school assignments. “I do follow some groups from school to keep updated
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Photo courtesy of The Associated Press with events,” Davila added in her response on a Facebook post. Yet others prefer SnapChat to Facebook because it is not as tricky with its privacy settings.
CORRECTION In Tuesday’s story “Illegal marijuana shipment sparks controversy,” it was stated that Minnesota Department of Agriculture acreage was being used to grow marijuana. The land is not used to grow marijuana, but rather industrial hemp.
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“Memes and car videos.”
“I don’t use Facebook.”
“Snapchat allows you to post little video snippets or photos publicly if you want, but you can also just send them to individual friends,” commented Daman Beres, a writer for the Huffington Post “The appeal there is obvious: You’re totally in control of your image through every step of the process, and there aren’t any cumbersome privacy controls to fiddle with.” Davila uses SnapChat to communicate with her niece or close friends “just to be silly,” or to chat with some friends who prefer Instagram and do not have a Facebook account. Tim Starman, a Film
and Media Studies major, observed that culture has grown more visual, so Instagram is a better outlet for sharing stories about your life than Facebook. “Pictures hold our attention and are more creative and interesting than Facebook and Twitter with just words,” Starman explained. But Starman still uses Facebook for catching up with his friends and to share his important personal news, such as applying for a full-
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MARIA SCHMIT COMMUNICATIONS DISORDERS “To keep in touch with people.”
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 Matthew Rae Eberline Frame atat 507-389-5454. 507-389-5454. The The Reporter Reporter will will correct correct any any errors errors of fact of fact or misspelled 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 Nicole Schmidt
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“I don’t use Facebook. It doesn’t intrigue me.”
“Messenger.”
Thursday, March 30, 2017
MSU Reporter • 5
News
After setback, abortion foes keep pressing Congress to act NEW YORK (AP) — The collapse of the Republican health care overhaul was a sharp setback for antiabortion leaders, whose hopes of halting federal funding to Planned Parenthood were derailed. But they continue to pursue that goal and also are pushing for a federal ban on most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. David O’Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee, acknowledged the mood of disappointment in the antiabortion movement after last week’s drama in the House of Representatives, when GOP leaders withdrew their health care bill before a vote. The measure would have cut off more than $400 million in Medicaid reimbursements and other federal funding to Planned Parenthood for its non-abortion services. However, O’Steen said his organization and its allies remained hopeful of future victories in Congress. “This was one vote on one measure,” he said. “We have
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press Cannon wrote that it would be “an absolute disaster” if the GOP-led Congress, facing a deadline at the end of April, sent President Donald Trump a government spending bill
“We have pro-life leadership in both houses, we have a prolife administration. So I expect some good things to help save lives still will happen.” pro-life leadership in both houses, we have a pro-life administration. So I expect some good things to help save lives still will happen.” Kristi Hamrick of Americans United for Life said the task of halting all federal funding for Planned Parenthood is more complicated than some activists suggest, because there are multiple funding streams — including familyplanning funding and grants for sex education as well as Medicaid payments. “We have to go after those one at a time,” Hamrick said. “There’s not going to be just one effort.” She suggested that the goal of defunding might not be achieved this year, but making the effort — and escalating attacks on Planned Parenthood for its abortion services — “lays the groundwork for what comes next.” Other abortion opponents say it’s crucial to move quickly. In a commentary this week, conservative activist Frank
that maintained funding for Planned Parenthood. “It would amount to a stunning betrayal that conservatives would be unlikely to forgive,” Cannon wrote for the National Pulse. “We have one chance to get this done this year..., and it has to happen now.” H oweve r, House Speaker Paul Ryan said the government-wide funding
bill should not get entangled in the Planned Parenthood debate. Rather, Ryan said, the defunding proposal should be included in any new effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act — an effort that could flounder by rekindling internal GOP divisions. Whatever the strategy, anti-abor tion ac tivists agree that defunding needs to be part of the budgetrelated process known as reconciliation, which enables bills to pass the Senate with only 51 votes. Under normal procedures, bills can be blocked by filibuster unless they have 60 votes in support. That 60-vote threshold could prove fatal to the proposed 20-week abortion ban if it clears the House, as its backers hope, and then reaches the Senate. If Senate Democrats mostly hold their ranks, the bill would fail. But Marilyn Musgrave, a
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former GOP congresswoman from Colorado who is now vice president of government affairs for the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, said it would “smart politics” to get both the ban and the Planned Parenthood defunding proposal into the Senate. Votes on those issues, she said, might be challenging for Democrats who will be running for re-election next year in states won by Trump, such as Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana. As for Trump, Musgrave said she was confident he would stick by his promises to sign anti-abortion bills if
they reach his desk. “He’s given commitments to the pro-life community and I believe he’ll keep every one of them,” she said. Planned Parenthood strongly disputes the claim that attacks on it are smart politics. “This fight isn’t over yet, but remember that three-quarters of Americans support Planned Parenthood,” said Dawn Laguens, the organization’s executive vice president. One out of five U.S. women have received services from Planned Parenthood, Laguens said, “and each time politicians in D.C. try to take that away, they will be drowned out by the millions of women and men across America who oppose these attacks.” Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat who staunchly supports abortion rights, said she’s like to see the two sides in the abortion debate reach common ground on reducing unintended pregnancies. But the National Right to Life Committee and Americans United for Life say birth control is not part of their mission. As for the Republicans’ measures to defund Planned Parenthood and ban lateterm abortions, DeGette said they might advance through the House but would likely die in the Senate. “They’re going to keep trying but I don’t think they’ll have any more success than they’ve had in the past,” she said.
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Thursday, March 30, 2017
Ex-Trump University student wants the president’s apology FORT L AUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s $25 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged fraud at his now-defunct Trump University may be put on hold because a former student in Florida wants a full refund plus interest and an apology. A federal judge in San Diego will decide Thursday whether to let Sherri Simpson opt out of the settlement and sue the president individually. Simpson, a For t Lauderdale bankruptcy and consumer rights attorney, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she thinks Trump should acknowledge wrongdoing and apologize. Simpson and a partner paid $35,000 in 2010 to enroll in Trump University’s “Gold Elite” program, where they were supposed to be paired with a mentor who would teach them Trump’s secret real estate investment strategies. Like other members of the lawsuit, Simpson said they got little for their money — the videos were 5 years old, the materials covered
set it up as well as I should have, that I didn’t maintain it or oversee it as well as I should have,’” said Simpson, who appeared in two antiTrump ads made by political action committees last year. Trump’s lead attorney Daniel M. Petrocelli didn’t immediately return a phone message or email. But attorneys representing both the former students and the president have told the judge they oppose Simpson’s request and want him to give final approval to the settlement. They say Simpson and the other former students were informed in writing that they had to opt out of the lawsuit by Nov. 16, 2015, if they wanted to pursue individual lawsuits. They say she filed a claim form on Feb. 1 to receive her share of the settlement, but then filed her objection three weeks ago. “The 2015 notices were crystal clear,” wrote Rachel L. Jensen, an attorney for the students, in a court filing. “If Simpson had any questions or concerns, she could have brought it up with counsel for
information that could be found free on the internet and her mentor didn’t return calls or emails. Under terms of the settlement, Trump admitted no wrongdoing and the students will get back 80 percent of their enrollment fees — about $28,000 for Simpson and her partner. Simpson said that’s not enough, financially or morally. She doesn’t want U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel to scuttle the entire settlement — she just wants the right to sue Trump individually. “I would like an admission that he was wrong, an admission that, ‘Oops, maybe I didn’t handle it as well as I should have, I didn’t
the class on any one of their many calls. She did not.” Simpson argues that the written notice also said that if the students obtained money, they would be notified how to receive their share or “how to ask to be excluded from any settlement.” Of the 3,730 members of the class, attorneys said only Simpson and a man who wants triple his money back have objected. Thirteen former students opted out before the 2015 deadline, but none have sued Trump individually. Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond Law School professor who has been following the lawsuit, thinks
Photos courtesy of The Associated Press In this Tuesday, March 28, 2017 photo, Sherri Simpson poses for a photo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. President Donald Trump’s $25 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit that alleged fraud at his now-defunct Trump University may be put on hold because Simpson, former student in Florida, wants a full refund plus interest and an apology. the judge will approve the settlement but could let Simpson pursue her own lawsuit. If she does, it would raise the question of whether Simpson’s attorneys could depose a sitting president,
and the case could be delayed until Trump leaves office. The lawsuit became campaign fodder last year as supporters for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton said it showed Trump University was a scam and that Trump lied in its advertising. Trump told prospective students that he “hand-picked” the teachers and had helped devise the curriculum, which he said would be “Ivy League quality.” But in a 2012 deposition, Trump told lawyers that he had no direct role in hiring teachers or designing courses. Trump University, which opened in 2005, changed its name to “The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative” in 2010 after New York officials said it was not an accredited school. It mostly ceased operations later that year.
During the campaign, Trump blasted Curiel’s rulings on the lawsuit and insinuated that the Indiana-born judge’s Mexican ancestry influenced his decisions. Trump has proposed building a wall between Mexico and the United States as a curb to illegal immigration. Curiel was appointed to the bench in 2012 by President Barack Obama. Trump vowed never to settle the case. But less than two weeks after the election, the settlement was announced. Trump tweeted shortly after, “The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!”
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Continued from page 4 time internship at Minnesota Public Radio recently. He also gets on Twitter for mostly news only. “I feel like Twitter is a more impersonal and processional outlet,” he said. However, the reason for the common use of Facebook may be traced back to the statistics writers Shannon Greenwood, Andrew Perrin, and Maeve Duggar recorded last November for Pew Research Center. “Thanks in part to the growing number of older adults who are joining the site, Facebook use appears to be on the rise: The share of online adults who report using Facebook has increased by seven percentage points compared with a Pew Research Center survey conducted at a similar point in 2015. In addition, the share of Facebook users who check in daily has increased slightly in the past year: 76 percent of Americans who use Facebook now report that they visit the site on a daily basis, up from 70
percent in 2015.” Facebook may also be used more because of its Messenger application, which allows college students to connect for study groups or group projects, even if they do not want a future long-term relationship. It is also a good alternative to wanting to communicate with someone on Facebook without directly being on the social media site. It is clear technology from all social media sites have continued their advancement. Also the reasons why someone chooses one site over the other depends on their personal reference of communication and what each site offers compared to another. Whatever the cause, humans have and will always be social creatures and have found different ways in the history of evolution for their communication methods.
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MSU Reporter • 9 Have a story idea or a comment? EMAIL
A&E Editor Gabe Hewitt
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Film review: Power Rangers a nostalgic ride Reboot of 90s phenomenon is gritty, surprising, and goofy.
GABE HEWITT A&E Editor When the world is in danger from a resurrected villain, the most logical thing to do is assemble a band of high school teenagers to defeat her. On the outside, Power Rangers sounds like some outrageous action porn that Hollywood wanted to take advantage of during this nostalgia revival period, but it’s one of the most surprising movies you’ll see. Power Rangers became a cultural phenomenon in the 90s. The premise was youths being given powers that allowed them to “morph” into
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press specialized suits and defeat the villain of the week. The Power Rangers series are the Americanized version of Japan’s Super Sentai series and actually borrows footage from this source materi-
al. Each season introduced a different cast of Rangers with a different big bad they were up against. I watched Power Rangers for many years growing up and I had way too many
toys. I eventually grew out of it, but that didn’t stop my excitement when I heard the franchise would be getting this generation’s Hollywood treatment. Power Rangers (2017) is
mainly based off the original Power Rangers series, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. The first act of the movie provides an interesting and refreshing backstory to the Power Rangers’ leader, Zordon (Bryan Cranston) and their main villain Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks). From there, we’re introduced to each of the five Power Rangers as they experience the struggles of being a high schooler. The movie does an impressive job at weaving in these introductions into central locations as opposed to shoehorning them into short segments for each character (Looking at you, Suicide Squad). The Rangers share the same names and basic traits of the original Power Rang-
POWER RANGERS
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Album review: Spoon’s Hot Thoughts a refreshing sound Rock band incorporates new sounds into ninth studio alnbum. KRISTINA BUSCH Staff Writer Rock band Spoon released their ninth album, Hot Thoughts, on March 10. For a band with an excellent track record of releasing great music, I had no doubt that I would like their new album. To my surprise, however, the band incorporated some newer elements with Hot Thoughts. The album maintains the band’s signature sound and interesting lyrics, but also fuses more electronic influences into the mix. If I could sum up the sound into one word, I would call it “disco-rock,” and, to be honest, I love it. Spoon formed in 1993 in Austin, Texas, and released their debut studio album, Telephono, in 1996. The band is well known for songs like “I Turn My Camera On”, “The Underdog”, and “The Way We Get By.” Spoon has performed on late-night talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman, and Conan. They’ve also
Britt Daniel of Spoon. performed at music festivals like Bonnaroo, Pitchfork, and Coachella. The title track and first song of the album, “Hot Thoughts,” sets the tone immediately for the rest of the album. As one might imagine, lead singer Britt Daniel sings, “Hot thoughts melt in my mind / Could be your accent mixing with mine / You got me uptight, twisting inside”.
(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Noranna My favorite track on the album is “First Caress.” The song is an upbeat fusion of piano riffs, guitars, and funky disco beats, with lyrics like “Angel, my love, my first caress / I come back and I find you’ve never changed / Then I think all the years from your love / I’ve been dispossessed.” One of the slower songs in Hot Thoughts, “I Ain’t the
One,” showcases Daniel’s raw vocals. The song speeds up midway, however, and builds into a more trance-y beat, as Daniel croons, “I ain’t the one, I ain’t the one / So now I’m leaving you all behind me.” “Can I Sit Next to You” is a song with a playful beat and lively guitars, all in the fashion of Spoon’s style that we know and love. Daniel sings
“Gonna walk a tight rope / Gonna get kicks every night / No one’s holding me back / No one’s changing my mind no more.” Another notable track of the album is “Do I Have to Talk You Into it.” The song has a funky, retro vibe and dynamic instrumentals with lyrics like “Do I have to talk you into it? / Do I have to make sense of it? / They say I better seal you up in wax / So that you’re never gonna bite me back.” As a whole, Hot Thoughts is a refreshing sound as compared to other albums that Spoon has put out. Longtime fans will likely be pleasantly surprised by what the album has to offer, but, at the same time, will appreciate the musical styles that the band has held onto. I always love when bands experiment with new sounds and it seems to be working wonderfully for Spoon.
Reporter Rating
5 5
10 • MSU Reporter
A&E
Netflix picks: Standoff Two marksmen square off in thriller film.
Laurence Fishburne stars as Sade.
CALEB HOLLDORF Staff Writer When it comes to trying to be the good guy, all it takes is to stop trying to be the bad one. Standoff (2016), directed by Adam Alleca, shows two men who struggle with being either of these, and just how fine of a line they’re willing to walk. On the anniversary of her parent’s death, Bird (Ella Ballentine) visits their grave with her aunt’s boyfriend. She wanders into the cemetery alone with her parents camera hung around her neck, and stands above their grave. In another part of the cemetery, a small burial is happening with only three people in attendance. A few suppressed shots kills each one of them, and the camera reveals a sniper (Laurence Fishburne as Sade) walking out of the woods. Bird sits behind a bush after seeing each person fall
(CC BY-ND 2.0) by Disney | ABC Television Group
down, and she sees the man with a sniper. He walks over to the dugout grave, laying the dead bodies inside atop the other and taking on the role of a caretaker by removing his ski mask and putting on a hat. Bird’s uncle comes into the cemetery asking where she is, and Sade responds with a shovel in hand by telling him he doesn’t know. She stands up and tells her uncle to run away, but Sade pulls out a pistol and headshots him. Bird takes a picture, and runs away from Sade through the forest and into a field of an old farmhouse. Carter Green (played by Thomas Jane) is a troubled alcoholic veteran who lives alone in the house. He hears Bird screaming, and goes onto his front porch to find her running towards his house. She makes it to the steps and is panting, trying to tell him she needs help. He tells her its okay and that he’ll help her, and a missed shot hits the top of his front door. Sade emerges from the woods. He has put his ski mask back on to cover his face and once again has his sniper in hand. Carter tells
bird to get inside, and Sade lands a lethal blow to Carter’s ankle. He crawls back into the house and kicks the door shut. From here, the two retreat upstairs until Sade comes inside. Carter blasts a shell of birdshot into Sade’s gut, forcing him to stay downstairs. This is where the standoff is for the rest of the film until toward the end when everything busts open. The plot might sound simplistically cheesy to start, but the film shines in the character showdown we get between Carter and Sade. Both men have equally dark pasts that have brought them to this halt in their life. As the movie progresses and night draws near, the audience is fed the many tribulations each man suffers. Secrets are revealed to each other that neither would share with even those they hold closest. The dialogue exchanged between the two has profound grit and darkness to it. With tense actions sequences and relatable characters, this under the radar film found on Netflix is one that might prove to be worth your time.
Dylan to meet Nobel academy to receive diploma HELSINKI (AP) — Nobel literature prize laureate Bob Dylan will meet with members of the Swedish Academy during a weekend visit to Stockholm and they will hand over his Nobel diploma and medal, the academy said Wednesday Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the academy, said in a blog on the academy’s website that Dylan will not give his Nobel lecture during the weekend but that
a recorded version would be sent at a later date. She noted that taped Nobel lectures are occasionally presented, most recently in 2013 by Canadian Nobel literature laureate Alice Munro. Danius said that the academy “is very much looking forward to the weekend” and will attend a Dylan concert, but added that the setting of their meeting will be “small and intimate, and no media will be present,” in line with
his wishes. The 75-year-old Dylan, who was awarded the prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,” declined an invitation last year to the traditional Nobel Prize banquet and ceremony on Dec. 10 — the date of Alfred Nobel’s death — pleading other commitments. He is performing concerts in Stockholm both Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
RANGERS Continued from page 9 ers cast. Beyond that, the movie does a good job of modernizing the characters and their struggles. Without going into too much detail, each Ranger seems to have a struggle that’s meant to make them more relatable in today’s world and they all have a reason to be fighting. The actors portraying the Rangers are perfect. Casting mostly no-name actors was a bold and smart thing to do for this type of reboot. Doing this almost makes them more relatable and likeable. Once the Rangers are all assembled, they’re introduced to the movie’s big bad, Rita Repulsa. This character was in the original series, but was developed as a non-intimidating and wild villain with little motivations. The Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks) in Power Rangers (2017) has come back to life after being a mummy for millions of years and is terrifying. She’s set on recovering an ancient artifact that holds an immense amount of power capable of destroying the planet. Very early on, we find out that she’s more than willing to kill a Power Ranger unlike in the original series when the character seemed to toy with them. This was the perfect change to a character that built the stakes for the movie. The pacing in Power Rangers was one of the most surprising parts about it. Far too often in origin movies like this, there’s too much screen time wasted on exposition.
Within ten minutes, we’re introduced to the idea that this motley crew of teenagers may have received some kind of powers. There’s a perfect amount of plot and character development between then and the movie’s climax. I was really impressed with how much they could develop five different characters in two hours of screen time. This is a movie based off an old children’s television show, so don’t expect any Oscar-worthy acting or writing. Power Rangers (2017) knows what it is and that makes the whole experience better. It doesn’t try to be an overly gritty reboot and there’re callbacks to the goofy and cheesy source material. The central theme across all of Power Rangers has been teamwork and Power Rangers (2017) hits this on the head. Throughout the movie, we see the ups and downs of this group of strangers being forced to band together and defeat this common enemy. One of the most magical moments in the movie is when this group is able to overcome their differences and finally morph. Power Rangers (2017) is a fun and entertaining reboot that sends a universal message about working as a team towards a common goal. It’s something that the casual moviegoer and grown-up Power Rangers fans will appreciate.
Reporter Rating
5 5
Thursday, March 30, 2017
MSU Reporter • 11
A&E
Explaining the mysteries behind your Spotify playlist Discover Weekly uses a complicated process to assemble itself.
HENOCK BELAY Staff Writer Every Sunday evening, several million Spotify users receive a good new mixtape: twenty songs from a music-loving friend, who would possibly once have created a magnetic tape along with your name written across the front. But these playlists, from Spotify’s Discover Weekly service, were made up by a complicated process. These days, mechanized music suggestions are not really new, yet Spotify appears to have distinguished the elements of a customized playlist that has a crisp vibe and is well-known in the meantime. That is conceivably a major preferred standpoint over contenders like Pandora, Google, and Apple, which, to a great extent, have the same endless inventory of music. However, they adopt different strategies to picking the best melodies for every client. The nature of Discover Weekly’s picks is so great, it’s somewhat mysterious. After I got a few brilliant playlists in succession, I couldn’t quit contemplating how Spoti-
(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Scott Beale fy had made sense of me, alongside several millions of other individuals. Asking that question drove me down the rabbit hole of how the framework functions in any case and how a calculation can dive into the profoundly subjective domain of music to foresee the melodies that will make my heartbeat race and my head bob. In case you’re a Spotify user, you can perceive what melodies Spotify has picked
for you this week by signing in with your playlist showing up on the homepage. Seeing how the procedure functions will give you a look into how music fans will find new music later on long after the possibility of a genuine mixtape has blurred into the past. The primary fixing in its Weekly playlist, it turns out, is other individuals. Spotify starts by taking a peek at the two billion or so playlists made by its users; everyone
has an impression of some music fan’s tastes and sensibilities. Those human determinations and groupings of tunes frame the center of Discover Weekly’s suggestions. Spotify considers everything from professionally curated playlists like Rap Caviar to your average Joe’s late spring grill jams. It gives additional weight to the organization’s own particular playlists and those with more devotees. At that point, it en-
deavors to fill in the spaces between your listening propensities and those with comparative tastes. In the least difficult terms, if Spotify sees that two of your main tunes have a tendency to show up on playlists alongside a third melody you haven’t heard some time recently, it will propose the new tune to you. In any case, the formula for your Discover Weekly playlist is significantly more confounded than that. Spotify likewise makes a profile of every user’s individualized taste in music, gathered into bunches of craftsmen and small scale types, not simply “rock” and “rap” but rather fine-grained refinements like “G.O.O.D Music”, “study break” and “Viva Latino.” These are made by utilizing innovations from several music investigation firms that find out about developing classes by having machines that inspect music locales and examine how different music artists are depicted. Even though I have no clue what “Mellow Bars” or a portion of “Ultimate Indie” may be, incidentally, as indicated by my Spotify listening information, I’m a major fan.
Public television chief says Trump budget would hit options President’s budget cut proposal could lead to stations closing.
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would most dramatically affect rural and minority communities, eventually forcing some local television and radio stations to close, the corporation’s president and chief executive officer told Congress Tuesday.
The president’s budget would eliminate $445 million in federal funds for the non-profit corporation, which supports programs such as Sesame Street, Frontline and documentaries from filmmaker Ken Burns. Patricia de Stacy Harrison, the president and chief executive officer for the corporation, said federal funding generally represents 10
percent to 15 percent of a public broadcasting station’s budget, but can represent as much as 80 percent of the annual budget for some stations. Harrison said stations serving rural and minority communities don’t have the kind of in-depth donor base that would allow them to overcome the loss of federal funding. “There would be a domino effect and it would start with rural stations,” Harrison said. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting distributes its federal funding through grants to more than 1,400 radio and television stations around the country. The corporation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the law that created it. Funding for the parent organization of the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio has remained flat for several years. On Capitol Hill, Harrison was generally greeted with a supportive audience. Rep.
Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the panel reviewing the president’s budget
request, told Harrison that “this is an agency we all admire.”
12 • MSU Reporter
A&E
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Bill inspired by Snooki caps public university speaker fees Reality star’s paid visit to Rutgers University inspired lawmaker’s bill.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A bill inspired by former “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi to cap what state public universities can pay to speakers was approved by lawmakers Thursday and now heads to the governor’s desk. The Democrat-controlled Assembly unanimously passed the legislation to cap the spending of state money at $10,000. The legislation is now up for consideration by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has disparaged the MTV reality show as bad for the state’s image. Republican Assemblyman John DiMaio said he was inspired to write the measure after Snooki was paid $32,000 collected from student fees to speak at a student event at Rutgers University in 2011. Snooki’s pay was $2,000 more than Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison received to speak at commencement. Christie said at an unrelated event Thursday he wouldn’t waste his time talking about the bill, which the state’s Democrat-led Senate approved unanimously in June, but would consider it when it arrives at his desk. “I’ve got much bigger issues to be concerned about in a state with a $35 billion budget, with all the different challenges and opportunities we have, than to be worried about micromanaging what
universities in the state decide to pay their commencement speakers,” Christie said. Rutgers offers honorariums for commencement speakers paid for with money from its beverage contract with Coca-Cola and does not pay them using state money, university spokeswoman Karen Smith said. It’s offering this year’s commencement speaker, Steven Van Zandt, a $35,000 honorarium from the Coca-Cola deal, she said. Student groups that invite speakers to campus pay them with money from student fees, mandatory fees paid by students, not from state funding, she said. “Jersey Shore,” which ran from 2009 to 2012, focused on the escapades of a group of young Italian-Americans at a shore house. Snooki’s housemates included The Situation, Pauly D and JWoww. Snooki wrote in her book “Strong is the New Sexy” that Christie’s expression was “full of hate” after she introduced herself in 2013 when they were on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights. She has called the portly governor a bully and ridiculed his weight. Many colleges struggle with tight budgets, and some have drawn sharp criticism for paying hefty speaking fees. Last year The Associated Press asked 20 public universities with notable speakers to provide costs for their
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press graduation speakers since 2015, including speaking fees and travel expenses. Colleges that pay for celebrity speakers say they can impress donors and attract the interest of potential students. A notable speaker also is meant as a reward for the graduating class. Last year, Kean University paid retired astronaut Mark Kelly and photographer Brandon Stanton a combined $80,000 to speak at its graduation ceremony.
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
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MSU Reporter • 13
Thursday, March 30, 2017
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Maverick softball cruises, sweeps Golden Bears
COREY YUMAN Staff Writer Minnesota State’s softball team opened up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) action 2-0, as they swept the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears on Monday in Mankato. With the remainder of the women’s regular season all conference play, the Mavericks improved to an overall record of 24-4 while coming out with wins in 17 of their last 18 games. The Mavericks swept the Golden Bears, beating them 4-1 in game one and getting a 4-2 win in the second outing. Concordia-St. Paul dropped to 8-15 after the losses.
Game one was led by senior Coley Ries, as she pitched the entire game coming up with 12 strikeouts while only allowing two hits. Ries continues to be a very valuable asset to this team and improves her record to 12-2 on the year. The game-winning run came in the second inning when Samantha Buhmann stole home to put Minnesota State up 2-0. The first score came from Dana Morgen, who hit a single to left field and advanced to second, sending Buhman to third and scoring Amber Kral. Concordia-St. Paul put together a score in the third inning, with Sarah Kivisto hitting a homerun to bring the Golden-Bears within one score. The Mavs struck back in the bottom of the third inning as Ashley Thell got a RBI to score McKenzie Paap. Only one more score came, coming from Minne-
sota State’s Carly Esselman spurning from an RBI from Cori Kennedy in the bottom of the sixth. The Mavericks won the hits battle with the team coming up with six to the Golden Bears’ two. Mogren led the team with two hits and an RBI. Game two was highlighted by Carly Esselman’s two hits and two runs as Minnesota State completed the sweep with a 4-2 win. Esselman earned the game-winning run in the fourth inning as she stole third to put the Mavs up 3-0. Concordia-St. Paul began to rally back in the sixth inning, where they scored their lone runs. Kivisto once again stepped up for the Golden-Bears and drilled her second homer of the day to score her and Liz Jarosz to bring their deficit down to two runs. Kivisto and the rest of the Golden Bears weren’t
Reporter Archives able to build anything more however, and in the bottom of the sixth Paap hit a single to score Esselman. Libby Bemis finished off the Golden-Bears in the seventh and picked up the win as she struck out five batters and allowed five hits. Bemis pitched all seven innings and is now sitting on a 12-2 record on the season.
Minnesota State is going to be back in action this weekend as they play double-headers back-to-back. The Mavericks face the Augustana Vikings on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and Wayne State on Sunday starting at noon. All four games will take place at The Pitch in Mankato.
Twins hope for steady improvement in 2017 CHELSEA DORVAL Staff Writer The Minnesota Twins finished their 2016 season with a 59-103 record, worst in franchise history. The all-time record is 113, by the Washington Senators, who turned into the Minnesota Twins in 1961. However, the positive side to the Twins finishing at the bottom of the standings for 2016 is that they will get the first draft pick in the first round for 2017. Last time the Twins had a first pick in the first round, they ended up with Joe Mauer in 2001, which has worked out pretty well for them. The good news is the Twins have a lot changing, including the hiring of their new General Manager, Thad Levine. Levine is helping to advance the Twins using his background with statistics to get the club to start using analytics. The 44-year-old came to the Twins from the Texas Rangers, where he worked for the past 11 seasons. The University of California-Los Angeles graduate also has experience in player acquisitions, roster composition, contract negotiation as well as statistical and financial
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press analysis. Compared to Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs, Levine brings versatility, knowledge and exceptional experience to the team. Derek Falvey also joined the Twins’ front office as the Chief Baseball Officer. Falvey took over from Terry Ryan on October 3, the day after the regular season ended. Like Levine, Falvey intends to expand the Twins’ analytics department and use the advancement of statistics and analytics to rebuild the franchise. Another key for the Twins in having some success and hopefully turning the fran-
chise into a championship contender is the development of their young players. 24-year-old Max Kepler will be one to watch during the season. The 6’4”, 220 lb. Berlin, Germany-native finished the 2016 season with a .235 batting average with 20 doubles and 17 homeruns in 113 major league appearances. A 30th ranked prospect, he has posted an impressive .318/.410/.520 in 2015 between his High-A and Double-A appearances. ByungHo Park is another name to watch. With a spring training that can easily be described as nothing short
of impressive, Park has managed to put up a .362 average, 10 runs batted in (RBI) and five homeruns in 47 atbats. The 30-year-old South Korean native finished the 2016 season with a .191 average with just 24 RBI in 215 major league at-bats. With a middle-of-the-pack offense, the Twins will need Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton to make consistent contact throughout the entire 2017 season. Buxton, who was called up in September, had a decent year, finishing .287/.357/.653 with six doubles, two triples and nine home runs. He also put up
22 RBI and 24 runs and had a .357 on-base percentage. Only 23-years-old, Buxton still has time to improve. Sano had a very impressive half of a season in 2015, and unfortunately regressed in 2016. He finished with 25 home runs in 437 at bats and a .236 average and .319 onbase percentage. Minnesota will need to ensure that their pitching staff remains healthy and productive. With Phil Hughes coming back from surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome, and young phenom Jose Berrios primed to make some noise, the starting pitching staff has plenty of room to improve. Starter Kyle Gibson has also showed big steps of improvement during Spring Training. Closer Glen Perkins is returning from a procedure that re-attached his labrum in his left shoulder to the bone, so the Twins may need their relievers to step up into a closing role if Perkins is no longer an option. The Twins open up their regular season at home on Monday, April 3 against the Kansas City Royals. First pitch is slated for 3:05 p.m.
14 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Final Four games have always provided thrillers Staff writer James Andersen gives his thoughts on the top-five Final Four games ever played.
JAMES ANDERSEN Staff Writer March Madness is arguably the second-largest sporting venue in the United States. The Final Four is the last weekend of the tournament where the last four remaining teams converge to compete. This final weekend brings about some amazing drama. Amazing comebacks, improbable buzzer beaters, and unpredictable events have occurred over the past few years. Then, there are the clutch performances from all types of players ranging from the All-Americans to the unpredicted Cinderellas. Here are the five greatest games in Final Four history. 5) Duke 79 UNLV 77 – 1991 National Semifinal This was a highly-anticipated matchup due to the fact that the year before that, the Runnin’ Rebels smashed the Blue Devils, 103-73, in the National Championship. Since that game, UNLV ran through the competition and went on a 34-game winning streak before their rematch. UNLV was a fast-paced team that eclipsed the 100-point mark 14 times during the regular season. They were loaded with talent too, led by Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, and Anderson Hunt, and this team was looking for a repeat title. Duke, however, had other plans, and was prepared to have the battle of a lifetime. Led by Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley, Duke was able to play at their pace and grind out the two-point victory. The game had 17 ties and 25 lead-changes. Laettner led the way with 28 points and two clutch free throws at the end of the game to put the Runnin’ Rebels away. 4) NC State 54, Houston 52, 1983 National Championship The unlikely Wolf Pack had to win the ACC tournament to get a bid into March Madness. Then, they had to survive a first round overtime thriller against Pepperdine to make their magical run. Houston had the Phi-Slamma-Jamma squad composed of Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwan, and Michael Young. It was the classic David vs. Goliath matchup.
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press Some would consider 2016’s National Championship a classic, and it’s certainly not wrong to think that. Villanova defeated North Carolina on a last-second buzzer beater. North Carolina State’s Head Coach Jim Valvano was able to set his pace in the game and put Houston’s prolific transition offense to a screeching halt. The game was in NC State’s favor in the first half, where they led 3325 at halftime. Houston then exploded in a 17-2 run putting them back in the driver’s seat. The game was tied at 52 with a little under a minute left. The Wolf Pack held onto the ball for the last shot. The Wolf Pack’s Dereck Whittenburg heaved up the last shot from 25 feet out, but it appeared that it was going to fall short. Then Lorenzo Charles leaps up and grabs the ball to dunk it at the buzzer for the win. 3) North Carolina 74, Michigan State 70, 1957 National Semifinal and North Carolina 54, Kansas
53, 1957 National Championship North Carolina was led by Head Coach Frank McGuire and they were 30-0 that year before arriving in Kansas City. These two games were both triple overtime thrillers. The National Championship was even more impressive for the Tar Heels, as they were able to take down the unstoppable Wilt Chamberlain in his own backyard. The Tar Heels hit two big free throws in the final seconds to put them at a 54-53 lead, then they stole a pass intended to Wilt to seal the victory. 2) NC State 80, UCLA 77 (OT) 1974 National Semifinal UCLA was on their way to an eighth-straight National Championship that year. The Bruins ran into the wrong opponent for the Final Four. NC
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State was led by an athletic freak in David Thompson and 7’4” center Tom Burleson. Plus, the game was held in Greensboro, NC. The Bruins were led by Bill Walton, and he did his part that game scoring 29
points along with grabbing 18 rebounds and four assists. However, they weren’t able to get it done. Missed free throws doomed the Bruins at the end of the game. NC State’s Thompson hit a jumper giving them the 76-75 lead in the late seconds and they never looked back, thus ending an era of dominance. NC State ended up winning the National Championship the next day. 1) Duke 104, Kentucky 103 (OT) 1992 Regional Final Though it wasn’t a Final Four game, it still can go down as the best tournament game ever packed with drama. The memorable full-court inbound pass from Duke’s Grant Hill to Christian Laettner, who then turns around and drains the buzzer-beater ended this classic in style. Every time March Madness comes around, this game gets brought up, because it is the poster game for college basketball classics.
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Thursday, March 30, 2017
MSU Reporter • 15
Sports
It’s official: Raiders are moving to the City of Sin Many fans have expressed their concerns in the second movement of an NFL team this season.
COLTON MOLESKY Staff Writer The NFL is rolling the dice on Vegas by sending the Raiders to the desert, making them the second team this offseason to make a change of venue. In the last two years, three teams have changed cities starting with the St. Louis Rams headed back to Los Angeles in 2016. Then, the San Diego Chargers joined the Rams, followed by the Vegas move which will happen after
with a 31-1 pass. While there are promises of this being a lucrative market, some remain speculative, especially the Oakland fans who have just learned of the loss of their team. “My first reaction was shock,” said long-time Raiders fan Brennen Scarborough on his reaction to the news. “As someone who grew up only watching them in Oakland, and progress from a 4-12 team up to an 11-5 playoff team, it is disappointing to see them leave Oakland.”
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
the 2018 season has concluded. The NFL commissioners voted on the move Monday
There are a lot of concerns from fans on the move. Primarily, Oakland is losing a team, a team that had a great
fan base when the team was disastrous, and now when the team is coming back around a young nebulous this move happens. There also lie the other problems. How will this young roster perform after a move? Does this spurn their upward trend? Does this throw a wrench in a trending playoff team? “I think it sort of does,” said Scarborough about the team transition. “Derek Carr is a California guy, very used to playing in front of a California scene after playing college at Fresno State, so transition will be an adjustment. I’m also worried about young players with lots of money living in Vegas. It’s on the coaching staff now to keep them focused and disciplined.” Quarterback Derek Carr also shared his thoughts via twitter the day after the move was announced. Offering up how emotional a time this was for him and Raider Nation, as they left one crowd to head to another. “While I am from California and would have loved playing in Oakland my whole career, I understand the business side of the NFL,” said Carr. “It affects all of us. Oakland, our team loves you, and my family and I love you. WE will be resilient and WE stay together because that is what true Raiders do.” Although the Raiders have not officially moved to 2019
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Photo courtesy of The Associated Press they have made the decision, making this the first time that the NFL has moved two teams in the same year. While some may question this as a reason to have concern about the priorities of the NFL, moving a team with a solid fan-base and home game atmosphere to a town where the fans are nomadic. “While it is important to keep in mind that the NFL is a business and need to stop thinking about revenue, it is concerning that they would
mess with a team that has such a solid fan-base and revenue, even when they are doing bad,” concluded Scarborough. He and other long-time Raider fans he told me he has talked with are alarmed that the motivation to move yet another team seemed to be based solely on money, especially when the Chargers were a viable option and they are the team with the struggling revenue stream.
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16 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, March 30, 2017