April 6, 2023

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023

TIMELINE OF TERROR

Student Government Candidate

Forum commences

By JULIA LIN Editor in Chief

With student government elections coming up Tuesday, the two parties fielding candidates discussed their values and stances on various topics in the Hearth Lounge Wednesday.

Presidential candidate Sierra Roiger and vice presidential candidate David Mesta from the Students United party are facing off against presidential candidate Destined Sehgbean and vice presidential candidate Ruth Asmamaw from the Representing Mavericks party.

The two parties gathered at noon for a forum where students could ask the candidates questions.

Question 1: What do you want your legacy to be after your potential term in Student Government?

Destined Sehgbean: I want to set up a cabinet of student leaders that comprise the heads of all of the different RSO’s we have on campus and this would create transparency in Student Government.

Sierra Roiger: I want to make sure that every single student’s voice from one student to a thousand students is being heard and make sure that administration and faculty understand that students are here to learn, yes, but they will also want to make sure they are being heard and that everything they want to see done is getting done.

MSU to lose Coach Hastings and half of team

By KARSON BUELOW Staff Writer

If you were to look up and down the Minnesota State Men’s hockey team’s roster from two weeks ago as it dropped its opening contest to St. Cloud State, a plethora of returning studs and the possibility of some returning seniors might have had you intrigued by what next year’s team has to offer.

But look at it now and you’ll see 10 departing players — some

early signees to pro contracts and some opting to enter the transfer portal — and the resignation of Head Coach Mike Hastings and his heir apparent, Todd Knott.

The moves are a crushing blow to Maverick hockey fans, but after a disappointing end to a highly anticipated season, moves to be made were inevitable.

While Hastings’ unexpected departure was the biggest bomb to drop, the exodus began with

players.

The first move came from last year’s leading goal scorer, Ryan Sandelin.

As a junior last season Sandelin tallied 21 goals and sat fifth on the team in points behind two returning Mavericks. The Hermantown native dropped significantly in points this year, a challenging 13 points behind where he sat last year. Despite this year’s lull in points, Sandelin inked a professional deal with the Colorado Eagles of

the American Hockey League (AHL).

Hours after Sandelin’s announcement, fifth-year senior Andy Carroll announced the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL signed him to an amateur tryout agreement with the team. The Northfield native has accumulated 64 points in five seasons with the Mavericks, including tying his career high of 16 this season.

Two days, Minnesota State

Question 2: What do you think is the biggest issue students are facing on campus and what will you do to address it?

Roiger: The food pantry is serving a lot of students. However, it does not have enough funds to help support all the students that it could be supporting. I want to increase the support for the food pantry and make sure that more students know where it is, as well as make it more accessible for more hours.

Sehgbean: I think the biggest challenge to us as a uni-

Photos by DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Within the last week, roughly half of the players on the Minnesota State’s Men’s Hockey team have left the program. Akito Hirose (top), moments after an on-ice hit. The team (bottom left), moments after losing their final game. Former head coach, Mike Hastings (bottom right), who recently left the team for a job at the University of Wisconsin.

versity is access to resources. I think this is a big issue because we have a lot of resources. It’s not that we don’t have these opportunities. We have a lot of scholarships, we have a lot of financial resources on our campus. But unfortunately, do students really know where they can find them? I think lack of access to resources is a very big issue and a very big challenge.

Question 3: What is one promise that you can make today to the student body that you commit to keeping next year if elected?

Sehgbean: I can promise my commitment as well because my personality is that I’m very committed. When I commit myself to something I hold myself to really high standards. So that comes in with integrity. I can promise my time and energy and everything to a student in order to make all of these platforms that I have in order to make them work. I have to be available for students because my party is representing Mavericks which means we represent you. We will be here because we care.

Roiger: I promise to constantly be there. I have shown this year that I am able to commit to things and I commit to it wholeheartedly. I am always there for students and I’m always wanting to hear from every single student, even if it’s just one student who has one thought, I like to take that one thought and bring it up so I’ll always make sure I’m here for the students but not there just for my own personal reasons.

The vice presidents also took the podium to express

Student Government meeting discuss resolutions

By JULIA LIN Editor in Chief

Student Government unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday that will address inequities in programs with required internships.

Trying to make internships more accessible and affordable for all, this resolution aims to take a look at how required internships can be more cost-efficient for students.

The reason for this is that some students may face difficulties completing their required internships if they lack access to transportation to get to their job or have to take a pay cut from their regular jobs in order to fill the requirement.

Advertising paid internships over unpaid ones and speaking to employers about opportunities were mentioned.

their views.

Question 1: How do you intend to support your potential president in your role next year as vice president?

Ruth Asmamaw: I’ll attend to my running mate by providing him with the necessary resource, support and guidance he needs to be successful in his role.

David Mesta: When it comes to supporting my roommates Sierra, it’s making sure that we’re able to do one on one check-ins, that we’re able to communicate and make sure that we’re splitting the tasks. At the end of the day, we are a partnership, so that means making sure that we’re working together, we’re able to connect, and we’re able to have weekly discussions. That’s the goal of being the Vice President, just the right hand to the Student Government president.

Question 2: Even if you’re not elected, how do you plan on pursuing your goals or being involved with the student government?

Asmamaw: I will see the opposition that the elected group has, and how my strength and ability can collide with that position. I will be there to represent my ideas because it’s not about my personal feelings that I’m running for this position but to help the students.

Mesta: We are still student leaders and that’s making sure that we’re working with student government. If not elected I’ll continue being a student advocate and the multicultural center and student government on issues of DEI. You don’t need a title to be a leader.

“Overall, the resolution seeks to make required internships more accessible and affordable for all students, particularly those who may face financial challenges such as international students,” Senator Dagmawi Abera said.

“It aims to improve the overall experience of students and degree programs with the required internships and ensure that they can complete their degree programs successfully.”

Resolutions that will be voted on next week include a resolution in support of a list of objectives for IT Solutions. This is a list compiled by the 2023 Student Technology Fee Subcommittee that states objectives they want to see happen for the fiscal year 2024.

A resolution requesting the

protection of the bus system.

Senator Roberts and Mueller introduced this resolution that would ask the city of Mankato to delay the cost increase regarding MSU’s bus transportation resource and freeze that fee for at least another year.

Senator Roberts and Mesta introduced a resolution

regarding graduate assistant over-work protection. This resolution would ensure that graduate assistants are not being overworked.

This would advocate that all departments have a time card or accountability system so their GA’s would be paid accordingly and within their contracted timeframes.

LILLY ANDERSON • The Reporter

Student Government candidates Sierra Roiger (left) and Destined Seghbean take the podium to discuss their views with the upcoming election.

DYLAN LONG • The Reporter Student Government President Emma Zellmer helped pass a resolution Wednesday addressing inequities in programs with required internships.

MSU plans for a new course in audio storytelling

Lessons from snow removal crew

By CARLY BAHR Staff Writer

With temperatures predicted to approach 80 degrees as soon as next week, winter appears to be wrapping up. With that in mind, Minnesota State’s Grounds Supervisor Bruce Leivermann is reflecting on this year’s snow removal.

The biggest thing students and faculty can do to improve this process is obey parking rules, especially overnight parking.

By EMMA JOHNSON News Director

Minnesota State is hopping on the multimedia train by offering an audio storytelling course.

Starting fall 2023, three classes totaling eight credits will cover “the history, craft and promotion of audio storytelling.”

Dave Engen, associate professor in communication and media, is teaching Audio Storytelling. The class is semester-long and covers many aspects of audio stories such as interviewing and editing.

At the end of the semester, specific podcasts will air on KMSU.

Engen, who teaches Communication and Community, wanted to start the course for communication skills before podcasting became popular.

“You learn how to interview, you learn technology and you learn to be a better listener and you piece them together into something meaningful,” Engen said. “It became a really powerful way to teach just some of the general communication things I teach.”

Jen Tiernan, assistant professor in communication and media, is teaching the Art of Podcasting.

For the first eight weeks, students will listen to a variety of podcasts and understand what makes a great podcast.

The remainder of the semester will be taught by an unknown adjunct who will assist students in marketing their podcasts and building their brands.

While taking all courses simultaneously is not required, it’s recommended students do so in order to get the best understanding.

“If students take all three of these classes together, I think they’re going to have a much better idea by the end of the semester, what differentiates podcasts and audio documen-

taries, where they intersect and what they maybe prefer,” Tiernan said.

Tiernan said students, regardless of their major, should take the course for improving communication skills.

“No matter what you’re going to go into after you graduate college, you need to be a good communicator, whether that’s trying to explain data to a board room, writing a newsletter or doing something media oriented. Really, anybody who’s interested in the idea of telling stories,” Tiernan said.

Tiernan said she hopes the course will help build a storytelling center and allow students to be creative through telling stories.

“After the last three years, I think we all have a lot of stories to tell right now. It’s good to tell those stories and it’s fascinating to hear them,” Tiernan said.

“You learn so much from listening to other people talk about what’s important to them. I think this class will help students do that.”

Engen said the course allows students to step outside their communication comfort zones.

“It’s a really fun way to practice communicating with different people. (Most students) don’t exactly know how to do it and this forces you to do it in a fun, guided way,” Engen said.

Tiernan said students shouldn’t worry if they have no technical skills before taking this course.

“Students shouldn’t feel intimidated if they’ve never recorded anything or used software. We’re going to give students all the skills that they need to do this,” Tiernan said.

“This is going to be an opportunity to hone those skills and put together something really fantastic.”

Students can sign up for the courses under COMM 340 and COMM 440.

“We have a lot of people who park illegally at night, which then turns our work into more work because, if the cars are in the lots when they’re not supposed to be, now we have to go around them to not hit them. If the lots are empty after school, it’s a lot simpler for us to plow, we get more done quicker. One or two cars can mess up the whole parking lot,” Leivermann said, adding that one or two cars in an otherwise empty parking lot can add an extra hour of labor.

They won’t tow vehicles to clear the way for snow plows, but they will ticket them.

“It’s very, very dangerous for us,” Leivermann said of cars left in place when plows arrive.

This winter had more rain than years past, which posed challenges for the Leivermann’s snow removal team.

The rain freezes on the ground while snow piles on top, which creates a dangerous lack of traction.

“There really is no typical

day,” for snow removal with the ever-changing weather, according to Leivermann.

The typical schedule includes day and on-call night shifts from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., then 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. from November to April.

“Basically, when there’s a half inch of snow on the ground, you start.”

Leivermann said this winter required more time for hauling snow, which took about two to three days compared to years past where they would plow snow one day and haul it away the next.

Equipment consists of two front loaders, which are the large wheel loaders that are found in the parking lots.

They also have Bobcats for lots and sidewalks, and lawn mowers and shovels for smaller

and more detailed areas. The snow is discarded in parking stalls to protect grass from salt.

“We don’t have a lot of stalls available on campus,” Leivermann said. “They get mad at us because parking stalls are used up. So that’s why we have to get out there quickly to get the snow out of the parking stalls, so people can park in the stalls. So that’s probably the biggest complaint we get.”

The snow removal team is made up of 60% students, and Leivermann said that this is beneficial because “they know the campus.”

There is currently no snow to be expected for the next 10 days, and every day has a chance of rain ranging from 4-53%, according to the Weather Channel.

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Starting fall 2023, the audio storytelling course will be covered over three classes, giving students experience with podcast techniques.

CARLY BAHR • The Reporter

With the amount of snow Minnesota has received over the course of the winter, the MSU Grounds crew has been working to clear the lots. To make their job easier, obey the parking rules, especially overnight.

“It’s very, very dangerous” -Bruce Leivermann

New decade, new opportunities

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

Alicia Reed Sports Editor Dylan Engel Photo Editor

Don’t rely on tech for homework

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has been rapidly evolving over the past few years and has become an integral part of our lives. One example is ChatGPT, a language model designed to process natural language input and produce output that sounds very similar to human talk. This technology has become increasingly popular among students, who use it for homework, research and other academic purposes.

While ChatGPT can be a useful tool for students, it is important to be aware of its limitations and potential dangers when it comes to writing academic papers. One major danger is the risk of plagiarism.

Since ChatGPT is designed to produce human-like responses, there is a risk that it may produce text that is too similar to existing content, leading to unintentional plagiarism.

Furthermore, ChatGPT may not always produce accurate or reliable information, which could result in the inclusion of incorrect or misleading content in academic papers. As such, it is important for students to exercise caution when using ChatGPT and to always double-check the accuracy and originality of the content produced by the language model.

Those last three paragraphs were written by an AI, not a human. Despite how convincing and full of life the words sounded, they’re nothing more than binary code; 0’s and 1’s made by a lifeless bot.

Technology has been rapidly advancing in years’ past, and the recent rise in artificial intelligence has caught many students’ eyes. Why spend hours writing a paper when a robot can do it in seconds? Why go through all the pain just to get an average grade, when you could have someone write it for you and pass with flying colors?

The answer: learning. As students, the reason we spend tens of thousands of dollars, pull all-nighters to study and spend hours writing papers is so we can understand the course material to the fullest extent. Doing all that schoolwork may be a temporary pain in the behind, but after looking at the big picture, it spells out success for the future.

We as students go to college to get better job opportunities post-graduation. If your entire academic record is supported by cheating, plagiarism or other peoples’ work, it may look good at first to the hiring manager. But once you accept the job and realize you have no clue what you’re doing, you’ll start to wish that you had put in the work in the first place.

Despite ChatGPT being a recent trend, many teachers have already caught onto the program. It is much safer to play it safe and do your homework yourself, rather than risk a failing grade.

By EMMA JOHNSON News Director

I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact I’m turning 20 this week.

To think another decade has passed is crazy to me; it feels like a blur. I feel like I turned 10 in fourth grade yesterday. In these last years, I’ve been through elementary, middle and high school while I’m reaching the halfway mark in my college career.

From my personal experience, I can truly say I’ve grown in more ways than one. One of the most notable was finding my self-worth. In elementary, you could’ve told me you hated me and I would’ve cried over it for months. Now, you could insult me and I’d brush it off like no big deal. In seventh grade, I turned down a group

of girls after they approached me and said I was “popular.”

I looked them dead in the eyes and said “I don’t care.”

Another lesson I’ve learned is to surround yourself with people who suppport you. The hard lesson of growing apart from people who I once used to be super close to hasn’t been easy. However, in return, I’m so lucky to have several groups of friends who stand by me, support my goals and want the best for me.

It’s not easy to find those friends, but once you do, give your loyalty in return and truly, that’s all you need.

The biggest and most significant change was finally finding my calling in life. In kindergarten, I thought I would become a chef after my obsession of collecting cookbooks and watching Food Network with my

grandparents.

In middle school, I thought I would become a pediatric nurse. Blood and gore make me queasy and math disgusts me, so that was a no-go. I found a love of writing stories, scripts and articles and claimed it as a major.

There’s been a lot of ups and downs the last 10 years, but I wouldn’t change anything for a second. Looking back at all I’ve overcome makes me anticipate what’s ahead for me and I can’t wait to see how the challenges I’ll face will make me grow as a person.

I’m so excited to see where this next chapter of life will take me in the coming decade. I’m eager to see where it’ll take me. Take it from Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

MOE, SOPHOMORE

NELSON, SENIOR

BENNETT WEISSNER, SOPHOMORE

DYLAN ENGEL • The

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

Trump’s day in court as criminal defendant: What to know

Novel treatment shows promise against rare cancer in kids

By MICHELLE L. PRICE The

For the first time in history, a former U.S. president has appeared in court as a criminal defendant.

Donald Trump surrendered to authorities Tuesday after being indicted by a New York grand jury on charges related to hush money payments at the height of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump, a 2024 presidential candidate, pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges in a Manhattan courtroom. He then flew home to Florida and spoke to a crowd of supporters at his

was dealt a massive loss as its top defensive pairing of Akito Hirose and Jake Livingstone signed professional contracts. Hirose signed an entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks and made his debut with his new club last Sunday.

Livingstone signed his NHL contract with the Nashville Predators but has yet to make his debut. The CCHA Defenseman of the Year tallied 80 points in three seasons with Minnesota State.

Less than 24 hours after the exit of Hirose and Livingstone, Minnesota State was handed the biggest blow to the program in years as head coach Hastings announced he was leaving to take over the men’s program at the University of Wisconsin.

“Coach Hastings has had a transformational impact and left an indelible impact on our program,” said MSU Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman. “I am confident he will continue to do great things in Madison

home.

Here’s what to know about Trump’s day in court:

HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS RELATED TO 2016 ELECTION

Prosecutors unsealed the indictment against the former president Tuesday, giving Trump, his lawyers and the world their first opportunity to see them. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Prosecutors said Trump conspired to undermine the 2016 presidential election by trying to suppress information that could harm his candidacy, and then concealing the

and I wish Mike and his family all the best moving forward.”

Minnesota State opened up a nationwide search to fill the head coaching position for its hockey team but was interested in working with associate head coach Todd Knott in filling the role. In the midst of a search for a new head coach, two more Mavericks announced their departures – Ondrej Pavel and Cade Borchardt.

With 41 career points as a junior, Pavel was able to sign his NHL entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche and has yet to join his new squad. Borchardt’s considerable 85 pts as a senior was all he needed to work out a deal with the East Coast Hockey League’s (ECHL) Kansas City Mavericks.

Minnesota State continued to search for a replacement for Hastings and offered Knott an “attractive offer” in the hopes of getting him to stay. But the team announced three days after Hastings stepped down that Knott had declined the offer.

true nature of the hush money payments. The payments were made to two women — including a porn actor — who claimed they had sexual encounters with him years earlier, and to a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed to have a story about a child Trump fathered out of wedlock, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Trump was only seen briefly outside the district attorney’s office, where he surrendered to authorities and was booked and fingerprinted behind closed doors. Trump’s mugshot was not taken, according to two law enforcement officials.

“Out of respect for the program, and understanding the urgency with how we need to proceed, he let me know that he was going to decline the opportunity to become our next head hockey coach,” said Buisman.

“We love this community, the fans, and Maverick hockey,” Knott said in a statement issued by the university, “and as difficult as it is to say goodbye, it’s time to start a new chapter.” The emotional interview, as described by Buisman, leads many to believe Knott will follow Hastings to Wisconsin, leaving a vacancy in the assistant coaching position as well.

On April 3, the Mavericks announced senior captain Brendan Furry inked a deal with Lehigh Valley in the AHL becoming the seventh Maverick to sign a professional contract in only a week.

Finally, just a few days ago, four additional Mavericks — Bennett Zmolek, David Silye, Simon Tassy, and Christian Fitzgerald — announced plans to enter the transfer portal.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON The

A novel treatment using supercharged immune cells appears to work against tumors in children with a rare kind of cancer, researchers reported Wednesday.

Nine of 27 children in the Italian study had no sign of cancer six weeks after the treatment, although two later relapsed and died.

The treatment — called CAR-T cell therapy — is already used to help the immune system fight leukemia and other cancers in the blood. This is the first time researchers have achieved such encouraging results in solid tumors, experts in the field said, and raises hopes that it can be used against other kinds of cancers.

It’s too soon to call it a cure for neuroblastoma, a nerve tissue cancer that often starts in infancy in the adrenal glands near the kidneys in the abdomen.

Standard treatment can be intense, involving chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, depending on the cancer’s stage and other factors. The children in the study had cancers that had come back or were particularly hard to treat.

Eleven children were alive when the three-year study ended, including some who only partially responded to treatment and got repeat doses of the modified cells.

“Those kids were all destined to die without that therapy,” said University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Carl June.

SETH WENIG • The Associated Press

MARIA TSOKOS • The Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his legal team in a Manhattan court Tuesday, appearing on charges related to falsifying business records in a hush money investigation.

In a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, a novel treatment, CAR-T cell therapy, using supercharged immune cells, appears to work against tumors in children.

Associated Press

Associated Press

BU Y PA RKING PR IVILE GE S FO R 2023 -24

PARKING “PRIVILEGES” are associated with the VEHICLE PL ATE NUMBER(S) entered in the Pa rking Portal.

NO HANG ING PL ASTIC PERM IT WI LL BE ISSUED All “privileges” purchased will be tied to the plat e. Security vehicles patrol the lots SCANNING ALL LI CENSE PL ATES and issue citations to vehicles not in the proper pa rking area.

SPORTS S

What’s next for Maverick Men’s Hockey?

By KARSON BUELOW Staff Writer

Since the program’s inception in the late 1990s, Minnesota State’s Men’s Hockey team has been a work in progress. That progress peaked in recent years as the team consistently packed the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center made back-to-back appearances in the Frozen Four.

With the departure of a considerable number of names including long-time bench boss Mike Hastings this past week, Maverick fans have been left in disbelief and shock as Minnesota State’s athletic department continues the search to find replacements. But amid all the back-turning and uncertainty, there still remains a great deal of optimism for Maverick fans regarding the future.

Turning the page and dealing with adversity is something the Mavericks have had to deal with all year with their mediocre encore following last year’s National Runner-up performance. But the current loss of seven players to professional deals and an additional four to the transfer portal is a new kind of adversity.

“I think we were one of the only teams in the country that didn’t have a player go in or out of the transfer portal last year,” said Maverick Blue Line Club president Jason Beal. “It’s kind of a unique time right now, but I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Many Maverick fans understood they’d be pushing their luck

hoping any of their eligible seniors would return for a fifth year, but when news broke surrounding the coaching changes, it began a downhill effect that saw freshmen Christian Fitzgerald and Simon Tassy, sophomore Bennett Zmolek, and junior standout David Silye enter the portal. But according to MSU Athletic Director Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State has had a con-

tingency plan for several months in the event that Hastings stepped down as head coach.

To add fuel to the fire, the Mavericks released a statement three following Hastings’ resignation that associate head coach Todd Knott declined the opportunity to fill the position, leaving the Maverick faithful in frustration.

“When you’re having the suc-

cess you’re having, you become a highly desirable prospect,” said Beal regarding Hastings. “When jobs like the Wisconsin job open up, you can’t fault him for taking it; it’s a career move that’s exponential.”

“In my role I’d like to see what the collateral damage is going to be,” said Beal. “I’m sure there’s going to be some changes, but I don’t

think we’re set up for doom and gloom.”

With arguably half of last year’s team not returning, it begs the question: what’s next? How can a team with such high praise in the college hockey scene transition from losing several key components of this year’s roster to putting together a squad that can skate with anyone in the nation?

The answer to that question is: nobody really knows. What’s understood, however, is the Mavericks have built a passionate community of fans that is hard for recruits and transfers to dismiss. And with 12 solid names on Minnesota State’s recruiting list, fans should understand the bright future around the program.

Cade Littler, a Maverick commit and 2022 draft pick with the Calgary Flames, currently sits at 68 total points in 51 games with the Wenatchee Wild in the BCHL and is expected to join the Mavericks as early as next year. In addition, Graham Ganache of the USHL’s Tri City Storm is currently projected to finish this year with 59 points in 62 games and is also available to make his Maverick debut as early as next year.

Furthermore, the Mavericks’ recruiting list features San Jose Sharks draft pick Resse Laubach, NAHL 58-point scorer Kade Nielsen, and offensive defenseman Aaron Pionk (brother of NHL defenseman Neal Pionk).

To acknowledge the elephant in the room, yes, every one of these

WHAT’S NEXT on page 8 u

Short weekend means more concentration for tennis

By HAYDEN LEE Staff Writer

Coming off of a win over the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, the Minnesota State Women’s Tennis team faces an opponent they have struggled against in the past few years: Southwest Minnesota State University.

After winning their first eight matches against SMSU from 20102017, the Mavs have dropped three straight matches leading into Saturday’s matchup.

It has been a tale of one team dominating the other, as the Mavs have won 8-1 or 9-0 in six of eight matches, while SMSU has won by a score of 5-2 twice and swept the Mavs 7-0 in 2021.

The Mavs will be looking to break their three match skid against the Mustangs Saturday. The Mustangs own a 4-13 record, but have been playing better as of late. After winning their first match of the season, the Mustangs proceeded to lose ten straight.

Is their 3-3 record in the past six games a fluke? The Mavs will put that to the test.

“We’re not going to take anything for granted, but now we are at the point in the season where the

little details matter,” said Thomae. “We are going to use our last few matches to put those things into practice and hold ourselves to a high level of performance.”

The Mavs also had to postpone their matchup against St. Cloud State March 31, but the teams have agreed on a makeup date of Tuesday, April 11.

While preparing for the NSIC Tournament, the Mavs have turned to a different type of practice to help their team chemistry.

“Every week or two weeks, we have been doing some sessions with the people in Sports Psychology,” said coach Jeff Thomae. “We have been in a sports psych consulting group that helps with mental skills.”

From defining team roles to holding each other accountable, Thomae added that the main premise of Wednesday’s session was to “do things like nobody’s watching.”

The Mavs are already a team that works well together and has seen the results that a team would want to see in the regular season. However, the playoffs are looming and teams will be hungry to knock them off.

“I can tell we are in the last couple weeks of our season. I feel like everybody has been stepping up their intensity in practice as a result

of our session,” said Thomae. “The group appreciates working on the mental skills and team cohesion.”

DYLAN ENGEL • The Reporter

Minnesota State’s Men’s Hockey team looks to

The Mavs take action Saturday in Owatonna at 9 a.m. for their only match of the weekend.

Courtesy MNSU Athletics

The MSU Women’s Tennis team prepares for their next match against Southwest Minnesota State this Saturday. They are looking for their 10th win on the season.

Kato Cornhole champs never caught napping Men’s golf seeing improvement

By MOHAMED WARSAME Staff Writer

The first ever Kato Cornhole tournament is in the history books. The inaugural cornhole tournament took place Wednesday at the Myers Field House.

The event was organized by students in Event Management in Sport, a class offered to students in the Sports Management department.

The Maverick students took on the challenge of organizing this tournament for a large portion of their grade.

Part of the course’s objectives include describing the concept and creation of an event, evaluating the process of selecting the location of an event or new facility and developing an understanding of the basic principles associated with managing a sport event, along with the application of those basic principles.

The Sports Management department as a whole strongly believes in education through activity. Doing random tests isn’t their vibe.

Senior Chance Kamrowski

played a critical role in this event coming to life.

“I was in charge of sponsorships so that was acquisition of like in kind donations. So that was like our prizes. We got a bunch of bobbleheads, we got some hats, we got some tickets to the moon dogs game, so anything like that they’ll use as prizes came through,” Kamrowski said.

The turnout caught many of the organizers by surprise. The tournament consisted of 35 teams of two. This was an extraordinary rise in contestants that turned up compared to an Esports event that took place a few years ago.

The rules were as follows: Both players play one board at a time and stay in their designated lane for the whole game.

Players start the game at one board and alternate pitching bags until each player has pitched all 4 of their bags. Players must deliver the bag with an underhanded release. Feet must stay behind the front of the board at the time of releasing the bag as well as inside the pitcher’s box.

Kamrowski was able to tap into his connections that he accumulated over the years to help the

University of Connecticut.

class get some sponsors.

“I had to reach out to a lot of old connections. People I’ve worked with in the past, you know being in the Sports Management department, obviously, get some connections with teams. So like, we got stuff from the St. Cloud Rox, I used to work with their assistant general manager. I have some connections to the Timberwolves so they gave us bobbleheads, so the process was kind of fun for me to see my old friends again, and them helping me out. So that’s how that came about,” Kamrowski said.

Senior Genna Thomazin, who is a part of this class and a sport management major, appreciated the hard work on display by the group to organize this event.

“I haven’t had any previous experience planning or putting on an event, but I really wanted to find a way to bring MNSU students together for a competitive game and sense of community. This class really improved my communication, time management, and leadership skills,” Thomazin said.

The team named ‘Screw Napping’ were crowned champions on the night.

By LUKE JACKSON Staff Writer

Despite finishing near the middle of the pack, the Minnesota State Men’s Golf team saw serious improvement at The Mule Tuesday. Over the course of 54 holes, the five Maverick players combined for 874 totaling 34 strokes over par. This was good enough to place eighth out of 19 teams overall.

The improvements this week came individually and as a team. Through three rounds, Junior Jack Klimek shot 74-68-69. His progress from the first round to the third gave him a jump of 11 spots propelling him to finish fifth overall individually.

Throughout Monday, he put up six birdies shooting his personal best of 68. He also shot 16 consecutive pars or better in his second round. Tuesday saw Klimek shoot -1 due to five birdies, three of which were all in a span of five holes.

“To have a couple of scores below par is really good golfing,” Head Coach Alex Schmitz said. “Jack has a really low ball flight and in the wind that’s the preferred shot. I think that really benefited him.”

Through Klimek’s success, the team also found its stride. After Monday’s grueling 12-hour day of golf, the Mavericks were tied

with nationally ranked Rodgers State University for 12th place. The Mavs found their flow Tuesday and shot the third-best on the course. The University of Central Missouri and Harding University tied with 12 shots over par while the Mavericks shot 13 over. This was good enough to surpass Rodgers State and propel them four spots giving them a top-10 finish.

“They grinded,” Schmitz said. “Staying consistent, in the present and not looking too far ahead is what helped. To know that we struggled a bit and were able to come back and compete with some of the best teams in the region is something really good to build off of.”

One improvement Schmitz hopes for is to have more than one player shoot under par. This would help them get to the top of the leaderboard.

“I think our men’s team is very solid from top to bottom but the difference would be having two players put up good scores at the same time. Just like in any other sport. If one player has 40 points you can win some games right? But if you have two guys get 40 then you’ll probably never lose. It’s the same with golf, two scores can make the difference.”

Home course advantage worked in Central Missouri’s favor as they hosted and won the

players has the option to decommit from Mankato following the recent coaching changes of Hastings and Knott. But it’s highly unlikely all of them will, and an even better chance we’ll see these young players in purple and gold starting next season.

Additionally, the Mavericks have the opportunity to recruit current players from the NCAA’s transfer portal. Some of the top current players in the portal the Mavericks should express interest in are 35-point scorer Ryan Miotto of Canisius, 25-point scoring defenseman David Melaragni of Canisius, and possibly sophomore goaltender Logan Terness of the

But in order for these players to fully commit to the program, finding a head coach is first priority. Who should the Mavericks target?

The list isn’t that long.

Dan Muse, head coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program 18s has a resume like none other. Other than leading USA’s premier development program, Muse has coached in the NHL with Nashville, in the NCAA with Yale, and in the USHL with Chicago.

Another top candidate includes Nick Oliver, head coach of the USHL’s Fargo Force. Oliver has also had other positions as an as-

sistant coach with St. Cloud State University and director of scouting with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.

So what’s next for the Mavericks after a week of unprecedented change and adversity? Find a coach and understand that the future remains bright with the groundwork laid in previous years by Hastings and Knott.

“The last 11-12 years have been really special and the support has built that up,” said Beal. “It’s not only coach Hastings, it’s the community and the business people in the community that have boosted this team up. I’m just hoping the next coach gets a fair shot to do something similar.”

MOHAMED WARSAME • The Reporter

Courtesy MNSU Athletics

HP 469 Event Management in Sport’s students put on the first Kato Cornhole Tournament in Myers Field House Wednesday. Prizes included bobbleheads, coupons, gift cards, and more.

The MSU Men’s Golf team tied for eigth place in the Central Missouri Mule Invite event held on Monday and Tuesday.

Driving fourth at the preview

Baseball battle with the Bulldogs

By CHARLIE GROEBNER Staff Writer

After three long months of playing on the road, the day has finally arrived to play at home. Minnesota State Baseball prepares to take ISG Field for the first time this season against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a weekend series.

Coming off their last victory against the University of Saint Mary Sunday, the Mavs will have little time to rest as Friday is growing closer. They are currently riding another win streak and thriving with the current situation they are in.

By MOHAMED WARSAME Staff Writer

The Minnesota State Women’s Golf team returned to the green Monday and Tuesday for the 2023 NSIC Preview. The Mavericks finished in fourth place with a total team score of 652.

The competition was held at Paradise Pointe Golf Club in Smithville, Missouri. The Paradise Golf Club is a 5,930-yard course that plays to a par-72. The six-team event was won by Missouri Western State. The Griffons won with a team score of 623, 19 strokes ahead of second-place Concordia St. Paul which shot a 642.

This was a quick turnaround for the Mavs as they were back in Missouri competing in their second event in a week. The Holiday Inn Classic which took place March 27-28 was a chance for the team to get back into the flow of things.

“I think the Holiday Inn was kind of getting our legs back underneath us. We were a month out from spring break, so I think that was kind of a, hey, let’s get back to where we were in Arizona,” said Head Coach Alex Schmitz.

Some of the areas that the team worked on in the days leading up to the event consisted of green chipping and putting. This comes off the back of several players having a hard time with the tee in St. Joseph. The team made their way to Missouri early in preparation for the event.

“We left on Saturday, went to a city course down in Kansas City and got to hit balls for an hour or so and really just figured out what one or two things that you struggled with and a lot of them it was their tee ball and not putting themselves in a position to score,” Schmitz said.

The squad’s hard work paid off on the first day of the NSIC Preview, where they took major strides of improvement from their performance in the Holiday Inn Classic. Schmitz credits this

 IMPROVING from page 8

tournament. The past two tournaments that the Mavs have played in saw Central Missouri on top both times. MSU won’t be seeing them for the rest of the season as

to their positioning off the tee and putting themselves into a position to score. The scores recorded on the first day were 75,76,78,79 and 79. The second day showed itself to be a lot more grueling on the team.

“Yesterday was a tough day, wind started blowing. I think the wind takes a lot out of you physically but also mentally draining, always having to think of what that wind is doing and knowing exactly what it’s doing every time in order to kind of move your golf balls when it’s in the air. We don’t play a lot in the wind up here. You know, we get it here and there but down there it’s always windy. We don’t work on, or we haven’t had a chance to work on sliding the ball down, being able to hit kind of a knockdown shot or keep it out of the wind and that really hurt us,” Schmitz said.

Sophomore Kelly Winter played as an individual and paced the Mavs with a 160. This earned her a tie for eighth place. Seniors Madi McGinty and Sam Soulier finished with a 161 which was tied for tenth and a 162 tied for 12th respectively. Junior Anna Cihak placed 14th overall and shot a 183. Schmitz believes that having two events in a short span of time was a good thing for his squad.

“I think it was a good thing because we got back the competitive edge. We didn’t play very well at the holiday so I think having the fire to go out and say I know I’m better than what I just did, showed the first day of the conference preview. It’s not what we did last week but this is what we are. I think if we were going to play tomorrow in a tournament they would because they know that they are better than what their numbers showed and what our result was,” Schmitz said.

The Mavs hope to be able to get outside next week to continue working on their short game and putting. Seeing the ball fly as they prepare for the Wayne State Invitational April 17-18 is something they are eager to do.

they only have the NSIC Championship left. This tournament is set for April 21 and will feature 10 teams in the NSIC at Adams Pointe Golf Club.

One thing that many people noticed so far is that Head Coach Matt Magers leans a lot on his starting pitchers in games. Coach Magers’ reasoning for that relies more on experience when making deployments.

“We are fortunate to have Culley, Gotto, and Fox as our three starters this year. All three are veterans and have been around the game for a while. We are even more fortunate that they have some great younger guys who are behind them. Only thing is that they need time to learn and experience situations that those three have been in if we are going to be successful,” said Magers.

That experience will certainly be needed with the Bulldogs coming into town.

This season, the team has struggled with consistency in its performances and struggled to get on a roll. However, the group will be moti

vated as they prepare to square up with the Mavs. Currently, they have lost the last six matchups against them and have not beaten the Mavs at home since 2016.

One of the men who will be helping lead the charge for the Bulldogs is sophomore Ethan Cole. The native of Duluth, Minnesota is one of the top players in the Bulldogs’ starting lineup. On top of being an excellent hitter and fielder, he has also made a few appearances on the slab. While he has pitched rather sparingly, he still has three strikeouts and only allowed two runs during that period.

With the weekend projected to be perfect for baseball, the Mavs gear up for the true bulk of the schedule.

With only one month left in

the season, the competition gets tougher from this point forward. Head Coach Magers is familiar with this atmosphere and is eager to get his group to the next step.

“The real grind of the schedule starts now where we are playing five games a week. Our next few opponents are quality teams and will require us to go deeper into the pitching staff. Last weekend we saw that we needed to go deeper into our staff to finish out games. So it’s exciting, having the opportunity to be in these larger moments, especially for guys who haven’t gotten it yet,” said Magers.

Courtesy MNSU Athletics

The MSU Women’s Golf team earned fourth place after the two-day NSIC Preview event in Smithville, Missouri.

File photo

MSU Men’s Baseball team gets ready to play against Minnesota Duluth in a three-game series this Friday and Saturday.

VA RI ET Y

Campus show is anything but a drag

By MERCEDES KAUPHUSMAN Staff Writer

Early March, an anti-drag bill that prohibits drag performances in public or in the presence of children was passed in Tennessee, inspiring many other state legislatures to pose similar threats.

Despite the uproar, the Mankato State LGBTQ+ center stands strong by carrying on with their tradition of the Spring Drag show Wednesday from 7-10 p.m. in the Ostrander Auditorium.

“Drag has always been a way for, you know, especially people within the LGBTQ+ community, to express themselves in many types of forms. That’s what drag is, many forms of a fabulous entertainment of fabric art,” said Stephen Thomas, interim director of the LGBT center.

The drag show was the first at the university to feature an entire cast of black, indigenous, and people of color, or BIPOC individuals. Eight performers took the stage, including three first-timers, who are students at MSU.

The drag performers included Megan The ManEater, Andre 1000, Lala Luzious, DeCrème, Princess Blue Rose, and student performers Venom Valentine, Marvin McSparkles, and Wolf Wheels

Starting off the show with a bang was Lala Luzious, a Twin Cities drag performer, who dazzled in their glittery, blue jumpsuit. During the second round, Lala displayed a rainbow gown while Lipsyncing Adele’s, “Hello.”

OPINION:

Things to think about

By JOEY ERICKSON Variety Editor

Another week, another column, under the freshly equipped moniker of “Things to think about,” inspired by my quippy outro for each column. Enter five new items of varying obscurity, ready to be ranked by the only person alive actually qualified to rank things. You can’t outrank the ranker, but I encourage you to try!

Unfortunately, though, he was unavailable, so I’m filling in for him for this article. I hope you can understand.

The five items on the roster this week are a martini glass, leg warmers, a candy cane, a bottle of syrup, and a picture frame.

Andre 1000 embodied OutKast and Lil Nas X in his versions of “Hey Ya,” and “Industry Baby.”

Showstopper, Megan The Maneater Carter sprinkled herself in dollar bills while displaying a flexible performance that left the crowd anything but speechless.

“She was super fun to watch, had high energy, and anyone who can do flips and jumps into splits is automatically impressive to me, but doing it in heels took it to a different level,” said Madeline Casper, student at MSU.

DeCrème kept the audience on their feet with one Beyoncè themed performance and a Lizzo classic to end the evening.

Student performers Venom Valentine, Marvin McSparkles, and Wolf Wheels gave their first performances their all, with support from their friends and families in the audience.

Thomas’s drag persona, Princess Blue Rose has been taking over the stage for seven years, which was proven after debuting Nicki Minaj’s, “Anaconda.”

“I just love every time I perform. Going out there and just

hearing those peoples’ screams and audience claps–it’s just so amazing. We can all share this one moment together, and it’s very precious to me,” Blue Rose said. “One thing I always say in regards to drag shows, you can always leave your worries at the door because once you enter and the music starts going, it’s a party from there until it ends.”

The LGBT Center hopes to keep the tradition alive for years to come. For now, the main event to look forward to is their lavender graduation ceremony April 28.

Color of Care : A positive step for minorities

By JADE JACKSON Staff Writer

COVID. A time everyone remembers. It was a very bittersweet time. More time spent with family and no going to school. However, people became sick and jobs got cut. One perspective that not a lot of people take into consideration is the healthcare system.

Here at MSU, there is a class on campus who put on a showing of a documentary titled, “The Color of Care.” I had the pleasure of speaking with two juniors from the Health and Advocacy class, Alysha Krueger and Tufah Dahir. When I asked them to tell me about the documentary, I received a very wellthought response.

“The documentary focuses heavily on the health disparities that are already present in

healthcare relating to race, gender, or nationality. It’s a lot of anecdotes related to how people were impacted and the loved ones they lost. It also shines light on the lessons that healthcare workers learned along the way,” Dahir says.

Krueger adds, “Healthcare is constantly getting better, constantly evolving. However, there were a lot of mistakes made during the pandemic, and it brings light to a lot of events in the healthcare system that should never take place again. It’s definitely a tearjerker.”

The two said how the process of creating this documentary took a lot of time and hardwork.

“It has taken us this entire semester to develop. Dr. Kramer has been a wonderful mentor teaching us about what goes into screenings and how to FILM on page 11

In last place, leg warmers. As a kid, I adorned all of my pencils with little pencil grippers, the plastic, glittery multi-colored ones that everyone secretly wanted to eat. Most people denied that they ever chewed on them, but I was out and proud about it. I have no shame.

Leg warmers remind me of those little pencil grippers, although it’s probably less socially acceptable to chew on leg warmers. Especially if they’re connected to a leg.

In fourth place is a martini glass. Similar to a child-sized cup at a restaurant, a martini glass offers a whopping one and a half sips of drink for the now-thirsty customer, all for the savvy price of too much money. On top of that, bartenders will put ice cubes, plural, into your drink, giving you even less beverage to savor. Rude.

Of course, the bartender anticipates this anger, counteracting it with a tiny little umbrella to solve all your problems. What am I going to do with an umbrella this small? Shield the fragile remains of my hope and dignity from the rain? Sit underneath it at a very, very small beach?

In third place is the candy cane. I imagine that in the Candyland cinematic universe, old people use these to get around, rather than a normal cane. On that note, I feel like we should replace normal walking canes with ginormous, sized-up candy canes! It would be very campy. You could even suck on the bottom of the cane to sharpen it, and use it to shoo away enemies! Murder isn’t illegal if you do it with a candy cane, that’s just the plot of Candyland 2: Electric Boogaloo.

In second place is the pic-

LILLY ANDERSON • The Reporter

Megan The Maneater Carter, pictured above, was just one of the several lively drag performers entertaining the masses at the campus drag show.

PHEDIAS PIERIDES • THE REPORTER

Dr. Henry Morris, pictured above, was one of the speakers at the screening of the documentary “The Color of Care.”

Tap dancing eggs in ‘Something Rotten!’ Dealer pleads guilty in death of actor Michael K. Williams

By LAUREN VISKA Staff Writer

Shakespeare. People either love him or hate him. Nick Bottom, one of the main characters from the musical, “Something Rotten!” hates him. Sings a whole song about it, too.

Students can hear this song and many others starting today when MSU’s theater department begins a two-week run of “Something Rotten!” Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 6-8 and 13-15 and 2 p.m. April 15-16 in the Ted Paul Theatre at the Earley Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $24 regular, $21 for seniors ages 65 and older, children under 16 and groups of 15 or more, and $5 for MSU students.

Set in London in 1595, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to create a hit play but live in the shadow of “The Bard,” the Renaissance rock star. When a local soothsayer predicts that the future of theater will feature simultaneous singing, dancing and acting, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s first musical.

Paul J. Hustoles, who retired in 2020, has returned to direct this musical. He didn’t get a proper send-off because of COVID-19, so the theater department decided to have him return and direct this musical. The show will also include celebrating Hustoles’ 35-year career here at MSU.

“I retired three years ago,” Hustoles said. “The fun thing is just being invited to come back. It’s a great honor and working with the students again — I’ve missed that. I’ve missed directing. The last show I directed before I left was ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in

 FILM from page 10

make them accessible for all,” Krueger says. “We will be able to take these skills into our future careers as public health majors”.

When asked about any important messages or underlying themes that can be analyzed in the film, both Dahir and Krueger shared very heartfelt messages. “Everyone needs healthcare, when it is seeked, it’s usually when someone is in their most vulnerable state. It’s really disheartening for people

 RANKING from page 10

ture frame. Many shoppers buy picture frames with the intent of taking out the placeholder picture and replacing it with a loved one. However, we should normalize buying picture frames and keeping the generic photos in them when putting them up for display. It’s a great conversation starter, as many will ask who the person in the picture is.

I have no idea who the person is, but the visitor doesn’t

the Night-Time,’ a very serious drama, so it’s fun to get back to directing a farce.”

This musical has a strong female character, Bea Bottom, who is married to Nick. Finn Coughlin plays her and said she enjoys the role.

“She is this super strong, hard-willed woman who cares so much. Some may say too much about her husband and Nigel, Nick’s brother. Bea has that kind of strong woman character, and you see that a lot in the show,” said Coughlin. “She cares for her husband, but also she’s just like, ‘I’m strong.’ I think that just kind of drew me towards her rather than other characters in the show because she wants it to be known that even though she’s a woman, she’s just as strong as any of the other guys on stage.”

Jacob Haen plays Nigel, the brother who likes Shakespeare. Nigel has been one of Haen’s dream roles since the musical came out.

“I think he’s put in a really

to not get quality of life care just because of the color of their skin, their nationality, or their sex,” said Dahir.

“To add on to Tufah, the most common response for minorities in the healthcare area is that they feel uncomfortable. They’d rather be dying at home because they know if they go into a hospital they won’t receive quality care. Healthcare does not seem like an option,” replied Krueger.

The special screening of the Color of Care documen-

have to know that. Maybe it’s Jeff, third cousin who recently came back from Albania and is unhealthily obsessed with mustard. Maybe it’s Linda, Jeff’s wife who knows he has a mustard problem but is too scared to say anything about it.

In first place is a bottle of syrup. Everything’s upside down in Australia, according to a widely held online trope. I had to investigate, so I went to Australia to see if everything is indeed upside down. As soon

interesting spot in that he loves Shakespeare, but he struggles with the fact that that’s his competitor. He’s a poet and is kind of the brains of the two. But, he’s modest as well,” said Haen. “I’m the youngest child, and he’s definitely like the younger child energy, so I can relate to him on that level. I also think it’s fun because this kind of character usually doesn’t have a love interest. But, in this musical, that’s different. He’s the nerdier character, and he is the one that has the love story arc.”

Students are encouraged to see the show and don’t need a vast knowledge of musicals to see it.

“Students need to come to the show. It’s fun to leave your schoolwork behind for a little bit of time and not get drunk all the time. This is the kind of thing that I think they would really enjoy,” said Hustoles.

Go to the MSU website and look up “Something Rotten!” for more ticket information.

tary was shown on April 4th at 6pm. However, the girls believe that the screening will be a positive step in the right direction of equal healthcare for all. Awareness is being raised. “People need to understand that healthcare is for everyone and it should not be uncomfortable to ask for it. COVID was definitely a struggle for the healthcare systems across the world, however, with information being spread to all walks of life, the system can improve”.

as I stepped out of the plane and into the airport, I immediately fell upwards onto the ceiling and couldn’t get down, so I guess that proves my point.

They had to call a fire department to get me down. And as I laid there, pinned to the ceiling due to a mysterious upside-down gravity, a question crossed my mind. Since everything’s upside down here, is syrup called “ma-am down?”

Things to think about.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER The Associated Press

A Brooklyn drug dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.

Irvin Cartagena’s plea to a charge of conspiring to distribute drugs was entered in Manhattan federal court. Sentencing was set by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams for Aug. 18, when Cartagena will face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and the possibility of as many as 40 years.

The famed actor, who also starred in films and other TV series including “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. Authorities said he died hours after buying the heroin from Cartagena on a Brooklyn sidewalk in a deal that was recorded by a security camera.

Cartagena, 39, signed a plea agreement with prosecutors

stipulating that the mix of heroin and fentanyl he sold Williams resulted in his death. His lawyer, Sean Maher, declined comment.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who is not related to the actor, said in a statement that the sale occurred in “broad daylight in New York City, feeding addiction and causing tragedy.”

“In doing so, he dealt the fatal dose that killed Michael K. Williams,” Williams said.

Prosecutors said Cartagena and his alleged co-conspirators continued to sell fentanyl-laced heroin around residential apartment buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan even after they learned of the actor’s death. Another defendant in the case pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Williams’ death came despite an investigation by the New York Police Department that placed a paid informant making controlled heroin buys on the same block.

CHRIS PIZZELLO • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Courtesy MNSU Theatre and Dance Department

Actor Michael K. Williams poses for a portrait at the Beverly Hilton during the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on July 30, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Nick Bottom (William Hallock) directly confronts William Shakespeare (Billy Krager) in musical song “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top.”