April 24, 2018

The

Minnesota State University Mankato

www.msureporter.com

Todd Hoffner, ‘architect’ of MSU football The head coach’s dedication to the game has sculpted a winning team

COLTON MOLESKY Staff Writer Serious calm. That is the first thing that strikes you when sitting across from the head coach of the Minnesota State Mavericks football team, Todd Hoffner.

Stashed in his office, it takes one look at the space that success is not some word thrown around by the coach on recruiting trips or in locker rooms. The desk and shelves are adorned with accolades, marking the results of the coach’s guidance, proof of what he has down with the program. Season after season of conference titles and championship runs a reminder that goals are not set to be forgotten but accomplished. On his desk sits a championship ring, holding down scouting reports and recruiting papers.

It is the perfect metaphor for the coach himself: accomplishments greeted with the constant work for the future of the team. On the wall behind the desk chair, a massive poster of the players who went on to the next level and made NFL rosters.

An apt reminder to players and recruits of what can be achieved, even at a Division II school, if the proper work ethic meets talent.

It all leads up to the man himself, Todd Hoffner, the architect of the football team.

Sitting across from Hoffner, there is no mistaking him for anything but a football coach.

Donning the team’s purple and gold, Hoffner sits forward in his chair with a quiet intensity, which is softened by his smooth voice. It is already easy to see why he is such a good recruiter, with the anticipation and excitement for what comes next coming oozing off him. He almost seems to be on the edge of his seat for what is next, as if the next step is right there for the taking if only we would

leap out of our chairs to seize it.

While his muscular build and posture spoke of a ready intensity, his deep blue eyes and quiet voice issued a calm through the room. He is a football coach through and through, commanding the room immediately. There was no need to outmuscle anyone for attention. Instantly when you enter the room, he gives the impression of someone who deserves your respect.

So who is this coach? How did he create this success and what is next for him?

Hoffner has guided the Mavericks to NSIC championships and five NSIC South Division championships while pushing into the NCAA DII playoffs five times. He also led the Mavericks to a victory in the Mineral Water Bowl in 2011. But the wave of success was not immediate, nor was it come by easily.

The weathered coach has

HOFFNER PAGE 12

David Bassey | MSU Rreporter

HIV/AIDS stigmas and myths debunked at awareness event

AMIRA ABDULKADIR Staff Writer On April 12, Rachel Uwimbabazi and Shreya Koirala hosted an HIV awareness event on campus.

Koirala and Uwimbabazi are the National Youth HIV Awareness Event Day (NYHAAD) Ambassadors for MNSU. They are also members of Eta Sigma Gamma (National Health Honor Society). They hosted this event because they were chosen at this year’s national

TODAY’S FEATURED STORIES

youth ambassador for HIV/ AIDS awareness day which held every April 10th. They decided to host this event to raise awareness of HIV among college students.

The event started from 5 p.m. in the evening and went up to 6:45 p.m. More than 39 participants attended the event. Dr. Mary Kramer and Dr. Dawn Larsen, professors from the health science department, from were in attendance, too.

There is a lot of stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, even today. A lot of people do not know about prevention and treatment measures that should be followed.

The event was aimed at addressing some of those issues. Guests from Rural

AIDS Action Network (RAAN) were in attendance.

Julia Stumpf from the Youth and AIDS Project (YAP) was the guest speaker for the project. Stumpf is a medical case manager and a PREP navigator. YAP works with young people from the age of 13-30 years. Stumpf started her presentation with a few questions that she asked the audience. After each answer, she would add further information for the students.

Some of the questions she asked were what drugs HIVpositive people take, the difference between HIV and AIDS, etc.

Stumpf talked about how initially HIV/AIDS was deemed as a death sentence and many who contracted it rarely

David Bassey | MSU Rreporter

survived it. But with research and new medications, people who are HIV-positive can live and be healthy.

The HIV pill has three medicines in one, so it prevents the virus from entering,

Is MNSU serious about its smoking ban?

Track and field continue busy road trip

Spring dance concert to bring more diverse acts

Page 3

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from replicating and from releasing Rachel Uwimbabazi in the body. She talked about

HIV/AIDS PAGE 2

Have a story idea or a comment?

EMAIL

News Editor Alissa Thielges alissa.thielges@mnsu.edu

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

The end of one chapter and the beginning of another Opinion

TAEHUI PARK Staff Writer All kinds of thoughts are going through my mind like a flash before graduation.

Thinking about how this will be my last opinion article in the MSU Reporter, I feel strangely restless now. I have been a staff writer at the Reporter for almost a year.

While studying at MSU and working as a reporter at the

Reporter, I have met so many people and have gained so many valuable experiences that will help me succeed in life. As is the nature of things, however, we always have the bad as well as the good in the world. There were a few of unhappy and frustrating moments I didn’t want to experience.

Working as a staff writer at the MSU Reporter, to coin a phrase straightforwardly, was “tough but worth it.” I have spent so much time interviewing with so many people and researching preliminary materials and news resources for the articles. On top of that, it was not easy to make a complete article passed through all the

writing process in a given amount of time, though I’m aware of that keeping a deadline is very crucial for writers.

There were also a lot of disappointing moments; I have been turned down for interview requests and ignored by people who were not familiar with the campus newspaper. Even though I hated approaching people the most, I had to do it.

I needed their opinions for the stories and that was part of my job. Now, in retrospect, I believe I was able to overcome my weakness, which was talking

TAEHUI PAGE 3

MEGA COIN LAUNDRY

HIV/AIDS

Continued from page 1 ways in which HIV can be transmitted through semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and injecting drugs. HIV however is not transmitted through ways like kissing, hugging, or any contact that does not involve direct contact with infected blood.

The speaker also touched on some factors that influence the possibility of getting HIV, like race, as it is predominantly among African American in the United States.

Another stigma against

Photo courtesy of Hey-Bin Oh

HIV is that it makes it hard for people to seek healthcare providers. She talked about antiviral drugs, which HIV/AIDS patients take to reduce the viral load in their bodies, or otherwise to keep the CD4 cells in check. Stumpf also talked about PREP, which is the drug that people who are high risk of getting HIV take to protect themselves.

This could be people who have partners with the virus, people who sleep with multiple people, etc. The

drugs can be prescribed at any healthcare place if enough reason is give and it is effective to some degree.

The event started out by playing Kahoot with the participants and then progressed towards the lecture by our guest speaker.

Refreshments and small gifts to the participants were provided thanks to RSO funding.

“The event was successful,” said Uwimbabazi.

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News

TAEHUI

Continued from page 2 to strangers, by pushing myself to the boundary of my vulnerability. The knowledge that I could handle all the responsibilities that the Reporter put onto me gave me a sense of achievement, encouraging me every time I see my articles in the newspaper. Sometimes, a reader will send me an email saying that they like my stories and I find myself working harder to create better stories because of their support.

I have met so many good friends at MNSU as well. I still remember my first day here.

I had to go class and ended up being lost somewhere in the Armstrong Hall. It was my first day of college and I didn’t want to make any bad impression on anyone. I was a bit desperate for asking help to find my class. A girl, who saw me being lost in the middle of a hallway, asked me if I needed help.

Is MNSU serious about its smoking ban?

She helped me find my classroom. That was how I met my best friend now.

Without them, I’m sure I would not have worked my way through college.

I thought the day of my university graduation would never come, but now I only have a couple of more weeks left. I am excited that I graduate from the university and get out of my tiny apartment where I get always stressed out as I have been living on top of others.

Graduation brings me thoughts of delightfulness, but also thoughts of intimidation. Studying at the university taught me to stand on my own legs. I learned how to trust myself, what I am good at and what I like to do. I believe graduation is another word for the beginning of the next chapter in your life. I wish all graduates the best for the future.

Opinion

BILL HAMM Staff Writer Is there a smoking ban at Minnesota State University, Mankato, or is it just bull squat?

While alcohol and tobacco each kill approximately 150,000 Americans every year, we have only taken one seriously here at MNSU. We have trained students to watch for, and act to prevent, our share of the 7,000-plus alcohol overdoses by college students that happen every year. Tobacco on the other hand, despite a campuswide ban, is still being used

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MSU Reporter • 3

at many sites on campus regularly and without any fear of consequences.

These smokers can be seen by all, any time of the day, brazenly and openly without any concern for consequences. As a proxy Senator, I recently listened to a proposal by Senator Michael DuFresne suggesting that the campus should cave in even further on this issue by putting out fancy ashtrays for them. His presentation only pointed out two of the sites around campus that smokers congregate at. DeFresne also talked about the nasty cigarette-butt crisis we have going on.

However, instead of suggesting that some sort of enforcement mechanism be used, DeFresne suggests that we put butt containers out in these places so smokers have someplace to put their butts instead of throwing them on

the ground, as if they will. This kind of thinking undermines the whole principle of the “Smoke Free Campus” and any efforts we have to encourage smokers to quit.

This, coming from the same student senate that spent the last year supporting an ordinance to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21, an effort that passed in North Mankato but not in Mankato and is now before the state legislature.

Why would any reasonable student organization allow itself to be sucked into any scheme that would further undermine the campus ban? The answer is simple, some of our Senators smoke and want to undermine the ban any way they can. This

SMOKING PAGE 5

4 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 EMAIL THE EDITOR IN CHIEF:

Failing businesses should help employees find jobs

Opinion

GABE HEWITT

gabriel.hewitt@mnsu.edu OR AT reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

SPRING FALL 2015 2018 EDITOR IN IN CHIEF: CHIEF: EDITOR Gabe Hewitt ........................389-5454 Rae Frame ............................389-5454

MADISON DIEMERT Staff Writer As some of you may have heard, Herberger’s in the River Hills Mall is closing soon. Herberger’s is a chain of Bon-Ton, a retail store that has been in business for over 150 years. It is supposedly closing because of the increase in online shopping Now because the store is closing, my coworkers and I will be out of a job in about ten weeks- or less, depending on when they get rid of the remaining merchandise.

But we are lucky; our failing business is helping us find jobs by working with other stores in the mall, but many businesses are not like that.

If a business is failing, its job should be helping the employees find another job after the business closes. It is not the employee’s fault that the business was failing in the first place. The least the business could do is give them good references or work with other businesses around them, like Herberger’s is.

If my coworkers and I apply to stores that are working with Herberger’s, we immediately get an interview and good references from

NEWS EDITOR: EDITOR: NEWS Alissa Thielges .....................389-5450 Nicole Schmidt......................389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: Kevin Korbel .......................................

Luke Lonien ...........................389-5227 A&E EDITOR: Caleb Holldorf ....................................

VARIETY EDITOR: Matthew Eberline .................. 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: Travis Meyer ........................389-5097 ADVERTISING SALES: ReedBoehmer Seifert .........................

389-5451 Mac .......................389-5097 Brandon Poliszuk ...................389-5453 Lucas Riha ........................... 389-1063 Josh Crew .............................389-5451 Carter Olsen ........................389-5453 Jacob Wyffels ....................... 389-6765 Kole Igou ............................. 389-6765

Photo courtesy of The Associated Press

the store’s managers. From there, it is up to us. Even if we don’t apply to one of those businesses, our managers

that those employees were not important to the business in the first place. It is also unfair to the workers because

“If a business is failing, its job should be helping the employees find another job after the business closes.” have promised to give us amazing references.

This should be the standard of any business that closes. There are a lot of businesses that are failing or close to it. If businesses don’t help their employees with finding a job, it shows

Pulse

like I said, it is not their fault that the business is closing.

For example, Herberger’s is closing because they are almost 1.7 billion dollars in debt, but that was not because of the workers. Our management knows this.

One of my friends worked

at a diner that closed down after a few years of being in business and was never told by her employer if he’d give her a good reference or even if he found job listings for her. In fact, he didn’t speak to her until it was her last day on the job. From there, she had a hard time finding a job and she shouldn’t have.

She is just one example of what many people are experiencing in the digital age. It should be the job of the employer to help their employees to the best of their ability. With online shopping becoming such a huge thing, many retail businesses are closing up shop. This puts a lot of people out of jobs for no good reason and there should be help for them.

“What is your summer job?”

BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER: MANAGER: Jane 389-1926 Jane Tastad Tastad........................... .......................... 389-1926 AD. DESIGN/PROD. DESIGN/PRODUCTION AD. MGR.: MGR.: Dana Clark ........................... 389-2793 Dana Clark .......................... 389-2793

POLICIES & INFO

• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would or would likelike to point to point outout an an error error made made in the in the Reporter, Reporter, callcall Editor Editor in Chief in Chief Gabe Rae Hewitt Frame at at 507-389-5454.

507-389-5454. The The Reporter Reporter will will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board.

• The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a student-run newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-389-1776.

Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

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THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.

Compiled by Cassidy Dahl

KRISTEN DRENGENBERG, COMMUNICATION STUDIES

KEERTHANA SRIKRISHNAN, EXERCISE SCIENCE

JACOB HEYER, MARKETING

SEAN MILES, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

CARL CHANTIGNY-COTE, CIVIL ENGINEERING

“Work at Domino’s”

“I don’t have a summer job.”

“I work for a landscaping company called Talberg.”

“I’m a painter.”

“Internship in Canada.”

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

News

New RSO focuses on agriculture and community KARLY KAUFMAN Staff Writer Despite being in the heart of agriculture, Minnesota State University, Mankato does not have a related major or minor. However, because of a recent designation as a non-land grant college of agriculture (NLGCA), the university has been taking strides toward becoming recognized as a school where students can get jobs in the industry.

Last semester, Christensen Farms and the College of Business Professional Selling courses partnered to raise awareness to a start-up student club which eventually became AgToday.

The recognized student organization (RSO) officially launched in January and has been busy building the membership and conducting activities.

AgToday, according to President Samuel Schrauth, “is committed to connecting students to people who are involved in the agriculture industry to gain [more] knowledge.”

The club benefits students as they begin to network with

potential employers through various events. Hoping to create more events next year, Schrauth said the club is looking forward to “learning about the areas of agriculture that we don’t think of [as often], such as the world of technology and engineering.”

Alli Theis, a member of AgToday, enjoys getting to meet other students that are interested in agriculture.

“It has been fun to learn about the businesses in the Mankato area that provide so many different types of foods and industries,” Theis said. “It gives students a connection to the community and teaches valuable skills they can use in the future.”

The club is open to any major interested in careers in agriculture and food and gives members the chance to connect with people in the industry.

“Our goal is to make more of a presence on campus,” said Theis. “I think it’s a common misconception that agriculture solely involves the farmer, but it actually accounts for 20 percent of the economy.”

Sam Ziegler, the Director of GreenSeam, has been

Don't leave your bike on campus over the summer months!!

SMOKING

Continued from page 3

Photo courtesy of AgToday

involved with the club to help promote jobs and careers related to agriculture.

GreenSeam is a local nonprofit that is working to brand the region as the Silicon Valley of agriculture.

“There are a number of career opportunities related to agriculture students are currently studying for right here at the University,” Ziegler said. “Careers such as accounting, marketing, management, engineering, sciences, and natural resources.”

The AgToday club is a great opportunity to network and learn about the careers for all students whether they are from a rural or urban community.

effort must be stopped dead in its tracks. We can do it by promoting a ban with teeth and real consequences.

We live in an age when every student has a camera and can be easily encouraged to use them for any number of reasons.

It’s time our smoke free campus is one of them.

We need to encourage and allow students to photograph offenders.

We need a site where these photos can be collected and someone who is designated to identify these violators.

We also need a nominal fine, say $25, that can be assessed to the violators student account. We have a law enforcement program that could easily be incorporated into this effort; we only need the commitment to put together the logistics. The money raised by these fines could easily cover cost of this effort with any additional monies devoted to the smoking

BIKE IMPOUND ALERT

PR O O F

BIKE IMPOUND ALERT

MSU Reporter • 5

During the summer, Facilities Services goes around campus putting impound tags on bikes. Abandoned bikes will be seized by the University.

No:

0001

This bike is subject to impound by MSU on

If it is not removed from its present location, the lock and/or cable will be cut and the bike relocated to MSU’s bike impound lot.

Questions?

Call: Facilities Services at 389-5466 or E-mail: david.cowan@mnsu.edu

cessation program.

We need a proactive smoking ban on the MNSU campus, not the gutless sellout ban now being examined by our student senate.

We need to strengthen our resolve to end this scourge upon our society, not weakness creating excuses that allow it to continue. Smokers already have alternative options, starting with walking off campus and accompanied by nicotine gum or patches to get them by.

As an ex-smoker myself, I have no pity for these addicts. I am my brethren’s keeper.

Getting them to quit this nasty habit is far more important to me than doing anything that supports tobacco company’s efforts to keep them addicted.

Where do you stand?

Let your senators know.

If an impound tag is placed on your bike please remove the tag and the bike from its location to avoid your bike from being seized and impounded.

Seizure and Impound Fees: • For removal of regular locks: $5 fee plus $1/day charge for storage • For removal of kryptonite locks: $25 fee plus $1/day storage. $25 fee required as the removal involves a Physical Plant employee to blow torch the lock off.

Questions: Email david.cowan@mnsu.edu or call 389-5466

6 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

New course brings awareness to agriculture careers Mankato — Monday evening, a class of business students took their last tour of the semester. It was one of a handful of tours which brought awareness to the career opportunities in the agriculture and food industry.

The tour to Davis Dairies showed the class the incredible impact agriculture has on business right here in our region. And by the way, the company is owned by College of Business graduate Mark Davis. This is just what the course was meant to do.

College of Business Assistant Professor Shane Bowyer started the course “Business in the Modern Agriculture Economy” this semester to raise awareness and start preparing students for potential careers in the industry.

“Agriculture, or should I say food, impacts everybody,” Bowyer said. “And we are right here in the heart of it all.

We have a number of students interested in ag careers even though we do not have ag degree programs.”

The demand can be seen as the course registration filled immediately and more

students were added from a waiting list. The Monday night course covered a different segment of the industry each week. The initial class kicked of the semester with three legislators talking the overall impact of agriculture in the State as well as new legislation and laws.

Guest speakers from accountants and bankers to entrepreneurs and CEOs paraded into class touting the incredible opportunities for students in the ag industry not only in the region but on the national and world-wide levels.

Did you know Jack Links jerky was made here in Mankato? Or Mankato is one of the largest soybean crushing communities in the world? Or the science behind the beverages at the Mankato Brewery and Chankaska Winery are agriculture-based.

“This course is only a start for promoting agriculture opportunities to the College of Business students,” Bowyer said. “We plan to keep building from here.”

The “Business in the Modern Agriculture

Photo courtesy of Shane Bowyer

Economy” ends with a special event open to the public as the students in the course will be presenting insights into different parts of the industry from bee’s

to drones to cheese. They will be presenting their research to about 60 high school students. The event will take place downtown at the Center for Innovation and

Entrepreneurship 9:30-11:30 a.m. Friday. It will also be the grand opening for the food truck hub, and yes food truck are agriculture, too.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

News

MSU Reporter • 7

Hot ag topics discussed at final colloquium talk

KATIE LEIBEL Staff Writer Mi n ne s ot a St ate University, Mankato’s We Have Ag Colloquium series finished Monday with the last event titled Hot Topics in Food Agriculture and the Environment.

This event was from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ostrander Auditorium of the Centennial Student Union.

Each session was a moderated panel discussion with an introduction.

Each one had between two and five speakers who spoke for five-eight minutes each.

After that there was an open discussion where questions could be asked and closing remarks were made for 20-30 minutes.

The first panelist was Dave Preisler who talked about trade and exports along with the impact of policies on food and agriculture. Priesler is the

Chief Executive officer or the MN Pork Board. He also is a part of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association in the International Marketing Committee.

The second panelist was Dr. Paul F. Mackie who talked on rural mental health and the federal farm bill. Mackie is a professor of social work at MNSU. He was appointed to U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s new Ag Working Group, which was created to ensure that Minnesota voices are heard when it comes to the upcoming debate on the Federal Farm Bill.

“Events like [these] give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to learn more

worth it. It also generates intelligent honest debate around these subjects.”

This bill includes farm policy and its impact of rural producers, businesses and communities. It mentions crop insurance, research, conservation, energy, rural development, rural health and nutrition making it an important discussion for Minnesotans to be a part of.

“I have been doing research on rural behavioral health for essentially my entire career,” Mackie said.

“I have also been working on trying to find ways to encourage federal support for rural behavioral health and social services through

“AgToday is open to anyone interested and has given members the chance to connect with people in the industry.” about a particular subject, to learn more about what is going on campus,” Mackie said. “Just the expansion of one’s own knowledge is

the farm bill.”

The third panelist was Dr. Jennifer Londgren who discussed the impact of the opioid epidemic in

Photo courtesy of Aravindan Ganesan

rural communities. She is an assistant professor and coordinator of alcohol and drug studies at MNSU. “I grew up on a dairy farm in Michigan. Rural communities have less and less access to physical and mental health services,” Mackie said. “It is something that I think we all should be caring about.

Rural America still represent about 15 percent of the U.S. population.”

The fourth panelist, Loren Molenaar, talked about sustainable and responsible farming. Molenaar is a sixth generation farmer, president

of the Kandiyohi County Farm Bureau, a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and has degrees in farm operation management and agribusiness from Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn.

The last panelist, Karen Kasper of Kasper Dairy, discussed bold career choices as a dairy farmer.

She also talked about what it was like being the “Country Woman of the Year” finalist.

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8 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

KATO A

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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

AG JOBS

re Industry Job Opportunities

Helping Produce Food

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MSU Reporter • 9

10 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

Sports Editor Kevin Korbel

kevin.korbel@mnsu.edu

Football returns to Blakeslee

Mavericks returned to the field Saturday for the team’s spring game

JAKE RINEHART Staff Writer The Minnesota State football team concluded its spring practice Saturday as the Gold Team defeated the Purple Team by a final score of 21-7 at Blakeslee Stadium.

The gold team set the pace early on as it scored on its opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead. Their drive went 75 yards in 12 plays, which was capped off by a oneyard touchdown run from junior running back Nate Gunn.

Gunn rushed for 34 yards during the drive, while junior quarterback Ryan Schlichte completed three passes for 34 yards.

The Gold defense then forced a quick three and out on the Purple Team’s following drive to set up the Gold unit on the gold 35-yard line.

Schlichte then completed two passes, including a 23yard pass to Trevor Nissen, and a 42-yard touchdown pass to Justin Arnold to put the gold team up 14-0 with 1:59 to go in the first quarter.

Jeremiah Ayodele | MSU Reporter

Justin Taorima (6) carries the ball during the Mavericks’ spring game on Saturday. Despite his efforts, the Gold Team was able to handle the Purple Team smoothly in this matchup, 21-7, at Blakeslee Stadium.

The Purple Team was able to answer back on its following drive. Following a pair of rushes where the Purple

Team lost a yard, freshman quarterback JD Ekowa completed two passes of his own as the Purple Team in

Jeremiah Ayodele | MSU Reporter

the back of the end zone cut the lead to 14-7. Ekowa first completed a 31-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Chase Werwinski, before connecting with junior Shane Zylstra on a 43-yard touchdown strike.

The Gold Team put together the final scoring drive on its next possession as they went 89 yards in 10 plays to go up 21-7 with 3:46 left in the second quarter. Schlichte completed four passes for a total of 52 yards, before junior tailback Ian Pribyl finished off the scoring drive with a 20yard touchdown run.

Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard the rest of the game as the gold team held on to the 21-7 win. The game also went to a running clock in the second half.

For the Gold Team, Schlichte completed 11-of13 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Gunn ran for 49 rushing yards and a touchdown, while freshman running back Charles Terry IV tal-

lied 37 rushing yards in seven carries. Justin Arnold led the Gold receiving corps with 73 yards and a touchdown, whileJalen Sample caught five passes for 74 yards.

On defense, the Gold Team was led by freshman Aarion Lacy who recorded 4.5 tackles. Spencer Hermus, Cole Schroedermeier, Lance Arni and Chance Bowen each recorded a tackle for a loss.

For the Purple Team’s offense, Ekowa went 7-of-13 passing for 148 yards and a touchdown. Zylstra led the Purple receiving corps with 74 receiving yards and a touchdown. Keyshawn Davis led the Purple defense with six tackles, including one for a loss. Freshman Trey Halfmann notched 4.5 tackles and freshman Joey Roth added four.

Minnesota State opens its 2018 season on Thursday, Aug. 30, as it hosts Southwest Minnesota State at Blakeslee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Sports

MSU Reporter • 11

Mavs golf claims 2nd at NSIC Championship

AARON YOUNG Staff Writer The women’s golf team, despite being shaken up by the persistent snow this spring, finished second place in the NSIC Women’s Golf Championship. The 54-hole tournament went for three days, taking place in Smithville, MO at Paradise Point.

The team didn’t let the weather get the best of them, instead they did what they could with what they had. It seems head coach Nick Campa’s message to the team translated as the Mavericks came out swinging: “To believe in yourself no matter how much adversity you encounter. Don’t judge or analyze the bad results, focus on the task at hand.”

Photo courtesy of msumavericks.com

There is no question the team faced adversity this year, figuring out where to practice and having to play around the circumstances.

Going into the last day of the tournament, the Mavericks were in the lead over 11 teams. However, it was Augustana who came out the

victor, with a final score of 924 for their ninth straight title. The Mavericks were close having a score of 944 while the University of Sioux Falls was third at 977.

Two Mavericks earned all-tournament honors in junior Hailey Tollette and freshman Maddy Messin. Hailey

put up 74 during the last day, and 231 overall [77-80-74].

The junior ended up tying for second place. As for Messin, she tied for fourth place, with a score of 234, swinging an 81 on the last day. Captain Genie Short tied for 12th in what could be her last rodeo, scoring 165.

The Minnesota State women’s golf team will have to wait until next Monday, when the NCAA D-II Women’s golf championship will reveal who is playing for all the marbles.

Before the finals is the Super Regional, where 12 teams will swing it out to determine who moves on to the finale.

Track & field continue busy road trip AARON YOUNG Staff Writer The men and women’s track and field were quite busy this weekend, traveling from the likes of Wisconsin, all the way to California.

Starting off with the Bryan Clay Invitational, two Mavericks sprinted to top 15 finishes in their respective races.

For the women, Ebony Coby competed in the 200m dash and notched a time of 24.29, finishing seventh in the race.

Morris Dennis represented the men’s team Saturday morning, running to a 12th place finish with a time of 47.99.

The weekend turned historic when four Mavs worked together to break the record in the 4X400m relay race.

John Schuster, Reid Diamond, Isiah Pitchford and Tanner Orgen ran the relay in 3:09:41, beating the previous record made in 1993 of 3:12:20. Not only is that time record-breaking, it’s also the second-best time in D-II. The women’s team ran a great time in the 4X100 relay race. The team of Eboni Coby, Autumn Santos, Afure Adah, and Grace Hartman finished second with a time of 45.72.

It was during the last day in the Phil Esten Invitational in La Crosse Wisconsin, though, that the Mavericks showed

up. The Mavs sure did save their best for last, racking up 11 first place finishes and 17 top 5 finishes overall.

The women came into Wisconsin prepared and ready to run away from the competition. 10 individuals combined for seven first place finishes.

Gabi Gaines (100m) and Amelia Kjos (400m) sprinted to victory with times of 12.35 and 58.62. Bobbi Patrick (800m) and Erin Baker (1500m) went the distance and finished with times of 2:15:61 and 4:33:14.

The team of Simonson, Kjos, Woodard, and Gaines worked together to run a time of 3:56:60 in the 4X400 relay.

Junior Khadiya Hollingsworth jumped to victory with a top clear of 1.73 meters in the high jump.

Senior Sophia Simpson made the most of her race, hurdling her way to a firstplace finish in the 400m hurdle in 1:04:17. The Mavericks also got second place in the top jump and third place in the discus throw.

The men also put in a workhorse effort as well, with four first place finishes and three top 3 finishes as well.

Sophomore sprinter Dalton Bialke had a time of 48.72 in the 400m while Leroy Kwateh had a time of 55.48 in the 400m hurdles.

Junior Victor Ogeka came out on top with a jump of

Jeremiah Ayodele | MSU Reporter

14.64 meters in the triple jump. Just like the women, the men got first place in the 4X400 relay with a time of 3:19:01. The team received second place in the 800m and 110 hurdles, and third place in the 400m.

The squad will be looking to continue the momentum this weekend in the Drake Relays. These will take place Des Moines, Iowa between Thursday and Saturday. The team will also send athletes to St. Peter, MN Saturday for the Drake Alternatives.

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12 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

HOFFNER Continued from page 1

Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter

seen in it all over the course of his long career, punching his card season after season between the chalk on the green of the football field. He is easily considered a football lifer, starting out in the sport in the 70’s and making a name at cornerback while playing college ball for the Valley City State Vikings and graduating in 1989.

He started his college coaching back in 1991, at the University of WisconsinStevens Point, where he was an assistant coach until 1998.

From there, Hoffner moved up to the position of head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he posted a 42-28 record in his 1999-2005 tenure.

Following his run through Wisconsin schools, he took a year off from a head coaching position, filling in the role of offensive coordinator for the University of South Dakota in 2006 and 2007. From there he joined the Mavericks, whom he coached from 2008-

2011 and then from 2014 to the present. Over the course of eight seasons with MSU Hoffner has led them to a 79-20 record.

“As a head coach, you are a beneficiary of a lot of work, a lot of units of work from a lot of different people, so I am appreciative and have an attitude of gratitude,” said Hoffner on the role of head coach.

While the trek to becoming a coach that regularly finds wins was a long one for Hoffner, it was immediate for the Mavericks, benefiting from his already made bulk of experience in the coaching realm. MSU went from a 4-7 team the season before, to a 9-3 team under Hoffner’s direction, with a turnaround that took place jaw-droppingly fast.

However, this would become a run of the mill standard for the Mavericks under the new management. With Hoffner at the helm, the Mavericks would have four double-digit

win seasons and get to nine wins twice. The 2010 season would mark the one-time MSU failed to reach at least eight wins (they went 6-5).

“Being appreciative of what you have and what you get can only be really appreciative once you’ve faced rock bottom before,” said Hoffner on working towards more success and building a program up. “I went through that and every day and every opportunity is a blessing. Every chance that I get to work with these young men, it is important for us to grow as people as students and as athletes.”

The team has not only fared well under Hoffner, they have always strived to become even better, with last season a perfect representation of that

push. Following what was,

by MSU’s lofty standards, a failed season (they still won eight games), the Mavericks needed a bounce back. They returned with a dominant running game that lifted a sophomore and a transfer to top 1,000 rushing yards each while the defense complemented by allowing only 15.4 points per game.

Much like their coach, the team has never been one to rest on laurels, always straining at the limits of the team to advance to greater heights.

“I don’t know if vindicated is the right word for this stage in my career, more so appreciation,” said Hoffner on his success with the program. “An appreciation for all the student-athletes and all the coaches who have worked to make this a possibility. We have a huge support staff to make sure our guys are healthy or training to be better, anything and everything to help contribute to our success.”

Sitting in his office and talking about getting locked and loaded for next season, the coach stays on the edge of his seat, seemingly preparing for a sprint into the offseason of preparation if only to get his team in the top gear possible for 2018 action. He talks about the tweaks he is making to his program, (a program that has already proven itself through wins). How last year the team “trimmed weight together”

with a new conditioning plan and lost over 100 collective pounds as a team. He talks about the continued importance of “building athletes, students, and men”, as winning is far from the only program goal.

It is because when you sit across from Hoffner, you sit across from someone who deeply cares not only about his craft and his program, but also about the people in it.

He cares about the athletes he is molding and how they conduct themselves in life, not just sports. He cares about his fellow coaches, whom he realizes he leans on and needs to run the best program, fully acknowledging both their contributions and impact on the team. He cares about the athletic trainers, the strength and conditions architects, the equipment managers because they all have a role on the team Hoffner cares so deeply about. These are not cogs in a machine to Hoffner, he cares for their contributions and added impact like a father watching the work of his children.

This is what makes Hoffner such a good coach and how he can produce the very best out of every piece of his program because they know the 100 percent they put in, their leader is matching.

This is coach Hoffner, and sitting across from him, I am damn near ready to take the field for him myself.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Minnesota State University, Mankato

A&E

MSU Reporter • 13 Have a story idea or a comment?

EMAIL

A&E Editor Caleb Holldorf

caleb.holldorf@mnsu.edu

Spring dance concert bringing more diverse acts Concert to be choreographed and performed by students DENA SCHEDIVY Staff Writer

All semester, we have seen the theatre students showcase their talents.

With the spring semester coming to an end, it is finally time to see the dancers showcase the hard work and effort they’ve put in throughout the semester.

Every spring, the dance department puts on a concert, showcasing their pieces that were choreographed at the beginning of each semester- sometimes even choreographing along the way.

The spring dance concert will be Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. and April 28 at 2 p.m. in the Ted Paul theatre. Besides the dance concert, on Sunday, April 29, there will be a student show case which is a student-choreographed show that is chosen and put up

Image courtesy of MSU Theatre Department

by the dance students to match their aesthetic.

Daniel Stark, a dance department faculty, had some comments to make about his thoughts on the dance concert.

“This year, we have a lot of dancers involved in the

concert. Ruben (Del Valle Jr.) is doing a hip-hop dance that has more than 40 people in it. It’s a big number and it’s really exciting to have such a cool piece on this stage.” He said.

This semester, the An-

dreas guest choreographer will be Ruben Del Valle Jr., former Broadway star who played Young Simba in The Lion King.

He is currently an adjunct faculty member, teaching dance and acting class. He made his Minnesota State

University, Mankato acting debut as Amanasro, Aida’s father, in Aida last spring.

“Julie (Kerr-Berry) is also doing a big dance but this one is going to be a tango with a bunch of the dancers and I think that will be very exciting as well.” He said.

Julie Kerr-Berry teaches both dance theory and practice. Besides being a full-time professor, she is very active in the Twin Cities, lecturing and hosting dance masterclasses.

“My dance also has a large cast but my piece is a musical theatre comedy piece, so it has some acting in it as well.” he exclaimed.

Daniel Stark teaches a plethora of dance class-

SPRING DANCE PAGE 14

1999 television show Roswell worth revisiting Roswell is a character-driven show that is not afraid to get emotional RACHEL JAEGER Staff Writer

When physical copies of your favorite guilty pleasure shows start to skip because of scratches from the many times you’ve watched it, it is nice when the campus library has it on hand. Roswell (1999) is my choice when it comes to needing a study break or even while I am studying since I can likely recite every episode.

Roswell revolves around a circle of friends from Roswell, New Mexico who become close friends with aliens who hatched from pods after the Roswell crash in 1947. The catalyst happens in the first episode in the first season is when a gun goes off and the bullet goes through Liz (Shiri Appleby), but Max

(Jason Behr) heals her and swears her to secrecy.

What I love is each of the characters has their own personalities and adds to comedic relief. Max, for instance, while he has gentle qualities can sometimes frustrate his brother Michael (Brendan Fehr), who has more of a rebellious spirit. His bad-boy attitude attracts Maria (Majandra Delfino), full of compassion and ditzy, who was raised by a single mom who is a hippie. Max and Liz are also parallels for each other since Liz is a responsible student absorbed in biology and Max is a king from the other world he comes from. Meanwhile Isabel (Katherine Heigl), while beautiful, attracts Alex Whitman (Colin Hanks) who is a sweet but awkward and clumsy in most

social interactions.

Not only is it just about the characters but as abstract as sometimes the episodes are, the solitude that is explored as each of the characters figure out who they are. Max, Michael, and Isabel’s goal is to find a way home to their planet but they learn to be human through the other characters. None of them desire to let any of the humans in as far as romantic relationships but in the end, together, both the humans and aliens realize that their flaws are what make each other complete in the strange way.

Overall in reality, the plot is highly underdeveloped and by the third season, any possibility of it resurrecting crashed and burned. It started back midway through

the first season when the new guidance counselor, Kathleen Topolsky (Julie Benz), arrives to Roswell High School only for the friends to discover that she is an undercover FBI agent. While the FBI become involved with the human aliens throughout the show, it never is quite clear what the interest is, aside from that they are aliens.

It turns out that Topolsky is on the friends’ side, but no reason for that is ever revealed and she disappears into another plot hole that Roswell never unfolds.

Later when Max sends Tess (Emilie de Ravin), the fourth missing alien the friend group discovers, home alone and pregnant with their son, Roswell should have escalated. Instead the plot sizzles and the sparks die by the final

season when Max goes on a mission to seek his son out. It becomes more of a complicated romance puzzle among the friends and their significant others that goes nowhere or that takes on more of a drama rather than the science fiction potential it had in the first couple of seasons.

I can say my love of Roswell stems from its ability to reach into the depths of human emotion and be honest about it. And despite that there are still similarities with more popular science fiction movies like common suspicion of hostile aliens, Roswell sheds new light on how it presents aliens. It was the first show I saw that made aliens more human, especially in a coming-of-age context as well.

14 • MSU Reporter

A&E

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Feature Photo: Eric Pasley, MSU Spring Concert

Jeremiah Ayodele | MSU Reporter

Country artist Eric Pasley headlined MSU’s spring concert April 19 organized by the Student Events Team.

SPRING DANCE Continued from page 13 es here at MSU, Mankato.

He teaches Introduction to Dance, Contemporary dance technique, ballet, jazz, conditioning, dance improve, dance composition and dance in technology. Besides teaching here, he has taught at the Beijing Dance Academy, Zenon in Minneapolis and was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa.

“It’s going to be an interesting concert because of the massive casts and pieces alongside these solos. So, there’s a lot of variety in this concert. There’s tango, hip-hop, musical

theatre comedy and student solos, so I think it’ll be really fun for the audience to see the vast differences between each piece.”

When asked about the student showcase, Stark had some more to say.

Stark stated, “The student dance showcase is a concert choreographed, performed, organized and produced by the students.

They’re in charge of all the aspects of it, so it’s a great opportunity for them creatively as well as educationally to learn how to put on a show. When they leave here, they’ll have more knowledge about

what it takes to run the whole show from an onstage and off-stage perspective.”

“Secondly, the students select the work on the concert. It’s not the faculty choosing, the students form a committee to select what dances get put on stage so it really emphasizes their aesthetics and styles.”

There are two opportunities to see the Spring dance concert. Once on Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The student showcase will perform Sunday, April

29 at 2 p.m. in the Ted Paul theatre. Tickets will be sold for $10 and are available to purchase online at http:// www.mnsu.edu/theatre/ ,

by phone at 507-389-6661 or in-person at the box office Monday-Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

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MSU Reporter • 15

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Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter

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