October 29, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

www.msureporter.com

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Sinking teeth into The bewitching the ‘Twilight’ series history of witches DANNIE HIGGINBOTHAM

news editor

index

Sweet voices of seduction, supernatural abilities, the image of a tall, handsome figure creeping around in the moonlight … vampires have long been mysterious figures, representing the unknown and taboo aspects of immortality and sexuality. Many women would choose a vampire lover over a zombie, mummy or ghost any day.

After a brief spell of popularity in the ’90s because of shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”, vampires have become cool again because of Stephanie Meyers’ “Twilight books and movies, as well as shows like HBO’s “True Blood.”

The very idea of vampires

Editorial...................................6 Voices......................................7 Sports....................................13 Variety....................................18 Classifieds............................ 23

is as old as time. Some of the earliest known beliefs date back to pre-Christian Slavic practices, when many believed in a separate soul and body.

If a person died in a violent manner, if they were a bad person, or if they were not given a proper burial, his or her soul could come back for 40 days following their death.

Many Slavs feared these souls because of the possibility of revenge.

Vampires first began appearing in literature around the 1800s, with the first vampire English-language novel, John Polidori’s “The Vampyre.” Tales of the undead became more popular in penny dreadfuls - cheap, sensational story pamphlets aimed at teenagers, popular in Britain in the nineteenth century.

NICOLE SMITH

editor in chief

The Wicked Witch isn’t the only spell-toting woman from the west.

Warts, black hats and bubbling cauldrons coincide with the classic Halloween caricature that has become one of the most notorious predominately female villains in the western world today. What originated hundreds of years ago as a perceived threat against society has evolved into an ambiguous icon that encases many different types of enchanting, powerful women.

Witches have become an immense stereotype that countless books, films, products and personas have been developed around,

Twilight / page 10

illustrations by derek wehrwein • msu reporter

MSSA debates the Latino Center issue

Kyle Ratke’s biggest fears

Women’s Hockey preview

Page 2

Page 7

Page 13

proving that the spooky symbol stands the test of time.

The Minnesota State Women’s Center has taken this Halloween as an opportunity to raise awareness about the rich history behind witchcraft.

An array of bewitching representations transform the center’s ceiling, shelves and walls into a festive display.

“It’s just a fun time for us to celebrate powerful women,” said MSU Women’s Center Director Wanda Viento of the office’s décor. Viento also created informational posters with facts about witches to help shed stereotypes. “[Witches] have come to

Witches / page 4 The Reporter’s guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse Page 18

Page 2 • Reporter

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Thursday, October 29, 2009T

MSSA debates Latino Center Senate argues that segregation, favortism could be possible repercussions of a one-minority focused center MATT SAUER

staff writer

The Minnesota State Student Association met Wednesday to discuss the growing controversy surrounding the proposed construction of a Latino Center on the first floor of the CSU. Other items on the agenda included concerns over application postings through MavJobs, and the first of many possible consultations regarding the budget report for 2012.

In response to concerns over possible budget deficits for the 2012 year, Provost and VP of Academic and Student affairs Scott Olson addressed the senate by explaining how program closures work. Program closures can become options in the face of potential budget deficits, but can sometimes lead to a streamlining effect for a given department, allowing more focus to be put on other programs.

“Program closures do not

necessarily mean staff losses,” said Olson. “In the last seven years MSU has closed down fifty to sixty programs, most of them very small, and this hasn’t really been noticed.

Closing a program often just means that staff members are picked up by other programs or departments.”

Olson did, however, bring up the possibility of job losses in the future, but stressed it as a last resort to be used if was no other efficient method of restructuring departments.

The most heated discussion of the afternoon, however, came in the face of a possible Latino Center to be incorporated into the main floor of the CSU. No definite location has been placed for the proposed center, but the most-cited idea so far has been to replace the entire Student Activities Center area on the CSU’s west end.

The plan would tentatively include new furniture and the possibility for remodeled offices. This comes in the

face of an already costly $10 million upgrade to the CSU that took place a few years ago, which provided remodeling and new furniture to the CSU’s main floor.

Senators argued that a potential Latino Center built into the main floor would create a sense of segregation by customizing a section of the building for one group of people. While much of the senate agreed that more help should be assigned to the growing Latino population at MSU, an entire wing on the main floor of the CSU was not the way to do it.

Although it would be open to all students, a Latino Center would be the first main-floor CSU area that worked solely on behalf of a single minority group. Latinos make up approximately 1.4 percent of MSU’s student population.

“We want an all-inclusive student union, not a [racially] segregated one” said senate President Murtaza Rajabali. “[A Latino Center] would

show favor, which would work against MSU’s dedication to diversity. The CSU upgrade opened up the building for all students, and this would be a step back from that.”

Other noted locations for the office include an addition to Multi-Cultural Affairs or the Intercultural Center.

“We need to roll down before we make any decisions,” said Senator of Allied Health and Nursing Brett Anderson. “A lot of what we’re talking about has been hearsay, and the CSU Board hasn’t even decided what they want to do. We should wait for them to make some decisions before we jump to any conclusions. We need to figure out what’s really happening.”

Ultimately, controversy has arisen in regards to the potential favoritism that would be inherent in providing one minority group at MSU with a specialized program. A motion to inform the CSU board of the senate’s opinion,

however, was withdrawn on the basis that more information needed to be gathered before a serious decision could be made.

“We don’t want to send this thing down and then have it sent right back up,” said Anderson.

A motion was also passed Wednesday that hopes to give applicants on MavJobs. com more time to apply. The senate recommended that employment listings on the website remain available for a minimum of five business days before being removed.

This is opposed to the current standard, which doesn’t require any period of time for a job to be posted.

The motion, which does not include work-study jobs, came as a result of concerns over possible preferences being made by employers who hired for a position before posting it online.

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A celebration of spirituality on Halloween

Renowned activist, biologist Vandana Shiva to speak at MSU ERIN ROHRER

staff writer

In the U.S., Halloween is rarely associated with the concept of spirituality. However, this Halloween will offer an opportunity for men and women to gather in a sense of spiritual unity.

This weekend, spirits will rise at Minnesota State University, Mankato, as it hosts the 28th Annual Women & Spirituality Conference.

Twenty-eight years ago, 75 people gathered for an evening conference to provide encouragement for men and women who were on diverse spiritual and religious levels.

The conference has now grown to average 800 participants

“

acknowledge the similarities and differences of spiritual views and beliefs that we have, and ultimately celebrate and respect all the similarities and differences,” Nagase said. “I believe the conference also challenges narrow thinking about religion and spirituality; there is always something that you can learn, even if you don’t necessarily agree with others spiritual and religious beliefs.”

The conference serves to promote dialogue between men and women who have different spiritual beliefs and traditions. It is co-sponsored by the Women’s Studies Department, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Division of Institutional Diversity and Women’s Center.

This year’s keynote

as Dr. Shiva,” said Jocelyn Stitt, assistant professor in the Gender and Women’s Studies Department.

Some of Shiva’s published works are The Violence of Green Revolution: Third World Agriculture, Ecology, and Politics, Monocultures of the Mind: Perspectives on Biodiversity and Biotechnology, and Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply. Shiva’s talk, “Women and the Gendered Politics of Food,” will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the CSU Ballroom.

Jennifer Guyer-Wood, Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events said that ever since she was an undergraduate student, she has always been

It’s such a wonderful opportunity for women from all walks of life to gather, to learn, to grow and to be supportive of each other.”

and offers more than 100 workshops celebrating spiritual connections and diversity. This year will include more than 100 workshops beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 until 8 p.m.

The conference will pick back up at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1 until 2 p.m.

The workshops are aimed to attract all ages of participants from varied backgrounds.

Workshop topics include Christianity, Buddhism, Atheism, Native American rituals, Hinduism, astrology, healing techniques, soul searching, gender and romance, animal communication, parenting, and even guardian angel communication. Relatively new workshops related to food and the environment will also be offered.

Tomoyo Nagase, coordinator of the conference, said it will welcome not only those who are already familiar with their spiritual journeys, but also those who are curious about spirituality and gender issues.

“I would like attendants to

— Jennifer Guyer-Wood

speaker will be Vandana Shiva, a physicist, author and international sustainability leader. She is a leader in multiple interdisciplinary, environmental and sustainability movements, including the Slow Food and Biodiversity Movements.

Shannon Christopher, a graduate teaching assistant in the Gender and Women’s Studies Department is looking forward to attending a private dinner with Shiva.

“I am very excited to meet Shiva, a world famous ecofeminist from India, as I have read her work many, many times throughout my studies,” Christopher said.

In 2003, Shiva was identified by Time Magazine as an environmental “hero.”

Asia Week has called her one of the five most powerful communicators of Asia.

“It is an amazing opportunity for MSU students to hear from a world renowned biologist, feminist, and activist such

fascinated by the conference.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for women from all walks of life to gather, to learn, to grow, and to be supportive of each other,” Guyer-Wood said.

“I have found it to be such a positive environment and come away each time feeling more positive and at peace.”

The conference is $35 for students and $60 for the public.

A completed registration form must be submitted to the Gender and Women’s Studies Department office in MH 109.

There will also be an exhibit for book and crafts open to the public in Myers Field House.

Registration check-in begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. Further information on the conference such as time and location of workshops can be found on http://sbs.mnsu.edu/women/ conference. Any questions regarding the conference can also be answered by calling 507-389-2077 or by e-mail at veldhc@mnsu.edu.

submitted photo Dr. Vandana Shiva is a world-renowned biologist, feminist and activist.

Shiva was identified as an environmental hero by Time Magazine in 2003.

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WITCHES Witchcraft has long, winding history continued from 1

represent ugly, scary hags who are unmarried, childless … that kind of image of what a witch is distorts reality about women,” she said. “Labeling a woman a witch is one way to discredit women with power.”

Witchcraft has a long, winding history, but the most notorious historical context is the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 in Massachusetts, where hundreds of people were accused of being witches and 20 (mostly women) were condemned and executed because of these accusations.

But MSU history professor Melodie Andrews argues the history behind the witch-hunt runs much deeper and originated long before the 1600s.

“For western society, I would say that certainly the association between women and the devil would go back to the Bible,” said Andrews, referring to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. “For English settlers coming to America, you have the idea firmly entrenched that women, because they descended from Eve, were especially susceptible to the influence of the devil.”

What does this have to do with witches? Well according to the Bible, Eve, was tempted by the serpent that works for the devil and her actions (indulging on forbidden fruit) sparked the origin of sin and mortality in the world. In western societies, middle ages and Middle America at the time, Andrews said the Bible was the starting point for people’s understandings of the world. Although 21st century perceptions overwhelmingly discount the belief of the devil and witches as superstitious, irrational and even

ignorant, the mindset of those in colonial America searched for the presence of witchcraft to rationalize bad occurrences.

“You don’t start thinking or wondering about evil until bad things happen,” Andrews said.

“It was their attempt to try to understand things they didn’t have an explanation for.”

Andrews teaches about witchcraft in three courses: U.S. history to 1877, colonial America and women’s history.

In her coursework, she educates about Salem and describes the many reasons why women were targeted as witches during that timeframe.

“How did the serpent tempt Eve? The fruit on the tree of knowledge,” Andrews said.

“This led to the idea then that too much knowledge for women could be a dangerous thing.”

Many of the women targeted during Salem held “secret knowledge.” Midwives, herbal healers, property owners and other women who stood out were largely the victims of accusations; common characteristics that Andrews said are not coincidences.

“It’s not an accident that in Europe and America, a lot of the women who were objects of suspicion in part because they seemed to have knowledge that other people didn’t.”

A woman’s behavior is another aspect that could cause accusations of practicing witchcraft. During the colonial period, women were expected to be submissive, silent and defer to the authority of men.

“Women who were outspoken, women who were even bad tempered, that could make them objects of suspicion,”

she said. One woman who was accused in Salem was a widower and property owner, who drew negative attention for marrying her former servant amidst a society that was built on a class hierarchy. Another woman came to the attention of the Puritans because she wore a bright red cloak, a sign of arrogance because she drew attention to herself.

“I don’t think there is any coincidence that witch rhymes with bitch,” Viento said of its relation to gender standards.

The rare rash of witchhunts in Salem occurred as a result of a unique combination of conditions that Andrews described as a “perfect storm.”

“Today when you try to think about what the heck happened in Salem, there are as many explanations as there are people that have looked at it,” Andrews said. The multifaceted historical event was an extreme example that at the very least, has shaped the way the western world thinks and feels about witchcraft and women.

The fascination with witches today likely originates from the fascination with the unknown and has been shaped and shifted from the historical context to the Halloween icon — the quintessential woman of horror and fright.

“When I was a kid, there was an Aquanet hairspray commercial with Wanda the Witch who had wild, untamed hair and the hairspray would tame it down,” Viento said.

“The kids would always call me Wanda the Witch and now I claim that. I am a powerful woman.”

nick jungers • msu reporter Wendy the Witch welcomes visitors at the entrance of the Minnesota State Women’s Center. The center is currently decorated with a bevy of bewitching decor.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

News

Reporter • Page 5

Ostrander celebrates re-opening

Highlight of the opening recreation of first-ever event LYNN ZASKE

staff writer

The grand re-opening of the Ostrander Auditorium on the main floor of the Centennial Student Union will take place Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The event is designed to demonstrate the technical capabilities of the new facility and to commemorate of the first Ostrander event.

The re-opening will include brief presentations from President Richard Davenport, the Ostrander renovation planning committee and student union directors.

The Ostrander Auditorium first opened in 1972 and has been serving as one of the central focal points on campus for activities and events for over 35 years, according to the MSU Web site.

Former speakers to the auditorium include U.S. Presidents Ronald Regan and Gerald Ford. The popular space hosts a wide range of speakers, concerts and conferences, as well as freshman orientation.

“The renovations to Ostrander have been completed for a while now,” CSU

Operations Director Scott Hagebak said. “This is a celebration of the completion.”

The $1.6 million renovations included 350 new seats, a new stage, curtains, new maple wall panels and a new heating and air conditioning system. Also, modern sound and lighting equipment, audio and video conferencing capabilities and better accommodations for wheel chair accessibility.

“The renovations help reflect the spirit and vitality of the university,” Centennial Student Union Director Laurie

Woodward said.

“In essence the room was stripped down to the bricks and girders and totally rebuilt so that it can serve the campus effectively for next 40 years,” said Hagebak.

Renovation funds came from the Centennial Student Union budget, derived primarily from student fees that have been setaside for years in preparation for the improvements.

The highlight of the grand re-opening will be a recreation of a portion of the first event ever hosted in the Ostrander

Auditorium, Jaques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris, produced by the MSU Theatre Department with guitarist Jonathan Moeller. The evening will conclude with a reception and tours of the new facility.

“The space will be a much better reflection of the university,” Woodward said.

“It should be an asset to help with recruiting new students, hosting visiting lectures and be a comfortable and inviting auditorium for campus use.”

ROTC to celebrate Halloween with run

Cadets to dress as superheros, Mr. Clean for the holiday STEVEN PIROSO

staff writer

Once a semester, the Minnesota State ROTC program invites its cadets on a 5-K run of the campus for some early morning cadence calls. The cadets meet right outside the CSU by the flagpoles bright and early at 6:30 a.m to raise and pay homage

to the flag.

This year, the leaders of the program decided to push the event forward and give it a little Halloween flavor.

The cadets and their superiors alike will be free to express their creativity via costumes.

As an incentive to get the creative juices flowing, the cadet with the best costume

will be awarded a few gift certificates to Mickey D’s for some free burgers to go along with the bragging rights.

Cadets from both Bethany and Gustavus College will also be attending the annual run to show off their Halloween flair and support their fellow cadets.

“We thought it would be

Trick or treat for charity Students to collect cans for ECHO DAN BOETTCHER

staff writer A group of Minnesota State students is taking a break from candy to consider those less fortunate this Halloween.

While other trick-or-treaters satisfy their sweet tooth, a collection of First Year Experience classmates will be collecting nonperishable food items for the Mankato ECHO Food Shelf Saturday night.

“Businesses aren’t the only things hit hard by the recession; food shelves have lost a lot of donations,” said Grace Webb, student organizer of the event.

The group of seven students will go door-to-door covering three main areas of town: down the hill from campus between Byron Street and Sumner Hills Road, in the neighborhoods from Warren Street to Val Imm Drive, and along the loop created by Rita Road, Welcome Avenue and Monks Avenue.

Fliers will be distributed among houses along the route a few days before the event so that residents can prepare their

canned food items in advance.

Even though this is a class project, Webb emphasized her wish that students take it upon themselves to gather canned goods to donate.

The Emergency Community Help Organization (ECHO) welcomes all types of donations including money, food and volunteer time. The organization, which began in 1981 in a Mankato church basement, provides temporary food assistance to people in Blue Earth County and North Mankato.

Donations of money are particularly important because they allow the flexibility to purchase items at reduced rates, and help to bridge the gap when food donations are low. ECHO’s status as a nonprofit organization makes these donations tax deductible.

There are, however, many items ECHO doesn’t buy, but will happily accept and distribute to those in need.

These include baby items such as diapers and wipes, cleaning

supplies, snacks, drinks and personal hygiene products.

According to ECHO, 30-40 households per day, and more than 2,000 per year, benefit from the services it provides.

For those interested in donating or volunteering, the ECHO Food Shelf of Mankato is located at 614 N. Second St. Individuals are encouraged to call (507) 345-7508 or e-mail at echofoodshelf@yahoo.com.

Residents who wish to donate, but cannot make it to the food shelf can contact Lee Tesdell at lee.tesdell@mnsu.edu or by calling (507) 389-5219.

He will be taking all of the food collected by the First Year Experience group down to the food shelf.

The class has no specific goal as to how much they collect, but only wish to do their part.

“People still need just as much food, if not even more during these hard times,” Webb said. “We want to collect as much as we can to help as many people as we can.”

great for the cadets to get out there and have some fun. It’s really going be a nice change of pace as opposed to early morning PT. It’s going to help boost their morale,” said Lt. Col. Stephenson. The West Point graduate and Army ranger isn’t positive about his costume but said it will be something “superhero-ish.”

Also on the agenda of staff member costumes’ is Captain Cambell dressing as Mr. Clean and rumor on the street is Srgt. Friend possibly leading a small squad of “300”-style Spartans.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

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Proposed Latino Center needs more thought

compiled by Nate Brennan

What scares you the most?

Administration rushing to set plans for center MSU’s proposed Latino Center has been largely debated this week, springing out of practically nowhere to become a huge issue of controversy.

Administration has been very dodgy about answering questions, with everyone saying they’re not sure of details regarding funding and location. Despite this, they seem to be pushing to make decisions quickly If administration is really as unsure as they say, why do they want to get the issue resolved so quickly? It seems as if they’ve already made up their mind about a

Latino Center, so it’s unclear whether recommendations by the student senate or opinions from the general student population will make much of a difference.

A proposal for a new addition to the CSU is a student issue — it is the student union, after all — and students should be involved in the decisionmaking process.

It’s important for MSU to think of the future — especially with the projected cliff and accompanying budget crisis expected in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, so it’s understandable that the

administration wants to think of better ways to attract the increasing and important Latino population. It would be nice for Latinos to have a place to congregate and meet other Latino students and have someone to share a culture and language with.

However, the thought that it would better promote integration doesn’t make much sense. Chances are that a Caucasian student from small-town Minnesota won’t think of the Latino Center as a place for him or her to hang out. While the administration stands by the theory that the center would be for everyone,

it stands that only a select number of people would actually take advantage of the services. The rest of the student population may likely feel that it is not a place for them.

The issue of whether to add a Latino Center, expand the Multicultural Center or refrain from action is a complicated process that requires more thought than a week can give. Perhaps the university should stop thinking about its image for the future for a moment and instead reflect on the needs of its current students.

economics here, that’s what I pay to learn about and that’s all I care to learn about. If you’re Muslim, Hmong, Gay, Latino, etc, then be happy and proud, more power to you. But I don’t care to learn more about you, and that is MY CHOICE, just the same as it’s your choice to believe whatever you want to believe. I never cared what God my research project partners worshiped, I only cared that they were adept in the subject matter pertinent to the work at hand and I’ve always gotten along just fine with them.

Who you love or what you worship doesn’t affect

me, so I have no problem with it. What does affect me is when the university finds it necessary to spend money that I intended to use to better myself through what I wanted to study on trying to make me more “culturally enriched.” People who want to celebrate who they are should be more than free to.

But I feel if people want to do this they should start a club on campus and manage their own funds, rather than the university funneling scarce resources from our paper printing budget into them.

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Letter to the Editor

Minnesota State University, Mankato

I opened the school paper the other day to find that there is a budget problem and what is the senate arguing over? Paper! Our student printing fund. On the front page it says that the university is looking to build a new Latino center.

I wonder how much that is going to cost?

For a university that allegedly wants to make us all think that we’re all just people underneath it all we draw a lot of attention to how different we are.

Shouldn’t the only thing we all need to have in common on campus is that we all have the desire to better ourselves through

education?

The only place these differences should be relevant is if you’re studying cultures. Aside from that our mission should be to tolerate our differences (because you CAN’T force people to love one another) and celebrate what we have in common through our shared education and common ideas so we can better develop in our areas of study.

If the university is so strapped for cash that it is auditing our printer budget, maybe it should scrap these superfluous university funded “celebrate each other” initiatives. I pay a lot of money to study

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Campus scares

Beefy guys, PDA and inappropriate attire freak out Sports Editor Kyle Ratke We all know there are certain things on this campus that scare us. There just is. Whether it’s the one crazy gospel guy outside calling you a pothead or it’s the women’s center (insert joke here … just kidding women’s center, no hard feelings) writing in to the paper questioning whether you abuse women or not, things can get awkwardly scary.

To be honest, after getting letters to the editor for the last month, I wasn’t Halloween scared, I was awkwardly scared. I was afraid I was going to go to the CSU one day and someone that wrote in is going to follow me in and throw a Taco Bell quesadilla at me. That’s a little different than being scared of something coming to eat you while you’re sleeping.

This got me wondering, what other things on campus scare me. Some are obvious, like the security guard in the library (is he going to taze me for stealing the dictionary?) and others aren’t so obvious (the kid picking his nose next to you right now. He is talking to himself too, or is he talking to his buger? Nobody knows, that’s why it’s scary). Regardless, here are some of my picks, no pun intended.

1. The Love Bugs You know that couple that walks around all day together on campus, holding hands and kissing each other, making everyone around them vomit out of disgust or cry out of jealously?

I shouldn’t really be talking. Hell, I haven’t been in a serious relationship since, well, ever, but for good reason. That’s my excuse. If you say you haven’t done something for “good reason”, nobody questions you.

This works in two different ways. If you have been in a relationship for a few years, hell, hug and kiss all you want. You guys have truly put in your time and I am impressed.

But this is more for the new freshman couple that met each other while taking shots of Karkov in the Gage B elevator. The girl broke up with her boyfriend for you and you guys have the same connection that I had with screwdrivers, they are fun for a while, but now every time I smell orange juice I want to puke. The way I see it, you are the new kid in the neighborhood and you just got a brand new bike with shocks on it. You ride it around town and your friends tell how cool you are. Secretly, they hate you and your new bike; you’d be better off with the old Huffy.

I don’t want to see you two hold hands in class or write the other’s name with a heart around it on your hand. I remember middle school too, it was fun. Maybe this is just my jealously talking, who knows.

2. No really, where’s your real costume?

I know that Halloween is a time for everyone to get crazy costumes. Women sometimes wear some that may be a tad tight on them. Some men too maybe. There is a simple rule for this: Would you want to see yourself at a party or out in public? Do unto others, as you’d want them to do unto you, the golden rule or something. It’s like the guy on TV with no shirt on cheering for the Vikings. Did your voice suddenly get louder now that half of America can see your gut? I think not. But it’s kind of funny, so I forgive you.

When you bend over for that beer pong ball, do you really want half of the party to see your crack? If you said yes to this, you might be a lost cause. This question doesn’t even have to fit just for Halloween.

If you EVER think it’s good that someone can see your badonkadonk, you may want to sit down and think about things.

3. I am going to pump you up To make a long story short, I am currently in a fitness activities class. I used to think I was in decent shape. Now I feel like I am a piece of lard every Tuesday and Thursday.

I was kind of, what’s the word I am looking for? I was kind of a “husky” kid back in my hay day, so I have always been a little self-conscious. Some of these memories of my childhood chubbiness come back to me, while maxing out on the bench at 135 and looking next to me in the mirror and seeing the incredible hulk curling a little person.

It doesn’t bother me that you’re really strong; it scares me, but it doesn’t bother me. It bothers me that you bought an extra small T-shirt that highlights every vein, hair, nipple and that weird thing on your back. After saying this, it really just makes me feel bad about my health.

For some, seeing ripped people would give them motivation to come back to the weight room and get to their level. No, no, no. Not for me. I would rather just give in and do some sit-ups every once in a while. My saying has always been, “skinny with the shirt on, chubby with the shirt off.” As long as my shirt is on, I think I’ll be all right.

There are a lot of other examples of being scared without being Halloween-style scared. Like the swine flu — I still refuse to call it H1N1, not as much fun to say — the idea of getting a flu that some pig in Mexico got scares the shit out of me.

Page 8 • Reporter

News

Thursday, October 29, 2009T

Communicating beyond the grave One staff writer explores the supernatural side of Mankato, as well as television mediums

wale agboola • msu reporter Calvary Cemetery is said to be one of the most haunted places in Mankato. People have reported hearing strange noises, such as voices and scratching, and seeing footprints.

Calvary Cemetery near downtown Madison Avenue is a busy place for supernatural visitors, according to online reports made by the Minnesota Paranormal Study Group.

MPSG has made several treks through the cemetery, each yielding new and interesting results, and continues to be one of the most visited and paranormally active places in the city. So active, in fact, that the group has used the cemetery for years to train their initiates.

Several odd occurrences had been noticed by visitors to the cemetery, including strange figures being spotted moving between trees, lights flashing on and off — or even changing color — with no clear cause,

and hushed voices that seem to come from everywhere at once.

A small boy in late-1800s clothing was also reported to have been seen there.

According to cemetery lore, the mausoleum of Dr. Follman, a physician from the early days of Mankato’s founding, is especially haunted. Legend says that the egocentric doctor had his body entombed in the Register Now!

structure to keep locals from approaching him, even after death.

Today, reports have been made of visitors knocking on the door during a full moon and experiencing strange occurrences. According to some, a devilish figure with cloven feet has been spotted shortly after, following the visitors through the cemetery.

Some have reported seeing the creature even after they’ve left.

Other reports include hearing knocking, scratching or screams return from inside the tomb, seeing footprints suddenly appear in snow or dirt or strange shadows darting around the spot. A light at the entrance of the cemetery is also supposedly controlled by supernatural forces, turning off

every time a visitor leaves the hallowed ground.

In line with this issue’s theme and the upcoming weekend’s festivities, I felt it fit to keep the tone going, and ghosts are on topic today.

Well, ghosts in the sense that “mediums” like John Edward are full of it when they say they can talk to them, and because I hate them. Those

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silky, skulking specters scare the Christ out of me, especially when they’re all whiny and shit.

I mean, come on guy, if you’re dead and crossed over, what’re you doing moaning and floating around poking people?

Shouldn’t you be checking out life in other galaxies, or hanging out in the women’s locker room? Anyway, I Matt digress.

John Edward, maybe the best-known medium on television today, has been a self-professed ghost communicator for more than a decade and he’s made a load of cash doing it, too. Since 1998, Edward has published six books and three “how to” CDs about becoming a medium, hosted two internationally syndicated television shows and starred in hundreds of live events — including shows at the Las Vegas Flamingo hotel — across the country.

His shows focus on providing audience members with a connection to “the other side,” and a possibility to communicate with a deceased loved one or friend. He uses his abilities to guide him through the spirit world collecting visions and clues, then relies on the audience to help him interpret his findings.

As you can tell, it’s all a very scientific and technical process, so I won’t bore you

with the details.

One of the biggest draws for people who attend Edward’s shows is the chance for relief; the chance that they can, in some form or another, communicate with someone who has passed away that meant a lot to them, and be consoled by the fact that there is Sauer an afterlife we all move on to after this one.

And who wouldn’t want this? Who hasn’t lost someone in their life that they wish could return, if only for a moment? A person wouldn’t be human if they didn’t grieve the loss of a loved one, and hope — even in the face of disproof — that they could eventually see them again.

This is where John Edward fails. By turning people’s real troubles and anguish into entertainment: entertainment in the guise of truth.

The fact of the matter is that Edward is not doing anything supernatural, nor is he doing anything unique.

Edward — along with every medium, psychic, and gypsy for hundreds of years — uses a technique called “cold reading” to get his audiences where he wants them.

Cold reading is actually a series of techniques that these people use, which involves

News

“fishing” for information from audience members, and takes advantage of larger numbers (no wonder TV mediums always have a large studio audience). Before the reading most of these people will make a statement like, “I’m not always accurate with this stuff, so I’ll need your help,” or ,“Got lots of voices today,” to help audience members dispel inaccurate readings.

A medium might then say, “I’m getting a ‘G’ sound, like a ‘George’, or a ‘Gregory’,”

“

Reporter • Page 9

for the medium to make a solid guess at what happened, and who it was. Often, afterwards the audience member will even think that the medium had come up with the name on his own.

Now, this is a very basic description of what cold reading is, and it usually involves years of practice for entertainers to get it right, but the truth is that it’s nothing more than an illusion. TV psychics are that much worse, in that they have the

Thousands of people have visited these televised or private readings as a way to mend their lives, and these cheap trick salesmen all pitched them a Ford Bronco for the price of a Bentley.”

and more than likely at least one person out of the fifty attending will have known or met a person that died whose name began with that sound.

From there, when the audience member acknowledges the name (usually saying it out loud), the medium then gauges his or her emotional state to help determine how close the deceased person was to the audience member. Usually, by the end of the reading, the audience member has divulged more than enough information

Set a Guiness World Record

opportunity to edit down maybe two hours of footage to a half hour, ridding any botched readings from airtime.

Add to this, most members

of the audience sign nondisclosure agreements which prohibit them from discussing any of the taping to the media.

I just can’t imagine having somebody — even a stranger — come up to me, weeping, telling me they’d just lost their husband or wife, and even thinking for a moment that I could “console” them by saying I can hear their loved one speaking to me. Death is a part of life, and by lying to this person I would only be extending their grief, not helping them deal with it.

I have nothing but sympathy for people who have lost someone close to them, but as all of us have learned there is something inherently wrong in betting someone else’s well-being for personal gain: which is exactly what mediums do. And that’s what is so terrible about the profession. These psychics are presenting entertainment as fact. Thousands of people have visited these televised or private readings as a way to mend their lives, and these cheap trick salesmen all pitched them a Ford Bronco for the price of a Bentley.

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Page 10 • Reporter

News

Thursday, October 29, 2009T

TWILIGHT Vampire stories have always been around continued from 1

web photo

The “Twilight” books are the newest contributions to the vampire craze. Written by Stephanie Meyer, the books center on protagonist Isabella “Bella” Swan, a normal teenager who moves to Washington and begins a romance with a 104-year-old vampire named Edward Cullen.

Since their release in 2005, the books have won several awards, including the 2008 British Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year for “Breaking Dawn,” the final book of the series, and the 2009 Kids’ Choice Award for the series as a whole. The series has since been adapted into movies, which stars Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson, best known as Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter, as Edward.

Vampires have always existed in literature, in some form or another. They first started becoming popular in the 1720s, said English professor Kirsti Cole.

The first big piece of vampire literature was John Polidori’s “The Vampyre”, published in 1819. In 1871, Sheridan Le Fanu’s lesbian vampire story “Carmilla.”

“Dracula,” the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, has become one of the most famous vampire novels of all time.

Some time passed between these works of gothic literature and Anne Rice’s 1976 novel “Interview with a Vampire.”

“I don’t think vampires ever really went away,” Cole said.

“They’ve always been a tradition in human folklore.”

Cole said when she first read the “Twilight” books she was immediately reminded of Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights,”

which Meyer drew influence from.

Cole said she thinks the “Twilight” books are so popular because, while they are fantasy books, they still feature believable situations like high school.

“There are elements of ‘Twilight’ readers can relate to,” she said.

Cole is hesitant to say the “Twilight” series will become a classic.

“As someone who studies great classic works, I can say that many of the classics adhere to certain types of standards,” she said. She added that many classics now were not very popular when they were first released and many popular books during the 18th and 19th centuries are virtually unknown now.

Society’s attraction to vampires, rather than mummies, zombies or ghosts, lies in the way modern society has romanticized the vampire.

“In classic literature the vampire is not beautiful and perfect but now [in movies and books] the good vampire is beautiful and the evil one is ugly,” Cole said. “That’s part of the draw, the idealized beauty.”

Cole pointed out that the description of Edward given by Meyer is that he is statuesque and chiseled.

“He even says himself that he is a bullet to attract people, built to draw you in,” Cole said. “It’s that blend of fear and desire.”

“The books are amazing, but the movies suck,” said “Twilight” fan Jami George, an elementary education junior.

George started reading the books about a year and a half ago.

She figured that since she was a fan of “Harry Potter”, she would like the Twilight books as well.

George admits that the “Twilight” books give women unrealistic expectations for men — saying it was even worse than Disney in that aspect — and sent girls on the search for their perfect Edward Cullen.

“Still, I’d rather have a Jim Halpert,” George said.

Men seemed to have different opinions on “Twilight.”

“They’re just teen fluff stories of no significance,” Minnesota State Student Association speaker Tom Williams said, adding that he was annoyed Meyer’s books don’t follow the standard precedents for vampires.

“There’s no challenge to being a vampire anymore,” he said. “If I could walk outside during the day, then I would love to be a vampire.”

Williams compared Meyer’s books to early “Harry Potter” ones, saying the key difference between the two series is that J.K. Rowling’s writing eventually progressed.

“The last couple of books were phenomenal,” he said.

Others focus less on “Twilight’s” quality and more on its message.

“I don’t give a shit about those books,” sophomore marketing major Brent Murray said. “All I know is the guy in this book acts the way every girl wants. That’s why it’s a fucking book.”

“It’s not real and it gives girls false hopes,” Murray said.

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Starting Monday, November 2nd at 10 p.m. !

First annual zombie walk to be held in Nov. JENNY POLLOCK

staff writer

Minnesota State student Tyler Reif is planning the first annual Downtown Zombie Walk.

Reif recently attended the University of Minnesota’s Zombie Pub Crawl and had so much fun he was inspired to create a similar event at MSU. At the U of M about 1,400 people participated.

“I had a lot of fun, a lot of people got involved and participated,” said Reif.

Participants are encouraged to dress up like zombies and go to downtown businesses.

Reif has contacted businesses such as the What’s Up Lounge, Hazzard’s. Mum’s, Gary’s Pizza, Bliss, and Red Sky Lounge.

The businesses that decide to participate will have food and drink specials for the Zombie Walk participants.

Each participating business will receive a certificate of participation.

“I am participating ‘cause I missed the one in the cities and I’d like to give it a try,” MSU student Sam Adams said. “I don’t think there can

be anything more fun than dressing up like a zombie with other zombies and perusing downtown.”

The walk is scheduled for Nov. 7, convient. as all of the zombie gear will be on sale after Halloween. Refi suggested that participants look for deals at Halloween Express, Costumes Galore, Party City, and Wal-mart.

The typical zombie costume is a white face with black around the eyes and tattered clothing. Any costume can be made into a zombie costume. For example a nurse for Halloween could be a zombie nurse for the Downtown Walk.

An essential piece of any zombie costume is fake blood.

A good recipe for blood is strawberry syrup mixed with red food coloring.

If participants show up unprepared, there will be face painting offered for a small fee. All of the proceeds will go to a non-profit organization.

All students and community members are encouraged to attend this event. It will start at 6 p.m. and go until 3 a.m.

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Reporter • Page 11

Page 12 • Reporter

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

reporter-sports@mnsu.edu

Sports Thursday, October 29, 2009

(507) 389-5227

2009-10 WOMEN’S HOCKEY PREVIEW

He ‘Means’ Business New women’s hockey coach is serious about turning the program around LEE HANDEL | staff writer

Eric Means spent the past as much as we can from him 14 years as an assistant coach every day,” said senior forward on the Minnesota State men’s Ashley Young. “It’s also good hockey team. He was around to know he has been involved to see the birth of the women’s in the game so long and that he hockey program at MSU believes in us.” and all of the ups and downs During his playing days as a the team has had since then. defenseman on the University Means now has his chance of Minnesota hockey team, to lead that same women’s Means knew what it was like hockey team to newer and to be a winner year in and year greater heights after becomout. He helped lead the Going the third head coach in the phers to a regular season title, program’s history last May. He two playoff titles, and a berth brings a solid resume to the in the NCAA tournament all table and is five years he ready to take was there. the Mavericks “He knows MSU women’s to new levels the game and hockey coach of success in knows how PAST his first year to win,” said Worked with at the helm. sophomore MSU defenseman “He’s been and looked over goalie Alli great,” said Altmann. “He student-athlete senior forhas so much academic progress. ward Chrisexperience tina Lee. “He WHAT TO EXPECT Means is the third and I think brings this fire coach in MSU women’s hockey history and he brings the is the first coach in history to start out with and drive to intensity of the a 3-0 record. the team that guy’s program we needed over to us.” and has this Not only positive energy about him that will the girls have to adjust really motivates us. He also to aspects of the men’s game has brought many aspects of being brought over by Coach the men’s game over for us to Means, but Means will also work into our game and I think have to adjust to the women’s that has really helped us.” game. He won’t need to adjust Means was a part of many to the level or style of play of key advances in the men’s the women’s game, but adjust hockey program, including to what time the games are beits entrance into the WCHA ing played at. and transition to a Division I “There aren’t many differlevel of competition. He has ences player-wise in terms of coached many great players how you coach them,” Means throughout the years and has said. “It’s mainly start times. focused most of his attention We get very little turnaround towards working with the between games and we can’t MSU defensemen on the ice. watch as much film or get as He also has experience in the much rest as you could on the area of recruiting, serving as men’s team.”

MSU’s recruiting coordinator.

MSU has never finished in “He really knows what he is the top half of the conference talking about, so we trust him Means / page 14 100 percent and try to learn

Eric means

wale agboola• msu reporter Eric Means is in his first year after formerly being an assistant coach for the MSU men’s hockey team.

INSIDE SPORTS:

PAGE 14: SOCCER PREVIEW PAGE 15: MSU WOMEN’S HOCKEY POSITION BREAKDOWN PAGE 16: VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL PREVIEWS PAGE 17: MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOCKEY GAMEDAY

Page 14 • Reporter

Sports

MEANS continued from 13

FOOTBALL NSIC North School (6) Minnesota Duluth St. Cloud State Bemidji State Mary Northern State MSU-Moorhead Minnesota Crookston

Div. OVR 5-0 8-1 4-1 5-4 3-2 5-4 3-2 5-4 2-4 2-7 1-4 2-7 0-5 1-8

NSIC South School (4) MAVERICKS Augustana Wayne State Winona State Concordia-SP SW Minnesota State Upper Iowa

Div. OVR 5-0 9-0 4-1 7-2 3-2 6-3 3-2 6-3 2-3 3-6 1-5 3-6 0-5 2-7

VOLLEYBALL (NSIC) School Conf. OVR (1)Concordia-SP 14-0 25-0 (11) Minnesota Duluth 12-1 19-4 (14) MAVERICKS 12-2 22-4 (15) Wayne State 11-2 23-4 (17) SW Minnesota St. 9-5 19-7 MSU-Moorhead 8-5 18-8 Augustana 6-7 11-14 Bemidji State 6-7 9-15 Winona State 5-9 7-18 Upper Iowa 4-10 13-15 Northern State 4-10 9-13 St. Cloud State 2-12 6-20 Minnesota Crookston 1-12 4-21 Mary 1-13 7-18

and that is definitely the goal heading into conference play this season.

Coach Means believes his team is ready to change that trend this season and knows how important it is to get off to a good start.

“We want to take it one game and one series at a time, but it is especially important to get off to a fast start this year because we are probably going to lose at least two players to their Olympic teams for 14 games apiece. So it is important we win these early games when we are at full strength,” Means said.

Coach Means’ wealth of knowledge figures to be a huge asset as this year’s women’s hockey team tries to build on some firsts that the team accomplished with a strong finish last year. The Mavericks won their first playoff game ever, as well as their first playoff series ever over St. Cloud State.

The team also took part in the WCHA Final Face-Off for the first time in its history, and is expects to be playing even more meaningful games in March this season.

“I think our biggest strength heading into the season is experience,” Means said. “We have seven seniors returning with over 700 games worth of experience and three juniors returning.”

“That is a lot of ice time and experience at the college level that we have that you cannot teach. I believe we will go as far as our top lines and seniors take us this season.”

Thursday, October 29, 2009T

Down to the last two MSU closes out season on the road

LEVI ZIMMER

staff writer

With temperatures predicted to be in the low 40s the Mavericks women’s soccer team will travel north for the final two games of the regular season.

The Mavericks are on yet another road trip, this time they will head north of the 45th parallel taking on Minnesota State University - Moorhead and University of Minnesota - Crookston.

The Mavericks go into Saturday’s game against Moorhead knowing they need to play their style and not worry about conference standings and postseason play.

“I think we just need to come out and play one half at a time,” said junior forward Laura Leber. “We can’t overlook opponents for a second.

We have to play to the best of our abilities each and every game from here on out.”

Moorhead will enter the match with nothing to lose, as they are planted firmly in the bottom of the NSIC, posting a 6-9-1 overall and 3-8-0 conference record. Although they may not be a top echelon team they have won two of their last three games.

The trip north will continue on Sunday when Crookston welcomes the Mavericks. The Golden Eagles have yet to win a conference match and hold a dismal 2-13-2 record, allowing 43 goals in 17 games. They are giving up two and a half goals per contest while only scoring one.

With only two games

dan moen • msu reporter Sophomore Jacqui Ackerman (8) and the Mavericks go into this weekend being ranked No. 2 in the region.

remaining and most of the conference set in stone, the Mavericks are mostly likely looking at a four seed unless something out of the ordinary occurs.

Winona’s win over the Mavericks last weekend was the win they needed to potentially host the conference tournament. They sit in the driver’s seat, needing wins over Mary University and Northern State University (fifth and sixth in the NSIC, respectively) this weekend to clinch the regular season crown. Even with two losses by Winona, the Mavericks would be a game short of the title.

“I think we are all disappointed with the result of the

SOCCER (NSIC) School Conf. OVR Winona State 10-0 13-4 (25) Minnesota Dul. 9-1-1 11-2-2 St. Cloud State 8- 2-2 9-4-4 MAVERICKS 7-3-1 11-3-1 Mary 6- 3-2 8-7-3 Northern State 5- 3-3 7-6-5 Concordia-SP 5- 4-2 8-8-3 Augustana 4- 3-4 7-6-5 Bemidji State 5-5-1 9-6-1 Upper Iowa 4- 5-2 10-8-3 MSU-Moorhead 3-8 6-9-1 Wayne State 1-9-1 4-13-1 SW Minnesota State 1-10 1-13 Minnesota Crookston 1-10 2-13-2

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Winona game, but hopefully we will face them again and prove that we are a better team than what the score showed,” said senior goalkeeper Sheila Reynolds.

The two games this weekend will be the last regular season games for 10 seniors. One of those seniors, Reynolds, has been a staple and leader for this team all four years.

She holds the career shut-out record with 20 for her career and numerous regular season records from the 2008 season.

“It means a lot to me being a part of the team and continuing to build this program,” Reynolds said.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sports

Reporter • Page 15

WOMEN’S HOCKEY POSITION BREAKDOWN Lee Handel • staff writer

FORWARDS

BUGANSKI

The Mavericks return seven seniors, four of them at the forward position. This is an experienced group that has logged a lot of ice time at the college level and needs to step up and score if the Mavericks are to have success this season. Kala Buganski is the captain of the team and is tied for the team’s second-leading returning scorer, as she accumulated 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points last season. Fellow senior Christina Lee can score in bunches, finishing with a team-high 33 points last season with 14 goals and 19 assists. She is also known for picking up the first hat trick by a Maverick since 2003. Ashley Young missed 18 games with an ankle injury two years ago, but was back healthy last season, posting 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points on the season. Young and fellow senior Jenna Hewitt figure to be the X-factors at the position this season.

Sophomore sharpshooter Emmi Leinonen is an up-and-coming player who has perhaps the fastest shot on the team and has a great knack for putting shots on net. Junior Nina Tikkinen has experience playing for the Finnish National Team and figures to see a lot of time this year. Fellow junior Lisa Edman tallied seven goals and nine assists last season and should also see a lot of time this season.

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MAGNUSSON

There weren’t very high expectations for the MSU women’s hockey team coming into this season. With a new head coach and a young cast of players, the Mavericks were poised to be a rebuilding team for at least another year or two. The Mavericks have already showed us this year that they can play defense and score. Whether or not they can do it over the course of the season is yet to be seen. If the Mavericks can build on last year’s playoff win against St. Cloud State, it will be a step forward for new head coach Eric Means and the rest of the program.

GOALTENDERS The competition deciding who would open the season in net was wide-open heading into the year, according to the coaches. The position battle was between junior Paige Thunder and sophomore Alli Altmann. Thunder finished last season as the starter and was named the team’s Most Improved Player, but Altmann won the starting job heading into this season after the coaching staff rated her the top goalie. Both players are very capable and have a tremendous work-ethic, according to head coach Eric Means.

This year’s freshmen crop should be solid in the future, with some players figuring to contribute already this season. The freshmen are led by forward Lauren Smith, who joins the Mavericks after playing the last four years at Holy Angels. Jami Weiss and Lauren Zrust are also two forwards joining the squad this season. Erika Magnusson out of Fergus Falls could see some time as a defenseman this season. Sydney Aveson and Sarah Schneekloth are going to be backup goaltenders this season, but are worth keeping an eye on.

OUTLOOK

DEFENSEMEN The blue-liners for the Mavericks are somewhat lacking in experience heading into the season and are going to need some players step up after the loss of Emilia Andersson to the Swedish National Team. However, senior Holly Snyder anchors a group of talented players who could surprise this year. In order for the Mavericks to finish in the top half of the WCHA conference standings this season, the defense will have to step up and limit the amount of shots on the Maverick goaltenders. Snyder led the defensemen in points last year with 19 and is the best Maverick blue-liner when it comes to helping the team offensively, tallying 13 assists last season.

Seniors Ida Clark and Kathleen Rosso also figure to log some key minutes this season.

Junior Amy Udvig and sophomore Jackie Otto are two rising stars also figuring to see a lot of playing time this season and have much bigger roles. Sophomore Ariel Mackley is a talented forward and defenseman, but figures to see more time on the blue line this season.

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Page 16 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, October 29, 2009T

Just as big as the last Big weekend for MSU tries not to look too far ahead UP NEXT

KYLE RATKE

sports editor

Upper Iowa When: 1 p.m. Sat. Where: Fayett, Iowa

The Mavericks started the season looking about as hot as a team can out of the gates. Whether they have gotten worn down or unfocused, the Mavericks have been swept over the last two weekends by No. 1 Concodria St. Paul and No. 15 Wayne State respectively.

Because of their late struggles, the Mavericks have dropped to No. 14 in the nation. Now, unless the Mavericks tank it, they will still likely get into the NCAA tournament, something they weren’t able to do a year ago.

But this weekend still has huge implications for the Mavericks, who are picking the wrong time to hit a rough patch. The big match will be against No. 11 Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bresnan Arena.

They also play Bemidji on Friday at 7 p.m.

If MSU wants to climb back into the rankings and be taken seriously with a higher seed come playoff time, it will likely need to sweep this weekend and start playing like themselves — or the they played earlier this season.

With a young squad, with only two seniors, the Mavericks have plenty of time to make their mark. This wasn’t supposed to be their year, but they have gotten themselves into a good position this season. It will be interesting to see where they end up.

KYLE RATKE

sports editor

The Minnesota State football team has set a few records during the 2009 season, but they still have two regular season games left. So the Mavericks can’t afford to lose focus before heading into the playoffs.

At this point in the season, nearly every week is a playoff game as MSU is fighting for a top-seed in the region.

The Mavericks are preparing to play against an Upper Iowa squad that is 2-7 overall this season. This record may be deceiving.

The Peacocks can put points up on the board. They average right around 26 points per game. Most Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams have explosive offensives, but after the Mavericks allowed 25 first half points to Southwest Minnesota State, they aren’t taking anything for granted.

“You can either motivate through fear or love,” said MSU head coach Todd Hoffner. “But at the end, the players have to be motivated from within if we are going to be successful. They have a very explosive offense, you can’t take them lightly, even if they haven’t done so great on the other side of the ball.”

The Mavericks haven’t had much of a problem with their offense so far this season.

The running attack is something the Mavericks have not shied away from in recent weeks.

Then again, it’s hard not to give the ball to the trio of Ernie Walker, Julian Phipps and Jake Aberg.

The passing game will also get a boost back as Vinny Flury will likely see some playing time.

If the Mavericks win their final two regular season games, they will be handed a first round buy and will have homefield advantage.

But if they were to lose, they could see themselves get jumped by last year’s defending national champion, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

“Home field advantage is instrumental,” Hoffner said. “If we lose either one of these two games, there are no guarantees.

Anything can happen, you have to take care of business.”

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shannon rathmanner • msu reporter MSU running back Jake Aberg has an explosive style of running that benefits the Maverick’s running back by committee style.

The Mavericks are very senior dominated, and players like Vinny Flury on the offensive side of the ball, Randy Earl from the defensive side, or even Ryan Fick from the bench, will have good control over this team, helping them not get distracted in perhaps their most crucial stretch of the season.

Most players believe that if they can get home field advantage and a first round bye, it doesn’t prove anything — yet.

“I think the important thing to focus on one thing at a time,” Hoffner said. “One day at a time. Today, we need to prepare to play and do our best. That’s what it’s all about.”

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

MSU Women’s Hockey Gameday

Sports

Reporter • Page 17

MSU Men’s Hockey Gameday Josh Berhow • staff writer

Minnesota State (3-3-0, 1-3-0 WCHA) at No. 2 Denver (4-2-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) Lee Handel • staff writer

Minnesota State (3-0-1, 1-0-1-1 WCHA) at Ohio State (2-3-3, 2-3-1-0 WCHA) 7:07 p.m. Friday, 7:07 p.m. Saturday (ET) OSU Ice Rink — Columbus, Ohio RECAP: The Buckeyes split their series last weekend at Wisconsin and are trying to get back to .500 or better in the WCHA this weekend. The Mavericks, who were off last weekend, are undefeated four games into the season and are looking to keep it that way through the weekend. They won and tied in a two-game set at North Dakota two weeks ago. The second game went to a shootout tied 1-1, with the Mavericks coming out on top 1-0 after three rounds on an Emmi Leinonen goal after she had already netted the team’s only goal in regulation.

HISTORY: Even though MSU is 7-33-4 all-time against Ohio State, the Mavericks have played well at Ohio State recently, sweeping the Buckeyes in Columbus last February with a pair of one-goal victories 6-5 and 2-1, respectively.

OSU NOTES: The Buckeyes are led by a quartet of forwards, each with six points on the season … They are sophomore Melissa Feste (3-3 — 6), sophomore Natalie Spooner (2-4 — 6), senior Raelyn LaRocque (1-5 — 6), and freshman Minttu Tuominen (3-3 — 6).

MSU NOTES: First-year Maverick head coach Eric Means has gotten off to an impressive 3-0-1 start in his first four games with the Mavericks and was the first head coach in the program’s history to begin their first year 3-0 … The 3-0-1 start is the team’s best start since the 2003-04 season when the Mavericks began 6-0 …

Sophomore goalie Alli Altmann has been in the zone in goal for the Mavericks to open up the season and is undefeated (3-0-1) in net.

PREDICTION: The Mavericks will have a hard time staying undefeated through the weekend after this tough road series in Columbus. However, the Mavericks’ regulars have a distinct advantage over the Buckeyes’ regulars in terms of experience.Look for the Mavericks to continue their solid start and play well, earning a series split.

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7:37 p.m. Friday, 7:07 p.m. Saturday (MT) Magness Arena — Denver, Colo.

RECAP: The Maverick had their worst outing of the season Friday, a 6-0 loss to Wisconsin, but followed it with a 3-2 win Saturday for a two-point weekend and their first WCHA win of the season. Zach Harrison scored the game-winner Saturday and assisted on MSU’s other two goals by Adam Mueller and Eriah Hayes. Joe Schiller, James Gaulrapp and Jerad Stewart all had an assist each.

The Pioneers are coming off a sweep of Minnesota in Minneapolis, winning each game 3-0 and shutting out the Gophers in backto-back nights for the first time since 1930.

HISTORY: Denver leads the all-time series 15-13-3. The Mavericks were swept by the Pioneers last year in Mankato (3-2, 5-2).

Matt Glasser and Jessie Martin each had a three-goal weekend. Andy Sackrison has the highest career point total against Denver with four points (two goals) in five games.

DU NOTES: Denver’s lineup top-to-bottom is one of the best in the nation, and it just got better with 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Joe Colborne’s return. Colborne missed last weekend’s series with a broken finger but has practiced this week and is probable. Denver goaltender Marc Cheverie hasn’t allowed a goal in 10 periods and has three straight shutouts. For more on Denver — College Hockey News’ Team of the Week — visit collegehockeynews.com.

MSU NOTES: Geoff Irwin and Brett Peterson both left Saturday’s game with separate injuries, and both won’t be available this weekend. Jason Wiley is also still out with in injury. Austin Lee and Kevin Murdock each got a start last weekend, which might happen again this weekend. MSU coach Troy Jutting hadn’t announced a starter as of Wednesday night but look for Lee to start Friday.

Friday’s lineup should look like this: Mike Louwerse-Rylan Galiardi-Stewart, Kael Mouillierat-Sackrison-Hayes, Eli Zuck-HarrisonJustin Jokinen and Gaulrapp-Tyler Pitlick-Tyler Thompson. Defensive pairings are Channing Boe-Kurt Davis, Tyler Elbrecht-Ben Youds and Nick Canzanello-Cameron Cooper. Mueller and Schiller will also make the trip. MSU practiced on the smaller rink at All Seasons Arena this week, the same NHL-sized rink Denver plays on.

PREDICTION: It’s not a good time for the Mavericks to face the Pios. Cheverie’s allowing 1.00 goals per game in his four starts this season and the Mavericks are only a game removed from allowing six to a mediocre offensive team in Wisconsin. Denver is far from mediocre. Pioneers sweep.

Variety

INSIDE: 10 movies for Halloween Good Thunder series Midnight movie madness New Primitives perform in CSU reporter-arts@mnsu.edu

Thursday, October 29, 2009

T

(507) 389-5157

The Reporter’s guide Raising the to surviving the ‘bar’ for zombie apocalypse Halloween RAUL MEJIABORJA

staff writer

“Shaun of the Dead” zombie photo courtesy of movieweb.com Surviving zombies just doesn’t happen on its own you know, you have to take precaution. Here are some essential steps toward saving your life and maintaining the human race.

BEN CECIL

staff writer

If movies have taught me anything, it’s that the world will eventually be hurled into darkness as the undead spew from the pits of Hell and infest the Earth. Not everyone will become zombies, however. And if you want to remain among the living, following these tips will help you along the way. Keep in mind that these steps don’t need to be done in any order, but should be followed if you want to keep your brains inside your skull.

1. One thing I cannot stress enough for your endeavor against the undead is a good pair of running shoes. Sure, you’ll occasionally be in a stronghold, but that won’t last forever. You’re going to be on the run quite a bit and you won’t want to be doing it in uncomfortable shoes.

2. When you’re on the run, make sure you know where you’re headed. Countless people will meet their ends by aimlessly running around with no real plan. The safest suggestions include military complexes, prisons and offshore oil rigs. The latter being the

safest. Nothing says safety like a man made island.

3. Weapons are a must for combating the hoards of undead that you’re sure to encounter following the initial outbreak.

What type of weapon is entirely up to you. You don’t have to stick to the basics like bats, axes and guns. Try thinking outside the box. For example, you could use a propane tank and a garden hose to fashion yourself a make-shift flamethrower. The only limit is your imagination.

However, keep in mind mobility.

You don’t want to slow yourself down too much with bulky weaponry. For firearms, make sure to carry plenty of ammunition. Nothing is more worthless than a gun without bullets when you have a zombie bearing down on you.

4. Zombies’ biggest vulnerability is the head. Be it from a blunt object or a round from your firearm, the noggin has got to go. While this sounds like the simplest of tasks, execution is easier said than done. Something that may harm a human, such as being shot in the heart or having limbs forcibly removed, just won’t cut it for the undead. You MUST

destroy their brain or they’ll just keep coming.

5. Be prepared with supplies.

A cataclysm of this magnitude won’t blow over in one day.

Some things you’ll want to have on hand is drinkable water, canned food, a medical kit, batteries, a flashlight, material to reinforce windows and doors, such as wood or bricks, a tool kit, flares, a fire extinguisher, as well as any other essentials you may need.

6. Do not by any means investigate strange noises. That is one of the fastest ways you can end up zombie food. If it is a must to take a look around, make sure to use the buddy system and go armed. In a worst-case scenario, a buddy may have to be sacrificed. Make sure you’re better armed than they are.

7. Be friendly to fellow survivors. It’s not just the zombies you have to deal with when it comes to surviving this.

As well as needing cooperation, you’re all probably going to be a little irritable. The last thing you want to do is set someone else off and have them kill you before the zombies even have a

Zombies / page 19

Mankato bars this weekend will play host to special events and drinks any ghoul or zombie will appreciate.

Pub 500 will offer their daily specials, which include $2.95 Captain Morgan, Windsor and Bacardi drinks, as well as $1.95 Pabst Blue Ribbon pints.

Not too far from Pub 500, Red Sky Lounge will provide $3 martinis from 9 to 11 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday and Boomtown will be offering $3 Bud Light Wheat, a new specialty beer.

This will include Bud Light girls giving out samples on Saturday.

Besides the beer that thirsty vampires and zombies will be able to purchase for a special price, other events will also be part of the bar atmosphere this weekend.

On Friday and Saturday, the Red Sky Lounge will be hosting dance DJs rDJw and DJ Shoba

as well as a costume contest beginning at midnight.

“Cash prizes for winners will be provided,” said Red Sky Lounge owner Michelle Schooff.

Boomtown will have what owner Dan Guimont is calling “The Halloween Party” Friday.

The Globe Gang, a rap group that has been playing at venues in the cities, will be performing that night.

On Saturday, Boomtown and Pub 500 will also host a costume contest for the public to enjoy.

Boomtown asks that participants arrive at 11 p.m. to register, while Pub 500 will begin at midnight.

“We will have three categories of winners. First place will be best costume, second place will be sexiest costume and third place will be the crowd favorite,” said Boomtown’s Guimont.

When asked about the

Bars / page 20

Twins finally conjoin for new album

CHRISTIAN HAGEN

staff writer

Indie sad-sack twins Tegan and Sara Quin have been darlings of the underground for years, spreading their sorrows over songs ranging from peppy to droning. Now returning with “Sainthood,” the follow-up to 2007’s “The Con,” the duo has made arguably their most enjoyable record to date.

In the past, Tegan and Sara have been decidedly hitand-miss. Their single power

has always been strong, from “Walking With a Ghost” to “Back In Your Head,” both college radio hits, but their albums have never lived up to that potential before.

“Sainthood” fixes many of the problems the pair have had with songwriting, replacing the drab and repetitive with the upbeat and danceable.

The first track begins jaggedly, the synths and guitar cutting the air before the drums burst forth. The quality of the drums on the entirety of this album is so strong and fitting to each song, and all credit to Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, who produced it, for capturing that brilliance. It’s amazing what simply bringing out one instrument can do to the sound of a band.

Indeed, Tegan and Sara have

Music / page 20

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Variety

Reporter • Page 19

Midwest writers to talk nonfiction craft in Good Thunder series SAM CAMPBELL

staff writer

The Good Thunder Reading Series will host writer David McGlynn for a talk Thursday on craft and to perform a reading with Robert Wright Award winning Amanda Schumacher.

The craft talk will be held at 3 p.m. in the Ostrander Auditorium and the reading at 7:30 p.m. in the Centennial Student Union room 253.

McGlynn is the author of the book “The End of the Straight and Narrow” and has published fiction and nonfiction in Alaska Quarterly Review, Black Warrior Review, The Missouri Review, Shenandoah and Ninth Letter. He is currently working on a collection of personal essays entitled “Rough Water” and teaches at Lawrence University.

As an up-and-coming writer, McGlynn’s debut “The End of Straight and Narrow” has created quite the stir as he plays with the relationship between religion and ordinary life.

“This is a collection about religion but more,” says the Baton Rouge Advocate, “It’s about how what we believe affects our lives in the real world.”

According to the San Antonio Press-News, “The End of Straight and Narrow announces the arrival of a visionary voice in contemporary fiction. It will be a pleasure to track the arc of David McGlynn’s journey.”

Which is why Director of

the Good Thunder Reading Series Richard Robbins brought him here.

“David McGlynn is an emerging photos courtesy of Good Thunder Reading Series fiction Wisconsin writer David McGlynn and Minnesota State writer whose MFA student Amanda Schumacher will talk craft and first book had read in CSU 284 as part of Good Thunder series today. received broad acclaim, and prose a memorable experience featuring emerging writers is for her readers.” part of what we try to do when

Both events are free we program for the series.” and open to the public and will An interview with McGlynn have a short Q and A following will also be featured as a part of their performance.

“Authors in Transit” on KMSU 89.7, Thursday Oct. 29 at 1:00 p.m. and Friday Oct. 30 at 11:00 a.m.

Schumacher is currently a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato pursuing her MFA in creative writing.

She has her Master’s Degree in English from Iowa State University and recently won first place in the 2009 Robert Wright Award for her writing.

She will be performing a reading with McGlynn at 7:30 p.m. in CSU 253.

Although a relatively new writer, Schumacher’s writing is quoted by author Leigh Allison Wilson as saying her work “investigates the mysterious interstices between life and death, mystery and manners … with a fine intelligence and originality [that] makes her

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ZOMBIES 10 steps you’ll need to know to survive the zombie apocalypse continued from 18 chance. Remember, there are no laws at this point. Killing you wouldn’t be an issue for many.

8. Keep your numbers small.

It may seem like traveling with others is the best course of action. While this is true, too many in a group will ultimately slow you down. An ideal group lies somewhere between three to ten members. Any more and you’re in for a world of hurt.

9. Travel during the daytime and the use of night to recuperate is essential. Sleep is necessary if you’re trying to stay alive. It sounds like a terrible idea to sleep at a time like this, but it is a must. This is another perk of traveling in a group. Take turns keeping watch and make sure you are in a secure facility during this time. Since you’re trying to travel during the daytime, make sure you take advantage of the seven hours you’re not on the

run to rest up and keep yourself healthy. While zombies can’t see any better during the night than a normal person, it’s always safer to be able to see what is coming.

10. Have a backup plan.

Your initial plan may fail, and if it does, you’ll be happy you planned ahead. And a number of things could go wrong, so it never hurts to have more than one backup. Even if the backup isn’t the greatest plan, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Or dead.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to making it through the uprising of the undead. Keep in mind that this is for the future of mankind. Don’t let your guard down just because you’ve followed these steps. Zombies are relentless killing machines.

They’re won’t stop until you’re food or they’re dead... again.

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Page 20 • Reporter

Variety

BARS Precautions will be taken to ensure safety, prevent underage drinking continued from 18

Thursday, October 29, 2009T

MUSIC Quin twins finally collaborate on newest record and it pays off by creating their greatest, most complete album to date continued from 18

turnout expected on Halloween weekend, bar owners say bar occupancy should be high.

“It should be pretty full,” said Pub 500 owner Jay Reasner.

“Halloween is one of our busier days of the year, so we expect a large crowd,” Schooff added.

Guimont also expressed his anticipation of a large crowd because of Halloween.

“We usually have a pretty big crowd. There is a lot of bar hopping going on.”

Though the nightlife this weekend is sure to be fun, bars are also making sure that it does not become unsafe or that things get out of hand.

“We will add staff to our

web photo

security,” Reasner said.

“Extra precautions against underage drinking will be taken,” Schooff said.

Like any person that enjoys Halloween, bar owners are mostly optimistic and excited about the holiday, however.

Guimont said that he thinks it is fun and he loves Halloween.

“It’s fun to see the creativity of the costumes people wear.”

Reasner also praised diversity, saying he enjoys seeing different people with different costumes on.

Red Sky Lounge owner Schooff and Pub 500’s Reasner couldn’t agree more. “It’s definitely a lot of fun,” Schooff said.

never sounded more vibrant.

The colors on these some of these tracks, such as the newwave ballad “Red Belt” and the bouncy “Alligator,” feature a wider palate than anything these sisters ever have made before.

“Sainthood” reportedly marks the first time Tegan and Sara have collaborated on songwriting duties, whereas they would previously write separately and come together for recording. It’s proved an effective exercise. It would be nice to hear more back and forth in the vocals, but the duo still manage to do a nice job of harmonizing, as on the longing “Paperback Head.”

Unfortunately, nothing’s perfect, and “Sainthood” is no exception. To those unaccustomed to Tegan and Sara’s vocal styles, they sound as if they’re forcing every note, squeezing the words out with an unnecessary urgency, while not always hitting the notes they’re probably searching for.

To fans, this is a non-issue, but

Midnight movie madness

REPORTER STAFF

Halloween night will be packed with plenty of craziness.

From the skimpy outfits in 30-degree weather to the packed streets of alcohol-fed college students to at least one guy wearing a “Borat” bikini (ed. funny when he does it, gross when you do it), Halloween in a college town always shapes up to be a night to remember, if you don’t black out that is.

But the spooky events aimed at college kids this weekend aren’t just limited to massive consumption of various forms of alcohol and crawling like a

zombie, whether intentional or unintentional.

The Maverick 4 Theatre, known for showing films in between their stages of theatrical and DVD releases, will play host to a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Also joining in on the midnight movie madness will be Grind-Fu Cinema, a film program run by members of KMSU. Grind-Fu will be showing a double feature of the Guitar Wolf-featured “Wild Zero” (a.k.a. Rock N Roll Jet Movie) and the George Romero classic “Night of the Living Dead.”

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the general public might not be accustomed to the style.

And while they seem to have grown up musically, their lyrics border on, and often spill into, emo. Lines such as, “Something so sick about this/ My misery’s so addictive” from “Northshore,” permeate every song. It’s reminiscent of high school girls crushing on someone who just doesn’t notice them. Especially in songs that are otherwise pleasant and upbeat, it feels contrived and dishonest, like they didn’t have any new lyrical material, so they dug through a box of poetry from ten years ago.

Still, there is remarkably little to complain about in regards to this album, and there isn’t a single song that doesn’t belong. The music is tight and the production is polished without being overly glossy.

And it only gets better as it goes along.

There’s the wonderful obvious singles reminiscent of the songs that the group is

known for, with “Hell” and “The Ocean,” possibly the best tracks on the whole disc.

But what makes “Sainthood” worthy of purchase is that, for the first time in the band’s career, the work as a whole is cohesive. It’s a puzzle where the lines between the pieces are smoothed over, leaving a clear picture that you have to really study to see any cracks. Open the box, see what you find. It’s certainly worth the time.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Variety

Reporter • Page 21

Punk impresario brings sex to the screen PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In his nearly four decades as a vanguard of pop culture, Malcolm McLaren has worn many hats: musician, producer, filmmaker, impresario, fashion designer, reality TV star.

At age 63, the punk progenitor is adding another discipline to his resume: visual artist.

“Shallow 1-21,” a series of 21 short video works that combine snips of obscure 1960s sex films with musical “cut-ups” by McLaren, is on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts through Jan. 3. It’s the first time the 86-minute piece is being shown in its entirety in the U.S. The 21 segments — only four of which include nudity — consist of just a few frames of film, slowed down and repeated to match the length of each piece of music.

Depending on the music and

the scene, the moving portraits in “Shallow” can feel wistful, sad, threatening, banal, hypnotic, lusty, even comical.

“Shallow 4” is a single backand-forth pan of three bored, slouching women on a long couch accompanied by a raging cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady”

by Chinese all-girl punk band The Wild Strawberries. “Shallow 5” pairs Captain and Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” and Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” with a repeating shot of a topless woman descending a staircase, dragging a fur coat behind her.

Sex has been a recurrent theme in McLaren’s creative career.

During punk’s formative years in the early 1970s, he and his then-girlfriend, designer Vivienne Westwood, ran the London cloth-

ing boutique “Sex,” and McLaren gained notoriety as manager of The Sex Pistols. He said “Shallow” is reminiscent of his life as a teenager watching dirty movies with friends in a dismal London squat.

“I just really recall from watching those sex movies back when I was about 18 in art school, I can’t remember the (sex) act,” McLaren said with a laugh. “The only things I could remember were the preambles, funnily enough, and the generic, mundane aspect to those preambles sort of intrigued me.”

Those are the moments captured in “Shallow,” which McLaren calls “musical paintings.”

Each song-length piece is distinct and not sequential, so viewers can start and stop watching at any point.

McLaren did the first 8 videos in 2007 for a group show in New

New Primitives play CSU Wednesday!

York. He created the rest from that time until 2008, when the entire 21 videos were shown at Art Basel in Switzerland.

He made the music first, scouring through some 500 CDs of music from the 1940s onward, then making new compositions by cutting and layering tracks with electronic beats. Then came prolonged digging through junk shops for old 8mm films and videos, and tracking down the scant collectors of the “not even B movies, more like D or F movies” he sought.

“Often these movies would not be seen specifically as pornography because it was before the industry was established,” McLaren said. “They wouldn’t be called sex films; they would just have crazy titles like ‘Miniskirt Love’ or something” and play in doublefeature drive-ins.

McLaren edited the visuals and sound as separate elements — he sees the music and video for each segment of “Shallow” as largely interchangeable.

“I preferred them to be completely disconnected, simply because the thought of falling into that horrible moment where it might end up being one of these rather banal MTV pop videos,” he said. “That is such an allembracing medium that covers everybody’s way of thinking about music and a picture, and it’s been done a zillion times over.”

Pennsylvania Academy curator of contemporary art Julien Robson saw “Shallow” at last year’s Art Basel in Switzerland — the only other time all 21 have been shown — and undertook an effort to bring the piece to Philadelphia.

OPEN:

1600 WARREN STREET 507.625.9264

GREAT MUSIC!

GREAT FOOD!

SUN.-THURS. 4PM-2AM FRI.-SAT. 2PM-2AM

www.boomtownmankato.com

NEW! NEW! NEW! BONUS SPECIAL

THURSDAYS Along with the famous pitcher

specials. New 2 for 1 Deals. 9-11 P.M.

Halloween Costume Contest nate brennan • msu reporter

at 11 p.m. October 31st Prizes awarded to the

Top 3 Costumes

on third

125 South Third St., St. Peter (507) 931-9051

Again Thrift & More

OCTOBER 31ST

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST

Karaoke Every Wednesday Night

Come & Build Your Halloween Costume

JUDGING AT 11PM!

Now accepting debit & credit cards.

1st Place $100 Bar Tab 2nd Place $50 Bar Tab 3rd Place $25 Bar Tab

1/2 price nights - Tuesday & Thursday 5-8pm

Good times. Great food.

20 Taps.

$6 Sunday Bag Sale

Minnesota Valley Action Council Full Menu 11am-11pm

www.patricksonthird.com

482 Raintree Road (same complex as Hobby Lobby) HOURS: M,W,F,S - 9:30am - 6pm Tu, Th - 9:30am - 8pm Sundays - 12 - 4:30pm

507-345-2409

Volunteers always needed and welcomed!

Page 22 • Reporter

Variety

Thursday, October 29, 2009

10 movies to watch on Halloween “Poltergeist”

“Village of the Damned”

“Night of the Living Dead”

Tobe Hooper (1982)

John Carpenter (1995)

George A. Romero (1968)

The George A. Romero classic set the stage for the mass amount of zombie movies that exists today. Hell, the word zombie didn’t even exist until Romero started the genre.

“Night of the Living Dead” is the standard for Halloween movie watching and is a must for any hardcore film buff looking to cozy up to a flick on Halloween.

Creepy albino-looking children with beaming red eyes anda former Superman are featured in this film about a race of alien children being birthed from a small village’s women.

Make sure to close your mind because these “children” can use your thoughts against you and you may be shit out of luck if the only people on your side are Christopher Reeve and Kirstie Alley.

“The Evil Dead”

“Re-Animator”

“Mind Chaos”

Stuart Gordon (1985)

H.P. Lovecraft’s classic tale of a medical student who believes there’s more to medicine than simply preventing death while people are alive will “scare you to pieces.”

Among the rash of ’80s horror that didn’t take itself too seriously, Roger Ebert said the film had “a rhythm and a style that make it work in a cockeyed, offbeat sort of way.”

Spider-man director Sam Raimi didn’t start out making films with big-budget films.

Quite the contrary. He started with this genius film, the first of a trilogy, that manages to be one of the greatest horror films and one of the greatest horror spoofs at the same time.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” Wes Craven (1984)

What’s more terrifying than a man with blade claws who terrorizes and murders you in your sleep?

Nothing.

The Wes Craven classic has arguably the best villain, as well as best acting villain, and features Johnny Depp pre-”Pirates,” pre-”Jump Street,” pre-everything. Just watch out for those waterbeds, because they can easily turn into a blood volcano.

“They’re heeeeeere.”

Before “Paranormal Activity” was even a thought, there was “Poltergeist.” And before Craig T. Nelson was coaching Minnesota State’s football team, he was starring in this film about a suburban family’s house being haunted by ghosts.

“Pet Sematary”

Mary Lambert (1989)

You say you like re-animated pets and children, Indian burial grounds and Herman Munster?

Well then if you’re looking for a film this Halloween, look no further than “Pet Sematary,” based on Stephen King’s novel of non-ridiculous spelling.

H A P P Y H A L LO W E E N

“Carrie”

Brian De Palma (1976) “Carrie,” directed by the great Brian De Palma (“Scarface”) is a tale about a quiet, homely and frail girl whose constantly bullied by her classmates and ultra-religious mother. I bet you never believed that that scrawny nerd who just wanted to go unnoticed you bullied in high school would turn out to be a master of telekenesis looking for revenge. Maybe you’ll think twice about bullying me again after seeing this movie Mr. Captain of the High School Football Team.

“Children of the Corn” Fritz Kiersch (1984)

The third of four Stephen King novel-based films, “Children of the Corn” plays like “Lord of the Flies” meets “Deliverance” meets “Jeepers Creepers.”

In a small Southern town where only children live after they murdered all of the adults because a child preacher told them to, a young adult couple goes to the town to, oddly enough, report a murder, and have to find a way out when the children realize they have more adults to kill.

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Design Your Own or Buy Off The Rack!

MRCI THRIFT SHOP 111 Sioux Rd. - 388-3867 (Across from Shopko)

Mon., Wed., Sat. 9:30 - 6:00 Tues., Thurs. 9:30 - 8:00 Sun. 12:30 - 4:30

“The Shining”

Stanley Kubrick (1980) One of the greatest auteurs in the history of film matched with one of the greatest actors in the history of film delivers one of the greatest horrors in the history of film in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining,” starring a blood-curdling Jack Nicholson.

Overwhelming subtlety, an edge-of-your-seat score and wonderfully terrifying acting pack this film about a family’s trip to an isolated hotel so the father can write his book. They never expected an evil and spiritual presence would turn Nicholson to maniacal violence.

— Nate Brennan, Variety Editor

The cheapest place in town for Halloween costume ideas!

Classifieds

www.msureporter.com

For Rent

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12/03 WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? www.collegetownmankato.com A community of your own. 12/03 WE’RE NOT YOUR AVERAGE Slumlord. www.rentmsu.net College Houses Available For Rent.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

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1/12 HELP WANTED: PART TIME TO full time. Apply at: The Crabdeck 1104 No. River Dr. Mankato, MN Contact: Candy 388-3910. 11/3 DON’T LIVE LIFE BY DEFAULT. I have valuable information for you! www.mygoldenchance.com.

11/10

For Sale 3.3 AC RURAL RETREAT WITH 4 bed/ 2 Bath home just 5.5 miles south of MSU, 2 garages for all the “toys”. Lots of trees & flowers, decorative pond, just off tar road. Listed at just $199,900.

Call Robert Dutton, Herberg Auction & Realty, 507-380-8885, www.steveherberg.com.

12/1

Help Wanted

BARTENDERS WANTED! $250/ day potential. No experience necessary. Training available.

Age 18+ OK. (800)965-6520 Ext 170.

4/29

(507) 389-1776

Notices

FREE SHOTOKAN KARATE

Classes offered M/T/TH. 6-8 pm. Dance room (HN 225) Beginners are welcome. Need not be a MSU student to join.

For info call Brad @ (507) 388-5301.

12/03

Sublease

M/F NEEDED TO SUBLEASE 2 bedroom with F in upper North Mankato. Secure building. Rent $350 plus electric. Lease is Nov. 1- July 31, 2010. Move in date negotiable. Call 612-790-5052 for inquiries.

12/3

NOW HIRING!

Full & Part-time Permanent Positions As A Phone Fundraiser

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The

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Page 24 • Reporter

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Thursday, October 29, 2009