October 13, 2011

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Coming out of the closet MSU LGBT Center celebrates National Coming Out Day

megan kadlec • msu reporter

MEGAN KADLEC

news editor

More than half a million members of the LGBT community came together on Oct. 11, 1987 for the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

National Coming Out Day commemorates the protest, but also celebrates the individuals who publicly identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Dedicated to civil aware-

ness, National Coming Out Day was founded in 1988 by New Mexico psychologist Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary, an openly gay political leader from Los Angeles.

“The event has grown in numbers. I know in the first year only a few states participated in National Coming Out Week, or Day,” said LGBT Program Advisor Kerry Diekmann. “But I know now that it is celebrated in all 50 states and various countries as well.

megan kadlec • msu reporter LGBT Center Director Jessica Flatequal preaches to the MSSA office.

inside: Voices.............................................4 Sports.............................................7 Arts & Entertainment...................9 Classifieds...................................11

It’s a really big thing now.”

The Minnesota State University, Mankato LGBT Center has stretched the day typically celebrated on Oct. 11, to an entire week of activities related to bringing awareness to the issues the LGBT community must face.

“Coming out is one of the hardest things LGBT people experience, and for many of us, it’s a big struggle. And of course, when you’re here at college there’s quite a possibility that you’re out to your friends or maybe out to your mom, but perhaps you’re not out to your extended family,” Flatequal said. “The week is kind of a challenge to see if you can come out to one more person, to take one more step out of the closet.”

In addition to helping students come to terms with their sexuality, the LGBT Center hopes to make a difference across campus.

“Our main goals for this week were to raise awareness, educate, get students involved and show our presence on campus,” Diekmann said.

Also in honor of LGBT

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH DR. WHO? -PAGE 9

History Month, the center hopes to make the invisible visible and recognize those individuals who have made a difference in the LGBT community.

“It’s a way to promote all of the wonderful people who have contributed to our society who happen to be G, B, L or T. It cements the idea of National Coming Out Week.

You know, people have come out before us, that a lot of the steps we’ve made have been from their work.”

The LGBT Center partnered with Peer Educators Acting for Change and Equality, a campus theatre troupe, to act out scenes containing commonly misused phrases and educate students as to how to confront this language.

“They performed some scenes about homophobic language, anti-LGBT language and about bystander intervention,” said LGBT Center Program Advisor Julia Keleher.

“So, putting a stop to that and speaking up when people are being bullied for their sexual orientation but also their perceived sexual orientation and

gender identity.”

On Tuesday and Wednesday, students were encouraged to literally “come out of the closet” on MavAve in the Centennial Student Union.

Students could hold a sign and come out as whatever word was displayed on the sign, or as themselves without a sign.

“However you wanted to come out, you could come out,” Diekmann said.

On Tuesday, the LGBT Center attempted to chalk the campus, spreading positive messages to the students.

“It was beautiful for about four hours,” Keleher said.

“Not only did we spread love and positive messages around the campus, but it was a great way for our students to show their creativity and leadership.”

“It’s important with all of the recent suicides to get the message out there that not only is being LGBT great, but that it does get better later in life,” Keleher said.

A Safe Zone Training Session will be held Oct. 19 from noon until 2 p.m. The training is intended to help attendees

Coming Out / page 3

Page 2 • Reporter

News

Thursday, October 13, 2011T

The emergence of a new Social Network Can Google+ prevail in a world of Facebook and Twitter?

• web photo KRISTINA MORITZ

staff writer

There once was a time when the social networking site MySpace thrived in popularity.

Subsequently, the emergence of Facebook put MySpace to shame, while Twitter was thrown into the mix without having concrete power over any of the previous websites. The most recent networking trend of them all is a website called Google+, a cross between Twitter and Facebook.

“Google what?” you may ask.

This new “rival” social networking service, which is still in the beginning stages, was launched on June 28, 2011 during its “testing phase”. At that time, it was an invite only period and users could invite friends who were over the age of 18. Then on September 20 Google+ opened to everyone 18 plus, invite not necessary.

So what in the world is this new website attempting to provide in the social network market?

Google+ is a combination of various services we already use in other communication sites.

At its core, it is a social networking site with a “stream” or

“news feed” just like Facebook has.

On this stream, the user is able to share photos, videos, links, or their location with friends. Similarly, the notification system is comparable to Facebook’s as it is red in color on the top of the page and counts each new notice.

What first sets Google+ apart from the former social networking sites are five key features.

The first one, which diverges itself from Facebook the most, is an organization system called “Circles.”

Circles allow users to group their friends by category or topic such as friends, family, college buddies, coworkers, roommates, pets, “frenemies” or ex-lovers. Instead of sharing your information to a large mass of individuals, you can target to choose specific circles only.

Likewise, you can drag your friends in and out of this “circle” feature if and when you desire. This important privacy feature allows users to be selective and guarded about certain information they are streaming.

We all know there are things we want our best friend to see, but not our bosses.

Another interesting aspect of

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Google+ that resembles Twitter is the “Sparks” feature. This allows users to post and keep track of news, content, and a list of interests from around the web. Sparks discovers links of interest from individuals and organizations to provide sharing.

The links can be photos, articles or other content categorized by specific interests. An example of this would be the “Books” spark that will have a list of recent and appropriate content for that topic. Although this element is similar to Google search, it is unique because it instantly connects Google+ users based on what is most important to them.

Google+ enables participants to “Hangout.” Like Skype, users of Google+ can group together individuals for a simultaneous casual video chat with people in their specific circles.

“Google+ Hangout is very cool, allowing like 10 people to video chat at once,” said senior Jackie Austin.

This seems to be the most appealing feature of Google+ because users do not need to directly ask a friend to join the group chat; instead they will be notified that their friends are “hanging out.” In addition, Google changes the chat screen to whoever is currently talking, unlike a normal chat window.

Hangouts bring us to “Huddling”. Just like a Facebook chat session, huddling on Google+ is a group feature that gathers everyone in the circle you choose and unites them to a message page, similar to a group video chat. This way you can send everyone in that room the same message.

Finally, the last distinctive aspect of Google+ is the way it handles multimedia, such as images. Photos can be uploaded the instant you take them on an Android, taking out the hassle of uploading them yourself and later sharing it with friends. If you do not upload through your phone, you are still able to use the image editor on Google+ that has photo effects and sharing features.

Another attractive aspect of

Google+ is the approach it takes in respecting user’s privacy.

Facebook users may be aware that the company owns all of your information and can cause fear for many.

“I like Google+’s motives with your personal information.

Facebook collects and owns anything you or your friends are willing to give them. Google+ will only use, not own, information to make your life easier,” said senior Information Technology major Jake Severson.

Overall, Google+ makes connecting and communicating on the web more like the real world. You can create your circles, share your thoughts, use multimedia and spontaneous video chat or carry conversations in a fast paced manner.

“I like Google+ because it is simple compared to what Facebook has become, but also more interactive than Twitter. I think people should join because it is a good mix between Twitter and Facebook,” said Austin. “It seems pretty different at first because we’re all so used to Facebook and the endless features it has but I think with enough people everyone will learn to love Google+ just as much.”

Of course Google+ is in its initial stages of development, but it already seems to have a lot to offer to the world of social networking. Who knows what the future will hold or if this site will turn Facebook into the new MySpace of its time.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

COMING OUT “It’s one of those things that you never want to forget but you also don’t want people to have pity for us,” Flatequal said. continued from 1 learn to work with and understand the concerns of the LGBT community. It is also hoped that students will learn how to create a safer campus environment and learn more about the LGBT community in general.

Extending the week’s festivities to Monday, the LGBT Center will be sponsoring a visit from Julie Goldman, a lesbian comedian from Logo’s Big Gay Sketch Show. The event, to be held 7 p.m. Monday in Ostrander Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

There will also be a meet and greet after the show.

“Julie is bust-a-gut funny.

And that’s coming from a pretty funny person, so you gotta believe me on that,” Flatequal said.

National Coming Out Day comes at an interesting time considering recent deaths of members of the LGBT community.

“It’s important that we celebrate the day too because today is the 13th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death,”

Keleher said.

Matthew Shepard was a gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming who was robbed, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die because he was gay.

“It’s a reminder that sometimes it’s hard to come out and that’s a fear for all of us. It’s a fear for all of us, no matter who you are. I’m concerned about my safety. When I get a weird letter in the mail, I’m scared to open it. I don’t like to walk alone.”

While there are many issues the LGBT community must face, they don’t want anyone to feel bad for them.

“It’s one of those things that you never want to forget but you also don’t want people to have pity for us, or feeling like we have it so bad,” Flatequal said. “It’s wonderful to be out and proud. I feel special and I feel like I have a wonderful community and I really want to celebrate that.”

News

Reporter • Page 3

MSSA talks technology ALLISON MATTHEWS

staff writer

CIO of Information Technology Services Ed Clark spoke about technology upgrades on campus at Minnesota State Student Association’s Wednesday meeting.

“People are bringing whatever they want to campus whether they are tablets, lap tops or cell phones.

Tech offices are asked to be highly f lexible. We have to say yes a lot more than we used to,” Clark said.

ITS is looking to transform its accessibility for faculty and students. Clark said MSU has to change the way it provides those technology services.

Before colleges and universities used to only offer certain services to software and hardware provided on campus. Clark said that many schools now allow students to bring their own technology to classrooms.

He said technology departments have to be f lexible with what kind of technology questions students ask.

Clark gave an example of a history professor he

worked with at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, utilized Twitter as an effective tool to engage students in the classroom.

The professor had students tweet their responses on Twitter while watching the movie to form an academic discussion. Clark said the professor sited Twitter as a great way to get students interested in the movie when normally they would fall asleep or surf the Internet.

Clark said he hopes to integrate media into MSU classrooms in a similar way.

“We are looking for the creation of a video-friendly campus,” Clark said. “We need a good production facility and need to make it accessible to students and faculty.”

To successfully move forward with technology, Clark said ITS will become the goto for questions from faculty about making classrooms more digital. “[Professors] want to see the courses get better with measurable outcomes,” he said.

Clark suggested conducting a campus technol-

ogy survey of faculty and students to see how many courses actively incorporate technology.

Senator Michael Do said, “I would say my professors don’t utilize technology to full its potential.”

Clark said in order to combat this issue, ITS needs to become a friendly atmosphere with well-designed products.

Clark said that he wants to create a usability lab on campus to improve MSU’s website. In the lab, machines would track users’ eye movements while navigating MSU’s website. The machine looks at what areas of the Web page receive the most attention and how easy it is for students to click through the website.

President Matt Lexcen was on board with the future of technology upgrades at MSU. “I’m very encouraged with the new landscape of technology,” Lexcen said.

“It gives me great faith in the institution. If we’re going to stay competitive with technology, we need to be competitive.”

Voices

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The Laramie Project

The anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death calls for reflection

MEGAN KADLEC | news editor

Matthew Shepard was 21 years old at the time of his death. He was a student at the University of Wyoming studying Political Science.

On Oct. 6, like any other night, he walked into a local bar, The Fireside Lounge. A few hours later, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson offered Shepard a ride home. They took him to a rural area and proceeded to rob, pistol-whip and torture Shepard before tying him to a fence and leaving him to die alone - all because he was gay.

He was later found by a bicyclist and taken to a Fort Collins, Colorado hospital with severe head injuries.

It was later reported that he was beating so brutally his face was completely covered in blood, except where it had been washed away by his tears.

On Oct. 12, he was pronounced dead.

Reverend Fred Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his funeral.

Fred Phelps is the man behind Godhatesfags.com and numerous protests around the country for LGBT-related issues. He even claimed

that LGBT individuals were the cause of the 35W bridge collapse, saying that God was punishing us.

Thirteen years later, Matthew’s legacy still lives on in the hearts of those who knew him and even strangers.

The Matthew Shepard case brought national and international attention to the contention of hate crime legislation in the United States.

In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and less than a week later, President Barack Obama signed the proposed legislation into law.

I first heard of Matthew Shepard’s story when I was a junior in high school. I was what you would consider a “theatre nerd,” and was excitedly awaiting the announcement of the fall play.

When I heard the play was going to be “The Laramie Project,” I had no idea what to expect. I Googled the show later that evening and slowly began learning more and more about Mat-

thew Shepard’s death.

“The Laramie Project” was written in 2000 after eight members of the Tectonic Theatre Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming to conduct more than 200 interviews with members of the town about their reactions to Matthew Shepard’s murder and trial. The play is a compilation of those interviews.

It seemed like a fascinating show, so I decided to audition. At callbacks, we sat in a huge circle on the stage and read excerpts from the show. I don’t think there was a dry eye on stage when we finished.

The cast list was posted, and 18 other actors and I began to work on what was sure to be one of the most emotional productions of our lives.

We cried and we laughed - but mostly we cried. We spent hours upon hours discussing Shepard’s life.

We spent so much time delving into the script we

began to feel as though we actually knew Matthew. We began to think of him as a personal friend, as someone we could talk to when we needed it.

We also began bonding in a way I’d never experienced in theatre before – some of my best friends were made during that production.

To this day, “The Laramie Project” was one of the best experiences of my life, but also one of toughest emotionally. I would come home from rehearsals so mentally drained I couldn’t focus on my homework and even stopped sleeping. It was awful.

Even now, Shepard serves as my inspiration. He was a strong individual and was proud of his sexuality even though he lived in a homophobic area.

Matthew endured so much, and without him, I don’t think the nation would be as tolerant as it is. The LGBT community still has a long way to go until they

can eliminate hate, and I think Matthew is the perfect reminder of that.

I woke up yesterday morning thinking about work and how much I had to get done.

It wasn’t until I checked my Facebook that I remembered it was Oct. 12, the anniversary of Matthew’s death. I felt ashamed that I hadn’t thought about it, and I immediately took a moment of silence to send my positive energy to Matthew’s family.

I began writing this article and, as I was searching through my tattered script for facts and dates, I started to cry for Matthew.

I didn’t know who he was until the 10 year anniversary of his death, and there I was, holding back tears for this man I never knew. It is truly unbelievable how much one event can impact your life.

My thoughts are with you, Matthew. The world loves you, and we will never forget you.

• web photo Matthew Shepard was 21 when he was robbed, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die - all because he was gay.

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Reporter • Page 5

A look at Disability Services Does MSU accommodate individuals with disabilities as well as it should?

CASSIE RAYMAN

staff writer At Minnesota State University, Mankato, the Office of Disability Services is essential for students with disabilities. Yet while MSU puts forth a great effort to maintain these services, students with disabilities are still witnessing setbacks.

The Disability Services Office plays a major role in the academic careers of many students with disabilities.

According to MSU policy, Disability Services’ central role is to guarantee every student the same access to all programs and activities that all other students have access to.

Some of the many accommodations Disability Services provide are disability parking permits, assistive technology devices, early registration and note taking services. Disability Services is also driven to accommodate students in unique situations or events upon request.

With policy at hand, MSU has legal obligations to fulfill. The University also hopes to provide for students with disabilities. The importance of the Disability Services Office need not be noted. What can be noted is the positives and negatives of the service.

According to Disability Awareness and Advocacy Group, or DAAG, Vice President Jennifer Gunn, MSU Disability Services has created many positive opportunities for students that require certain accommodations.

Yet, Gunn could name a very specific area that MSU disability services struggles with the most; Gunn herself has a reading disability.

“The only down side of the Disability Service Office is note taker, and if your class doesn’t have a note taker you’re basically screwed until they get one, which is sometimes never,”

Gunn said.

Gunn said that although the note taker portion of assistance is lacking, she did not feel that Disability Services was directly at fault.

“There’s nothing really more that the Disability Service Office could do because most of the things that go wrong, like note taker, are out of their hands,” Gunn said.

Groups like DAAG help bring awareness to disability on campus. According to Gunn, DAAG is working to diminish the stigma around the word “disability” in order to demonstrate that having a disability is nothing to be ashamed of. DAAG makes it possible for students to speak up about their needs or the needs of their peers.

Disability Services keeps a strong awareness of their accommodations for students with disabilities by developing frequent evaluations of the resources MSU provides, said Director of the Office of Disability Services Julie Snow. As Disability Services works to improve areas where they have fallen short, Snow said there is a specific area that needs more direct attention.

“The technological advances of computers particularly have presented challenges for students with disabilities. As a university we universally need to be sensitive and aware of such things as accessible website pages and media which is being posted,” said Snow.

As DAAG works to improve the resources for those students with disabilities, MSU, along with campus Disability Services, are seemingly working to do the same. According to Director of Residential Life Cindy Janney, in the most recent construction of the Margaret R. Preska Residence Community at MSU the university has made sure to accom-

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modate those students with disabilities.

The offices of Residential Life and Disability Services work hand in hand at MSU to ensure that students with disabilities have the necessary accommodations not just in the classroom, but in their living environment on campus as well.

Just as with many services and programs though, there tends to be unavoidable shortcomings. For MSU some of these shortcomings remain to be seen. Bringing to light the shortcomings

may eventually aid MSU in the long run to improve services of the future.

As Snow said, the programs and accommodations at MSU for students with disabilities are being extensively examined. Yet, Snow said that the major aspect of improving resources for students with disabilities is mostly about planning ahead.

“It is a matter of constantly thinking ahead and planning with access in mind.

Is our curriculum, events, communications, policies, etc. accessible to individuals

with various disabilities?”

Snow said.

Whether planning ahead or investing in the future, MSU appears to be doing both.

“The university committed $500,000 of one-time reinvestment funds toward improving access for individuals with disabilities which shows a strong commitment by the institution to continue to work toward improved access,” Snow said.

• web photo Can you guess which of these students have reading disabilities or need a note-taker? Probably not - that’s the point of a hidden disability.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sports Thursday, October 13, 2011 www.msureporter.com/sports

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Do the “Goophers” have anything going for them?

Head coach Jerry Kill preaches patience, but Gophers have weak players in a powerful conference. can at least get them back to the 8-4 mark that most Minnesotans are perfectly fine with.

1. Change the Quarterback REECE HEMMESCH

Plain and simple, play the freshman. Max Shortell is As a season ticket holder, you still young, it’s tough for a don’t have to tell me how bad freshman to come in and start the Minnesota Golden Gopher playing right away, but the kid football situation is. It’s bad, real looks good. bad, Michael Jackson bad.

I truly believe that with In the five years my family MarQueis Gray at quarterback and I have owned season tickets, the Gophers will never go we have watched the Gophers anywhere. He has a strong arm drop game after game hoping and good speed that is used for the future to not repeat the frequently with our offensive past. This season appears to be scheme, but he makes too web photo the same as most of the previous many questionable decisions Off to a dismal 1-5 start in his first year at the helm, Jerry Kill and the Gophers are longshots to win another four, it’s over already. that a fourth-year player game in 2011. In his defense, Kill’s roster is mostly made up of players recruited by former coach Tim Brewster.

After losing a close matchup shouldn’t make. to USC in the first game of the You put Shortell in at quarneed to get through Minnesota’s backfield isn’t terrible.

306 yards in his freshman year season, this team looked like it terback and give him the rest of O-line is a three-man rush and The problem is the overalone, is rarely playing and has could actually go somewhere. the season to figure out what it a linebacker and the QB is done weight and slow offensive line, a monstrous six catches on the If the Gophers could have won takes to be a college quarterback which would let a team of Pop for. year. the rest of their non-conference and he’ll come back with three Warner players get four sacks a Xzavian Brandon, who came games, maybe beaten Iowa and years of eligibility left and be 4. Recruit Better Athletes on game, that is currently blocking in and was going to be huge for Purdue, and ended the season great.

Defense for them. the team, has struggled through with five or six wins, a bright At this time three years ago Every game they put together injuries his entire time with the future suddenly appears.

I thought we would be talkOn average, the Gophers give one series where they’re blockGophers and has not caught a But after losses to New ing about Moses Alipate at the up 422 yards per game. They ing well and the Gophers are pass since his freshman season Mexico State and North quarterback position have been torn apart by every actually running on the opposiin 2008. He looks just about Dakota State, followed as well. Sorry Moses, quarterback they’ve played tion all series long. In the NDSU done for the Gophers as well. by the 58-0 trouncing there’s just something Da’jon McKnight, Malcolm against. These quarterbacks have game, it was a 10-play 95-yard

by Michigan and a loss about your 276-pound Moulton and Eric Lair; keep all day to throw, due to a weak touchdown drive where we ran to the Boilermakers, build that gets to me. Oh it every down. Linemen, figure doing your thing. These three defensive line, the same defenit’s safe to say that the well, hope that clipboard it out. have been a big force for the sive line that was last in sacks in Gophers are finished you’ll be holding forever Gophers so far this year, but it’s D-I football last season and only Max Shortell and will be lucky to doesn’t weigh too much. 3. Find Serviceable Wide tough getting them the ball when have two so far this season. win one more game the McKnight is double-covered and You couple that with a set of Receivers rest of the year.

2. Improve the Running Game Moulton almost always has a defensive backs who I believe Through all this, there are safety over the top.

I could get 10 catches a game I don’t even know where certain things the Gophers can In his sixth year of college, I know what you’re thinkon, and you’re set up for failure. to start with these guys. It improve on to at least help them- Duane Bennett isn’t looking half seems like every solid Gopher ing, that should leave somebody So far the Gophers are No. 101 selves out this season and build bad for the U of M. When you open up the middle or lower in total defense in all of college recruit at the wide-out position for the future. Will it turn them pair him with redshirted freshthe amount of pass rushers, but turns into a huge bust. Brandon into a powerhouse? No, but it man Donnell Kirkwood, our GOPHERS / page 8 Green, who caught 21 passes for teams are learning that all you staff writer

Soccer

Mavericks enter top 10, look to extend nine-game streak on road

JOEY DENTON

staff writer

The Minnesota State, Mankato women’s soccer team has definitely proven to be one of the best in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, but now it is starting to get some national attention.

This week the Mavericks were rated the No. 8 team in the Division-II NCAA standings, and this will put a target on their back as they finish the regular season.

One reason the Mavericks have been successful this season is thanks to the coaching staff, led by Peter McGahey. On Sunday, he got his 50th win as

MSU’s head coach in less than four seasons. All of his players are happy for him and are not surprised he has had this much success.

“It is pretty cool to think that I’ve been here through it all,” said senior defender Sarah Schellinger. “I remember his first win and now his 50th, both just as exciting and well-deserved on his part.”

Junior forward Brittany Henry agrees McGahey has worked really hard to get the team where they are at and he deserves this.

“I think it’s very exciting for Peter to get his 50th win, and he has many more to come,” said Henry. “The 50th win shows that he wants our MSU women’s

Peter McGahey soccer program to be very successful and he is doing a great job doing that.”

Junior midfielder Brianne West added, “Getting Peter his 50th win was cool and nice that we could do that for him. It shows how much our hard work has paid off.”

All of his players acknowl-

edged how hard he has worked to make them better players, students and people.

“The time he has put in over the years does not go unnoticed and all of his players have the utmost respect for him. His coaching style has not only brought his team success, but will be remembered by his players far after their soccer careers at MSU are over,” Schellinger said. “He honors the game and puts all of us in a position to do the same.”

McGahey and the Mavericks (10-1-1) will be travelling up north this weekend for two conference games against Minnesota State-Moorhead (7-3-1) and the University of Minnesota,

Crookston (3-9). MSU will be trying to extend its nine-game winning streak, but the Dragons and Eagles are playing well as of late.

Schellinger acknowledges this, and knows this weekend is no time to take it easy.

“Both Moorhead and Crookston are playing well and beating teams in our conference, so we cannot overlook them,” said Schellinger. “The importance of these two games is huge, and we need to be ready to play. We are preparing for them just like any other team in our conference.

We are focusing on playing hard and our way.”

Page 8 • Reporter

Sports

Meet the Mavericks Sophomore Bennett Black • Golf

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Football

MSU looking to get back on track against Upper Iowa

TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer Sophomore Bennett Black, an Alexandria, Minn. native, helped the Minnesota State, Mankato men’s golf team take home the 2011 USF Cougar Invitational last weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D. Black finished seventh overall with rounds of 77 and 72 in the clinching weekend for MSU. The Mavericks are done for the rest of the fall and will continue play this March.

Q & A with Bennett Black Q: How did you decide on attending Minnesota State?

A: I chose Minnesota State because I was recruited by them out of high school.

Q: Did you always intend on playing golf at MSU? A: My final decision was made early. I wanted to golf with my brother, Bryant, who was the captain here my freshman year.

Q: How would you describe your season last year?

A: My season last year was average, nothing special. I played good in the fall and never really got it going in the spring.

Q: What are your expectations for the season?

A: My expectations this year are pretty high for myself and the team. I would like to see our team come back from an 8-stroke deficit to beat St. Cloud State in the spring portion of the conference tournament and also see myself comeback from three strokes to take the title. Winning the conference tournament would give us an automatic bid to the Super Regionals and possibly nationals.

Q: What is your favorite course to play on?

A: My favorite course to play at would have to be Deacon’s Lodge in Brainerd. The course is always in fantastic shape and it’s pretty unique seeing wild turkey, deer and other animals running through the fairways.

Q: How would you describe MSU’s home course?

A: MSU’s home course has a nice practice facility. We don’t ever play at North Links, but rather drive to surrounding towns and play a variety of different courses to better our game.

Q: What kind of clubs do you use?

A: I have Titleist irons and Ping G15 driver as well as a Ping G15 3 and 5-woods.

Q: What kind of ball do you shoot?

A: I prefer the Titleist Pro V1 with the number 1 on it.

Q: Who is your favorite professional golfer?

A: My favorite professional golfer would have to be Rickie Fowler. He has an interesting game to watch and always brings excitement to the fans on what he will be wearing next.

Q: What is your favorite PGA course?

A: My favorite PGA course is Pebble Beach. I was lucky enough to play there as a graduation present from my parents. I shot an 80 from the back tees.

Q: What is your most memorable moment on the golf course?

A: My most memorable moment in golf was a few years ago when Tom Lehman watched me hit a shot on the par three 17th hole at Alexandria Golf Club (my home course as well as Tom’s), and I put it inches from the pin.

Q: What area of your game would you consider to be your strength?

A: I consider my driver to be the strength to my game. It’s a big advantage starting from the fairway rather than in the woods.

Q: What is the average distance on your drive?

A: I’d say my average distance off the tee would be about 290 yards.

-- Compiled by Cole Kukowski

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UP NEXT

It’s been almost a week Upper Iowa since the Mavericks touched When: 1 p.m. Saturday the ground, as their aerial attack Where: Fayette, Iowa was shut down in St. Cloud.

After starting the conference season with a four-game winclose second in pass efficiency ning streak, the Minnesota State, (151.5).

Mankato football team returned “The biggest thing [they have to reality after a frustrating 31-13 going for them] is that they have road loss to rival St. Cloud State. a lot of perimeter players that are But the best thing about sports very gifted and talented, and they is that there’s always another can definitely do some damage game, and MSU will have a if you’re not at the top of your chance to get back into the win game,” Hoffner said. column and take a little bit of the The Peacocks’ running back, sting away on Saturday against the Chris Smith, is a former NSIC 2-3 Upper Iowa Peacocks.

Offensive Player of the Week, While the Peacocks have hisand ranks seventh in the confertorically finished near the bottom ence with 92.8 yards-per-game. of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Upper Iowa also boasts one of the Conference, MSU head coach strongest receiving corps in the Todd Hoffner sees Upper Iowa for division, led by the NSIC’s leader what it is: a challenge. in receiving yards-per-game, Jesse “The biggest thing is that Hubbard (103.6), and his counterthey’ve played a couple of differpart Shay Gutman (62.2 receiving ent games so far; they’ve played YPG). some teams very well and stumWith so much firepower on bled a little bit against other teams, the perimeter, redshirt freshman so a lot depends on how motivated quarterback Cole Jaeschke has they are and what they want to plenty of options, and ranks third do,” Hoffner said. “They’ve got in the conference with 246.2 yards talent; it’s just a matter of putting of total offense per game. it all together.”

On defense, Upper Iowa boasts On offense, the Peacocks lead the second-best pass defense the NSIC with 410.2 yards per (152.2 yards allowed per game), game of total offense and are a but since the Mavericks are the

GOPHERS

continued from 7

football.

There’s nothing you can do with these guys, they’re bad and they’re going to be bad all season long.

Once again Gopher fans, I would advise you to proceed with caution around this sea-

son’s squad. So go ahead, sell your Nebraska tickets to your hick cousin because you and I both know they will lose by 40 points anyway.

Does the future look bright, or at least not so dark? Yes. Young quarterbacks always look

only team ranked ahead of them (121.0), it will be interesting to see how much each team utilizes its own receivers against the opponents defensive backs.

The Peacocks are also led by one of the highest-tackling linebacker trios in the league, made up of Tony Leggett (third in the NSIC with 10.6 tackles-per-game), Ethan Douglas (sixth with 9.6) and Casey Popenfoose (6.0).

The Peacocks’ defense does seem to have one major weakness: they’re dead-last in the NSIC in sacks and have only managed to record one sack so far this season.

But perhaps the biggest challenge the Mavericks will look to conquer is the location of the game.

“We’re 1-2 on the road right now, so we haven’t shown a lot of success on the road,” Hoffner said.

“This will be an opportunity for us to hopefully have some success and compete on the road, so it will be a tough game for us.”

Bouncing back, especially on the road, is all mental. If there’s one thing Hoffner needs from his team this weekend, it’s hunger.

“Every game, every week, every season is a new opportunity, so it’s all going to boil down to who wants it more,” Hoffner said. “I think they’ve got talent and I think we’ve got talent; it’s just a matter of who wants to compete.”

good in the future. But I think until all these kids on the team right now are graduated, Jerry Kill is going to have a tough time with the not-so-Golden Gophers.

A&E

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Adventures in...

www.msureporter.com/arts-entertainment

Sci-Fi-TV The Strange and Seductive Art of the Weird

TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY

DR. WHO

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What if one day nobody died?

This continues onto the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that with no end in sight. What are the ramifications of a planet without death?

Furthermore, who or what created this ‘miracle’? This is the premise of Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth season of the British sci-fi series that finds itself global this year. No longer are the threats confined to the English borders; this is a phenomenon on a global scale that requires the intervention of the Torchwood Institute.

Commissioned to investigate extraterrestrial and paranormal activity around the world, Torchwood is led by the immortal Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Welsh Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles). In the three prior seasons, Torchwood began as a secretive organization above the government with unrestricted power.

Now, they’re four men short on foot soldiers, Torchwood in name only. No longer instruments of power, they don’t fight the good fight because they have to, but because they need to.

There are multiple balls rolling in this series: the introduction of new Stateside characters, Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer, ER) and Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins, All My Children) of the FBI who recruit the on-the-lam TorchANDREW SIMON

staff writer

wood; the political and cultural implications of nobody dying, including but not limited to population increase, resulting in little space left to accommodate everybody; a seedy pharmaceutical company that had foreknowledge of the Miracle and appropriately prepared for it economically; and child rapist/murderer Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman, Independence “Taking all this into account, it would seem this is a recipe for a wildly successful season of “Torchwood”. Unfortunately, the greatness that shined through the three prior seasons isn’t similarly on display here.”

Day) who becomes a free man once his death sentence is, technically speaking, carried out.

With only 10 episodes, every episode addresses one or every one of those components. The action is, at present, fast and furious in the opening twoparter, reintroducing Torchwood to audiences with guns and bazookas galore and a good helping of intrigue. The middle portion continues to add to the mystery, ask questions, and show tragic, horrifying methods of controlling life and death. Finally, the show runs to a conclusion with the final three episodes, with rev-

TORCHWOOD / page 10

The world’s ANDREW SIMON staff writer longest running science fiction show, Doctor Who follows theotherwise-unamed doctor as he travels time and space correcting wrongs and doing rights, saving the universe on an episode by episode basis. Nearing its 50th anniversary in 2013, Doctor Who has survived 32 seasons and 11 different actors playing the role of the alien Time Lord from the planet Galifrey who seeks a little adventure and has a bit of a fascination for Earth.

Simply put, Doctor Who is the science fiction phenomenon everybody should be watching. Nowhere else on television will audiences find a more perfect balance of comedy, action, drama, romance, mystery, horror, sci-fi, and thrills – all in 45 minutes. Since its debut on BBC America last year, Doctor Who has increasingly become a popular series in the states, and has just concluded its sixth series since its 2005 revival.

The latest season finds The Doctor (Matt Smith) traveling in his time machine, the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), with his married companions Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and Amy Pond (Karen Gillan). The opening two-parter depicts The Doctor’s death 200 years in the If time travel interests you, “Doctor Who” is a must see. Someone could waste a full weekend discussing paradoxes and the logistics of The Doctor’s actions.

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future, and seeing as how it’s a fixed point in time (meaning there is simply no deviation from the path) his companions have no idea how to save him. Finding a method to do so, and uncovering the secret of the mysterious River Song (Alex Kingston, ER) who seems to know everything and the sinister organization the Silence are the main drives of the season.

But there’s also loads of fun to be had. The team faces off against a siren on a pirate ship, influence events during the 1960s moon landing, crash into Adolf Hitler’s private office, meet a race of human doppelgangers, visit a hotel that brings to life your deepest fears, travel outside the universe, and tamper with multiple time streams and realities. Just the typical season of Doctor Who: 14episodes of mind bending, off-the-wall fun.

If time travel interests you, Doctor Who is a must see. Someone could waste a full weekend discussing paradoxes and the logistics of The Doctor’s actions. If comedy or drama suits you more, Doctor Who has that in spades. Not one episode goes by without some laugh-outloud moment or one liner, and the drama and thrills seem relentless.

Those looking for action will get their fill as The Doctor and his team visit planets, fight robots, run around 1930s Berlin, or face a Minotaur. And horror fans will particularly find delight in a boy’s scary bedroom closet.

The writing team behind Doctor Who is the best in the business.

The scripts are highly intelligent

WHO? / page 10

Page 10 • Reporter

A&E

Thursday, October 13, 2011

WHO? “There are twist and turns at every corner this year, making it possibly the biggest rollercoaster ride since its 2005 resurrection.” continued from 9 and clever, the characters are complex and nuanced, the visuals are extraordinary for a television budget, the performances are award-worthy, and every episode is an event onto itself. 32 seasons in, and the Doctor Who team still know how to excite and push the boundaries. There are twist and turns at every corner this year, making it possibly the biggest rollercoaster ride since its 2005 resurrection.

Doctor Who has concluded for the year, with the exception of a Christmas Special partly inspired by C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, The Wardrobe, and the long wait for next series already feels daunting. On the plus side, there’s nearly fifty years of history to catch up on.

The series is becoming a global phenomenon, and it’s absolutely worth getting on the bandwagon. Doctor Who is currently available via Netflix Streaming and DVD, with repeats on BBC America sporadically. Doctor Who returns Christmas 2011.

UPDATE! ANDREW SIMON | staff writer

Since publication of the last issue, reporting the uncertain future of the longrunning animated series The Simpsons, the matter has been resolved. Initially Fox demanded a 45 percent paycut from actor salaries (who make around $440,000 per episode), which the actors refused. Contract disputes left the two parties in a standoff.

Eventually, the actors relented.

A new deal was struck: instead of the 45 percent salary decrease, the parties compromised at a 30 percent paycut. Additionally, as part of this new accord, 20th Century Fox TV renewed The Simpsons for two more seasons, 24 and 25, respectively. At the conclusion of its 25th season run, the series will officially be the longest-running comedy in television history, with a cumulative 559 episodes broadcast. The Simpsons returns with new episodes Oct. 30 with its annual “Treehouse of Horror.”

TORCHWOOD “Torchwood: Miracle Day” isn’t the series at the top of its game, but that shouldn’t turn off potential viewers from checking into the program.” continued from 9 elations and twists every twenty minutes or so.

Taking all this into account, it would seem this is a recipe for a wildly successful season of Torchwood. Unfortunately, the greatness that shined through the three prior seasons isn’t similarly on display here. The clever, witty dialogue, outrageous action scenes, likable and complex characters, and solid pacing seem either absent or lessened to a dangerous degree. There are some episodes better than most, indeed, but Miracle Day doesn’t capture the same magic of its predecessor, the five-part Children of Earth or the uneven but fun second season.

Miracle Day begins and ends with excitement and that sense of fun, but the middle lacks anything resembling a good show. Regrettably, nothing seems to happen.

Torchwood: Miracle Day isn’t the series at the top of its game, but that shouldn’t turn off potential viewers from checking into the program. There are fortyone episodes of solid science fiction entertainment that should not be missed, and hopefully ratings were generous enough to grant Torchwood a second chance (or fifth chance, really). After all, the conclusion of Miracle Day promises the story isn’t over by a long shot.

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

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Reporter • Page 11

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Thursday, October 13, 2011