October 15, 2013

Tuesday, October 15, 2013 @msureporter

facebook.com/msureporter

Minnesota State University, Mankato

www.themsureporter.com

TUESDAY

H 51 H 86 L 66 L 40

H 55 H 86 L 66 L 35

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Number 1

MSU football tops national polls for first time in program history

Downs CAR Augie CARE for no - PAGES . 1 spot5-8 - PG. 9 INSIDE: MSUFALL

ED/OP

4

SPORTS A&E SPORTS A&E

9

12

H 57 H 86 L 66 L 35

2 • MSU Reporter

News

New stimulant introduced to improve concentration ASHLEY GERKEN Staff Writer Two University of Colorado business graduates released the first over-the-counter product that can help stimulate cognitive brain function.

Lucas Siegel and Matthew Piskorz are the creators of the performance enhancing stimulant Alleradd.

“Life is faster,” Siegel said.

“College students, businessmen and athletes are expected to do more, work longer hours and increase productivity. People are competing against each other constantly to be picked for a job, sport, assignment or rank. Coffee isn’t sufficient.”

Alleradd is used to increase mental performance.

In college, the two worked full-time at River Rock Group, helping families by creating financial investments, as well as providing ways to get solar panels for houses.

College studying also had Siegel and Piskorz personally studying the use of neurotransmitters to replenish and keep up with work, school and activities.

The business partners started experimenting with the production of cognitive enhancers.

They began working with nootropic supplements, and started to acquire clients.

In 2010, an idea led them to develop an actual product.

Alleradd is now available for sale.

“We started evaluating healthy and legal options in college,” Siegel said.

Colleges have a high traffic of illegal drug use. People purchase prescriptions from others to help keep concentrated and motivated. Alleradd is legal and all of the ingredients have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Our clients started taking our concoctions and telling us Alleradd really helped with focus, energy and memory enhancement,” Siegel said.

According to Siegel, clients have had no reports of negative side-effects.

Their clients became investors and provided connections to other resources. The men went to expos and trade shows, making calls to many labs.

The duo found a certified lab in Long Island, New York, that would pick up the production for the product. Professional chemists would formulate the ingredients into Alleradd.

The formula is what puts the elements together to form the mental stimulant.

All of the ingredients are individually approved by the FDA. “Our motive is to give an option for healthy focus and productivity,” Siegel said.

The website for Alleradd was quietly opened about a month ago, which made the over-thecounter drug available. It is only available online for the moment, but there will be a product launch within two weeks to expand the existence of Alleradd.

Alleradd is in high demandthe website limits customers to two bottles. The 32 count bottle is currently $34.95.

Alleradd is not sold in stores yet. The website, however, has been experiencing successhowever, they want to wait before the product is sold in stores.

Accounts of people who have taken Alleradd can be found on the internet almost every day.

The website lists information on the product.

Lucas Siegel graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Finance, and Matthew Piskorz graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantitative Finance. Both of the creators graduated in May of 2013.

“Do not let college get in the way of your education,” Siegel said. Take advantage of the free time out of school and learn the stuff you can apply.”

Siegel was cautionary of any indication that the product was easy to make. “It’s harder than it looks.”

More information can be found on the product’s website at www.alleradd.com.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU College of Business rated among the best in the nation ALEX KERKMAN Staff Writer When it comes to business schools, Minnesota State University Mankato can claim to have one of the best, according to a study conducted by a wellknown academic company.

The study was conducted by test-preparation and admissions company the Princeton Review.

MSU’S high rankings were part of a broader study- the 2014 edition of “The Best 295 Business Schools.”

With over 2,600 schools in the United States, that would put MSU’s College of Business in the top 10 percent of universities in the nation.

According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review Senior Vice President-Publisher, “We recommend Minnesota State, Mankato as one of the best institutions a student could attend to earn a business school degree. We chose the schools we profile in this book based on our high regard for their academic programs and our reviews of in-

stitutional data we collect from the schools.”

In “The Best 295 Business Schools,” each school is given a two page profile.

MSU’s profile includes information on school academics, student life, admission requirements and statistics. Students at MSU were also interviewed from each school at the university and descriptions in the book describe MSU’s College of Business as “very content and knowledge driven,” and “updated in real time based on the trends.”

“We also solicit and greatly respect the opinions of students attending these schools who rate and report on their experiences at the school on our 80-question student survey for the book,” Franek said.

The Princeton Review does not rank its list of schools in order from 1 to 295, nor do they pick a true top overall business school in the country. Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College of Business has been included in each set of rankings since 2006 -nine years in a row.

The College of Business at MSU has 22,000 alumni, with about 85 percent of graduates finding a job within a year of graduation. Last year $112,825 was awarded in scholarships to students admitted to the college.

MSU’s College of Business offers majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing and International Business.

The college also offers minors in Accounting, Business Administration, Business Law, Financial Planning, Human Resource Marketing, Marketing and International Business.

There are over 1,600 students in MSU’s College of Business, and nearly 50 full- time faculty members. More than 90 percent of classes in the College of Business have a class size of 36 students or less.

The Princeton Review, which is headquartered in Framingham, Mass., is not affiliated with Princeton University, nor is it a magazine.. The Princeton Review was founded in 1981, and is located in 41 states and 22 countries throughout the world.

"I'm moving off campus. Now what?" www.livekato.com A great source for tips to help the transition from dorm to off-campus life.

UNIVERSITY SQUARE

INFORMATION ABOUT: • Renting • Being a good neighbor • Alcohol rules • Parties

• Safety (Police & Fire) • Transportation & Parking • Volunteering • City codes & News

VILLAGE APARTMENTS

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Brought to you by the city of Mankato, MSU Reporter & University Square Village © City of Mankato, Minnesota

|

10 Civic Center Plaza Mankato, MN 56001

|

Call 311 or 507-387-8600

|

311@city.mankato.mn.us

M S

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU Reporter • 3

News

Staple of campus receives facelift Bridging the divide between the different buildings on campus for over 40 years, construction on the fountain nears completion date.

MIKELL MELIUS Staff Writer The fountain located in MSU’s mall area has given students a pleasing atmosphere since it was first installed in 1969. Although the fountain has gone through changes, including the addition of the inner, metal sculpture, and the most recent construction to its surrounding landscape, it has been a staple on MSU’s campus.

Construction happening in the mall has not been a secret.

It limited walking areas and has blocked the main entrance to the library, causing students to walk around the library and use the Maywood Drive entrance.

Tunnel construction started in the Spring of 2013. When completed, the tunnel will connect Memorial library to the CSU, as well as the fountain. While the tunnel is still under heavy construction, a majority of the fountain’s construction has been completed.

The revamped fountain provides a more inviting area for those at MSU. One change to the fountain’s landscape is the grassy area which surrounds it.

While the old fountain design had bushes and flowers at its border, the newly planted grass edging the revamped fountain has been a popular spot for students to sit and study, hang out with friends and kill time

between classes.

Another big change the fountain underwent was the installment of a reflecting pool. The old fountain had jets which shot up and landed on open concrete.

The new reflecting pool adds a nice, new visual aspect to the fountain. Not only is the new reflecting pool pleasing to the eye it also is saving water. “The old concrete apron was cracked, losing thousands of gallons of water into the ground each day,” Project Manager Paul Corcoran said. “The reflecting pool is water tight with no cracks.”

Although much has already been done to the fountain and it looks completed to passing students, there are still some

minor details that need to be finished. “There are a few punch list items that need correcting,” Corcoran said. These punch list items include small leaks in some piping and the painting of light poles and vents. The estimated cost of the fountain’s construction was set at $575,000, and although improvements still need to be made the cost should not increase.

One key thing that still needs attention is the fountain’s pumping system. The jets are not working to the best of their ability, so improvements in the pumping system are needed in order to increase the water volume.

These improvements will

be made after the fountain’s yearly drain before it freezes, Corcoran said. “Not until spring will you see the fountain in its glory.” Until then, the water jets that normally create a spiral effect around the sculpture will remain low.

While construction of the tunnel is still underway, and the library’s main entrance is blocked, the fountain’s main construction is completed. Walking paths have been cleared up. New space has been given to students. The end of all construction is in sight.

While the recent changes have morphed the surrounding look of the fountain, it still remains a staple on MSU’s campus.

Selling clean, gently used, affordable furnishings for every room in the house.

77 Star Street, Mankato 15% OFF (507) 387-2699 with www.vinestore.org student ID

Hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 10am - 5pm • Sunday 12 noon - 5pm

Only 1 Mile Away From Campus!

115 Parkway Ave., Mankato, MN 56001

Call Today!

Visit our website: www.mfdc.com/glenwood

Beautiful Outdoor Pool

Sam Wilmes • MSU Reporter While the fountain has dramatically changed in the past year, there is still work to do, and the full strength of the fountain is not expected until the spring.

• 1 Bedrooms @ $630 • 2 Bedrooms @ $780 • FREE Parking on Campus • Air-Conditioned Units

Spacious Apartments

• Outdoor Grills • On-Site Laundry • Heat & Water Included • Now Accepting Small Dogs!

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Evenings and Weekends by Appointment

4 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, October 15, 2013 Follow the Reporter on Twitter @MSU Reporter or Like Us on Facebook.com/ msureporter

Email the Editor in Chief: reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

More student involvement needed to grow experience More student involvement will benefit both the individual and the university, but how do you get students to get involved?

RYAN BERNDT Staff Writer Along with the men of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, I had the privilege of listening to a presentation by Greg Wilkins, Associate Director for Student Activities. Expanding on the book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by Stephen R. Covey, Wilkins discussed how in reality, with enough drive and push, any student could become a leader.

The group left motivated, positive, and ready to make an impact; but a feeling of somberness filled the air. Wilkins encouraged us to act the part of the men we wanted to be, and to make a lasting impact on this campus by getting involved.

But despite having a campus of over 18,000 students and a university boasting over 300 clubs and organizations to join, a word is tossed around by many members of these organizations: apathy.

It’s an ugly word, apathy, meaning, “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern,” and people are quick to throw it in conversations about the University.

From Homecoming events to even applying to scholarships, it’s a problem many campuses around the nation face every year. When students first arrive on campus, they’re excited and motivated to explore all that the University life offers; but after their first year the general student population’s involvement declines.

Welcome Week gives clubs a chance to present themselves during scheduled activities; Homecoming showcases them even further, yet student involvement remains at an incredibly low level during these events.

No matter how hard organizations on campus try to revert the problem, it won’t work. No matter the amount of flyers passed out, posters hanged, or advertisements sent out; attendance is still low.

Properly dissecting and understanding the problem takes

far too much knowledge on student behavior than the average person knows, but fixing apathy starts with the basics.

Student leaders need not look at their efforts to brand events, nor do they need to question their own abilities. It stems from the students, from what kind of campus we have and what kind of campus we want. Organizations need to stop mindlessly promoting themselves and think, what factors are preventing students from getting involved?

Anyone can attack the binge drinking and substance abuse that undoubtedly happens on the weekend, especially members of the older generations.

But people ignore talks about the consequences of those actions in relation to campus involvement. When nights are spent drinking, days are spent recovering, and that means those who drink are much less likely to go to weekend events planned by IMPACT. This leaves IMPACT in a tough position; how can they get more students to come to events that we’re paying for with our tuition? And no, turning the Bull Pen into an alcohol-friendly zone is already out of the question.

There are many other factors contributing to attendance rates to such events, but what it boils down to is the individual.

All it takes is a quick stop at one of the bulletin boards around campus to see what is offered; lectures that inspire and inform, social events to meet new people, volunteering opportunities that not only makes participants feel good, but looks just as good on a resume.

Students should challenge themselves to step out of their comfort zone and become a part of this campus, rather than standing on the sidelines.

Front cover photograph of MSU Quarterback Jon Wolf (11) taken by Reporter photo editor David Bassey

“Can you picture yourself taking on a leadership position on campus?”

MUNIRA HASSAN, SENIOR COMMUNITY HEALTH “I am a V.P. in M.S.A. so I am already taking a leadership position on campus.”

WESLEY DREY, SENIOR MASS MEDIA

STEVE MOARABU, GRADUATE STUDENT AVIATION

“I am the V.P. of the Public Relations Student Society of America.”

“Yes, I can, by the grace of God.”

MEGAN LOSINSKI, COMMUNICATION DISORDERS SOPHOMORE “Yes I can see myself taking on a leadership role.”

Minnesota State University, Mankato

STAFF FALL 2013

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Reece Hemmesch.......389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Sam Wilmes..............389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: Joey Denton.............. 389-5227 VARIETY EDITOR: James Houtsma.......... 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: Natasha Jones........... 389-1063 Mac Boehmer............389-5097 Parker Riesgraf.......... 389-1079 Brandon Poliszuk.......389-5453 BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad............... 389-1926 ADV. DESIGN MANAGER: Dana Clark............... 389-2793

POLICIES & INFORMATION • If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Reece Hemmesch at (507) 3895454. The Reporter will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board.

• The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a studentrun newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at (507) 3891776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

• Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes.

Compiled by Yohanes Ashenafi

MIESSO WAKO, POLICAL SCIENCE JUNIOR “Yes, I can picture myself to be a leader on campus.”

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU Reporter • 5

News

Shutdown deal in sight? Reid, McConnell optimistic After two weeks of the government shutdown, differences remain. Progress is being made, albeit slowly.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Racing the clock, the Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders closed in on a deal Monday night to avoid an economymenacing Treasury default and end the two-week partial government shutdown.

“We’ve made tremendous progress,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared after an intense day of negotiations with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and other lawmakers. “Perhaps tomorrow will be a bright day,” he said, suggesting agreement could be announced soon after weeks of stubborn gridlock.

McConnell also voiced optimism — although not as much as Reid, D-Nev., had — and the details under discussion generated little if any satisfaction among rebellious House conservatives.

Officials said that in the discussion to date, the $16.7 trillion federal debt limit would be raised enough to permit the Treasury to borrow normally until mid-February, if not a few weeks longer.

The government would reopen with enough money to operate until mid-January at levels set previously, and agencies would be given flexibility in adjusting to reduced funding levels imposed by across-theboard spending cuts.

Officials cautioned that those details could change, and there was even more uncertainty about other elements of a possible deal.

Under discussion was a oneyear delay in a $63 fee imposed on companies by the health care law known as Obamacare for everyone covered by an employer-sponsored plan. By day’s end, though, Republican opposition to the provision placed it in jeopardy — just as Democrats had earlier pushed back against the proposed repeal of a medical device tax contained in the health care law.

The two sides were also discussing a requirement that individuals seeking subsidies under the health care law to pay for coverage would be subject to stronger income verification measures.

The government has been partly closed since Oct. 1, and the Obama administration says the Treasury will run out of borrowing authority to fully pay the nation’s bills on Thursday.

The result has been a parti-

san showdown that polls show is alienating all sectors of the electorate except tea party supporters — and has been a big political loser for Republicans.

As a midweek deadline for raising the debt limit neared, the stock market turned positive on bullish predictions from the two longtime antagonists at the center of the talks, Reid and McConnell.

Though McConnell expressed optimism about an agreement, his words were not as strong as Reid’s. “We’ve made substantial progress, and we look forward to making more progress in the near future,” he said as the Senate adjourned for the evening.

At a mid-day visit to a charity not far from the White House, President Barack Obama blended optimism with a slap at Republicans.

“My hope is that a spirit of cooperation will move us forward over the next few hours,” he said. And yet, he added, “If we don’t start making some real progress both in the House and the Senate, and if Republicans aren’t willing to set aside some of their partisan concerns in order to do what’s right for the country, we stand a good chance of defaulting.”

Stock prices, which had risen strongly late last week on hopes of an agreement, were down at the start of the day but then pushed higher as the Senate leaders voiced optimism. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 64 points.

Reid and McConnell met twice before midafternoon, their sessions sandwiched around a White House announcement that Obama was calling them and the party leaders in the House for the second time in less than a week to discuss the economy-threatening crises.

The meeting was subsequently postponed and it was not clear when it might be rescheduled.

Any legislation would require passage in the Senate and also in the House, where a large faction of tea party-aligned lawmakers precipitated the shutdown two weeks ago despite the efforts of both McConnell and Republican Speaker John Boehner.

Boehner met with McConnell during the day, then with other House GOP leaders. His spokesman, Michael Steel, later said, “If the Senate comes to an agreement, we will review it

with our members.” A closeddoor session was set for Tuesday morning.

One conservative with a seat at the GOP leadership table, Oklahoma Rep. James Lankford, said that based on what he had been told, the emerging package contained no policy victories for his party. As for raising the debt limit until February, he said, “That’s a lot of dollars.”

In addition to other elements of any deal, the two Senate leaders are expected to announce that House and Senate negotiators will seek a deficitreduction agreement that could ease or eliminate a new round of automatic federal spending cuts scheduled to begin in January.

While the current round of these cuts fell on both domestic programs and the military, the new reductions would hit primarily the Pentagon.

Democrats were resisting a Republican-backed proposal to suspend a medical device tax that was enacted as part of the health care law.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to comment on the private discussions.

The president and a wide array of economists, bankers and politicians in both parties — at home and backed by world leaders — have all warned that default could have catastrophic consequences for both the domestic and global economies.

The doubters alternatively say no default will occur or that if it does, it won’t be the calamity that others claim.

But after holding center stage for much of the current impasse, there was little doubt that they had been shunted aside as Reid and McConnell worked toward an agreement.

The prospect of a default and the possibility of a follow-on recession largely overshadowed the partial government shutdown that has furloughed 350,000 federal workers.

Government research labs have been affected, veterans’ services curtailed and much of the Occupational Safety and Health Organization shuttered.

With federal parks off-limits to visitors, the impact on tourism prompted several governors to petition Interior Secretary Sally Jewell successfully to permit the states to finance some re-openings.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1, at the beginning of the budget year, after the House adopted a strategy of conditioning broad federal spending legislation to a proposal to starve the threeyear-old health care law of funding.

The president and Democrats refused, and the bruising struggle began, merging quickly with the fast-approaching deadline for a debt limit increase.

In the two weeks since, public opinion polls have charted a steady decline in Republican approval ratings, and an increase in the view that the party’s lawmakers are acting out of political motivation.

The shutdown has proved problematic for the GOP in the Virginia governor’s race, which is on the ballot this fall. Public opinion polls show the Democrat, Terry McAuliffe, ahead of Republican Ken Cuccinelli, who is caught between tea party supporters on the one side and the public’s general unhappiness on the other, magnified by the large presence of federal workers in the state.

6 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Opinion: How a no. 1 ranking can affect an entire athletic program 2012 resulted in success, 2013 has already begun with a no. 1 ranking

by MSU’s football team, so what does it all mean for MSU athletics?

It is true that if we were to make the leap up to Division I athletics, it would be the lesserknown sports that would receive the most appraisals. You cannot leap up in divisions simply because a few sports (more likely the popular ones) are doing well, it has to be an all-program fight that sees each team going up for NSIC championships and national tournament berths every single year.

Though they need all the teams to cooperate, it doesn’t hurt matters that the football team is now no. 1 in the nation and could hold onto that role for a long time, which could also do nothing but help out the program. For as long as the team

The MSSA will be holding an election for the following positions: • COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (1) • COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH & NURSING (3) • GRADUATE STUDIES (1) • JULIA SEARS (1) • UNDECLARED (2) David Bassey • MSU Reporter With so much success obtained in 2012, it is looking like 2013 will be no different as the MSU football team has already reached no. 1 after their decisive 20-10 victory over Augustatana Saturday. The question buzzing around campus: how far will this year’s squad go?

REECE HEMMESCH Editor in Chief The results from Waco are in, and for the first time in program history, the MSU Mavericks football team gets to bill themselves as the best team in the country. That’s right, after topranked Valdosta State’s stunning 49-30 upset loss to rising West Alabama, all the Mavs needed Saturday was a victory against conference-foe Augustana to become the best team in the nation, which they received after a 20-10 victory over the Vikings.

For those of you in need of a little Maverick history lesson, this is the eighth time in school history that a team has pulled down a no. 1 ranking in sports.

Only the men’s basketball team in 2005, the women’s basketball team in 2008 (including a postseason no. 1 ranking after a national championship), the wrestling team in 2008 and women’s soccer have been competitive enough to boast as the top-spot.

So what does this mean for

stays on top of the poll, that is how long the big wigs of college athletics will see the name Minnesota State- Mankato at the top of the list, meaning that is the first name they will see for weeks to come as the football squad attempts to put the finishing touches on what should be another fantastic year.

I don’t believe any of us will see MSU as a division 1 athletics university anytime in our tenure here, but if the football team can keep it up as well as the other squads in the University, it could be a matter of years to get the job done and make MSU the second all-division 1 University in Minnesota.

athletics at MSU? Well, in the near future, it really means nothing more for the school.

After all, if the squad jumped from no. 20 in the country to no.

19 instead of the jump from 2 to 1, would anybody really notice?

It is not the size of the jump or jumps in general that make this a big deal, it is the fact that out of the 148 or so football teams that call themselves division II, we are at the top of the list.

This is a big deal Mavericks, whether you are someone who supports athletics, supports a few but not football, or just someone who really has no affiliation towards the sports world at all, this is huge.

It sounds a little ridiculous but the truth of the matter is, especially in Division II, the jump from second-best in the country or in the top 5 to the no. 1 spot is a huge leap that can only mean more national media attention on our athletic program and our school in general.

After all of last year’s success in athletics where the Mavericks finished fourth in the Learfield

Sports Director’s Cup (given to the program in each division with the highest finish in intercollegiate athletics), one must assume that with our athletic program on the rise, a jump to Division I could be the answer many of us see at the end of this tunnel.

So far in the 2013-2014 campaign, it appears as though the football team could go for a further run than last year, even if their 2012 season did end up one game short of the ultimate goal of a national championship, but all the other sports in the fall have also been carrying their own weight.

Women’s soccer is once again tops in the nation like last year, proving the coaching tactics of incoming head coach Brian Bahl as a program that doesn’t rebuild, but reloads. Cross country, golf and volleyball are all keeping up as well during this time, making the thought of advancement once again roam through the heads of the upper officials in the athletic department.

If interested, call MSSA at (507) 389-2611. www.mnsu.edu/mssa

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU Reporter • 7

News

Confessions of a non-sports fan at MSU-Mankato Reporter writer ponders Minnesota’s own failure in sports, as well as his own apathy in the never-ending saga of Minnesota sports.

JAMES HOUTSMA A&E Editor As far back as I can remember I have never been a sports fan. Sure my parents or guardian figures may have thrown a pint-sized Vikings sweater on my 2-year-old self at one point or another but overall nothing about the medium has appealed to me.

I’m not one to knock the things we follow for entertainment (just look at what I write about) but watching or following sports never held any sway over me like it did for so many of my peers.

I remember a conversation between my former neighbor and I where he asked me what sports I was involved in now that I was living in Mankato. I may as well have been speaking Swedish when I told him that I was focusing on music and writing instead of shooting hoops in my spare time.

Entertainment based on narrative and storytelling latched onto me in a strong way when I was a kid and I never really let go.

Maybe this was what caused me to think that a well-crafted plot twist was infinitely more captivating than who threw the ball furthest in the final quarter.

For me, the strange and uncommon will always trump an orderly, numbers-based field of sports.

I was bored way back when in tennis lessons and I’m bored to this day when a conversation takes hold about how teams can shake things up for better results, that one spectacular play before time ran out and how the fantasy team is holding up.

Then there’s the matter of where I grew up, which might explain a lot.

As I said, I’m not a sports person. Not to sound too narcissistic but I, for the most part, can’t understand why anyone else on statewide basis considers himself or herself one either.

You see, when you aren’t really invested in sports, the only thing that matters is the bottom line.

Which player has the most hustle, who hit the most homeruns, who’s the MVP and who has the most potential – all of it becomes irrelevant in com-

parison to the final score. That’s what matters.

And when it comes to final scores and seasons in general, Minnesota has one flimsy track record.

Last Thursday saw Minnesota’s own women’s basketball team, the Lynx, take home the WNBA championship for the second time in the last three seasons.

Before this weekend, I never even knew the Lynx were a thing thanks to how much media coverage they get (specifically, how much they don’t). A Minnesota sports team once more wins a championship and that’s about the extent of the coverage they get in a year?

Seems a little strange.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings are stamped all about the state and all that’s ever heard is how disappointing their last game was and how we’re not destined for anything great this season and “better luck next year, bud.”

And yet, not only do we never stop hearing how they disappointed us again, we never stop hearing about them, period.

Judging by the attention paid to each team, one would think Minnesotans strive for constant punishment and sweep our actual pride and joy under the rug.

I tried rooting for the Vikings once when I was nine in a game against the St. Louis Rams. Once.

That’s how long it took me to realize that this wasn’t a team you rest your hopes and dreams upon.

Sure, they’ll have a season every once in a blue moon like the one four years ago with Favre. So what? They always biff it in the end, anyway.

It’s baffling to see how many people on my Facebook feed every Sunday express some sort of expectation of the Vikings, only to reach the conclusion that most objective people came to at the start of the season – they’ll lose.

Is our state’s problem as simple as the Lynx, our one good team as of now, being a women’s basketball team? Does some difference of game and team makeup nullify the fact that these women have actually been on a roll the past few years?

Why aren’t my tax dollars

going to build the Lynx a lavish stadium instead of a team that can barely get its act together?

Luckily such feelings have never really trickled down to the more local levels.

I was proud when my high school football, soccer and hockey teams all made it to state

and I’m proud now that our own Maverick football team is number one in the nation, with our soccer team doing great as well.

Unfortunately, none of those teams were around as role models in my formulative years.

It was only the aforementioned teams and nothing to be proud

of.

Nothing against those who can find some enjoyment out of the Vikings, or any other team that falls short in the end – I just traded in my tiny fan sweater a long time ago for something more fulfilling.

8 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Student Health Services provides much needed support for students Student health services provides a helping hand for students dealing with emotional, physical or other problems.

HANNAH KLEINBERG Staff Writer Although unrecognized sometimes, Student Health Services can provide a large benefit for all Minnesota State University’s students. Many students aren’t aware of all that they can access through our Student Health Services program, and often struggle outside of campus because they don’t know that help is just a couple of steps away.

According to Director of Student Health Services Wendy Schuh, the most popular facility they support is the Student Health Clinic, which is located in Carkoski Commons, right next to the cafeteria and down the stairs.

The clinic features secretaries, nurses, three doctors and two nurse practitioners. Each doctor and nurse practitioner specializes in their own field, from psychiatrics and mental health professionals to sports medicine practitioners.

You can visit the clinic for nearly anything, from flu shots to complicated birth control processes to the general sore throat and cough.

Connected to the Student Health Clinic are the student

pharmacy and a lab. In the lab professionals are able to perform tests for things like strep throat or the flu, and in the pharmacy you can pick up personal prescriptions, even if you don’t visit the school’s doctors. You can also purchase over the counter medicine such as Tylenol, Abreva and cough drops for a highly reduced price.

Student Fees help pay for the discounted benefits, but Schuh also explained that the prices are so low mainly because the school isn’t out for a profit with its medical services. She said

that health is a must in our university, and therefore they strive to make it as easily attainable as possible for all students.

The Student Health Clinic works with 10 insurance companies, and fees are paid for by pharmaceutical transactions, office visits and lab work.

Co-pay for office visits and lab work usually ranges from $20 to $30, however the payment can be billed to the main address or even held off to pay until the end of the semester.

You can make an appointment to see a doctor online,

through a phone call, or even as a walk-in.

The Relaxation Station is another part of Student Health Services. Students are able to have one scheduled hour with a full-body massage chair, aromatherapy, or audiovisual therapy and can make an appointment online. It’s free of charge, and all you need is your Mav card in order to use the Relaxation Station’s services.

Student Health Services also has a Health Education hub that works to keep all students informed.

This Thursday, they will be holding their annual MockHouse Party from 8:30-10:30 PM. Phi Delta Theta will host the event, although all Greek organizations have been helping to make it happen.

They will be simulating a house party and will be set up like a haunted house, where the visitors can walk through each room and see the effects of several things, such as extreme intoxication and marijuana use.

The event is free.

Web Photo

MSU Reporter • 9

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Follow the Reporter on Twitter @MSU Reporter or Like Us on Facebook facebook.com/msureporter

Email the Sports Editor: reporter-sports@mnsu.edu

507-389-5227

Win over Vikings sends Mavericks to the very top

David Bassey • MSU Reporter The Mavericks defense never let Augustana get comfortable at Blakeslee Stadium. They only allowed 173 total yards with two sacks and two interceptions.

JOEY DENTON Sports Editor The winner of Saturday’s matchup between the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team and Augustana was the team who made the adjustments to not only great defenses, but to the 25-mile per hour winds. The Mavericks adjusted and won 20-10.

MSU moved the ball very well in the first half but just couldn’t punch it in for touchdowns. In their four possessions, the team only came away with two field goals by last weeks NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week in senior placekicker Sam Brockshus, but they also took up the majority of possession time. It was hard for the Vikings to get going when they only had the ball for seven minutes in the half.

“That’s an outstanding job by our guys of maintaining the possession of the football and getting them off the field and controlling what we can control,” interim head coach Aaron Keen said.

Going in to the game, it was just supposed to be another convincing win over an NSIC South team, but the Vikings came to

play. After a last second Hail Mary reception, the Vikings were up 7-6 going into halftime, but the Mavericks came out, made their adjustments and finished out the game, giving them a 1-0 record on Saturday.

The offense, once again, came out slow to start the second half, but the defense continued to give up any momentum to the Vikings. It was only a matter of time before the offense would break out some big plays and put up points—and they did.

After giving up a field goal to Augustana, making the game 10-6 in favor of the Vikings, the Mavericks marched down the field on an 8-play, 85-yard drive.

Every team in the NSIC knows to never give senior quarterback Jon Wolf the edge, even coach Keen.

“When you finally break free with Jon Wolf around the corner with nobody around him, that’s what you are looking for,” Keen said.

He found it and scampered in to the end zone without being touched for a 17-yard touchdown, retaking the lead, 13-10.

The Vikings defense tackled very well, which kept the Mavericks from breaking free for a big play until senior receiver

Dennis Carter yet again, had the biggest play from scrimmage on a 53-yard touchdown reception with 3:52 left to play.

From the first few games of the season, the Mavericks defense against the pass seemed to be the project for the squad, but with how good they played on Saturday, we may have seen a different result. They started a lot of momentum in the second half with two key interceptions that kept the Vikings from getting in to the red zone, including one from senior safety Jordan Hale who had a club as one of his hands.

The second interception was the game clincher with freshman cornerback Patrick Schmidt snatching a Trey Heid pass at MSU’s 25-yard line, and the Mavericks would take the ball and the win.

It sure wasn’t the prettiest win the Mavericks have had this season, but coach Keen saw some of the best football from his team this season.

“As you go back and look at it, it was one of our better football games for four quarters.

Defensively, I thought we did an outstanding job of shutting their offense down,” Keen said. “With an exception of a Hail Mary at

the end of the half, they had 39 yards in a half of football.”

With the wind ruining everyone’s experience, including some of MSU’s game plan, the Mavericks went to the running game, which for them was just getting back to Maverick football. An Augustana team that only gave up 449 rushing yards in five games this season had no answer to the Maverick’s ground game, which compiled 231 yards.

“When you can run the football, it’s easier to adapt,” Keen said.

Wolf led the rushing with 91 yards and also threw 11 completions on 19 attempts for 187 yards. Freshman running back Connor Thomas finished with 56 rushing yards, and junior running back Andy Pfeiffer ran for 46 yards.

Once Augustana found out that running the back wasn’t going to work, they tried get their passing game going. Minus the Hail Mary pass, they were

not getting it done either. The Mavericks were in the freshman quarterback’s face the whole game, creating a nightmare for him at Blakeslee Stadium.

Senior defensive end Chris Schaudt tied with senior linebacker Isaac Kolstad for the most tackles with six and was a force behind the line of scrimmage with two tackles for loss.

For the first time in MSU history, the team has recently been ranked no. 1 in division II football after their win and Valdosta State losing to West Alabama 49-30 last Thursday. It’s a great accomplishment to the program, but it’s not satisfying their cravings for the Division II playoffs.

“The only poll the matters is the one at the end,” Keen said.

“We are concentrating on is putting our self in good position to be regionally ranked and control our own destiny with hopefully hosting playoff games if we go undefeated.”

David Bassey • MSU Reporter Connor Thomas (Center) ran the ball 14 times for 56 of the team’s 231 rushing yards.

10 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Men’s hockey loses first two games of the season at Providence After improving their power play last season, the Mavericks failed to score on all 16 power plays in their season-opening series on the road.

DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer

MSU Reporter Archives Junior forward J.P. Lafontaine (pictured) finished last season third on the team in points scored with nine goals and 26 assists.

VOTED BEST BURGER IN SOUTHERN MN!

The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team didn’t get quite the start they were looking for over the weekend. The first series of the year saw a nonconference match up on the road, where the Mavericks were swept by their opponent. On Friday, the no. 11 Mavericks faced off in their season opener at no.14 Providence in front of a crowd of 2,771. This was an important series as wins on the road, as well as wins against top 20-ranked teams hold more value in the NCAA tournament rankings.

Friday’s contest seemed promising for MSU when sophomore forward Bryce Gervais scored his first goal of the season to give the Mavericks a 1-0 just 4:41 into the first period.

That goal was the only tally in the period, sending the Mavericks into the second period with the lead. However, the Friars came back and controlled play for the remainder of the game.

While the Mavericks were on the power play, Providence forward Ross Mauermann found himself on a breakaway and netted a shorthanded goal past MSU goaltender Stephon Williams at 4:01 of the second period to even the score at a goal apiece. Later in the period, the Friars took the lead when Steven McPharland found John Gilmour on a two on one rush who buried the puck past Williams to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of

the home team. That concluded the scoring in the period, but Gilmour would be heard from again.

Providence’s Mark Jankowski scored 2:46 into the third period with an assist going to Gilmour.

Before the Mavericks could regroup, the Friars struck again when Gilmour found the back of the net just 44 seconds later, giving him his second goal of the game and a 4-1 lead. After Jankowski tallied his second goal of the game at the 7:59 mark of the final period, bringing the score to 5-1, Maverick’s Coach Mike Hastings pulled Williams and put in freshman goaltender Cole Huggins. Huggins saved all ten shots he faced in the final twelve minutes of the game, but MSU couldn’t muster up any more offense, going zero for six on the power play and fell in the season opener 5-1.

Saturday night’s game had a similar start for the Mavericks.

The first period saw MSU outshoot Providence 20-9 in almost dominating fashion, but Friars All-American goaltender Jon Gillies stood tall in goal and the game was scoreless heading into the second period.

Mauermann struck first again for the Friars when he scored just 17 seconds into the middle period. MSU tried to even the score until sophomore forward Bryce Gervais received a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head, leaving the already shorthanded Mavericks on a shorthanded five on three situation. Providence’s An-

thony Florentino would score on this power play to give his team a 2-0 lead before Connor MacPhee scored with just 1:27 remaining in the second period to give the Friars a three goal lead. No goals were scored in the third period, and Providence completed the two game sweep at home over the visiting Mavericks.

The story of the weekend was the Mavericks struggling power play. Friday saw the Mavericks on the power play six times, while Saturday they were given the man advantage eight times and recorded not a single power play goal in the series.

Perhaps MSU needs someone to step up and fill the hole left by last year’s senior captain Eriah Hayes, who led the nation in power play points a year ago.

The Mavericks also had trouble staying out of the penalty box.

Aside from Gervais’ ejection from the game, junior forward J.P. LaFontaine received the boot as well when he was ejected for checking from behind, and sophomore forward Teddy Blueger received a misconduct of his own. However, Williams stood tall in net for the Mavericks, stopping 35 of 38 shots faced.

MSU men’s hockey hits the ice at home Friday in another nonconference series against unranked Connecticut. The puck drop is slated for 7:37 p.m. on Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Center, with Saturday night’s game scheduled for a 7:07 start p.m.

Staff: Campus Pastor Wong, Reverend Roger Knepprath, Mark Probst, Vicar Allen Kirschbaum, RA Kody Green

1506 WARREN STREET • MANKATO • MN (Look for our electronic sign!)

507-345-4511

WWW.BEACONWELS.ORG

(Not valid Thursdays)

One coupon per customer.

Mondays • Wednesdays.........Bible Study Wednesdays........................ Vespers 9 pm Thursdays.................. $1 Supper 5:30 pm

Bible Study 4:45 pm

SPAGHETTI FEED Wednesday, October 16th 5:00 p.m.

CENTER HOURS: 8am-10pm OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Wednesday, 12-5pm; Thursday 9am-9pm

V

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU Reporter • 11

Sports

Volleyball finishes road trip with two losses The Maverick Volleyball team failed to come back to Mankato with a victory as they took on two top-notch programs in Augustana and Wayne State. The Mavericks get to come back to Mankato for their next three matches.

LUKE CARLSON Staff Writer

On another road swing this past weekend, the Minnesota State University, Mankato volleyball team fell on tough times when it dropped two contests in a row to two difficult conference opponents

David Bassey • MSU Reporter Senior defensive specialist Briel Hendricksen leads the Mavericks in service aces with 20 and her .934 serving percentage ranks second on the team.

Twilight Golf 3:00 pm Every Day

Unlimited Golf

Just $17 (includes cart)

507-947-3355

www.northlinksgolf.com

STREET

TO AU

ROCK

in Augustana and Wayne State.

In a well-fought loss Friday night in Sioux Falls, S.D. against the Augustana Vikings, the Mavericks succumbed to their fourth loss in conference play and seventh loss overall on the season.

The Mavericks trailed the Vikings 9-7 early in the first set, until junior outside-hitter Kaitlyn Braun surprised Augustana with three consecutive service aces to give the Mavericks the lead. The two teams continued a close battle until the Vikings took a 19-18 lead and never relinquished control, taking the first set 25-22. Sophomore outside-hitter Chandra Honebrink led the Mavericks with four kills and a .667 hitting percentage in the set.

The second set also saw a close battle between the two squads. After tying the score at 12 apiece, the Mavericks would cruise out to a 19-14 set lead. The Mavericks went on to level the match with a 25-22 set win of its own, with Honebrink once again leading the Mavericks on with another four-kill effort in the set.

The intensity continued later on as Augustana took a close third set 25-23. Honebrink remained the leader on the stat sheet for the Mavericks, posting six kills and hitting .407.

In the deciding fourth set, the Vikings would prove to be too much for the Mavericks. After an early 3-3 tie, Augustana exploded with ten straight points to take a 13-3 lead and never looked back, taking the fourth set 25-18 and the match victory three sets to one.

Honebrink led MSU with 16 kills on the night, while junior outside-hitter Tiana Runck followed up with 12 of her own in the match. Freshman middle-blocker Krista Hassing contributed five assisted blocks and the Mavericks combined for a .180 hitting percentage in the loss.

After the defeat the night before, the Mavericks attempted to pick up their spirits Saturday afternoon in Wayne, NB, when they took on the No. 15 Wayne State Wildcats.

However, the Wildcats turned out to be tough customers when the match began and went on to shred the Mavericks with a 25-9 opening-set win. Junior outside-hitter Jenna McNallan led the MSU attack in the first set, with three kills on six kill attempts.

The Mavericks went on to drop the second set 25-19, as Hassing paced MSU with three kills and one block in the set.

Wayne State would continue to pour on the offense in the third set of the match before they claimed a 25-16 set win and a match sweep of the Mavericks. Honebrink was able to contribute eight kills for MSU in the final losing effort.

Honebrink tallied 10 kills and hit for .333 in the match. Errors were a constant theme for the Mavericks; the team committed 23 attacking-errors and only succeeded on 29 of 98 kill attempts.

The Mavericks fell to a conference record of 4-5 and an 8-8 record overall on the season.

The Mavericks finally return home to the Taylor Center this weekend to regroup and start a threegame home stand after a tough road trip that saw only win one of four contests. The home stand begins this coming Friday evening with the University of Sioux Falls Mustangs rolling into town at 7 p.m.

“Sioux Falls is good and we cannot take them lightly… If we take anybody lightly in our league, it won’t end up well,” Head coach Dennis Amundson said.

15% OFF with Student ID

Shannon Rathmanner • MSU Reporter After this weekend, the Mavericks sit with a 4-5 conference record and 8-8 overall and currently is tied for eighth in the NSIC.

117 E. ROCK STREET MANKATO

507-720-6211

12 • MSU Reporter

Tuesday, October 15, 2013 Follow the Reporter on Twitter @MSU Reporter or Like Us on Facebook facebook.com/msureporter

Email the A&E Editor: reporter-arts@mnsu.edu

507-389-5157

Blithe Spirit haunts mainstage MIRANDA BRAUNWARTH Staff Writer The comedy Blithe Spirit will come to Minnesota State University, Mankato’s main stage this Thursday. The shows playwright is Noel Coward, who wrote the show in the in the early 1940s.

Blithe Spirit features three nauseating and unpleasant characters. The story centers on Charles Condomine, a novelist looking for a new story, played by senior Carter Allen.

Condomine is re-married and he and his current wife seek Madame Arcati, played by senior Kaelea Rovinsky, to help them perform a séance in order for Charles to get story ideas.

What they don’t expect is the connection with Charles previous, deceased wife, Elvira, played by Amanda Forman.

With a humorous medium and three unpleasant characters, it’s no wonder comedy comes about.

As a comedy, the show Blithe Spirit has one of the longest

running records for a nonmusical. Starting in 1941 in the West End of London, it ran for 1,997 performances, as well as 657 performances on Broadway. This will be the third time Blithe Spirit will be presented at MSU, following a 1965 performance as well as a 1988 summer performance.

Director of Blithe Spirit, Heather E. Hamilton, describes the show as witty and droll -- a show written with beautiful lines. Hamilton explains it was written as a piece of escapism for those in war in the 1940s.

The show is only fun -- there is nothing dark about it. Hamilton says it is a “window into this world in the 1930s.”

Hamilton has been working with cast members every weeknight for two months. She talks with great enthusiasm about her cast of “extremely talented actors”.

She says one of the best things about her cast is their fearlessness in jumping into the show. She comments on how it’s really wonderful to be working

with a variety of talent including seniors and sophomores, as well as a community member.

As for the effects that will be added to the séance in the show, Hamilton says there are many cool effects that add to the comedy and essence of the show. For example, the table levitates and creates wonderful layers for the actors to work with.

BFA Acting candidate Carter Allen describes the show as a “perfect mix of farcical comedy and really fun and inventive spectacle”.

Allen, who plays Condomine, describes his character as someone quick to anger. Allen says that although the characters are all “rather nasty” the cast who plays them are a “really cohesive ensemble”.

He describes the set as having fun little surprises that will be wonderful for audience members. In all, Allen describes the show as quite spectacular.

Blithe Spirit will run from Oct. 17-27 in the Andreas Theatre of the Earley Center for Performing Arts. The performances

Dave Bassey • MSU Reporter Ruth (Morgan LeClaire) and Charles (Carter Allen) hold a séance, accidentally summoning the ghost of Elvira (Amanda Forman).

are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17-19 and 2326, as well as 2 p.m. matinees on Oct. 20, 26 and 27. The show is sponsored by Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP. To buy tickets for Blithe Spirit, stop by the Theatre & Dance Box office, which is open

from 4-6 p.m., Monday - Friday, or go online to MSUTheatre. com or call 507-389-6661.

The theatre requests that you mention if you have any special accommodations.

Arousal and intrigue await in Masters of Sex ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer As the joke goes, men just don’t know about sex, let alone how to please a woman. In this generation, information about sex and sexuality is free and easily accessible, with knowledge ranging from the basics of foreplay to the intricacies of the legendary G-spot. Information on this subject wasn’t always around and was once considered strictly taboo to look at the human body in such a way outside of the biblically approved confines of marriage. Much of what is now known about human sexuality originated from the research of Dr. Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson and their study makes up the basis of Showtime’s masterful Masters of Sex. Set in the 1950s, Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen, Frost/ Nixon) has always been fascinated with sex, the mechanics about it and the culture surrounding it. Unfortunately, this

being the late fifties, any talk on the subject is strictly prohibited without being labeled a deviant pervert. His study rejected by the university, Bill conducts his work in secret, hiring Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan, Cloverfield) as his assistant. With her help, they recruit male and female subjects to calculate the body’s physical reactions to sexual intercourse and the use of toys. They form a partnership with a local brothel – free health care for examining worker-client interaction. Having to keep his study alive against the arresting looks of anyone who hears about his work, and the scorn of the university, Masters faces an even more complicated matter – his growing feelings for Ms. Johnson.

Masters of Sex is delightful.

In Masters, there’s a character that is nearly unrecognizable as a human. He’s seemingly dissociated with his feelings, finding no pleasure in anything he does or the people around him.

He’s curt, stubborn and quick to

Web Photo

anger. The only things that give him any type of satisfaction are the glances he makes to Virginia and the data he retrieves from his work. In the three episodes that have aired, Masters is nearly a despicable character, lying to his wife and subscribing the blame to their inability to get pregnant on her, while it is he who is the problem, lacking a high sperm count to accomplish the deed. With a caliber actor

like Michael Sheen, Masters tent actress and she definitely could easily be the most hated rises to meet Sheen’s amazing character on the show and thus performance, giving one of her make it a pain to watch but his own. Johnson is opinionated and performance and extraordistrong -- a standout character nary humanistic nuances make in a time period where women Masters, perhaps, the most are portrayed as subservient and compelling of the characters. weak. She knows who she is Constantly, the audience is ques- and what she wants and in that, tioning what he feels, what he’s Virginia Johnson is an exciting thinking, why he’s doing what character. he’s doing.

Lizzy Caplan is a compeMASTERS OF SEX • Page 18

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

MSU Reporter • 13

A&E

Pokemon X & Y review: new features, same story

SEX “Johnson is opinionated and strong -- a standout character in a time period when women are portrayed as subservient and weak.” continued from 12

Web Photo

ADAM MILLER Staff Writer The world started a new Pokémon journey last weekend, this time with more Pokémon to catch, more ways to train and all in 3D. Pokémon X and Y were released on Saturday in the first ever worldwide release.

The game follows the standard Pokémon formula of catching the cute critters and having them battle with each other. However, there are some changes fans will notice.

When booting up your copy of Pokémon Y, the first thing that catches your eye is the new 3D that was added thanks to the Nintendo 3DS. However, you also quickly notice that the entire game is not in 3D. Only certain cut scenes, some dungeons and one-on-one Pokémon battles are rendered in the 3D. The majority of the world map, as well as any team battles or any battle where more than one Pokemon, is still in the basic graphics.

The storyline of the game remains, sadly, unchanged.

You are a child who gets a pokédex from a professor and start a journey to collect all the Pokemon. Along the way you will fight gym leaders for badges and there is the antagonist, this time around Team Flame, who has some crazy Pokémon plot you need to stop. After 18 years I am still hoping for a Pokémon story with a bit more depth to it but I guess if the routine works

why fix it?

That said, the game does take into account that by now people either know what they are doing or new players catch on faster then they used to. Instead of the lengthy introduction of most Pokémon games, in this one you will have your starter Pokémon and be out catching new ones in minutes, with running shoes already equipped.

After the first few battles, I quickly found another difference between this game and the others. The new region you will be exploring is absolutely packed with Pokémon. In the other games, the first route you travel typically has three to four different types of Pokémon to catch.

In the first tall grass I found in X and Y I was able to catch six to seven different types.

As a matter of fact, this game actually has three separate pokédexes that you will need to fill out as you travel on your journey. So if you are one of the players who won’t move on to the next areas until you have caught them all expect a long journey. In 20 hours of game play, I currently have only two badges and already have 99 different Pokémon caught.

Another new feature to the games is horde battles. This is where you bump into five wild Pokémon all at the same time. They have lower levels to compensate but can quickly become too much for your single Pokémon to handle. They get even more in depth when they start adding different Pokémon in the swarm. However, you

can only catch the last remaining Pokémon, so sometimes you have to choose a strategy to make sure the one you want to catch survives until the end.

The normal story of the game really kicks off once you make it to Lumiose City, a city so big it has three separate areas, it is here that you first meet the professor and you learn that, in addition to filling out your pokédex, you also have to find out the secrets behind Mega Evolutions.

This leads you down your path to meeting Team Flare and the rest of the expected storyline.

The game also added two new ways to interact with your Pokémon, Super Training and Pokémon-Amie. Through these systems you can train your Pokémon or raise its happiness in new ways beyond the traditional ones of walking around with them and killing enemy Pokémon. There is also a Player Search System that will show any nearby players. You can use the touch screen to instantly request a trade, battle or even give their Pokémon buffs during combat.

There are more small changes to the game, such as active Pokémon now getting experience after catching a new Pokémon and the way experience share works and even more to explore beyond the 20 hours that I have played.

If you are a fan of Pokémon, chances are you have already picked up the game. If you’re a new to the world of Pokémon, X and Y are great games and worth your time.

The series is so full of subplots and side characters doing their own thing, it’s a feat to name them all. But high on the list of interesting developments is Dr. Ethan Haas (Nicholas D’Agosto, Fired Up!), a young man who idolizes Masters and wants nothing more than to be equals but never will quite be as good. His character has a dark and obsessive side that’s been creeping up and where his arc goes is anybody’s guess but he’s a complex enough character to stir interest.

The writing is top notch – the rhythm, the dialogue, the multitude of characters, the plots and subplots. It all works beautifully well. And for a show that features lots of sex, lots of nudity and is brimming with sexuality in nearly every scene, the subject amazingly doesn’t become the show. This series isn’t about sex – sure, viewers will watch scientific research of sexuality unfold and in all likelihood gain some helpful tips – but where this series works is the rather dark and damaged characters that inhabit the screen.

Even the prostitutes Masters employs as subjects have their own stories and personalities that, in some fashion, reveal a facet of the main characters personality or arc. In episode three, Masters comes face to face with homosexuality, a

topic that wasn’t even remotely as accepted as it is now, and that sequence enlightens a part of his persona that hadn’t been seen before.

Masters of Sex has nearly everything a series could ask for – exceptional writing, two outstanding and charismatic leads, a quick pace and a controversial and interesting subject. The only detriment is that it’s by no means family friendly and more of an acquired taste. If dark characters are of interest, Masters of Sex is strongly recommended. If learning about a characters determination and struggle to study something that everyone is fighting against him on is of interest, Masters of Sex has that in spades.

The fall season is filled with new series to watch and sample and at this point there’s no less than six this reviewer is keeping up with but none have reached the same level of weekly anticipation like Masters of Sex. This is a very well done series, especially for Showtime, a network that just lost Dexter, a show that was so on-the-nose about everything, this more deeply textured series feels like a gaffe, being more at home at HBO than here.

Finally, Showtime has a real winner here. Strongly recommended.

With Land to Air Express and its connecting partner Jefferson Lines, you can get where you need to go, stress free! Land to Air provides connections to cities throughout Minnesota, in addition to the airport. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

No bothering family and friends, no parking issues, no fighting traffic, no trouble with the weather! Save time, money and aggravation.

Afternoon schedules. Pickup by the Waves sculpture on MNSU campus by reservation.

MNSU Discount - Promo Code: MSUINT Group Discounts Free WiFi Now Available on All Buses NEW!! $35 Saturday Mall of America Trips MOA Promo Code: MOASAT

14 • MSU Reporter

A&E

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Entertainment news: ratings, renewals and retreats ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer TV | Less than a month into the new television season and there have already been calamities and marginal success.

NBC found stellar ratings in the James Spader thriller The Blacklist, granting it a complete 22-episode freshman year order.

Same goes with ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, which held the channels highest rated premiere in four years (ratings have gradually declined, from a 12 million opening to a more modest 7 million viewer figure), and was given a complete season as well.

Although not as secure as a renewal, The CW ordered additional scripts of freshman dramas The Originals (The Vampire Diaries spin-off), The Tomorrow People (teenage superheroes) and Reign (a chaste Game of Thrones-esque romance triangle).

After three episodes, FOX renewed Sleepy Hollow for a full 22-episode second season, the gothic adventure tale being one of the channels few success stories.

Likewise, FOX granted The Simpsons a 26th year of life, after an increase in ratings for its 25th season premiere, making it, according to the press release,

the longest-running scripted show in television history.

We Are Men has been cancelled after two aired episodes, the same going for Lucky 7, with both shows viewership descending over fifty percent in their second week.

MTV has announced a fourth season pickup for their hit Teen Wolf, set to hit airwaves sometime late 2014. The second half of its third season premieres January 6, along with MTV’s new half-hour talk show, Wolf Watch, which will accompany each airing with interviews from cast and crew and offer behind the scenes featurettes.

On a final note, AMC’s fourth season premiere of The Walking Dead hit a record viewing high. 16.1 million viewers turned in for the premiere, an exponential increase from the season three finale, the previous shows high, at 12.4 million.

With these type of numbers, announcement of a fifth season renewal will, in all likelihood, be imminent.

MOVIES | Fifty Shades of Grey, the highly celebrated trilogy of sex and intrigue, has lost its Christian Grey. Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunman was cast in the lead role, but has dropped out, citing scheduling conflicts.

Dakota Johnson (Ben & Kate) is still set to play Anastasia Steele with Sam Taylor-Johnson

directing for an August 1, 2014 release.

In 2016, Angry Birds will be hitting multiplexes everywhere in animated form. From a script

by Jon Vitti (King of the Hill), first-time directors Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly are prepping the shoot now.

For any fans impatiently waiting for Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy to re-team for The Heat 2, extinguish any hope now. Afraid that her bad sequelkarma would ruin what made the first so good, Sandra Bullock will not, for now, appear in any sequel, although director Paul Feig and Universal are certainly entertaining the idea of going ahead with one.

One sequel that isn’t as in demand is Night at the Museum 3, already locked in for a Christmas 2014 release. Director Shawn Levy and actor Ben Stiller are committed to returning.

Similarly, Arnold Schwarzenegger is stepping into the role of Conan the Barbarian once again. The Legend of Conan is in the early steps of pre-production, with no director yet hired, but Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center) deep in the writing process. Arnold’s third outing as Conan is tentatively targeting a summer 2015 release.

Web Photo Charlie Hunnam, the former Christian Grey

MSU Reporter • 15

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

507-389-1776

FOR RENT

MISCELLANEOUS

NOTICES

5 OR 4 OR 3 OR 2 OR 1 bedroom houses/apartments. Available right now. Some for next year.

Many to choose from. Check out our website. www.ottoH.com owner/agent or call 507-6251010. 6/19 3 BED APARTMENT FOR RENT. Completely remodeled. On site Free Laundry. Central Air. Off street parking. Call 507-3404488.

10/15 1633LOFTS.COM LUXURY UNITS within walking distance to campus. 5/1 COLLEGETOWNMANKATO. COM private bathroom in every bedroom. 5/1 COLLEGESTATIONMANKATO. COM Affordable housing on the bus route.

5/1 RENTMSU.COM 3-10 BEDROOM student houses. 5/1

WE ARE A LOVING, FUN FILLED family of 3. Live in western Minneapolis suburbs.

We are home study approved.

Interested in an open adoption.

Open to multicutural adoption.

Learn more and contact us at: http://www.adoptingmn. com. 888-446-1143. Email: tomandmaryfrances@yahoo. com. 10/24 HOPING TO ADOPT: We are Jason and Michelle! Loving couple living west of the Twin Cities, married 5 years. We are hoping to adopt an infant to two-year old child and build our family through adoption.

Please call or email us at 320290-5001 or jandmadopt@ gmail.com 11/26

FREE SHOTOKAN KARATE classes offered Monday 6-8pm.

Tuesday 7-9pm. Thursday 6-8pm. Room PH 102. Beginners are welcome. Need not to be a MSU student to join. For info call Brad @ 507-388-5301 or lostgonzo@gmail.com or search MSU Shotokan on facebook or yahoo groups.

5/1

Sell your stuff with a Reporter Classified Ad – it’s inexpensive, it’s easy, and it works! Call 389-1776 to place your ad! w w w.themsureporter.com

Call us @ (507)524-3735 B&R Auto and Truck Salvage, Inc. is the leading salvage yard in Southern Minnesota with 45 acres of used parts!

Hours: M-F: 8-5

Friendly, Reliable Service Online Parts Search Free Pick-up

www.bandrautotrucksalvage.com

Job Board

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

IS NOW HIRING KITCHEN STAFF & SERVERS Must be available to work mornings, nights & weekends.

Experience is preferred, but not necessary.

Please apply in person Monday-Wednesday.

414 S. Front St., Mankato 507-388-7767

No Experience Needed.

Stop in and fill out an application!

MANKATO APPLEBEE'S 1900 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001

16 • MSU Reporter

Advertisement

Tuesday, October 15, 2013