October 20, 2016

The

Minnesota State University, Mankato

www.msureporter.com

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016

CDC hosts successful Career and Internship Expo Over 800 students, 115 employers attend campus-wide event

WAJIHA FIDA Staff Writer The fall Career and Internship Expo encouraged new students to set 4-year goals and seniors to think about their career more seriously on Oct. 18 and 19 in the CSU Ballroom.

More than 800 students attended the first day of expo, and over 115 companies participated.

Students and companies alike were enthusiastic to work together. Companies were eager to hire students for summer internships, some for part time jobs.

“Students were ready to talk about summer opportunities,” said the City of Minneapolis Company representative. “We are following up with over 50

students.”

Students were ready to impress companies and they were keen to be hired as an intern or full-time employee.

“It is r e a l l y great for student s,” said Hamza Abbasi, Civil Engineering student. “It is helpful and we can know how to proceed in our job options.

It is good for our profile in terms of job prospects.”

Dif ferent optimistic opinions from students were shared, but still there were students who could not attend the expo because of

mnsu.edu schedule conflicts.

“Students came out from expo with a big smile on their face,” said Rachel Hoehn who worked the information table.

“It was a great experience,” said Sehreen Suleman, a nursing student. “I got more information about companies. Even more,

it is good opportunity for networking.”

The Career Development Center played a pivotal role in making the fair a success. The CDC encouraged students to seize the opportunities the fair presented and to be fully prepared.

They even designed an information booklet where

they mentioned what to wear, resume help, etc. The CDC even provided free professional headshots for those attending the event.

“There were a lot of

EXPO page 2

Maverick Profile: Meet the mysterious “Amazing Kirby” Kirby offers positive message to all students who dream big.

Editorial

ELLYN GIBBS Staff Writer There is only one Amazing Kirby at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and once met, he cannot be forgotten.

Kirby has brought many fellow students joy through his invincible personality and his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, as well as give them a nickname he uses regularly. He answers primarily to “Amazing Kirby,” and many of his friends and acquaintances do not know his last name or his age. In

TODAY’S FEATURED STORIES

that respect, the Amazing Kirby remains a mystery.

BACKGROUND Kirby originally came to the U.S. from China. In college, he is a junior transfer student anticipating super seniordom, as he recently switched his major from graphic design to mass media. Kirby said his biggest obstacle in mass media is that he still struggles with the English language barrier. However, he’s passionate about the major and he also has an eye for color and design.

“Color s represent everything,” he said. “I will call myself an artist, but I am not so cocky about it. I know the skill, but I am not a master of it.”

GOALS & PASSIONS Kirby is a planner, so he naturally thinks ahead to his post-college years. He hopes to get a job in his major field

so he can finish paying his loans.

His ideal career would be in the entertainment industry, so he could make people happy. Since he is not a very serious person, Kirby wants a job where he can laugh and have fun in a professional setting, as well as share humor with others.

His broad goal is to “become a more successful, powerful, useful and helpful person.” He’s eager to make the world a better place, and one of his passions is caring for homeless animals.

“Growing up as a single kid, my family didn’t want me to have a cat or dog and I was very lonely. I would see a homeless cat or dog in the

PROFILE page 3

Photo Courtesy of Amazing Kirby

Save your health and wallet: Pack a lunch

Frankenstein brings the monster to life

Soccer in midst of winning ways

Page 4

Page 8

Page 10

Have a story idea or a comment?

EMAIL

News Editor Nicole Schmidt nicole.schmidt-3@mnsu.edu

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Crying inside? Creepy craze no joke for real clowns

NEW YORK (AP) — Send in the frowns.

This year’s nationwide creepy clown craze has become a nightmare before Halloween for actual, working clowns, who say their bookings at parties and other events have dropped sharply, even after many of the social media-fueled scary clown sightings have turned out to be hoaxes.

Some fear going out with their greasepaint makeup and red noses will make them a target of police or even marauding mobs who take to the streets on so-called clown hunts.

“It’s definitely a scary feeling leaving your house, and you fear you are going to get jumped because you’re dressed as a clown,” says Cyrus Zavieh, a New York City hospital administrator who also performs professionally as Cido the Clown.

“You’re there to make them happy, to make them

Photo Courtesy of The Associated Press have fun, and now they are saying, ‘Aaaagghh!’” Zavieh says. “All of a sudden these stories are putting fear into kids. ... Before, they’d just look the other way, but now it’s like, ‘You’re a scary clown and I hate you.’”

The World Clown Association — comprised of more than 2,000 members

EXPO

Continued from page 1 construction management and information technology companies,” said Matt Carlson the Assistant Director.

The expo not only brought awareness to students about career opportunities, but also helped them realize which discipline can be the best for them and how it is beneficial for job perspective. It is a good opportunity to contact

companies directly. There were companies like Optum who were interviewing students on the spot.

Studies and jobs are interlinked, and we can’t deny the importance of experience that can be gained by working in companies. This fair opened optimistic paths for students and make them realize that, “Yes, you can do it.”

Find us on Facebook

in 30 countries — has been flooded with calls from scared performers. It’s been sending out safety tips, suggesting clowns consider changing into their costumes when they arrive at a party or go with a handler.

Association president Randy Christensen says clowns are also increasingly getting requests for “modified performances” in which they entertain without makeup and traditional clown attire.

This week, retail giant Target took the step of pulling scary clown masks from its shelves. And McDonald’s says its signature clown character, Ronald McDonald, will be keeping a lower profile.

The fallout follows a phenomenon in the U.S. involving dozens of stories, many fabricated, about

clowns stalking or attacking people.

In multiple states, people have called police to report being menaced by people in clown costumes. In Kentucky, a man dressed as a clown was arrested after lurking in the woods. Children in Ohio and Texas have been charged with making clown-related threats to school classmates. A New York City teen told police a clown threatened him with a knife in the subway.

“They aren’t clowns. They are clown impersonators,” said Wendy Pincus, who has performed in New York City for the last 20 years. “We’re here to make people happy.

We don’t threaten people.

We bring joy.”

Pincus, whose clown alter ego is “Crazy Daisy,” says she’s seen a 30 to 40 percent decrease in just the past few

weeks.

Clown sightings, hoaxes and pranks — especially around Halloween — aren’t new. In fact, they’ve become a recurring staple of crime blotters since serial killer and working clown John Wayne Gacy was convicted in 1980 of killing 33 people.

In 2012, James Holmes dyed his hair red as Batman’s Joker when he opened fire at a Colorado movie theater, killing 12 people.

Those high-profile cases notwithstanding, experts say it’s relatively common for people to feel creeped out by clowns.

“It primarily has to do with the exaggerated makeup and features. We recognize it, but there is something abnormal,” says Dr. Kristie Golden, associate director of operations for psychiatry and neurosciences at Stony Brook University Hospital. “We can be drawn in by that or we can be repelled.”

World Clown Association’s Christensen says this year’s clown scares seem to be reaching new heights, and he suggests working clowns repel them the same way they always have, by spreading a message of happiness and boundless.

“Go out and clown and show people what this is,” he says. “Show them what good entertainment is — show them what a caring clown does.”

Thursday, October 20, 2016

MSU Reporter • 3

News

Southern states see efforts to delay vote-related deadlines RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Some North Carolina voters who want to expand early in-person voting in the presidential battleground state lost their case before a federal appeals court Wednesday, and in Georgia a federal judge refused to extend the voter registration deadline again for counties stricken by Hurricane Matthew.

But a voters’ group in Virginia still held out hope of extending that state’s registration deadlines.

A three-judge panel on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the emergency motion focused on five North Carolina counties that include cities such as Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Wilmington. A trial court judge refused the same request last week.

The voters’ lawyers argued the counties weren’t complying with the 4th Circuit’s ruling in July striking down portions of a 2013 law that reduced the earlyvoting period by seven days.

The period now covers 17 days, beginning Thursday.

The voters said election officials should have allowed additional early voting on Sunday, during the first seven days of the period, or on the Saturday afternoon before Election Day. Lawyers for the state and GOP Gov. Pat McCrory told the courts that county and

state election boards abided by the ruling, which reverted ballot-access laws to where they were before the 2013 law approved by Republican legislators. They also wrote this week that making 11th-hour changes would create more voting confusion and administrative burdens on election officials.

The court clerk, on behalf of the three judges who struck down the 2013 North Carolina law, filed a threesentence order denying the voters’ request. It wasn’t immediately clear if the voters would seek relief at the U.S. Supreme Court. The panel ruled in July that Republicans had approved the 2013 law with “discriminatory intent” against black voters, who disproportionately support Democrats.

A state judge already extended a North Carolina voter-registration deadline until Wednesday in the counties hardest hit by Hurricane Matthew. But that deadline only applies to people who wish to mail an absentee ballot or want to vote on Election Day. People can still register to vote and cast their ballots if they visit an early-voting center anywhere in the state, but residents pushed out of their homes by Matthew’s record floods may find any of the voting options challenging.

There are 6.8 million registered voters in North

Carolina. Early in-person voting is very popular, representing 56 percent of the ballots cast in the 2012 presidential election.

Joining the motion for additional early voting was Marc Elias, the top lawyer for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The campaign isn’t a party in the case, but Republicans have pointed out the connection.

In G e o r g i a, meanwhile, U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. denied a request from the American Civil Liberties Union to give six additional days for registration in six coastal Georgia counties that Gov. Nathan Deal ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Matthew.

The ACLU sued on behalf of two Georgia teens who had not yet registered and the state NAACP, which planned registration drives during the final week to sign up new voters for the Nov. 8 elections.

The suit argued the Oct. 6 mandatory evacuation order closed local elections offices and effectively prevented residents of coastal counties with large African-American populations from joining the voter rolls during the busy final days.

In Virginia, a civil rights group asked a court Tuesday to extend the registration

Photo Courtesy of The Associated Press deadline by at least three days after technical problems with the state’s online system prevented some residents from registering to vote.

Local news organizations report that the lawsuit was filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on behalf of Kathy and Michael Kern, a Charlottesville couple who failed to register by Monday’s deadline after the website crashed.

Also in Virginia, the state ACLU chapter urged the elections commissioner Wednesday to allow voters who could not complete their online registration when the portal crash to complete their applications.

St a t e elec tions commissioner Edgardo Cortes says the deadline is specified in state code, which provides no option for an extension.

PROFILE

Continued from page 1 street and know what they felt like,” he said.

Kirby said that although he is poor now, he hopes to later have enough money to help the animals who need homes.

“Humans care about themselves a lot. They don’t care as much about other species,” he said.

Kirby strongly believes that we need to provide for any living creature that is a part of our earth.

CULTURE When asked to describe a difference in American and Chinese culture, Kirby replied that there were a lot to choose from. For instance – “You guys take showers in the morning. We take them at night, because we don’t want to go to sleep when we are dirty.” Kirby also believes that people are more connected to their families in China, while Americans focus more on independence. In

America, he said that parents seem to allow their children more freedom, while Chinese parents will do more for their children to advance their education and career. Part of this difference may stem from the fact that Chinese couples are only allowed to have one child, unless both parents come from a singlechild household – then they are allowed two children.

HOBBIES Kirby’s hobbies are many. He enjoys watching TV and movies, especially science fiction and fantasy.

In addition to absorbing the stories of others through media, he creates his own as well, writing stories and screenplays. Fiction gives him a creative outlet.

“I want to write down [things] that cannot happen in real life,” he said. He is also fascinated by psychology.

“You learn about human connection, human behavior,

and how they think. You can also learn how to make people laugh.”

Kirby implements his knowledge of psychology into his daily conversations with friends and strangers alike, as he can easily detect body language cues and unspoken messages. “I feel like I can read people more than other people.”

FINAL WORDS Kirby has a message he tells himself, and he wants to pass it on to other students as an encouragement in all they might be going through.

He said, “It’s impossible for everyone to like you, but you have the ability to make people like you.”

These are words Kirby uses daily, to make friends in this American culture and create human connection wherever he travels in Mankato and beyond.

Ski Area

2016-20 1 7

SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST!

Mount Kato Ski Area 20461 State Hwy. 66 Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 625-3363 MountKato.com

SKIING • SNOWBOARDING • SNOW TUBING

4 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, October 20, 2016 EMAIL THE EMAIL THE EDITOR CHIEF: EDITOR IN IN CHIEF:

Save your health and wallet: Pack a lunch Spice up your midday meal with creative, homemade entrées.

Opinion RACHAEL JAEGER Staff Writer What are the benefits of packing your own lunch when as a student you have access to all kinds of possibilities in the cafeteria?

It is a valid question.

When you pass by Einstein Bagels and the wonderful mixed smells of the fresh baked bagels and the strong aroma of coffee floats past your sleepy nose, it is difficult to resist. But it can be done, especially when you realize what consequences may seize you and shake you into reality later on when you are struggling to work off your weight and pay off your student loan debt.

So the most obvious thing is when you bring your own lunch is you save money.

It may not seem like it at first when you’re buying the ingredients you need and it sounds time consuming. But in the long run, it is healthier for your pocket book and your body. Also, if you make it last, even though it grows tiresome to eat the same food all the time, you will thank yourself later.

Overall, what packing your own meal does is challenge how mindful you are about your habits and how healthy you actually eat. When you ask for extra cheese or

RAE MATTHEW FRAME EBERLINE alyssa.frame

matthew.eberline @mnsu.edu @mnsu.edu OR AT reporter-editor OR AT @mnsu.edu reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

FALL 2016 2015 EDITOR IN IN CHIEF: CHIEF: EDITOR Matthew Eberline..................389-5454 Rae Frame.............................389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: NEWS EDITOR: Nicole Schmidt......................389-5450 Nicole Schmidt.......................389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: Tommy Wiita. .......................................

Luke Lonien............................389-5227 A&E EDITOR: Gabe Hewitt........................................

VARIETY EDITOR: Matthew Eberline................... 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: ............. 389-5451 Josh Crew, Manager.

ADVERTISING SALES: TravisBoehmer........................389-5097 Meyer.........................389-5097 Mac Brandon Poliszuk....................389-5453 ....................... 389-1079 Mark Mitchell.

Josh Crew..............................389-5451 Kelsey Nelson.......................389-5453 Jacob Wyffels........................ 389-6765 Connor Daly......................... 389-6765 BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER: MANAGER: Jane Tastad.

389-1926 Jane Tastad............................. ......................... 389-1926 AD. DESIGN/PROD. DESIGN/PROD. MGR.: MGR.: AD. Dana Clark............................

Clark........................... 389-2793 Dana

(CC BY 2.0) by anotherlunch.com another spoonful of sour cream on your Chipotle burrito or bowl, it increases your calorie intake when you should consume only 1,500 or under. Or you eat at Einstein Bagels for breakfast and later on, you go to Chipotle or Noodles & Company – that is quite an amount of carbohydrates.

Oh, and a note on carbohydrates. They are substantial for your fiber if you eat bread, especially from the bakery. Granted, it costs a few dollars more but it does not have the preservatives in it that Sara Lee has and you will enjoy your sandwiches more. Even if you eat the same thing every day, you will be amazed

Pulse NAYEON GIL MARKETING

AHBIN WOO FINANCE

“It was a good opportunity for international students to see all of the different companies there are and reach out to US employers.”

“It was a good opportunity for students who are looking for a job.”

when you alternate between the different types of breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, and spices or dressing. You use to making an interesting sandwich. If you think of food in terms of how it fuels you for the day, you make different choices that will help you, and you will discover how much better you feel, too!

Packing your own meal also teaches you to work within time limits. If you are running late to a class and want to grab something to eat, if you have prepared a snack bag of vegetables and some dressing on the side, you can retrieve the meal from the refrigerator and continue on your way.

When you are at home and

while you are studying for the next test, you can also improve your cooking skills, especially with the upcoming winter and your yearning for hotter dishes. You will teach yourself more self-sufficiency and even more responsibility.

On a final note, it’s not to say that you can never eat out or it is “bad” to indulge every once in a while. We all need that change and sometimes a different atmosphere or even another opportunity to visit with a fellow classmate. But by creating awareness of how much you are spending and what you are eating, you will improve how you feel about yourself and how you engage in your academic studies.

“What did you think of the Career and Internship Expo?”

JAMIE WINTER

MARKETING & MANAGEMENT “It’s bigger than other years. Lots of good employers and everyone should go.”

CHARITY NGELO SOCIAL WORK

“I volunteered during this event and it was my first time here. There are a lot of visitors from different companies.”

POLICIES & INFO • If you have a complaint, suggestion or would or would likelike to point to point outout an an error error made made in the in the Reporter, Reporter, callcall Editor Editor in Chief in Chief Matthew Rae Eberline Frame atat 507-389-5454.

507-389-5454.

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

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

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

• 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.

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

Compiled by Jasmine Vorasane

HERIKA PUTR MASTER’S OF ACCOUNTING “All students should take this opportunity to find out more about employers and see what they want to do after graduating.”

Thursday, October 20, 2016

MSU Reporter • 5

News

#reporterTBT

Md Mubtassin Morshed holds a Reporter from Oct. 6,1994. The headline reads “Study shows grades do count to employers.” This flashback is timely as students came and went from the Career and Internship Expo on Tuesday and Wednesday.

NOW LEASING!

Woodside Apartments 311 E. Roosevelt Circle Mankato, MN 56001

SECONDHAND BOOKSTORE & EXCHANGE: South Front St. across from Fillin' Station Coffee House.

All types of leisure reading. Browsers welcome. HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 10-5pm.

ONCE READ 507-388-8144

Photo by Jasmine Vorasane

www.MankatoSynthetics.com

507-625-8612

www.rentwithconnect.com EMAIL: connectproperties@ connectmankato.com

Woodside Apartments offers all the modern amenities you are seeking!

Located across the street from the WOW! Zone: Family Entertainment Center, Hilltop Hy-Vee, and the River Hills Mall.

Convenient access to Hwy 14 & Hwy 22.

ALL UNITS ARE TWO YEARS OLD OR LESS! STUDIO (588 sq. feet) - $750 plus utilities 2 BEDROOM, 1 BATH (1088 sq. feet) $925 plus utilities 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH (1233 sq. feet) $1200 plus utilities

MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE

1/2 OFF

FIRST MONTH'S RENT

Quiet and private location for tenants. Exercise room in each building and walking paths. Secure building with locked doors and security cameras.

Washer/dryer, dishwasher & private Balcony/Patio in each unit.

Pet Friendly (one-time fee).

Application & Background Check Req'd.

Thanks for your support, Mavericks!

507-387-4260 Paid for by the Frentz for Senate Committee, 3 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 300, Mankato, MN Stephanie Stoffel, Treasurer

www.frentzforsenate.com

6 • MSU Reporter Reporter News

Thursday, October 20, 2016

THE MSU REPORTER’S MONTHLY

Travel & Cruise Center

Great Packages for Students Available!

Hawaii • Mexico • Las Vegas • Cruises

Let us plan your winter getaway today!

507-625-3153 tvlctr@hickorytech.net

409 N. Riverfront Drive • 507-625-8565

Buy • Sell • Trade Audio • Video Car Audio TVs • Jewelry Electronics Games and More!

Mon-Fri., 9am-6:30pm • Saturdays, 9am-5pm Closed Sundays

MSU Reporter • 7

Thursday, October 20, 2016 2016 News

RIVERFRONT DRIVE DIRECTORY

The Dork Den

603 N. Riverfront Drive

TABLE TOP GAMING & COMIC SHOP Board Games • Card Games • Comics Role Play Games • Miniatures Gaming

Facebook.com/dorkden

HOURS: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pm

$10 OFF

$20 OFF

(MINIMUM OF $50)

(MINIMUM OF $100)

ANY PIERCING

ANY TATTOO

307 N. RIVERFRONT DR. MANKATO, MN 56001 OPEN MON.-SAT. 12-8

507-387-6601 www.cactustattoo.com

8 • MSU Reporter

Minnesota State University, Mankato

A&E

Thursday, October 20, 2016 Have a story idea or a comment?

EMAIL

A&E Editor Gabe Hewitt

gabriel.hewitt@mnsu.edu

MNSU Theatre’s Frankenstein brings the monster to life Department’s latest production is a new take on the horror classic.

ANA-BRIT ASPLEN Staff Writer In the spirit of Halloween, the MNSU theatre department’s latest show is Frankenstein, a play version based on the famous novel by Mary Shelley.

As Victor Frankenstein is nearing the climax of his secret experiment, he discovers that a significant part of its construction is less promising than it first appeared. But as time is running out and it becomes too late to turn back, his creature is born. Though it seemed impossible to everyone, he was able to create life. As Victor’s experiment is fully revealed to his peers, they realize their lives can be in danger. Will the monster discover the good in its potential, or will it continue to destruct?

The tale of Victor Frankenstein and his monster is

Photo Courtesy of MNSU Theatre and Dance Department one known by many, but this version heightens the tension to many new levels. This particular production actually features an all-female cast, creating a new and riveting perspective of the story. The

cast in question is chock-full of talent, from both experienced and new students, and is led by senior Alyssa Johnson in the role of Victor Frankenstein. Director Heather Hamilton is back in the de-

partment after being on sabbatical for the past year, and her much-anticipated return has resulted in this amazing show.

If you’re a fan of spooky designs, this shows exceeds

in every aspect of it. Presented in-the-round (audience is on all four sides of the stage, creating a small arena), the actors use the playing space very nicely. When they are lurking in the voms (open areas next to the seating sections where actors come on and off stage), you can always feel a presence of someone watching. The only main set piece is a large platform accessed only by ladders on each corner that act as Victor’s laboratory. As it is made of black metal and covered in wires, it gives the set almost an electric feel to it, adding to Victor’s idea that life can be created from the power of electricity. The costumes are very dark overall, and the ee-

FRANKENSTEIN

page 9

Book review: The Annie Year is a story of dignity, integrity Geoff Herbach’s wife Stephanie Wilbur Ash releases her first novel.

RACHAEL JAEGER Staff Writer Stephanie Wilbur Ash, creative writing Assistant Professor Geoff Herbach’s wife, has written her first novel, The Annie Year, which released in publication early October. Although she wrote based on a stereotyped small town, she wanted to reach even deeper truths in how daily life there is lived amidst struggles.

“It’s a true work of fiction, not memoir or autobiographical fiction, so aside from the small-town setting and the fact that my character’s dad was a CPA like my dad, there are few details that would point to my personal life,” Ash wrote in an email interview. “Tandy spends time attending musical theater, one of my loves, but she does so begrudgingly.”

It took over a decade for Ash to polish the book because of her protagonist, Tandy.

“There is something really

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Wilbur Ash moving and relatable in the chip she has on her shoulder about living in her small town her whole life,” Ash said. “I simply loved the character—I couldn’t let her go.”

During the writing process, Ash acknowledged her appreciation for her husband, Professor Herbach in his constant support of her.

“I have had some pret-

ty loving encouragement at home,” Ash said.

Ash also said her inspiration stemmed from the Paul Gruchow “What We Teach Our Rural Children.” Ash said

that Gruchow’s answer rested within a specific line: “If you were any good, you wouldn’t be here.” Ash added, “I think Tandy believes that, and yet, she works so hard to be good, and that pisses her off.

I think even people who are not from small towns can relate to the desire to ‘be good’ while living a life of moral ambiguity. And those who are from small towns really can relate.”

While her book explores problems such as meth addiction problem and includes a part where a high school actress is drunk onstage, she sprinkled light-hearted humor throughout the plot.

Ash also has loving extended relatives in scattered small towns across the Midwest and equally enjoys the outdoors and wide open spaces. So when asked what was

BOOK page 9

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Prince’s niece, grandniece are not pop star’s heirs MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prince’s siblings say a woman and girl purported to be his niece and grandniece have no genetic connection to the late superstar and should not be named as heirs to his estate, according to court documents made public Tuesday.

Attorneys for Prince’s siblings and half-siblings argued that Brianna Nelson and Victoria Nelson aren’t Prince’s heirs as a matter of law, and a judge should deny their claims.

A hearing on the issue is set for Friday.

Prince, 57, died April 21 of an accidental fentanyl overdose in his Paisley Park studio and estate. He left no known will.

Brianna Nelson and her niece, Victoria Nelson, have filed court documents claiming they are descendants of the late Duane Nelson Sr., who they say was Prince’s half brother. They don’t claim a genetic link, but say Prince’s biological father considered Duane Nelson as his own son and Prince treated Duane like a brother. Duane died in 2011.

Prince’s siblings, however, believe that isn’t enough to prove heirship under Minnesota law.

“If an heirship claim could rely on behavior alone as a basis, it would open the floodgates to individuals claiming they were treated ‘like a brother’ or ‘like a son,’” the attorneys wrote.

They argued that with no known will, a parent-child relationship must be validated through genetics, adoption, assisted reproduction or an established presumption of parentage laws. They said that Brianna and Victoria Nelson are asking the court “to casually sweep aside these well-established tenets of Minnesota law and instead seek to base their claim entirely on behavioral and anecdotal evidence.”

In Minnesota, there are circumstances in which someone can be considered a parent based on having a familial relationship with a child, such as informally raising a non-biological child as their own. Experts say the law doesn’t give clear guidance.

The judge overseeing Prince’s estate will have to sort out a complex interplay between probate and parentage laws that appears to be unique to Minnesota.

USED FURNITURE SALES SOFAS • BEDS • DRESSERS • TABLES CHAIRS • WASHERS • STOVES • ANTIQUES AND MUCH MORE

WE ARE BUYING!!

507-625-1463

901 S. Victory Drive, Mankato, MN OPEN TUES. - FRI., 10AM - 6PM | SAT., 10AM - 2PM

MSU Reporter • 9

A&E

FRANKENSTEIN rie, ghost-like makeup (think along the lines of The Addams Family) compliments them well. The monster is especially curious, as it is made up of a large puppet controlled by three actors, making noises through a distorted sound system and emphasizing on its movements. Also, prepare for lots of dry ice to add even more eeriness to the story. In fact, there was so much fog a couple nights during the

Continued from page 8 first weekend of its run that it caused the fire alarms to go off after the performances had finished!

So if you need a fix of spookiness this October, go and see Frankenstein this weekend. The remaining shows are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Tickets are $11 for MNSU students and $15 for guests. They can be pur-

chased at the MNSU Theatre box office in the Performing Arts building, either from 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday or an hour before each show.

But be sure to hurry, as many performances have been selling out. Also, while you’re at the box office, be sure to ask about The Two Henrys and Carrie: The Musical, the last two shows presented by the department this semester, both coming up next month.

BOOK Continued from page 8 her story about getting away from her small town, Ash clarified her feelings on the matter.

“I don’t feel like I ‘escaped’ my small town,” she answered. “It was not about breaking free from an oppressive regime. My leaving was about the lack of viable work for someone with my skill set and interests and curiosity.”

Her skill set consists of reporting, writing, and editing, especially a love of the variety that she discovered was only available in large met-

ropolitan areas. So while she possessed a fondness for her own town filled with its own memories, she realized it was time she needed to let go.

Ash hopes when people read her book, they will learn that there is value and dignity in caring for others and in being a person of integrity, no matter where you are, as well as a value in forgiveness and acceptance.

“In the end, in my book, the quality judgments made

by Tandy are on herself, not on others individually, even those who have wronged her

or her town as a whole,” Ash concluded.

“That says a lot about her as a character, and I hope it says a lot about the people I know and love in small, rural communities.”

Ash will host a book party at Subtext Books in St. Paul this weekend on Saturday starting a 6:30 p.m. with food and music guests A.J. Piga, Niki Becker, and Colleen and Laura Borgendale who will perform original songs from Ash’s universe in her novel The Annie Year.

HAVING A THEME PARTY FOR HALLOWEEN? Shop our store for all kinds of themes!

50s

60s

70s

80s

90s

WE HAVE IT ALL!!

FLU SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE AT STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES $25 cash, credit, or bill to your student account possibly FREE depending on your insurance!

21 Carkoski Commons

507-389-6276

www.mnsu.edu/shs

11 Sioux Road (Across from Shopko)

(507) 388-3867 Monday, Friday, Saturday 9:30 - 6:00 • Tuesday-Thursday 9:30 - 8:00 • Sunday 12:00 - 5:00

10 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, October 20, 2016 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

Sports Editor Tommy Wiita

thomas.wiita@mnsu.edu

Soccer in midst of winning ways COREY YUMAN Staff Writer The Minnesota State soccer team is looking as good as they have all year, and are going to be trying to continue their recent streak of domination over opponents every week. The team is currently riding a six-game streak of shutouts and enjoying nine of their last ten games coming from shutout victories. With just four games left in the season, these last few games could really end up shaping their rank and position as they get ready for the NSIC Tournament in early November. As of October 19, the Mavericks are the 8th ranked team in the country.

After competing in four-consecutive away games, the Mavericks are going to be returning home as they welcome Minot State

University and the University of Mary. While Minot may have the better record, it will be important not to overlook the competitive nature that the University of Mary can bring.

Minot State is coming into the weekend sitting on an 11-1 record on the season, which puts them at the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) with Minnesota State close behind at number two. Minnesota State will be facing a steep conference challenge as Minot is undefeated in NSIC action (10-0).

The last time these two teams met was October 15 of last year. After a tough battle, neither team was able to pick up the advantage and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

One has to go back to Oct. 11, 2014 to find the last time a victory from either team happened. In that game, the Mavericks defeated the Beavers 3-1 in Minot, North Dakota.

Minot State is being led

by Ninfa Ramirez. Ramirez is leading the team in points

with 34 off of 15 goals and four assists. The closest player to matching her is Chloe Melton who has 20 from her seven goals and six assists.

No other player is in the double-digits for points with the third best player having five points total. The key to the win for MNSU could very well come down to how effectively the team can slow down, or hopefully stop, Ramirez and Melton.

The Beavers have switched off between two goalies throughout the year but Erin Rafferty has received the majority of the starts with nine while Leila Torres has started in three. Both have played in at least ten games each.

Rafferty leads in saves for the two with 27, but Torres follows close behind with 20.

Rafferty took the lone loss of the season.

It’s interesting to note that both Ramirez and Rafferty were named the NSIC Soccer Players of the week for October 10-17.

On Sunday, the Mavs will take on the University of Mary Marauders. The Ma-

Reporter Archives rauders are currently sitting on a 3-6-3 record. They are currently on a two-game win streak and tied the game before that.

The last time the two teams met was on October 11, 2015 when Minnesota State won 3-0.

University of Mary’s Michelle McGeary leads the team with 12 points with her four goals and four assists.

The team has played three goalies this season but Hanna Smith has the most experience having started seven games and playing in eight and has 23 saves.

The Mavericks take on Minot State at 1 p.m., Saturday, and the University of Mary at 1 p.m., Sunday, both at The Pitch.

Mavericks to host Mustangs in Thursday night matchup Football searching for their third-consecutive victory and sixth win overall.

JAMES ANDERSEN Staff Writer Heading into week eight of the season, Minnesota State University-Mankato will be facing off against divisional foe Southwest Minnesota State University tonight. The Mavericks are currently 5-2 (2-1 NSIC South) on the season and are currently on a two-game win streak where they defeated Concordia-St. Paul and Augustana.

The Mavericks’ offense has been right around the middle of the pack in the conference. They display a well-balanced type of system trying to establish the run early in the game. They’re seventh in scoring, averaging 34.7 points per game. They rank tenth in passing offense as they average 229.6 yards per game through the air. They rank sixth in the conference in rushing yards per game with 188.9.

The impact players to

watch for the Mavs’ offense consist of senior quarterback Nick Pieruccini, senior running back Virgil Hammond, and junior wide receiver Ty Dennis. Pieruccini leads the team in both passing and

Nick Pieruccini rushing. Hammond is second on the team in rushing and Dennis leads the team in receiving.

The Mavericks’ defense has been stout compared to

the rest of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

They rank third in scoring defense, giving up 22.4 points per game, and fourth in total yards given up with an average of 390.3. One stat that does stand out for the Mavs’ defense is that they have a total of 19 sacks on the season which puts them at fifth in the conference.

The Mustangs post a 4-3 (1-2 NSIC South) record so far this season. They are currently on a two-game losing streak with their most recent loss coming from Wayne State where they lost 41-39.

SMSU has a high-powered offense compared to the rest of the conference. They are second in scoring offense averaging 42.4 points per game. They have the most touchdowns scored in the conference. This team can put up points in bunches.

They seem to have an airraid style of offense as they are second in passing yards

per game, averaging 325.4.

While they are second in total yards passed, they do have the most efficient passing offense in the country with an efficiency rating of 159.0.

The leader of this offense is junior quarterback Blake Gimbel. He’s completed 187 passes for 2,131 yards and 20 touchdowns. Gimbel’s top target is junior Nate Huot. He has 44 catches for 658 yards and five touchdowns. There are three more receivers for the Mustangs who have made significant contributions for the offense; redshirt freshman Gabriel Galamue, senior Ty Steffensen, and senior Raphael Lawson-Gayle.

Southwest’s defense has been spotty at best this season, as they rank around the bottom of the conference in all defensive categories.

They are giving up an average of 36.4 points per game, 242.1 pass yards per game, and 221 rush yards per game.

They are also last in the con-

ference in sacks with 6 on the season.

The defense for the Mustangs is led by senior Gene Germain who leads the team in tackles. Senior defensive back Michael Everett leads the team in interceptions, so the Mavericks should be cautious throwing his way.

Pieruccini had this to say about the Mustangs: “[They] have a solid defense and they mix up their looks to confuse offenses, so we are going to need to be locked in and focused from the start to come away with a win.”

This game against the Mustangs marks the fifteenth time these two teams have faced each other. The Mavericks have won all the previous 14 games. The most recent win came last year in Marshall as they won 55-17.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

MSU Reporter • 11

Sports

Women’s hockey seeks consistency COLT JOHNSON Staff Writer Though the season hasn’t gotten off to quite the start the Mavericks women’s hockey team would have hoped, the team’s focus is still on progressing and getting better with each and every opponent they face.

In the first six games of the 2016-17 season, the Minnesota State Mavericks women’s hockey team has gone 2-4. The Mavericks started out strong, winning their first two games of the season and sweeping Rochester Institute of Technology, winning both games by a score of 2-1.

The games following didn’t go quite as smoothly for the Mavericks.

Through the next four games, Minnesota State struggled to find goals; in two of the four games the Mavericks were shut out by scores of 4-0 and 6-0 against the University of Minnesota, Duluth Bulldogs and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The Mavericks were able to respond however in the second games of both series, but neither game ended in a victory for the Mavericks.

In an interview, head coach

Reporter Archives John Harrington had a few comments on the start of the season thus far.

“I think it was two exciting games to win early on,” said Harrington “The girls were trying to feel out their opponent the first games I think, but we have to be ready to play when the puck drops.

They did play better on both Saturdays though and it’s about progressing as a team right now.”

Though the Maverick’s women’s hockey team has hit a slump and faces a possible fifth-straight loss, the mindset of the coaches and players is still one of positivity and constant improvement.

“We have to stay positive and understand that we are a pretty young team.

We have to continually keep working during practice- it’s extremely important for us,” Harrington said. “Practice however is one thing, but if you don’t practice like you play then we won’t be able to get in games and be competitive.”

The strength of this team doesn’t just rely on one goal-scorer or a few main

contributors and that’s what can set them apart from most other teams in the NCAA and the WCHA. The Mavericks play in one of the most competitive conferences in all of women’s college hockey, and they’ll be dependent on working together as the young team figures itself out as the season progresses.

“We’re all playing togeth-

er; we don’t necessarily have one stand out player. The strength of our team is teamwork and we have a number of people that can contribute,” Harrington said. “Anna Fiegert, Savannah Quandt and our goalie Brianna Quade are going to be key contributors for us. However, Quade needs to be our rock down there in the net.”

After six games, sophomore Megan Hinze leads the team with two goals. Seven other players share second place with one goal a piece.

Leading the team in points and assists is junior Anna Keys with three. The Mavericks so far have dispersed the points evenly, but they have still struggled at times to put points on the board.

Minnesota State is scheduled next to face WCHA rival St. Cloud State. The 2-4 Huskies are coming to Mankato to face the Mavericks. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m. this Friday and 3:07 p.m. Saturday at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Autumn Grace is hiring for the following:

LPN's

Full-time and Part-time Various Shifts working in our Vent Unit

CNA's & PCA's Full-time and Part-time Various Shifts

If you are compassionate and dedicated, we are looking for you!

Benefits are available for both FT and PT positions.

A clean, valid driver's license, subject to a background check, is necessary for some of our positions. Criminal background checks free of disqualification are also required.

Interested applicants can pick up an application at 118 Raven Court Mankato or email resume to lanas@hickorytech.net Visit our website: autumngraceal.com For more information, contact Lana at 507-388-0640.

12 • MSU Reporter

Advertisement

Thursday, October 20, 2016