November 4, 2010

Thursday, November 4, 2010

www.msureporter.com

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Hunting for housing While making the transition from dormitories to apartment complexes and houses, it’s important for students to know what they should keep an eye out for to find the best fit for them and know what their leases actually say (Damn rental strikes!)

Property management companies Housing near university popular among students house decent student options ALEXI ROSKOM

staff writer

index

Students are on the hunt for housing, and after searching and sorting through information for the perfect place to live, the on- or offcampus housing dilemma can cause a real headache.

On-campus housing information can be found on the university website under Residential Life.

Despite popular belief, some students prefer to live on campus.

“Getting to campus is fast, easy and living in the residential halls is a no-hassle one-time payment,” said sophomore Serandan Teply.

There is a plethora of information on residence halls, summer housing, rates and the residence hall student guide all in one place to help

Voices......................................4 Study Break.............................6 World & Nation........................8 Sports....................................11 A&E........................................15

students decide if campus is the right fit.

But many others enjoy living offcampus.

“I would like my own bathroom, kitchen and personal space,” said freshman Whitney Sannes. “I would also like a place to live with new friends.”

It can be stressful to search for off-campus housing, but there are campus resources to assist those who would like to move to residential sites near to, or farther from, campus.

Student Activities provides online information in conjunction with hosting housing fairs on campus for students to obtain information from participating housing providers.

The housing fair held last week

Searching / page 7

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JENNY POLLOCK

staff writer

At Minnesota State Mankato, there are many options for student housing. Some of the most popular options include the dorms, Highland, Summit, Jacob Heights and the newly constructed College Town.

Donald Wallenta, a freshman, is considering living in the dorms again.

“I love all the people around you in the dorms,” Wallenta said. “That’s why I would live here again.”

Some other options on top of the hill by campus include Stadium Heights, The Quads and Balcerzak Place.

“I live at Stadium Heights and I walk 20-25 minutes to school or get a ride with friends,” said Katelyn Taylor, a junior and bio-chemistry

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united way rso forms to fundraise (2) is h1n1 a threat again!?! not really (3) snowboard club hits the slopes (3) student unites performing arts departments (17)

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major.

She said her rent is $300 plus utilities, though cable and Internet are included.

Micah John, a senior Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services major, currently lives at Balcerzak Place and will renew his lease if he decides to stay at MSU for an extra semester.

“It’s close to campus, but not on campus so you don’t have to follow the rules. It’s walking distance so you don’t have to drive,” John said.

He said the rent at Balcerak Place is $320.

Tommy Evans, a junior and Civil Engineering major, lives in a townhouse near the corner of Stadium Rd. and Victory Dr. which he does not know the name of. His

Popular places / page 7

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ratke continues his mma training (12) Profiles: Nick Swardson and doug benson (15) mav soccer keeping the dream alive in nsic (11) Spoiler: Your premium cable catch-up (18)

Page 2 • Reporter

News

Thursday, November 4, 2010T

New United Way RSO seeks to address area problems Group plans to fundraise in fall, volunteer in spring GRACE WEBB

staff writer

According to a recent study, one-fourth of Mankato residents live below the national poverty line. Yet many people are unaware of the social problems in their Mankato community.

Minnesota State Mankato director of the Nonprofit Leadership Program Keith Luebke wants to change this.

“Frankly, most people don’t know [about these issues],” Luebke said.

Luebke has a plan to help the Mankato area community: form a United Way registered student organization.

United Way is a nonprofit organization with locations around the country and the world. It focuses on a variety of community needs, such as housing, education and food. The Greater Mankato Area United Way has been internally ranked as one of the best in the country.

Luebke has volunteered with this local organization for many years and knows all the good it has done. He said he wanted to create a student section so students can get involved with their community.

“I started the United Way student group with the intention of getting students involved with United Way issues,” Luebke said.

Luebke started forming the group last year, but he backed off when he realized there were already hundreds of students doing service learning projects with the

organization. He hopes this year to involve those students who already have experience with the organization and also recruit eager new members. He said he took it slowly at the beginning of this school year because many of the students who voiced an interest are also very politically involved, so he wanted to let the 2010 election finish up before he started really pushing for his new RSO. Now that the votes have been counted, he said he will use this semester to formally establish a membership roll and next semester will be more aimed at recruiting new students.

“What I want to do is take advantage of the knowledge these students [who have already volunteered] have,” Luebke said. “I’m hoping this semester, they’ll be getting organized.”

The students who volunteered with the Greater Mankato Area United Way last year were involved in many projects, but one of the most exciting was the Backpack Program. It was a pilot program aimed at helping children who suffered from hunger during school. Kids K-3 received backpacks and then, while they were busy at recess or otherwise occupied, packages of food were slipped into the backpacks. Mankato teachers said they have already noticed what a great improvement this has made in their students’ ability to learn and focus.

This program, which is being continually expanded,

snell

is only one of the many programs United Way is involved in. It also works with 36 local non-profit Partner Agencies and 58 Programs and Initiatives to provide many other services.

“They’re doing a million things,” Luebke said.

Luebke said he hopes his United Way RSO will build a bridge between the university and the community.

He said his goal is to have RSO members fundraise for the Greater Mankato Area United Way every fall semester and then spend the spring semester working on service learning and volunteer opportunities within the United Way organization.

“There has never been as good a connection between the university and United Way [as I’d like],” Luebke said. “I really want to build a network of opportunities for students to become involved in United Way issues.”

courtesy of mankato united way Last year students worked with a variety of programs to prevent children and adults from growing hungry in Mankato.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

News

Hitting the slopes

Hundreds of students bond through Ski and Snowboard Club MEGAN KADLEC

staff writer

As the temperature drops, students across campus are turning up the heat and wrapping themselves in blankets.

Members of the Minnesota State University Mankato Ski and Snowboard Club are instead lacing up their boots in anticipation of the snow to come.

The club, which has been around for nearly a decade, is one of the largest Recognized Student Organizations on campus.

“We used to have over 200 members. It has shrunk a little bit in size, but we still have roughly 100 members. We’re always looking to grow,” said Bret Romberg, co-president of the Ski and Snowboard Club and fourth-year business student.

The ultimate goal of the organization is to serve as a community of riders who share common interests. The club was designed in a meet-and-greet style so MSU students can get together with their peers to organize ski and snowboard trips.

“It is a good way to get people together from other towns who are going to be here during the winter seasons,” said Daniel Lee, co-president of the Ski and Snowboard Club and fourth-year Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services major.

The club is directed at first and second year students who want to form friendships with peers who enjoy the same sport they do, whether that be skiing or snowboarding.

“It’s more snowboardoriented than ski, but we get both,” Romberg said.

“It’s a really good way to get kids relaxed and give them something to do. Instead of

Reporter • Page 3

New vaccine combats panic H1N1 strain not as threatening this semester BOB RINGER

staff writer

submitted photo Club members snowboarded in Telluride, Colo. for the 2010 club trip.

going out and trying to find a party, we are there to hang out on campus,” Lee said.

The club has few boundaries in reference to where they will travel for the sport. While the club does host local trips to Mount Kato, it also organizes an annual winter break trip.

“The [winter break trip] is our main feature event that we offer through the club. Every year we take about 60 kids from the MSU campus out west and meet up with other colleges,” Romberg said.

This year the club will be travelling to Park City, Utah for five days in January.

Unfortunately, this year’s trip has already been filled, but students should be on the lookout for information about the 2011-2012 trip. The club is also organizing a trip to Welsch Village the weekend before finals. Skiers and snowboarders will spend Dec. 4 on the slopes and then stay in a cabin overnight for a bonfire and party.

“It is kind of hard to schedule because people have finals and

submitted photo Members stand at the top of Parsen Bowl at Winter Park, Colo. for the 2009 club trip.

they just don’t want to show up,” Lee said.

Social events are offered nearly every week through the club. Whether members meet to watch movies or have a winter bonfire, there is always a way for students to relax without partying all night. During spring semester, the club would like to have events related to outdoor winter activities such as boot hockey, sledding, bonfires and, of course, riding at Mount Kato.

The club hopes to initiate Thursday night rides at Mount Kato for any interested members.

It is also planning a grill-out at Mount Kato in traditional tailgating fashion once the season begins.

Meetings are held every other Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Armstrong Hall 102, where the club will watch a movie, eat pizza and discuss events. In addition to official business, the meetings are also a chance to give members prizes ranging from stickers and t-shirts to lift tickets and snowboards.

To join, students must pay a $20 fee. This might seem like an unnecessary expense, but if a student is a passionate snowboarder, the membership fee is worth it. With membership to the club, students receive free food at all of the meetings and events, an official club t-shirt, discounts, access to all club events, and even merchandise.

Students interested in joining the club are urged to attend a meeting or sign up at tables periodically located in the Centennial Student Union.

Meetings and other events are announced through the Official Mankato Ski and Snowboard Club group on Facebook. The next meeting will be Nov. 10.

Last year’s H1N1 pandemic caught health care institutions off guard, but in 2010, medical professionals should have the supplies necessary to help people protect themselves during the upcoming flu season.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is caused by a virus, which can be spread by coughing, sneezing or nasal secretions. There are multiple strains of the virus. The H1N1 strain caused much illness during the 2009 flu season partly because it was a new strain, but also because of when it hit.

“The timing of when it first started didn’t really fit what we were expecting,” said Lori Marti, the head of health promotion and education at Minnesota State Mankato’s Student Health Services. “Most influenza seasons start in late fall and go through the spring.

This one started in spring, or at least that’s when people started noticing it.”

H1N1 was able to spread quickly because, initially, there was no vaccine available.

Each year when influenza vaccinations are developed, producers look at which forms are circulating and try to

predict which will be most prevalent. Researchers had to scramble to develop a separate vaccine to combat the new strain.

To be adequately protected against influenza last year, people needed two vaccinations, one against H1N1 and one against seasonal flu, according to Dr. Randall Hurd, medical director of MSU’s Student Health Services College campuses were particularly vulnerable to the spread of H1N1 last year. The high concentration of students on campuses serves as an excellent breeding ground for a contagious disease. The H1N1 pandemic began at MSU in the spring of 2008, but didn’t peak until October 2009, according to Hurd.

One of the dangers of the flu is that it weakens the immune system, opening the door for other potential health problems. Student Health Services was able to effectively handle the pandemic.

“A little over a year ago, I was seeing up to 15 students a day with H1N1,” Hurd said.

“Last year, at the clinic, we saw no cases of pneumonia or other complications in our students who had flu.”

The nation’s health care system is better prepared for

Flu / page 7

THE KITCHEN IS OPEN AGAIN!

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The Duke Burger Not valid on Thursdays. One coupon per customer.

Voices

T

Pawlenty on the Gubernatorial Race

Thursday, November 4, 2010 www.msureporter.com

“The hard work and participation of so many Minnesotans leading up to and throughout yesterday’s election affirms Minnesota’s civic mindedness. While questions remain about the outcome of several contests, there is a process in place to provide the people of Minnesota with a final result as quickly as fairness and

the law allows.

My administration is fully committed and prepared to accomplish the swift and orderly transition to the next governor as soon as a final determination is made. As required by Article V of the Minnesota Constitution, I will continue to serve as Governor until a new governor takes the oath.”

They will have two years to work solely toward removing Obama and not actually working toward helping the American people (though it’s believed that removing him alone will solve all our woes).

Yet the most troubling of the anti-Obama rhetoric is an attitude that I’ve been referring to as “Rip Van Winkle Syndrome.” It’s as if many of these people were either asleep or catatonic for their entire lives until the day Obama was inaugurated into office and then they woke up, looked around, saw problems and pointed fingers at one person.

“It’s been a year and half Mr. President, why am I not living like the Jetson’s in a hope-filled cloud metropolis!?!” So you’re saying we need new government employees to make sure we have less government?

In an op-ed piece with the New York Times titled “Divided We Fail,” Paul Krugman, a legendary economist, professor of economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics, posits the future to come: “Today’s situation is completely different. The economy, weighed down by the debt that households ran up during the Bush-era bubble, is in dire straits; deflation, not inflation, is the clear and present danger.

And it’s not at all clear that the Fed has the tools to head off this danger. Right now we very much need active policies on the part of the federal government to get us out of our economic trap. But we won’t get those policies if Republicans control the House. In fact, if they get their way, we’ll get the worst of both worlds: They’ll refuse to do anything to boost the economy now, claiming to be worried about the deficit, while

simultaneously increasing longrun deficits with irresponsible tax cuts — cuts they have already announced won’t have to be offset with spending cuts.”

If you truly think we’re becoming a Socialistic state, become Amish or a hippie.

Seriously. Go buy your own land and build your own house there. Don’t pay taxes or depend on firefighters or police officers or the military to serve and protect you. Home school your children and don’t let them go to college because they’ll probably need financial aid (rich people don’t have to worry about financial aid). Drive a horse and buggy around those Socialist public roads and highways. That way you won’t have to worry about those traffic lights you’re taxes pay for.

Paul and the like’s attitude is simply self-preservation masked behind an “I’m going to take back Washington for your sake!” attitude. And it’s a perpetuation of guys with no business influencing voters who say they are just like you.

Rush Limbaugh with his $59 million salary is not the average American. Glenn Beck with his $33 million salary is not the average American. Just because they’ve spew hate-filled radio and television and been through serious addictions to illegal narcotics and alcohol does not mean they are qualified to be affecting Washington. They are vaudevillian hate-mongrers, jesters amidst the court of ratings and Rupert Murdoch.

Media members are supposed to be watchdogs, not watchmakers.

Just because they yell and seem passionate, doesn’t mean they’re right. Just because it snowed last year, doesn’t mean global warming is a hoax.

Neither side should panic or celebrate. It’s still going to be business as usual in Washington, D.C. Actually, maybe that is cause for panic.

compiled by Katie Erickson

Were you satisfied with the result of the mid-term election?

BRENNAN DOWN THE HOUSE: ANOTHER REACTIONARY PIECE ABOUT THE REACTIONARY ELECTION NATE BRENNAN

editor in chief Before we get into the banter you’ve been forced to listen to all week, let me first state my position: I voted for Walz and Dayton. So you could call me a Democrat I guess. But truthfully, I couldn’t care less about which politician is from which party because it doesn’t matter, people vote based on their own personal beliefs of moral concepts (which never amounts to much). What gets me angry about politics is not who is from what party and what they said about the other one, especially since the two-party system is so utterly flawed, it’s that such rabid hypocrisy runs rampant through campaigns for months, even years, for the sole purpose of getting elected, and not helping the American people they claim to be just like.

Because of this, nearly 120,000 people in Delaware voted for a Sarah Palin clone who bashes people’s sexual acts while having her own drunken one night stands (see: Gawker.com) and doesn’t know what rights are delegated to we Americans in the First Amendment (see: her debate with the guy who actually won that election). It’s because of this that Sarah Palin can be seen as some kind of working class hero while spending $150,000 of your campaign contributions to the Republican National Committee on clothing. It’s because of this that a guy who thinks waiters and waitresses can survive on a $2/hour wage and no one thought had a chance at winning the seat of Minnesota’s governor will be engaged in a contentious (and probably very long) recount to see who will be our State’s top executive.

Longest moment of yelling at the television on election night: Rand Paul, the newest Senator-elect from the progres-

sive state of Kentucky, telling Wolf Blitzer that “there are no rich” and “there are no poor.”

“We all either work for rich people or we sell stuff to rich people,” said Paul. Paul also said people who advocate letting the Bush tax cuts expire and going back to the higher tax rates of the Clinton years, “must be in favor of a second American Depression because if you raise taxes to that consequence, that’s what will happen.”

Really Rand Paul? You know that there will be a second Great Depression if we go back to Clinton’s tax cuts and let Bush’s expire? Didn’t we have a surplus because of that strategy and end up with a huge deficit because of Bush’s entire strategy toward everything?

He’s trying to invoke unnecessary and unfair fear toward the president and these Democrats who seemed to always be the reason for all these things that will apparently kill us all. But he, like many, are saying or regurgitating rhetoric to get elected and then act in office in a way that will keep them in office. Democrats didn’t lose control of the house because they failed, they lost control of the house because they were too busy not worrying about being re-elected by focusing on at least trying to turn this country around.

Furthermore, it’s ludicrous that the same people who cried out that attacking the President’s agenda was unpatriotic while Bush was in office are solely focused on bringing “the Obama agenda” down.

In an interview with the National Journal, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell said he believes that “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a oneterm president.”

And this is the entire platform — removing Obama.

Eric Hermansen • Fr • Food Sci. Tech.

“Yes I was. I was happy to see the turn out for kids our age.”

Lisa Hayes • So • Biology

“Yes, I think the conservative change in the house will be good for the economy.”

Christine Dornbusch • Grad • Stud. Affairs “I was most concerned with the governor’s race and who knows when those official results will be in.”

Tim Filzen • Sr •Econ “I was happy to see the Republicans get the house back.

Finally the parties will have to work together instead of working against each other.”

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

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Reporter • Page 5

Fall fire dance heats up ballroom Second annual dance held indoors for one-time only due to ballroom renovation

The performers moved with quickness and stealth as they spun their flames around.

The audience watched silently as the performers danced to the beat of native drums.

Some dancers incorporated hula hoops in with their fire dance.

photos by dan moen

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Voice interpretation provided Event is FREE and sponsored by the Department of Speech, Hearing, and Rehabilitation Services.

Page 6 • Reporter

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Study Break Thursday, November 4, 2010 www.msureporter.com T O D A Y S S T U D Y S P O N S O R E D

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TUESDAY’S ANSWERS

Across 1. “Most electrifying man in sports entertainment” 5. Jim Gaffigan’s Beyond the _____ 9. No Doubt tune, Don’t _____ 14. Pain 15. Achilles weakness 16. Wear away 17. Biblical “you” 18. Sketch 19. Fresh scent spray 20. Toothbrush brand 22. Rocky Balboa opponent, _____ Creed 24. Sandra Bullock cyberspace thriller, The ____ 25. The girl with the dragon ______ 27. Log boat 31. Apple type 32. Buck’s mate 34. The Ambiguously Gay ____ 35. Shopping ____ 38. ____ Tree Hill 40. _____, Norway 42. Cool and distant 44. Happy Gilmore “Meesta! Meesta! ___ me outta here!”

46. Herrrrre artist 47. Funeral hymn 48. ___ Zeppelin 50. Loch ____ monster

51. Also known as 52. Christmas month 55. Desert conditions 57. List of meals 59. Taiwan city 61. Computer for short 64. Film, Hotel ______ 66. Thoughts 68. Last letter in the Greek alphabet 71. When something plays on television 73. Soothe 74. Old ____, crazy person 75. Very reluctant 76. Cold War Russia 77. Crackers, tomatos, bread, eggs 78. Pig ____ 79. He ____ with his eyes Down 1. Squeal (2wds.)

2. Red pigment 3. To act dishonestly to gain an advantage 4. Stagger 4. Doctoral degree 6. Supplying oxygen 7. Jumped 8. Half of the Blues Brothers duo 9. Vend 10. Comedian, Richard _____ 11. Aurora 12. Hoopla

13. Keenan’s old pal 21. British thermal unit 23. A toilet 26. “A long time ___ in a galaxy far, far away…”

28. Addle 29. Gasoline, Diesel, E85 30. Frozen pizza brand 31. Beat 33. Billion years 35. Lady’s title 36. The same in many ways 37. Navigation system 39. Snake like fish 41. Borrow 43. ____ up 45. Conservative movement led by Sarah Palin 49. Rapper Dr. ___ 53. Estimated time of arrival 54. Manmade waterways 56. Roman numeral three 58. Prodded 60. Jimmy Fallon tune, ____ Boyfriend 61. Come to an end 62. Out of fashion 63. People who manipulate others for their benefit 65. Habits 67. Latin for god or deity 68. “____ with her head!”

69. Cow speak 70. Beyonce self esteem song 72. Not he

Thursday, November 4, 2010T

Thursday, November 4, 2010

News

Reporter • Page 7

SEARCHING Do research, consult friends, use campus resources to find the perfect living space continued from 1 had 12 venues to explore.

Information was displayed on tables throughout MavAve and outside the Campus Hub area with representatives handing out candy, prizes, leasing information and helpful advice for selecting a residence.

“We enjoy coming to campus and having the opportunity to speak with students about becoming potential residents,” said Kelly, a representative for The Summit and Jacob Heights.

After obtaining all the

information, one’s mind might burn out. The process of sorting through all the information is a tedious, dirty job that needs to be completed to make educated housing decisions.

“I thought the fair provide helpful information, especially with handouts showing prices which are not often found online,” Sannes said.

Start the search early.

Some apartments offer early signing benefits, and it also decreases stress when lease agreements are completed

in advance rather than last minute. However, before hastily committing to a contract six months or more in advance, do research.

Here is a helpful start: MSU on-campus offers a variety of residence halls and off-campus there are many options including: Atwood Property Management, Cedar Meadow Apartments, College Station & College Town, Devonshire/Southridge Apartments, Glenwood Terrace Apartments, Highland Hills Apartments, Hilltop Apartments,

Huntington Hills Apartments, Stadium Heights Apartments, The Summit and Jacob Heights, University Square Apartments and Cherry Ridge Apartments.

Students can also expand their housing search by venturing to North Mankato.

There are great options around every corner. So do some research, consult friends, use campus resources and weigh costs based on a set of personal values. Lose the stress and disappointment and create a strategic approach to house

POPULAR PLACES Renting a house can often be more work than renting an apartment continued from 1 friend found the place.

“Rent is $350 plus utilities.

We get free parking and it’s much bigger than the dorms,” Evans said.

Some other options include renting a house or an apartment downtown. There are some apartments above the bars where students can live. Houses that are for rent can be found by looking at classifieds or by Rent MSU. Rent MSU is a company that owns many houses and apartments. It can help

students find a type of housing that works for them.

There are other apartments downtown, such as Hillside Terrace and Lor Mar Suites off Riverfront that are month-to-month and don’t require a year-long lease.

Some students have started looking for housing for next year already. It is important to look for the best place to live and for the best roommates. Houses and apartments start to fill up fast as people start to

sign leases, so it gets harder to set up an ideal living arrangement the longer students wait.

“I haven’t started looking for next year yet. I’m probably not going to live there next year. I want to live close enough to walk to campus. Driving to the free lot and walking to class sucks,” Evans said.

John also has not started looking for next year since he is unsure of his plans for fall.

Taylor is planning on

looking for housing early next semester in January or February.

When deciding where to live it is important to note that renting a house is a lot more work than renting an apartment. When renting a house there can be more responsibilities depending on the landlord, such as making sure the lawn is mowed, snow is shoveled and the garbage is brought out on the right day.

FLU continued from 3 H1N1 this year. The 2010 flu vaccines will protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus and two other influenza viruses.

The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for most people six months and older.

However, not everyone should get vaccinations. The vaccine virus is grown in eggs, so people with egg allergies shouldn’t get it. Also, people who are or have been recently ill should wait until they have fully recovered before being vaccinated.

The immunity provided by an annual vaccine diminishes over time, so even those who received a vaccination in 2009 should be vaccinated this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MSU students can protect themselves from the flu by visiting the Student Health Services office in the lower level of Carkoski Commons.

Vaccines are available at the campus clinic for $20. Student Health Services offers the cheapest vaccination in town, according to Hurd.

Though vaccination is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy during flu season, it is important to do all the little things that inhibit the spread of a contagious disease. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, eating healthy, covering coughs and sneezes as well as regular hand washing are all habits that can greatly reduce the chances of coming down with the flu.

Page 8 • Reporter

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W &N orld

ation

Thursday, November 4, 2010 www.msureporter.com

Obama up for compromise Even more willing after Republicans take the House WASHINGTON (AP) — A chastened President Barack Obama signaled a willingness to compromise with Republicans on tax cuts and energy policy Wednesday, one day after his party lost control of the House and suffered deep Senate losses in midterm elections.

Obama ruefully called the Republican victories “a shellacking” and acknowledged that his own connection with the public had frayed.

At a White House news conference, the president said that when Congress returns, “my goal is to make sure we don’t have a huge spike in taxes for middle class families.” He made no mention of his campaignlong insistence that tax cuts be permitted to expire on upperincome families, a position he said would avoid swelling the deficit but put him in conflict with Republicans.

He also virtually abandoned his legislation — hopelessly stalled in the Senate — featuring economic incentives to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, vehicles and other sources.

“I’m going to be looking for other means of addressing this problem,” he said. “Cap and trade was just one way of skinning the cat,” he said, strongly implying there will be others.

In the campaign, Republicans slammed the bill as a “national

energy tax” and jobs killer, and numerous Democrats sought to emphasize their opposition to the measure during their own re-election races.

The president opened his post-election news conference by saying voters who felt frustrated by the sluggish pace of economic recovery had dictated the Republican takeover in the House.

Asked to reflect on the returns, he said, “I feel bad,” adding that many Democrats who went down to defeat had done so knowing they risked their careers to support his agenda of economic stimulus legislation and a landmark health care bill. He blamed himself, in part.

“The relationship that I’ve had with the American people is one that built slowly, peaked at this incredible high, and then during the course of the last two years, as we’ve together gone through some very difficult times, has gotten rockier and tougher,” Obama said.

Criticized at times for appearing detached and aloof, Obama spoke about the challenges he’s faced in engaging the American people from the often insular White House.

“When I’m out of this place, that’s not an issue,” Obama said.

“When you’re in this place, it is hard not to seem removed.”

Calif. rejects legalization of marijuana use Some believe it would lead to increased addictions and driving accidents SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Californians heeded warnings of legal chaos and other dangers and rejected a ballot measure Tuesday that would have made their state the first in the U.S. to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

The spirited campaign over the proposal had pitted the state’s political and law enforcement establishment against determined activists seeking to end the prohibition of marijuana.

It was by far the highestprofile of the 160 ballot measures being decided in 37 states. Other measures dealt with abortion, tax cuts and health care reform.

On a night of conservative advances in much of the country, Massachusetts voters spurned a chance to cut their taxes — rejecting a proposal to lower the state sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. Critics said the cut would have forced the state to slash $2.5 billion in services, including local aid to cities and towns.

In Oklahoma, voters overwhelmingly passed three measures that had dismayed some progressive and immigrants-rights groups.

One makes English the state’s “common and unifying language,” another requires a government-issued photo ID in order to vote, and the third prohibits state courts from considering international law or Islamic law when deciding cases.

In Colorado, voters decisively defeated an anti-abortion “personhood” amendment — similar to one rejected in 2008 — that would have given unborn fetuses human rights in the state constitution.

California’s marijuana proposal — titled the Regulate,

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Control and Tax Cannabis Act — would have allowed adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce (28 grams) of pot, consume it in nonpublic places as long as no children were present, and grow it in small private plots.

Proponents pitched it as a sensible, though unprecedented, experiment that would provide much-needed revenue, dent the drug-related violence in Mexico by causing pot prices to plummet, and reduce marijuana arrests that they say disproportionately target minority youth.

However, every major newspaper, both political parties, the two candidates for governor and all but a handful of leading politicians came out against it.

“Today, Californians recognized that legalizing marijuana will not make

our citizens healthier, solve California’s budget crisis, or reduce drug-related violence in Mexico,” said the White House drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske.

Instead, he said, legalization would lead to more addiction, driving accidents and emergency room admissions.

Federal officials also said they would have continued enforcing laws against marijuana possession and sales had the measure passed.

Federal officials said they would continue enforcing laws against marijuana possession and sales if the initiative had passed.

Even facing defeat, Prop 19 supporters said they were buoyed by a new Gallup poll showing that national support for legalizing marijuana has reached an all-time high of 46 percent. Gallup said majority support could come within a few years if recent trends continue.

In South Dakota, voters rejected a measure to legalize medical marijuana — a step already taken by 14 other states, including California. A medical marijuana measure also was on Arizona’s ballot, and Oregon voters were deciding whether to expand the state’s current medical marijuana law by authorizing state-licensed dispensaries.

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News

Reporter • Page 9

Recounting for governor U.S. opens up Republicans vow to fight, bitter after 2008 Senate loss

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota awoke Wednesday to a nightmare — the prospect of another long, bitter, expensive recount, this time for the governor’s office.

Republicans vowed to “turn over every stone” to help nominee Tom Emmer make up a deficit of about 9,000 votes to Democrat Mark Dayton from some 2.1 million cast.

The vote difference falls within the bounds of a mandatory statewide recount.

With memories fresh of their 2008 overtime loss to Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, Republicans promised an aggressive fight.

With redistricting and control of the state’s finances in the balance, there was little incentive for either candidate to concede.

“We’re not going to get rolled this time,” said GOP chairman Tony Sutton, who has enlisted noted lawyers to take on Emmer’s case.

At a Wednesday morning news conference, Secretary

of State Mark Ritchie defended the election, saying it was “extremely smooth” and “extremely calm” and without irregularities.

Dayton hadn’t appeared publicly since the wee hours, and Emmer issued only a written statement in which he made clear he’d press on.

“There is a process in law that will ensure that we arrive at a conclusive result, ensuring that all valid votes are counted and the will of the voters is met,” Emmer said.

Voters, meanwhile, agonized over another amazingly close race.

“It’s like, oh my lord, not again,” said Minneapolis resident Devin Clarkson, 28.

“It’s disheartening, and I guess it shows Minnesota has become a really divided state in its politics.”

With Republicans storming to control of the Legislature, the re-count could lead to high intrigue. Pawlenty on Wednesday told The Associated Press that he was prepared

to extend his term until his successor is decided. That means the new GOP legislative majorities could try to pass bills for Pawlenty to sign before Dayton could be sworn in, if he ultimately wins.

Pawlenty has said he would decide on a possible presidential bid early in 2012, but said “any of my personal plans or concerns are secondary” to fulfilling his constitutional obligation to remain governor while the process plays out.

Ritchie, a Democrat re-elected to a second term, said county canvassing boards will now review the results and report to the state canvassing board on Nov. 23. No re-count could proceed until then.

If the margin after the board meets is less than half a percentage point, it will trigger an automatic recount at taxpayers’ expense.

Ritchie said if there’s another recount, he expects it to be less emotional than the review of the 2008 U.S. Senate race, during which he received death threats.

Administration submits human rights record to U.N.

GENEVA (AP) — The United States is submitting its human rights record to the scrutiny of other nations — both allies and adversaries — for the first time, as the Obama administration opens itself up to a committee shunned by his predecessor.

The three-hour U.N. review Friday will have more than a few uncomfortable moments for the high-level U.S. delegation, which is sure to face questions over the use of torture in the war on terror, not dismantling the prison at Guantanamo Bay, the death penalty, immigration policy, the treatment of racial minorities and questions of religious freedom.

The 30-strong delegation, headed by three top State Department officials and including representatives from many departments, including Justice, Defense and Homeland Security, arrives in Geneva with a 20-page report compiled with the input of civic and social organizations.

For most observers, the high level of U.S. engagement alone is a milestone. The Bush administration shunned the U.N. Human Rights Council, which runs the so-called Universal Public Reviews, because of the participation of repressive states and its constant criticism of Israel.

Some of the most vocal critics of the review process have come from the U.S. Congress, and a landslide by the frequently U.N.-skeptical Republicans in Tuesday’s election could leave the country even less receptive.

Human rights organizations say the ultimate test will be in the U.S. response to peer recommendations from any of the United Nations 192 members, including possibly Iran, which will be made next week.

Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU human rights program, said it is important that the United States matches its rhetoric with concrete domestic policies and actions.

Page 10 • Reporter

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Rajon Rondo making history

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Volleyball

NSIC SO C C E R T O U R N A ME N T

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE After a decisive 3-1 win, the Mavericks keep their NCAA Tournament hopes active

Senior Jessie Audas was named to the NSIC-First Team Wednesday afternoon.

LEE HANDEL

staff writer

Survive and advance. That’s the goal of the Minnesota State Mankato women’s soccer team in the NSIC tournament. So far so good, as the Mavericks tamed the St. Cloud State Huskies 3-1 Wednesday afternoon at The Pitch.

The Mavericks desperately need to make a successful run through the conference tournament if they are to have any hopes of making it back to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year. With the fourth seed in the tournament, they knew that they would have a great chance to beat some quality teams and build their resume.

St. Cloud State MAVERICKS

1 3

The first test was a home showdown against the rival Huskies, a team MSU defeated 1-0 at The Pitch earlier this season.

The home team came out strong early on, as senior forward Laura Leber set the tone when she put the Mavericks ahead 1-0 midway through the first half with her seventh goal of the season. The crucial goal now gives Leber an amazing 41 career goals as a Maverick.

She was assisted by sophomore forward Nicole Dooher, who picked up her team-leading eighth assist of the year.

Sophomore forward Brittany Henry added to the lead

later in the first half on a pass from fellow sophomore Brianne West, as the Mavericks took a commanding 2-0 lead into the half. Like so many other times this season, Henry was not finished scoring, as she found the back of the net yet again in the second half to put the game out of reach. The two scores give Henry a teamleading 12 goals and 25 points on the year.

“We were able to get two goals right away, which really let down St. Cloud,” said Henry. “We continued to attack and our defense had a really strong game.”

The Huskies managed to avoid being shutout late in regulation, but all in all the

Vikings Catering

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter

Mavericks dominated in the impressive 3-1 triumph.

Freshman Brittany Cygan got the start in goal and picked up the win, playing well in such an important game while making four saves on the day.

“The girls played with real positive energy and emotion,” said head coach Peter McGahey. “It was a good display of Maverick soccer today and you can be nothing but proud of our student-athletes.”

The Mavericks (11-7-1 overall) will play the top-seeded Winona State and Friday afternoon, which will serve as an opportunity for revenge for the Mavericks after losing to the Warriors on the road two weekends ago.

MSU handles Crookston TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer

The Minnesota State University Mankato volleyball team returned at 3 a.m.

Wednesday from their first of three road trips this week with a 3-1 win.

Disregarding the fact that the victory was over the NSIC’s worst team — the 14th ranked Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles — a win is a win. At this point in the season, wins have never been more important than right now.

With one down, the Mavericks still have two more road games left this week, including a Friday night rumble against the Northern State Wolves and a Saturday evening match against the University of Mary Marauders.

The Mavericks have without a doubt shown tremendous growth this year.

“Our energy level is better than it was in the beginning,” said defensive specialist Alli Rice. “We’re fighting harder and we’re coming together as a team.”

And considering the combined conference record of 7-25 of their opponents as well as the fact that back-toback road trips are difficult the way it is, it would be hard to fault the Mavericks if they didn’t show up fully engaged for this weekend’s games. But with only four matches left before the beginning of the NCAA Regional Tournament, the Mavericks have a lot of questions to answer. One of the biggest is the theory that MSU “plays down to the level of their competition,” and while the competition the Mavericks face this weekend won’t be the most evenly matched, there has never been a better time this season for the Mavericks to respond to that claim.

“I think at times we have walked into games knowing the rankings and with our guards down a little bit, ” said middle blocker Jill Storlie. “I think that our problem right now is that we come into the games slow and it takes us a

Volleyball / page 14

UP NEXT

Northern State When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Aberdeen, S.D.

Page 12 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, November 4, 2010T

THE KID’S TAKE

Living the life of an MMA fighter Ratke lasted past day 1. At least he won the bet with his mom. See how his first day of three hour practices went KYLE RATKE

sports editor

FOOTBALL

Before I get into this, here’s a few quick things.

NSIC North School (1) Minnesota Duluth (25) St. Cloud State Bemidji State U-Mary MSU Moorhead Northern State Minnesota Crookston

Div. OVR 8-0 9-0 7-1 7-2 5-3 6-3 2-6 2-7 2-6 2-7 1-7 1-8 0-7 1-7

NSIC South School (7) Augustana Concordia-St. Paul Winona State MAVERICKS Wayne State SW Minnesota State Upper Iowa

Div. OVR 8-0 9-0 5-3 6-3 5-3 6-3 4-4 5-4 4-4 5-4 3-5 4-5 2-6 2-7

SOCCER (NSIC) NSIC Tournament (8) Upper Iowa 1 (1) Winona State 3 (5) St. Cloud State 1 (4) MAVERICKS* 3 (7) U-Mary 0 (2) Minnesota Duluth 1 (6) Augustana 1 (3) Bemidji State 2 The Mavericks will play @ Winona State at 3 p.m. Friday.

VOLLEYBALL (NSIC) School Conf. OVR (1) Concordia-SP 17-0 23-4 (2) Minnesota-Duluth 14-2 22-3 (5) SW Minnesota St. 14-2 23-3 (4) Wayne State 14-3 23-3 (17) MAVERICKS 9-7 17-7 MSU-Moorhead 8-8 12-12 Augustana 8-9 12-14 St. Cloud State 7-10 12-13 Northern State 6-10 14-11 Winona State 6-10 11-13 Bemidji State 5-11 11-13 Upper Iowa 5-11 8-17 U-Mary 1-15 6-20 Minnesota Crookston 0-16 0-24

1. My body is begging me to stop this. “But it’s only been three days, Ratke. Man up.” Yeah, I know. I woke up Wednesday morning unable to lift my arms above my head. I had to hobble into the shower and I am 45 percent sure I broke my left big toe. And I have another week and a half of this?

This might not end well.

2. I tried to type something after last night’s boxing and Muay Thai practice, but my hands were shaking so badly that I couldn’t. Yeah, I am in great shape.

3. The MMA fighter I am working with, MSU junior Cory Anderson, has to be the most patient guy in the world. Really.

We squatted on Wednesday with each other and alternated reps. Cory would have two or three 45 lb weights on. After he would take them all off for my one 45. I looked to my left and a girl had two on. Reason No. 489 why I am still single.

If you are confused by reading this, head to msureporter. com and check out the article from Tuesday. Basically, I am working out with Anderson over two weeks to see what training like an MMA fighter is like.

Here’s our Tuesday: Throughout the whole day, I walked around like a 90-year old man who had just gotten ran over by a wheelchair, seriously.

I feel like I looked like Betty White. The plan was to go to Mankato Martial Arts for an hour of boxing, followed by two hours of Muay Thai.

I was expecting death. We started boxing and our instructor (not much older than me, but was extremely helpful) split us up. The first-timers were to go to one side of the room. I immediately ran over to the chubby guy to my left. Then I watched him shadow box in the mirror. A little more agile than I expected.

I wasn’t going to let a little guy beat me. I was going big.

I then looked to my left and saw a man that looked as if he could eat me if he had a chance.

Ah, what a great first partner to have! I gave him the nickname “Cheeseburgler” in my head.

Hopefully he doesn’t read this.

We did a few drills that consisted of us working on our form and throwing a few punches at the pads our partner was holding. Not a bad drill and I actually felt like I was learning something.

Then we switched and it was time for big guy to punch my pads. We were supposed to keep our hands up at all times to give our partner a target. Let’s just say my partner had to take a few breaks. The guy was punching my hands as if I had the face of Hitler. I was scared.

Overall, boxing was great.

They made me feel welcome for a first-timer and didn’t make it too physically demanding.

Next we had Muay Thai practice. This was the one that I was most nervous for. It involved punching, kicking and all other things I am not good at.

Our instructor came in like he had just snorted a line. The guy was full of excitement and ready to teach us. I am pretty sure everyone already knew exactly what they were doing, except for me of course.

Ex. On my first “kick” with my left leg, I kicked slightly like the way Carmello Anthony punches, and seemed to have jammed my big toe. The rest of the practice was tough, but you know me, overcoming adversity everyday… Right.

Two quick things on Muay Thai: 1. I am convinced that I could do this for a year straight and still not be any good at it.

It’s one of those things that you enjoy or you don’t. For a 5’9, 160 pound sports writer, it’s not

really my thing. But props to the guys in the room for trying to help me.

2. The instructor called Anderson a monster and pointed at him. While looking at the mirror I thought he was pointing at me. I smiled and shrugged until I found out it wasn’t me he was talking about. I looked like a sad puppy.

But enough out of me, let’s hear Anderson’s take on my first two days. I am a little scared on what he has to say.

Cory’s Take MMA is a great workout and being an exercise science major, I love to push my body to the max and stay healthy. That’s why I have been doing it for about 14 months.

When Kyle agreed to train in MMA with me, I was surprised at how excited and enthusiastic he was.

Honestly, I just wanted to clear up the common misconception that not all MMA fighters are Tapout-wearing rednecks with short tempers and a pair of cauliflower ears.

I’ve never seen a kid with a fifth-grade body frame get so excited to be punched in the

Ratke gears up before practice

head.

When Kyle and I had our light work out Monday, a photographer came with to take our picture for the article, which I was not expecting.

My first thought was that I shouldn’t have worn a cut off

MMA/ page 14

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Sports

MSU Women’s Hockey Gameday Lee Handel• staff writer

Reporter • Page 13

MEN’S HOCKEY

On the road again PAT DELANEY

staff writer

St. Cloud State (0-9-0, 0-6-0-0, WCHA) at Minnesota State Mavericks (2-5-1, 1-5-0-0 WCHA) Friday - 7:07 p.m., Saturday - 3:07 p.m.

All Seasons Arena — Mankato, Minn.

RECAP: After facing the three best teams in the WCHA the last three weekends, the Minnesota State Mankato women’s hockey team will finally be favored heading into a conference series this weekend when winless St. Cloud State comes to town. That could be a good thing for the team or a bad thing. While the Mavericks feel like they can have success this weekend, so does SCSU. MSU is coming off two road losses to the first-ranked University of Wisconsin in Madison, falling to the Badgers by scores of 3-2 and 6-1. The Mavericks managed to keep both contests close, as the 6-1 setback was 2-1 entering the third period, but could not steal any points from the top team in the nation. The Huskies were in Bemidji State last weekend, losing to the Beavers 3-2 and 4-0. They are still looking for their first points of the entire season.

HISTORY: These two programs are often very similar in talent and it has shown in the prior matchups between the teams over the years. The Mavericks and the Huskies are the definition of a rivalry, with the all-time series completely knotted up 22-22-5. SCSU got the better of MSU last season, going 2-1-1 against the Mavericks. While the two teams traditionally have had two home-and-home series in the past, the Mavericks will host both games this weekend and the Huskies will host both games in February.

MSU NOTES: Despite the two losses last weekend, the goaltending was superb for the Mavericks considering how many shots were put on net by the mighty Badgers. Junior Alli Altmann made 38 saves in the one-goal defeat on Friday and freshman Danielle Butters kept the Mavericks in it through two periods on Saturday, finishing with 30 saves of her own. The Maverick offense has been struggling in the early stages of the season, scoring only 13 goals through the first eight games. Junior forward Emmi Leinonen recorded her second goal of the season on Friday, and freshman forward Kathleen Rogan tallied her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the losing effort. Sophomore forward Lauren Smith accounted for the lone goal on Saturday, her second of the season. Head coach Eric Means hinted at shaking up his front lines a bit heading into this weekend looking to spark the offense.

The WCHA expanded this season with the additions of Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State. The Minnesota State men’s hockey team will have its first crack at one of the new members this weekend when they travel to UNO. Already considered the strongest conference in college hockey, the WCHA got even stronger with the additions of the two teams. This weekend it will be the battle of the Mavericks as UNO shares the same name with MSU. MSU leads the all-time series against UNO at 14-7-5, but UNO’s program has grown considerably over the last decade.

They have grown enough to not only fit in with the other teams in the WCHA, but to thrive in their new conference.

UNO made a statement in its first WCHA series provingitscan stand up to anyone. Playing on the road at Minnesota is a tough assignment for anyone but UNO showed up and did more than just compete with the Gophers, they dominated them.

UNO swept the college hockey powerhouse and established themselves as a legitimate national contender. Minnesota isn’t the only victim of UNO, through six games they have only lost once while racking up the best goals-per-game average in the WCHA. Unlike Minnesota, MSU may have the right players to shut

UP NEXT

Nebraska Omaha When: 7:37 p.m. Friday Where: Omaha, Nebraska down the UNO scorers. MSU has the most veteran group of defensemen in the WCHA including a strong group of seniors in Kurt Davis, Channing Boe and Ben Youds.

Along with the strong defense, sophomore goaltender Phil Cook has emerged as a very reliable option between the pipes. His 185 saves are more saves than any other goalie in the conference. The defensemen and the goaltender have to be on the same page during the game and MSU has found chemistry in this area.

“Hats off to our defensemen,” said Cook. They probably have more blocked shots than I have saves.”

MSU will need to continue to play well defensively against high scoring UNO but they will also need to find a way to find the back of the net against a very good goaltender. John Faulkner is a big reason why UNO has had success.

The sophomore has started every game this season and has a .922 save percentage. His play has also helped UNO average less than three goals-per-game.

This could pose as a problem for MSU who themselves score an average of less than three goals-per-game.

“Coaches tell us stay simple,

SCSU NOTES: The Huskies have their own problems on offense, having only scored six goals through nine games. They are led by sophomore forwards Kylie Lane and Alex Nelson, each with a team-leading two points on the season. Senior goaltender Ashley Nixon has done her best to keep the Huskies in games, posting a respectable .891 save percentage.

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PREDICTION: The Mavericks need to start putting up some Ws in succession before they fall too far behind in the WCHA standings. The upcoming schedule should give them a chance to do so if they play with the same intensity and put a full 60 minutes together. The Huskies are desperate for at least a point, and they should get it. Look for the Mavericks to win one game and tie the other.

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go hard, make plays around the net and it will come,” said sophomore forward Eriah Hayes.

MSU will need to find balance this weekend. UNO may be the most complete team in the WCHA and will be the toughest test for MSU at this point of the season. UNO is led by one of the best coaches in the country in Dean Blais.

Blais is well known for guiding North Dakota to two national championships during his time with the Fighting Sioux. In his second year at UNO, Blais appears to be turning UNO into a consistent national contender the same way his North Dakota teams were for 19 years.

Being able to come away with a win this weekend will be very tough for MSU but being able to compete will benefit the team strongly moving forward.

Playing road games against teams like UNO now will benefit MSU moving forward.

MSU has looked better in their last two series but it still will need to improve a lot if they want to reach their goal of playing in the NCAA tournament. Playing UNO now will prepare them to play against teams like Denver and Wisconsin in the second half of the season.

“After this road trip I think it’s gonna bring us all together,” said Hayes. “We’re gonna play that much better and be that much closer.”

Page 14 • Reporter

Sports

NFL

Moss heading to Tennessee NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans passed on wide receiver Randy Moss once before, back in the 1998 draft.

Not again.

The Titans claimed Moss off the waiver wire Wednesday, choosing not to take any risks with receiver Kenny Britt missing at least one game with an injured right hamstring.

Tennessee, then the Oilers, drafted Kevin Dyson with the 16th pick overall in 1998. They passed on Moss and said then it was because of concerns about his character. Coach Jeff Fisher, speaking three hours before Wednesday’s waiver deadline, said the personnel department decided Dyson was a better fit.

“Randy has had a terrific career. He’s a Hall of Fame receiver. You don’t always make the right decision,” Fisher said. “The draft is an imperfect science.

We’ve had No. 1’s that haven’t panned out for us before.”

Now the Titans are 5-3, a halfgame back in the AFC South with five divisional games remaining down the stretch. They were the only team to put in a claim on Moss, even though they ranked 23rd among NFL teams in the waiver system. Fisher said in a statement after the Titans were awarded Moss that the receiver offered an opportunity to upgrade their offense.

“Randy has been a tremendous threat where ever he has been,” Fisher said. “We will bring him up to speed as quickly as possible.”

Moss can help a team that has not won a playoff game since January 2004, and Fisher said Britt, who hurt his right hamstring in last week’s 33-25 loss to San Diego, will miss the Titans’ game Nov. 14 at Miami.

How quickly Moss joins the Titans remains to be seen. The Titans are on their bye and hold their last practice Thursday before breaking for the weekend.

Players won’t be due back until Tuesday, but agent Joel Segal said Moss will be heading to Tennessee.

“Randy’s excited to get back playing football,” Segal said.

“He’s ready to go and looking forward to get there.”

The receiver going to his third team this season already is being welcomed.

Safety Michael Griffin tweeted “welcome Randy Moss” and All Pro running back Chris Johnson had been lobbying for the Titans to pick up Moss as well. Johnson shares the same agent as Moss and had been telling Segal how much he wanted the receiver in Tennessee.

“Why do we need Randy Moss?” Johnson said Wednesday, before the move was announced.

“You can’t put eight in a box if you got Randy Moss out there on the outside. If you’ve got Randy Moss out there, you just can’t play him one-on-one. I feel like Randy would be a great addition to this team, be a great addition to our receiving group and really help us go deep in the playoffs.”

That’s what matters most for the Titans.

Owner Bud Adams turns 88 in January, and this franchise’s lone Super Bowl berth was way back in 2000. The Titans lost a wildcard playoff game in San Diego in the 2007 season and wasted the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in 2008 with a divisional round loss.

Britt has the NFL’s best game receiving this season with his 225 yards and three touchdowns Oct. 24, and Vince Young currently is the NFL’s top rated passer at 103.1. But the Tennessee passing offense ranks 24th, averaging 187.6 yards per game.

“Randy is obviously a Hall of Fame player and has the ability to be a difference maker for our offense,” Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said.

Nate Washington said before the waiver deadline that he didn’t think the Titans needed Moss, defending the group of young receivers who have been working hard. He said Moss would be welcomed, but Washington is the receiver most likely to slide out of a starting spot once Britt’s hamstring heals up.

This move will allow the Titans to put the 6-foot-4 Moss on one side with the 6-3 Britt on the other.

“I welcome him with open hands,” Britt said. “It’s a guy I can learn from being another receiver ... and he can definitely help with our offense.”

Moss is a relative bargain due about $3.34 million for the final eight games this season. He easily brings the best resume of any receiver for this team since leaving Houston. He has 948 career receptions for 14,778 yards and 153 touchdowns, though his numbers have dipped drastically this season in his stints first with New England and then Minnesota.

He has 22 catches for 313 yards and five TDs in eight games. In his four games with Minnesota, he had 13 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns with the Vikings losing three of those four games to drop to 2-5.

MMA “At times, he did look like a 14-year-old girl on a sugar high.” continued from 12 T-shirt. Then I started thinking “Ah shit, I hope I don’t say anything stupid. I’ve never been in a newspaper article before except for making the spelling bee in elementary school.

Like Kyle said, our first workout was light and just shoulders and conditioning.

Much to my surprise, Ratke is not as wimpy as you think. He may not have staggering maxes, but I was impressed with his work ethic. In fact, he reminded me of Mighty Mouse. But there’s still plenty of work.

Day two was our striking day. So for three hours we worked on our boxing and Muay Thai. This was very entertaining to say the least. A few years ago, I was outside of a Hyvee over in Rochester, which is pretty close to my hometown of Hayfield.

As I push the cart back to my car, I saw one of the greatest things a person could ever see. Two overweight, middleaged women duking it out in the parking lot. I saw a lot of screaming, hair pulling, and those awkward closed-fist hand slaps that always happens in girl fights. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of very accomplished and respectable women in the fighting business, but what I saw in this parking lot is what I expected to see at practice with killer Kyle Ratke.

Turns out he adjusted well and looked good for his first day. At times he did look like a 14-year- old girl on a sugar high, but he also made a lot of steps in the right direction to make himself a better boxer.

After boxing ended, we warmed back up for Muay Thai by shadow boxing and skipping rope (Ratke can skip a mean rope). Unfortunately, this was a terrible practice for someone to come to for their first time because we worked pretty much the whole time on our striking combinations, so it was hard to gauge his progress.

Overall, I was impressed with killer Kyle’s work ethic and willingness to learn. So next time you think about stealing his lunch money or making fun of him on the intramural basketball court, I’d think twice.

Cory Anderson boxes at Buster’s at 7 p.m. Friday. The tournament consists of four weight classes. The winner of each weight class is rewarded with $200.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

VOLLEYBALL Mavericks are going to need to sweep if they have a chance at NCAA tourney. continued from 11 while to pick it up.”

Northern State and the University of Mary will both be fresh faces for the Mavericks, since MSU has yet to face either of the two teams yet this year. Statistically, neither team is overly impressive, but in order to prove that they can play consistently against any opponent, the Mavericks will need to erase the opposing team’s stats from memory and blur the name on their jerseys.

“Northern [State] and Mary don’t have a lot to lose so they’re going to lay everything out on the table toward us, so we need to come full force and prepare for everything,” said

Storlie.

The key is consistency and that starts by thinking of their opponents as any other member of the powerhouse NSIC conference — as formidable opponents. As the projected sixth-seed in the Central Region, there is no reason the Mavericks shouldn’t sweep both Northern State and Mary.

But for that to happen, the Mavericks will need to play like the seventeenth-ranked team in the nation, not the team on the opposite side of the net.

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Benson at a career ‘high’ ‘Pretend Time’ for Swardson DEAN GORDEN | staff writer

Doug Benson may have finally found his way into mainstream Hollywood. The comic has been given a new show on Comedy Central called “The Benson Interruption,” premiering Friday.

But Benson has never needed Hollywood success to find an outlet for his comedy. He is a pioneer in social media, an expert in networking and a man who has invented his own stage since day one.

Over the course of his career, Benson has had a handful of his own Hollywood moments. He was a regular talking-head on various VH1 programs over the past decade and has two “Comedy Central Presents” stand-up specials. He released his own documentary in 2008, “Super High Me,” about the effects (or lack thereof) of marijuana usage and legislation surrounding it, and has appeared in numerous cameo roles on several different sitcoms.

In addition, Benson has released three comedy albums in the past three years and continues to tour his stand-up comedy across the country. He was offered a pilot episode of “The High Road with Doug Benson” this summer on G4, but the show was never picked up. All of these endeavors have only brought Benson marginal success within the Hollywood spectrum.

Where he has found the majority of his success has been outside of Hollywood’s grasp. Over the past several years, Benson has hosted a very successful Internet podcast called “Doug Loves Movies,” where he has had A-list celebrities and comedians guest star, from Jon Hamm to Sarah Silverman.

“The podcast came from my own love of movies. I just wanted to be able to talk to my friends and my fans about movies where I could inject my comedy into the show as needed. It never really came out of any agenda to boost my career, I just really love movies,” he said.

Benson’s new show is a product of his own creation. In “The Benson Interruption,” Benson and some of his comedian friends sit in on stand-up routines at different comedy clubs across the country and offer their own clever jokes and commentaries as part of the show, a la “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”

Working best off-the-cuff, Benson has a comedic wit that rivals the best.

“When you do these live events, it’s as if you’re given the last batch of a free speech. I’ve always wanted to say what I want to say and I’ve been lucky enough to have found a venue to do so. They are unplanned and you really just hope for the best,” said Benson.

Benson has created different platforms and outlets for his comedy that won’t disappear, regardless of his new show’s success. And that is exactly how Benson wants his career to remain.

“What I love about the podcast and the Internet is that they aren’t going anywhere. It really has come out of a choice in lifestyle, and I’ll be able to continue to do the things I love to do.

Would I love ‘The Interruption’ to be successful? Of course, but it isn’t going to change what I’m doing now,” he said.

JAKE BOHROD | a&e editor

“It wasn’t so weird kissing an old woman, so much, but that her husband and son were watching me.”

Viewed out of context, Nick Swardson’s career looks to be a strange hodgepodge of surreal moments, most requiring him to become someone more fantastic than the last, to bring the inane and insane to life.

In context, it’s about the same.

Riding a wave of success that pulled him up from dive bars to the equivalent of the cool table in the comic cafeteria, the Minneapolis-born comedian seems to relish in what he’s been able to pull off — the kind of comedy that usually never makes it past spontaneous thought — and get away with in the process. From the cult comedy “Grandma’s Boy,” co-written by Swardson, to “Reno 911!’s” revered Terry Bernadino, Swardson has made say-anything, do-anything comedy his persona, and in “Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time,” the new Comedy Central sketch program, that’s not about to change.

“It’s not for shock value; I really do think the premises are great...But we do push it,” Swardson said.

The fact that this comes from someone raised in the Midwest is coincidental, or ironic, or paradoxical, or none-of-the-above. It’s possible that the grain-belt sensibility just didn’t rub off, or maybe worked in the opposite direction, but either way Swardson insists that it was there as he developed his act.

“When I first started stand-up, I started in Minnesota and the crowds were really nice. I didn’t bomb until I went out to the East Coast where people are a lot more vocal about what they don’t like,” the 34-year-old said. “In the Midwest, they’re like, ‘Oh, you know that was nice, he tried; I didn’t really like that joke, but he seems like a nice boy.’ But in New York, they’ll just yell, ‘This f**king sucks!’ So it was nice to grow up in that Midwest environment for sure.”

“Pretend Time” taps into Swardson’s recognizable mix of the goofy and bro-laden, uncompromising for a reason: He didn’t have to compromise. From the beginning, Comedy Central made it clear that the show wouldn’t be under the network’s microscope, a sign to Swardson that the void left by the envelope-pushing “Chappelle’s Show” still affects the channel. This allowed Swardson the freedom to treat sketch comedy as he does his stand-up.

“I compare it a lot to my stand-up act, where it’s just kind of all over the place — there’s long stories, there’s one-liners, there’s observational stuff. The thing about this show is I didn’t want to be married to one specific angle,” he said.

The anonymity provided by the show — there is no set cast and celebrity cameos are purposefully few and far between — allows the 34-year-old to flex a muscle he hasn’t before, and face a challenge on par with the lonely traveling nights of a start-up professional. And it’s this challenge that will help decide whether the growing comedian will break his own mold in the coming years.

“I don’t know where my voice will be 10 years from now, but it will probably be a robot voice.”

Or not.

Page 16 • Reporter

A&E

Drink like an E A G L E

Thursday, November 4, 2010T

Cirque du Soleil to tour with Jackson’s Neverland

Mankato Eagles Club to host fourth annual Beer and Wine Tasting event MITHILA MANGEDARAGE

staff writer

On Nov. 9, the Mankato Eagles will be joining hands with Stadium Spirits in Mankato to host their fourth annual Beer and Wine Tasting.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international, non-profit organization with the slogan “People helping people.” According to Debra Johnson of the Mankato Eagles Aerie 269, they raise money for other non-profit organizations.

Most festivals that involve alcohol are stereotyped as venues for hairy, obese men to display their beer guts, loud and proud. Following the month of October, which is renowned for various beer festivals all over the globe, including the infamous Oktoberfest, the Eagles’ Beer and Wine Tasting will offer a little more than that. All proceeds of the event are to benefit various child abuse programs in the Mankato area.

Local beer and wine tasters are to expect a fairly wide variety of drinks at the tasting. Located at 708 N. Riverfront Drive in Mankato, the

Eagles Club will host about 10-12 different vendors at the event with their best beverages (the amount of vendors is subject to change).

Besides various beverages, tasters will also have the opportunity to enjoy several appetizers and hors d’oeuvres.

“The appetizers will be fabulous,” said Johnson.

A silent auction, which will run simultaneously with the beer and wine tasting, will have a few items such as a wine basket, movie basket, stereo and DVD player. The auction will run from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Each of the last three Eagles’ Beer and Wine Tastings has progressively hosted more attendees than the previous year. According to Johnson, last year more than a hundred keen beer and wine tasters were present at the event. This year, more than 150 tickets have been sold thus far.

The tasting will begin at 6.30 p.m. and will proceed untill 8.30 pm. Tickets can be pre-ordered for $15 or you can purchase tickets at the door for $20. For pre-orders, contact the Eagles Club at 507-625-9701 or via e-mail at mankatoeagles@live.com.

At $57 million, this will be the performing art show’s most expensive tour yet.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cirque du Soleil is taking Neverland Ranch on the road.

The first of the acrobatic troupe’s two planned Michael Jackson shows will be set in a stylized version of the singer’s famed Southern California home, according to Jamie King, writer and director of what Cirque is billing as “Michael Jackson, THE IMMORTAL World Tour.”

“It is really about a central character or characters who get transported into this world of Neverland where they learn everything there is to know about Michael,” said King, who has directed concert tours for Madonna, Rihanna and Celine Dion.

The tour will kick off in Montreal next October and hit 30 cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. John Branca, co-executor of Jackson’s estate, said that depending on fan response, it could be extended beyond its planned end in the summer of 2012 and travel outside of North America.

Excerpts from Jackson’s music videos and extended scenes from last year’s “This

Is It” documentary will be part of the 90-minute show, but no performer will represent Jackson specifically.

“Michael Jackson is throughout the entire show, but in no way am I going to use a standin,” King said, adding that songs would include hits from “Thriller” to “Smooth Criminal,” as well as new remixes like those made for Cirque’s Beatles show, “Love.”

“Immortal” will also feature as-yet-unreleased songs that Jackson had finished before his death last year, including some from an album that the singer’s estate hopes will go on sale by Christmas, Branca said.

Concept art for the set prominently features a massive tree, which represents a favorite oak that sat outside Jackson’s Neverland bedroom, King said.

The singer nicknamed it the Giving Tree and had a perch built atop it where he wrote music and sometimes slept.

“It made sense that that would be the perfect environment for us to create this world of magic, fairy tale,” King said. “Because Neverland for Michael Jackson was his kind of his peace and his serenity. ... So after going to

internet photo

Neverland and really experiencing and feeling the beauty and the energy that was there, I had no choice but to create an environment that reflected that.”

King said he would begin auditions for about 60 dancers next week. Producers are hoping to hire dancers and musicians for the live band who have worked with Jackson, Branca said.

Jackson admired the Canadian troupe’s work and had attended Cirque shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. “He was always captivated and a fan of what Cirque does,” Branca said.

Cirque and the estate are also collaborating on a separate permanent production in Las Vegas in 2012 at a property owned by MGM Mirage Inc. They will each own 50 percent of both projects and share equally in the cost of putting on the productions.

Cirque said “Immortal” would be its most expensive touring show ever, with a budget of $57 million. A select number of tickets are being sold to fan clubs of Michael Jackson and Cirque Du Soleil starting Wednesday.

The rest go on sale Saturday.

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Reporter • Page 17

One student’s bid to unite campus arts

Wagner’s Will

MEGAN KADLEC

staff writer

In recent years, it has become a difficult feat for an undergraduate student to graduate in the typical four years. This is with one major, one minor and a few activities and athletics thrown in the mix. In this category, senior Benjamin Wagner has the majority of college students beat.

Wagner is a double major in saxophone performance and theatre. In addition to his two majors, he is the founder and president of the Mankato Young Performing Artist Association, the President of the Maverick Jazz Association and the director of a children’s choir at a church in Minneapolis. He also directs numerous shows, participates in countless music ensembles and even plays in his own variety band. With such a busy schedule, it is a wonder that Wagner knows the meaning of the word relaxation.

While keeping busy with his academic pursuits, Wagner fights against the unbalanced,

unhealthy relationship between the music and theatre departments. This was the idea behind the creation of the MYPAA. “As someone who is in both departments, I see a lot of division between the two programs.

I feel like that is not necessarily what needs to happen. In the professional world, we are all working for the same goal as performing artists,” Wagner said.

The student-founded group was created to be a social organization, but eventually snowballed into something much larger. The group is now working collaboratively with the university and community members, organizing cabaret shows and variety events, and working with individuals in the Centennial Student Union to promote the performing arts at Minnesota State Mankato.

Not only does Wagner head the MYPAA, he works at the Diamond Lake Church as the director of its kindergarten through sixth grade choirs.

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“I am really going to be pushing myself to work as an artist. So often we get music degrees or theatre degrees or dance degrees and we do not use them. I really want to try being a professional artist. I just want to perform,” he said.

Wagner acknowledges, though, that starting out in the industry wale agboola • msu reporter will be exWagner recently helped put on “Twistedly Wicked,” tremely difficult, a Halloween-themed variety show. with jobs relying primarily on apolis, has opened many doors human connections. for Wagner as a performer and “Networking is huge in the educator. performing arts realm. That is “I really feel I am going to how jobs are gotten. I plan on have a good relationship with just knocking down people’s this church upon graduation doors for work, just getting out to be able to stay there as a there and playing as often as children’s choir director,” said I can. I want to make this my Wagner. life,” he said.

Unlike many students at In addition to his dream MSU, Wagner found his way to this school via an interesting and of being a professional musician and actor, Wagner says he personal journey through the would like to work closely with world of jazz music. young men in grades fourth “I just began going to (jazz through eighth. Wagner wishes concerts in the cities) and talkto empower young males to do ing to Dr. Snapp, (the director whatever it is that they love. of jazz studies at MSU). I came “So often they see a lot of down here one day to visit and theatre, a lot of dance, a lot of go to a concert and it just fell music as being disempowerinto place,” said Wagner. ing to them as young men. And Like most theatre, dance and I want them to see that it is music majors in the country, something they can use. It is Wagner hopes to make a living not something they need to be as a performer.

turned off from,” said Wagner.

In his four years at MSU, Wagner has performed the equivalent of a recital every semester, directed 10 shows and been involved in every performance ensemble on campus.

Within the next few months, Wagner will be directing a cabaret, travelling to New Orleans with the Jazz Association and working on a undergraduate research project that will take him to New York City to meet with the playwright of “Fires Through the Mirror,” after which he will direct and star in the one-man production. Needless to say, he wouldn’t be doing all of this if it didn’t make him happy.

“My biggest philosophy is the day that I wake up and realize I do not enjoy doing something, I am not going to do it again. Until that day comes, every single thing I do through this university, I enjoy,” Wagner said.

Wagner would like to offer an open invitation to anyone at MSU who has never experienced the university’s theatre, dance and music departments. If a student has ever played an instrument, been in a play, or simply enjoys concerts and watching live theatre, Wagner encourages them to attend productions and performances.

“I challenge people to go to a theatre production or a dance concert. If anybody ever wants a complimentary ticket — I say this because I am this passionate about this — to contact me. I would love to get them plugged in, to get them involved in my MYPAA, to the arts community here,” he said.

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A&E

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Premium cable catch-up

Season five of Showtime’s ‘Dexter’ takes the series to a new level

TIM GAGNE

staff writer

Warning this article contains spoilers.

Heeee’s baaccckk. Yes, our favorite serial killer, Dexter Morgan, is back once again in Showtime’s hit series “Dexter.”

For those of you who don’t know (to be honest you shouldn’t even be reading this article if you don’t know what the show is about. You just need to go watch the show…. Right now. Seriously, it’s that good), “Dexter” follows Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a loveable Miami P.D. blood spatter analyst who, just like everyone else, carries some baggage around with him.

Except Dexter’s is a bit “heftier” than most (garbage bag humor!).

Yes, Dexter kills people, cuts them up and throws them into the ocean. But that’s just fine by us, because, thanks to Harry Morgan, Dexter’s foster father, Dexter was raised to follow a code with his killings that only allows him to kill other killers.

Now, there is a whole lot more to the story (dark passengers, born in blood, perverted Vince Masuka) but there isn’t enough

time for a complete history lesson of “Dexter,” so let’s get into the new season.

After last year’s stunning season finale, season five picks up right where we left off.

Dexter, after discovering his wife was murdered by Trinity, finds himself lost in the wake of Rita’s death. As a character who claims to be void of any human emotions, Dexter’s process in dealing with the loss of Rita is something that will continually affect the way the season shapes out.

Dexter’s primal scream after mauling the scuzzball at the refueling station was the most disoriented and emotionally enraged we have ever seen our hero. It was a beautifully cathartic moment for Dexter. Granted, he did ignore almost every rule of “the code,” but, as Harry says, “That’s the first human thing I’ve seen you do.”

In Dexter’s attempt to “find some time for Dexter,” as his mandatory grief consoler suggests, the Bay Harbor Butcher stalks down Boyd Fowler (Shawn Hatosy), a roadkill clean-up worker who happens to enjoy listening to motivational

CDs (the whole “TAKE IT!” thing was too creepy not to have something more to it later this season), killing women and embalming their bodies (everyone needs a hobby). Dexter does get Fowler on his table, but it isn’t without trouble. Lumen Pierce (Julia Stiles), a captive of Fowler’s, sees Dexter and his dark passenger making Fowler into fish food.

Stiles is a nice addition to the show (although she needs to stop touching her face in every scene she is in) and her “victim changed by traumatic experiences” character will allow Dexter to use her as a way to cope with his issues over the loss of Rita and also in dealing with Harrison, his son.

Overall, this season of “Dexter” has not disappointed. It will be interesting to see where the relationship of Dexter and Pierce leads — the way the show is going right now, it seems to be taking more of a father-daughter route, which, story-wise, makes sense. But you never do know; if last year’s season was evidence at all, anything can happen in the world of Dexter Morgan.

HBO Sundays a powerful triplet JAKE BOHROD | a&e editor

“Boardwalk Empire” “Boardwalk Empire” transcends television. It’s so good — and I’ve been saying this since the series started in September — it’s the best movie of the year. And probably the best improvised dance recital, too.

The show chronicles the life and crime of Atlantic City as it enters the prohibition era, its central character being Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (the legendary Steve Buscemi in what may prove to be his signature role), the corrupt city treasurer who has a hand in every pot citywide and wants to keep it that way. Around him swirl an ever-evolving set of characters — from a strong-willed new love interest to a son-like college-kid-turned-recluse recently returned from WWI to a bevy of gangsters, shaddy dealers and law men aiming for his throat.

The show is ponderous and delicate, elements that could very well send the action-obsessed packing, but poetically written and directed, each line more gripping than the last, each scene a carefully placed chess piece.

Now a half-dozen episodes in, the action is split between Jimmy (the son-like character mentioned above, played hypnotically by Michael Pitt) in Chicago, who more and more is gaining a foothold in the underworld alongside pal Al Capone (Stephen Graham), and Nucky in Atlantic City.

Last week’s episode left Nucky under serious threat from New Yorkbacked thugs who want to take over his rum-running monopoly, suggesting that Nucky may have to show some strength. This, presumably, is where Jimmy comes in, uniting the two after a fall out earlier in the season.

Only a half-dozen episodes in, the series has a long set of legs, and thank God for it.

“Bored to Death” Season two of “Bored to Death” is as smart and irreverent as the first. With few episodes remaining, here is a brief summary of what’s happened so far: Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman) was forced into a three-way relationship with his loopy new girlfriend and her ex, but later broken up with entirely. He continues to take cases, of course, but has adopted a teaching job to pay the bills.

Ray’s girlfriend broke up with him and he now tirelessly tries to win her back (a storyline reminiscent of Jonathan’s last season).

George (Ted Danson) simultaneously was diagnosed with colon cancer and fell into lust with the physician who diagnosed him.

“Eastbound and Down” And what can be said about “Eastbound and Down”? Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) is the same egomaniac he always has been, but now, after a meeting with his estranged father that doesn’t go so well, he’s ready to return from Mexico to re-win back the girl of his dreams, April (Katy Mixon).

O, and Stevie (Steve Little) marries a Mexican girl (insert hilarity).

Season five works to humanize Dexter.

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