November 9, 2021

Page 1

TODAY

Hockey splits

55˚

road series page

12

35˚

Scattered clouds, and very light winds. Slightly colder at night.

STUDENT RUN NEWS SINCE 1926

MSUREPORTER.COM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2021

OUT WITH THE OLD Planning begins for destruction and rebuilding of Armstrong Hall

By MAX MAYLEBEN Editor in Chief

By JENNA PETERSON News Director

Armstrong Hall, home to various general education classes for students at Minnesota State University, Mankato, is set to be demolished and rebuilt in the upcoming year. But instead of rebuilding at its current location, plans call for Armstrong to be relocated next to the Performing Arts Building, leaving its current site open for a new Centennial Plaza and green space. The building, built in 1964, comes with various maintenance issues that are costing the University more money than what it’s worth, including problems with the boiler and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. MNSU President Edward Inch said there are several reasons the building is being torn down. “Part of it has to do with the exterior facing and the

MNSU faces discrimination lawsuit

File photo The University is making plans to demolish the nearly 60 year old Armstrong Hall and relocate it.

use of the stone in the front that’s not supported, it’s deteriorating,” he said. “There’s a part of the building that has sunken bed and had to be raised back up. The biggest issues, though, were the annual maintenance related to the boiler and the HVAC

systems that are past their usability time. So, keeping it in any way would require us to invest quite a bit into the infrastructure of the building each year.” Once the current building is torn down the space will be turned into a centennial plaza

for students to enjoy through studying, lounging, or relaxing. “The plan is that once the new building is built, the existing structure will be raised and that’s going to mean it will open the center of camARMSTRONG on page 4 u

Fulbright award takes librarian to Qatar By MAXWELL MAYLEBEN • Editor in Chief

MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter

Jenny Turner, the department chair for Library Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato, received the Fulbright Specialist Award to Qatar at Qatar National Library. Her one problem? She needed approval. That approval wouldn’t come until last Tuesday, just days before her scheduled departure for the foreign country. Turner was last-minute approved, meaning she had to pack her bags and leave by last Saturday afternoon. “I think it really hasn’t set in yet,” said Turner in an interview last Friday, a day before her departure. “I imagine I won’t be able to sleep tonight.” The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The purpose of the program is to build connections between the U.S. and people of other countries. According to a Fulbright press release, since HONOR on page 3 u

Former assistant professor Ka Wah Wong is suing Minnesota State University, Mankato claiming discrimination of race and nation of origin. Wong, being of Chinese descent, asserts he was denied a tenure-track position due to his accent. The University denies any wrongdoing. The lawsuit seeks financial damages, accusing MNSU and the Minnesota State System of violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on protected classes such as race and nation of origin. The lawsuit also accuses the professors in charge of the hiring process of aiding and abetting discrimination. Wong started at MNSU as an adjunct professor of astronomy in 2014, and taught as a non-tenure track assistant professor of astronomy during 2017. During the beginning of 2018, Wong was also employed as a reLAWSUIT on page 9 u

IBE program excels business students’ experiential learning By JULIA BARTON Staff Writer

The United Prairie Bank Integrated Business Experience at Minnesota State University, Mankato is a large asset for students no matter their majors to further excel their college learning experience. Especially students who are majoring in business, the IBE program is a way students are able to receive college credit while experiencing a hands-on learning style with creating their own companies and marketing their own products. The three companies this fall semester include Eco Insights, Chilled Com-

fort and Minnesota Milers. Eco Insights products consist of a Minnesota shaped bamboo cutting and serving board as well as a savory bamboo lunch box along with reusable utensils. All proceeds from their company are going to Habitat for Humanity. Chilled Comfort’s products consist of the Everest Tumblr and Polar Parcel with proceeds being donated to the Mankato Area Foundation. Karla Gonzalez, a junior at MNSU majoring in marketing with a minor in international business shared why she chose to join the IBE program. LEARNING on page 3 u


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