November 10, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

VETERANS DAY 2011

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Faith

Minnesota State University, Mankato

• courtesy of shirley piepho Lt. Col. Joey Stephenson hands Marcus Piepho his United States Army ROTC award (left). Piepho participates in his ROTC completion ceremony.

and

fortitude

MSU ROTC grad completes Ranger School on first attempt MEGAN KADLEC

news editor

Most six-year-olds want to go to Disney World for vacation – not Marcus Piepho. When Marcus was a kid, he told his parents he wanted to visit famous battle sites at Gettysburg.

Now, at age 23, Marcus is a recent graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s ROTC program and Mankato’s newest Army Ranger.

Shirley Piepho, Marcus’ mother and Assistant Director of Event and Meeting Services in the Centennial Student Union, said she was stunned to learn that her son had graduated from Ranger School on his first try.

Very few individuals are required to attend Ranger School.

These soldiers include Infantry Lieutenants and few select Ranger Battalions.

“I’m a knuckle-dragging tanker. I’m an armor guy, but I went to Ranger School because it’s the best leadership school the army has,” said Lt. Col. Joel Stephenson, an instructor in MSU’s ROTC program and Marcus’ mentor during his undergraduate career.

“It’s 60 or 70 days of just suck.

It’s just horrendous. It’s based on small unit patrolling, infantry tactics.”

Ranger school is set in three

inside: Voices.............................................4 Sports.............................................9 Arts & Entertainment.................12 Classifieds...................................15

environments; a southern Georgia Forest, the Mountains of northern Georgia and Florida swamps.

“Not many make it start to finish. I did not, I made it through the two phases, got to Florida and then I was just tapped out,” Stephenson said. “A lot of things can go wrong because you don’t sleep, you don’t eat, you’re exposed to the weather the whole time.”

While the training is intense and difficult, it is also the best training the United States Army has to offer.

“It’s great, awesome, fantastic training. It’s a significant achievement. It’s just a speed bump for Marcus, really. He’s going to go down to Fort Riley, Kansas and he’s going to deploy to Afghanistan probably and he’s going to be leading a platoon,” Stephenson said. “This is all training so he can go out and do what he really wants to do.”

During the first week of Ranger School, the instructors yell at the soldiers constantly. More than half of the students drop out within the first days of the program and the numbers decrease from there.

“It’s mind over matter,” Piepho said. “It’s a psych game. He told me once that he needs to believe in himself enough that he can do anything. So, it’s all in his mind.”

Some soldiers lose motivation

and quit, but others sustain injuries and are forced to quit.

“Most guys have to do a recycle. They’ll redo a phase,” Stephenson said. “That’s more common than not. I was probably the average.”

Even extremely motivated and skilled soldiers don’t always make it through the intense leadership training on their first attempt.

“That’s what Marcus told me on the phone,” Shirley Piepho said.

“He said it was very interesting that the people he thought might have gotten through, they didn’t.”

Piepho and Stephenson agree that Marcus went into Ranger School with the right mindset and that psyche helped him through.

“He put himself in that position to be successful and he got a little lucky and made it through,” Stephenson said. “But you don’t get there without working hard.”

While Marcus has worked hard during his time at MSU, becoming an Army Ranger was one of his childhood dreams.

“He has had military in his blood, in his genes, forever. He’s duty, honor, country from a very young age. He’s always had faith and fortitude and he so believes in this county,” Piepho said. “I think that’s what has gotten him through.”

Despite a lack of military

background in the Piepho family, Marcus has always been interested in going into the Army. “[Marcus’ father] and I have always taught our children that it’s important to serve your community and his country,” Piepho said.

“I think that’s the part that may have started it all.”

In addition to Marcus’ determination, his attitude towards the military is different from most civilians.

“It’s a privilege for him, he feels, to serve this country. I’m honored by the military and what they do, but he looks at it the other way, which I think has really given him the impotence to get through this,” Piepho said.

Piepho credits not only her son’s strong will, but also the MSU ROTC Program for preparing him for Ranger School.

“I, as a mother, feel that, wherever he goes, he’s had the best training. I really believe that,” Piepho said. “That will help them.

Fate, you never know what is going to happen, but like I said: faith and fortitude.

In 2007, the ROTC Program was commissioning three or four cadets, but this year, it has 23.

Stephenson credits the success of MSU’s ROTC Program to the cadets. He said that its exceptional personalities are the driving force

behind the program.

“But there has to be something good about the program,” Piepho said. “So, don’t be humble, [Joel.]”

While the ROTC program at MSU prepares cadets for their careers in the Army, it also allows the cadets to be students and get an education.

“It’s really a smart thing to do, to go into ROTC, because Marcus has his education behind him,” Piepho said. “Marcus first wanted just to enlist, until we really researched and talked about it.”

While Marcus may have graduated from college and Army Ranger school, he still has a lot to experience in his career.

“He’ll probably go back and forth to Afghanistan at least once, maybe twice and it’s a tough go.

It’s hard,” Stephenson said. “It takes a true patriot, I think, and an individual who is 22, 23 years old to be completely committed to that, to say, ‘yeah, I want to sign up for that.’”

Piepho agrees with Stephenson, believing that her son is a true patriot and going into the Army was the right decision for his life.

“It’s really out of my hands.

You pray that everything will go okay,” Piepho said. “It’s his life, it’s what he’s been chosen to do, I believe. And he’s proven it, that this is his life path.”

FOR MORE VETERANS DAY COVERAGE HEAD TO THEMSUREPORTER.COM

Page 2 • Reporter

News

Thursday, November 10, 2011

MSU student takes Student Activities, Veterans time off to enlist Center to honor fallen soldiers MEGAN KADLEC

news editor

• courtesy of patrick nelson GRACE WEBB

staff writer

When Minnesota State University, Mankato student Patrick Nelson was in second grade, he and his classmates sent letters to soldiers fighting in the first Persian Gulf War. Meeting with his soldier pen pal changed Nelson’s life, and he joined the National Guard while he was still a junior in high school. Then, days after Sept. 11, the college freshman put his education on hold when he went to his recruiter’s office and begged to be put on active duty.

“I figured college would always be there,” Nelson said.

“This would be my opportunity in life to do something with meaning.”

Nelson withdrew from his university courses and was sent overseas, serving three tours of duty. The first, from March 2003 to March 2004, was in Iraq. He and the other soldiers in the 173rd Airborne Brigade were part of the initial Iraq invasion, with Nelson working as a paratrooper.

When his first tour was

up, Nelson reenlisted and was sent to Afghanistan from 2005-2006. During this second tour he was wounded when insurgents launched a missile at a helicopter that had just landed near him and some fellow soldiers. The men on Nelson’s right and left were killed, and Nelson was sprayed with shrapnel and seriously wounded. He still suffers from back pain because of the event.

Nelson took two weeks to recover then rejoined his troops and finished his tour.

Afterwards, he re-enlisted a second time. He faced opposition from loved ones in the United States, but he said he felt it was important to continue serving his country.

“I knew [the possibility of being wounded] was part of the job,” Nelson said. “It happens. I think it was important for me to get back out there.”

Nelson’s third tour took him back to Iraq. He did everything from armed searches where he and soldiers kicked down doors to patrolling areas

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Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and the Student Activities Office, as well as the Veterans Center will be celebrating the lives of those who have fallen in the recent Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“The purpose is to pay remembrance to all the men and women who have served in the Iraq and Iran conflicts, specifically, those who have fallen while serving there,” said Ashley Strom, the Assistant Director for RSOs and Non-traditional Students.

The National Roll Call event will take place in communities across the country, and will consist of the readings of the names of 6,300 soldiers who have given their lives to serve the United States in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

Volunteers have signed up to read the names in increments of 10 minutes, a five-minute decrease from the suggested national time.

“We read it aloud a couple times and were like, ‘wow, 15 minutes sounds like a long time,’” Strom said. “Not only that, if there’s people watching, it gets old for them too – to hear the same voice, the same infliction, the same tone. So, we wanted to mix it up.”

In addition to making the event less monotonous, the shorter time slots have given the opportunity for more individuals to participate.

The event will start at 8 a.m. when the Color Guard will post the flags, and Lt. Col. Joel Stephenson will make opening remarks. The reading will begin shortly after the opening remarks and will continue until 12:30 p.m. where there will be an official opening ceremony.

“We’re not as hopeful about there being a good turnout if we do [the opening ceremony] that early in the morning, but on a Friday, if it’s going to be booming at any time, it’s going to be during the lunch hour,” Strom said. “It made the most sense to have that break there. Just because then there’s more people around.”

During the opening ceremony, Stephenson and President Richard Davenport will speak and there will be a nationwide minute of silence to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

Throughout the day, there will be banners posted where staff, faculty, students and community members can write messages to soldiers currently serving abroad.

After the event, the banners will be sent to soldiers currently fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Veterans Club will also be hosting a Care Package drive during the day.

“Originally we were going to package them ourselves and send them over, but the cost of that is going to be pretty hefty and we don’t have it in our budget.”

Instead of sending the care packages using University money, Student Activities realized that there is an easier way to

send the packages.

“The AmericInn in town is hosting a care package drive as well, so we’re just going to bring our items to their drive, so it’s sort of a collaborated effort,” Strom said.

Items wanted for care packages include aloe vera, flashlights, dental floss, hand warmers and Vaseline.

While the event may seem complicated, it is anything but.

“In actuality, it’s a lot of pieces coming together to build the event, but the event itself is actually very simple,” Strom said.

The list of names and other pertinent information was provided by Eastern Kentucky University, where the event originated.

NASPA, a national group dedicated to student affairs administrators in higher education, sent an email to Associate Director for Student Activities Greg Wilkins, asking if MSU would like to participate in the event.

Whether or not members of the MSU community attend the event, Strom encourages everyone to take a moment out of their day to remember those individuals who serve their country.

“I think it’s just to take time to create space in our lives to be thankful for the sacrifices people just like you or I have made, just for you and I to be free,” Strom said. “That’s the main thing – to take a moment to pause and be thankful for it, because not everyone would do it. It takes a special kind of person to [serve the country.]”

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Where to Worship

Reporter • Page 3

WHERE TO WORSHIP

Join us for worship, prayer, fellowship, and life-transforming Bibical teaching.

7 pm in Centennial Student Union Every Sunday & Wednesday, Room 201

SERVICE TIMES: Sunday: 8:30 am.... Family 9:45 am.... Traditional 11:00 am... Contemporary

- Excellent Bible-based teaching - Choice of music styles: - Contemporary includes full band playing relevant worship songs - Traditional includes organ and hymns

1250 Monks Avenue - 345-4011 On the corner of Monks Avenue and Balcerzak Drive.

Close walking distance from MSU! Give Bethel a try and see if it can be your 'church home away from home'!

Come - just as you are - now is the time to worship.

Hosanna Lutheran Church Services: Saturday: 5:30 pm contemporary Sunday: 8:00 am traditional

9:30 am contemporary

11:00 am contemporary Wednesday: 7:00 pm contemporary Young Life Support (YLS) times: Wednesday: 5:45 pm with dinner

served at 5:00 pm Sunday: 9:30 am Thanksgiving Eve Worship: 7:00 pm

105 Hosanna Dr. Mankato (507) 388-1766 www.hosannamankato.com

www.hopeinterfaithcenter.com

SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:00 & 10:30 am

SUNDAY SCHOOL Adults 9:30 am Children 10:30 am

EVENING PRAYER Tues. & Thurs. 5:30 pm

302 Warren Street 507-388-1969 stjohnsmankato.org

Energizer Wednesday 6:00 pm 7:00 pm

Free Dinner Worship

SUNday EVENING WORSHIP 7:00 pm

With Holy Communion

BIBLE STUDY

Small groups formed at times you can meet 329 Ellis Avenue (kitty-corner from McElroy residence hall)

...to know Christ and make Him known.

"NAV NITE"

Large group worship

WEDNESDAYS

@ 9pm in CSU 284 msuNAvs.com CONNECT•GROW•WORSHIP

507-386-1242

- Worship 10:00 a.m.

2nd Sunday every month - Salon Discussion 10:00 a.m.

3rd Sunday every month - Metaphysical/Spiritual Guidance & Counseling

Maranatha Christian Fellowship For more information contact Johnathan at bislew@mac.com

All Sacred Pathways Honored!

114 Pohl Rd, Mankato

Facebook: Campus Lutheran Chapel-Mankato

Made For More?

CROSSROADS

LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY crossroadsatmnsu.org

TUESDAYS

Lunch 4 a Buck 11:00am-1:00pm

WEDNESDAYS

St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center

Worship at 8pm

Sunday Mass

Free Yoga Class 5:30pm

7:00 & 9:00 p.m.

Ostrander Auditorium

Plus... Bible Study, Daily Mass, Adoration, RCIA, Retreats, Counseling and more.

Find us on the web at: www.catholicmavs.org www.facebook.com/catholicmavs

THURSDAYS

SUNDAYS

Meal at 6:30pm GroupLife Bible Study & Discussion at 7pm Campus Pastor: Rev. Tammy Dahlvang

625-6779

lcmcrossroads@gmail.com

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Thursday, November 10, 2011 www.msureporter.com

Happy Veterans Day and Other Thoughts

KYLE RATKE

editor-in-chief

Finals start in less than a month? I graduate in less than seven months? I’ve listened to Lady Gaga’s “You and I” more than 84 times in the last three days?

WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE! Let the thoughts begin!

1. Happy Veterans Day Whether you’re for or against war; democrat, republican or whatever it is Ralph Nader is; you should be thanking a veteran today.

These brave men and women have given our country the freedom that allows schmucks like me write an article like this. They’ve given you the opportunity to attend this college and choose what you want to do with the rest of your life.

To these brave men and women, I salute you for doing something that many could not do.

For me, I could say ‘thank you’ a million times and I don’t think it would come across as well as I intend. Two words are tough to even out what members of the military have done for us throughout this country’s history. But what about two capitalized words?

THANK YOU! Still not enough, huh? Well, I won’t be able to say it better than this: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John Fitzgerald Kennedy Thank them with your words, but also thank them in action.

Show the world what it means to be an American and enjoy the freedom that our veterans have fought for.

2. Yes, ladies, it’s true. I shot myself a deer.

If this doesn’t make me the most eligible bachelor in Mankato, I don’t know what does. Okay,

probably a lot of things.

To follow up on last week’s column, I did in fact shoot a deer last weekend. It was a four-point buck that probably weighed around 140 pounds or so.

If you’re squeamish, you might not want to read this next paragraph.

This is your last chance to look away. I’m warning you.

I noticed the deer about 80 yards away from my stand. He looks at me. I look at him. We know we aren’t friends. I get him in my scope. BOOM. First shot.

He doesn’t move. Is this the Iron Man of deer? What the hell. Iron Deer! Who are you? I shoot again.

Nothing. The deer just stands there staring at me. Are these rubber bullets I’m using? Finally, on my third shot the deer dropped.

About an hour later, I went to go check out the situation. Turns out, I only shot the deer once more than likely the last shot.

Why did the deer stand there and stare at me like I was Voldemort?

I don’t know. But it doesn’t make me feel very good about calling it

“hunting.” It’s like in third grade when I was tied up to my basketball hoop and the neighbor kids threw tennis balls at me (I still hate you , Tommy!) It’s not much of a challenge.

Did I say I was the one tied up? Shoot.. Umm....

3. Great move by the Twins to demote Bill Smith

For those Twins fans out there, you were very happy to hear Bill Smith was demoted by the Minnesota Twins. Terry Ryan will return as interim GM. Here’s what the Neighborhood Gang thinks about this move: “Good move and a great move to bring back Terry Ryan. He admitted he was burnt out when he stepped down and said he’s recharged. I will throw out the ceremonial first curveball and say fire Gardy.”

- Andy Schmidt, Mankato, Minn.

“Of course it was the right

move. I’m just shocked the Twins actually did it with being such a loyal franchise. I think Smith probably thought this team was on the verge of the playoffs with a few changes when everybody else in the organization realized it’s going to take some rebuilding.”

- Donnie Beddow, Stewartville, Minn.

“Right to demote him, not fire.

They still offered him a spot in the organization. I think great move.

Look at the trades he made, dealing Garza, Hardy, and as much as I hate to say it, Delmon. I hate Delmon in the outfield, but you need to get more in return for him.

How does he go from hitting sixth for the Twins to third for a playoff team? Still going to take a while to rebuild the farm system.” - Kurt Schlangen, Albany, Minn.

“Fire Kyle Ratke.” - Travis Parks, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Umm. On that note, thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend!

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You can follow Ratke (Kyle_Ratke) and Possail (Cash_Possail) on Twitter.

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

News

Reporter • Page 5

Stories from Vietnam The American perspective

JUAN AYALA

JUAN AYALA

staff writer

If you search for “Vietnam” on the New York Times website, it will say that Vietnam received its independence in 1945, but it wasn’t until 30 years later that Vietnam stopped fighting foreign countries out of their territory.

Whether or not the war could have been won is still debated, but that might be irrelevant today.

Instead, what might be important is to listen to those veterans who fought in an important decade that marked America.

Their stories and experiences are first hand sources no history book can replace. Most of the Vietnam War pictures people have seen are of those fighting on the ground, but the war was also fought in the water. Vietnam veteran Lou Ellingson experienced this other war.

Originally from Montevideo, Minn., Ellingson joined the Navy voluntarily in 1967.

“I joined voluntarily because I knew that if I didn’t volunteer the draft was going to get me and I was going to be drafted into the military service,” Ellingson said.

He signed up for an officer program in the Navy and went through something called “officer candidate school” where he learned leadership and nautical skills.

He volunteered to be in a program called Swift Boats. He thought that these were boats that just patrolled off the coast of Vietnam. That way he could have the chance to observe the war without having to participate in it.

“They realized that these boats also would work better on the rivers and canals of Vietnam, so the complexion of the duty changed a lot and subsequently it was a lot more dangerous than I had hoped and planned,” Ellingson said.

Ellingson started patrolling off the coast of Vietnam travelling upstream to the demilitarized zone where Vietnam was divided in two parts: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. He also did some work in a river down below Da Nang, located in the central coast of Vietnam, a modern beach destination. During the war, it was an important infiltration route for the North Vietnamese army.

Unlike many soldiers in the army, Ellingson had the chance to take many pictures of his experiences. Because he lived on the boats, he could keep clothes and other possessions. This allowed him to carry a camera with him.

He patrolled the borders of Cambodia and Vietnam, located on the west side of South Vietnam. His mission was to stop the enemy from coming into

The Vietnamese perspective

• courtesy of lou ellingson Lou posing with two members of his crew.

Vietnam from their base camps in Cambodia and Laos.

“They get to pick the time and place they wanted to attack you or have a fight and when they did, sometimes they hit [a] lot of causalities. I remember one time when a boat was going up the river, there were two of them.

On one of the boats everybody was wounded,” Ellingson said.

“On another boat two of them were so badly wounded we had to get them off on helicopters and one guy took a direct hit with a rocket and his body was literally all over the boat. To me the most difficult thing was this blood and guts thing, which I didn’t handle so well.”

Ellingson could spend weeks without confronting the enemy and then out of nowhere they would start shooting. Boredom was one the main things sailors and soldiers had to deal with during the war. When he was out of patrol, Ellingson would read and write letters.

His boat was equipped with a twin 50 caliber machine gun and a couple of M-60 machine guns.

Although he got used to gunfire sound, Ellingson and his crew did not have any hearing protection. The exposure to that loud firing often resulted in Tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears.

“I lost some hearing from that,” he said.

The Swift Boats were built from aluminum which made them more likely to get hit during an attack.

“One of the weapons that the enemy used against us was called a B-40 rocket, a rocket propelled grenade that they would shoot at us and when it hit a hard object it would detonate from that contact,” Ellingson said. “From our boats it was known, at times, when they would fire at us and because the aluminum was so soft, it would [go] right through without detonating.”

Anyone who fought in Vietnam, soldier or sailor, had one

year tour of duty and they were guaranteed that they could go home at the end of the time.

“The training really comes from fighting, and then, as soon as you get everybody straightened up they leave. It is a negative thing,” Ellingson said. “Of course I wouldn’t want to be over there for more than a year, but if we were ever really totally committed to winning that war we had better do something like that.”

Every man who went to Vietnam has his own opinion about whether the United States could have been victorious. Ellingson will argue that the war could not have resulted in victory.

“I would say that this war couldn’t have been won because we would never be committed to do whatever it takes to win the war and the other side would. It would continue to fight and fight to drive the invaders out and we were like another invader of this country,” Ellingson said. “It didn’t matter how many people they lost, they would simply do whatever it takes to drive us out and that is exactly what happened.”

Ellingson remembers well what happened when he came back home from Vietnam in 1970.

“When we came back home we weren’t noticed at all. No one has missed you. You were gone over there putting your life on the line and nobody cared; nobody knew it,” Ellingson said. “There was a mayor in town who was walking down the street and I was coming from the other direction and when he got close and saw me he said, ‘Hi Lou, how have you been, I haven’t seen for a long time.’ He didn’t even know that I had been gone.”

Ellingson still lives in Minnesota and works on promotional self-service. He is married and has three children. He has visited Minnesota State University, Mankato several times to speak about his experiences in Vietnam.

staff writer During the Vietnam War, soldiers on the border of Laos and Cambodia were not as popular as those held in the east coast and in the center of South Vietnam. When the war was over after 1975, many South Vietnamese soldiers, unlike American soldiers who went back home, were left in a hostile country.

This is the case of Huwong Tran.

Not very fluent in English, an interpreter was used during the interview with Tran. He was born in Can Tho City in the South part of Vietnam and voluntarily joined the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 1968 until 1974. The day of the interview, Tran wore his uniform, which was provided by the U.S. Army. On his right arm he has a patch with a black tiger and the name of his unit. According to Tran, communists feared the tigers, because they were never fearful of death and they always won.

The way Tran thinks reflects the opposite of what Ho Chi Minh’s, the North Vietnam leader, ideology was. To Tran, the French who colonized Vietnam for a long time were a positive influence to his country.

“They built schools and streets for the whole entire country,” he said. “If I would have saw Ho Chi Minh back then, I would have shot him. I wanted freedom for everybody.”

Tran was raised a Catholic and he went to a French school where he was taught Catholicism. Before that, he did not have any religion, although the vast majority of the country was Buddhist.

During the war, many Viet Cong soldiers pretending to belong to the ARVN, infiltrated into American bases. Tran never had this problem. Even if trained the

U.S. Army, he said they would instantly know if there was any Viet Cong infiltration.

Tran joined the military in 1968, the year Tet Offensive took place.

The latter was a series of surprise attacks from North Vietnam to the South that last for months.

“It was the hardest year to me because I fought and fought every single day. I fought a lot, but I didn’t die,” Tran said.

In 1972 the Viet Cong caught him and put him in jail. They brought him to Nghe An, located in the North Central coast of Vietnam.

During that year, North Vietnam crossed the demilitarized zone to the South attacking the ARVN, called the Easter Offensive.

“There were too many people in tanks. They were like ants, I couldn’t even count them. Many people died that day,” Tran said, “They came in groups of thousands. I was fortunate this specific group captured me and put me in jail. Other group’s would have killed me.”

Tran was captured in Quang Tri close to the border with North Vietnam. He stayed in jail for a year until March 1973. Although he was captured, Tran was treated well.

During that time he was forced to do hard labor and had to go to school. He would go to school for two weeks and then do hard labor for two weeks.

At school, North Vietnamese instructors would try to teach him their ways of thinking. He also had to shovel dirt, fix cars or cut wood.

“Anything that would help the war”, he said.

Tran was released almost a year later.

“They would make an agreement where they would release thousands of men and trade them

Tran / page 7

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TRAN “He was captured again in 1980 because he was suspected of being a spy for the United States.”

staff writer Tran was captured again in 1980 because he was suspected of being a spy for the United States.

“A month later I was released when they finally understood I was just trying to feed my family,” Tran said.

Since the war, Tran has painted the South Vietnamese flag on the back of his Hummer. He has lived

in the United States for almost 20 years. He worked 10 years in a pig factory before he retired. He said he is thankful for the opportunities the United States has provided for him and his five children.

•courtesy of huwong tran

NELSON “You’re responsible for [those soldiers]. Their lives are in your hands. I still try to look out for them.” continued from 2 looking for hostile activity.

Overall, Nelson was active in the military for six years and 10 months, and more than three years of his service were spent in combat.

“I’m thankful for all the experiences I’ve had, since they’ve made me who I am today,” Nelson said.

During his time in combat, Nelson became a squad leader in charge of 14 soldiers. He said the responsibility was intimidating but he was able to grow into a good leader and make life-long friends.

“You’re responsible for [these soldiers],” Nelson said. “Their lives are in your hands. I still try to look out for them.”

MSSA: Room Draw and Vuvuzelas ALLISON MATTHEWS

continued from 5 for thousands of other captured men,” Tran said. “It took about four months to give all the soldiers back.

They would do it in groups and not at the same time.”

During combat, his unit would carry M-60 machine guns. There were six people in his group. He is not sure if his group died and how many were captured because they all split up the day he was captured.

“That’s when I surrendered.

I’m not sure what happened to my friends. I never saw them again,” Tran said.

When he was released he went back home and kept fighting until Oct;. 1974.

“My mom wanted me to come back home,” he said.

His arm and face were injured from a bomb explosion.

When the war ended in 1975, Tran did not know what to do.

“It was a rough year to me because I was poor and didn’t live in one place but all over Vietnam.

I worked as a bike cab for a while,” Tran said. “The soldiers that were injured during combat and were missing body parts begged for money in the streets. They couldn’t do any hard labor.”

Reporter • Page 7

Eventually, Nelson’s wounds caught up with him and he was unable to continue participating in the rigorous military life. He was offered a job as a recruiter, but he chose instead to continue pursuing a college education, which he had started by taking online courses between tours. He is working towards a double major in history and sports management.

Nelson said coming back to a traditional institution has been difficult. He suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and also feels out of place among traditional college kids. But he added that the military has helped prepare him for classroom life.

“Even just trying to fit in in general… [Younger students] have their priorities and you have your priorities,” Nelson said. “The reason I’ve been pretty successful in school… is because of my military experience.”

Nelson was the first student to receive the NFL-Pat Tillman Scholarship and was also the first Minnesotan to receive a $25,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project.

With these funds, he started a website called Real Combat Life, where veterans could come together to share their stories with each other and civilians.

“I’m here to help other people,” Nelson said.

Blood Drive Red Cross

sponsored by the Upward Bound Program

Tuesday, November 15 Otto Rec Center 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Appointments can be made by calling 389-1211 or at www.givebloodgivelife.org and enter sponsor code 5952 Walk-ins welcomed.

Residential hall room selection changes and vuvuzelas were the talk of Minnesota State Student Association’s Wednesday meeting.

Director of Residential Life Cindy Janney spoke about the Room Draw addition prior to Room Selection for current students.

A limited number of upperclassmen students will be able to live on campus next year. The question was which of those students can live in the dorms next year.

The Room Draw allows for a random selection of 250 students able to participate in Room Selection. Current students can apply for Room Draw until Nov. 13.

Students will be notified via email Nov. 16 if they are eligible to select a room or on the returning student wait list.

Students on the waiting list will be updated with any plans of additional space in February.

Off-campus senator Christopher Mangione proposed giving away purple vuvuzelas at Minnesota State University, Mankato, sporting events.

Vuvuzelas are plastic horns that make extremely loud noises often used at sporting events.

The two foot long horn caught the world’s attention in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

It sparked controversy because of the potential hearing loss the horns can produce for unprotected ears.

Arts and Humanities senator Erik Heller asked if the vuvuzelas would be allowed at campus events.

College of Arts and Humanities senator David Rosencrance said, “The NCAA does not have rules against noise violations unless it affects the actual bubble of the game.”

The purpose behind offering vuvuzelas would be to enrich school spirit and make MSU stand out to other sports teams.

“I could imagine someone on the free throw line facing vuvuzelas,” Mangione said.

MSSA plans to meet with the Maverick Mob, Intercollegiate Athletics and other organizations to find out more information on how vuvuzelas can be incorporated into MSU pride.

Page 8 • Reporter

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sports Thursday, November 10, 2011 www.msureporter.com/sports

THIS WEEK IN MAVERICK SPORTS: WRESTLING SEASON OPENER VS. WALDORF

7 P.M. TODAY, BRESNAN ARENA

MEN’S HOCKEY VS. ST. CLOUD STATE 7:37 P.M. FRI. AND 7:07 P.M. SAT., VERIZON WIRELESS CENTER MEN’S BASKETBALL OPENER VS. DICKINSON STATE

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MSU Wrestling season preview

This season’s Mavericks figure to once again be amongst the NSIC elite, which they are accustomed to.

COLE KUKOWSKI

staff writer

The Minnesota State, Mankato wrestling team enters the season ranked No. 12 in the NCAA Division-II wrestling poll, and it looks to build on last season’s success.

The 2010-11 season saw six wrestlers qualify for the national tournament and the Mavericks finished with a 9-5 overall record, finishing in fourth place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 3-4 mark.

“The rankings mean nothing in our eyes. The bottom line is we usually finish in the top 10 when it’s all said and done,” said head coach Jim Makovsky.

“As much as I hope it ticks the guys off and motivates them, we just need to focus on ourselves and what we need to do.”

Makovsky is entering his 19th season at MSU and owns an impressive 220-79-3 record.

With 10 returning lettermen, MSU is looking to find the right balance of experience and youth this season.

“We want 10 national champs, it all starts by having a target,” Makovsky said. “We want to be realistic, because you can’t be a national champion until you qualify. At the same time athletes often max out at their beliefs, so our guys try to be the best.”

They also return four national qualifiers, while bringing in eight freshmen to the program.

“We want our freshmen No.

Football

1 to not take crap from anybody and have some swagger and back it up. Once they prove they belong at this level, every chip they get from there builds integrity and confidence,” said Makovsky.

Junior Jesse Westphal (145 lbs), sophomore Brendan Eichmann (174 lbs), senior Aaron Norgren (185 lbs) and junior Pat Mahan (197 lbs) are all poised to provide leadership after gaining national tournament experience last season.

“The perfect team dynamic is when the veterans set the current for the team and the young guys add spice and flavor, because you don’t want them setting the pace,” Makovsky said.

“Our upperclassmen are a quiet but great group and provide a good example of how to get the job done.”

Westphal recorded a 15-18 record last season and placed fourth at the regional tournament. Eichmann is ranked No. 8 in the nation after finishing last season with a 23-20 record.

“Returning after last year’s experience at the national tournament, I feel an even deeper drive to prove myself.

Now it is not only to become an All-American, but also to prove that it was not a fluke last year,” said Eichmann. “We only have three guys returning that have ever been in the national tournament, but every year there is a good group of non-qualifiers that go to watch. That is a huge experience in itself.”

Norgren won the regional tournament last season and placed fourth at the national tournament a season ago. He finished with a 28-10 record, which included a 13-1 mark in dual meets. Mahan is ranked No. 5 in the nation after posting an 11-9 record last season and placing second in the region.

Other key contributors this season figure to include juniors Robby Fisher (141 lbs), Nate Hayne and Alex Folk, along with senior Tel Todd (165 lbs).

The NSIC will be competitive once again, with four teams currently ranked in the top-20 nationally. St. Cloud State, Upper Iowa and Augustana are ranked first, third and sixth, respectively, and join MSU in the national rankings.

Makovsky notes this season’s team will require patience and that his starting lineup is written in pencil for a reason, because it will be built off the evidence the players show on the mat as the season progresses.

Norgren and sophomore Nate Haynes are also currently out with a broken leg and hand, respectively. The Maverwale agboola • msu reporter icks will make do until they Redshirt freshmen Thomas Allen and Sawyer Hoffman grapple at the return to health. team’s practice on Wednesday. MSU has many spots up for grabs this year.

MSU will play host to a pair Augustana comes to the Other home matches include of key conference showdowns Taylor Center on Jan. 28 and the opener against Waldorf late in the season that could deSt. Cloud State on Feb. 26 in tonight and MSU-Moorhead on cide the regular season conferFeb. 2. crucial conference matches. ence race.

NSIC title and perhaps playoff berth on line as MSU heads to Duluth TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer

Nobody expected the Mavericks to be in this position at the beginning of the season, but the success of the Minnesota State, Mankato football team’s season will come down to this Saturday’s game against the defending national champion MinnesotaDuluth Bulldogs.

“As it is, this game is one that we thought would mean a lot going into the season, and as the season has progressed that hasn’t changed at all. The game is just as big as it was before the season started,” said MSU head coach Todd Hoffner.

While the politics of it are tough to understand, there are currently three teams with an 8-2 overall record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference-

-MSU, UMD and St. Cloud State — and the way things have shaken out the requireMinnesota Duluth ment to get into the regional tournament is fairly simple: a When: 1 p.m. Saturday team can have no more than Where: Duluth, Minn. two losses.

While, barring another big team that takes a lot of pride in upset, it appears St. Cloud will its home and they’re playing very skate by into the playoffs with solid football.” a 9-2 record, it’s unlikely that The Bulldogs won their the NSIC will receive more than championships by taking pride two bids. This means that either in defense, and things haven’t MSU or UMD is about to have changed in 2011.

UMD boasts its season come to an end. the NSIC’s best pass defense Unfortunately for the Maver(151.7 yards per game) and the icks, it’s always tough to win on third best rushing defense (127.6 the road in the NSIC and that’s yards per game). especially true in Duluth.

Led by linebackers Derrick “They haven’t lost at home Zappa, Rob Huberty, and Colby since 2007, so they’ve been unRing, the UMD defense is loaded defeated at home for a long time with playmakers, but it all comes and they’ve done a lot of great down to stopping the run. things at home,” said Hoffner.

“They’ll be very motivated to “We’ll be competing against a

UP NEXT

stop the run and that will be the biggest focus of their defense, so if we can run the ball it’ll play good for us, set up the pass and do other things. But if we can’t run the ball it could be a tough day for us,” said Hoffner.

The Bulldogs are led on offense by junior quarterback Chase Vogler and freshman running back Austin Sikorski, and lead the NSIC with 250.6 rushing yards per game. But if MSU’s offense can manage to find some cracks and put up points on Duluth’s suffocating defense, it will be just as important for the Maverick defense to give them some breathing room.

“Playing team football is going to be very important. Everybody has to be all in for the team and that’s the most important thing; that we’re doing everything that we can to focus on

the team and the team’s success, knowing that to win this game we’re going to need a collaborative effort to get this mission done,” Hoffner said.

The challenge will be daunting, but with so much pride and so many goals on the line, there’s no way around it: The Mavericks must defeat the reigning national champions to save their season from the brink of possible elimination.

It all comes down to one of the biggest games in program history. After being snubbed in almost every poll imaginable in the preseason, the MSU football team has come out of nowhere to become one of the most respected teams in the region.

But in order to keep the Cinderella story alive, the Mavericks will have to play as a team and defy expectations once again.

Page 10 • Reporter

Sports

MSU Men’s Hockey Gameday Joey Denton • staff writer

St. Cloud State (4-4-2, 2-1-1 WCHA) at Minnesota State (2-6-0, 1-3-0 WCHA) 7:37 p.m., Friday • Verizon Wireless Center 7:07 p.m., Saturday • Verizon Wireless Center RECAP: The Minnesota State, Mankato men’s hockey team has a little momentum com-

ing into its home series against St. Cloud State this weekend, as it split with No. 16 Michigan Tech last weekend. The Mavericks lost the first game of the series 1-0, as the puck took an awkward bounce allowing Tech to score. The Mavericks left for home the next day after a 6-3 victory. Freshmen forwards JP Lafontaine and Matt Leitner led the way with two goals each, including the game-winner from Leitner. Senior goalie Austin Lee played both games last weekend and had 40 saves on Friday and 42 saves on Saturday.

HISTORY: It is always intense when SCSU comes to town. This rivalry is big to the players and it’s been a tight series lately. In the previous two seasons the Mavericks are 3-2-2 against the Huskies, including a 1-2 WCHA playoff series that ended the MSU’s 2009-10 season. Last season, the Mavericks went up to St. Cloud and tied game one 3-3, then won the second game 6-2. Returning senior forward Michael Dorr scored twice in that game.

MSU NOTES: The Mavericks have definitely been struggling to put the puck in the back of the net. They are coming into this weekend last in the WCHA in goals scored with 15, and six of those goals came in last Saturday’s 6-3 victory over Michigan Tech. The Mavericks are also last in power play percentage at 9.5. Even though they have had offensive struggles, they showed some promise last weekend thanks to freshmen forwards Lafontaine and Leitner.

They are leading the Mavericks in multiple offensive categories. While Lafontaine leads the squad in goals scored with five, Leitner has been a good distributor and is tied for first on the team in assists with three. The battle for starting goaltender has started to sway Lee’s way, as he has started the last five games and posts a 2-4-0 record so far this season. He also has the second-best save percentage in the conference at .931, trailing only Colorado Avalanche draft pick Kent Patterson from the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

SCSU NOTES: The Huskies are coming into this weekend in eighth place in the WCHA

standings with five points, including a 4-0 win against North Dakota. This past weekend SCSU won its first game 7-2 and tied its second game 3-3 at home against the Wisconsin Badgers. The Huskies haven’t had much trouble scoring this season, as they are tied for fourth in the conference in goals per game. They are led by junior forward Ben Hanowski and senior forward Jared Festler with six goals apiece. The Huskies are also having a battle for the starting goaltending position, with Ryan Faragher third in the conference in save percentage at .930.

PREDICTION: After an encouraging offensive surge last weekend, the Mavericks hope to

keep the goals coming this weekend. After a few weeks of WCHA play, the freshmen players are getting more playing time and are starting to adapt to Division-I hockey. The Mavericks are starting to come together also and are scoring some goals as a result. If MSU can continue to put the puck in the back of the net a few times this weekend, they should come out of the weekend with at least a split.

Soccer

NSIC-champion Mavericks ready for Metro JOEY DENTON

staff writer The Minnesota State, Mankato women’s soccer team will have the opportunity that every athlete would love to have: a second chance.

The fifth-seeded Mavericks will have an opportunity to get revenge on the fourth-seeded Metro State Roadrunners, who beat MSU 2-1 earlier this season in Denver, and the Mavericks are looking forward to it.

“It’s really exciting to get another chance to play Metro again, especially when we are playing for something much bigger,” said junior forward Brittany Henry. “After losing to them earlier in the season we learned that we have to come out a lot stronger and be ready for a competitive game.”

In MSU’s first encounter with the Roadrunners, both teams fought back and forth until the last three minutes when Metro

UP NEXT NCAAs vs. Metro St. When: 3 p.m. Friday Where: Golden, Colo.

State’s Becca Medina scored the game-winning goal.

“This game is going to be a huge revenge game,” senior defender Marissa Santana said.

“I am just excited to show them how great of a team we are, and that we will be coming out completely different than the first game.”

For most of the team, this is their first time playing in the NCAA tournament, and they couldn’t be any more ready to go.

“I am very excited,” Santana said.

Marissa Santana “We have come so far and are

going to continue to go far. I am so thankful to be a part of it this time.”

For the Mavericks, their game plan is to play Maverick soccer, which means hard-nose and fundamental soccer. That being said, they are a pretty explosive team also.

“We are going to focus on 1-0. Just getting what we need to get done and focus on the little details,” Santana said.

The Mavericks are the lone rangers representing the NSIC in the Central region, as the rest of the teams are from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). This includes top-seeded Colorado School of Mines, who could very well await the winner of the MSUMetro game.

In the history of the program, the Mavericks are 3-5-1 in tournament play in its 17 seasons of existence. This year, they plan to improve that record.

Thursday, November 10, 2011T Volleyball

MSU heads north for make-or-break weekend

REECE HEMMESCH

BSU currently comes into this match with a 6-19 overall record, 3-15 in the conference.

Ever since its loss three weeks For MSU to ensure not dropago to Concordia-St. Paul in three ping another spot in the regional consecutive sets, the Minnesota State, Mankato volleyball team has rankings they will need to for sure come out of Bemidji with a “W.” been looking good.

One could even make the argument They are coming off two wins that even losing two sets to the this past weekend over Northern Beavers could be very detrimental State and the University of Mary, to this team’s postseason chances. and have now won seven of their Then we move to Saturday, past eight matches.

“We are playing strong towards when MSU travels east to take on the University of Minnesotathe end of our matches,” senior Duluth, the No. 2 team in the setter Brittany Stamer said about country. UMD is coming off a loss their recent success. “Now we last Tuesday to Concordia-St. Paul. need to learn to play our first three Even though Concordia is tough, it matches strong so we don’t get was not healthy of the Bulldogs to in positions like that in the first lose that match 3-0. place.”

Since then they have not lost Although the players have a set in their last two matches taken a notice to their noble play and are looking just as good as as of late, the NCAA has not. The they were before the loss. UMD’s most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association poll has MSU matchup against Southwest Minnesota State Friday night might wear staying in the exact same spot as them out before the Mavericks they were last week, No. 20 in the come to town. country.

MSU’s defense has Even after the two been great these last few victories they claimed last games down the stretch, weekend, the Mavericks and to get two victories have dropped two spots this weekend it will have in the Central Regional to keep going strong.

Rankings, down to No. Junior Samantha Dale 10. To the naked eye has stepped up defenthose two spots would not Samantha Dale sively for MSU, achieving make much of a differdouble-digit digs the last ence; but when only the three matches. top eight teams from each region “Our defense has been our go on to the regional tournament, it strong suit all season,” Stamer puts the Mavericks in quite a bind. said.

MSU stands 18-8 overall and Stamer, along with juniors 11-7 in NSIC play, good for fifth Chelsea Fogarty and Jill Storlie, in the conference. Quite a resume; were just named to the NSIC but the fact still remains that more All-Conference team. This is the than likely if regional play started second time for Stamer and Fogaright now, MSU would be out. rty being named to the list, while The good news for the MaverStorlie celebrates her first NSIC ick volleyball players is that with honor. two matches left this weekend, This trio will definitely need they still have a chance. Friday to come up big for MSU this night sees MSU in action against the Beavers from Bemidji State. weekend.

staff writer

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sports

Reporter • Page 11

Meet the Mavericks Phil Cook • Men’s Hockey

FOOTBALL

Phil Cook, a Wheaton, Ill. native, has posted two career shutouts in 49 career games at Minnesota State, Mankato. Cook joined the Mavericks after previously playing for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL. The junior has poster a career mark of 18-21-6 between the pipes. Cook was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded 49 saves vs. Minnesota last December.

Q & A With Junior Goaltender Phil Cook

NSIC North School

Div. Conf.

Minnesota Duluth 5-1 St. Cloud State 4-1 U-Mary 3-2 Northern State 3-2 Bemidji State 2-3 MSU-Moorhead 1-4 Minnesota Crookston 0-5

7-2 7-2 4-5 3-6 6-3 1-8 0-9

NSIC South School

Div. Conf.

MAVERICKS

6-0 Wayne State 3-2 Winona State 3-2 Augustana 3-2 Concordia-St. Paul 2-3 SW Minnesota State 1-4 Upper Iowa 0-5

8-1 7-2 6-3 5-4 4-5 3-6 2-7

Q: What does it mean to be a Maverick?

A: It means a lot for me to wear the bull on my chest and represent this school in the WCHA. The community here is amazing and the support we get gives me all the more motivation to work as hard as I can to bring success to the program and university.

VOLLEYBALL (NSIC) School Minnesota Duluth Concordia-St. Paul SW Minnesota St. Wayne State

Conf. OVR 18-0 27-1 16-2 26-2 15-3 21-6 15-4 22-7 MAVERICKS 11-7 18-8 MSU-Moorhead 10-8 12-13 Augustana 10-9 16-11 Upper Iowa 7-11 14-14 Northern State 7-11 12-13 Winona State 7-11 13-15 Minnesota Crookston 6-12 12-16 Bemidji State 3-15 6-19 St. Cloud State 1-17 5-21 U-Mary 1-17 2-26

School

School

Minnesota

Minnesota Michigan Tech Nebraska Omaha Minnesota Duluth Wisconsin Colorado College Denver St. Cloud State Bemidji State

6-0-0 4-3-1 4-2-0 3-2-1 3-4-1 3-1-0 2-2-2 2-1-1 2-4-0 MAVERICKS 1-3-0 North Dakota 1-5-0 Alaska Anchorage 0-4-0

9-1-0 6-3-1 5-5-0 5-3-2 4-5-1 5-1-0 3-3-2 4-4-2 4-6-0 2-6-0 3-6-1 3-4-1

$10-$11 to start

Conf. OVR

8-2-0-0 Wisconsin 7-1-0-0 Ohio State 5-4-1-1 Bemidji State 4-3-1-0 North Dakota 4-3-1-0 Minn. Duluth 1-4-1-1 MAVERICKS 1-5-0-0 St. Cloud State 0-8-0-0

Q: How did your recruiting process lead you to Minnesota State?

A: The recruiting process began my last year of juniors while I was playing for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. I was selected to be the goalie for the West division All-Star team for the NAHL prospects All-Star tournament. Minnesota State, along with almost every other Division I school was there. I played well enough throughout the season and tournament to get on their radar.

They came to a few of my other games before offering me a scholarship for the following season. I had a strong relationship with former MSU goaltender Mike Zacharias. We have trained together with the same goalie coach in Chicago since I was 14. After the recruiting process began, I relied on Mike for his opinion on the school, team and overall atmosphere at MSU. Obviously he had nothing but good things to say about the school and program or else I wouldn’t be here today.

Q: How does the community of Mankato compare to your hometown of Wheaton, Ill.?

A: There is definitely a different atmosphere in Mankato compared to back home in Wheaton. There’s no such thing as high school hockey back home. Wheaton is dominated by football and basketball, so it is different to see just how big high school hockey is in Minnesota.

Q: How big of a difference is there between playing juniors in the NAHL and playing in the WCHA? A: The intimidation factor was the biggest difference I had to get over making the jump from juniors to the WCHA. It’s a big leap after growing up and watching schools like Wisconsin and North Dakota to now facing them. The speed of the game is another difference. The guys are stronger, faster, better shooters and just overall smarter players. These are the best college hockey players in the country and adapting to all of that took a bit of time.

Q: Describe your playing style as a goaltender?

A: As far as my style of goaltending, I would call myself a butterfly goalie (A goalie that uses their size to stop the puck and react to shots by going down to their knees) due to my size. I hear that I play like Tim Thomas, the goalie from the Boston Bruins, the most because I try to use my athleticism to my advantage and do whatever it takes to stop the puck. Whether it’s diving across the net headfirst or just making a simple pad save.

Q: Describe the feeling of making a great save when the opposing player thinks they have a goal.

A: Any time I “rob” an opposing player it gives our team a boost of confidence. It also gives us a sense of motivation towards our teammates. It shows them that we’re doing whatever it takes to keep them in the game. Momentum usually follows.

W HOCKEY (WCHA)

M HOCKEY (WCHA) Conf. OVR

Q: Does the #30 have a significant meaning to you?

A: I picked #30 after Martin Brodeur, the goalie for the New Jersey Devils. I idolized him when I was a kid and even joined the Devils fan club just to feel a part of the team. Growing up watching him win multiple Stanly Cups really made me admire him.

10-2-0 11-1-0 5-4-1 7-3-2 7-4-1 4-5-1 5-7-0 1-10-1

Q: Do you have a particular save that sticks out in your mind?

A: I like to pride myself at making difficult saves look easy. Anytime there’s a pass across the net and I have to slide or dive across to stop the puck always gets me going.

Q: Does the team have any pre-game rituals?

A: We started a new ritual this past weekend that a guy from the ROTC on campus showed us. We have a rock, paper, and scissors competition right after we stretch as a team. The losing guy cheers on his victor who then challenges another guy who has a cheering crowd. We play till there’s two guys left. We get pretty intense about it, which gets us going for the game.

Q: Do you have a favorite road trip?

A: My favorite road trip is Wisconsin. It is about two hours from home and is also the most fun to play at. The atmosphere is electric and they have a pretty crazy student section.

Q: Have you ever played another position?

A: I actually played forward for half of a season when I started out playing hockey when I was six. Our goalie quit on our team halfway through the season and I was the first one to jump into the gear. After that I never looked back and have been playing goalie ever since. I like to throw on the forward skates during the summer every once in a while and pretend like I know what I’m doing out there.

-- Compiled by Cole Kukowski

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A&E

Dessa

Thursday, November 10, 2011

BRIAN ROSEMEYER | a&e editor

ve band format for ‘C i l e ast th or ed r i Th p In part I decided to do it because I s e in Tw had taken a west coast tour, on which I brought a t a i live band for, and by the end of the tour the arrangements had

changed dramatically and we really reinterpreted a lot of the songs.

Not only were the concert goers game to give us a chance in this new format, which I had been a little worried about to be honest, but they really liked the presentation, it was successful. The shows had a lot of drama and the shows had a big dynamic range. By the end of the run, concert attendees were asking “Hey, is there any way I can get this new arrangement of this familiar tune?” And so after we returned from that tour, we decided to go into the studio and actually record some of those new arrangements, which had really made aggressive changes to the original songs. By the time we were in the studio we decided to invite some of our friends who have instruments that are a little harder to take along on a rap tour. So we had timpani players and strings and concert field snares and big kind of orchestral-leaning instruments to make the sound that’s on Castor.

new record comin e h ga t is We are lo he

Is t

t?

Ho

Do

Not really, I think I’ve considered a few titles, but they’ve all fallen out of the running. Most recently, Blank Verse. So I can tell you one thing that the record is unlikely to be named.

ing to for inspiratio listen n on n e be t he u I have yo ne e been kind of looking for the next w v a re h thing I really want to be really big.

I was really co o h moved by Florence and the Machine’s first record. That was

? rd

like the last pop record where I was like, “Wow this is awesome.” Then recently I was introduced to an artist called Gotye, his stuff’s pretty cool. And I’ve belatedly kind of been doing my due diligence to get familiar with some classical stuff. No one would mistake me for a classical scholar or even a knowledgeable enthusiast. But I’m just starting to get more familiar with it. Contemporaries like Phillip Glass. French dudes, like Eric Satie. I think I like those guys because they use so much repetition of motif, and that’s really important. And simple, accessible melodies. I’m a really fourth-rate pianist, who would never even perform on-stage, so simple melody lines are all that are really in my grasp.

DESSA / page 13

to What I’m hoping to be able th to do after having ventured into that kind e n of completely organic sound, and having worked with Doomtree in the past, is now that I’m sitting down to write the next record, I’ll be able to actually sit myself at the writing desk and just decide which serves each tune best. Like “Hey man, this tune sounds like it could use 808, this song sounds like it could use a snare roll from a live player, and this song sounds awesome with maybe pizzicato viola,” you know those little plucking noises they make as they tweak their strings with their index fingers? So, I’m hoping instead of moving in a direction towards or away from a specific sound, to rather have like an arsenal of instrumentation that I can decide how to best present each song. ba il ve

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scene (and to the world) as Dessa, has spent the past year building her career and artistic vision.

She is one of the founding members of the Twin Cities hip-hop collective known as Doomtree.

She will be performing in Mankato on Nov. 20 at the Verizon Wireless Center downtown.

In October she released Castor The Twin, which consisted of 11 previously released tracks. The tracks that make up Castor The Twin have been drastically re-arranged as the format took the songs and splayed them over a sweeping background of live instrumentation. The reinterpretation of these songs created a bold new sound for Dessa.

In 2012, fans are given the prospect of a brand new full-length LP from Dessa. The new record will be comprised of all new, original material.

Dessa and I had a conversation regarding Castor The Twin, the new record, her current artistic state, and what morning treats she digs. Enjoy.

ew

? ng

nine songs in, although those aren’t tracks, so it sounds better than it is, the progress sounds more substantial. But, I’m really proud of it, and I think we’ll end up with another record that listeners will dig and that retailers will struggle with as they try to figure out where to shelve it. Cause they’re not sure if it’s rap or not.

W

M argret Wander, better known to the Twin Cities hip-hop

’ n?

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www.msureporter.com/arts-entertainment

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

A&E

Reporter • Page 13

DESSA “A lot of my friends now in the cities came from Mankato. So it feels like a pretty permeable community. It’s like an extension of the hometown team.” -Dessa continued from 12

Have those artists manifested themselves into your artistic vision?

I think it’s infrequently that I would ever deliberately say “I just heard a song, and I want to copy it,” or, “I want to do something very similar.” Because we all like to flatter ourselves perhaps by imagining that we’re all original composers. But I would say that the piano is an instrument that I started messing around with a couple years ago and I bought myself a keyboard a year-and-a-half ago. And that’s definitely been the biggest single variable that’s formed the new direction. Three or four of the songs on the new record, I wrote on piano.

How many times have you played in Mankato?

Enough to maybe lose count. I’d say between six and 10.

Do you like the town?

Mankato has a lot of people who I re-meet later in the cities. Because it’s so close that I feel a lot of people who go to school in Mankato spend their weekend in the cities. And a lot of my friends now in the cities came from Mankato. So it feels like a pretty permeable community.

It’s like an extension of the hometown team.

When you’re at the breakfast table, and someone offers you pancakes or waffles, which do you choose?

Neither, I don’t do carbs in the morning. Sometimes I break and do Honeynut Cheerios. But I’m usually a scrambled eggs girl. Protein man, start the day right.

HEAVY D

Leaves Fans Heavy Hearted After Passing ALEXANDER RYAN ROUNDTREE

staff writer

H

eavy D, born Dwight Arrington Myers, was pronounced dead Tuesday at 1 p.m. after he was rushed to an L.A. Hospital.

He was 44.

According to TMZ there was a 911 call from his home in Beverly Hills that reported there was an unconscious male found on the walkway around 11:25 a.m.

Heavy D is best known as the front man for late 80s/90s group Heavy D and the Boyz.

“Heavy D is best known as the front man for late 80s/90s group Heavy D and the Boyz.”

Myers was born in Jamaica on May 24 1967 and moved to Mount Vernon, New York during his childhood years. As a teenager he formed the group with friends Eddie (DJ Eddie F), Troy (Trouble T-Roy), Dixon and Glen (G-Wiz), according to Time.com.

Heavy D and the Boyz were the first group signed to Uptown records and released their first album, Living Large in 1987.

Their follow-up, 1989’s Big Tyme, saw the group gain commercial success with the album going platinum and scoring three hit singles including “Somebody for Me.” In 1990 the group lost member Troy Dixon in

an accidental fall after a show while the group was on tour. Their first album after his death was titled Peaceful Journey, which also reached platinum status and contained the hit, “Now That We Found Love.” In addition to their albums Myers was a composer for the theme songs for the comedy sketch show “In Living Color,” “MADtv” and “The Tracy Morgan Show.” The group also went on to release one more platinum album with two others going gold.

In addition to music, Heavy D was also found in many roles on the big and small screen. He had TV appearances and roles on shows such as “Boston Public,” “Bones,” and “The Tracy Morgan Show.” He was also in films such as 1999’s “Life” and “The Cider House Rules.” He most recently appeared in this past weekend’s movie “Tower Heist.”

The coroner’s office in L.A. County said it will take around six weeks before a cause of death is determined, according to the L.A. Times. Myers leaves a legacy that includes chart topping albums and great films as well as the memories of hip-hop and R&B fans alike. Heavy D left a Twitter message on Monday that read, “Be Inspired.”

For fans of his music and work, it can be said that he did just that.

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Page 14 • Reporter

A&E

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Cellular Theory Containing Chaos MSU Student Who Served Two Iraq Tours in the Marine Corps Serves Art in Mankato BRIAN ROSEMEYER | a&e editor

M

innesota State University, Mankato student, Marine Corps veteran and avid artist Keith Ludi will be featured in his own art opening at the Centennial Student Union Gallery.

Ludi is an undergrad at MSU working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture. The show will run for three weeks.

The solo exhibit, titled “Cellular Theory Containing Chaos” will display a number of Ludi’s sculptures, and kicks off on Monday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m.

“It’s been a hell of a past month, putting these things together,” Ludi reflected. “[The show] is show is something interesting, and something different.

At the opening, attendees are encouraged to enjoy the pieces and listen to Ludi talk about his artistic process and vision at around 5 p.m.

The sculptures will revolve around a common concept, which Ludi began to work with last October.

“I’ve been working on making these sculptures for about 10 months now,” said Ludi.

The concept is reference to the harmful microbiology that surrounds us constantly in everyday life.

“Basically, the concept of ‘Containing Chaos’ is cellular forms that are dangerous to us,” Ludi said. “Cancer cells, mold spores,

certain atoms and stuff like that are in our world, surrounding us and we never think twice about them.”

The representation of the cells range from one foot by one foot to about six feet and hanging from the ceiling.

“Essentially I took these forms and blew them up millions of times above their scale,” Ludi said. “And they’ll be in certain containment devices and contraptions in order to keep them contained from us. Some of them are spot-on to what they actually look like, and some are more artistic expressions of them.”

His sculptures are massive and intricate. For the works, Ludi uses found objects which he has collected from thrift stores, and random odds and ends over a long period. One of the pieces has been featured in a show in Sante Fe, New Mexico at a ceramic gallery.

Ludi’s interest in this concept arose because he used to be a biology major here at MSU. He is also a self-proclaimed sci-fi nut.

In honor of Veterans Day, and being a Marine Corps veteran of two tours in Iraq himself, Ludi will be doing another art installation outside of the CSU by the fountain.

On Friday Ludi will put up a 44 inch ceramic headstone with designs resembling World War II Navy ships silhouetted and in peril. “[The Veterans Day installation]

brian rosemeyer• msu reporter

Keith Ludi puts some finishing touches on one of the elements in his gallery show “Cellular Theory Containing Chaos.” The show will be opened with an event in the CSU Art Gallery on Monday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m.

is to remember the fallen of our generation,” Ludi said. “The over 6,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen who have lost their lives in our current situation.”

Ludi has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into these installations.

“It’s been a hell of a past month, putting these things togeth-

er,” Ludi reflected. “[The show] is something interesting, and something different. There’s not many of us sculpture majors here at MSU, and I think people will be intrigued by what they see.”

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MONDAY

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

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