November 17, 2011

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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DEALER:

An anonymous source shares his stories of the MSU marijuana trade

CHRISTIAN HAGEN

staff writer

“You’ve just got to go about your business. You go about your business and you’ll be good.”

DZ is a weed dealer, distributing out of his apartment near the Minnesota State

week.

And while he says he prefers to work off-campus, DZ would be open to selling in the dorms.

“If I’m coming to meet somebody on campus, it’s gonna be in their room or something, I’m going to know ‘em,” DZ said. “I mean, security ain’t really tight on campus.”

And he’s not alone.

JX, DZ’s roommate and a self-described “weed connoisseur” who also wished not to be identified, says he thinks weed dealing is big business on the MSU campus.

“I’d probably say a little over a third of the campus smokes,” JX says, “and they’re not all getting it from • photo by megan kadlec, illustration by christian hagen the same person. I’d probably say there’s 50 kids that live University, Mankato campus. a drug. Weed isn’t really on campus that sell.”

He’s perfectly comfortable a drug. It should be legal.

While there are no firm discussing his trade, even if I think it’s gonna be legal statistics for drug sales at he doesn’t want his real name soon.”

MSU, on-campus drug arin print. As he sees it, his DZ estimates that he sells rests are on the rise. product is safer than other to about 20 clients, moving a The school’s annual “Partthings he could be selling. couple ounces of marijuana ners in Safety” Campus Fire “Weed is good,” DZ said. with each shipment, making and Safety Reports show a “That other shit’s bad, it’s a total profit of about $400 a

steady increase in on-campus drug arrests, from 23 in 2007 to 49 in 2010. Drug arrests that went to adjudication increased even more, from 66 in 2007 to 262 in 2010.

“I think it [marijuana] is being used more,” said Assistant Director of Campus Security Carol Jensen. “No doubt about it, we’re getting more and more calls coming into us. It’s a trend.”

DZ isn’t worried about any legal troubles.

“Security came a few times,” DZ said, “but it’s just weed. Everybody smokes weed.”

Drug arrests seem to be primarily concentrated in the residence halls, with 35 of last year’s 49 on-campus arrests coming from the dorms.

“It’s not that common in the other buildings,” Jensen said.

“I bought out of Gage a couple times last year,” JX said. “It was different people.

You call up one of your freshman homies and they know someone.”

Dealer / page 14

Event honors life of Josselyn Bishop, raises awareness of domestic violence ALLISON MATTHEWS

staff writer Students, faculty and staff gathered Tuesday in Ostrander Auditorium to commemorate a Minnesota State University, Mankato, student, Josselyn Bishop, who lost her life far too early due to domestic violence.

The presentation featured a wide array of speakers and videos that paid tribute to Bishop’s life and raised awareness of domestic violence.

Bishop, age 19, was found on a median on North Victory Drive July 8 after being

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

stabbed multiple times.

Bishop died on the median moments after she was discovered. Damone Christopher Williams-Tillman, Bishop’s boyfriend, was charged with first-degree murder on Aug. 4.

Guest speaker from the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center Peggy Roy spoke about the process of healing and the aftermath of violence. Roy said she noticed the solidarity in Mankato surrounding Bishop’s death.

“What really gripped my heart was the sense of community,” Roy said. “What

incredible strength; through that comes healing, through that comes action.”

Roy talked about the span of people that are affected by domestic violence. Roy said that women are not the only victims of domestic violence, but it is a problem among men and transgender individuals as well.

Roy also talked about those who witness abuse. She explained ways bystanders can help those who are experiencing intimate partner violence.

“Active bystanders take the initiative to help someone,” Roy said.

She said acts such as talking to victims and survivors, and being open to the things they say are important steps in helping them.

A video was featured of Bishop’s family and friends telling their stories of Josselyn and what happened the months before her death.

Another video showed a reenactment of the moments before Bishop’s death. A woman ran with a video camera in the exact place Bishop ran before she fell and died on the median.

The video meant to show the reality of Bishop’s death

and how real these situations are for the countless people who experience domestic violence every day.

The presentations also aimed to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence.

LGBT Center Director and Interim Women’s Center Director Jessica Flatequal spoke about the prevalence of violence and what MSU offers for victims and survivors.

“Last year, there were over 28 people killed in Minnesota because of domestic violence,” Flatequal said.

Josselyn Bishop / page 5

RATKE WRITES ABOUT HIS NO-SHAVENOVEMBER EXPERIENCE (IT DOESN’T LOOK GOOD) -PAGE 4

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MSSA hears from the Behavioral Consultation Team ALLISON MATTHEWS

Sorry for partying The truth about student alcohol use at MSU CASSIE RAYMAN

staff writer Minnesota State University, Mankato boasts its student’s minimal alcohol use but the statistics MSU uses to represent itself may not be truly accurate, or even current.

When MSU students are discussed, there is often a mystique surrounding alcohol use. There is a preconceived notion that MSU is a “party school.”

MSU officials think differently. In fact, enter a common area at MSU and students, faculty and community members can find readily made statistics presented for all to see on bulletin boards and self-made mouse pads. These statistics note a wide variety of topics surrounding alcohol use at MSU but after taking a closer look, these “statistics” are a thing of the past – literally.

The mouse pads found near mostly all the computers located on campus portray statistics from an official study done in 2007 by the American College Health Association and the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). Given the year, it’s safe to say MSU needs an update.

MSU officials said that, although there are drinking problems in Mankato, the University is not a “party school.”

“You might be surprised to find that most of our students are not drunks, although we do have some significant drinking issues,” said MSU Department of Health Science Director Stephen Bohnenblust.

Bohnenblust said that MSU always rises to the occasion when an alcohol use problem occurs, yet proposed solutions do not have a permanent impact.

“After the riots, and also with some alcohol related

deaths, President Davenport convened an alcohol summit with all sorts of recommendations for the university and the city,” Bohnenblust said. “That ‘initiative’ seems to have slowly disappeared.

That seems to epitomize our response to alcohol issues, be very concerned for a short time, and then slowly forget about it.”

According to Student Health Services Health Educator, Lori Marti, the most recent NCHA statistics surrounding alcohol use at MSU were actually taken in 2010. Yet, students may not be finding these 2010 statistics displayed around campus for a couple of reasons.

First, given the time frame, once again these statistics are not recent.

Second, while these statistics show similar results as the 2007 survey, the 2010 survey only had 155 respondents, a number not nearly large enough to accurately portray a student body the size of MSU’s.

Alcohol and Drug Sanction Education Coordinator, Carly Hopper said that the survey is administered based on random classes selected, the survey is then given out based upon whether or not the instructor of the class gives permission and then students of the classes are asked to fill out the survey at will.

Although the survey is completely confidential, there were either very few students participated in the survey or obtaining accurate survey results had become of little importance to MSU. Without current and accurate studies, the truth about student alcohol use is nonexistent. Finding the truth elsewhere may be the only answer for students, faculty and the Mankato community looking to delve into the reality of alcohol use at MSU.

In the sociology program at MSU, student alcohol use is readily discussed and studied. One study being conducted by a group of Sociology majors yielded some shocking responses from MSU students. In the study, MSU students were asked how often they drink, how many drinks they consume when drinking and whether they considered themselves a light drinker, moderate drinker or heavy drinker.

While MSU students were apt to call themselves either light drinkers or moderate drinkers, the responses to how many drinks they consumed and how often they consumed alcohol said otherwise. A majority of those students who considered themselves light or moderate drinkers on average drank two to three times a week and consumed more than seven drinks at a time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that heavy drinking is defined as consuming an average of more than two drinks per day for men and consuming an average of more than one drink per day for women. According to this definition, a majority of the MSU students surveyed in the study were actually heavy drinkers.

It is important to note though, the results found in this particular study were of only around that of 100 randomly selected students, which is another sample size MSU should not rely on to accurately portray student drinking habits as a whole.

The study results are also not final and therefore are subject to change as more students are surveyed.

Regardless of whether or not the results collected by the sociology class are accurate, MSU does not have accurate statistics regarding current student alcohol use.

staff writer Minnesota State Student Association learned about the basic functions of the Behavioral Consultation Team at Wednesday’s meeting.

Student Affairs Director of Student Conduct Mary Dowd and Coordinator of Drug and Alcohol Studies Roy Kammer gave presentations on the notable aspects of BCT and how it can help students.

BCT consists of faculty and staff with experience of issues students face.

“We bring years and years of professional experience,” Dowd said.

According to Kammer, the team has five basic functions.

They include: identifying students of concern, centralizing information, increasing communication, planning intervention strategies and providing information back for those concerned.

“Our main goal is to talk about students of concern,” Kammer said.

Students of concern may have signs of suicidal thoughts, depression, substance abuse or eating disorders. On the Minnesota State University, Mankato, website BCT has a more comprehensive list of signs of distress. Behavioral concern intake forms are available on the MSU website and can be submitted to dean of students in the

Student Affairs office.

BCT only focuses on students and not faculty and staff, according to Kammer.

Roy said that another crucial part to the team is targeting early intervention. Roy said a U.S. Secret Service report showed that many school shootings have been carefully planned and typically someone knew of the shooter’s intent.

Roy said it’s important to report any signs students may see among their peers.

Kammer said the team is specifically for consultations as opposed to the practices of threat assessment teams. Threat assessment teams on campuses address immediate threats that could be prevented to ensure safety for students, faculty and staff.

“Students are often the first to hear about a friend or acquaintance struggling,” Dowd said. “If a student isn’t connected with resources that could be a problem. We want to overcome barriers of communication.”

Behavioral consultation teams are growing across campuses nationwide. Dowd said that stress is apart of college and some students need the help of consultation teams.

“Students need to the ears and eyes of campus,” Dowd said.

Dowd said reporting can help create a community of care, concern and outreach.

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How do you www.msureporter.com feel about The Kid’s Take: Sandusky, Coffee and Facial Hair Minnesota winters?

Thursday, November 17, 2011

compiled by dillon petrowitz

KYLE RATKE

editor-in-chief

We will start this article off by stating that good old Patrick (bottom of the page to the right) is a much tougher man than I am. I would trade four seasons for one year-long season of 70 degree weather. I’m the man’s man!

You probably want me to talk about how the Vikings lost to the Packers. Or how the Twins signed a 37-year-old short stop who has hit less career home runs than Nick Punto. Or how the Minnesota Timberwolves will not be playing this season and my tickets will go to waste.

Geez, that was a really depressing paragraph. Wait here while I pour scolding coffee on my face.

Let the random thoughts begin!

1. Jerry Sandusky is a sick, sick man. And an idiot.

If you haven’t heard of Jerry Sandusky and the Penn State football scandal, you’ve been living underneath a rock.

Sandusky has been accused of sexually assaulting young boys during his camps and is partly the reason why Joe Paterno is no longer coaching the Nittany Lions.

On Monday night, Sandusky was interviewed by Bob Costas.

Here’s a quote from Sandusky after being asked about his innocence: “I could say that I have done some of those things,” said Sandusky. “I have horsed around with kids, I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact.”

When has it been alright for a grown man to shower with 10-year-old boys that do not know him? Why wasn’t this

Ross wemeen Sophomore, Business “I don’t like them because of road conditions and the cold.”

• web photo I don’t know who this man is, but he has a neck beard that young men should strive for. He was a good man.

stopped earlier?

Hey Jerry, why are you touching their legs?

If this story doesn’t make you sick, you have no soul. During the interview, Sandusky sounded like a defeated man. Whoever advised Sandusky to do that interview, was clearly wrong.

Sandusky sounded guilty and perverted.

What he’s done is unforgiveable and those kids have had to live with this silently and will struggle with this throughout their lives.

While this situation is definitely much bigger than the game of football, Sandusky ruined the legacy of Paterno. Should have Paterno immediately called the police? Absolutely, but if it wasn’t for Sandusky and his sick mind, he wouldn’t have been put in that situation.

Mr. Sandusky, you’re pure scum. Now, onto some lighter stuff.

2. COFFEE!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!

I’ve been one to bash coffee drinkers throughout the years. It makes your breath bad. It tastes horrible. It stains teeth. It’s only good with three pounds of sugar

and three bottle of half-and-half.

Here I am four cups down before 1 p.m. What’s happening to me?! My hands are shaking.

Are we sure there’s not cocaine in this stuff?

Judging by the look on my face after drinking it, you’d think I was drinking urine instead of a drink enjoyed by millions of people.

Here are a few random thoughts about this coffee drink I’ve recently become addicted to: A. I am a big fan of the zero calorie sugars and creams to put in it. I don’t feel as bad after I put six packets of sugar in per cup.

B. What is the point of decaffeinated coffee? Isn’t that like drinking non-alcoholic vodka?

That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Is someone out there drinking coffee just for the taste?

If so, I think you’re about as crazy as this Patrick guy.

C. Is the lady who was burnt

by McDonald’s coffee still alive?

Where is she now? Does she still drink coffee? Does she have any pets? Can we please get a Netflix documentary about her? I NEED ANSWERS!!!

Editor in Chief: Kyle Ratke............................(507) 389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Megan Kadlec......................(507) 389-5450 sports editor: Lee Handel........................... (507) 389-5227 Variety Editor: Brian Rosemeyer................. (507) 389-5157 STUDENT AD SALES MANAGER: Megan Wahl......................... (507) 389-1063 AD sales REPS (Regular): Dillon Smith......................... (507) 389-5451

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3. I have a neck beard. It’s gross.

No-Shave-November isn’t for everyone. It wasn’t for the guy in the photo above, and it’s not for the guy writing this article.

I’m 17 days into this no shaving thing. To say I have facial hair would be generous. I have neck hair and a weird amount of it at that. If you’re throwing up right now picturing this, that’s alright. I accept it.

But now I have to make a very crucial decision: Do I shave the neard (neck and beard combined.

See what I did there?), or do I keep it going and see how horrible it can look come December?

Currently, I’m leaning towards shaving it tomorrow. Maybe I won’t. I was told Tuesday night that it made me look like I was 18 years old as opposed to 14. I’m still not sure if that was a compliment or not.

I’m the man’s man, damn it!

That’s all I’ve got this week.

As always, thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend.

You can follow Ratke on Facebook @facebook.com/thekidstake or on Twitter @Kyle_Ratke.

ANETA OGLEZHEA Freshman, Mass media “This is my first year in Minnesota so I don’t know much about winter here.

NATHAN EBEL Sophomore, German “I don’t like the bad roads, but I like to snowboard.”

Patrick nielsen Sophomore, Undecided “I tolerate them because I enjoy the contrast of four full seasons.”

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MSU Aviation flying under the radar JANAY HENRY

staff writer Right here at Minnesota State, Mankato there’s a gem that deserves a little more shine than what’s been given to it, going unnoticed within the general student population.

The MSU Flight Team, sponsored by the Department of Aviation, competed in a regional competition this fall, and now it has risen to the top, winning a spot in the 2012 National Competition next May in Kansas.

This is the first time in 10 years that this team has been able to win a seat to compete in the National Competition.

Struggling to rise as high as North Dakota, who is said to be like the “Yankees” of Flight Teams, has been a difficult task. However, it’s not the skills that are lacking – it’s the funding.

The Flight Team, comprised of 13 students and staff, has competed all around the state in precision landings, message

• web photo The Flight Team competed in regionals this fall and now will have the opportunity to attend nationals in Kentucky. Despite their success, the Aviation program may be cut due to funding issues.

$10-$11 to start

(target) drops and precision navigation, within the flying events.

The team also competes in numerous ground events, such as aircraft recognition, computer accuracy tests (aviation calculus and algebra) and an overall aviation knowledge test called SCAN (Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation) which is probably the toughest says senior student Kyle Jacobsen, captain of the Flight Team.

“We are very excited but the biggest thing is funding. We do a lot of our own fundraising.

We pay for our practice time, and you can guess anything with an airplane involves lots of money,” Jacobsen said.

Even though the aviation department and flight team have partial funding, they still fundraise “Out of the money we raise, we help pay for the aircraft rental, otherwise it gets to be highly expensive. I think we raised anywhere between

Flight team / page 7

Reporter • Page 5

JOSSELYN BISHOP “Now is a good time to have these conversations. We need to take it upon ourselves when we see something that is not right.” continued from 1

• web photo Josselyn Bishop, age 19, was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in July. A recent event brought light to her death and how to stop domestic violence.

Flatequal said many acts of violence go unreported.

“To imagine the real numbers are too hard to even think about,” Flatequal said.

“We need to continue to advocate.”

“National statistics show one in four women will experience violence in their lives,” said Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment David Jones. “Now is a good time to have these conversations. We need to take it upon ourselves when we see something that is not right.”

Violence Awareness and Response Coordinator Laura

Schultz spoke about the services the Violence Awareness and Response Program offers in the Women’s Center.

Schultz said Violence Awareness and Response Program offers confidential and free services for those affected by violence.

“There’s so many of us on campus to help you. I’m just one of them,” Schultz said.

A representative from the Counseling Center in the CSU said it offers students support through a limited number of free sessions with counselors.

One of Bishop’s roommates

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read a letter from Bishop’s parents. In that letter, Bishop’s parents said, ‘We want you to remember not how she died but how she lived.’

The event concluded with a video of a song that honors Bishop’s life. It highlighted the notion that Bishop will be remembered for the woman she was and not her tragic death.

“What happened to Josselyn is nothing less than a tragedy,” Schultz said. “Our ultimate goal is to end domestic violence. Just imagine what the world would look like without violence.

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A taste of Europe

MEGAN KADLEC

news editor While most cultural associations at Minnesota State University, Mankato have an annual cultural night, the EurasianEuropean Student Association is planning its first ever Eurasian night for Saturday in the Centennial Student Union ballroom.

In the first years of the organization, the group only included only students from countries in the former Soviet Union, however, the group has expanded their membership to include 20 different countries across Europe.

“We were thinking that we have a lot of students from West Europe, like, ‘Why don’t we include them in our organization?’ since we are a European organization,” said EESA President Sanda Brighidin.

“We seem to have students from those regions who are interested in coming to MSU, and I’m really glad we have an organization for them,” said EESA Advisor and education professor Elizabeth Sandell.

Sandell said she has a long, but not personal association with the countries of Eastern Europe, specifically Russia. She has been visiting Russia since 1996, and when she came to MSU in 2005, she wanted to connect with Russian students.

“European students didn’t necessarily have an organization to belong to,” Sandell said.

Sandell said she is mystified as to why there was never a student cultural association that included European individuals before 2006.

“Maybe it’s because they’re not here very long,” Sandell said.

• web photo

“Maybe they’re here for one semester as an exchange student and then they go home.”

Regardless of the reasons for the lack of a European student group on campus, the organization has begun to spread its wings and become more involved with the community.

“I think it’s an indication that the group is maturing as an organization,” Sandell said. “I think in the past, they’ve had really good relations with each other and it’s not the first thing they’ve ever done, but it’s the biggest.”

Sandell said that the organization is student-driven.

“I’m just an advisor. I just show up and facilitate,” Sandell said. “It’s really the student’s goals. I think they’re really excited to show their cultures and explain it to people.”

“I cannot give you a lot of details because you have to come there and see them, but we’re going to have food and we’re going to have performances,” Brighidin said. “What else can I tell you that isn’t secret?”

While Brighidin wants to keep many elements of the event a surprise, she said that the purpose of the event is to feature the many diverse cultures of Europe.

“When I meet a lot of students they tell me, ‘Oh, my grand, grand, grand parents are from Norway, Sweden Poland,’ different European countries, and they’d say, ‘Well, I don’t know anything about that culture,’” Brighidin said. “So, we are giving them an opportunity to [experience] not just one culture, but 20.”

Students who attend the event can expect to learn about the cultures of these many European countries, though incorporating such diverse nations in the event was a challenge to the organizers.

“The biggest challenge was including every culture in the night because they’re so different – each and every one,” Brighidin said. “How do you incorporate 20 countries in three hours? You give them a recipe, a dance, a song, you give them an image.

That’s how people will know about that country.”

Brighidin and Sandell both said that the event will feature music, dancing, fashion and food.

Brighidin said that she wanted to leave her mark on the group, but that was not her sole motivation behind planning the event.

“It’s not about me, of course, but it’s about our group,” Brighidin said. “It’s the time to have this opportunity to show ourselves to the community of Mankato and MSU.” Brighidin, originally from the Republic of Moldova, chose MSU after a family friend attended the University. She said that it was easier to make the move because she at least knew one person.

“I came here almost four years ago as an international student,” Brighidin said. “I always wanted to come to the United States. I knew one day I would be here and it didn’t matter how or when.”

While the EESA is exclusively composed of international and exchange students, Sandell hopes that other students attend not only Eurasian night, but also become involved in any one of the cultural organizations MSU has to offer.

“I think as it is the case with other student organizations, other students are invited to participate, so for the EESA membership, I think they would welcome students of other countries,” Sandell said.

Student tickets for the event are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. The event will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Sandell said she wishes students from Minnesota would take advantage of the many cultural events sponsored by MSU, whether it is for her organization or the Vietnamese American Student Association.

“I feel bad about that on behalf of Minnesota, you know, domestic students, because we miss an opportunity,” Sandell said. “Here the world came to us.

Maybe we should get to know the world while they’re here. It’s cheaper than travel.”

Reporter • Page 7

FLIGHT TEAM “We will be the last major Aviation program in the state and I think that is where we will get a lot more students.” continued from 5 three and four thousand dollars, this year. To go to Nationals we are estimating close to $10,000 that we need to raise, and [it] is pretty much what most of our time is devoted to.”

The team has been in talks with MSSA, President Richard Davenport and people from the community, to find ways to gain support for the Aviation program and ensure that it keeps running.

“I am excited and encouraged for the program to move forward,” said Joel Pat McKinzie, the Assistant Professor of Aviation.

The program is on a couple years probation, and this year is the largest freshman class, as far as new students goes. The program is on the increase and also in the process initiated

by Jason Ceminsky, both the Flight Team Advisor and Adjunct Professor for the Aviation department, to bring students in from China.

Other aviation programs

face the same problems. For example, St. Cloud State University’s Aviaton program is in its last year. It will finish out all of their graduating students and close the program due to funding.

“We will be the last major Aviation program in the state, and I think that is where we will get a lot more students,” said Jacobsen.

Attending our own classes, as students, and even while working in our own departments as staff, we forget all that MSU has to offer. Many students said that they either didn’t know there was a Flight Team, or that there was an actual Aviation program offered at our college at all.

When asked about the Aviation department senior student Sarah Preus said, “No, I just knew they had an Aviation department but a Flight Team, that’s pretty neat, and great for the students to get hands on experience.”

Expires 12/08/11

Page 8 • Reporter

News

Thursday, November 17, 2011

All I want for Christmas is a... Cold?

Flu prevention, treatment and whether or not to skip class JENNA WENDINGER

staff writer

Once again, Minnesotans have started digging out winter jackets and piling on the layers as whispers of snowf lakes begin to circulate. Unfortunately, snowf lakes are not the only things that circulate in the winter. Colds, sore throats and the f lu are passed between students like unwanted presents.

There is a common misconception blaming the cold weather for the increased number of illnesses we see during the fall and winter months. In fact, the true culprit is spending more time in close proximity to each other in dorms and classrooms and less time getting fresh air outdoors.

According to Dr. Hurd at Minnesota State University, Mankato Student Health Services the average Minnesotan will catch six to eight viral illnesses per year. It will do little good to treat these viral illnesses with antibiotics so it is important to practice prevention strategies to stay in good health.

Since we have all heard the long list of prevention strategies before, I went on the prowl in the Centennial Student Union to see which strategies MSU students will be practicing this winter to stay healthy.

Nicole Marella and Amanda Weinhandl were able to ramble off a long list of good health strategies including drinking orange juice, wearing mittens and warm clothes, getting enough sleep, washing hands often, carrying hand sanitizer and even added not kissing strangers to their list.

Other students recommended similar strategies including exercising often, eating right, and coughing into your sleeve not your hands.

Dr. Hurd spoke to another important prevention strategy this winter, getting a f lu shot. The f lu shot is available to students, faculty and staff at Health Services for just $20. While the f lu shot is not one hundred percent effective, it could prevent up to a week filled with body aches, headaches and a 103 degree fever.

How does the f lu shot work? The f lu shot helps build up the immune system, so when exposed to the f lu virus individuals can

either ward off the virus completely or decrease its length. Unfortunately, the f lu shot is only good for one year since the virus continues to change.

Dr. Hurd also shed some light on the common misconception that f lu shots make people ill. He explained most people do not have any side effects from getting the f lu shot. Some people, however, may get a small fever and feel sick for a day as the body is working hard to build up the immune system.

So what if practicing all the prevention strategies doesn’t help and you still end up sick? The best practices to follow when sick include getting enough rest, drinking lots of f luids and alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen, according to Dr. Hurd.

It is also just as important to practices those good health strategies after getting sick. Make sure to wash hands frequently, sneeze into your sleeve and get a recommend nine hours of sleep per night.

Every year students battle the question of missing class to stay home sick or attend class and risk spreading germs. So when is it okay to spend the day in bed and when should you come to class?

Students and teachers both agreed the importance of the subject matter is a big deciding factor when it comes to missing class.

Most teachers also asked students to do them the common courtesy of contacting them if they will not be in class.

“It is not about sickness.

It is about learning. Can you demonstrate that you have learned whatever the course requires?” said history professor Gretta Handke. “You can certainly learn without being in class but you still have to demonstrate that fact in order to earn credit for the course.”

Students did express their frustrations when it came to proving doctor’s notes for classes with strict attendance policies.

“If they require a doctor’s note, I’m not going to go to the doctor every time I’m not feeling well especially if it’s just a fever,” said MSU student Amanda Weinhandl.

Students often think teachers are strict about attendance policies because

• web photo Should students skip class when they’re sick to avoid spreading the illness to others?

they think college students often fake being sick to avoid going to class.

When asked if they had ever skipped college classes by faking illness, student’s responses varied. Some students were appalled by the idea, stressing how important it is to attend class, while other students admitted to faking illness more than once.

Do teachers think students are trying to fake being sick to avoid class and assignments? The response was uniform.

“I tend to believe my stu-

dents when they say they’re ill,” said mass media professor Ellen Mrja.

The one thing that students and teachers could easily agree on was if someone is sick they should stay home until they are no longer contagious.

“If it is contagious stay home, but if it is just a cold, come to class,” said corrections Stacy Grosinger.

Dr. Hurd also weighed in an unbiased opinion about staying home sick verses going to class.

“Missing class really doesn’t help you but as long

as you are getting good rest go to class. But be careful to keep a safe distance (six feet) and do not sit right next to someone and wash your hands. Colds are common! This age group averages two to four colds per year in Minnesota,” said Dr. Hurd. “So unless you are having trouble focusing and it doesn’t pay to go [to class] staying home really doesn’t benefit you.”

With the right health practices and good communication with teachers, a worry free winter is right around the corner.

Sports Thursday, November 17, 2011 www.msureporter.com/sports

MSU SOCCER: Junior forward Brittany Henry and junior midfielder Brianne West were named to the Daktronics NCAA Division-II Central Region First Team after leading the Mavericks to the second round of the NCAA tournament last weekend. They were joined by junior forward Nicole Dooher and freshman goalkeeper Molly McGough, who each earned Second Team All-Central Region honors.

MSU FOOTBALL: 14 Mavericks took home All-Conference honors, with six players on the NSIC First Team, three on the Second Team and five Honorable Mentions. The first-teamers were QB Jon Daniels, OL Cordell Bell, LB Marcus Hall-Oliver, DE Chris Schaudt and WR/KR Dennis Carter.

wale agboola • msu reporter

Senior captains Ariel Mackley, Jackie Otto and Moira O’Connor have settled in despite enduring a coaching and culture change at MSU. LEE HANDEL

sports editor

It takes time and effort to build a winning tradition at any college program. Whenever a program finally gets over the hump and becomes a perennial contender, people often like to look back and reflect upon when the foundation for success was laid.

This season’s Minnesota State, Mankato women’s hockey senior class, including captains Ariel Mackley, Moira O’Connor and Jackie Otto, might go down as the group that first experi-

enced the turning point for women’s hockey in Mankato.

The Mavericks appeared North Dakota to be heading in the right When: 7:07 p.m. Fri. and Sat. direction back in 2003-04, when the program had its first Where: Grand Forks, N.D. winning season under Jeff Vizenor. Vizenor struggled to their rookie seasons. The team win after that, stepping down finished out the season pretty as head coach midway through much without a head coach. the 2008-09 season, the first “We really didn’t have a head with the program for this year’s coach,” said O’Connor. “We had senior class. some talented players, but we The group had every reason lacked leadership and structure.” to be angry and uncertain, as the Things changed that offseacoach who had recruited them to son when Eric Means, who had play at MSU bailed on them in been an assistant on the MSU

UP NEXT

men’s team, took over as the third head coach in program history.

“You can tell Means just knows his hockey more than anybody we had before him,” Mackley said. “He has made us realize that if we play hard and play as a team, good will come from it.”

“Means just demands a lot more from us and has more confidence in us and what we are doing,” said O’Connor.

Mackley is from Minnesota, playing her high school hockey at Burnsville, and has played

both forward and defender for the Mavericks. O’Connor (forward) and Otto (defender) are both from Illinois. The trio, along with seniors Alli Altmann, Emmi Leinonen and Jenna Peterson, leads a roster that is full of young talent.

MSU is off to a 5-7 start this season, and is 1-5 early on in WCHA play. The Mavericks have a good mix of veterans and underclassmen, who all see substantial time on the ice. This has created a good competitive atmosphere in practice because

PREVIEW / page 10

Page 10 • Reporter

Sports

BREAKING DOWN MSU Lee Handel • sports editor

Front Line

SMITH

The Mavericks are deeper at the forward position this season than in any other under head coach Eric Means. Junior Lauren Smith leads the team in both assists (8) and points (9). She is joined by senior Emmi Leinonen, who also has nine points on the season. Sophomore sensations Kari Lundberg (9 pts), Lauren Barnes (8 pts), Kathleen Rogan (7 pts), Nicole Germaine (6 pts) and Tracy McCann (5 pts) also see a lot of ice time and make up a nucleus that has the potential for big things at MSU. Junior Lauren Zrust (7 pts) also contributes a lot up front. Seniors Ariel Mackley and Moira O’Connor do not carry much of the scoring load, but have done a great job leading this young group. Rogan leads the team with six goals. Senior Jenna Peterson and freshman Kara Power also figure to contribute for MSU.

ANDERSSON

ALTMANN

LEINONEN

Minnesota State (3-7-0, 2-4-0 WCHA) at No. 8 Minnesota-Duluth (7-3-2, 5-2-1 WCHA)

weekend in which it split an intense home series against WCHA rival St. Cloud State. The Mavericks took the first game of the series 4-2, but lost the second game 3-2. In the first game, the Mavericks kept their recent offensive surge going by scoring four goals, two of them in the second period. The MSU defense also held the high-scoring Huskies to only two goals in the contest, with senior goalie Austin Lee snatching 34 saves for the Mavericks. The second game of the series went quite differently. The Huskies started off the game like any team wants to after losing a game, scoring early and often. SCSU scored three goals in the first period, including two in the first two minutes of the game. That’s all it took to win 3-2, as the comeback attempt fell short for the Mavericks because they simply ran out of time. Junior forward Eriah Hayes led the Mavericks last weekend, tallying two assists in the 4-2 victory and scoring a goal in the second game.

HISTORY: It’s always tough going up to Duluth for a weekend series against the UMD

Bulldogs, and lately the Mavericks haven’t had it easy against the defending NCAA Champions. In the previous two seasons, the Mavericks have posted a 1-5 record against the Bulldogs.

The lone win came last season when MSU split a home conference series in February against the eventual NCAA champs with a 3-1 victory in the opening game. Hayes had a goal and Lee had 40 saves in that victory.

OTTO

MSU NOTES: The past few games it has been easier for the Mavericks to put the puck in the net. In the last three games the Mavericks have scored 12 goals, with six of them coming in a win against Michigan Tech. Another plus for the Mavericks is the injury bug is starting to die down. They haven’t had any players get injured the last two weekends, and they welcomed back sophomore forward J.P. Burkemper and freshman forward Max Gaede.

Burkemper got an assist and a goal in his first game back in action in the victory against St. Cloud. The Mavericks are also coming off a good weekend on special teams. They didn’t allow a power play goal, scored on a power play of their own and recorded two shorthanded goals in the two games against SCSU.

UMD NOTES: The reigning champion Bulldogs are coming into this weekend’s matchup

BUTTERS

OUTLOOK: The Mavericks are currently 1-5 in WCHA play and in seventh place out of eight teams. That being said, this team is talented enough to beat any team in the league on any given night and has the goaltending to hang with the top offenses in the WCHA. If the Mavericks defend their home ice for the rest of the season and beat the teams they should, a fifth-place finish is not out of the question.

PREVIEW

Joey Denton • staff writer

RECAP: The Minnesota State, Mankato men’s hockey team is coming off an encouraging

Netminders Senior Alli Altmann has had a solid career in net for the Mavericks and is the starter this season.

Sophomore Danielle Butters has also played well when given the opportunity this season.

Altmann has gone 4-4 in net so far, while Butters is 1-3 despite an impressive 2.21 goals against average. This position is a strength of the team.

MSU Men’s Hockey Gameday

7:37 p.m., Friday • Amsoil Arena 7:07 p.m., Saturday • Amsoil Arena Duluth, Minn.

Blue Line Senior Jackie Otto is serving as an assistant captain this season and has one goal, three assists and four points for the Mavericks from the back line. She is joined by junior Emilia Andersson, who is perhaps the Mavericks most lethal threat on the power play and has three goals this season after recently playing for the Swedish National Team. Junior Erika Magnusson is the primary backup to Andersson and Otto, but sophomores Elisabeth Hewett and Danielle Scholzen also will log time on the blue line this season. Freshman Shelby Moteyunas should start here in the future.

Thursday, November 17, 2011T

tied for second place in the WCHA with a 5-2-1 conference record, with their only two losses coming against the first-place Minnesota Golden Gophers. Two of their wins came from a sweep at home last weekend against Alaska Anchorage by scores of 5-0 and 3-1. As a team, the Bulldogs are tied for third in the WCHA in goals scored per game with 3.67, led by senior forward Travis Oleksuk and his conference-leading 11 goals this season. The Bulldogs are also pretty solid defensively. They are second in the conference in goals against per game with 2.33.

PREDICTION: The Mavericks have been really improving these last two weekends, get-

ting a win at ranked Michigan Tech and at home against the Huskies. Key players are coming back from injury and that has helped them a lot on both sides of the ice, but going up to Duluth is always tough and the Bulldogs haven’t lost a game the last four weekends. It will be quite an accomplishment for the Mavericks to get a win up there.

continued from 9

every player knows that playing time is up for grabs.

“Just the pace of practice [has changed],” said Mackley.

“Everyone is going hard. This isn’t maybe the most talented team since we’ve been here, but this team works the hardest.”

The seniors also think this season’s squad gets along better than any other since they’ve been at MSU, and note that all 24 girls generally get along, which wasn’t always the case in the past.

“In the beginning of this season we have done a lot of team gathering things that have made us closer,” Otto said. “We are not afraid to make mistakes on the ice and we pick each other up whenever we do.”

The program has had some pretty big wins and moments during the last few seasons, none bigger than last season’s

series in North Dakota against the Fighting Sioux.

The Mavericks lost the first game 1-6, then rebounded the next day with a 5-3 win that included a bench-clearing brawl in the closing seconds. Given their fierce rivalry with the Sioux, the girls will always remember that game.

Other highlights for the trio include upsets of Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State.

“Beating UMD on the weekend of its ‘Decade of Dominance’ celebration was pretty cool,” O’Connor said.

But one win that has dodged them is defeating the Golden Gophers of Minnesota, which they can still accomplish later this season.

“I just want us to finish with a winning record and sweep the teams we know we should,” said

Mackley. “I think the top teams know that they can’t just show up and beat us anymore.”

The seniors know that life in the WCHA is tough, but they wouldn’t want to be in any other conference.

“Its by far the most competitive league, nothing compares to it,” Otto said.

The girls enjoy being Division-I hockey players and take pride in how far they have come.

“It’s what you work for,” said O’Connor. “We want to be known for starting the change of women’s hockey at MSU.” Many moments off the ice will also be cherished by the seniors, such as the team’s paintballing trip and recent Halloween party.

“We pretty much spend every day and hour together,” Mackley said. “This team is like a second family to me.”

Thursday, November 17, 2011 Volleyball

Mavericks face familiar foe

Seventh-seeded MSU must figure out a way to beat second-seeded Concordia to extend its season.

REECE HEMMESCH

staff writer For senior setter Brittany rounded out the season winning Stamer and the Minnesota State, their last five games, including Mankato volleyball team, this a sweep of the No. 1 at-the-time weekend’s NCAA Central ReBulldogs. gion tournament is about a few So, for the second weekend different things. in a row, MSU finds itself in a It’s about ending her senior win-or-go-home atmosphere year and career on a high note against a highly-ranked and and proving that the Mavericks skilled team. The Mavericks did are better than the No. 7 rating overcome tough odds last weekin the region that was bestowed end, why can’t they do it again. upon them. But most important“We were just playing free ly, it’s about doing something against UMD,” Stamer said of in the first round of the tournatheir tough opponent last weekment that she has never done as end. “We weren’t worried about a Maverick: beat Concordia-St losing, we just played our game.

Paul.

That’s the kind of thing we have “They are the only team I’ve to do again to get a win.” never beat during my time here,” Another big thing MSU will Stamer said. have to do is shut down the big It’s crazy to think that in girls for Concordia-St. Paul. The Stamer’s career, where the Golden Bears have two players Mavericks have probably played who have achieved over 300 Concordia around 10 times, she kills this season in Megan Carlhas never once came out victori- son and Kayla Koenecke, who ous against them. are fifth and seventh, respecBut this is not as surprising tively, in kills in the NSIC. when you consider An even the Golden Bears more impresare the four-time sive stat is defending national that Concordia Concordia-St. Paul champions. holds down When: 2:30 p.m. today not only the So that’s what the Mavericks best hitting Where: Kearney, Neb. have in front of percentage them on Thursday, as a team in a chance to end Concordia’s the NSIC, but has the top three streak of consecutive national ranking individuals in that area. championships. MSU would The Golden Bears rely on hitlove the glory in doing so, but after-hit-after-hit to take down as said before, easier said than their opponents. done.

“We will always have a In their two previous meetdouble block on both of them,” ings this year, Concordia won Stamer said of Carlson and Koeboth matches, only losing one necke. “We will also have to dig set to the Mavericks. That set and pursue every ball they hit.” was the first lost set of the So the match is all set, as season for Concordia, as they these two teams will face off started out the season winning at 2:30 p.m. today in Kearney, 30 sets in a row.

Nebraska in the opening round.

The Golden Bears were rated The winner will move on to face No. 1 for most of the season up the winner of No. 3 UMD and until they were knocked off their No. 6 Wayne State, both teams throne by the Minnesota-Duluth MSU has beaten this year.

Bulldogs 3-2.

As for Stamer, her closing After that they suffered words on the team she has never another crucial loss, falling to defeated were short and sweet.

Wayne State 3-1. But as of late, “This could be great reConcordia looks to be back to venge.” its old and normal self, as it

UP NEXT

angela kukowski • msu reporter The Mavericks will need a full team effort to upset the four-time defending champion Golden Bears.

Sports

Reporter • Page 11

Meet the Mavericks Brendan Eichmann • Wrestling

Brendan Eichmann, a Hastings, Minn. native, enters the 2011-2012 season looking to top his freshman campaign that took him to the national tournament. Eichmann finished with a 23-20 overall record last season, placed fourth at the regional tournament and went 1-2 at nationals. Eichmann qualified for the Minnesota High School state tournament four times, placing fourth as a sophomore and second as a junior and senior. Eichmann enters his sophomore campaign with one goal in mind: to bring some hardware to MSU.

Q&A with sophomore Brendan Eichmann Q: Talk about your high school wrestling career.

A: In high school I had a career record of 179-48. I started five years on varsity and was a five-time All-Conference selection and Section All-Academic. I was a four-year state qualifier. I didn’t place as a freshman, was fourth as a sophomore and took second as a junior and senior.

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

A: I got recruited for wrestling and football by quite of a few colleges, but Coach Makovsky made me feel like I was at home when I visited. Plus, I am a third-generation Maverick.

Q: What does it mean to be a Maverick?

A: Being a Maverick is huge for me. Everyday in everything I do, I know I am representing not only myself, but MSU as an institution.

Q: Describe the mindset of a wrestler.

A: We are just like every other student-athlete. We practice, we do homework and struggle to have a social life.

Q: How does it feel to have to cut weight?

A: Wrestling tends to get a bad reputation for “cutting” weight. Really all that we do is make sure we are putting in our bodies what our body needs to perform. Nothing more than that though, so that we can be in peak physical condition and ready for a battle.

Q: Have you ever not made weight?

A: The only time I was close to missing weight was the Christmas Tournament my sophomore year in high school. My high school coach scared the daylights out of me that morning; I’ve tended to be way under ever since then.

Q: What does your offseason workout consist of?

A: Most of my offseason is spent working to make money, but it also includes trips to the weight room and almost daily runs. Wrestling is a demanding sport for your body, so you have to make sure that you keep it ready at all times.

Q: Talk about the National Tournament last season.

A: Being at the National Tournament last year was an awesome feeling. You work your whole life to reach that platform, and I was finally there. I was disappointed not to place, but it has started a new fire for me this year.

Q: What are your personal expectations and team expectations?

A: My personal expectations are always way higher than what I expect from anyone else, because I am the only one that I can control 100%. I expect to be back at the National Tournament, and this year to come home with some hardware.

As far as my team goes, I know we have a good team, but all I expect from them is to give their best and perform to the extent of their abilities. We can be National Champions this year.

Q: What is going through your mind moments before your match?

A: Usually I have whatever song I decided to warm up to still rolling through my head and I start to visualize exactly what I want to do in my match.

Q: What is your favorite inspirational quote?

A: “Winning isn’t everything, but putting forth the effort to win is.” -Vince Lombardi

-- Compiled by Cole Kukowski

A&E

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Local Band Spotlight

www.msureporter.com/arts-entertainment

Don’t forget to head to themsureporter.com to hear this week’s edition of The Verbal Hearables Podcast.

This week Christian and Brian play with the word “Chaos.”

Listen as they romp through heaven, hell, mean children and experimentation with modern cultural media!

neon and the nobel gases JAMES HOUTSMA | staff writer

A

major gas leak has occurred in the greater Mankato area. But fear not. While those caught in its path will ultimately combust, it won’t likely be into flames, but rather a fit of toe tapping and dancing. Local band The Noble Gases has been blazing a trail all across the Southern Minnesota area, bringing their high energy, infectious sound to many local venues.

Originally started back in 2006, purely as a homecoming band for Mankato East High School, Neon and the Noble Gases was later revitalized in 2009 as a recurring show.

Going through several members over the years and a recent name adjustment, The Noble Gases’ current lineup features veteran member Garrett Steinberg on keyboard and vocals, Jessica Pritchett on vocals, Forrest Kunkel on guitar, Dan Nonweiler on bass and vocals, and Justin Tollefson on drums.

A cover band-by-and large, The Noble Gases main musical styling is applying their soulful, high

energy, party sound to several classic rock hits like “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” “Hard to Handle” and “Come Together” as well as newer favorites like “Poker Face” and “Forget You.” “I really enjoy seeing them because they play things from my generation, along with the more current stuff,” said Sharon Dieken, a regular attendee of their shows.

Since their revamp, the band has been steadily picking up steam and making themselves known, playing regular shows at places like The Wow Zone, Pub 500, The Wine Café, Savoy, and Midtown Tavern, along with Southern Minn. events and festivals, such as Sanborn’s Watermelon Days and Mankato’s Rib-fest. With shows just about every week, on average, the group has had time to become closely knit.

“In the beginning, we would rehearse regularly.

Now (unless it’s a new song) it’s to the point where everything comes together by playing in the clubs. The playing gives us fluidity,” band leader Gar-

rett Steinberg said.

With a majority of the members involved in classes (some of them even music majors) and other jobs, the band is content for now to keep things rolling along as they have been, but not planning on stopping their ascension any time soon. Gases still has plans for the future, including writing more original material, expanding to (and possibly a tour into) surrounding states, and playing new venues like casinos and additional old ones, like sports bars.

Since their Halloween show at Pub 500 several weeks ago, they have also taken up the idea of regularly dressing in the time period that their sound often harkens back to; the 70s. They have also been known to throw in some funky, interesting introductions to certain songs, just to keep the audience on their toes as to what’s coming.

So, if ever on a night about town and in the mood for a fun blast from the past, you need not look too far. The Noble Gases is here for your listening

pleasure and this particular cloud of vapors is ready to show you just how “power-

house,” as the members put it, they really are.

• promotional photo From left to right: Dan Nonweiler, Forrest Kunkel, Eric Elker, Savanny By, Garrett Steinberg, Jessica Pritchett

BOOK

REVIEW

KATIE ELMS

ANDREW SIMON

MSU The Last Four Things B ends Genders Few young adult fantasy

staff writer

books really have the capacity to grab the reader nearly instantaneously and throw them The Gender Bender Drag into a world unlike their own, Show was an 18+ show held on with a different landscape, Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. in the CSU diverse cultures, a multitude of Ostrander Auditorium, and was a religions, and present a central major success. character that is utterly comThe show was two hours of upbeat, pelling and complex. Last scandalous fun which featured 18 acts. year British author Paul Tickets were in very high demand and Hoffman’s The Left sold out by the morning of the show.

Hand of God, the There were six performers, which included first of a trilogy, Gosh Alice Jones, Jol D. Principle, Electra was released, Dupree, Jordan-X, Alexis Savage and Alecia and it was Moore.

staff writer

DR

AG

3 e1 ag /p

• katie elms

one of those books that were swallowed up quickly, and once it was over, there was an unquenchable hunger for more, leaving only one option available; reread it.

Hoffman presents a world governed by fear, fear of the religious establishment Sanctuary of the Hanged Redeemer, a massive order run by the Redeemers. They cull children around the globe, punish severely and teach with the utmost discipline, turning these kids

HOFFMAN / page 14

T

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A&E

Reporter • Page 13

DRAG “Be good, but if you’re gonna be bad, be good at it!” she said. continued from 12 Drag shows started on Minnesota State University, Mankato’s campus approximately 15 years ago. Holding the Gender Bender Drag Show at MSU allows students to confront gender in a fun and liberating way. The proceeds from the event help provide support to other LGBT center programs.

This was my first time attending the show; I showed up 30 minutes before the event started thinking I’d be one of the first ones there.

I was sadly mistaken. There was a line across the Centennial Student Union and it looked like one of the lines you would see outside stores on the morning of Black Friday.

One of the students waiting in line was sophomore Amelia Malakowski who was at the show for the first time also.

“I am here for an extra credit assignment in my health class,”

• katie elms

Malakowski said.

The host of the show was the gorgeous Gosh Alice Jones. She was very fun and kept the crowd excited throughout the entire show. Not only was Jones the host, but she also performed twice.

The first act was Jordan-X, who performed and sang live to his own song “Cut Throat.” Jordan-X had three backup dancers, Kayla Jain, Amanda Fischer and Samantha Taner. Jordan-X had a very edgy costume with huge red spikes on his shoulders. His single was made available to download on iTunes Oct. 25 and he is currently working on three more songs to release in the near future.

The next performer, Jol D. Principle, does boy drag and was one of the most popular with the audience and was referred to as “Mr. Heart of America Continental.” Principle had fierce dance moves that got the crowd wanting to dance right in their seats.

Once Alexis Savage got on stage the dollar bills started to appear. The audience began tipping the dancers in exotic ways. Some had the performers taking the dollar bills out of their shirts, and some were lying upside down with the dollars in their mouths.

Savage did an entertaining performance to Pink’s song “Fun House.” In a later performance, Savage amped it up by kicking her shoes off and dancing barefoot.

Alecia Morre always left the

tUnE-yArDs: CHRISTIAN HAGEN

staff writer

t

UnE-yArDs frontwoman Merrill Garbus is one of the most uniquely talented musicians in modern music. If listening to her latest album, w h o k i l l, isn’t enough to convince you of this, take the time to see her live, and you’ll understand immediately.

The crowd at First Avenue on Saturday, Nov. 12 was thin to start, but tickets quickly sold out at the door to see tUnEyArDs perform, along with a few openers. By the time the show started, the floor was dense and excited.

First opener Pat Jordache elicited more than a little confusion from the room. The quartet sang moody 80s rock tunes,

coming off like a bad cross between Joy Division and Vampire Weekend with the eponymous lead singer sounding like Morissey crooning through a Darth Vader helment after a stroke.

More successful was Minneapolis natives Howler. The band could very well become the American version of The Kooks, fun and poppy and with honest-to-God personality, a rare thing in indie circles.

But of course, nothing could truly prepare an audience for a tUnE-yArDs show. Garbus is an extremely skilled performer, playing all the drums on her songs and providing all the vocals by utilizing loop pedals to capture and present her complex arrangements. It’s a specta-

crowd wanting more. She busted out flips, cartwheels, splits and turns. Electra Dupree was referred to as “electrical” and whipped out a chain that was part of her costume and also used it as a dancing prop. All of the performers at one point or another went out to the audience to dance down the isles and even gave a few personal dances to eager individuals.

Gosh Alice Jones had several fancy costume changes. She also gave the crowd some information about the LGBT center, and had reminders for upcoming meetings and events. There was a post drag show special that was 21+ at the Red Sky Lounge. Jones left the audience with some words of wisdom.

“Be good, but if you’re gonna be bad, be good at it!” she said.

She also went on to talk about safe sex practices, and how important it is to frequently get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Of course we’ve all heard this advice before, but this was an extremely fun way to reinforce the information. She also brought awareness to same sex marriages and how it is not legal in Minnesota Bullying is also a common issue in the community. Respecting others and especially ourselves

• katie elms

is the foundation for happiness and acceptance.

“Love ourselves, each other, and for pete sakes, let’s make this world a better place,” she said.

After the show I had the privilege of sitting down and talking with Wesley Mills (Jol. D Principle). Mills is the only male entertainer in Minn. He studied theatre at Hamline University. He performs on the first Saturday and third Friday of the month at the Townhouse in St. Paul.

Mills started his performing career in 2006. He started as a backup dancer and one day he was sick of doing backup and decided he wanted to be the star of the show. Advice Mills had for anyone pursuing drag is to practice and be aware of how much time and dedication it takes to perfect their craft.

His favorite part of doing drag is that he gets to be someone else.

In his non-drag life he referred to himself as kind of nerdy and quiet, but Jol D. Principle is the exact opposite. Mills referred to Jol D. Principle as his alter ego.

“I kind of created a sex god,” he said.

‘Killa’ show at First Ave.

cle of modern technology.

However, all the technology only works because of Garbus’s incredible voice. Her explosive range from throaty, masculine shouts to beautiful, floating heights gives every one of her songs a rich texture; one blast from her mountainous tones and the whole room went wideeyed.

Even with a backing band consisting only of a bassist and two saxophone players, Garbus was anything but soft; the performance of tUnE-yArDs’ recent single “Bizness” got an entirely sold-out First Ave. crowd literally jumping. It was truly a sight to behold and a sound unlike any other.

MONDAY

$1.50 Miller High Life Bottles

TUESDAY

$1.50 Domestic 16 oz. Taps

WEDNESDAY $3.00 Cocktails

(excluding RockStar)

$3.00 Beers

THURSDAY

$2.00 Domestic Bottles 8 to Close

25 OZ. MUGS

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Page 14 • Reporter

A&E

HOFFMAN “The Last Four Things is the second book of the trilogy, and adheres to all the right beats of a middle chapter of a greater story.”

Thursday, November 17, 2011

DEALER “It’d probably be easier to get marijuana in the res halls than it is alcohol,” Jensen said. continued from 1

continued from 12

into obedient acolytes. The power of the Sanctuary, and the threat that one day they will lash out against the other nations of sin, make it a most formidable foe.

In this Sanctuary is Thomas Cale, a 14-year-old with a penchant for being defiant.

One horrific event Cale walks in on forces him and his friends Vague Henri and Kleist, to run away from the Sanctuary and into a world they know nothing of. Unfortunately for Cale, he’s special to the Sanctuary, and they set out to reacquire him at any cost.

The Last Four Things is the second book of the trilogy, and adheres to all the right beats of a middle chapter of a greater story.

First and foremost, Hoffman’s writing, which made Left Hand of God so irresistible to put down, is at full swing here. There’s not a word wasted, with each page full of detailed and layered world building, mythology-heavy exposition, character work, bloody battles, clever war tactics, betrayal and corruption, and twists to the narrative every other chapter. It’s not a story that can be anticipated, which gives it a welcomed element of surprise. When there’s a battle scene, it comes to vivid life. When there’s backstory or mythology that must be established, it’s presented in such a way that the reader is never bored but instead engulfed in the book’s history. And the characters are richly defined by their beautifully described mannerisms, dialogue, and thoughts.

The style is very cinematic, funny, and dark, making it a highly accessible read.

Secondly, as for any trilogy, the stakes need to be higher, the death toll

greater, and a dark and uncertain ending is all but guaranteed. The Last Four Things fulfills its obligation to this structure dutifully. Cale is presented with impossible choices, and is given a revelation early on of his true purpose on earth, of his significance to the world and how his very existence will change history, completely

“Hoffman’s skill at developing interesting characters and engaging narration makes this series one of those ‘can’t-miss’ titles.”

earning him his moniker of ‘The Angel of Death.’

His story, and that of his mates Vague Henri and Kleist, are given the most remarkable highs and most devastating lows. And the story’s darkness doesn’t get any blacker than a coup inside the Sanctuary, carried out in an operatic, brutal scene reminiscent of The Godfather Part II and Star Wars – Episode III. There is death on a grand scale, and the stake is existence itself.

These two books, The Left Hand of God and The Last Four Things, present characters that reside very much in the gray zone, neither fully good nor bad, and because of that, they are compelling. Hoffman’s skill at developing interesting characters and engaging narration makes this series one of those ‘can’t-miss’ titles. An epic narrative that includes prophecies, war, religion, intelligent characters, clever twists, spectacular writing, and the fate of the world resting in the balance of the actions of a teenage boy – what could be more enthralling?

DZ, meanwhile, claims to have not only bought out of the dorms, but also out of the bathrooms of the CSU. Though Jensen insists that marijuana use is not “any more important or less important than any other violation,” she does see it as less of a priority than another common substance.

“Say there’s a noise complaint where there’s a party going on where there may be alcohol involved, we would probably take the alcohol first [before a marijuana complaint],” Jensen said.

According to Jensen, alcohol violations usually occur in parties with larger numbers and more disruptive activity than in cases involving marijuana.

“Generally with alcohol, it’s initially a stimulant, and people are going to be louder, they’re gonna be running around more,” Jensen said. “They’re gonna be more of an active crowd that we need to address before three people in a room smoking marijuana.”

“And if you’re gonna talk about laws,” she con-

tinued, “marijuana usage is a petty misdemeanor which is essentially the same as a parking ticket, where illegal alcohol use is a misdemeanor that can carry jail time. So alcohol violations are a higher level crime.”

Partially because of the increased scrutiny on other substances, JX prefers to stick to marijuana exclusively.

“I puffed a cigarette once, and I’ll never do it

“And if you’re gonna talk about laws,” she continued, “marijuana usage is a petty misdemeanor which is essentially the same as a parking ticket, where illegal alcohol use is a misdemeanor that can carry jail time. So alcohol violations are a higher level crime.”

again,” JX said. “I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t sniff cocaine, I don’t cook methamphetamines in my factory.”

Jensen believes that

costs, including fines, are a contributing factor to the rise in drug use.

“It’d probably be easier to get marijuana in the res halls than it is alcohol,” Jensen said.

DZ insists that he’ll stop dealing when he’s done with school and can live on his own.

“It’s just temporary, this ain’t a lifetime thing,” he said. “When I got here last year, I saw how easy it was. And then I got my own apartment, I was like ‘Why not?’ And I mean, I don’t really make money, but, I just see it like I get to smoke for free. That’s what I get out of it.”

JX tried to put the decision in perspective. “It’s like this: If you’re selling drugs, and you’re not making a profit off of it, or you’re not doing it just to smoke for free, there’s no ‘getting rich’ selling weed.”

Until then, DZ and JX will keep selling and smoking.

“It’s easy,” DZ said.

“There’s a good need for it, people want it.”

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Reporter • Page 15

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Page 16 • Reporter

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