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Two in custody after Friday stabbing SAM WILMES News Editor Two men are in custody after a stabbing that took place last Friday on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. 22-year-old David Swaray of Mankato and 18-year-old Brandon Jonathan Brown were arrested in connection with allegations of the case. Swaray, a building service worker, has taken courses here in the past. Brown is a student who is residing in the Crawford Residence Community dorms. Arrest information is not available. Also not available is information pertaining to the third man receiving a cut on the hand while on the second floor of G wing in the McElroy residence hall. The victim, who is not an MSU student, was treated and
released the same day at the Mayo Clinic Health Facility in Mankato. The incident, which happened around 3:30 p.m. left the campus in a temporary lockdown mode until around 5:00 p.m. as the search began for the offenders. Blood enveloped the scene as the trail led from the Second floor of G wing in McElroy Hall to the eastern stairs, across the door and outside. The incident was not a random one. According to a University press release, proper precautions were taken to ensure student safety. “At the time the incident occurred, Minnesota State Mankato Campus Security followed campus policy and issued an alert advising all students, faculty and staff to shelter in place so people would remain where they
were. Parents of students also received a message. Witnesses said they had heard
the victim was a boyfriend to the girl living in the dorm room. MSU employees cleaned the
blood from the scene shortly after the stabbing occurred.
Yohanes Ashenafi • MSU Reporter
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2 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
“Remember November” helps those in need
Various charities and business contribute to the month of charity. ALEX KERKMAN Staff Writer November is the time of year in which we give thanks, however, it is also important to remember those who are less fortunate. The poverty numbers statewide are high- one in six Minnesotans miss an average of 10 meals a month, while more than 12 percent of Blue Earth County residents are food-insecure. These are just a few of the facts that have been brought to the light by Remember November. The event, sponsored by Minnesota State University’s Community Engagement office, aims to increase awareness of national hunger and homelessness. While events have been occurring on campus all month, the majority of them will be spotlighted this week. This includes the National Hunger and Homelessness Week Partner Exhibit, which has been spotlighted in the basement of the CSU. Poster boards with facts about hunger and homelessness have been set
up by groups such as The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Open Door Health Center and MNSure, as well as SNAP. Stations are also in place to donate money to food drives, as well as providing a spot to make your own Thanksgiving cards. For those of you who may want to donate directly, Turkey Palooza may be right for you. “Turkey Palooza goes throughout camps to each department to take donations for the campus kitchen food program,” Freshman Samantha Swanson said. “It will take place during the entire month of November.” All food from the program will be used during “Bagging Hunger,” which will take place on Thursday in the campus kitchen. “Students come to the campus kitchen with shopping bags. They are asked to grab enough food to feed a family of five for a week,” explained freshman Kaila Laboie. MSU’s annual Stop Hunger food drive will take place tomor-
row from 10-2 pm, and on the same day a chili cook off will take place from 11-1 pm. Both events will benefit MSU’s Campus Kitchen. The documentary “A Place at the Table,” will be shown for free at Ostrander Auditorium from 7-9 pm tomorrow. The film, which was nominated for The Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, focuses on hunger through America, and stars Jeff Bridges of The Big Lebowski and True Grit. On Thursday, speaker Keith McHenry will speak from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Wiecking Auditorium about how individuals can activate change and make a difference in the lives of others in an effort to end hunger. His presentation, “Food Not Bombs,” has been given all over the United States and Canada in the past. For more information on how to participate in any of the campus activities happening this week, email community.engagement@mnsu.edu or call 507389-6076.
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
MSU Reporter • 3
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Six honored as global citizens SAM WILMES News Editor
The well-acclaimed excellence of the Minnesota State University faculty was recently put on display, as six MSU faculty members have been honored with the “Global Citizen Award,” an award meant to symbolize major contributions to globalization efforts at this university. The ceremony, which was held last Wednesday, featured Professor James Grabowska sharing information on the deal that was signed with Cuenca University, located in Ecuador. Interim Associate Dean in the College of Science, Engineering& Technology Scott Feem described internship opportunities made possible by the collaboration of HAN University, located in the Netherlands, and MSU. Fee also described the study abroad collaboration between MSU and South Central College, a collaboration that led to a faculty-led trip to South Africa last summer. This year’s recipients have spent a lot of time contributing to the University through varir ous efforts: •David Cowan (Facility Services)- Cowan was awarded based on his leadership in making the campus more commuterfriendly, including arranging shuttle services when bus routes weren’t available, giving international students employment
Award meant to address globalization efforts. opportunities, as well as leadership. •Kathryn Grant (Student Health Services)- Grant is being recognized for her efforts, including providing exceptional service, as well as responsiveness to international students and scholars’ special insurance needs. •Mandy Prorok (International Programs Office) – Prorok is being recognized for her involvement in the Fuklbright International Education Administrators Program, located in Germany. She conducted a 2005 program that included business and campus visits, lectures and introductions to the EU’s, and, in a more specific way, Germany’s, higher education system. •James Grabowska (World Languages & Cultures)- Grabowska is being recognized for his extensive influence on international education, as well as providing major roles in the continued advancement of intercultural competence and global perspectives amongst MSU’s students. Grabowska has also coordinated and developed study abroad chances for students in the field of Spanish, and he was key to establishing MSU’s international alliance with the University of Cuenca, located in Ecuador. •Jasper Hunt- (Experimental Education)- Hunt is being recognized for his influence on international and understanding of cultures, as well as the celebration of differences. Hunt, a leader and recognized
scholar in the field of experiential education, has devoted his career to expanding international education, as well as bringing it into the experience of many students during his 25 year career at MSU. •Gregory Wilkins (Student Activities)- Wilkins is being awarded based on his service related to the Global Education Advisory Council, as well as his service at an international level to communities around the world. Wilkins, a member of the student affairs division, has been involved with MSU’s annual International Festival. Experiential Education professor Jasper Hunt remains modest amidst the excitement and acclaim associated with the award. “My academic training is in philosophy, I am a big fan of Aristotle, whose main theme is virtue. To him the biggest vice you can have is pride. So, from an Aristotle perspective I am not proud of anything,” Hunt said. “Fundamentally, it’s not about me, it’s about the program. I am getting the award because of the people in the program.” “For me to get this award, I feel embarrassed that me above all people were awarded.” What Hunt is proud of is the students he has helped in his 31year career at MSU. “There are two things I am proud of. One of the two main accomplishments involves moving the masters program in Experiential Education to national
and international prominence.” “The second one being The Adventure education program that features indoor and outdoor rock climbing. I started it 30 years ago from scratch. Since then it’s been moved under the leadership of Todd Pfingsten and Sam Snyder.” Hunt mentioned the Experiential Education program at MSU has been mentioned by some as the best in the world, something we can all be proud of. Kathryn Grant of Student Health Services is proud of the help she has given to those in need over the years. “The two moments that stick out in my mind are when I accompanied a student with cancer to the surgeon to help with the language barrier to make sure they would understand their choices or when I met with a family from another country on a Sunday to explain the benefits of the school’s health insurance for their student’s upcoming surgery,” Grant said. “Dealing with insurance and hospital bills is a learning ex-
perience for most first year students,” Grant continued. “The MSU student insurance works well at Health Services. However, when students need to go to the hospital or a specialist, the bills and requests from the insurance company can be very confusing.” “I try to make this an easier process for the students and work with the hospital/ clinics to help get the information that both the hospital and insurance company need,” Grant said. “I know the benefits of the student insurance so if I see something denied, I can submit an appeal if I feel the services were medically necessary. It was nice to be recognized for the little bit I do to help make the student’s medical experience less overwhelming so they can concentrate on school.” “This award makes me feel that the students appreciate having a student insurance advocate on campus so they have someone to go for help.”
4 • MSU Reporter
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Thanksgiving Day: meant for family, not shopping
SAM WILMES News Editor
With Thanksgiving only nine days away, the annual beating of the drums has started on the early opening of stores on Thanksgiving. Amongst many other stores, Walmart, for example, has announced they will begin sales at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. While this has sparked outrage , what really needs to happen is a nationwide effort to avoid the store until the next day. There doesn’t need to be angry signs outside the store like there were last year, all that needs to be done is the greatest sign one could show: staying home. While many Walmart workers may not even make enough money to provide their family a quality Thanksgiving meal, they have a fundamental right to be able to share a day with the family they love. We, the consumer, have the fundamental obligation to ensure this takes place. Businesses will always push the limits of their employees to make a profit, that is why they are successful in the first place. If every single one of us just stayed home and avoided stores like Walmart completely on Thanksgiving, they would realize that the profit margin would not be the worth the cost of operation for the day. Like dams that hold back water, we can hold back the flood of greed and absurdity, if only for a day. While working at Walmart
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POLICIES & INFORMATION Web Photo Thanksgiving protests outside Walmart in 2012.
last summer, I realized that while some had made the proverbial bad decision that led them to working there, many were people who had unfortunately hit bumps in the road, through no fault of their own. Every one of you who plans on going shopping on Thanksgiving needs to realize who the cashier is, who the greeters are, who provides the customer service, even if in an unfriendly fashion. While it is easy to sit back and moan about the state of early Christmas shopping and the commercialization of the holidays, fortunately the beauty of our country enables us to enhance change. We have the opportunity to change the way places like
Walmart conduct business on Thanksgiving, all it takes is a conscience decision to avoid the store. Taking it a step further, people shouldn’t start Christmas shopping until at least 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Employees need the extra time, even if given Thanksgiving off. Over and above all, think of the worker before planning your shopping spree. That is the bread of life, the ability to see the needs of others, to see more than yourself and your selfish desires. If you do end up taking the Black Friday deals and getting up before the sun rises, take the time when you see a worker to thank them for making the day possible for yourself.
Take the time and ask how was their holiday, ask if they got to see their family, ask how they feel about working this early. If you are planning on shopping on Thanksgiving, ask yourself if you can possibly wait another 12 hours, ask yourself if your own wants are more important than their own needs of seeing their family, something that many aren’t given the luxury of. While I don’t expect a lot of you to take my advice- I will admit, some deals look enticing, I only ask you to weigh the options, weigh how this may affect other people and remember that the one code you should live by in life is to think of others, think of their wants and needs, before your own.
“Do you plan on shopping on Thanksgiving?”
DAISUKE SENIOR, EXERCISE SCIENCE “Maybe, maybe not.”
Minnesota State University, Mankato
JENIFER, FRESHMAN DENTAL HYGIENE
ANDREW, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
“No, I would not. It encourages stores to be open on family days.”
“No, I will not shop on Thanksgiving.”
ADESINA ADEYEMI, JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE “Yes.”
• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Reece Hemmesch at 507-3895454. The Reporter will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board.
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t J A s • The Minnesota State University s Mankato Reporter is a studentp run newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and “ Thursdays. The Reporter generates o 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximate- a ly 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-3891776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes.
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c J e d 7 d h t p A . t p KAILA LAVOIE, FRESHMAN NURSING “No.”
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Student gets year in prison for extorting professor
HOUSTON (AP) — A Louisiana man was sentenced to a year in prison Monday for running an extortion scheme that authorities believe led a Texas A&M University professor to commit suicide by jumping to his death from a campus parking garage. Authorities say Daniel Timothy Duplaisir last year lured James Arnt Aune into a sexually explicit online relationship by pretending to be an underage girl. Later, Duplaisir pretended to be the girl’s outraged father and demanded money to keep the relationship secret. Before U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes handed down the sentence, Duplaisir said that he “did a horrible thing ... I will never do anything like this again.” In a statement she read before the sentence was handed down, James Aune’s wife, Miriam Aune, told the judge that Duplaisir “destroyed so much and paid so little.” She said she fought to pursue justice for her husband “as my final tribute to the love of my life.” The couple had two adult autistic sons. Duplaisir, of Metairie, La., pleaded guilty earlier this year to interstate transmission of extortionate communication. He had faced up to two years in prison. Hughes also ordered that Duplaisir pay $1,500 in restitution, the amount he extorted from James Aune. Duplaisir pretended to be an underage transgender girl named Karen McCall, according to investigators. After corresponding with the 59-year-old Aune as the girl, Duplaisir then contacted the professor, threatening to expose the relationship if Aune didn’t pay $5,000 for his daughter’s therapy. According to a criminal complaint, Duplaisir bombarded James Aune with profanity laced emails, texts and voicemails, demanding the money. In a Jan. 7 email, sent a day before Aune’s death, Duplaisir warned him that he had until noon the next day to pay or else “the police, your place of employment, students, ALL OVER THE INTERNET ...ALL OF THEM will be able to see your conversations, texts, pictures you sent ....” Aune paid Duplaisir $1,500, but he didn’t know if he could come up with the rest, authorities said. On Jan. 8 at 9:21 a.m., the
MSU Reporter • 5
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defendant texted, “3 more hours. If i don’t hear from you the calls start,” according the criminal complaint. At 10:29 a.m., Aune replied, “Killing myself now And u will be prosecuted for black mail.” He jumped from the parking garage roof about a minute later, shocking the A&M campus, which is about 100 miles northwest of Houston. Aune died later at a hospital. Aune was regarded as a fine scholar, mentor and friend by students and his fellow professors at Texas A&M, where he headed the school’s Department of Communication. Miriam Aune had told The Associated Press that her husband had battled depression in recent years. He was also badly shaken by his 2007 battle with prostate cancer, which he survived but which forced him to face his own mortality, and he began to drink heavily, she said. Miriam Aune, 57, said after Monday’s sentencing that in the months since her husband’s death, it has been difficult for her to come to terms with realizing she might not have really known anything about the man she had been married to for 27 years. “It haunts me,” she said.
Man pleads guilty to murder case involving MSU student RYAN BERNDT Staff Writer Jesse Jean Smithers, the 18-year-old Sauk Rapids man who has been charged with the murder of Colton Gleason, formally a sophomore at MNSU, has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. This decision comes in preparation for the case’s sentencing, which is scheduled for February 6th. Both sides have agreed to a term of 10 years to be served by Smithers. The incident leading to Gleason’s death in September 2012 occurred when Gleason and two women were walking down an alley close to the St. Cloud State University campus. Smithers, who was a passenger in a car with five to seven other occupants, told the driver to stop in the alley. Smithers proceeded to exit the vehicle and hit Gleason in the head, causing him to hit his head on the ground. Gleason passed away the next
day at St. Cloud Hospital. Smithers, who was on the St. Cloud Tech High School football team as a wide receiver but attended the St. Cloud Area Learning Center, initially pleaded not guilty and claimed his punch was in self-defense. Police however have ruled that it was a random act of violence due to evidence and eyewitness report, but commented that a motive might surface during sentencing. Since being arrested, Smithers has been put in jail without bail as he was deemed a danger to himself and others. Prosecutors have requested a no-contact order as well, due to reports that witnesses have been threatened. “When I heard about it, it made me really scared!” Samantha Roehl, a junior this year at MNSU said, “I have a lot of friends who live in St. Cloud and it makes me feel like they are in danger because we hear about this kind of thing happening up there all the time. I have friends whose houses or cars have been broken into, so just to think if
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they were there at the time, they could have been killed too.” MNSU students are well aware of the dangers that can come from living in a college area. Just recently, a stabbing occurred in McElroy G Hall, and there have been numerous incidents of violence downtown. The community is noticing, however, as students and faculty are working together to find creative ways to stop the violence in the area. MavGuard, led by MSSA Senators Katie Bobich and Mariah Haffield, is one such initiative. There was also a mock disturbance in the downtown area just weeks ago to help train law enforcement on how to deal with a large-scale fight. “We are all just young adults on our own for the first time, and that’s a scary thing.” Roehl mentions, “But on top of that, we have to be worried about how safe we are on or near a campus. Campus should be safe, we should always feel safe, it isn’t right.”
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6 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
More awareness needed on LGBT issues HANNAH KLEINBERG Staff Writer On MSN News, a short article was released about former Vice President Cheney’s daughters, Liz Cheney and Mary Cheney. Republican Liz Cheney made a statement on FOX News previously in relation to her campaign for the US Senate seat of Wyoming that she was against same-sex marriage, and directly disagrees with her sister, who is actively married to another woman. As they begin to battle through newspaper articles and interviews, Dick Cheney confirmed that he supports same-sex marriage. This raises an important question: how often do people of the LGBT community face this situation? Same-sex relationships are a hot-button topic in today’s society, but for many it’s hard to imagine a family member or friend dismissing them because of their sexual orientation. Startlingly enough, it’s still a great issue. four in 10 LGBT youth feel the community they live in aren’t accepting of LGBT people, constituting nearly half of the LGBT community. Of those numbers, Latino males are the ones that are most frequently rejected, according to statistics. Those who are ostracized from their family and communities are more likely to participate in illegal drugs and unprotected
sex, and also face higher risks of depression and suicide. Those factors should be enough to attest to how harmful it is to be in a society that rejects them, but there is still a great number of people that believe that being against LGBT people is just, and that society is a safe place for them. LGBT people are twice as likely to face assault, and twothirds of those report serious sexual harassment, particularly in public school settings. The average GPA of those who are victimized are also half a grade lower than others, and they’re also twice as likely to say that they don’t plan on completing high school or college due to these challenges. Despite these numbers, there are still those who believe that society is an accepting and comfortable place for LGBT people to be. As numbers rise for homeless LGBT youth (nearly 50% of those because their families kicked them out due to their orientation), there are too many people that stand on the wayside and watch, and even those that disagree with LGBT rights. If you feel alone due to your orientation, however, we’re lucky enough to have outlets on our campus. The LGBT center is located in room 194 in the Centennial Student Union, and filled with people there to welcome you and talk to you about whatever it is you need to get off your chest. The Counseling Center is also located in room 245 in the Centennial Student Union if you feel that you need to talk to a professional.
Web Photo Liz (Right) and Mary Cheney (Left) recently illustrated the dissonance between the LGBT community and others.
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
MSU Reporter • 7
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Better alert system needed in times of crisis The Star Alert system put on by MnSCU can be critical in dangerous situations, but what if you are not able to receive alerts?
REECE HEMMESCH Editor in Chief While alone in my basement inside the confines of my house right off campus, I was confused when my phone began receiving alerts from the MSU, Mankato Star Alert system last Friday. I haven’t received one of these since a giant snowstorm took place about three years ago and wasn’t completely sure of its meanings. “A report of a stabbing by an unknown suspect has been reported in McElroy G Hall. Offender is still at large. Shelter in Place,” is what the contents of the message read at 3:35 p.m. on Friday, sent from an unknown short code number. Since I was the only one home (and McElroy is visible from my living room window), I immediately ran up the stairs and locked
all the doors to ensure my own safety inside my house. After a short sigh of relief, I proceeded to peer out my front window to see the events from a spectator standpoint. Obviously I was not expecting a scene of chaos to be the view, I figured I might see a few police cars outside the dormitory at the most as I believed most would have seen the text and instantly locked themselves in a safe place. But what I was expecting was not the scene at hand: normalcy. Students appeared to walking in and out of the dormitory complex as if nothing was going on, meanwhile the parking lot to the north of the Performing Arts Center had its usual hustle and bustle of a Friday afternoon going on, and even across the street where regular Mankato residents lived, kids played outside as an adult raked leaves on the warm afternoon. “What are these people doing?” I asked myself in com-
plete confusion, “How do they not know?” I presumed that since I received the text and saw it immediately that everyone else had done the same, but that was obviously not the case at all, considering an alleged stabber was still at large and the campus scene on a Friday afternoon was the exact same as all the other Friday afternoons this semester. I didn’t know whether to yell at the people to come inside my house or tell them to check their phones, either way I didn’t think they were in the place they were supposed to be during this entire incident. In occasions like last Friday, the University needs to have a better system of informing students, faculty and everyone near campus of the events unfolding. The Star Alert system is great if you have your cellphone on you at all times (which most students do), but that only applies if you sign up for the Star Alert system, which most do
freshman year. It is just another form in packet you receive as a freshman, but all members of the University should be signing up for these if they have not already. But if you do not sign up for these, the only other option that Star Alert can do for you is sending an email of the updated events as soon as they occur. Once again, that is great for people with smart phones who can access their emails with the touch of the screen, but if you are still without a smart phone or had yet to sign up for the text alerts, you might not had seen the event even took place until checking your emails Saturday morning. By then the state of confusion could have been out of control while you figured out how this happened a day after it took place. Most of us found out about on Twitter or Facebook as well, but that cannot be the primary source for breaking news, especially when it involves your
safety. The University has to be better prepared when it comes to incidents like this so that the entire community can be aware of when sketchy events occur on campus. Without that, so many people are at risk of endangering themselves while out and about around the University. The Star Alert system is great and quick with information, but once again, if you do not sign up for that, or live close to campus but don’t have any affiliation with the University, how are you supposed to know when dangerous actions occur on campus? When situations like this arise, there should be no confusion, no danger and no being left out of the information that can help your safety. I know the incident ended with little bloodshed, but if this was a bigger case and the alleged suspects were looking for more, this could have been a very dangerous situation unfolding inside our University.
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111 Carkoski Commons, Mankato, MN 56001 Voice: 507-389-1011 or 800-722-0544 MRS/TTY: 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY) Fax: 507-389-2687 Email: resife@mnsu.edu A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Minnesota State University, Mankato is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the Department of Residential Life at the above numbers.
8 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
George Zimmerman arrested, charged with assault, battery
Web Photo George Zimmerman being escorted away after being arrested yesterday on charges of assault and battery.
APOPKA, Fla. (AP) — George Zimmerman was charged Monday with assault after deputies were called to the home where he lived with his girlfriend, who claimed he pointed a shotgun at her during an argument, authorities said. Zimmerman pushed the woman out of the house and barricaded the door with furniture, Chief Deputy Dennis Lemma said at a news conference hours after the arrest. The girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe, provided
deputies with a key to the home and they were able to push the door that had been barricaded. “She was very concerned for her own safety especially having the weapon pointed at her and then being pushed out,” Lemma said. Lemma says Zimmerman was compliant and unarmed when deputies came to the house. “The easiest way to describe it is rather passive. He’s had the opportunity to encounter this in the past,” he said.
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Zimmerman was charged with domestic aggravated assault with a weapon, domestic battery and criminal mischief. His first appearance was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. He will be housed in a single-person cell and guards will check on him hourly, Lemma added. “Just when you thought you heard the last of George Zimmerman,” said neighbor Catherine Cantrell. She said she had twice seen a man who looked like Zimmerman get out of a
truck that’s been in the driveway for nearly a month. The truck parked there Monday appeared to be the same one that reporters have seen Zimmerman drive previously. “I’m in absolute shock. He was never outside. It’s not like he was out flaunting around,” she said. Cantrell said Scheibe was very sweet and quiet. Sarah Tyler, 26, also lives across the street from the tan stucco house on a cul-de-sac street of single family homes in Apopka, about 15 miles northwest of Orlando. “It’s kind of frightening,” she said. Zimmerman, 30, was acquitted in July of all charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. The death of the black teenager, who was unarmed, touched off a nationwide debate about race and self-defense. Zimmerman, who identifies himself as Hispanic, has said he shot the 17-year-old to defend himself during a fight in February 2012 inside a gated community in Sanford, just outside Orlando. He wasn’t charged until 44 days after the shooting, leading to protests nationwide from people who believed he should have been immediately arrested. The case sparked accusations that Zimmerman had racially profiled Martin, and demonstrations broke out again after his
acquittal. Federal authorities are now reviewing the case the see if Martin’s civil rights were violated. Zimmerman has had other brushes with the law since his acquittal. Zimmerman and his estranged wife were involved in a domestic dispute in September just days after Shellie Zimmerman filed divorce papers, but police later said no charges were filed against either of them because of a lack of evidence. Zimmerman has also been pulled over three times for traffic stops since his acquittal. He was ticketed for doing 60 mph in a 45 mph zone in Lake Mary in September and was given a warning by a state trooper along Interstate 95 for having a tag cover and windows that were too darkly tinted. He was also stopped near Dallas in July and was given a warning for speeding. In 2005, Zimmerman had to take anger management courses after he was accused of attacking an undercover officer who was trying to arrest Zimmerman’s friend. Later that year, Zimmerman’s former fiancee filed for a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman responded by requesting a restraining order against her. Both requests were granted. No criminal charges were filed.
MSU Reporter • 9
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
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Perfect regular season gives Mavericks first-round bye Through 11 regular season games, the undefeated football team sits on top of the NSIC in points scored per game (43.5) and points scored against per game (14.5). JOEY DENTON Sports Editor
David Bassey• MSU Reporter The squad has undoubtly been playing their best football over the last five weeks, outscoring their opponents 26664. The Maverick offense accumulated at least 400 yards of total offense in their last six games, including 633 total yards in Saturday’s 73-7 win at Upper Iowa.
Minnesota State University, Mankato football team’s 73-7 win over Upper Iowa on Saturday, along with the previous 10 games that ended in victory, gave itself a first-round bye in the NCAA Division II playoff bracket. It was complete dominance in Iowa with the Mavericks scoring a touchdown on their first ten possessions. It took the Peacocks nearly 47 minutes of game time to slow down the Mavericks as they averaged 9.2 yards every time the ball was snapped. The list seems endless with rushers for the Mavericks, all compiling 4526 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Jon Wolf led was on the top of the list with 201 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. Sophomore running back Chad Zastrow accumulated the most yards this season by any running back wearing the Maverick logo this season with his 162-yard game. He also
scored once in 21 carries. All eight of the Mavericks’ offensive touchdowns were on the ground, and sophomore quarterback Mitch Brozovich became a touchdown specialist with four touchdowns on just nine carries. The defense even made its way on to the scoreboard with two fumble recoveries taken back for six. Senior linebacker Diontae Jones started the game off right with the Mavericks first score, recovering a Cameron Vinsand fumble on the Peacocks’ two-yard line and brought the ball in the end zone. Sophomore defensive end capped off the Mavericks’ touchdown frenzy picking up a forced fumble on the Peacocks’ 29-yard line and taking it to the house. With still the fourth quarter to play, the Mavericks broke through the 70-point barrier. Coming into the matchup, Upper Iowa possessed NSIC’s second-leading rusher in running back Chris Smith. The Harlon
FOOTBALL • Page 10
Women’s soccer campaign comes to a close Brian Bahl’s first season as the women’s soccer team head coach came to an end on Sunday, finishing 17-3-2 overall. LUCAS RYAN Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato women’s soccer team’s 2013 campaign was ended with a second round upset. The seventh ranked Mavericks lost 2-1 to Southwest Minnesota State University in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The loss ends the Mavericks season and snaps a home-unbeaten streak that spanned 36 matches, which is the 12th longest in NCAA Division II history. The Mavericks finish the year with a 17-3-2 record while claiming a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season and tournament championships and making their sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance. “They have a lot to be proud of. They accomplished a lot
throughout the year winning the regular season championship and conference tournament championship, and it’s unfortunate to go out the way we did,” head coach Brian Bahl said.
Kiana Nickel
MSU came into the game with the most goals in the NSIC, but were held to just one goal on Sunday. The Mavericks outplayed
the Mustangs for the majority of the game, dominating the possession and consistently creating scoring chances throughout the game. Four Mavericks had at least four shots on goal as MSU outshot SMSU 27-7, and had a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal. “Soccer can be an evil game sometimes. I don’t think there are too many sports out there where you can dominate a game the way we did and then come out on the losing end of it. To outshoot a team 27 to seven and not come away with the result is heart wrenching,” Bahl said. The Mustangs got an early lead and never let it up. In the 13th minute, the Mustang’s senior midfielder Vanessa Corona scored during a play following a Mustang’s corner kick, jamming the ball past junior goalkeeper
SOCCER • Page 10
Ronnie Sajjoba• MSU Reporter Sophomore defender Emily Erickson (above) is one of many talented players who will be returning to the Pitch in 2014.
10 • MSU Reporter
Sports
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
FOOTBALL “We’re glad to get the bye so we can get rested up, get healty and just get back to the basics with technique and make sure we can iron out all of the mistakes we’ve made up till now,” Senior defensive end Chris Schaudt said. continued from 9
SOCCER “They have a lot to be proud of They accomplished a lot throughout the year winning the regular season championship and conference tournament championship, and it’s unfortunate to go out the way we did,” head coach Brian Bahl said. continued from 9 Molly McGough. The Mavericks had a 10-2 shot advantage in the first half but trialed 1-0 at halftime.
Jessica Bowe
Web Photo The Super Region 3 and 4 brackets for the NCAA Division II Playoffs. As shown above, the no. 2 seeded Mavericks will host the winner of the six-seeded Huskies of St. Cloud State and Henderson State in the third seed. Kickoff for the second round showdown is at 12 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium on Nov. 30.
Hill Trophy nominee finished the last game of his junior season with just 34 yards, his lowest in a game this season. In the 159 total yards the Mavericks gave up, the Peacocks actually lost two yards total in their ground game. Tackling-wise, sophomore linebacker Evan Koehler and sophomore Justin Otto led the way with six and five tackles, respectively. The Peacocks also made the mistake of throwing the ball in junior safety Nathan Hancock’s way, giving him five interceptions on the season, tied for second most on the team with sophomore quarterback Patrick Schmidt. For the past 11 weeks, the Mavericks have worked hard every week with the expectation of a game the next time Saturday comes around, but with an 11-0 record, they were issued a bye-week for the first round on NCAA division II football action, which the team was happy and expected to see. “We’re glad to get the bye so we can get rested up, get healthy and just get back to the basics with technique and make sure we can iron out all of the mistakes we’ve made up till now,” senior defensive end Chris Schaudt said. Even though the Mavericks sat on top of the two biggest
polls for about half the 2013 season, Northwest Missouri State claimed the top seed of their region. Having complete control of home-field advantage throughout the region would have been nice, but interim head coach Aaron Keen is satisfied with the no. 2 slot. “I’m happy because we controlled what we can control, and we’ve given ourselves an opportunity for a first-round bye and host a second round game,” Keen said. “There’s nothing more that we can ask for.” On Nov. 30, the team will host the winner of Henderson State (11-0) and conference-rival St. Cloud State (10-1). The two teams present quite the differ-
ence in history with MSU. While the St. Cloud State series sits at 32-41-4 in the Huskies favor, MSU has never seen Henderson State on the football field. “We have a lot of history with St. Cloud. It would be a blast to get them at our place,” Schaudt said. “It’s always a good game and looking forward to it” As that showdown takes place this Saturday in Arkansas, Northwest Missouri State waits for the Bulldogs of Duluth (10-1) and Emporia State (9-1) duke it out in Duluth, Minn. After their first weekend of the season without a game, MSU’s first playoff game is scheduled to kickoff at 12 p.m. at Blakeslee Stadium on Nov. 30.
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The Mavericks tied the game in the 70th minute courtesy of freshman midfielder Kiana Nickel. Nickel received a pass from junior forward Jessica Bowe and shot from the top of the box into the right side of the net past a diving Mustangs net-minder. In the 83rd minute, the Mustangs scored the goal that would end the Mavericks season. MSU was unable to control the ball after a McGough goal kick. SMSU’s freshman Morgan Weyer-Coates got possession and drilled it off the left post and into the net from outside the box to give SMSU the 2-1 lead. The Mavericks continued to pressure the Mustangs the final eight minutes, but the game would end with a final score of 2-1. The loss gave SMSU its
first win over MSU in program history and ended the Mavericks season in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Senior forward Courtney Vallarelli, Senior midfielder Tori Meinhardt Senior goalie Brittany Cygan college soccer careers come to close Sunday. While it senior midfielder Caitlin Graboski and senior midfielder Sidney Temple are eligible for another season, but it is unclear if they will return or not. The seniors played an important leadership role on the Mavericks’ relatively young team. “They are a special group. I am disappointed that I only get to spend a season with them because they had some tremendous leadership qualities and were just great girls to be around,” Bahl said. “They were a great example for the rest of our team, and hopefully we will be able to carry forth their legacy by doing the things that they did on a daily basis.” During Bahl’s first season as the Mavericks head coach the team tied a MSU single-season wins record with 17 and won a NSIC regular season and tournament title. Bahl plans to use the disappointed end to this season as motivation in the future. “We are disappointed the way the season ended, but we will be back and this will just serve as a motivator, and I think we will be even better next year,” Bahl said.
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MSU Reporter • 11
Interested in working in sports? Head to the CSU Ballroom today Have you ever though about working for the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Minnesota Vikings? Well now is your chance. Grab your professional wear out of the closet, print out a few resumes and head over the CSU Ballroom between 1-4 p.m. today. LUKE CARLSON Staff Writer Today, Minnesota State University, Mankato and the Sport Management Program will welcome over a dozen professional and minor league sports organizations and several other organizations onto campus for the Sport Management Internship Fair. The fair, held in the CSU Ballroom from 1-4 p.m. today, will introduce students within the Sport Management program as well as students from the College of Business to a wide variety of sport management related businesses and organizations. The objective for these students is to gain information about internships in the Minnesota area and to learn interview skills in the process. The internship fair will also serve as a valuable networking opportunity for students and for the organizations present at the event. “The main reason that we put on the fair is to give students the opportunity to connect with sport organizations and try to get an internship in the future,” Sport Management Association President Tyler Slick said. Slick said that he expects the turnout for the event to be great this year and that hopefully students will flock to
this lucrative opportunity presented to them. The fair boasts an impressive lineup of local, regional and professional businesses, each with high amounts of popularity, dedicated fan bases, and a desire to get college students involved. Professional sport organizations that are expected to attend the fair this afternoon include the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Minnesota Vikings. Minor league and regional teams that are also expected to show up are the St. Paul Saints baseball team, Minnesota United FC soccer, the Alexandria Blizzard of the North American Hockey League, the Minnesota Vixen of the Independent Women’s Football League and the Minnesota Wind Chill of the American Ultimate Disc League, among many others. Plenty of local sport organizations will be in attendance at the fair as well. MSU’s own Mavericks and MSU Athletics of the NCAA, as well as Mankato’s own local minor league Moondogs baseball team, plan to make their appearances. Several non-team affiliated organizations will also be at the event, including Hot 96.7 Radio Mankato, Daktronics Sport Products and Visit Mankato. Resume assistance and interviewing tips will be provided at the fair by the
MSU Career Development Center. The co-sponsor of the event, Sport PiX, will also be at the event to provide free professional headshots. In all, as many as 20 businesses and organizations will be attending the fair. When asked about how the Sport Management program got all of these organizations to come to the event, Slick explained how through social media and the internet, they were able to get word out to most of the organizations on the list. “We got most of the organizations to come through marketing the event, word of mouth, as well as social media,” said Slick. This sort of internship fair is an event that only gets put on once a year, so it is an especially rare opportunity for students to come and hear from and learn about these organizations as well as an opportunity for the organizations to showcase their businesses to students. “We have the Dinner of Distinction in the spring, but this is the only type of internship fair that we have for the Sport Management Program,” mentioned Slick. The amount and variety of the organizations present will certainly bode well for the success of the event at MSU in the future. But for now, the internship fair this afternoon represents a special chance for MSU students to talk to sports organizations in the region, as well as a chance to learn about the business side of sports.
12 • MSU Reporter
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12 Years a masterpiece True slavery story is still in limited theatrical release but demands every effort to go see.
JAMES HOUTSMA A & E Editor
ing may be just as hopeless. Nothing can prepare you for 12 Years a Slave. It’s not a gut punch – it’s a complete disemboweling. The agony of slavery has never been so graphically rendered on screen and certainly not with such a masterful production. Hard to watch as it is, this film is among the best 2013 has to offer. Director Steve McQueen (Hunger, Shame) brings to life a powerhouse script by John Ridley with striking imagery, restrained soundtrack and a cast of actors all going for the gold. Come the official start of Oscar season, 12 Years a Slave will be the one to beat in so many ways. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s painful embodiment of a spirited man who’s progressively broken is heart wrenching. Ejiofor’s performance is a strong contender for some best actor buzz and he’s in good company with stand-
Slavery in the American South is something we’ve been taught about since we were young. However, words and numbers may scratch the surface but rarely convey the true horror of these events. For that heavy, thankless job, movies like 12 Years a Slave exist. Based on the true memoir of Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man living in New York in the 1840s, the film conveys over a decade of terror and torture as Northrup is abducted and sold into slavery on the plantations of New Orleans. Some of his masters are decent (Benedict Cumberbatch) and others are far from it (Michael Fashbender) but two things become all too clear to Northrup: escape is near impossible and if his new owners discover he is a learned man, 12 YEARS A SLAVE • Page 14 living to see the next morn-
Web Photo Patsey (Lupita Nyong’o) pleads with Epps (Michael Fassbender) while Solomon (Chiwetel Ejiofor) watches helplessly.
Playstation 4: First Impressions ADAM MILLER Staff Writer As I waited in line to receive my Playstation 4, I was eagerly awaiting that moment when I boot it up and realize that the next generation has started. I looked forward to the joy of seeing how well the machine performed and if the graphical upgrade was what I had read about. I am pleased to report that the Playstation 4 did not disappoint. The first thing I noticed before I even got home and unboxed the new system was how light it was. I was expecting it to be heavier but the system weighs about the same as the Playstation 3 and is only slightly bigger. Included in the box was the system with an HDMI cable to connect it to your television, one controller and we at the event got a free month of Playstaion Plus the premium membership that lets you play games online, along with other perks.
The controller is well designed. It fits into your hands even better then the previous incarnations of the Playstation controllers. Gone are the Start and Select buttons, replaced with the Share and Options buttons. They also added a touch button in the center of the controller. A headphone and microphone jack is now found on the bottom of the controller. The most interesting addition, however, is the small speaker in the controller, which admittedly scared me a bit the first time it made sound. The controller also has a built in Playstation Move type motion panel for those who choose to buy the camera with the system. After a quick update and a couple of hours of waiting for the Playstation Network to become stable again after the influx of people registering their new systems, I went into the Playstation store, which, I am glad to say works a lot more smoothly on the Playstation 4 than it did
on the Playstation 3. With my Playstation Plus membership we got two free games to download. The Playstation 4 allowed us to download and play the game if we wanted. To fully test out the system my roommate and I threw in one of the two exclusive games for the Playstation 4, Knack.
The game features a two-player mode, which is when I found another wonderful new aspect of the Playstation 4 -- if both players have a profile on the Playstation 4 then both can log in while playing. This includes everything from both being able to check their friends list to sending messages and changing some
settings. Knack is a fun mix between Rachet and Clank style actionadventure platforming and Katamari, where your character grows bigger with the more relics you absorb into yourself. The cartoonish style of the game
PLAYSTATION • Page 14
14 • MSU Reporter
A&E
PLAYSTATION 4 “After a quick update and a couple of hours of waiting for the Playstation Network to become stable again after the influx of people registering their new systems, I went into the Playstation store, which, I am glad to say works a lot more smoothly on the Playstation 4 than it did on the Playstation 3.”
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
12 YEARS A SLAVE “Hard to watch as it is, this film is among the best 2013 has to offer. Director Steve McQueen (Hunger, Shame) brings to life a powerhouse script by John Ridley with striking imagery, restrained soundtrack and a cast of actors all going for the gold. Come the official start of Oscar season, 12 Years a Slave will be the one to beat in so many ways.” continued from 13
continued from 13
help her fix some family issues with the help of your special power to meld into the wall as a shadow. By manipulating objects and light, you can cast shadows on walls that will allow you to reach hidden areas and complete puzzles. Resogun, on the other hand, is a fast-paced shooter. Set in a circular stage you will be tasked with destroying enemies and saving humans. By saving those humans you get bonus such as shields, bombs and upgrades. The game is simple and straightforward but challenging enough to keep you entertained. The Playstation 4 did not disappoint me this weekend. And it didn’t disappoint Sony either. Sony revealed that they have sold 1 million of the consoles within the first 24 hours during its launch here in North America. The system has yet to launch in Latin America, Europe or Japan.
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is beautiful on the Playstation 4 but it doesn’t have the “wow factor” that the graphical upgrade between, say, the Playstation 2 and 3 did. As you fight your way through goblin and robot hordes, you may find secret areas that can have either pieces to either gadgets or crystals that once you collect them all you are able to equip and use. What is interesting about this is that if a person on your friends list has found that box as well, then you can choose to take the random item that they found instead of the one that you found. This allows your friends to help you out even if you’re not playing at the same time. Once they were done downloading, I looked into the two free games that you get as a Playstation Plus member, Contrast and Resogun. Contrast is another unique platforming style game. You play as Dawn, a person who is invisible to everyone but a small child, as you
outs such as Lupita Nyong’o as Patsey, the tormented favorite slave, and Sarah Paulson as the wicked Madame Epps, the plantation wife who feels overshadowed by Patsey. But if any name is going arise this season it will be Michael Fassbender for his performance as Epps, the demented slave owner and truly frightening villain of the piece. Not a ridiculous beat is found in his performance as he brings to life an unpredictable bastard in true to life form. All four of these actors bring home the bacon but Fassbender makes you sorry you even asked for it in the first place. It’s with great irony that this film comes with such strikingly beautiful imagery and cinematography and has the thankless task of accompanying such horrifying acts. Still, the camerawork is a thing of dark beauty and deserving of a few shout outs. Looking at the cast and crew of the film, it’s apparent that this is a primarily British film. Perhaps it was due to this that there isn’t an ounce of fearfulness,
shame or guilt that happens when Americans try and tackle this subject matter. The tone is completely unlike we’ve seen before with these movies – no camp or caricature here, just the blunt brutality of it from those who look at it from the outside in. An extended scene of a man hanging from a tree by the neck, desperately trying to tiptoe in the mud for dear life, is featured in the film. Whereas a movie like Django Unchained would try and make the whole subject one big, stupid joke with longwinded speeches or a childish overuse of the “N word”, 12 Years a Slave shows it as it is: a man hanging from a tree, trying not to perish. There is nothing funny about it, except maybe in a dark, morbid sense as other slaves go about their business and children play in the background as if nothing is happening – they have all been numbed to these horrors on a daily basis. There is no magical white protagonist of the piece who comes to save one character when her back is whipped to bloody oblivion, a la a movie
like The Help (among so many others, including Django). There is just the one man we follow, who must keep his head down, take what few opportunities he is granted and keep his wits enough to survive. Nothing about the movie falters except an occasional shot that goes on too long and a wonky opening prologue. The end result is tragic and riveting throughout, almost to the point of evoking tears. This movie may as well be destined to go down as the definitive slavery film. And yet, despite being a powerhouse of moviemaking skill and effectiveness, the brutal portrayal of the subject matter makes it difficult to scurry back for a revisiting. 12 Years a Slave is a film everyone should see, many won’t want to, and those who do likely won’t be faulted for only watching it once. That said, a great movie by any other name is still a great movie and 12 Years a Slave blows past that requirement. 9/10
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About Time and quirky romances ANDREW SIMON Staff Writer A new romantic dramedy by prolific British writer/director Richard Curtis (Love Actually), About Time is a bit of an oddball film. The trailers suggest a comedy with time travel where a boy bends time to his will to make a good impression on the leading lady and the poster furthers that
About Time simply is a thing of its own. On his 21st birthday, Tim (Domhall Gleeson, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) is told the truth about the men in his family by his father (Bill Nighy, Love Actually) -- that they can travel in time. Only backwards, not forwards and certain tweaks to time could lead to unique repercussions. Deciding to move to London to pursue a lawyer
matic but the movie really isn’t. The time travel aspect is hardly the central notion of the movie. Instead, it works as a way to complicate matters and allow dramatic conversations to take place that otherwise couldn’t have. In addition to his relationship to Mary, there are two primary subplots that drive About Time: Tim’s sister, Kit (Lydia Wilson) aimlessly drifts through life,
(Tim and Mary’s relationship), it all doesn’t quite work out well. Whereas the screenplay gives off the vibe of being unsure of itself, that’s not remotely a problem with the actors. Domhall Gleeson is perfectly awkward when he needs to be, and amazingly confidant as his character grows and learns through trial and error. McAdams thankfully has a different character to play than her Time Traveler’s Wife
Occasionally funny but enormously charming, About Time is a wildly uneven production, but when the movie works, it really, really works. The film isn’t about time travel, but as the title suggests, it’s about the time people spend with those they love and making the most of that time they have. Yes, About Time is about love, but not so much in the cookie-cutter, formulaic Hollywood fashion of “boy meets
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tsuggestion, but what the film acltually is doesn’t really center on that component nearly as much a and is instead a more dramatic look on life and love, with some kookiness of time travel thrown in for good measure and a awkward ginger to add comedic flavor. When leaving the movie, there’s no feeling of “love triumphs all” that these type of flicks usually garner, nor is it a deeply depressing experience –
career and a chance at love, Tim meets Mary (Rachel McAdams) and a close connection is quickly formed. However, with the use of his abilities of time travel and his meddling to make things right for his relationship and for those around him, Tim and Mary’s encounters are rewritten, forcing him to win her over again and change the course of events to make everything as it was. That sounds terribly overdra-
latching onto abusive relationships to try and feel something, and Tim’s father, who finds out that time might be running out for him. It’s these subplots that shape the tone of About Time, making it quite the unconventional creature. Unfortunately, all these elements meshed together does create the feeling of unevenness with the film, most of this working on their own, but connected to the original idea
counterpart to nix any jabs at saying she’s repeating the same role. Her performance as Mary is enough to make any guy fall in love with her. British veterans Nighy and Lindsay Duncan (Tim’s mother) are superb, as to be expected, and Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) threatens to steal the whole movie as Tim’s flat mate, a grouchy, ego-centric playwright.
girl” -- that’s just the beginning of the story. Although it feels like there’s three different films competing for a spot in this one, About Time is still a fun, worthwhile dramatic comedy to watch and reinforces the importance of spending time with loved ones. When it comes to this movie, however, regulate watching it when it hits Redbox or video.
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