December 2, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

www.msureporter.com

Minnesota State University, Mankato

The ratings are in Ratemyprofessors.com helps students pick the easiest classes with the hottest instructors, but is it really accurate?

ALEXI ROSKOM

staff writer

index

Ratemyprofessors. com serves as one of the largest collegiate ratings for professors. More than 6,000 universities and colleges have created listings, and millions of college students flock to the website to help them choose classes.

Some students find the website to be a reliable, quick source.

“I’ve used it only a few times, and from what I’ve observed, the comments are pretty right on,” said Minnesota State Mankato student Ashley Olson. “It’s nice to provide other students with a heads-up as to what the class and professors are like.”

Some professors also consider the website helpful to students, as long as they’re careful.

“I think there is some utility in a website like this,” said Jeffrey Bumgarner, a criminal justice professor at MSU. “While students need Voices......................................8 World & Nation......................10 Study Break...........................14 Sports....................................17 Arts & Entertainment........... 23

to take the comments with a grain of salt, comments about how professors run their classes, or the assignment load in a particular course, etc., can be beneficial information for students who have many course options.”

The website posts user comments and ratings, and the ratings are averaged out to give a total score for each professor. Criteria such as easiness, helpfulness and clarity combine to achieve a total score known as “Overall Quality.” There is also an additional option to indicate the level of attractiveness of a professor with the insignia of a “hot pepper.”

Bumgarner laughed about the attractiveness rating.

“Being rated ‘hot’ is flattering. And I must say, I think students got this one right,” he said. “Actually, to be truthful, my chili peppers were given to me years ago. I don’t think I get them anymore.”

Students have mixed feelings about the effectiveness

of the website.

International relations major Joe Cherney believes the site is helpful for students early on in their college career.

“For general education courses, it is helpful for insight on the difficulty level of the course and to get a glimpse into what the course and classroom environment would be like,” he said However, Annie Kate, a graduate student, has found it less helpful for upper level classes.

“All of my professors are not my choice, and it is not accommodating,” she said.

From a statistical standpoint, the results from RateMyProfessors.com are varied. First off, there is no way to accurately depict who is writing the “anonymous” comments. Users of the website could potentially not even be students because anybody can access the information on the website and can post comments. In addition, professors themselves

could create these ratings.

Many professors are clearly aware of the site because some even have profile pictures.

“Ratemyprofessors. com is nothing more than a gamble,” said MSU senior Chris Mangione. “I’ve had experiences where Rate My Professor has been drastically wrong, but the website has been accurate from time to time.”

Bumgarner finds the website moderately helpful, but still cautions users to utilize a sense of judgment when sifting through the information.

“While the comments are anecdotal, often themes emerge from the comments that probably predict with a fair amount of accuracy how a particular professor will teach a particular course,” he said.

Be wary of putting trust into a website that is incapable of performing simple arithmetic, though. One MSU faculty member on the website had ratings of 4.3 for

i n s i d e THE ODYSSEY OF KWHAN: A TALE OF WORLD TRAVEL, IMMIGRATION AND COOKING (4) MAVERICK MEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW (17), DORR LOOKS TO FACE OLD TEAM (19) ENTERTAINMENT YEAR-END LISTS (23), BEATLES COVERS FOR EDUCATION (27)

helpfulness, 4.1 for clarity and 2.4 for easiness with an overall quality score of 4.2, when it actually averages out to 3.6.

Upon further research, results for the Harry Potter character Severus Snape appeared.

He has an 2.9 for overall quality; however, the house of Gryffindor has rated him much lower.

On the flip side of things, the website can provide information that will influence both students and faculty.

“I actually made adjustments to some of my courses after reviewing the comments on this website,” Bumgarner said. “At one point in my career, I noticed a theme in the comments which suggested that my courses were thought to be easy A’s.

I didn’t want that reputation, so I added a bit more rigor.

While getting an ‘A’ is still very doable in my courses, I don’t think it’s quite as easy as it once was. I can thank ratemyprofessors.com for that.”

WEATHER OUTLOOK LET’S FACE IT, YOU DON’T NEED TO CHECK FORECASTS UNTIL MARCH. IT’S JUST GOING TO BE REALLY COLD.

Page 2 • Reporter

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Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Thursday, December 2, 2010

News

Celebrity watchers BAONHI PHUNG

staff writer

Students never seem to get enough of celebrity news.

Television shows such as TMZ and Access Hollywood feed audiences with sneak peaks into the lives of celebrities.

Whether it’s sitting on the bathroom counter or in a waiting room, popular magazines fuel students with up-to-date celebrity tid-bits.

People can become obsessed with the rich and famous, fantasizing about leading a similar life. With instant news, some students drop everything and tune in.

“We are surrounded by news about celebrities everywhere,” said Mubasser Kamal, a sophomore majoring in information technology.

With inescapable recordings and multiple broadcasts of celebrity lives, it’s hard to maintain privacy.

Some people like to drool over celebrities because celebrities are just like them, but only richer and more famous. Celebrities have it all; they are the focal point of mass media and public adoration. However, celebrity news is simply instilled in American culture.

“In a way, they set the fashion trend for us,” said Erika Masias, senior majoring in public relations. “We really aren’t the fashion capitals of the world, so they set them for us.”

Our society has made it easy to follow celebrities either on Twitter or by watching reality television shows like “Keeping up with

Reporter • Page 3

Following the lives of the famous is usually harmless, but too much gossip can lead to obsession the Kardashians.” Twitter helps create a feeling where people feel involved with the world of the famous.

“Some celebrities I follow because they truly inspire and others just because I dig them,” Kamal said. “Others that I don’t like that much, I still follow because it helps me socialize with people.”

People have their own reason as to why they persistently follow the lives of celebs.

“I am emotionally obsessed with Shia LaBeouf because he is amazingly attractive with an awesome body, successful and he came from my favorite TV show, ‘Even Stevens’ where my obsession began when he was a nerd,” said Leonia Tran, a freshman majoring in international

Celebrities / page 7

internet photo Celebrity reality shows like “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” have many people up-to-date on the famous life.

The life you change… …might be your own.

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Page 4 • Reporter

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Thursday, December 2, 2010T

The odyssey of Khwan BRIAN ROSEMEYER

staff writer

Khwan Sukhum has lived in Bangkok, London, Los Angeles and Hollywood.

He has been chased around the country by immigration services. And he was fortunate to find love while on the run through a storybook life.

But after managing many restaurants in the Mankato area, Khwan now works at the Best Western hotel as the executive chef. He works from the very same office where he was first approached about his validity as a citizen.

Sukhum’s story begins after he decided the pace of big cities didn’t suit him any longer, so he boarded a Greyhound bus to the Midwest.

With no destination in mind, Sukhum stopped in Mankato, Minn. because he said the name sounded like a Japanese word to him. What Khwan found in Mankato was exactly what he was looking for.

Sukhum was born March 16, 1947, in Bangkok. His parents were wealthy and able to send him to some of the finest prep schools in Thailand.

Growing up, Sukhum’s family suffered the loss of many of his brothers and sisters at young ages, because of the lack of sophisticated health care in Thailand at the time. However, Sukhum, along with an older brother and a younger sister, survived the

upbringing.

Because of his family’s finances, Sukhumwas given the opportunity to attend a university in England.

Sukhum’s higher education began in Brighton, England, in 1967 when he was 19 years old. He attended an English grammar school whose student body consisted mostly of immigrants from eastern countries.

After two years in Brighton, a friend living in London advised him to come to the city to experience the cultural movement that was taking place.

“London was quite eyeopening at the time,” Sukhum said. “I was there when The Beatles were playing across the street from The Rolling Stones. I had a hell of a time in London, and I jumped in there head-long.”

In London, Sukhum passed the acceptance test into another prep school. However, after two years at the school, he dropped out to experience more of the ‘60s revolution.

Another friend in Los Angeles convinced Sukhum to come to America. He moved to L.A. in 1971, where he was accepted into a junior college to study computer science.

“It was a great, great time,” Sukhum said.

He began to learn about computers at a revolutionary time in technological advancement.

“It was around the time

One Mankato man who has lived all over the world overcomes obstacles with immigration to keep his family in the area

katie erickson • msu reporter After years of evading immigration, Sukhum is now the executive chef at Best Webster’s in Mankato.

computers stopped functioning solely on binary and actually began to understand human language input,” Sukhum said.

Once again, Sukhum dropped out of the computer program about halfway through his education.

Sukhum then moved to Hollywood with several of his friends.

“I was a part of the music of that generation,” Sukhum

said. “We partied all the time and got our kicks out of life and the time period.”

However, Sukhum became tired of the fast-moving scene of Hollywood.

“I eventually said enough was enough,” he said, “and decided to go back to school.”

In 1974, Sukhum enrolled in classes at a vocational school in Mankato, where his studies once again turned to

computers.

“When you live in L.A., or London, or Hollywood, you don’t feel like you live in the USA,” Sukhum said. “But here in the Midwest, it feels like the real America.”

Sukhum nearly graduated from the school, but dropped classes a semester short of earning a degree.

After leaving school, his

Khwan / page 7

Thursday, December 2, 2010

News

Reporter • Page 5

Funny or serious, it’s all speech Tuition to increase Forensics team showcases abilities

HEATHER MOELLER

staff writer

Six members of Minnesota State Mankato’s Forensic team showcased their speaking abilities Wednesday night.

MSU graduate student and forensic coach Ben Walker said the team competes in 11 categories, five of which were performed Wednesday. The categories are divided into two types: public address speeches and interpretive literature speeches.

MSU freshman Margaret Pence’s public address speech informed the audience on the topic of an electronic monetary system. While being informative, Pence interjected spots of humor, using money/ banking metaphors such as ‘depositing’ and ‘cashing in.’

She also spoke of how, under an electronic monetary system, cell phones could be used for money transactions.

“Electronic money … there’s an app for that,” Pence said.

Immediately following Pence’s speech, student Sarah Hess’s interpretive literature speech conveyed a more serious tone. Hess performed a monologue from a play by

Billy Van Zandt titled “The Property Known as Garland.”

According to Walker, the goal of Hess’s speech was to convey a character. Hess’s character was an alcoholic Judy Garland.

Hess frequently mimed holding a glass and drinking from it. She even seemed near tears at points in the speech.

Despite the seriousness of the character, she showed bits of humor. Recalling an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting filled with miserable people, Hess said, “I’ll tell you why they were so miserable, they needed drink.”

Hess was not the only forensics member whose category required them to portray a character. Senior Ariel Klugman and Sophmore Skylar Carlson, performing together under the Duo Interpretation category, assumed the personas of characters from the sitcom “All in the Family.”

Klugman and Carlson used accents to distinguish their characters from their speech’s introduction.

Jordan Christiansen used accents to good effect in his speech as well. Performing in the category of poetry tnterpretation, Christiansen

MnSCU facing a $220 million budget cut for higher education funding AVERY CROPP

staff writer wale agboola • msu reporter Pence used humor to her advantage in her informative speech.

recited lines from various poems, strung together to convey a theme. Christiansen used a different voice and accent to clue the audience in on which lines went with which poems. His theme was denial of the American people about their overconsumption of resources.

Sophmore Ryan Zahn’s speech was in the After Dinner Speaking category. His speech was a persuasion piece that used humor for its persuasion.

Zahn’s speech called upon the audience to work for divorcing the government from marriage.

Zahn said one problem of

Forensics / page 9

N O W L E A S I N G 2 0 11 - 2 0 1 2 Across from Taylor Center

by 12 percent

•

A major tuition hike is on the horizon for students at Minnesota State Mankato.

The Minnesota State Student Association is expecting a 12 percent tuition increase in the next two years.

Andrew Spaeth, the state chair of the MSSA, said in a presentation Wednesday that the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system is currently facing a $220 million budget cut in funding for higher education.

Next fall, tuition is expected to increase by seven percent and will be followed by another five percent increase – which is normal – in the fall of 2012. This would increase Minnesota State University, Mankato’s

tuition by $731 a year, and that doesn’t include living expenses or books.

A reason the tuition increase will be so high is because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that used government stimulus dollars to cover two percent of college tuition this year.

“The stimulus money had the two percent added because we decided to take a vacation, it was convenient for us,” said MSSA Vice President Brett Anderson, “but by sticking a band-aid on the problem, it didn’t really benefit us in the end.”

According to Spaeth, the MnSCU board of trustees approved a legislative recommendation at a meeting two weeks ago to increase current funding levels by $47

MSSA / page 9

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Page 6 • Reporter

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Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Celebrating the holidays at MSU The Week Before Finals Week By: Avery Cropp

‘Tis the week before finals, and all through the halls students walk around slowly with red, sleepless eyeballs.

Studying the entire day through, has given at least half of them a cold or a flu.

As they sit, cough and sniff their way through their classes, their awesome roommates, because of the stresses, all of a sudden become pains-in-their-asses.

And every so often, you’ll hear one student say “Whatever happened to having a free day?”

No fun to be had, as they all muddled through The cumulative notes that nobody knew.

And eventually someone says to you “I give up! I fail! Help me out here dude.”

Studying, studying, all through the hours, silently drained us of our great mental powers.

Our new diet consists of coffee, red bull and tea.

The only solace we have is that in days we’ll be free.

If we ever get free time from our horrible books, we may hop on Facebook in a small corner nook, or play videogames, or watch a DVD, some may even try that foreign object: TV. The library is packed with students ‘til two When the staff finally says: “go home and sleep you.”

And some of them don’t and some of them do. We all are nocturnal around December 2.

But soon we’ll be done, we’ll be on holiday break.

We’ll see our friends back home, or maybe we’ll take, a step toward the future, after we make it across the stage in that cap and that cape.

Only one more week people.

We can make it through. Believe me; I’m there, struggling right beside you.

We’ll get there together, I assure you it’s true.

Just remember to take time to take care of you.

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Santa and his elves took pictures with students and gave out hot cocoa and candy canes in the Hearth Lounge Tuesday.

The English Department chose to decorate its office by representing holidays around the world that take place in November and December instead of just having a traditional Christmas tree. photos by wale agboola

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

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Reporter • Page 7

CELEBRITIES Following celebs can help form social connections

KHWAN ICE caught up with Sukhum in Mankato and put him before an immigration judge

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business.

Not only are celebrities wealthy, but they look good, and many students attempt to imitate them. The fine line between interest and obsession can lead to consequences that should not be crossed.

Becoming overly obsessive could result in ‘Celebrity Worship Syndrome.’ This entails a person who gets excessively involved in a celebrity’s personal life.

Innocent interest can slowly churn into a mental illness.

Suffering from celebrity worship syndrome diminishes self-esteem and can lead to depression or anxiety. Since it is easier for the sufferer to follow celebrities’ daily lives, the fan can start to use that as a substitution of the real life instead of his or her own.

In 2003, a study by psychologists Lynn McCutcheon and James Houran found 600 random worshipers and tested their infatuation with celebrities.

They found out that merely 20 percent followed celebs for

entertainment. Ten percent felt they had a “special bond” with celebs. These 10 percent also suffered from selfesteem disorders. The smaller percentages were considered what the psychologists call, “borderline-pathological.”

“My influence is impacted

by Joshua Gamson, who wrote a book focusing on celebrities,” said Emily Boyd, assistant professor for the Department of Sociology and Corrections. “People who read or get involved with publications like US Weekly or People Magazine at least once a week would be what is called a ‘celebrity watcher.’”

Although there are many terms for obsessive celebrity fans, Boyd emphasizes that following celebrity lives usually causes no harm and no gain. It is simply an intriguing topic to talk and gossip about. Boyd said it also forms social connections with other people.

“I think it’s fun and people enjoy the celebrity culture. It’s relatively harmless,” she said.

student visa ran out and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confronted him.

Sukhum quickly fled Mankato.

While in Mankato, Sukhum started dating a girl named Brenda from a nearby town.

After the ICE came down on him, she fled with him to Madison, Wis. “I came here on my own free will and I was going to stay here on my own free will,” Sukhum said. “We had $500 between us and a car, so we ran.”

In Madison, Brenda enrolled in the university and began working on her degree while Sukhum bounced between part-time jobs, always moving fast to avoid the ICE. It didn’t take long for the ICE to track Brenda and confront her about Sukhum.

She said she had no idea where he was to buy them time to move to the next town.

Sukhum and Brenda returned to Minnesota and settled in Minneapolis, where Brenda finished her degree in anthropology at the University

“

I came here on my own free will and I was going to stay here on my own free will.”

— Khwan

Sukhum

of Minnesota. While in Minneapolis, Brenda and Sukhum married.

Shortly after Brenda graduated, the ICE found Brenda again and the couple fled back to Mankato where Brenda’s family lived close by.

Back in Mankato, the ICE finally caught up to Sukhum and put him before an immigration judge.

The judge learned that Brenda and Khwan were married and put the case on repeal.

The ICE questioned Brenda about the marriage.

“They asked her if I had paid her to marry me in order to keep on living in this country,” Sukhum said. “She

said no and they asked her why she married me then. She looked at them honestly and told them she loved me. They believed her and I earned the right to stay.”

The couple has been living in Mankato since, and now Sukhum can also be seen teaching cooking classes at South Central College.

Khwan and Brenda have a 25-year-old son, a 21-year-old daughter, and an 18-year-old son.

“We are living the American dream,” Sukhum said with a proud smile.

Sukhum hopes to retire in Thailand, where he can live the rest of his life with his loving wife.

Voices

Additional Info For Victims Of Sexual Assault

Thursday, December 2, 2010 www.msureporter.com

Happy Holiday’s

From Your Humble Sports Editor KYLE RATKE

sports editor

Ah, Christmas break.

Where we get a month off and start out thinking how it’s going to be the greatest thing since sliced ham.

Then after drinking too much, eating too much and fooling around with that girl from high school too many times, you think, “Wow, I need to figure my life out.”

This Christmas break couldn’t have came at a better time for me. I’ve been in cruise control and been playing College Town on my Facebook for way too long. While I don’t envision any of this stopping, it’s nice to have a month long excuse of laziness to blame it on.

“Kyle, have you been playing X-box and drinking all day?”

“Yes mom. I am on break!!!! Remember Johnny who dropped out after his first semester because he gained 80 pounds because he had a crust on the cafeteria lady?

Yeah, cut me some slack.”

These are all random thoughts, but remember when you woke up at 6 a.m. to open Christmas presents? You didn’t care what you got, you just liked opening the damn presents.

“What, Madison got 10 gifts and I got eight? What the hell is this?”

“But you got an $300 gaming system.”

“I DON’T CARE, I WANT PRESENTS.” Now when our little siblings wake us up at six, we are hungover and would rather throw up and pound your head into the wall than open up anything. Ah, how we have grown.

Going home reminds us how much we’ve missed our families, and then three weeks later why in the world we left. Funny how things work.

Three things I am excited for: 1. Doing nothing I intend on doing nothing at all over break.

I will wake up in time to watch the 1 p.m.

Sportscenter, eat some leftover food; go play

basketball for a few hours and then drink. I can already tell you this will happen nearly everyday of my break. Will my mom yell at me? Probably. Will I continue my drinking habit into mid February? Almost positive. Will I have the time of my life with the friends I’ve had since I was 10? Absolutely.

2. Seeing family Okay, I have to put this in here.

One of my family members is reading this now thinking, “Kyle better mention us.” Okay, here you go.

But seriously.

Families are taken for granted so often. I know by week two you’ll be sick of your mom yelling at you for wearing the same shirt for three days and sick of your sister playing Justin Bieber on repeat, but hang out with them while you can. Things can be taken from you in a second.

That was my sentimental paragraph. Back to old Ratke.

3. Being young This sounds so stupid, I know.

I am a junior in college. We get stressed out about things everyday.

Looking back on them, it doesn’t seem so big anymore.

A girl doesn’t like you. You failed a test. You got kicked out of school because you drank too much (okay, maybe more serious).

But in two years from now, we won’t have a month break to sit and hang out with family members (and throw up in front of your grandma.)

We won’t be as good looking and our hangovers will suck.

In five years from now we’ll have two kids, a stressful job and your mom will call you Charles.

You don’t know who Charles is.

Enjoy your break, everyone. It’s been a pleasure writing for you this semester.

Dear Editor, The Grey Area article in the November 30 Reporter made some valid points about sexual assaults on college campuses; however, it left out important information about reporting and responding to sexual assaults at Minnesota State Mankato. Of primary importance is the safety of our students, staff, faculty and visitors while on campus or in our residence halls. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted on campus, first and foremost - make sure you are in a safe environment - then contact University Security at 507.389. 2111.

University Security will assist you in contacting support services such as medical assistance, sexual violence advocates, counselors, and law enforcement.

Minnesota State cooperates fully with law enforcement, and all survivors are informed of their right to file a criminal complaint. Prompt reporting is critical to successful criminal prosecution and campus discipline.

We would also like to stress the importance of timely reporting of sexual assaults to the Office of Affirmative Action at Minnesota State. The Office of Affirmative Action is located at 112 Armstrong Hall or contact us at 507.389.2986.

Why is reporting sexual assaults so important?

Reporting returns your feeling of personal power and holds assailants accountable for their criminal actions. Reporting can prevent others from being sexually assaulted in the future. Reporting provides a warning to others that sexual assaults can happen even in this environment where so many dedicated professionals work so hard to prevent them.

Our offices work closely together with survivors of sexual assault in reporting the assault, accessing support services whether internally or externally, investigating sexual assault complaints and in holding assailants personally accountable for their actions. Minnesota State Mankato has a sexual violence policy and procedure that addresses the process of reporting, responding to and investigating sexual assaults. Go to: http://www.mnscu.edu/ board/policy/1b-03.pdf and http://www.mnscu.edu/ board/procedure/1b-03p1.pdf for more information about the 1B.3 Sexual Violence Policy and 1B.3.1 Sexual Violence Procedure or call our offices directly. Together we can make a difference at Minnesota State Mankato.

Linda Hanson Mary Dowd Director of Affirmative Action Director of Student Conduct 507.389.2986 507.389.2121

T

compiled by Wale Agboola

What are you doing for winter break?

Cassi Row • Sr • Political Science

“Spending time with my family.”

Kibby Werner• Sr • Law Enforcement

“Working and going snowboarding.”

Jessica Taylor • Jr •Technical Comm.

“Working at Spinner’s Bar — everyone come in!”

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

by David Wei John Pope• Sr • Marketing/Mgmt.

“Job searching.”

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• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Nate Brennan at (507) 389-5454. 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, which can be contacted at (507) 389-2611.

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

News

Reporter • Page 9

FORENSICS

MSSA Spaeth suggests MSUSA takes a strong position on a tuition cap

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marriage is that the legal aspect of it discriminates. He said people of the same sex cannot get married in some states, and people who choose not to get married don’t get the tax breaks and other legal perks of married life.

“It’s an onion of discrimination, and that’s why people cry at weddings,” Zahn said.

Klugman said that performing their pieces Wednesday is different from competition in that the audience is different. In competition, members of the forensics team perform in front of those they compete against.

Carlson said that some of the humor in the speeches, Zahn’s in particular, are speech jokes, which he said some members of Wednesday’s performance didn’t get. Zahn’s apology midspeech is one such joke.

“I’m sorry. I just made a sex joke in a speech about marriage. That’s just not topical,” Zahn said.

The forensics team members have different reasons for joining the team, ranging from the fact they did in high school to using it as a resume builder.

Each had a favorite experience on the team. For Klugman it was a particular tournament and for Hess it was the van rides to the tournaments.

“There are some van rides you just can’t forget,” Hess said.

million. “That sounds great,” Spaeth said, “but the political reality does not match this recommendation.”

Congress is currently entering its lame-duck session, and not much work is expected to be done on the issues.

Spaeth also said the student representatives of the MnSCU Board of Trustees, Christopher Frederick and Jacob Englund, were advocating for a tuition cap, which would place limits on how much tuition can be.

The rest of the trustees did not agree though, and they decided to take the $220 million deficit and increase tuition.

“MSUSA should take a strong position on the tuition cap,” Spaeth said, “but then we need to figure out what’s comfortable. Is it a five percent increase? Is it a three percent increase? And how will we limit this.”

Spaeth’s word of advice for MSSA was that as MSUSA gears up for the legislative session it’s important to have a strong voice on campus that can go to the legislature. He suggested the members join a lobby court that can help them make connections with those in the legislature and work in the interest of students on the state level.

“We need to continue to ask tough questions of MSUSA,” said business senator Brandon Quam.

“We have a lot of tough decisions coming up and asking the tough questions is important.”

Also discussed at the meeting were the results

of the Residence Hall Association’s elections on fees paid for services in the dorms next year. There were many fee increases.

“RHA fee increases, in addition to fees on-campus, going into the overall picture with the seven percent tuition increase, books, and living

expenses is a lot to handle,” said MSSA President Tom Williams. “A dollar or two seems small, but in the grand scheme of things you have to be cognizant of what your votes are doing. I respect the vote but I think we need to look into that process further.”

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Page 10 • Reporter

News

W &N orld

ation

Tuesday, December 2, 2010 www.msureporter.com

Favre claims he will retire Says he might try reporting

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Brett Favre has faced demanding questions from the media for 20 years, never more than this season while he’s been embroiled in a messy NFL investigation and struggled mightily on the field for the Minnesota Vikings.

When he finally does decide to hang up the pads, which he insisted Wednesday will happen for good at the end of this long and trying season, the 41-year-old quarterback said that he may look to turn the tables.

“Might be a reporter,” Favre quipped. “Ask some tough questions.”

He answered a few more of them on Wednesday.

After the Vikings fired coach Brad Childress, who had a welldocumented history of butting heads with his QB, some figured the old man would change his mind again and decide to play in 2011.

After all, Favre confidante Leslie Frazier is the interim coach.

“I’m done,” Favre said, his voice hoarse from being sick for the past week. “I’m done.”

The way this season has gone, it’s hard to blame him.

The investigation into allegations that he sent a game-day hostess inappropriate text messages and photos while both worked for the New York Jets in 2008 has dragged on for two months now.

An NFL spokesman said Wednesday that the investigation is continuing and Favre said he has not been summoned by the league for another meeting and has no idea when it will reach a conclusion.

“To be honest with you, I haven’t even thought about it,” Favre said. “My focus is on this team, which is tough enough as it is. I’m not concerned about that (investigation).”

He has also been battered on the field during the Vikings’ disappointing 4-7 start. Favre is playing with two fractures in his ankle and has dealt with tendinitis in his elbow, stitches in his chin and stiffness in his throwing shoulder among other injuries and ailments.

“Now it’s malaria,” Favre joked.

“Got bit by a mosquito last week.”

Thursday, December 2, 2010

White supremacist convicted

Conspired to sell grenades and guns to undercover government informant HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A federal jury on Wednesday acquitted two men and convicted a third in what prosecutors said was a conspiracy by white supremacists to sell grenades and guns to a purported national supremacist group member, who was really a government informant.

The jury at the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport found Kenneth Zrallack, 29, of Ansonia and David Sutton, 46, of Milford not guilty of conspiracy charges. Alexander DeFelice, 33, of Milford, was convicted of several conspiracy and weapons charges.

Federal prosecutors said Zrallack is the leader of the Connecticut-based Battalion 14 white supremacist group, formerly known as the Connecticut White Wolves.

Officials said DeFelice is a Battalion 14 member who knows how to make explosives, while Sutton, who is black, has known DeFelice for years but isn’t a white supremacist.

“I am very happy that the jury correctly evaluated the evidence,” said Sutton’s lawyer, Frank Riccio II. “Both he and I hope he could get back to leading a normal life.”

A lawyer for DeFelice didn’t immediately return a message Wednesday.

Zrallack and Sutton walked out of the courthouse as free men, while DeFelice was to be

returned to prison, Riccio said.

“Obviously my client is happy,” said Nicholas Adamucci, Zrallack’s attorney. “There was a lack of evidence from the beginning and I’m glad the jury was able to find there was a lack of evidence.”

Connecticut U.S. Attorney David Fein said in a statement Wednesday that “we respect the jury’s verdicts and are pleased that a previously convicted felon (DeFelice) who was involved

in the manufacture of grenades that he knew were intended for a white supremacist group now faces a significant term of imprisonment.”

The jury began deliberating Monday afternoon and sent several notes to Judge Janet C. Hall with questions about entrapment laws. The defendants’ lawyers had raised entrapment as an issue in the case, saying the informant pressured their clients.

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Where To Worship

Reporter • Page 11

WHERE TO WORSHIP ADVENT FESTIVAL 4 pm, December 12 WORD OF LIFE FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH (AFLC) 20013 Stoltzman Road Mankato (507) 387-3857

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Page 12 • Reporter

News

Wis. student holds high school hostage, commits suicide MARINETTE, Wis. (AP) — For about two hours, no one at Marinette High School knew Sam Hengel was holding his social studies class hostage with two pistols and a bag stuffed with a pair of knives and more than 200 rounds of spare ammunition.

Although only Hengel was harmed in the standoff, fatally shooting himself as police stormed the room, students questioned the lag time in the response and whether security should be upgraded as they returned to class Wednesday after a day off.

“They should be aware when things go wrong or something,” said sophomore Ricardo Jaimes.

“Like, at least have a clue about it.”

Hengel started the standoff by firing three shots in front of more than two dozen students in teacher Valerie Burd’s class, blasting a hole in the wall and tearing apart a movie projector.

But no one else realized anything was wrong until well after the school day ended, when the principal unlocked the classroom door and found himself looking down the barrel of Hengel’s gun.

The incident shook this city of 12,000 people bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and students and parents wondered how Hengel could have gone undetected for so long, especially after he fired three shots. Marinette Police Chief Jeff Skorlik said students walked by the classroom as usual, completely unaware Burd’s class was in danger.

“I was just wondering where the cops were and when we were going to get out of this,” said Austin Biehl, a sophomore who was held hostage in the classroom.

Hengel’s motive remains unknown. Students said he never hinted at what might have been bothering him but didn’t threaten

any of them and didn’t appear to want to shoot anyone.

The sheer number of bullets suggests he was prepared to injure a large number of people, but Skorlik declined Wednesday to draw any conclusions. He said investigators don’t know whether the guns may have always been kept in the bag with the ammunition or whether Hengel put it all together specifically for the standoff.

Investigators are still piecing together a final report on the incident, but Skorlik said no one identified the sounds of the first shots as gunfire.

Burd had a lot of high-tech video equipment in her room and was playing a movie when Hengel returned to class, which may have dampened the noise, Principal Corry Lambie said. School Board President Scott VandeHei said students outside the classroom may have assumed the sound was a desk turning over.

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Ill. legalizes gay civil unions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gay rights advocates celebrated Wednesday as the Illinois Legislature voted to legalize civil unions, although some wondered whether the measure that the governor is expected to sign will make it easier or harder to someday win approval of same-sex marriage.

The state Senate approved the legislation 32-24, sending it to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. It passed despite complaints from some senators that civil unions threaten the sanctity of marriage or increase the cost of doing business in Illinois.

After Quinn signs the measure, gay and lesbian couples will be able to get official recognition from the state and gain many of the rights that accompany marriage — the power to decide medical treatment for an ailing partner, for instance.

Illinois law will continue to limit marriage to one man and woman,

and the federal government won’t recognize the civil unions at all.

Five states already allow civil unions or their equivalent, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Five other states and Washington, D.C., let gay couples marry outright.

Some supporters of civil unions in Illinois hope they’ll be a step toward full marriage.

“The ultimate goal is not to be separate but equal,” said Jacob Meister, president of The Civil Rights Agenda, a gay rights organization. Meister said civil unions are a necessary compromise because they will provide important protections for gay couples.

But even advocates acknowledge it’s possible that by accepting civil unions now, they may be delaying movement toward being able to marry. The compromise could weaken any arguments that gay people are being treated unfairly by not being allowed to marry.

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

News

Polygamist leader arraigned Charged with bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) — Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was quietly extradited from Utah to Texas, where he was arraigned Wednesday to face trial on bigamy and sexual assault charges.

Jeffs, who was indicted more than two years ago, appeared during a brief hearing in San Angelo wearing glasses, orange jail pants and a gray sweat shirt, Texas Attorney General’s Office spokesman Jerry Strickland said. The 54-year-old Jeffs was not asked to enter a plea and spoke only to tell he judge that he needed more time to find a lawyer, Strickland said.

Texas authorities have charged the ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with felony bigamy, aggravated sexual assault and assault.

Prosecutors plan to try the charges separately, with the first trial scheduled to begin Jan. 24.

The charges stem from the 2008 raid of the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, where authorities seized more than 400 children and placed them in state custody on suspicion that the girls were being sexually abused and the boys were being raised to be sexual predators.

Most of the children were eventually returned to their families, but several men in the sect who see Jeffs as their spiritual leader were charged with child sexual assault and abuse.

On Wednesday, Jeffs was

Warren Jeffs

in the same courtroom where several members of his church were convicted. He was brought to Texas a day earlier from Utah, where he was convicted in a case stemming from the marriage of an underage girl to her cousin.

That conviction was overturned in 2007.

Jeffs is being held without bond at a jail outside San Angelo in West Texas. During the hearing, District Judge Barbara Walther read Jeffs the indictment and asked if he understood the charges. He declined to sign a scheduling order that laid out the dates of his court appearances, Strickland said.

Strickland called the jail choice an issue of “security.”

He did not elaborate, but noted that prosecutors were not approaching the case differently because of Jeffs’ high profile.

“When you have sexual assault of a child, it doesn’t matter who you are,” Strickland said.

Reporter • Page 13

Winter weather hits Europe hard At least eight dead in Poland, accidents and flight delays elsewhere

GENEVA (AP) — Heavy snow and subzero temperatures swept across Europe, killing at least eight homeless people in Poland, closing major airports in Britain and Switzerland and causing hundreds of highway accidents.

Gatwick, London’s second largest airport, and Geneva, a major hub for low-cost carrier Easyjet, were forced to shut down Wednesday as staff struggled to clear runways of snow. Edinburgh airport in Scotland, Leeds airport in northern England, and Chambery and Grenoble in southeastern France also were closed.

Eurocontrol, the central air control agency, reported severe flight delays in Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Prague and Paris Orly.

In Poland, police said eight men died Tuesday night after a bitter cold front roared in, with temperatures falling to around -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit).

Police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said the men, from different parts of the country, had been drinking. The eastern Polish city of Bialystok hit -26 Celsius (-15 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday night.

Winter weather caused some 2,000 accidents on German roads Tuesday, officials said.

In northern Austria, police said a 69-year-old retiree froze to death overnight when he slipped on a snow-covered

bridge on his way home from a funeral and lost consciousness.

France’s DGAC civil aviation authority asked airlines to cancel 25 percent of scheduled flights out of Charles de Gaulle airport and 10 percent of flights out of Orly airport in Paris on Thursday. The authority on Wednesday urged passengers flying out of the airports to check with their airlines.

Officials at Gatwick, south of London, said the airport would remain closed until early Thursday, stranding about 600 flights that were expected to leave Wednesday. Extra staff were working “around the clock” to clear the runways, and passengers were advised to check with their airline or Gatwick’s website for updates.

Gatwick was under five to six inches of snow Wednesday morning and has seen continuous snowfall throughout the day, said spokeswoman Andrea Hopkins, adding that she was unable to provide a current estimate.

Geneva’s airport will be closed until at least 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) Wednesday, a spokesman said. The city has seen 10 inches (25 centimeters) of fresh snow in the past 24 hours and many travelers unable to find a room spent the night in civil protection shelters.

Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest airport, reported delays and cancelations on the day

many VIPs, including former President Bill Clinton and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, were traveling to FIFA’s headquarters to push their countries’ bids to host the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups.

Airport spokeswoman Sonja Zoechling said the presence of so many private jets and charter planes in Zurich meant the airport had to turn down requests Wednesday for diverted landings.

Swiss weather agency Meteosuisse forecast more snow throughout the day as a lowpressure front centered over western Europe moves slowly eastward.

“We’ve got unusually cold air over large parts of the eastern Atlantic, and where that meets warm air coming for example from the Mediterranean you have a lot of snow,” said meteorologist Heinz Maurer.

He predicted that snowfall would ease in central Europe by Thursday, but nights will remain extremely cold.

La Brevine, in northwestern Switzerland, recorded temperatures of -31 degrees Celsius (-24 Fahrenheit) overnight, Maurer said.

Even the undersea Channel Tunnel was hit with travel delays due to the snow. Six Eurostar trains to and from London were canceled and delays on other services were expected.

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Page 14 • Reporter

News

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

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Reporter • Page 15

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Page 16 • Reporter

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Page 18 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Women’s basketball

Strong NSIC start easier said than done for MSU TIGE HUTCHESON

staff writer

Whether or not they’re ready for it, the Mavericks are about to be thrown right into the storm.

This weekend marks the beginning of conference play for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and the Minnesota State Mankato women’s basketball team is about to find out right away whether or not they’re conference contenders.

It’s been a busy week. Not only are the Mavericks scrambling to prepare for what are expected to be the two best teams in the NSIC, but they’re forced to do it at the same time as they try to escape the shadow of last Saturday’s disappointing loss to UW-Eau Claire.

“I don’t want them to be thinking about last week,” said head coach Pam Gohl. “ I want them to be focused on conference. Conference is so important that we can’t be feeling bad about ourselves for losing on Saturday.”

The Mavericks shot a miserable 28.8% from the field against

UP NEXT

Wayne State When: 6 p.m. Friday Where: Taylor Center-Mankato UW-Eau Claire, and that statistic has clearly resonated with the coaching staff as an urgent area of concern.

“The biggest thing we need to learn from [last week’s loss] is that we need to take better shots, and when we have good shots we need to knock them down,” Gohl said. “Shot selection and creating better opportunities have really been stressed this week.”

The toughest part will be applying last weekend’s lessons to this weekend’s games, which will be played at home against No. 18 Wayne State (3-1) and No. 17 Augustana (7-0), two very impressive, but completely different teams in terms of style.

“It’s been a good week of practice for us, but it’s been challenging because both Wayne State and Augustana are very good teams.

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Both are ranked in the Top-25 and they couldn’t be more different,” said Gohl said. “Wayne State is a post-dominant, zoning team, while Augustana is a guard-dominant, run-and-gun kind of team, so it’s been tough to try to fit everything into practice, but our girls are working hard.”

MSU’s post players will be tested on Friday as the Wildcats boast one of the best frontcourts in all of Division II It will be up to the Mavericks’ 6-0 forwards Ali Wilkinson and Brittany Thiesfeld, to hold their own against NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Ashley Arlen and former NSIC Player of the Week Mara Hjelle, both 6-2 rebounding machines.

On Saturday, it’s MSU’s guards that will be tested against Augustana’s lightning-quick, high-scoring offense. The Mavericks’ duo of Andrea Walsh and Lauren Barber will do their best to hold down Megan Doyle (16.3 points per game) and Molly Hayes (12.1 points per game), one of the best backcourt one-two punches in

msu athletics • sport pix Lauren Barber will need to play well on both sides of the ball for MSU to have a chance this weekend.

the NSIC. The Mavericks will look for quick maturity from their young roster heading into the weekend, as they will be forced to grow up quickly against the two NSIC juggernauts.

“We’re asking a lot of our young players, and young players are sometimes inconsistent,” Gohl said. “We’ll have games of incon-

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sports

Reporter • Page 19 Men’s hockey

MSU Women’s Hockey Gameday

Let the rivalry continue

Lee Handel • staff writer

Robert Morris (2-12-1, 1-2 WCHA) at Minnesota State (6-9-1, 5-7 WCHA) 7:07 p.m., Friday • All Seasons Arena 3:07 p.m., Saturday • All Seasons Arena

PAT DELANEY

staff writer

RECAP: Coming off two disappointing non-conference losses to Wayne State last weekend in Michigan, the Minnesota State Mankato women’s hockey team will try its luck against another team from the College Hockey America conference this weekend when it plays host to Robert Morris. The Mavericks struggled mightily on offense last weekend, getting shut out by the Warriors 6-0 on Friday and 1-0 on Saturday. This came on the heels of getting swept by WCHA rival Minnesota in Mankato two weekends ago. The lack of offensive output has been the theme during MSU’s current four-game losing streak, as the Mavericks have only managed to score two goals in the four games. The team will have a golden opportunity to get back on track this weekend in Mankato as they face a Robert Morris squad that hasn’t had much success this season. The Lady Colonials are fresh off a loss and a tie last weekend against Maine University, and have gone 0-4 against teams from the WCHA so far this season. This includes two 4-1 losses at home against Ohio State, a team the Mavericks swept in Ohio earlier this season.

HISTORY: The Mavericks and the Lady Colonials have only matched up three times throughout the years, with MSU holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. The two programs last faced off back in the 2007-08 season, splitting a pair of games. The Mavericks won the first game of the series 2-1, but the Lady Colonials rebounded the next day to win 7-4. MSU won the only other meeting 6-0.

MSU NOTES: Despite failing to register a goal last weekend in Mo-Town, the Mavericks by no means looked sluggish on the ice. They outshot Wayne State 31-22 on Friday and 36-23 on Saturday, but could not find a way to light the lamp.

MSU defended the power play well, only allowing one goal despite giving the Warriors the man-advantage 12 times over the weekend. The offense, on the other hand, struggled mightily with the extra attacker, going 0-7 on the power play.

Junior goaltender Alli Altmann allowed six goals on Friday, but bounced back on Saturday with 22 saves and only one goal allowed. It will be interesting to see if Altmann starts both games in net this weekend, or if freshman Danielle Butters starts one contest. Freshman forward Kathleen Rogan continues to lead the team in goals, assists and points with 8-7—15. Senior forward Nina Tikkinen ranks second in all three categories with 5-6—11. The Mavericks are 4-3-1 at home this season.

RM NOTES: The Lady Colonials are led on offense by a pair of forwards — senior Sara O’Malley (6-7—13) and sophomore Dayna Newsom (4-9—13). Their top goaltender is sophomore Kristen DiCiocco, who sports a 3.61 goals against average. Robert Morris is 0-3 on the road this season.

PREDICTION: The Mavericks need to win these two non-conference home games in order to be clicking once again heading back into WCHA play. Robert Morris has only scored 31 goals in 15 games, and has allowed 70 goals in those contests. Look for MSU to halt its four-game skid with a sweep this weekend.

your

MONEY

As the weekend draws nearer the anticipation grows for the Minnesota State Mankato men’s hockey team as they prepare to take on one of their biggest rivals in Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are the model of greatness in Minnesota college hockey.

Most young hockey players dream of wearing the maroon and gold someday and that includes many players at MSU who grew up cheering for the Gophers.

That’s why games against Minnesota are extra sweet.

“I’ll be extra pumped up to play them,” said junior forward Michael Dorr.

Dorr, a former Gopher, would like nothing more than to beat his former team but it’s the seniors who likely will have the most motivation. For three years they have been a part of some great contests with Minnesota and have witnessed first-hand the fire power it has every time they step on the ice.

It was the Gophers who crushed the Mavericks dreams of playing in the NCAA tournament three years ago when they came to Mankato and beat MSU in perhaps the most memorable three-game series in the school’s history.

Since then, the Mavericks have struggled to be relevant in the WCHA finishing near the bottom of the conference the past two years. This year has been more

of the same for the Mavericks as they currently are the No. 10 team in the conference.

However, a sweep over non-conference Mass-Lowell last weekend has the Mavericks looking up. Upsetting Minnesota will not only give the team its first conference points since tying Alaska-Anchorage Oct. 30, but it will also jump start them to getting back where they want to be later in the season.

“No one is pushing the panic button,” said senior defenseman Ben Youds. “From the coaching staff all the way down to the players, we all still believe our goals are reachable. We are just focusing on getting better.”

Youds will be one player heavily counted on to help slow down the Gophers offense. Minnesota is No. 4 in scoring in the WCHA largely due to their senior forwards Jay Barriball, Mike Hoeffel and Jacob Cepis. All three are in the top-20 in scoring largely due to its ability to expose weak defense.

The Mavericks have a lot to gain this weekend but equally as much to lose. Coming away with no points again will extend their conference losing streak to six games and all but eliminate any hope of the Mavericks climbing back up in the standings.

The Mavericks are 3-2-1 against the Gophers in their last six meetings and will need to extend that recent success when the puck drops Friday night.

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Page 20 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Ain’t no rest for the wicked

Wrestlng

DREW CLAUSSEN

UP NEXT

staff writer

msu athletics • sport pix Senior Andy Forstner hopes to improve his 3-5 record this weekend.

While many students are enjoying their month-long break from school, the Minnesota State Mankato wrestling team will be working hard finishing off their non-conference schedule, preparing for their upcoming conference schedule.

The next event for the Mavericks will be the UNI Open in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday.

The team will follow that up by wrestling in the St. Cloud State Open Dec. 11, The Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 19, and the National Duels in Cedar Falls Jan. 8-9, 20.

According to assistant coach Brady Wilson there is really no changes in the teams practice schedule over the break, although the team will practice earlier in the day because of there not being classes. The

UNI Open When: All day Saturday Where: Cedar Falls, Iowa team will get a break for the holidays after the tournament in Reno until Dec. 28 or 29 when they will resume practices in the wrestling room.

One task for the coaches over the next month is to try to figure out the best line-up for conference play.

“Our line up is not even close to being set,” Wilson said. “We have a few guys at a few weight classes that have earned their starting spots but that’s probably only three weight classes. All the other ones are up for grabs.

One of the Mavericks that will look to get back on track is two-time All-American Andy Forstner.

“Forstner hasn’t had a good weekend yet and he’s one of our best guys,” said head coach James Makovsky. “So now we get back to the drawing board and try to figure out what we have to do.”

Wilson would like to see the team as a whole wrestle with more intensity.

“I would like to see our guys with more offense,” Wilson said.

“Right now we’re kind of sluggish and waiting for other guys to shoot on us instead of taking our offense to them and pushing the pace in matches.”

The Mavericks will look to use more aggression through the reminder of their non-conference schedule before opening up conference play Jan. 14, at home against Mary.

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sports

Reporter • Page 21

Men’s basketball

POSITION BREAKDOWN

Seniors know it’s all about now KYLE RATKE

sports editor

Joe Drapcho, Marcus Hill and Taylor Morrow have something in common.

No, it’s not their style of play, their majors or where they grew up. What these three have in common runs deeper than that. These three seniors are entering their fourth year at MSU — being the only three players on the squad that have been through it all.

In their three-year career, their records have been 22-7, 26-9 and 25-5. During their time, they’ve won two conference titles and helped create a winning atmosphere.

One thing is different this year, however. Instead of having players like Travis Nelson or Jesse Clark lead the team as they did last year, these three will have the opportunity to do so.

“Senior leadership is vital,” Hill said. “With Jefferson [Mason], Cam [Hodges], Taylor [Morrow] and Joe, we need to show up on and off the court and have the proper attitude to lead.”

Hill is the team’s starting point guard. Prior to this season, he sat behind former point guard Clark for three seasons.

Clark was more of a pass-first point guard, and although Hill is a valuable passer, he is known for his scoring skills as he averaged 11 points per game off the bench.

While Hill needs to worry about increasing his productivity and becoming a senior leader, he also needs to focus on mentoring redshirt freshman point guard Jimmy Whitehead, who will likely be the starting point guard next season.

“Jimmy runs the show off the bench at point guard,” Drapcho said. “Point guard is the toughest position to learn and they have a lot on their plate.”

Drapcho and Morrow have time-after-time been called the “glue-guys” of the team. They aren’t guys that will necessarily lead the team in scoring or in any other category for that matter, but they have the true senior mentality.

The “I will do anything for this team to succeed attitude, even if I am stuck guarding their stud” mentality very few players have.

“There roles have emerged,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “They need to score a little more for us and create opportunities defensively.”

Drapcho, a shooting guard, was Margenthaler’s ultimate glue-guy last season. He started 25 out of 30 game and although he has come of the bench in all four games, it likely has

nothing to do with his skill, but instead the rotations fitting together.

“We play a lot of guys,” Hill said. “You need to them to come in and do well defensively.”

Drapcho chimed in, “We have so much depth, it’s just about keeping the energy on the court whether your starting or coming off the bench.”

His 6.2 ppg or 2.5 rebound per game didn’t blow anyone away last season. But combining that with his 1.2 steals per game and work ethic, Drapcho is as important as anyone else on team because he believes playing for the purple and gold is something special.

“Being part of MSU, every year we are expected to compete for a conference championship,” Drapcho said. “This is what being apart of an elite program is all about.”

And then there’s Morrow.

Taylor Morrow, the younger brother of former Maverick Jake, is a shooting guard who is known of his defensive intensity.

At 6’3, Morrow is one of the more athletic shooting guards

in the NSIC and has a knack for knocking the ball loose, as he was second on the team with 36 steals during the season.

Morrow has made his way into the starting line-up this season and has struggled early on, but expect his defense to shine later in the season.

With these three on the court, whether it’s coming off the bench or starting the game, one thing that Margenthaler is confident with is that these players will give it their all – they’ve been doing it going on four years after all.

Along with playmakers like Mason, Hodges, role players like shooting guard Stephen Kirschbaum or rookies like forward Connor O’Brien, the Mavericks expect themselves to be atop the NSIC once again.

And these three seniors know it’s on their shoulders.

“We’ve been here for a long time,” Drapcho said. “We’ve seen good teams and good players. I feel like we’ve seen it all. We’ve lost a lot of tough games. It’s our fourth year, we want to put ourselves in a position to win the tough ones.”

GUARDS

After being redshirted last season, Whitehead is ready to make an instant impact behind Marcus Hill at the point. Whitehead is an incredible athlete who can do great things at the rim. Hodges averaged 6.5 ppg last season, but that should increase with him being installed in the starting line-up.

Hodges

Whitehead

FORWARDS

Kirschbaum

Both Kirschbaum and Mason are listed as guards, but at 6’5 and 6’6 respectively, they will see a lot of time at the three. Kirschbaum is a threat from the 3-point line as hi is already 42% from the line.

He finished last year shooting 40%. Mason can play anywhere on the court and leads returning Mavericks in scoring last season with 15 ppg.

X FACTORS

O’Brien

O’Brien was redshirted last year and has bursted on the scene earlier on. He is averaging 9.3 ppg along with six rpg. He is an athletic big man. Grundman will need to put in some quality minutes at the center position as the team lacks great size, with really only he and O’Brien expected to play big minutes.

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PREDICTION: Losing point guard Jesse Clark will be a huge blow, but with Hill running the show, the Mavericks will get more of a scorer. It appears as if the Mavericks will have loads of talent in the backcourt, but the frontcourt will be a different story. Losing Travis Nelson to graduation puts the Mavericks in a hole.

If they can get consistent play from O’Brien and Grundman, there’s no reason to believe they won’t be in the top-3 in the NSIC. Coach Matt Margenthaler has a strong recruiting class for this year, so expect guys like guard Alex Hanks to get solid minutes.

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Page 22 • Reporter

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

A&E Thursday, December 2, 2010 www.msureporter.com

I didn’t think I’d be this upset to graduate. I’d like to recognize all of the outstanding people at the Reporter and throughout the school who made my job here the best I’ve ever had. If you’ve noticed my work, even in the slightest, I thank you. We all do work here, at University, much of it going unnoticed when it shouldn’t. But, it’s less about the things we do than the people we become. And I hope, at least, when we graduate, that those are happy people.

- Jake Bohrod, A&E Editor

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Page 24 • Reporter

A&E

4 ALBUMS FROM 2010 THAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO

A&E editor picks the 5 best films of 2010 thus far

“The Social Network”

“Scott Pilgrim”

“The Extra Man”

“Inception”

“A Prophet”

David Fincher flexes his existential muscles with one of this year’s Oscar front-runners. The telling of Facebook — its rise, and continuing rise — blends college-aged angst with highly developed emotion to achieve something spectacular.

Passed over by snobs and the masses alike, Edgar Wright’s sendup to new-age (pop) culture serves on all levels. Funny and smart without the annoying stereotypes of 20-something geeks, “Pilgrim” is one to watch again and again.

It’s my contention that whatever Jonathan Ames creates is worthy of some ‘Best of’ list, even if it’s ‘Best movies with a sexually confused Paul Dano.’ Kevin Kline and Dano play a pair of old-fashioned gentlemen callers in a film that juxtaposes intellectualism and doofusism.

The most polarizing film of the film also happens to be one of the best. And if you think that sentence didn’t make sense, try watching the movie (again).

What might come to be known as the French “Godfather,” “A Prophet” sleekly and powerfully characterizes prison mob dynamics and the factors that push people into lifetimes of criminal activity. A beautiful film.

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Best Funny But Not Joking Album: Das Racist, “Sit Down, Man” Das Racist isn’t representing any German U-Boats. Actually, the name is slang for “that’s racist,” which may be partially to blame for their tag as joke-rap. While the MCs can be funny, Das Racist is a seriously good hip-hop group who bring to mind Nas and Biggie way more than the Lonely Island. Hailing from Brooklyn, the trio filled their mixtape beats with Gertrude Stein-like rhyming structures and raps within raps that could only be considered a punchline if you’re too impressed to appreciate the genius of it all. Is being clever with humorous wordplay full of references from “The Days Of Our Lives” to George Constanza’s shrinkage really a reason to discredit an artist?

Why don’t you ask album of the year candidate Kanye West, who’s been filling his rap sheets with puns and lyrics about Eddie Murphy movies for years now.

Best Twin Cities Hip-Hop Album That Doesn’t Sound Like Atmosphere: Bight Club, “Dreamworld vs. Minneapolis” Beatmaker Tony Rabiola and MC Jeremy Nutzman combine to form Bight Club and unleash a challenge to the norm. Except not the mainstream norm you’ll hear on the radio, but what could be considered, thanks to deserved widespread popularity from artists such as Atmosphere, Dessa and P.O.S., ‘mainstream’ Minneapolis hip-hop. Bight Club’s mission statement seems to be “Because I wake up and check on my fresh and measure my swerve, because I wake up and create a new style that these kids never heard.” Preferring to lounge about in their own Dreamworld version of the Minnesota metro area, you’re more likely to find the duo in the club packed next to Andre 3000 and Big Boi than banging on Rhymesayers’ door trying to hock the label with a cheap imitation.

Best Album With Summer Staple References: Surferblood, “Astro Coast” A few years ago, it was wolves that dominated indie songs and band names. A few years before that, it was robots.

Nowadays, beaches, summer and swimming rule from Beach House to “California Gurrls.” If the Beach Boys grew up in the Floridian swamps instead of the beaches of California, they’d probably be called the Everglades Boys. But that’s beside the point, Surfer Blood may have pretty melodies and have songs about swimming, but they’re more likely to give props to Pavement or the Pixies or touring partners Turbo Fruits before sending a thank you card to Brian Wilson’s crew. Early in 2010, the West Palm Beach group released “Astro Coast,” an album full of guitar-driven beachy melodies and bittersweet stories, proving all at once that garage-punk can indeed be pretty.

Best Local Artist: Andre Lipsey “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it, I bet even Mike Rowe’s lookin’ at you like you’re stupid,” Andre “North Star” Lipsey raps on “P.O.S.,” a track from his recent LP “North Star Anthems.” Trying to make a go of hip-hop in Southern Minnesota is a dirty job, but Lipsey, rapper/producer/entrepreneur, grinded through the cold winters and cold shoulders of Mankato the past year. From the impeccable LP he dropped this year under his own label, one reminiscent of a young Kanye West, to Demetri Martin-inspired tearsheet performances of his educational “Grammar School,” Lipsey showed himself to be one of the more talented artists out today, and not just in the area, but state and beyond. Lipsey continues on “P.O.S.” with “All I really want from you is for you to let me be free, yeah I’m a Big Boi and my name’s Andre, but don’t Outkast me.” We hope they don’t either, Andre.

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

A&E

Reporter • Page 25

The staff pick some of their bests this year Kyle Ratke, sports editor

Best generic dysfunctional Megan family movie Kadlec, a&e assistant editor

Elena Shufelt, news editor

“Get Him to the Greek”

“Date Night”

“Easy A”

“Inception”

“Shutter Island”

“Despicable Me”

“Despicable Me”

“Shutter Island”

“The A-Team”

“Get Him to the Greek”

“Toy Story 3”

“Fair Game”

Best movie you forgot that you saw

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A&E

Thursday, December 2, 2010T

Nutcracker finds new home at MSU staff writer

Since the 1960s, The Nutcracker has been a holiday staple in the United States.

Ranging from adaptations that stay true to Tchaikovsky’s original score to more contemporary, hip-hop themes (The Nutcracka) and everything in between, there is no shortage of Nutcracker productions throughout the month of December. This year’s annual production by the Mankato Ballet Company, however, is particularly noteworthy.

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Mankato Ballet Company’s production of the Nutcracker, and a few changes are being made to honor of the milestone, one of which is a change in venue. For the first time in the company’s nearly 28 years the event will be held at Minnesota State Mankato.

“Because of the capability of the venue, we are able to do some exciting things with the sound, lights and effects,” said the Mankato Ballet Company’s artistic director and primary choreographer for the event, Eryn Michlitsch. “So, making this our twenty-fifth year we are able to enhance the production in various ways.”

The productions are normally held at either East or West High School. Performances have also been held at Bethany Lutheran College and Gustavus Adolphus College.

As the company and the production has grown, which it

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has done significantly over the past three years, the ballet has become too large for Bethany’s stage, and Gustavus’ facilities are intended more as a performance hall, rather than ballets.

“It is going to be kind of a learning experience, too,” Michlitsch said. “We haven’t had a full backstage crew in the past, so it will be nice to have full effects and a wonderful staff to work with.”

During typical years, the “backstage crew” consisted of parents and other volunteers who helped out with the lighting and the sound. This year will be especially useful to have extra assistance, since the cast is bigger than it has ever been, with 64 members.

“It has been really fun to see the cast growing and the interest grow and the school growing, too,” Michlitsch said. “The Nutcracker is one of the productions that everyone looks forward to every year and we try to enhance the program each time to make it special for repeat visitors to the ballet.”

The cast is comprised of both Mankato Ballet Company students between the ages of 7 and 17 and additional adult guest performers, including MSU student Joe Crook.

Crook is a Theater BFA student with a dance minor who will be playing the role of the Nutcracker.

“It’s about the younger dancers,” Crook said. “It’s their time to show off all the hard work they have put into their classroom time.”

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Crook is not the only guest that will be joining the ballet students on stage. Michael Lagerquist, the director of public relations for the department of theatre and dance at MSU, will be doing the introductory narration for the second year in a row, and St. Peter magician Michael Callahan has been cast as Drosselmeyer, the mysterious magician-like figure in the ballet.

“It is his first year in the role, but he is really excited and has been really fun to work with,” Michlitsch said.

“This is also the first time that we will have a magician who will do real magic on stage.”

The Nutcracker will take place in the Ted Paul Theatre Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now through the MSU Box Office or at msutheatre.com. Adult tickets are $17; students and seniors are $14; and children 12 and under are $10.

The History Behind The Ballet

• • • • •

Ernie Zinke, Owner, CEO midwestautopros@hotmail.com

Alignments Suspensions Transmissions Brakes Engines

untainted to romantics during the early 19th century.

“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” combines fantasy with realism and horror to illuminate the hypocritical lives of the bourgeois and the dark side of the human spirit.

Hoffman’s work was very influential to other artists such as Edgar Allan Poe. Despite the original dark nature of the story, fully equipped with death, distorted figures and madness, it was appropriate for the tale to be set to music.

Hoffmann said “music is the most romantic of all the arts—one might almost say, the only genuinely romantic art—for its own sole subject is the infinite.”

The Nutcracker ballet was created by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (you would probably recognize the name if you heard it opposed to reading it). In fact, The Nutcracker was considered the least successful of Tchaikovsky’s ballets when it premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892. But did you know that the fanciful and mythical play was based on German Romantic author E. T. A. Hoffmann’s dark story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King?” Hoffmann’s story is not a story for children during Christmas but instead a story about children at Christmas time. Children were seen as a symbol of the

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wale agboola• msu reporter Alice sat on the mushroom, pondering her fate. “One side will make me grow larger and the other side will make me smaller.”

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

A&E

Reporter • Page 27

Schools get by with a little help from their friends BRIAN ROSEMEYER

staff writer Public schools are in a crisis of substance anf funding. Politicians and citizens alike cry out for reform and funding. Yet, through all the shouting, if you listen closely, you can hear the brilliant music of The Beatles.

The ultra-progressive Minnesota arts community got together to make a real difference. Spearheaded

by The Current from Minnesota Public Radio, “The Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 2” will be released Dec. 8 to raise money for Minnesota public schools. Aside from the honorable motivation for the record, the content is true art.

The first installment of “The Minnesota Beatle Project” came out with music acclaim. The second release matches the ambition of the first and reflects the growth of the project.

The record is weaved with songs from the scene’s biggest names complimented with a few up-andcomers.

Soul Asylum opens the collection with a near-identical rendition

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of “Good Morning, Good Morning.” The legendary alt-rockers kick off the album poorly with the uninspired interpretation The album continues with the second track, “Revolution,” from Total Babe. Again, the song clings too tightly to the original recording. However, Clara Salyer delivers fine vocals, which pay respectable tribute to John Lennon’s warm performance on the “White Album” version of the song.

The collaboration catches fire on the third track, “Child of Nature,” performed by Mason Jennings. The song is a solo work from John Lennon. Jennings starts out intimately with a rambling, picking guitar coupled with his unique vocal pattern. Halfway through the song, Jennings layers his own performances of drums and lead guitar to bring the song up a level, in good taste.

Other hilights include a burning rendition of Paul McCartney’s “Dear Boy” from. P.O.S., which combines intricate vocal layering and intertwining percussive elements that require a high-attention listen. Communist Daughter

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provides the only track representing “Abbey Road,” with “Golden Slumbers.” The underplayed style synonymous with the group creates possibly the strongest track on the record.

In step with the cause of the album, Edison High School performs the classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Upon reading the listing of the high school’s performance, one expects to endure a poorly executed version existing only because the producers needed public school representation. However, the Edison High School Choir, along with musicians from the school, produce a truly exceptional take on the hit.

The weight of the performance can be felt when the possible closing of the school is taken to mind.

I imagine people buying this album to support schools will be surprised to find the content to be genuinely good. And conversly, people buying the album to hear the art of Minnesota’s music scene will be surprised to learn they have supported public schools.

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THURSDAY

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internet photo The Minnesota Beatle Project recruits local artists to cover the legendary band which raises money for Minnesota public schools.

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