December 2, 2014

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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MSU student receives esteemed scholarship Chengleng Xiong awrded opportunity to revisit roots.

YUSEONG JEON Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato student Chengleng Xiong, who is a sophomore in the social work department, is going to study in Chiang Mai, Thailand for six months, from Dec. 2014 through May 2015.

Xiong is not only one of 800 American undergraduate students across the United States, but also the only student at MSU who received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Xiong will study with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).

The Gilman Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is awarded to undergraduate students in the U.S. who want to study or intern abroad.

“I heard about the scholarship opportunity from the Kearney International Center and I applied for it,” Xiong said.

Xiong was born in Saraburi, Thailand and came to the United States many years ago.

“I am originally from Thailand. [Going back] was one of my dreams. I always wanted to

go back where I was from and find my roots,” Xiong said.

According to Xiong, a social work major, he wants to help the Hmong population in Thailand to improve the quality of education and health care.

“Hmong people are separated all around the world because we don’t have a country,” Xiong said.

Hmong was created by the first immigrants from South East Asian countries as refugees to evade persecution during the Vietnam War. Most of the Hmong population remains in Thailand and Laos.

“Hmong culture is changing, and I want to combine new traditions with original Hmong culture so that it can be more diverse,” Xiong said.

“I want to travel around the world and have international experience so that I can help all the people who needs health care. Especially, I want to focus on helping younger youth and teach them how to outreach to people from different cultural background,” he continued.

According to Xiong, he will have a workshop after he comes back to encourage people to study abroad and have new

mnsu.edu Chengleng Xiong, the MSU student honored with the scholarship. Xiong is the first student at MSU to receive the Gilman scholarship.

experiences. He also plans to go to graduate school in medical science and be a family doctor.

“The more you get to see, the more you learn. I believe this chance would be a lifechanging experience for me,” he said. “I really hope that I can get connection and go back to my hometown in Thailand.

commons.wikimedia.org A sky view of the city Chiang Mai, Thailand, where Chengleng Xiong will be studying, thanks to the Gilman scholarship.

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I also want to do research project about Hmong people living there and how Hmong is different in Thailand and in America.”

Xiong is a cultural coordinator in the Hmong Student Association on campus. His role in the HSA is to encourage people to join the club and bring different cultures to Hmong’s own cultures.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, according to its website, aims to diversify the types of students who study and intern abroad by offering awards to U.S. undergraduates who are deterred from studying abroad due to financial constraints. The Gilman Scholarship is a study abroad award up to $5000.

“The program aims to foster mutual understanding between the US and other cultures around the world,” said Ginny Walters, assistant director of Honors Program as well as the university fellowship coordina-

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tor at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“There are many students on campus who are able to receive awards such as this one, but students need to be aware of the awards and committed to the application process. Increasing awareness of these awards is one main focus of the Office of University Fellowships. Chengleng is extremely deserving of this award, and I’m confident he will learn a lot during his time in Thailand. I am excited to hear about his adventures when he returns to Mankato,” she said.

For additional information, contact Ginny Walters by phone at 507-389-1262 or by email at giovanna.walters@mnsu.edu.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Famous Indian duo attend MSU Brother and sister leave title to educate themselves in America.

YUSEONG JEON Staff Writer Famous Indian brotherand-sister musicians came to Minnesota State University, Mankato in the spring semester of 2014 and have attained fame in American society with their great performances.

Shekhar Baruah, 18, and Dolly Baruah, 19, are the stars.

Shekhar Baruah, automobile engineering major, started playing the guitar when he was 5 years old. When he was 7 years old, he joined a musical band of his friends with his sister Dolly Baruah, human resource management major at MSU and performed together for 3 or 4 years.

However, after a few years, he stopped playing music in the band because he wanted to learn and study music more than just

performing within the band and test his talent in music.

“I started to perform in a lot of prominent TV shows in India such as the Indian MTV music video channel, UTV commercial broadcast and Yamaha Company, where many Asian bands perform,” Shekhar Baruah said.

“I also participated in Indian Idol, like American Idol here, to test myself to see if I was good enough to sing. I proceeded to round 7,” he continued.

In 2010, Shekhar Baruah and Dolly Baruah created their own band, called XFIVE CLAN, with three other people for the purpose of dedicating their musical activities to their Indian society.

“I created my own band to play more of alternative pop rather than rock music,” said Shekhar Baruah.

According to Dolly Baruah,

Photo Courtesy of Dolly Baruah Shekhar and Dolly Baruah, performing at an American venue. The duo left their band in India to come learn at MSU.

their band released its first album in Aug. of 2012, when a lot of people died because of a bomb blast by terrorists in Ganeshguri Guwahati, India.

To console the loss of their

loved ones in their society, their band created an artistic and emotional song set and started to perform them.

“Everybody appreciated it.

The album spread to half of

India. But we released the album for free because we just wanted to console people in our soci-

INDIAN DUO • Page 6

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The Mav Street Team will choose the top three contestants to bring on the ice and the crowd will pick the final winner. Top three contestants receive $100/$50/$50 gift cards to Ragstock.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MSU Reporter • 3

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Ways to avoid holiday weight gain Personal trainer gives tips on how to stay fit in the holiday season.

h stonehurstmanor.com A depiction of a fancy Thanksgiving dinner, which many Americans fall into the pits of during the holiday season.

Christmas meals are not to be excluded.

RICHARD PRINCE Staff Writer

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We are in the midst of the

your

holiday season, and with the celebrations around this time of year also comes the possibility of gaining weight. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s,

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it seems to be the time where carb-heavy foods are readily available. With food being so excessive it is typical to gain a few extra pounds during the

holiday season.

Many people fear the gain of multiple pounds from all of the overeating that takes place, but most people tend to gain a pound or two. Along with the large access of food during this time also come with lack of exercises, if any at all. Exercise can be hard to fit in a busy schedule especially when people are traveling this time of year.

When asking a professional for his advice on how to keep the holiday weight gain from happening, he had some good ideas for people.

Sean Joyce, a personal trainer in the Twin Cities, and an athlete that avidly works out on his own time stated, “You can keep fat off during the holidays by monitoring what you eat, and not falling into the pressure of family to eat.”

Keeping track of what you

eat can help keep from gaining those extra pounds, and when family members offer food taking smaller portions is a good idea. Most people do not want to hurt a family member by not trying their meal, so smaller portions solve both problems by not eating as much, but still respecting a family member that cooked for you.

Some sort of exercise is always beneficial during this time of year, but it can be hard to get to the gym with schedules being so hectic.

Joyce gave us a solution for that, he stated, “If the gym is closed or you don’t have the time to drive there do something at home, go shovel the driveway, go build a snowman. Be active.”

Exercise does not have to be running on a treadmill for 30

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Courtesy call One student feels the effect of modern technology, namely others being inconsiderate with their cellphone usage.

AMANDA HINDE Staff Writer I know I’m not the only one who has noticed that people these days are ridiculously rude with cell phones, though maybe the only one under the age of 40. It’s not just being on your phone while driving, which you shouldn’t be doing anyway; it’s the everyday stuff that has got to stop.

What everyday stuff do you mean? I mean being in a designated quiet area in the library and blatantly answering a phone call from your mother, and her asking how that rash of yours is doing since she sent you some ointment; that kind of rude. I don’t want or need to hear that stuff, especially in the quiet area of a library. This woman was even shushed by the multiple people in the quiet area and kept talking!

Personal phone calls should be taken outside of the quiet area. And if they are about certain topics that you really don’t want others to hear maybe

even go outside of the library’s revolving doors. I’ve even had people answer the phone during a lecture of one of my classes.

What could possibly be that important that you need to obnoxiously—yes you are being obnoxious—answer the phone and sit in the class and talk to that person? These people even usually sit in the back. They are feet from the door to blissful quietness for others and yet choose to stay in and make us listen to their phone call. And, yes, we are listening to your phone call because if you choose to sit there an invisible wall isn’t going to slide up around you and mute what you are saying. We hear it all, whether we want to or not.

Other phone escapades in class are those people who have their phone on vibrate. If you can hear your phone vibrate, everyone can hear your phone vibrate. You are one step better than the others who don’t care and keep their phones on sound, but just one step. I don’t mind if your phone goes off once in class, I get it; I forget to silence my phone too. But if you are consistently texting someone and your phone is vibrating

more than three times, you need to silence it. It is distracting others from getting their full amount of money that they will be paying for the next 15 years of their lives. And if I got up, got ready and went to class, I’m hoping to get every last cent worth of that lecture. I didn’t get out of bed for nothing.

Another fun experience I’ve had with people and their cell phones was when I worked as a register worker. You would never believe the amount of times I’ve had to say “ma’am, ma’am” or “sir, sir” times to get their attention to tell them how much their items cost or that they need to sign for their credit cards. It is annoying. It would take you less time to pay attention to what is going on for one minute than for me to scan your items and sit for two minutes after trying to get your attention.

Rule of thumb, if you want paying for your items to go quickly, get off your phone and pay for your stuff. I know the person scanning your items will go 10 times faster if they see that you are watching them instead of your phone.

So the next time you are thinking of answering that

KAYLEE VANDERBUSH, NURSING “Yes, they should be used at a time when they are not distracting others.”

TOM AGUNBIADE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY “I really don’t think cell phones are being used approprietly.”

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FALL 2014 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Schuyler Houtsma........ 389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Hannah Kleinberg....... 389-5450 SPORTS EDITOR: Joey Denton.................389-5227 VARIETY EDITOR: Rae Frame................... 389-5157 ADVERTISING SALES: Mac Boehmer............. 389-5097 Brandon Poliszuk......... 389-5453 Jase Strasburg.............. 389-1079 Amber Masloski...........389-1063 Allie Bigbee................ 389-5609 BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad.................. 389-1926 AD. DESIGN/PROD. MGR.: Dana Clark..................389-2793

POLICIES & INFORMATION • If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Schuyler Houtsma 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.

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Hinde Amanda Hinde, an MSU student and staff writer for the Reporter, who feels that cell phones are wrongly used by most people nowadays.

phone call, that text, or not silencing your phone, just know that you are being rude. As my mom told me, “Think before you do something.” Or in this case, “Think before you answer your phone and someone has security get you banned from the library.”

“Do you think cell phones are used at inappropriate times?”

MARLEY PIETZ, SOCIOLOGY “While cell phones are great for easy communication, they can be used at inappropriate times and can be distracting and disrespectuful.”

Minnesota State University, Mankato

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The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-389-1776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

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“When at a metting or trying to spend time with family, cell phones can be the worst enemy.”

“Yes, I think cell phones are used at inappropriate times.”

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MSU Reporter • 5

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Let it snow: Five reasons to love winter Writer expresses his view on the perfect season.

LUKE LARSON Staff Writer Winter is here! The grass has disappeared and the temperatures have fallen for good. Here are five reasons to celebrate winter in Minnesota instead of dreading it.

1. The snow The constant complaining about snow boggles me. Does the world have anything more beautiful to offer than the sound of softly falling snow on a winter’s night? This simple white powder has the power to transform any drab, bleak landscape into something enthrallingly picturesque. I would choose a walk in the woods full of freshly fallen snow over a visit to the Louvre in Paris any day.

Aside from its tantalizing beauty, snow opens a world of new possibilities not available the rest of the year. With this free gift from the sky, you can build a fort or a snowman, have a snowball fight or make a snow angel. You can explore nature without having to fear getting lost, knowing your footsteps will lead you back. What is there to complain about? The inconveniences of shoveling and reduced driving conditions pale in comparison to snow’s grandeur and seemingly limitless opportunity.

While others dread snow in the forecast, I eagerly look forward to it. Why groan when a snowstorm is coming your way?

Could you imagine a snowless winter? Without snow, Minnesota would be a frozen wasteland of brown grass and lifeless trees in the winter. It’s not hard to be the optimist when you appreciate the beauty of this wonderful stuff.

2. The cold Now granted, it’s a bit harder to make the case for our freezing temperatures. I despise the wind whipping into my face on a subzero day on my way to class as much as the next guy.

Yet still, the cold is part of what makes our Minnesota winters so great. It builds character and makes for great small talk with Floridians. Plus, you have to admit you get a little excited

watching the thermometer drop below -20. Without the cold we would be deprived of both snow and ice.

It’s all a matter of wearing the proper clothing, anyway. It may be 5 degrees outside but if you have warm enough clothes on, it will be 75 and sunny in your personal cocoon. Plus, nothing beats the relief of stepping into your warm home after spending time out in the frigid winter air.

3. Winter Activities I recently had a conversation with a friend from China who just came back from a trip to San Francisco.

“I’m sorry to say this, but it was so much nicer than Minnesota,” she said. “It was so nice and warm and they have beautiful beaches.”

“But we have both of those things here in Minnesota,” I said, pointing out our warm summers and the fact that Minnesota has more shoreline than California. “We have everything San Francisco has and more!”

What’s so wonderful about Minnesota weather is that we experience all four seasons to their fullest. Our climatic diversity has few parallels. You can wear shorts and a t-shirt in Miami in Jan. or get a tan at the beach in Honolulu in Dec., but can you grab some friends and go skating on a nearby lake?

Can you spend the day skiing, starting snowball fights, and ice fishing? In Minnesota we can wear shorts and relax on the beach, but we can do so much more than that! Our lovely winters offer us so many things to do that are simply not possible in warmer climates.

Most people picture paradise as an exotic tropical island. My vision of earthly paradise is a snowy winter’s day spent at the local rink playing hockey, followed by sledding with friends or family till after sunset and topped off with a few mugs of hot chocolate back home next to the fireplace. San Francisco will never be able to offer that.

4. Christmas Christmas is one of the best holidays of the year for me, if not the best. It is the centerpiece of winter and part of what makes the season so great. It sounds cliché, but there really is something magical about the

en.wikipedia.org A street’s view of a typical winter in St. Paul, Minn. It’s weather like this that compels Luke Larson to get into the holiday spirit.

Christmas season. Go back and watch some of the old Christmas specials you used to watch as kid this year. Buy some hot chocolate mix and candy canes and find out when “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are going to be on TV. Turn on the radio and get into the spirit with some good Christmas music.

Christmas, unfortunately, has become so commercialized in recent years. The most important part of Christmas and the reason it exists in the first place is this: God entered the world as a human being to live among us. I would recommend finding a Bible and taking the time to read the first two chapters of the book of Luke. Without the

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spiritual significance, Christmas is just another crummy marketing gimmick.

5. You’re a Minnesotan Whether you’re like me and have lived in Minnesota your whole life or whether Minnesota is your temporary home away from home, you’re going to have to deal with winter. Rather than spending the next three or four months complaining, be

optimistic! Look for the beauty and fun of the season! If you’re a Minnesotan and hate the winter, you’re guaranteeing that at least four months out of every year are going to be miserable. That’s a third of your life! And considering that you’re already going to be wasting a third of your life lying on your bed unconscious, you don’t have time to spare!

Enjoy this magnificent season!

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WEIGHT GAIN “If the gym is closed, or you don’t have the time to drive there, do something at home, go shovel the driveway, go build a snowman. Be active.” continued from 3

minutes. Shoveling the driveway is a great way to burn some calories while getting a household chore done at the same time. Being active can be as simple, and as fun as building a snowman with a family member.

Travelling is very common during the holidays, and with that comes the availability of fast food. Even though fast food can be convenient while traveling it is most likely unhealthy.

Along with all of the food you

will be eating with family members fast food does not help the waistline.

Joyce said, “If you are going on a trip, and worried about the fast food, bring other healthy alternatives such as an apple or a banana. Healthy snacks can help curve the hunger during travels while not putting on weight.”

Little changes when choosing what to eat can go a long way when traveling during the holidays. Fruits that are high

in fiber such as apples will stop hunger and give you energy.

Joyce ended the conversation with, “Pay attention to what you eat, and maintain discipline.”

With the holiday season comes great time for family, and many memories to be made.

Life is about moderation, and having a balance. Do not be afraid to have a dessert or two; it’s not going to kill you. Just keep a tab on how much you are eating, and go build a snow man outside with family.

INDIAN DUO “To console the loss of their loved ones in their society, their band created an artistic and emotional song set and started to perform them.” continued from 2 ety,” Dolly Baruah said.

“The name of the song is Hridoir Majot, which means, “in between you hearts” in Hindi.

We sang the song with our own language because we wanted as much as people in our society to understand and heal their minds,” she continued.

Thanks to this album, their band, XFIVE CLAN, won the “Sharpest Band Award” in India.

“We went to national level after the album. It helped us to put our song onto the VH1 music channel, the famous, worldwide

TV channel,” Dolly Baruah said.

However, Shekhar Baruah and Dolly Baruah had to stop the band because they got to come to America.

“My state in India accepts all kinds of music and we also wanted to learn American music. I am taking music classes to learn American classic music,” Dolly Baruah said.

According to Shekhar Baruah and Dolly Baruah, even though their majors are not related to music, they plan to continue to perform while also trying their best in their studies.

“We have more than one dream. Car design was my dream but I want to keep singing too. Now I am composing some songs. My goal is to record them and perform with the songs as much as we can,” Shekhar Baruah said.

Since they moved to America, the Indian brother-and-sister musicians performed at Stardoc Studios in Mankato downtown and in a hotel Marriot within a big Indian town in New Jersey.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Fleming argues not enough evidence in Kolstad case MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — An attorney for former Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson says prosecutors don’t have enough evidence to justify charges of first-degree assault.

Nelson is accused of attacking Minnesota State, Mankato football player Isaac Kolstad outside some bars in Mankato following an argument on May 11. Investigators say Nelson kicked Kolstad in the head.

Attorney Jim Fleming said during a hearing Monday that Nelson’s kick wasn’t enough to

cause great bodily harm.

The Free Press reports that Fleming says those injuries were caused by another man who punched Kolstad, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement.

The attorney says Kolstad vomited and cut off his air supply, which caused brain damage.

A judge didn’t immediately rule on a dismissal motion.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MSU Reporter • 7

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Black Friday sales plummet Revamped hours can’t save holiday shopping kickoff.

BROOKE EMMONS Staff Writer For many Americans, Black Friday shopping is a part of the tradition of Thanksgiving. This is ironic, to say the least, that a holiday centered on the act of giving thanks for the people and opportunities we have is directly followed by a nightlong shopping spree. Still, many Americans love the adventure and challenge shopping for the best deals throughout the night possess.

This tradition began long before the age of heightened materialism. But, it was not always dubbed Black Friday. That name was acquired in the 1990s. Over 60 years earlier, Macy’s was the first major retailer to promote the day after Thanksgiving as a day of shopping. The department store presented the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, which takes place in New York City, in 1924, to promote shopping in their store.

The biggest move made towards strengthening the retail growth of Black Friday and the holiday shopping season overall

was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During his presidency, the nation was suffering largely by the affect of the Great Depression. He saw the large potential economic boost that Black Friday brought and decided to move Thanksgiving up a week in order to add time to the holiday shopping season.

Since 2002, in exception of 2004, Black Friday has been the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States. Most of those years, stores have opened at 5 a.m. But every year they decide to open earlier and earlier.

Now the term Grey Thursday has been taken up due to the majority of stores that opened at 6 p.m. this year. This has sparked much controversy, as thousands of retail workers had to abandon their Thanksgiving activities in order to work early in the holiday evening.

The early opening times have shown in this year’s sales to be detrimental to the companies profit. Total spending this weekend dropped from $57.4 billion in 2013 to a projected $50.9 billion in 2014.

International student Markus Furczyk was disappointed with

his first Black Friday experience at River Hills Mall here in Mankato.

“People make a big deal about it, but the deals are not that good.” Furczyk said, “the deals are on the Internet, but I wanted to experience it. It was not that crowded. I expected it to be more special, but it was just a normal weekend Christmas shopping.”

Maya Barnes decided to obtain from the tradition for a common reason.

“I choose not to go just because it is so chaotic,” she said. Many people feel the same, especially after so many people have been injured over the past decade in the event.

Barnes also disagrees with the early openings, saying, “Its little out of hand when you have to start on thanksgiving and then work all through the night and then all day.”

When asked if he participated, Chase Thomas Beaupre said, “I did not this year. I have gone previously, to an electronic store and it was not too crazy. There wasn’t anything I was looking for. The main stores I usually avoid, if anything I go later to

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see what is left.”

Because of the strong decline in shopping this year, the first year that pushed the early buy theme intensely, it will be interesting to see if the idea continues or reverses. Many people hope that retailers will see the decline as a sign that Thanksgiving should be left alone, so workers can enjoy their holiday.

“I think that its a little bit hypocritical that a day that’s supposed to be thankful for the people you have is immediately rejected as soon as 6 o’clock of

the same day, a day of thanks, and say but I need all of this, I don’t have all of this, and to my fellow man “screw you.””

Beaupre said.

Sales still need to be analyzed after the popular and growing shopping day of Cyber Monday takes place, but many say the numbers for 2014 will still be low. With many stores offering sales throughout the entire Holiday season, many view their shopping as more of a marathon than a sprint.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Sony Pictures hacked

North Korea suspected in leak that resulted in several studio films being released online.

thewrap.com Was Seth Rogen and James Franco’s new comedy, The Interview, the reason behind several Sony films leaking online?

ALEX KERKMAN Staff Writer

Sony Pictures, one of the biggest Hollywood production agencies in responsible for film franchises such as Spider-Man, Men in Black and Resident Evil, was hacked by anonymous hackers last Monday.

Since then, the FBI has stepped in to determine who was responsible for the hack.

Computer systems at Sony went down after displaying the following message with a large red skull and crossbones: Hacked By #GOP. GOP reportedly stands for Guardians of Peace, a group that has little information about themselves available for the public. However, they did leave the following statement up on Sony’s Computers: “We’ve already warned you, and this is just a beginning.

We continue till our request be met. We’ve obtained all your

internal data including your secrets and top secrets. If you don’t obey us we’ll release [the material] to the world.”

Some officials at Sony believe the North Koreans are behind the hacking, which is where the FBI comes in. The North Korean government has been upset with Sony ever since the announcement of the upcoming film The Interview, which is set to be released on Christmas Day. The Interview, starring James Franco and Seth Rogan, is a buddy-comedy movie about two celebrity journalists (similar to Jon Stewart) asked by the CIA to perform an assassination on Kim-Jong Un. To nobody’s surprise, the North Korean government is strongly opposed to the film.

On July 11, North Korea went so far as to have their United Nations ambassador, Ja Song Nam, lodge a formal complaint with the U.N. “The production and

distribution of such a film on the assassination of an incumbent head of a sovereign state should be regarded as the most undisguised sponsoring of terrorism as well as an act of war,” Nam said to the U.N. General Assembly.

Later in July, the North Korean government tried to appeal to President Obama about the film being banned or cancelled. A statement was also released by North Korean state-run news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

“Our military and our people regard the supreme leader as more precious than their own lives,” KCNA said in the statement.

Apart from messing with the companies computers, the hackers were also able to illegally download and release torrents for four movies which have yet to be released in theaters; Annie, Mr. Turner, Still Alice, and To Write Love on Her Arms. Personal in-

formation, such as passports, financial data and contracts of actors such as Angelina Jolie and Jonah Hill were also hacked and publically shared over the Internet.

This isn’t the first time the North Korean government has expressed outrage over the release of a major Hollywood film. Former North Korean leader and father of Kim Jong-Un, Kim Jong-Il was infuriated by the 2005 film Team America: World Peace, a marionette action-comedy written and directed by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Technicians are making headway in repairing damage caused by the attack, and ex-

pect to have the email systems back online within the week.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said in a statement that while no clear link exists presently between the hack and North Korea, the investigation is still underway. As of now, the North Korean’s remain the prime suspect in the hack.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MSU Reporter • 9

News

Ferguson: protests and voices Outcry over decision leads to actions taken across the world.

scgnews.com Seen above is a protestor in Ferguson, participating in the copious riots which have ensued following the decision of Darren Wilson’s fate.

RACHEL LINDQUIST Staff Writer It all started on Aug. 9, 2014; the story that many of us now are familiar with. It was the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson after an altercation between the two. There are many interpretations as to what really went on that day, but last Monday a decision about Darren Wilson’s outcome was made by the grand jury of this Mo. case, and was publically finalized.

On the 100th day since the

incident, it was announced on national television that former officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for any charges.

This decision has caused a national uproar as well as international concerns.

Within minutes of the announcement, people of Ferguson began to riot. The city of Ferguson has a population of 21,203. 67 percent of the population in Ferguson are black.

29 percent of the population in Ferguson are white.

The evening of the announcement, buildings in Ferguson were burned down and people were injured. Ferguson police officers used tear gas to

clear the streets of Ferguson telling citizens to go back to their homes immediately. The riot event that occurred that evening has been compared to riots that occurred in the early 1960s during the civil rights movement.

I was able to speak with MSU freshman student Briana Holt, who is from St. Louis, Mo. Holt resides just 20 minutes away from Ferguson. Holt was just home over Thanksgiving break and was able to speak on the aftermath that the city of Ferguson has experienced since last Monday.

“My high school Parkway North located in West County St. Louis had students walk out during class in an act of protest that day because of what’s happening,” said Holt.

Holt then shared that while at home she saw on the local news that police officers are inflicting violence on protesters “it was reported that a cop shot a girl in the eye with a pellet gun.” Holt also talked about Black Friday and how the malls were closed because it was too dangerous.

“My friends who live there said that it’s very dangerous and people are stealing from stores and still vandalizing buildings. Things in town have been completely locked down,” explained Holt.

Ferguson, Missouri wasn’t the only town that has been acting on their feelings of anger and upset. Last Monday night protests occurred in New

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York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Even here at MSU, last Tuesday afternoon, students and faculty peacefully rallied to protest in the Centennial Student Union.

These protests brought light to racial tensions that happen everywhere across the U.S. The night of the announcement, social media took off.

Twitter was a large platform for people across the world to share and relate in their feelings towards the announcement. Thousands of tweets with hashtags of “Ferguson” and “Mike Brown” have poured in since Monday.

News traveled as far as Palestine where people were Palestinians were tweeting about their experience with tear gas

and sharing their empathy. In Cuba, talk of the Ku Klux Klan and its relevance with a black president in America occurred in opinion articles on news website Cuba Debate.

The Ferguson debate has spread across the world, and shows no signs of stopping.

10 • MSU Reporter

News

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Congressional aide resigns after criticisms of Obama’s daughters Turkey-pardoning results in controvertial Facebook posts.

Photo Courtesy of Associated Press Obama and his daughters, Malia, on the right, and Sasha, on the left, at the turkey-pardoning for this Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An aide to a Republican congressman resigned Monday after her Facebook post criticizing President Barack Obama’s daughters touched off a backlash.

Elizabeth Lauten, communications director to Rep. Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, said 16-year-old Malia Obama and her sister Sasha, 13, should have shown more “class” at a turkeypardoning ceremony last week at the White House.

Addressing her comments directly to the Obama girls, Lauten wrote that they should “respect the part you play,” and added: “Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing

you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.”

Lauten also urged the Obama girls to “dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”

Lauten later apologized for the comments and deleted the original post, which drew harsh criticism across social media.

Jessica Carter, chief of staff for Fincher, said Monday that Lauten resigned. Carter had no additional comment on a personnel matter.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he was surprised that a congressional staffer would use a Thanksgivingthemed event to criticize the first family, adding that it’s “pretty much common sense” that the

first daughters should be offlimits to criticism.

Earnest said the incident is a reminder that people who frequently speak in public need to choose their words carefully and be mindful of how their words will be perceived.

After Lauten’s post became the topic of conversation on a variety websites, she issued an apology, saying “many hours of prayer,” conversations with her family and a re-reading of her words made her reconsider the post.

“When I first posted on Facebook I reacted to an article and I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager,” Lauten told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis in an email.

“Please know, those judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words.”

Roy Herron, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, called Lauten’s criticism of the Obama daughters “cruel, outrageous and inexcusable.”

Herron called the comment an “unprecedented low in

Washington mudslinging” and “absolutely toxic for our civic life and political culture.”

Sean Spicer, communications director for the Republican National Committee, tweeted Monday that “children, especially the first daughters, are off limits.”

But while Lauten’s comments were “inappropriate and insensitive, the mainstream media’s coverage of this story is appalling,” Spicer said, adding

that in more than 20 years in politics, he has “never seen one of the countless inappropriate comments by Democrats ever covered to a fraction of this” remark by a previously unknown staffer.

Fincher represents most of rural West Tennessee and parts of East Memphis.

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Mavericks win in OT thriller Tyler Henderson grabs game-winning interception to knock off Pittsburg State. would shut them out. After their two touchdown drives, the Gorillas failed to put up points on each of their next three drives, which shows the type of leadership the team has with coach Hoffner.

There were a lot of high points on the defensive side of the ball, but the player of the game was without a doubt linebacker Tyler Henderson. Tyler totaled 13 tackles, 3 of which were for negative yards, and came up with the game-winning interception in overtime to advance to the next round. He was all over the field today. Abenoja threw two other interceptions as well that were momentum killers, one to safety Nathan Hancock and the other to cornerback Rumeal Harris, who is stringing together a couple of solid games these past few

weeks. That is now two straight games with an interception for him as he has really caught the eyes of the coaching staff with his great instincts and ball skills.

The Mavericks turn their focus to the also undefeated Bulldogs from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference clash of the titans here at home. This will be the conference championship that we never had since there is no conference title and only North and South titles, but with a lot more on the line as the winner will move on to the Division II semifinals for a chance to play in Kansas City, Kansas, home of the Division II tournament championship game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday at Blakeslee stadium.

Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Wide Receiver Austin Reider (top) opened up the scoring Saturday with a 30-yard touchdown from Ricky Lloyd.

CHUCK ABBOTT Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato football team showed toughness and resilience in their 24-21 overtime thriller against the Gorillas of Pittsburg State last Saturday. The emergence of quarterback Ricky Lloyd and the defense coming up with huge turnovers were two huge reasons why MSU is advancing to the next round.

Ricky Lloyd started out the game for the Mavericks the past Saturday, a move that came as a surprise to most. It looked like Nick Pieruccini would yet again get the start after starting ever since the close game against Augustana where he played extremely well. Lloyd played exceptional in the game, totaling over 300 yards of total offense and putting together some impressive drives against a top-10 Pittsburg State defense.

Lloyd went 13-25, which is not great by any means, but threw two beautiful touchdown passes, one to Austin Rieder and the other to Dorian Buford. Both were 30+ yard touchdowns, and Rieder and Buford combined for almost 200 yards on 11 of Lloyd’s 13 completions. Lloyd was also the leading rusher on the team, keeping the ball 19 times for 105 yards. The three touchdown drives were 48, 61 and 66 yards that went seven or more plays each. These types of drives are what is going to help the MSU defense stay fresh and force turnovers, which is exactly what happened this game.

Anthony Abenoja had a lot of trouble getting into a rhythm against the Mavericks. From the opening kickoff, the Mavericks took away the running game and made Pittsburg State one-dimensional. On their first possession of the game, the offense was stagnant and Abenoja threw an

interception three plays into the drive. It seemed like every time Pittsburg State was starting to gain momentum, the Mavericks

Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter

Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter

12 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Men’s hockey extends winning streak to six DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team was expected to be good this year. They are expected to beat the lesser teams in the country, but when you’re ranked amount the top 10 in the nation, nearly everyone is a lesser team.

A sweep over Michigan Tech two weekends ago, who were ranked no. 1 at the time, showed just how good this Maverick team is, and extended their winning streak to four games. This past weekend, the Mavs kept things rolling and extended that streak to six.

The Mavericks, who are now 11-3-0 (9-1-0 in the WCHA), headed to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. on Friday for a series against the Lake Superior State University Lakers. LSSU, who won a pair

of national championships in the early 90’s when they played in three consecutive title games, have since fallen from grace.

After a 0-9 start to the season, the Lakers picked things up a bit, going 3-2 after their first nine heading into the series against MSU. Their turnaround pretty much ended there.

On Friday night the Mavericks won in dominating fashion.

Junior Brett Knowles, who had been sidelined until two weeks ago after he had hip surgery over the summer, stole the spotlight that night. Knowles opened the scoring early in the game with the eventual game winner when he redirected a Sean Flanagan shot past the Laker goaltender.

Knowles would tally again in the second period, sandwiched between a pair of Chase Grant goals before junior Teddy

Blueger would score on a rising wrist shot from afar to give the Mavericks a four-goal second period.

Brett Knowles

In the third period, Casey Nelson wristed a power-play goal past LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel to extend the lead to 6-0 before Knowles would split the Laker defense on his way to a

highlight reel breakaway goal for his third goal of the night and a 7-0 win. Both goals were scored on the power play.

It was the third hat-trick of the season for MSU after Blueger and junior Bryce Gervais both recording three-goal games earlier this season. It was the first for Knowles, who scored his only goal of last season in the WCHA Final Five title game, and this hat-trick included his first three tallies of the 2014-2015 season.

Stephon Williams recorded 24 saves in the win, posting his first shutout of the season.

Saturday night didn’t see quite the scoring barrage that Friday’s game did, but it was still a game in which the Mavs controlled much of the play.

Junior forward Dylan Margonari put the Mavs on the board towards the end of the first period on his fourth goal of the season

when he batted a puck out of the air and into the Laker net. The goal was initially called off, but after video review the goal stood.

The game was relatively quiet after that until the third period when MSU scored a pair of goals just over a minute apart to give them a cushion.

Zach Stepan netted his first of the year when he collected a loose puck in the slot and roofed it over the shoulder of Defiel.

Shortly after, Matt Leitner came rushing down the left side and found an opening past Defiel for his fourth of the season to extend the lead to 3-0.

Williams would again earn a shutout victory after he made 21 saves, giving him an 11-1 record on the season. Impressively, his stats have gotten even better. Af-

WINNING STREAK • Page 14

Cady has the heart of a Maverick DENZELL CASTRO-OATS Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato has many Maverick athletes who have put in more than time and effort into their sport and education here. Many make hard sacrifices to continue doing what they love. Senior Tessa Cady is one of them.

Senior Maverick swimmer Tessa Cady was told when she was only 15 that she would never be able swim competitively again after she was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Super-Ventricular Tachycardia; a condition which causes the heart to beat more rapidly than normal and even skip beats during high intensity workouts. A diligent and determined Cady would take her chances and continue to swim and pursue her dream of not only swimming competitively, but at the collegiate level here at Minnesota State Mankato.

“My doctor said there wasn’t really a treatment for it and that’s why I thought I would never be able to swim in college and continue my swimming career,” Cady said.

Cady took the diagnosis not as a limitation but something that could be overcame. She treated herself by strengthening and conditioning her heart by herself and with the support and help of close family members.

“I started running with my mom more after I was diagnosed,” Cady said. “I believe that conditioning has helped a lot throughout the years.”

When it came to Cady’s interest in competing as a Maverick it stemmed from a fellow Maverick and Alum that had competed

here.

“I gained interest in coming here from a friend that was on the men’s team in its final years here before the program was cut.

He told me about it, and how great it was and ever since I just had aspirations of swimming as a Maverick,” Cady said.

Cady’s beginnings as a Maverick were humble. Competing at a collegiate level and with a heart condition at that put Cady ultimately at a disadvantage.

“I really struggled my first two years. I actually gained time in my events and had low selfconfidence because of it,” Cady said. “Those two seasons were very hard for me to get over but I guess my love for swimming kept me in it.”

Tessa Cady

But it was last year for Cady, her junior year which came as a “coming out year” for her. She began to drop times in her events and began to see the gains of her training, coaching, dedication and love for the sport pay off.

“I’m not sure what I did that made me faster. I think it was because I was so motivated and determined to get faster and I didn’t want to give up on myself,” Cady said. “I would say that is the greatest lesson I have learned throughout my college swimming career; never give up on yourself.”

Cady, now a senior captain of the Maverick swimming and diving team, carries her testimony with her that anything is possible if you don’t give up.

Cady’s coaches express their appreciation of her diligence and dedication to Maverick athletics “We have a talented group of swimmers,” head coach Nate Owens says. “but Cady in her four years of experience here has

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worked and always made strides to be a strong swimmers for our team. She shows dedication inside the weight room, in the pool and more importantly in the classroom.”

Cady praises her coaches and all those along the way who have supported her high school and collegiate athletic career.

“My strength comes from those who surround me, who have pushed me and supported me all along the way. This being my last year, I plan to put my best foot forward and compete the best I know how,” says Cady.

Cady and the Maverick swimming and diving team will compete next this weekend, Dec. 6-7 at the Rochester Invite in Rochester, Minn.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MSU Reporter • 13

Sports

Men’s basketball wins two over weekend No. 14 Mavericks get the sweep at Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic in Florida.

LUKE LONIEN Staff Writer The 14th ranked Mavericks took the trip to St. Petersburg Florida over Thanksgiving weekend for the Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic, taking on Tampa and Eckerd. The Mavericks used a late 11-1 including Senior Assem Marei’s dunk with 40 seconds left, giving the Mavericks a 73-72 victory.

“Our guys believed we could do it, I thought that was a key.

Out seniors really led us and they did a really nice job of not losing focus of the task at hand and stayed with it,” said head coach Matt Margenthaler. “Our senior leadership in the last three minutes is what really got us over the hump.”

“We got stops, we got stops the last eight possessions in the game and convert them into buckets. It was a huge win for us.”

The Spartans led by as much as 11 in the first half, but the Mavericks were able to jump on a late 21-7 run, including back to back three pointers by freshman TJ Lake to give MSU the lead.

Lake also hit another first half three with seven seconds left to give the Mavericks a 35-32 halftime lead.

Lake led all first half scorers with 12, going 4 of 5 beyond the arc. Marei added nine points and four rebounds. Sophomore Mike Busack chipped in six points and six rebounds in the first half.

The second half proved to be very exciting for Maverick fans as they saw MSU comeback from an eight point deficit with

3:30 left in the game.

The Spartans held an eight point lead, and then Senior Connor Miller added five late points for the Mavericks, including a 3 pointer to cut the lead down to one with just over a minute remaining. This set up the Marei dunk with just over 40 seconds to go.

Miller led all scorers with 17 points, he also chipped in six assist and five rebounds. Lake added 16 points for the Mavericks.

Marei had 16 points for MSU to go along with nine rebounds.

Senior Zach Monaghan had 12 points and eight assist for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks took care of business in the second game of the trip. MSU took on Eckerd College, scoring 39 first half points, while holding the Tritons to 17. The Mavericks won the game 86-70.

Tied at nine, MSU stared a 24-0 with 13 minutes left in the first half, making their lead 33-9 with four minutes left in the first half. MSU shot 60% from the field in the first half, and were led

by Marei who tallied 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

The Tritons were unable to cut the lead to less than 15 as the Mavericks kept their incredible shooting going. MSU was able to ride their lead to a comfortable 86-70 victory.

Marei led all scorers with 20 while grabbing nine rebounds and passing out seven assist.

Lake also posted 20 points for the Mavericks. Miller had 15 points and seven assist. Busack

Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Last season’s NSIC Player of the year Zach Monaghan is averaging 9.2 points and seven assist a game so far this season.

had 12 points for the Mavericks.

MSU shot 65.3% from the field including 54.5% from beyond the arc. The Mavericks posted a 71.5 shooting percentage in the second half going 1521 from the field.

“It was a real positive weekend for us. We played two really good division two basketball teams. We are feeling confident going in to the conference season, and this team is coming

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together and starting to believe in each other and playing with a lot of confidence.” Margenthaler said.

Going into conference play, the Mavericks still have some work to do.

“We have to continue to get better, and we are starting to see defensively when we get stops we have the ability to get out in transition and score. Rebounding the basketball has been an emphasis

this month and continuing to do the little things better.”

The Mavericks move to a 5-1 record heading into conference play. MSU host number 19 Augustana on Friday at 8 p.m. and Wayne State on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games are held in the Taylor Center.

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14 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Mavericks fall to Gophers TOMMY WIITA Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato women’s hockey team has had a difficult time this season generating any kind of success on the ice this season, as they hosted the no. two-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers this past week. The Mavericks were hoping something of the immaculate kind would finally generate against Minnesota, as their season screamed for something more.

The first game that was played on the 21st had the Gophers in complete control throughout.

Minnesota came out with a bang in the first period, as they outshot the Mavericks 17-7. The Gophers capitalized on their first powerplay opportunity as Dani Cameranesi netted her first goal of what would result in a hat trick for her on the night. After one period, the Gophers were up 2-0. Not exactly the ideal start the Mavericks would have imagined.

The Mavericks had their hands full yet again in the second period of play as the Gophers were able to slide two more goals past Maverick junior goaltender Erin Krichiver. The junior ended up with 15 saves in just the second period. The Mavericks were able to create some buzz and take some momentum away from Minnesota going into the third period. Senior captain Natalie Stoltz glided down the right side of the Mavericks’ offensive zone and ripped a shot to the weak side of the ice where Minnesota goaltender Amanda Leveille let a rebound get loose to freshman

defenseman Anna Keys who was able to punch it in to record her first goal of the year. The score was 4-1 Minnesota, at the 19:26 mark in the period.

During the final period, the Gophers were able to capitalize on seizing the victory when Cameranesi tipped a puck just below Krichiver’s glove off a shot that turned into a rebound during a power-play. The got Cameranesi her hat trick for the night.

Minnesota went on to defeat the Mavericks, 5-1.

The Mavericks faced a drubbing all night long. Minnesota State was outshot 57-16 in the game. The Gophers also held the advantage in power-play success, as they were capitalized on two of the five opportunities. The Mavericks could not make magic happen on their lone chance.

With game one over and done with, the Mavericks had a chance to even up the weekend series the following day with the Gophers.

Minnesota State could not generate much of anything on the offensive side of the ice, as the Gophers continued to turn the pressure up on the Mavericks defense and goaltender Erin Krichiver. The Gophers first line came out just a little bigger, faster and stronger in the first period against the Mavs. The Gophers scored three goals in the first period all in about 10 and a half minutes of play. It started with the hat trick star of the previous night, Dani Cameranesi as she snuck one into the net. Then 26 seconds later, Maryanne Menefee got one to go in as well. The Mavericks were down 2-0, and it was only three minutes into the

game. The Gophers were not finished. At the 10:19 mark of the first period, Minnesota forward Hanna Brandt came through on a one-on-one and was able to place a wrist shot past a screener Krichiver. Minnesota had a 15-2 mark on shots just in the first period.

Minnesota would score in the second period of play as well, as they capitalized on another power-play to bring the lead to 4-0. Rachel Bona scored the only goal of the period, in which would be the final goal of the game. Mavericks goaltender junior Erin Krichiver stayed busy in net, making 24 of 25 saves respectively. During the final period, neither team produced any offense.

The Mavericks were unable to capitalize on power-play opportunities as they went zero for three. MSU could only muster 13 shots on goal, as the Gophers tallied 52. The Mavericks drop to 0-13-1 overall and 0-11-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play this season. The Gophers improved to 11-1-2 and 9-1-2 in the WCHA. Minnesota State will play the the first weekend of December, as they will travel north to battle a WCHA opponent in the Bemidji State University Beavers. The games will be December 5th and 6th.

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WINNING STREAK continued from 12

ter posting two shutouts on the weekend, Williams now holds a 1.52 goals against average, and a .931 save percentage. His .917 winning percentage is the highest among WCHA goaltenders.

Williams playing his best hockey since his WCHA Goaltender of the Year season two years ago is a good sign for the Mavericks, and he was rewarded as WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week.

While the Mavericks have the second best offense in the country, averaging 3.79 goals per game, having a goaltender who on average allows less than two goals per game puts a team in good position to win.

Still in second place in the WCHA behind Michigan Tech University, the Mavs have played two games less than MTU and should be in good position to move ahead of them for first place in the conference as the Huskies have this weekend off from games.

Stephon Williams

The Mavericks take the ice again this weekend when they return home to play at the Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato. The Mavs play another WCHA series as the University of Alaska-Fairbanks comes to town.

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Superheroes and space adventures Reviewing some of the year’s best and gearing up for 2015 films.

SHAWN CLOSE Staff Writer Was 2014 a good year for movies? I have no idea. I’ve always been really bad at making broad generalization and snap declarations, so I’m not going to. Most of the movies I saw in 2014 were pretty good, a couple were bad. Overall I think it was pretty good year, especially for fans of the big budget action flick (thanks Marvel), but will 2014 go down as a great year filled with can’t-miss classics?

Probably not, but I’ll give it a few years to sit before making any sweeping judgments. I joined the staff late in the year so unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to review many great films that came out early this year, so in order to cover all my bases, here are some of my favorite films of 2014 that I wasn’t able to review for the Reporter: Guardians of the Galaxy: When I saw the Thanos teaser after the Avengers credits, I lost it. I love the Guardians of

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the Galaxy comics and I never, in a million years, thought that it would get a movie. When the collector got teased after Thor 2, I knew it was going to happen and I was so excited. Guardians of the Galaxy was everything I wanted: it was funny, action packed and freaking gorgeous.

The characters were perfectly portrayed (special shout out to Chris Pratt for killing it as Star Lord) and everything from the setting to the amazing sound track was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better movie for one of my favorite comics.

Marvel has already made plans for a sequel, and I can’t wait.

X-Men: Days of Future Past: I’m not a huge fan of the X-Men movies, that being said, Days of Future Past is a pretty good action flick. It hits all the finer points that a high number, big budget sequel needs to hit: well-made, expensivelooking action sequences, heavy inclusion of everyone’s favorite character (Hugh Jackman as Wolverine), inclusion of flavorof-the-month actor to attract a

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new audience (Peter Dinklage), a plot device that allows for a semi-interesting story without ruining the established cannon (some weird time travel, alternate timeline business) and a fun new character with a criminally small amount of screen time to keep inters going for the next movie (Evan Peters as Quicksilver).

Edge of Tomorrow: This one took me by surprise because it stars Tom Cruise, isn’t he on the bad side of 50?

Has he made an interesting movie since Eyes Wide Shut?

I’m joking (slightly), but Tom Cruise is more known today for having a silly religion and jumping on Oprah’s couch than he is for the long lost time (10 years ago) when he was the most sought-after man in Hollywood. Tom plays against his action hero persona amazingly well in this fast-paced scify action flick. Edge of Tomorrow is like a beautiful mash up of Groundhog Day, Saving Private Ryan and Independence Day, which may sound nuts (and in a

MOVIES • Page 16

Curtains for fall semester, begin Act II MSU Theatre prepares a springtime season after successful fall shows.

LORIEN MEGILL Staff Writer This fall semester brought a wide variety of theatre to MSU students and the Mankato community through the MSU Department of Theatre & Dance.

These shows ranged from rollicking musicals with dancing dishes to tales of mysterious

strangers appearing during wartime, but all of the shows deal with people under pressure who are just trying to live their lives the best way that they can.

The season opened in the Studio with A Piece of My Heart by Shirley Lauro, which tells the raw, emotional story of six women in Vietnam and their experiences before, during, and

Photos Courtesy of Mike Lagerquist

after the war. This take allowed audiences to see what may be a familiar topic, but from an unfamiliar viewpoint—the female nurses and performers who were also in Vietnam during the war. The next show also told the story of an ordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances, but in a much lighter and decidedly more musical situation, as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast took the Mainstage. This wellloved musical centers on Belle, a young woman who, according to Leigh Jacobson (the actress who played Belle) “sees the bright side in almost every situation she is put into throughout the show.” The show combines a sweet and exciting story of sacrifice, love, and not judging a book by its cover, brought to life through a spectacle that includes dancing flatware and award-winning music by Alan

Menken and Howard Ashman.

After the Enchanted Objects had been returned to their original states, the Mainstage welcomed To Kill a Mockingbird, a play adapted from the novel by Harper Lee. This play is anchored by Atticus Finch, a lawyer who judges people based not on the color of their skin but on who they are, and who does what he knows is right in

the face of extreme adversity.

The show remains extremely relevant for today’s audiences, as noted by Jake Sullivan (who performed the role of Atticus) when he said of the show “Look in the news on any given day, and the themes and ideas of Lee’s novel are still so prevalent in today’s society.” A few weeks after To Kill a Mockingbird,

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MOVIES “...will 2014 go down as a great year filled with can’t-miss classics?” continued from 15 lot of ways it is), but it comes together well. And if you really, really hate Tom Cruise (and you wouldn’t be alone) he dies upwards of 50 times, so at least you get to watch Maverick die all the painful, embarrassing deaths that you wished would have happened in his other movies.

22 Jump Street: I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as hard as I did watching this movie—I couldn’t breathe, I almost died (probably) because this movie was so damn funny.

I don’t know what’s going on between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, but their on screen chemistry is off the charts. It’s not just the dynamic duo spinning comedy gold, the supporting cast—which includes standouts Ice Cube and Nick Offerman—are equally hilarious. This movie got some flack for being too self referential and childish, but anyone who has a problem with 22 Jump Street clearly has a broken sense of humor, and I feel bad for them. 22 Jump Street is an absolute blast, enough said.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: I could go on about this pillar of action movie greatness forever, but I won’t. All I have to say is that it’s the best of the Avenger movies, and that’s saying a lot.

The Grand Budapest Hotel: I unapologetically love Wes Anderson: I love his style, I love his stories, I love the actors he casts, I love his musical choices, I love everything about his movies. I have watched all of his movies and I love and cherish each and every one of them. If you’ve seen a Wes Anderson Film before, then you know what to expect from Grand Budapest Hotel; it has a vintage look, an offbeat story, a good mix of comedy and tragedy without overreaching to achieve either, and great actors giving great performances. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re into Mr. Andersons particular brand of filmmaking, you wont be disappointed. It’s not his best (that would be Moonrise Kingdom, one of my all time favorites) but it’s close and that’s still really, really good.

The Lego Movie: Legos are fun, so The Lego Movie is fun. It’s got a star-studded cast (Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Charlie Day, Will Arnett) that gives life to the many little plastic

people that in habit its world.

It ranges from the entire Justice League to Abraham Lincoln to a giant pirate cyborg with a shark for a hand.

My favorite part of the whole movie, besides the criminally catchy song “Everything is Awesome”, is how well the animation works. There’s a lot of room for error when trying to take a toy everyone knows and loves and bring it to life, but The Lego Movie adds character to its little plastic people while keeping it just stiff enough that they still feel like Legos. The Lego Movie, at its heart is still a kids movie; so there’s a bit of easy humor and simple, heavy handed plot points, but there are worse movies to get stuck watching with your 6-year-old niece.

The Raid 2: The Raid 2 is a Taiwanese action movie that got a limited release in the U.S., which means a lot of people missed out on the downright awesome sequel to the best action movie that nobody has seen other than me, 15 of my friends and many Taiwanese people. This movie has everything that an action fan could want: gun battles, jaw dropping kung-fu fights and one of the best car chase scenes of all time. The biggest issue of The Raid 2 is the run time of over two and half hours but feels like it could have lost 45 minutes without a lot of loss. Most of this superfluous screen time is devoted to fleshing out the crime family drama that drives the story; it isn’t bad

per say, but its complicated (needlessly so), meaning a lot of time reading subtitles or listening to the awful dub and leads to some long talking scenes where you really want to get to the next fist fight.

Pacing issues aside this movie is awesome and is totally worth seeking out.

Now that the year is over, let’s look at a couple of movies coming out in the next year that I am looking forward to seeing.

50 Shades of Grey: This sure-fire train wreck, based of the dumpster fire of a “novel,” is going to be fun, not because I think it will be well made, but that I feel like I don’t get to see enough terrible movies, and boy is this one going to be a stinker.

The fact that 15 actors passed up the lead role isn’t a good sign and you couldn’t possibly have a worse source material unless you made a movie out of instructions on the back of a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner.

The fact that this movie is coming out on Valentine’s Day is the cherry on top of the bad film sundae.

Mad Max: Fury Road: It’s happening, it’s finally happening. I have wanted this movie to come out for 10 years and it’s finally happening. This movie has the director of the original trilogy, a 150 million dollar budget and Tom “best possible man for the job in all of space and time” Hardy playing Max. They finished the movie months ago but re-

MOVIES • Page 18

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Kiwanis lights shine in Sibley Park CHELSEY DIVELY Staff Writer This past Friday, cars lined up for miles to see the grand opening of the Kiwanis Holiday Lights. The wait was more than worth the explosion of light across Sibley Park; it served as a reminder that through all the cold and bleak days in winter there can be true beauty in the winter season.

People had the choice of either walking through the park or of driving through in their cars; those who took the car route tuned their radios in to 97.3 and watched as the lights and music synced up with everything from the traditional carol of the bells to recent pop hits. Drivers started through a tunnel of pulsating light and rounded the park to see various lit up Sesame Street characters, Shrek characters, and Disney favorites like Aladdin.

For those who braved the cold, the walking path allowed more freedom to explore the park and the chance to sit in Santa’s lap and tell him what you wanted for this holiday season.

Reindeer were also to be seen on the walking trail and even more lit up characters. But the most impressive part was the romantic and joyous atmosphere: it’s the perfect place to take that special someone and get lost in a roman-

tic hand-in-hand stroll through the twinkling lights. One couple was even seen waltzing under an arch of lights and softly singing to one another Frank Sinatra’s “L is for the way you look at me.

O is for the only one I see. V is very, very extra ordinary. E is even more than anyone that you adore can.” Roommates bustled about exploring the wonderland sharing cider and laughter, and children scrambled about on the playground and of course showing their excited (as well as terrified) faces when meeting Santa for the first time.

The lights are a great place to escape from the winter blues and to remember the magic that lurks in snow (besides the ability to mask deadly ice). If you need a date for that special someone or are looking for an adventure check out the Kiwanis Holiday Lights from 5-9 p.m. SundayThursday and 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is completely free and cash and food donations will be accepted to support non-profit groups and food shelves. For more information check out http://www.kiwanisholidaylights.com/.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

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A game guide for the Holidays What do you buy the person who has every game?

MATTHEW EBERLINE Staff Writer With so few major releases in gaming this year, it can be hard to figure out what’s worth picking up this holiday season. But rest assured, there’s still plenty out there to whet even the most jaded gamer’s appetite. Here’s a rundown of some great video game gift ideas for the holiday season.

For the social gamer: While Destiny doesn’t offer much in the way of innovation – aside from blending first-person shooter (FPS) mechanics with MMO elements – it does provide countless hours of entertainment for those who take advantage of the game’s social features.

From the fast-paced playerversus-player (PVP) combat to the plethora of available quests, Destiny offers plenty of engaging content for any fan of online gaming. Not to mention the upcoming expansion – titled The Dark Below – which will give even hardcore veterans a reason to pick up the controller again on December 9th. Destiny is available now for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360.

For online gamers looking for something a little more traditional, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare released on November 3rd, featuring a new futuristic setting, stunning visuals, and a treasure trove of new weapons and gadgets including the all new exoskeleton, which grants players numerous special abilities.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is available on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. For the open-world explorer: Gamers looking for a new open-world adventure are in luck, with two hot new releases from earlier this month. Rockstar Games’ released a remastered version of last year’s highly-acclaimed hit, Grand Theft Auto V, for the PS4 and Xbox One. A PC version is expected to ship January 27th. Aside from the obvious visual upgrades and vehicle additions, the new GTA V also sports a brand new firstperson mode that completely redefines the feel of the game.

Players who aren’t interested in the GTA brand of gameplay may want to check out November’s other big open-world release, Far Cry 4. Set in a fictional Himalayan country, called Kyrat, players assume the role of Ajay Ghale who arrives in Kyrat to deliver the ashes of his deceased mother who lived in the country years before. Upon arrival, Ajay is attacked by military forces and sucked into an action-packed story spanning the entirety of Kyrat. Far Cry 4 is available for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. For fans of a good yarn: PlayStation 4 owners who like a good story with their gameplay should take a look at The Last of Us: Remastered, a remastered (duh) version of Naughty Dog’s PlayStation 3 zombie hit, The Last of Us. Set twenty years

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after the outbreak of a zombie apocalypse, players assume the role of grizzled survivor Joel, who is tasked with escorting a teenage girl, named Ellie, across a chaotic and deadly American landscape.

If the zombie apocalypse really isn’t your thing, try Dragon Age: Inquisition, BioWare’s newest iteration in the ever popular Dragon Age series of fantasy games. Citing the lackluster response to the earlier Dragon Age II, BioWare has gone to great lengths to restore the reputation of the series and the trust of their fans. The new changes introduced include a refined combat system, an overhauled romance aspect, and a heavily expanded level of customization for weapons, armor, and the new player keeps, which act as a sort of hub or camp for players and

their party members. Dragon Age: Inquisition is available now for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. For the competitive gamer: Gamers who prefer a sense of competition, especially among

friends, are in luck with Nintendo’s brand new fighting epic, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. While the Wii U and 3DS versions each have dif-

GAMING• Page 19

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THEATRE “These shows ranged from rollicking musi-

cals with dancing dishes to tales of mysterious strangers appearing during wartime, but all of the shows deal with people under pressure who are just trying to live their lives the best way that they can.” continued from 15 on the Mainstage was the opening of Thornton Wilder’s classic American play, Our Town. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, this show looks at life in small town USA, but this play focuses on the day to day events and the beauty therein.

Perhaps what most causes this show to stand out and allows its performers to shine in new ways is the minimalistic approach to set-design and prop.

Ben Stasny, who played the Stage Manager, touched on the challenge of this minimalism: “Our Town is so stimulating because it allows the actors to focus on intention, motivation, subtext and through line.”

The show offered audiences a bittersweet reminder to enjoy every bit of life. Closing out 2014 was Gabriel in the Studio. This play by Moira Buffini is set in World War II during Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands—further complicating things is the mysterious man who washes up onshore. Jake Sullivan played the title character and described the show: “…[the show is] all about the grey areas in life, and that’s interesting because it is centered around Nazi occupa-

tion during WWII - typically a very black and white issue. It really shows how our perceptions frame our realities.”

The coming semester promises an equally full and captivating schedule of shows.

Beginning the year is Assassins, a musical running on the Mainstage from January 29 through February 8. This unusual musical, with book by John Weidman and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, focuses on the lives of nine individuals throughout time who assassinated or attempted to assassinate United States presidents. The original Broadway production was the recipient of five Tony Awards and its debut at MSU is sure to make a splash. Following Assassins will be Life is a Dream, written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca and translated and adapted by Nilo Cruz. This play, originally published in the 1600s during the Spanish golden age of drama, tells the story of the royal Polish family and the tragic beginnings of the fictional Prince Segismund. This fascinating study in family and fate will have performances from February 19 through March 1.

The first Studio show of 2015 is boom, written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. This threecharacter play begins with a personal ad proclaiming “Sex to Change the Course of the World” and perhaps ends with the end of the world as we know it. The show will run March 25-28. Following boom, pirates will overrun the Mainstage when The Pirates of Penzance opens on April 9. This operetta by famed duo Gilbert and Sullivan is full of fun music and entertaining antics in this updated version that first premiered on Broadway in 1980. MSU first presented The Pirates of Penzance in 1987. The final show of the 2014-2015 season is the studio show Venus in Fur, a two-person play by David Ives. This show is about a director/playwright putting on a show and searching for his perfect actress; when she appears, the balance of power shifts dramatically. Audiences will be able to watch this show April 22-25. Be sure to keep an eye out for all of these shows coming your way in the spring—you won’t want to miss a single one.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MOVIES continued from 16 ceived an extra 40 million bucks just to shoot more car chases— an entire separate movie budget just to go into the Australian desert and run cars into each other until they exploded. They built a mobile car launcher: a machine whose entire purpose is to hurl cars through the air that is also capable of moving; there is nothing more awesome than that. I have never been more hyped for a movie in my whole life and everything I’ve read about it so far has made me want to invent time travel just so I can skip ahead to May and watch this movie.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: Its Marvel, its the Avengers, I really don’t think I should have to explain why I would sell someone else’s kidney to see this movie.

The Hateful Eight:

I love westerns, but no one makes them anymore; cue Quentin Tarantino arriving from the sky on a chariot pulled by winged horses to save me.

Tarantino is one of my all time favorite directors making one of my all time favorite genres with Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell, what’s not to like?

Inside Out: I wasn’t very excited for Inside Out when I saw the trailer earlier this month, and the premise of a story based on the sentient personification of a young girls emotions sounds a little out there. But I have all the faith in the world in Pixar (unless the movie is about sentient cars, or worse, planes) so I will give Inside Out the benefit of the doubt until it comes out.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

GTRS: past and future Students and staff look forward to reading series’ springtime guests.

LORIEN MEGILL Staff Writer This coming spring semester will be full of literary wisdom thanks to the Good Thunder Reading Series. Beginning in 1981, the Good Thunder Reading Series seeks to provide MSU students, faculty, and members of the community with the opportunity to interact with and learn from writers in a variety of genres. During this fall semester, visiting writers included Pulitzer Prize winner and former United States Poet Laureate Robert Hass; creative non-fiction writer Susan Orlean, who sees the value in everyone’s story; and National Book Award finalist, fiction writer Bonnie Jo Campbell. The spring semester promises to be just as varied and full.

The Good Thunder Reading Series will begin the year with poets Traci Brimhall and Ed Skoog. Minnesota native Brimhall has been published in a number of literary magazines and anthologies and has written two collections of poetry: Rookery and Our Lady of Ruins (chosen by Carolyn Forché for the 2011 Barnard Women Poets Prize). Skoog is the author of two collections of poetry: Mister Skylight and Rough Day, and the cohost of the podcast Lunch Box, With Ed and John.

On February 19, poet Natalie Diaz and fiction writer Danielle Sosin will be in Mankato. Diaz, a Mojave and enrolled member

of the Gila River Indian Community, is the author of When My Brother Was an Aztec. She has been awarded multiple residencies and fellowships and won a Pushcart Prize in 2013. Sosin is the author of Garden Primitives, a short story collection, and a novel, The Long-Shining Waters, which won the Milkweed National Fiction Prize, and was chosen as One Book South Dakota 2013. This novel was also a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and The Midwest Independent Bookseller’s Choice Award.

Fiction writer and poet Chris Abani will share his experiences and knowledge on March 19. Abani is a prolific writer of prose, including Song for the Night, The Virgin of Flames, and Becoming Abigail, and poetry, with collections including Feed Me The Sun: Collected Long Poems, Dog Woman, and Kalakuta Republic. His many awards include a Guggenheim Award, the PEN Hemingway Book Prize, and a Lannan Literary Fellowship.

Fiction writer Sheila O’Connor will be on campus on April 16. Reading alongside her will be MSU undergraduate student Yer Thao, poet and winner of the 2014 Robert Wright Award. O’Connor is the author of four novels, including her most recent Keeping Safe the Stars, and is the fiction editor for Water~Stone Review at Hamline University. O’Connor’s books have won numerous awards in-

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cluding the Michigan Prize for Literary Fiction and the Midwest Booksellers Award.

Finally, rounding out the year will be two members of MSU faculty: poet Richard Robbins and creative non-fiction writer and poet Richard Terrill. Robbins is the author of five books of poetry: The Invisible Wedding (1984), Famous Persons We Have Known (2000), The Untested Hand (2008), Radioactive City (2009), and Other Americas (2010). He has received a variety of fellowships and awards over the years and is currently the creative writing program director at MSU. Terrill has written two collections of poetry, Almost Dark and Coming Late to Rachmaninoff (which won the Minnesota Book Award); and two books of creative nonfiction Fakebook: Improvisations on a Journey Back to Jazz and Saturday Night in Baoding: A China Memoir, the latter of which was awarded the Associated Writing Programs Award for nonfiction.

He has been the recipient of numerous fellowships and taught as a Fulbright professor in China, Korea, and Poland. Terrill currently teaches both poetry and creative nonfiction in the MFA program at MSU. On each of the Good Thunder Reading Series days the writer (or writers) will give a craft-talk at 3:00 p.m. in CSU Ostrander Auditorium and a reading at 7:30 p.m. in CSU 245. For more information visit the Good Thunder Reading Series website at http://english.mnsu.edu/gt/.

FINALS WEEK STRESSBUSTERS FROM THE CSU

GAMING “Rest as-

sured, there’s still plenty out there to whet even the most jaded gamer’s appetite.” continued from 17

ferent characters, maps, and trophies from each other, the core changes remain the same across platforms. The Wii U and 3DS versions of the game now feature Omega versions of each map, which replaces the stage’s surface with a flattened surface and removes all present stage hazards. Both versions offer local and online multiplayer, and the 3DS can also be used as a controller for the Wii U version, but only if the user owns the 3DS copy of the game.

If you’re feeling competitive but don’t feel like beating the snot out of an opponent, Nintendo has you covered once again with Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. While the game follows the same basic formula as previous entries in the series, Nintendo has made several changes that keep it from feeling dull or stagnant, including the addition of anti-gravity racing which allows players to drive along walls or ceilings at certain parts of each track. The game also features new characters, such as Baby Rosalina and the Koopalings, as well as new items like the piranha plant and boomerang flower. Mario Kart 8 released in May earlier this year and is available exclusively for the Nintendo Wii U. For the control freak: While the aforementioned titles will whet almost any gamer’s appetite, some players prefer a more hands-on or strategic approach to their gameplay. The Sims 4, the newest addition to Electronic Arts’

long-running life-simulator series, The Sims, provides the classic nonlinear simulator experience with a few new twists and upgrades, including redesigned tools for character creation and house building.

Other updates include new Sim emotions and behaviors as well as more advanced Sim animations. The Sims 4 is currently available exclusively on PC with no plans for a console release.

If simulating everyday life isn’t your cup of tea but managing an entire civilization is, you may wish to check out Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth. Unlike earlier entries in the Civilization series, Beyond Earth focuses on the development of a future space colony rather than recreating the time periods and events of human history. Featuring a new “tech web” (redesigned from the traditional “tech tree”), the game allows players to select a sponsor to back their space colony and research various future technologies to improve the colony and the lives of its inhabitants. Like most entries in the series, Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth is available exclusively on PC. While it’s been an incredibly slow year for game releases, there are still plenty of titles to check out this holiday season, including titles not on this list, such as Dark Souls II and Alien: Isolation. With so many great games to play through, the 2015 release lineup doesn’t seem so far away after all.

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