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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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DECEMBER
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THURSDAY HIGH: 29 LOW: 21
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MSU recognized for high international enrollment “Open Doors Report” impressed.
YUSEONG JEON Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato ranked 31st among master’s institutions across the United States in international student enrollment, according
to 2014 “Open Doors Report,” released by the Institute of International Education. “We ranked 31st out of all of the master’s institutions in the country that is up from 34th last year,” said Tom Gjersvig, director of International Student and Scholar Services. “Four or five
grad.mnsu.edu The International Center, located at the CSU, works with all study abroad students.
years ago, we didn’t even make the top 40, but now we are consistently in the top 40. I think we will be moving up higher next year based on the enrollment this year.” According to the report, in general, the number of international students in the U.S. is an increasing trend. “The international student rate across the United States has been growing over the last 10 to 15 years in the two-year schools like community college and four-year universities like MSU,” Gjersvig said. The analysis of the reports shows that the increasing international student population is bringing huge economic benefits to the state and the community.
Gjersvig said Minnesota, especially Mankato with MSU, has had a positive impact on the local economy thanks to the international students on campus. “Certainly there is a business side of it because international students pay tuition and rent, and buy cars and foods. All of these things contribute to Minnesota, specifically Mankato. The Open Doors analysis calculates that $23 million is the economic impact of international students in the Mankato area,” Gjersvig said. “I am an international educator and I am really happy about this result. Our community is very welcoming international students. There is a lot of benefits,” he continued.
Furthermore, Gjersvig said the international students on campus are making the community more culturally diverse. “Besides the economic impact, another thing they do is making our community culturally diverse. International students’ cultural impact is really important with their knowledge that they share with us. It brings the long lasting friendships between us,” he said. One of the university’s enrollment goals when it comes to international students is to increase overall student enrollment from its current tally of 15,376 to 17,000, according to Vice President for Student Affairs and En-
INTERNATIONAL• Page 8
Mankato light tradition returns Spirits are bright thanks to Holiday lights in Sibley Park. RACHEL LINDQUIST Staff Writer
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
INSIDE:
Since 2011, the Kiwanis Holiday Lights have become a traditional event here in Mankato, Minn. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, the Kiwanis Holiday Lights show is open for 34 nights total. The lights are even displayed on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Vice President of the Kiwanis Holiday Lights committee Kyle Mrozek shared that those two nights happen to be some of the busiest nights for people to attend the lights show. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are located at Sibley Park in Mankato. It had taken close two years to plan the event that has now become a tradition for the people of Mankato to go and
view the lights as well as be a part of the community in a positive way. “There was a past tradition in North Mankato where people would set up lights in their neighborhood and others would drive by and look at them and enjoy them. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are a way to bring that tradition back to life,” Mrozek explained. And it is true -- the Kiwanis Holiday Lights are a popular attraction here in Mankato. With many different displays such as Santa and his reindeer, there are many different fascinations. Not only that, but also with the use of only LED (light emitting diode) lights, the lights last 10-15 minutes longer than regular lights. Thus making the experience more bright and enjoyable.
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Sibley Park decorated with Holiday lights.
While people are walking or driving through the lit up park, they can enjoy music, which is provided through the Kiwanis Holiday Lights radio station.
2014 IN MUSIC - PAGE 16
There are also refreshments for sale inside the warming house for people to enjoy while they are
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2 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
Fitzgerald provides another way to sell your books
Independent buyer comes to MSU campus to help students gain money back on expensive books.
LUKE LARSON Staff Writer It’s almost the end of the semester, and that means a lot of things. It means stress over final papers and exams, excitement to return home to friends and fam-
kraftees.com Textbooks are essential to doing well in a class.
ily, and relief to have finished another four hectic months of classes. It’s a time to say goodbye to friends ‘til next month and a time of signing up for classes in anticipation (or dread, however you want to put it) of what next semester will hold. But there’s another important aspect of the home stretch of the semester, and that is returning rented textbooks. If you’re like me, you put down way more money than you would’ve liked to on your books for this past semester. Here’s the good news; every weekday of finals week (Dec. 8 to 12) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1331 Warren St. there’s going to be an opportunity to fight back against inflated textbook prices. Ken Fitzgerald, an independent book buyer, will be purchasing students’ textbooks for more than they would normally be bought for.
Posters for the event say that students will “Get more money for their books” and Fitzgerald says that “hopefully it will be significantly more.” Fitzgerald notes that in similar events put on by other independent book buyers he knows, students often are able to sell their books for much more than they would be able to elsewhere. Fitzgerald says that he will buy any textbook or unused workbook as long as it is in good condition. “If you spilled coffee all over the book, then I won’t be able to take it,” he says, but other than that, any textbook is sellable even if it has been marked or highlighted. The books that Fitzgerald buys are then sold at discounted prices to other students across the country and world. A portion of the profits from the event
here at Mankato will go towards the Saint Thomas More Catholic Newman Center, which is in the final stages of the construction their new building on Warren St. The event, being held at the Newman Center on the corner of Maywood Ave. and Warren St., has the support of some local businesses, as Fitzgerald points out. Insomnia Cookies, Jimmy John’s, and other local restaurants will be present handing out free goodies including sub sandwiches and possibly movie tickets. The event will also feature prizes and a daily raffle. For every text sent to friends about the event is worth one ticket in the raffle drawing. “It a great opportunity for everyone involved,” Fitzgerald says. bestvalueschools.com Textbooks are essential to doing well in a class.
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 3
News
GRS Fine Arts Festival coming to Verizon Center Mankato area artists display their talent.
BROOKE EMMONS Staff Writer
Over 45 artists from the Mankato area will show and cree ate beautiful masterpieces this r weekend in an event that is availn able to everyone in town. l The GSR Fine Art Festival s will be presenting this showcase y at the Verizon Wireless Center’s - Ballroom. They hope to see a vag riety of teens, college students, b adults, and seniors present at the e show. This festival will be the - 12th annual, back again after r popular demand. t The organization hopes that n with encouragement and support, visual artists will thrive in a time r that has proven difficult for them. d There are thousands of talented starving artists who have created work that would make the right buyer very happy. The Twin Rivers Council for the Arts funds the GSR Fine Art
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Festival. The TRCA is a culture and regional arts service organization. They work with the public to help ensure that arts and culture thrive throughout Greater Mankato. A non-profit organization, TRCA advocates for the arts, creates partnerships between local business, academic communities, and culture, and cultivates public participation by connecting people to culture and art. The TRCA hope that with their work and strategic collaboration of artists and community that they can strengthen Mankato by supporting, celebrating, and promoting regionals culture and arts. Along with creating a positive mindset and discussion that leads to high awareness and excitement about arts, the TRC helps local community and business leaders develop an agenda that will let the arts flourish through planning and decision-making.
MONEY
The GSR Fine Arts Festival hosts the showing artists at no cost to them. They are able to sell all of their work to visitors and guests to the show. If they do, GSR allows them to keep 100 percent of their profit, something other shows do not do, and something that makes GSR special. Of the artists showing and selling at the festival, eleven create beautiful pieces of jewelry, three work with fibers, another three with glass, one with the old art of leather, four are excellent painters, five take photographs, three write poetry, another five create sculptures, and five are expert wood workers. This means that there is plenty in store for all different types of art lovers. Also available at the event will be live music from many different local bands throughout all three days. Another special part of the event is an exclusive live paint showing with artist Taylor John-
twinriversart.org Twin Rivers Council for the Arts works towards giving artists in southern Minnesota opportunities.
son. New to the Mankato art scene, Johnson will be painting near the entrance of the show for his debut. He welcomes guests to come talk to him while he works so he can answer questions on the creative process. There is no cost to attending this event. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. Friday Dec 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday Dec 6, and finally 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday December 7. If you would like to make donations to the event, contact the TRCA, as GSR receives funding through them.
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4 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
Mesmerizing the Mavericks Magician Asif Uddin has been showcasing his illusions on campus. ALEX KERKMAN Staff Writer Minnesota State University, Mankato is home to many talented individuals. However, few of them have the ability to make you question what you see. One such person is Asif Uddin, better known by his stage name, The Magician Asif. Uddin, a sophomore at MSU majoring in electrical engineering, is a card flourisher -- someone who performs card tricks or illusions. Many students on campus may have already seen him perform on stage or right in front of their very eyes. “When I was 15 I used to watch a lot of magic TV shows. Shows like David Blaine and Criss Angel,” Uddin said as he began to impressively shuffle his deck of cards. “I went out and bought a deck of cards after that. Now I’ve been doing them for six years.” The first person he practiced his illusions on was his mother. “I really impressed her the first time I showed her my illusions,” Uddin said. “That gave me confidence to keep getting better.” The practice has paid off. Uddin performed in front of a large crowd on “South Asia Night” held by the International Student Association in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom on Nov. 8. “That was a lot of fun performing in the Ballroom in front of many people,” Uddin said. Uddin performed some of these tricks for me during our
LIGHTS “While people are walking or driving through the lit up park, they can enjoy music, which is provided through the Kiwanis Holiday Lights radio station. ” continued from 1
youtube.com Aasif Uddin’s videos can be seen on his YouTube channel, Aasif Magistry.
interview. Once he shook a 2 of Diamonds so hard it became a joker. Later, he bent a card and set it in the middle of the deck. At the snap of a finger the bent card appeared on top. Multiple viewings of the trick leave you just as mind-boggled and no closer to understanding how Uddin performs his magic. Though his specialty is considered card manipulation, he has been dabbling in other types of magic illusions. “I also do some work with metal rings,” Uddin said. “Separating them and fastening them back together. My best work is with cards though.” Videos of Uddin’s card tricks can be viewed on his YouTube channel, Asif Magistry. He currently has three videos up online, with many more planned in the future. “I am working on the video of the show for [South Asia Night],” Uddin said. “I hope to have it up sometime within the month, after we are all finished up with finals.” Though it took him a long
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time to get where he is now, Uddin is very happy with how far he has come. He was happy to share his advice to anyone interested in magic. “Anybody who wants to try magic and is just starting out should take it slow at first, something like simple card tricks,” Uddin said as he set the entire deck down on the counter and walked a couple feet away. “It took a long time and a lot of practice, but it was worth it,” Uddin said while producing another deck of cards from nowhere and scattering them on the floor as passerby’s watched on in confusion.
looking at the lights. Along with the lights on display, there is also a parade. The parade is on the opening night and consists of close to 50 lighted floats that are decorated by sponsored companies. At the park there is a set up. Mrozek shared that the lights are strategically placed throughout the park. This is done so that people can grasp the full effect of the display. For example the decorated trees in the center of the park actually represent the nonprofits being represented by the lights. On the north end of the park are the older, traditional displays. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are made possible through the sponsorship of local businesses in the Mankato area. Mrozek shared that a main point of the lights is
for the people of Mankato to have a way of giving back to the community. This can be done through donating food to food shelves and money to non-profits after driving or walking through the lights show. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are a great attraction for people of all ages. The time and effort that goes into creating and executing this masterpiece project takes many people. Mankato has a community that enjoys helping for the good the community. For information on how you can help with the Kiwanis Holiday lights visit www.kiwanisholidaylights. com/. For questions you can email info@kiwanisholidaylights.com
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 5
News
Olives set to host condiment contest Does your shawarma have what it takes to win? AMANDA HINDE Staff Writer Calling all individuals of Greek food lovers! Olives by Massad’s is holding a contest for the best Shawarma Sauce recipe. This is the first sauce recipe contest ever held by Olives and it’s looking to be a good one. Participants are in the run for a cash prize and having their own recipe featured at Olives Restaurant. Not only would it be an amazing experience, you would also be getting $300 cash! It’s simple to enter; to enter, think up an entirely new dish that includes shawarma sauce. Entries must include an original recipe that features Massad’s Shawarma Sauce and a photograph of the finished dish next to a bottle of their sauce. To submit your entry you can either post it on the Olives Facebook page or submit it through their email, info@olivesmankato. com. Submissions will be accepted from Dec. 3 to Dec. 31. Olives will judge the entries and announce the finalists on Jan. 7. Then the public will be able to vote online and inside Olives from Jan. 8 through Jan. 15. The winner will be announced on Jan. 16.
olivesmankato.com
Karla Njoku daughter of Massad operates Olives and was pleasantly surprised of people’s reaction after their debut of Massads Shawarma Sauce. “When we started producing the Shawarma sauce for retail, it was a constant flow of people telling us how they were using our sauce and it was so much fun to hear! Not only would we hear it at the restaurants, but we’d being walking in the mall or having coffee, and people would come up to us and tell us how their using the sauce,” Njoku said. “You always hope people will like it, and they did. We are grateful. It seemed to be those who were willing to
experiment with their food and taste buds.” Massads will feature the winning recipe at Olives for two weeks and the winning contestant will win not only the $300, but also a case of Massads Shawarma Sauce and time with Master Chef John Massad. Anyone who enters an approved recipe will receive a $15 Olives gift card. The finalists will receive a $50 Olives gift card. For more information about the contest check out their website, at www. olivesmankato.com/terms.html. What started all of this was a dream that is four years in the making. “It actually started with my
Tyler Blatti Joey Denton Alex Kerkman THE REPORTER WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE STUDENTS FOR THEIR WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE MSU REPORTER.
Best wishes from all of us! We also want to wish Kaija Crowe good luck as she leaves to pursue other opportunities!
mom, Najwa. She always wanted to go retail with it. It took us over four years to make that dream happen. Going retail is a lot harder than it sounds,” Njoku explained. “We had to go through a really long process of finding the right company to do it with and make sure the quality of their ingredients were what we wanted.” Don’t worry if you can’t think of a recipe this year -Massad’s is hoping to make this an annual contest. “We want people to get their creative side out and have fun with it,” Njoku added. They are also hoping for a lot of entries and creative dishes. Olives is located in downtown Mankato, on the first floor of the Mankato Hilton. As Njoku said, “Shawarma sauce isn’t just for chicken anymore.” So get cooking!
INTERNATIONAL “According to educational exchange data from the 2014 Open Doors Report, Minnesota ranked 19th nationally in foreign students within the state.” continued from 1
rollment Management David Jones. According to educational exchange data from the 2014 Open Doors Report, Minnesota ranked 19th nationally in foreign students within the state. Minnesota State University, Mankato ranked in the top three of institutions with the highest number of foreign students with 1,044 international students in Minnesota, followed by University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and St. Cloud State University. In 2014, MSU has international students from over 90 different countries, with the most students coming from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, Brazil and Bangladesh. The Open Doors Report, providing educational exchange date, is an annual report released by Institute of International Education.
Expires: 12/18/14
6 • MSU Reporter
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Email the Editor in Chief: reporter-editor@mnsu.edu
A Sports Editor’s Farewell
Minnesota State University, Mankato
STAFF
FALL 2014 JOEY DENTON Sports Editor Getting my degree in mass media and minor in sociology has been, so far, the toughest, yet most enjoyable time of my life. Even though this didn’t take a lifetime -- though most of the time it felt like it -- I would like to take this time to thank all of the people that have made my last four and a half years something I’ll never forget. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for my family everyday and there is no way I would still be in school without them, but they took the first 18 years of my life, shaped me into the man I am today and passed the baton to Minnesota State University, Mankato in mid August of 2010. In my freshman year, I met some of the greatest people I have ever met in G1 of McElroy Hall. While I was going through a rough time transitioning to college and dealing with a personal matter at home, you guys stepped up and made me feel like part of this awesome and loving group. You guys have been there to see my worst and my best and there is not one group I would rather spend a night on the town with. I’ve found my best friends freshman year, and I was one of the lucky ones to keep my best friends all the way through college. For that, I thank you guys. During my sophomore year I was introduced to someone I have come to idolize. Sports Information Director Paul Allan and I met at Old Country Buffet here in Mankato while I was
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
Photo Courtesy of Joey Denton Joey Denton reminisces on a long tenure at MSU and The Reporter.
having lunch with my uncle that worked for him while he went to school here, and he welcomed me to come work for him. At that time I loved the newspaper industry and thought that was my calling, but then I started working for PA and was introduced with the public relations side of sports, which I fell in love with instantly. While I’m still undecided with which sports media career path, PA showed me by example of how to be a successful boss, and I will never forget that. Even as just a sophomore I wanted to impress him and produce excellent work with him, but at the same time, I consider him as a friend that I can talk Mavericks’ hockey and baseball with. I think he has the best job in Mankato, and while it’s going to be a sad day when he won’t be working in TC 175, I want
to politely say I’m gunning for that job. As a sports writer and editor, I have had the privilege of working with these student-athletes and coaches for the last three years. My favorite part of this job was to be able to not only talk to these great people but also develop some friendships -- something I hope to do in my career. When writing about the football team, I met with Coach Keen every Monday and while it was for business, I would stop my recorder and we would literally sit there for another half hour and just talk about football. When I saw him in the hall, we would talk for a few minutes to catch up on life, and those are the kinds of relationships I’ve developed here and it made me feel like a part of the Maverick family. On that note, I was also
blessed with such amazing athletic programs at MSU. Not very many editors can say they have two teams ranked no. 1 in the country at the same time, and it’s always more fun to write about winning legacies than struggling ones. To come in and watch athletes my age develop and become the greatest at their position in the conference, sometimes the country, was truly amazing to watch. I would also like to thank the whole MSU Wind Ensemble. I call this group my oasis of insanity, because no matter how much was going on or how hectic or crappy life was getting, I could always count on an hour every Monday through Thursday of amazing music making. These very talented individuals made me jealous of their abilities, but
• 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.
FAREWELL • Page 7
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.
“How do you recharge over winter break?”
NARDOS TESFAYE, NURSING “I will be catching up on a lot of sleep and my favorite shows.”
SAMUEL CREBREHIWOT, BIO-MEDICAL “Playing music, watching movies and working.”
KARTER RIVET, PSYCHOLOGY “Play videogames and hang out with friends.”
POLICIES & INFORMATION
RICHARD ARMAH, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION “Working on my capstone project.”
• The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a student-run newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 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. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes.
Compiled by Yohanes Ashenafi
SAI VANG, PRE-NURSING “Catching up with family and hanging out with friends.”
Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 7
News
The fight against test anxiety Finals are fast-approaching, are you prepared? BROOKE EMMONS Staff Writer As finals approach, faster than I deemed possible, the anxiety in the air of Minnesota State continues to grow everyday. As students, we have worked diligently from the end of August -- back when we could still wear shorts -- to now. I don’t know how many people have A’s that will stay regardless of how they perform on their exams, but if you are one of them, I applaud you. For the rest of us, this is the time that determines if our hard
work was worth it. Or, this is the time that we make up for the plenty of mistakes that were made throughout the semester and try to save a grade. Anxiety before a test is normal. There are multiple causes for this, such as fear of failure, lack of preparation and poor test history. It can lead to an array of symptoms including physical, emotional, and behavioral. Freshman Maddie Hettinger says that her test anxiety ranges. “When it’s just a quiz or routine test, my anxiety is not that bad. But finals are intimidating just thinking of the word.” Finals can leave students feeling a rapid heartbeat, a knot in the stomach, headaches, tension, and even cause profuse perspira-
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tion. If a student is feeling these physical symptoms, they are more likely to have a difficult time organizing their thoughts, making it hard to do well on their exam. “I just worry that if I stay up all night studying I will not perform well during the test, and if I go to bed the information will not be fresh enough in my memory,” Hettinger said, “It’s like “Would I rather have the knowledge and not be able to obtain it or have less knowledge and have the ability to think clearly?” Either way, its stressing me out already.” Hettinger and I are not alone. Twitter accounts parodying college students are tweeting the same worries. They have an assortment of jokes and memes that describe the anxiety college students are feeling across the world. These accounts give a brief laugh to a student worrying, as it is nice to know thousands of others feel the same way. Test anxiety is most likely the result of not being prepared for the exam. If a student does not do the reading for a class all semester, and tries to learn it all in one Redbull-filled night, chances are they will not do as well as other students. There are a variety of things you can do to combat test anxiety this finals season and its best you start now. Give yourself
more than enough time to review the material. You will do better
ecute the tasks on your list with the most results.
“As students, we have worked diligently from the end of August -- back when we could still wear shorts -to now.” if you beginning studying about a week before the exam. Be sure to also ask your professor questions about the exam. What kind of questions they will be, how long you should take on each section and if there is something you should be sure to review are good things to ask and may help you study more efficiently. Visual aids have also proven to help with studying large amounts of information. Make lists, flashcards, charts and diagrams to help visualize terms and concepts in order to better your understanding. Everyone studies and learns differently. What works for your friends or classmates might not work for you. This is why it is important to give yourself enough time before the exam, so you can better understand what will work best for you and ex-
Finals scare everyone; do not worry about being alone in your piles of projects, papers, and tests. Talk to your friends and try to relax. Call your parents or another loved one to take your mind of the stress for a while. Maybe take some time to laugh at the great blogs and lists on Twitter and BuzzFeed. These are great, mainly for reassurance that you are not crazy. All college students have been there. They made it, so can you. Just be sure to eat healthy, get rest, and take your time this finals season. If you treat yourself well, your brain will repay you. Best of luck this semester, Mavericks. Power through and winter break will arrive.
Only 1 Mile Away From Campus!
FAREWELL continued from 6
I enjoyed every rehearsal with them. I remember meeting Dr. Roisum-Foley my senior year of high school when auditioning for a scholarship, and she too welcomed me with open arms. I knew it was the right move to keep my musical career going here at MSU. Last and certainly not least, I would like to thank the MSU Reporter. I received a text from one of my uncles in January of my freshman year saying that if I want to be successful in the journalism field I need to work for the school newspaper. So I applied, and the Reporter actually needed someone to cover the crime beats. I took that, not knowing what I was getting myself into and learned to love being in journalism. I love knowing
things before everyone else; interviewing people who were at the scene, and that fire was ignited that semester. My sophomore year I was moved to the sports section and eventually became the editor, thanks to one of the best sports journalists I know, Reece Hemmesch. This job has allowed me to be creative, talk to professional athletes, meet amazing people and possible future employers, and I couldn’t thank this newspaper enough. I have never understood why there isn’t a line out the door of this place for writers, because you get to do so many things and meet so many people that you otherwise wouldn’t. For that I thank you. The people I work with up here at the Reporter are
also one of the reasons why I wanted to stay an extra semester as the sports editor. Everybody I’ve worked with has been incredibly nice to me and I’m glad I am able to call my coworkers friends. I now leave my desk in the office to two very smart and sport loving writers in Derek Lambert and Luke Lonien. They are fast learners and I can tell they are going to love being a part of the editorial side of the newspaper. If you guys show as much hustle and devotion here as your writing suggests, the sports section is going to be in good hands. I ask everyone to enjoy what’s going to be an awesome Mavericks weekend and cheer on your Mavericks. Once a Maverick, always a Maverick.
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The Final Countdown Whether you relax or get to work, it can be fun to make plans for your Holiday break. RICHARD PRINCE Staff Writer With the semester drawing to a near closing we see students getting ready for finals in the library. This is one of the most stressful times for some students who are nervous about getting a good grade in a course they are taking. There is one good thing
about finals, though, and that is knowing it will all be over afterward. Finals are like the grand finale of stress to some at semester’s end. After the stressful “dead week,” and finals week -- both including a caffeinated high accompanied with little to no sleep -- many students travel back to their hometown to see family and friends. Whether or not you are going home for the holidays, it is
a good idea to use winter break as a time to relax and recharge from a long semester. After a semester that seems to never end, nothing is better than rewarding one’s self with a month of no homework, papers and finals. There are many things a student can do over winter break to recharge from fall semester so they can get ready for spring semester to start. Sam Larson, a sophomore, stated that his favorite thing to do over the holiday break was,
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“hanging out with friends that I do not see on a weekly basis. It is good to reconnect with people that you spent a lot of time with in your home town.” It is always good to meet up with old high school friends and share with them what you have been up to with college life. This will help keep a friendship by meeting up over holiday break because many friendships fade away because a lack of communication.
Picking up a seasonal job or going back to your former place of work while on break is another option. Earning a few extra spending bucks can never hurt the bank account. Larson went on stating, “You should work but you should not over work yourself. Moderate hours, working over forty hours will be merely counterproductive. Relax and do not stress about work or school.” It is good to remember that you should take some personal time during break and not over work. Try to get a couple hours more sleep a night or even take a nap during the day. Along with personal time and work, it is also good to spend time with family members, especially if you go to school far away from home. Larson stated, “It is great to see my family during the break since I only get to see them every three months or so. They help me forget about my classes and make me feel at ease.” Larson enjoys coming home for the winter break because his hometown is four hours away from school. “Being home helps me have a good attitude with school, it helps me realize the up and coming semester is a brand new start,” Larson said. Whether you are going home or not for the holiday break it is a good idea to take time for yourself to get ready for spring semester. It will help with put the fall semester behind you and allow for a success start to the new semester ahead of you.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSHSL adjusts highly debated proposal BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota State High School League made some changes Wednesday to a proposal that would set guidelines for transgender student-athletes in high school sports after tabling the plan earlier this year. The board made the adjustments at two meetings ahead of a vote scheduled for Thursday, the Star Tribune reported. The plan spells out how schools should handle transgender students in sports and what documentation those athletes would need to define their gender, such as proof of hormone therapy or surgery. A version made public for the first time at Thursday’s meetings would have essentially made the policy optional for school districts. That idea drew strong concerns about inconsistent approaches among districts and whether efforts might be made to oust school board members based on their views on the issue. “I have great trepidation in seeing this played out at the local school board level,” State High School League board member Deb Pauly said. In response, board members debated the idea of putting the criteria for transgender student eligibility into the league’s
appeal process. That change seemed to ease some concerns, but other modifications were made that will not be in writing until the board meets Thursday. Another change made public Wednesday would exempt religious schools from having to comply with the policy. Before the workshop, a league subcommittee heard additional testimony from about a dozen speakers, including some groups that have lobbied strongly for or against the proposal. More testimony is expected at Thursday’s board meeting. The issue exploded into public view two months ago, when the league held a similar workshop that drew an overflow crowd of about 150 people and included 28 public speakers. The outcry came after board members received an estimated 10,000 emails on the subject. Before the board tabled the proposal in October, supporters said the policy would affirm transgender athletes by sending a message that the high school league recognizes their challenges and aims to provide a positive experience. Opponents criticized the proposal as too vague, saying it violated legal requirements and failed to provide options for non-transgender athletes.
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MSU Reporter • 9
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New CDC guideline outlines benefits of circumcision NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Tuesday released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports the procedure and health insurers should pay for it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines stop short of telling parents to have their newborn sons circumcised. That is a personal decision that may involve religious or cultural preferences, said the CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin. But “the scientific evidence is clear that the benefits outweigh
circumcision might help stop spread of the AIDS virus. “The benefits of male circumcision have become more and more clear over the last 10 years,” said Dr. Aaron Tobian, a Johns Hopkins University researcher involved in one of the African studies. But the guidelines are important, because the rates of newborn male circumcision have been dropping, he added. The guidelines are being published in the federal register Tuesday. For the next 45 days, the CDC will receive public
minimize potential complications from the procedure. The guidelines “are part of a long historical American cultural and medical bias to attempt to defend this traumatic genital surgery,” said, Ronald Goldman, executive director of the Circumcision Resource Center. The CDC guidelines largely mirror the pediatrician group’s statement, but the CDC’s document incorporates more research and comes from an organization that many may see as more neutral on the topic, Diekema said. The thinking on circumcision
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
the risks,” added Mermin, who oversees the agency’s programs on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. These are the first federal guidelines on circumcision, a brief medical procedure that involves cutting away the foreskin around the tip of the penis. Germs can grow underneath the foreskin, and CDC officials say the procedure can lower a male’s risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, penile cancer and even urinary tract infections. The CDC started working on the guidelines about seven years ago, when a cluster of influential studies in Africa indicated
comment before finalizing them next year. They are likely to draw intense opposition from anti-circumcision advocacy groups, said Dr. Douglas Diekema, a Seattle physician who worked on a circumcision policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012. “This is a passionate issue for them and they feel strongly that circumcision is wrong,” said Diekema, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. Indeed, the head of one group did argue against the CDC’s conclusions on Tuesday, saying they
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has swung wildly over the years. It’s been practiced by Jews and Muslims for thousands of years, but didn’t become common in this country until the 20th century. By one estimate, only 25 percent of U.S. male newborns were circumcised in 1900. It gradually became the cultural norm, and in the 1950s and 1960s surpassed 80 percent. But then the trend reversed. Part of it had to do with changing demographics, as the U.S. population grew to include larger numbers of Mexican-Americans and other ethnic groups that didn’t traditionally circumcise their children.
Also, opposition to the procedure grew from advocates who decried the pain, bleeding and risk of infections to newborns. Their message was aided by the Internet and by the neutral stance of physicians groups — including, for a time, the American Academy of Pediatrics. A wave of state Medicaid programs stopped paying for newborn circumcisions, which cost roughly $150 to $200. The list eventually rose to 18 states, according to CDC numbers. By 2010 the newborn circumcision rate was down to about 58 percent, according to one CDC estimate. But even as the circumcision rate dropped, more medical evidence came in supporting it — particularly three rigorous and influential studies in Africa that looked at the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in circumcised and uncircumcised men and their partners. In the new guidelines, the CDC says there is now strong evidence that male circumcision can: —Cut a man’s risk of getting HIV from an infected female partner by 50 to 60 percent. —Reduce their risk of genital herpes and certain strains of human papillomavirus by 30 percent or more. —Lower the risk of urinary tract infections during infancy, and cancer of the penis in adulthood. Studies have not shown that circumcision will reduce an HIV-infected man’s chances of spreading the AIDS virus to
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women. And research has not found circumcision to be a help in stopping spread of HIV during gay sex. The guidelines say circumcision is safer for newborns and infants than for older males, noting the complication rate rises from 0.5 percent in newborns to 9 percent in children ages 1 to 9, according to the CDC. Minor bleeding and pain are the most common problems, experts say. CDC officials are recommending doctors tell parents of baby boys of the benefits and risks of circumcision. Mermin did not say how that information should be presented. Because circumcision can be beneficial to men as well, the CDC says information about the procedure also should be given to sexually active uncircumcised men — especially men considered to be at higher risk of catching HIV, the guidelines say.
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10 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
North Korea’s role in Sony hack called into question
Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
Some cybersecurity experts say it is unlikely North Korea was behind the cyberattack that crippled Sony Pictures’ computers and possibly leaked unreleased movies online. Speculation has been rampant that the hard-line communist state sponsored last week’s hack in anger over the new Sony movie “The Interview,” in which Seth Rogen and James Franco play television journalists assigned by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “State-sponsored attackers don’t create cool names for themselves like ‘Guardians of Peace’ and promote their activity to the public,” said cybersecurity expert Lucas Zaichkowsky. He said the details he has seen point instead to hacktivists, who break into computers to make a political point, often one involving the free exchange
of information on the Internet. Hacktivists targeted Sony in the past. “The Interview” comes out on Christmas. Over the summer, North Korea warned that the release of the comedy would be an “act of war that we will never tolerate.” It said the U.S. will face “merciless” retaliation. FBI spokesman Joshua Campbell would not comment Tuesday on whether North Korea or another country was behind the attack. The FBI is investigating. It would be unusual if North Korea was behind the breach, said Darren Hayes, director of cybersecurity at Pace University’s computer science school. “However, there are numerous hackers for hire” in some of the shadowy corners of the Internet, he said. “If Kim Jong Un has developed his own rankand-file cyberattack unit, with
sophisticated capabilities, then we should be very concerned.” Sony Pictures hasn’t said how the hackers breached its system. But such attacks often start with “phishing” attempts, a compromised website or a malicious insider, said cybersecurity researcher Craig Young at Tripwire, a security software company that works with such businesses as Visa, Mastercard, Walmart and Starbucks. Given that the hackers were apparently able to obtain unreleased movies as well as personnel records, Social Security numbers, passport photos, technical documents and other material, Young said it is unlikely they used just a single point of access. “It’s much more likely that attackers were able to exploit a series of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and poor network architecture to continuously increase their level of
access over time,” he said. The increased dependence on cloud technology by nearly all major businesses to store their information has made them more vulnerable, said Carson Sweet, CEO of dataprotection firm CloudPassage. Sony workers last week logged on to see a message on their computer screens that said “Hacked by #GOP,” which may be the initials of a group calling itself Guardians of Peace, according to Variety.
Some unreleased Sony movies such as “Still Alice,” ‘’Annie,” ‘’Mr. Turner” and “To Write Love on Her Arms” were later distributed online, along with the still-in-theaters “Fury,” though a direct connection to the hacking hasn’t been confirmed. Culver City, Californiabased Sony Pictures said Monday that it is still dealing with the effects of the cyberattack and is working closely with law enforcement officials to investigate. Sony has brought in forensic experts from the Mandiant division of FireEye, a Silicon Valley cybersecurity company, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because the companies have not yet announced the arrangement. Mandiant helps companies determine the extent of breaches and repair the damage. It has worked on other high-profile computer break-ins, including the one at Target last year.
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
Allegations against Cosby move forward in court
Embattled comedian faces lawsuit from latest alleged victim.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A lawsuit by a woman who claims Bill Cosby molested her when she was 15 years old has moved allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian from the court of public opinion into the courthouse. Judy Huth’s lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles accuses Cosby of forcing her to perform a sex act on him in a bedroom of the Playboy Mansion around 1974. She is the latest woman to accuse the comedian of sex abuse, and is the first one since 2005 to file a lawsuit. Cosby has been beset for weeks by allegations by more than a dozen women that he drugged and sexually assaulted them in incidents spanning several decades. The comedian has not been criminally charged and many of the claims are so old, they are barred by statutes of limitations. Huth’s lawsuit, however, contends that she became aware of the serious effect the abuse had on her within the past three years. California law allows victims of sex abuse
MSU Reporter • 11
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psychological damage and mental anguish for (Huth) that has caused significant problems throughout her life,” the lawsuit states. Huth’s lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court is the first time a woman has gone public claiming Cosby abused her when she was underage. A second woman told Pittsburgh television station KDKA last month that Photo Courtesy of Associated Press Cosby drugged her to the point when they were minors to bring of unconsciousa claim after adulthood if they ness in the 1980s when she was discover later in life that they 15. suffered psychological injuries The suit does not specify as a result of the abuse. how much Huth is seeking Cosby has not been crimi- from Cosby. nally charged, but Netflix and Singer has denied previous NBC have scuttled projects fea- accusations or said the women turing the comedian and sev- raising the claims in interviews eral shows on his comedy tour had been discredited. have also been canceled. Singer’s statement does not His attorney Martin Singer apply to a lawsuit brought in did not return an email mes- 2005 by Andrea Constand, who sage seeking comment Tuesday claimed Cosby drugged and night. molested her at his suburban Huth’s sexual battery and Philadelphia mansion in 2004. infliction of emotional distress Constand, who worked for the lawsuit states that she and a women’s basketball team at 16-year-old friend first met Temple University, and Cosby Cosby at a Los Angeles-area settled the case before trial. film shoot and the comedian Cosby resigned from the gave the girls drinks a week university’s board of trustees later at a tennis club. on Monday. He had been the The lawsuit states that Cos- school’s public face, appearing by took them to the Playboy in advertisements, fundraising Mansion after several drinks, campaigns and delivering comand told the teenagers to lie and mencement speeches. say they were 19 years old if asked. Her lawsuit states Cosby forced her to perform a sex act on him with her hand. “This traumatic incident, at such a tender age, has caused
Hibbing VA clinic to be investigated MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General is investigating allegations of misconduct at a VA clinic in Hibbing. Last month, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Reps. Tim Walz and Rick Nolan asked the VA’s inspector general to look into claims by some ex-employees that they were ordered to backdate appointment records to make waits appear shorter. The practice is known as schedule “scrubbing.”
The four Minnesota lawmakers said Wednesday the VA’s inspector general has started an investigation. A spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office tells the Star Tribune the announcement of the inquiry was a routine courtesy to the state’s congressional delegation. Cincinnati-based Sterling Medical Associates runs the clinic. Sterling has said the clinic never ordered its employees to backdate appointments.
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
No indictment in New York police chokehold death
NEW YORK (AP) — A grand jury cleared a white New York City police officer Wednesday in the videotaped chokehold death of an unarmed black man who had been stopped on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes — a case that sparked outrage and drew comparisons to the deadly police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. The decision in Staten Island not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo threatened to add to the tensions that have simmered in the city since the July 17 death of Eric Garner. Jonathan Moore, an attorney for Garner’s family, said he was told of the grand jury’s decision. Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the case, confirmed the officer was not indicted. “I am actually astonished based on the evidence of the video tape, and the medical examiner, that this grand jury at this time wouldn’t indict for anything, is really just astonishing,” Moore said. The grand jury could have considered a range of charges, from murder to a lesser offense such as reckless endangerment. Garner’s family planned a news conference later in the day with the Rev. Al Sharpton. The Staten Island District Attorney’s office didn’t immedi-
Demonstrations there turned violent, resulting in more than 100 arrests and destruction of 12 commercial buildings by fire. The last officer to be indicted in the death of a civilian was Richard Haste, charged in the February 2012 killing of Ramarley Graham in the Bronx. Graham was shot in a tiny bathroom in the three-family home where he lived with his grandmother. He was chased there by Haste who believed he was selling drugs. Haste said he fired his weapon because he thought he was going to be shot. But no weap-
ons were found in the apartment. The officer was indicted on manslaughter charges in the summer of 2012, but the charges were dismissed by a judge who said prosecutors improperly instructed the grand jurors. A second grand jury decided not to re-indict the officer.
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Photo Courtesy of Associated Press
ately respond to a call. There was no immediate comment from Pantaleo’s attorney nor the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, a union that has strongly backed the officer. A video shot by an onlooker and widely viewed on the Internet showed the 43-year-old Garner telling a group of police officers to leave him alone as they tried to arrest him. Pantaleo responded by wrapping his arm around Garner’s neck in an apparent chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy. The heavyset Garner, who had asthma, was heard repeatedly gasping, “I can’t breathe!” A second video surfaced that showed police and paramedics appearing to make no effort to revive Garner while he lay motionless on the ground. He later died at a hospital. As with 18-year-old Michael Brown’s death in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, the Garner case sparked protests, accusations of racist policing and calls for federal prosecutors to intervene. But unlike the Missouri protests, the demonstrations in New York remained mostly peaceful. The case also prompted Police Commissioner William Bratton to order officers at the nation’s largest police department to undergo retraining on use of force. The medical examiner ruled Garner’s death a homicide and found that a chokehold contrib-
uted to it. A forensic pathologist hired by Garner’s family, Dr. Michael Baden, agreed with those findings, saying there was hemorrhaging on Garner’s neck indicative of neck compressions. Police union officials and Pantaleo’s lawyer have argued that the officer used a takedown move taught by the police department, not a chokehold, because he was resisting arrest and that Garner’s poor health was the main reason he died. While details on the grand jurors were not disclosed, Staten Island is the most politically conservative of the city’s five boroughs and home to many police and firefighters. The panel began hearing evidence in late September, including the video, autopsy results and testimony by Pantaleo. Pantaleo had been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty while the case was under investigation. He is likely to remain on modified duty while the NYPD conducts an internal investigation that could result in administrative charges. In anticipation of the announcement on the grand jury decision, police officials met with community leaders on Staten Island to head off a repeat of the response in Ferguson, where a grand jury decided not to indict the white officer who shot the black teen.
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16 • MSU Reporter
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Ringing in the New Year 2014: The year musicians found their sound. CHELSEY DIVELY Staff Writer This has been a fairly mediocre year for music, with a few mega breakout stars like Ms. Iggy Azalea to spice up the scene. The one benefit to this quiet year has been many artists
bringing some experimentation to their latest albums in a very indie-pop way. Mainstream pop artists like Tove Lo have been incorporating some new techniques into their music. Even artists who seemed set in their ways have been taking a shot at something
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new; we’ve seen this a lot in Taylor Swift’s style and sound transformation that preceded her latest album, 1989. Many pop stars have thrown back to some old school hits as well; Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” was scrutinized by some for over sampling Sir Mix-A-Lot’s 1992 hit, “Baby Got Back,” but has come to be one of the most popular songs of the year; Fall Out Boy’s recent tribute to “Tom’s Diner” barely registered with some listeners, since the onehit-wonder by Susanne Vega came out in the 80s. Perhaps subtlety is the key to effective use of sampling, an artist must go far back enough that modern pop listeners won’t recognize the origin, but remember the tune. Funk has been very prevalent in indie pop this year, with albums by St. Vincent and a recent Big Data single scoring high in Rolling Stone and on pop charts respectively.
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Whether we will see an album from Big Data is still up in the air, though it seems many great singles are coming out of this genre, most recently Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” track featuring Bruno Mars. Several bands, like Broken Bells and Stars, have been using auto tune to emulate the sounds of a moog synthesizer as further throwback to the 70s.
Maroon 5, The Black Keys, Lana del Rey and many other musical groups have delivered new material that took few risks, which may leave them in the dust if pop music goes down the road of experimentation. While the Black Keys had one solid hit, the rest of Turn Blue was unimaginative and
MUSIC • Page 17
The Babadook Review Old school scare wins over modern shock. JAMES HOUTSMA Editor in Chief For a minute there, it looked as if horror was lost on 2014. When your biggest offerings in the genre are Ouija and Annabelle, it might as well be a sign to pack it in. Enter The Babadook. Coming from Australian director Jennifer Kent, The Babadook is this year’s diamond in the rough that stands apart. The film is not only a marvel of showcasing creeping terror, it’s grounded in a highly resonant story that spotlights one of life’s most destructive monsters of all: depression. Seven years after the accident that took her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is struggling to raise her rambunctious son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman),
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whose behavior becomes increasingly aggressive. One night Amelia unwittingly reads to Samuel from a bedtime storybook he brandishes called “Mister Babadook.” After dis-
covering the book’s frightening content, Amelia is unsuccessful at keeping thoughts of the frightening titular monster from Samuel’s mind as he obsesses over it. Maybe it’s for good
reason. Shortly after, Amelia finds herself slowly but surely stalked by unexplained visions and influences that make her a danger to her son. In a landscape of “jump
scare a minute” horror features, it’s beyond refreshing to see a film that finds power in building up sheer atmospheric terror. Pitch black corners and tricks of the light take precedent over things popping out at the screen. Kent skillfully builds tension in several scenes through editing trickery and sound choices so chilling they cause immediate goosebumps. Reality bends to levels of uncertainty that are wild and upsetting. While the terror of The Babadook is almost overwhelming sometimes, it’s the restraint the filmmakers show in handling the titular creature that keeps the fear ballooning. The Babadook itself is almost never seen in a complete way, often covered in shadow with only the briefest glimpse of the monster’s
BABADOOK • Page 19
Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 17
A&E
Horrible Bosses 2 Review A bad comedy can be a real tragedy. SHAWN CLOSE Staff Writer Making a sequel to a successful comedy is hard. Sorry that’s not exactly true—making a good sequel to a successful comedy is hard. There’s a lot of pressure to imitate what made the first movie successful while trying not to be too similar to the original, all while attempting to branch out to new elements that allow it to reach a wider audience. Earlier this year, 22 Jump Street did this perfectly, not so much for Horrible Bosses 2. In Horrible Bosses 2, we see the trio from the first movie: Dale, Kurt and Nick (played by Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, respectively) return with a brilliant idea for a new bathroom gadget that will allow them to start their own business. But after a underhanded investor (Christoph Waltz)
screws them over and threatens to steal their new business from them, they hatch a misguided scheme to kidnap the investor’s son (Chris Pine) and use the ransom to save their business. There are a lot of things I don’t like about this movie, but largely I dislike that the story feels a little to similar to the first movie, replacing murder with kidnapping and bosses with investor’s son. HB2 attempts to throw a few twists into the story, the first one being a little predictable, the second one being pretty good but feeling out of place. The returning characters, who where already not that complexity, are now completely two-dimensional as Dale and Kurt have gone from slightly incompetent to completely moronic. What used to be two different characters with their own characteristics have now become a set of indistinguishable punch lines who don’t seem
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capable of dressing themselves or operating a doorknob. Nick is the regular man of the group who is constantly annoyed by the other two members of the group; when I say constantly I mean every single scene—he has no other emotion. I get that Dale and Kurt seem to have suffered a little brain damage since the last movie, but you don’t have to hang out with them let alone start a business or attempt a kidnapping. As annoyed as Nick may be, and he is super
Shutdowns and releases: A year in review for games Despite lackluster reputation, gaming has done a lot this year.
the smart guy as the much as the guy who is smart enough to function but not smart enough to realize that maybe making
BOSSES• Page 20
“Life” by Tereasa Hatten When you think life just doesn’t make sense Look at your friends and think When you try so hard but can’t jump the fence Just look at your friends and think When you keep on getting confused Look to your family and talk When you’ve been starved, beat, and abused Look to your family and talk No matter what obstacles you may face Friends and family will be there Whenever you MAY BE called
a disgrace Friends and family will be there No matter how long you have to wait Support will be there Through every single type of hate Support will be there Whenever life is putting you down Just keep thinking positive There is no reason to be wearing a frown Just keep thinking positive (Wish I could live up to this advice)
MUSIC “Mainstream pop art-
MATTHEW EBERLINE Staff Writer It’s been an interesting year for video games, full of high and low points with little in between. But whether you think it’s been a good year for gaming or the worst in the history of the medium, there’s no denying that a lot has happened. Let’s take a look at some of 2014’s biggest gaming highlights: To kick things off, Irrational Games – the studio behind mega-hits Bioshock and Bioshock: Infinite – closed its doors in mid-February, citing the desire of studio co-founder, Ken Levine, to craft smaller narrative based games with a high replay value. The studio laid-off all but 15 of its staff members, helping many to find other positions within Irrational’s parent company, 2K, as well as other prominent studios in the industry. On March 25, Oculus VR – the company developing the highly anticipated Oculus Rift virtual reality headset – announced its acquisition by Facebook for a whopping $2
annoyed, at Dale and Kurt’s stupidity, Nick really isn’t that smart either. Sure, he doesn’t screw up as badly or as often but he doesn’t really do anything to help. He’s not so much
ists like Tove Lo have been incorporating some new techniques into their music.” continued from 16 irrationalgames.com
billion. While it’s great to see a peripheral with so much potential receive such a large amount of support and funding, many gamers are still wary of what the acquisition might mean for the future of the device. With the Oculus Rift expected to ship sometime next year, it seems we won’t have to wait too long to see if the investment pays off. June played host to the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, where gamers were treated with a flood of new trailers and announcements for titles such as Sunset Overdrive, Bloodborne,
Rise of the Tomb Raider, and (arguably the highlight of the show) No Man’s Sky. While the convention offered tons of new games and announcements for 2015, many fans were disappointed that very few of the titles shown were scheduled to release this year. Also worth noting was Microsoft’s press conference, where the new president of Microsoft’s Xbox division, Phil Spencer, presented a new focus on video games and less emphasis on the Kinect or TV features so prevalent at the 2013 show. Nintendo also took
GAMING • Page 18
forgetful, unlike their postblues album El Camino. What was disappointing in some of these albums was the fact that they are taking a formula that works and using it to death— it’s time for them to break out of their respective molds and try something different. For 2015, it would be great to see indie legends Ratatat, Mr. Heavenly, and Pale Young Gentlemen resurface after years of dormancy and a new lively single from the Killers would be greatly appreciated after their most recent letdown of an album. We’ve also seen some amazing compilations from unexpected duos
(Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga anyone?), so the world would be a better place if superstars would team up and create a sound combo we’ve never heard before. Whether these revivals and mash-ups will occur has yet to be seen, but it’s safe to assume that new singles from Coldplay, Jason Derulo and Kesha will come in the coming year. Overall 2014’s music shows signs of experimentation and variety as a new pop formula is formed with the addition of funk roots. Everyone is looking forward to more music from all genres as we prepare for 2015.
18 • MSU Reporter
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GAMING “It’s been
an interesting year for video games, full of high and low points with little in between, whether you think it’s been a good year for gaming or the worst in the history of the medium, there’s no denying that a lot has happened.” continued from 17
the opportunity to announce its new line of Amiibo figurines, which allow players to access special characters and abilities in supported games simply by touching the figure to the Wii U Gamepad. Europe’s largest gaming event, Gamescom, kicked off back in August in Cologne, Germany with its own plethora of announcements. Perhaps the biggest event at Gamescom was the reveal of P.T. – a playable teaser for a horror game that would later be revealed as Silent Hills – being developed collaboratively by Hideo Kojima and renowned film director, Guillermo del Toro. Other announcements included the revelation that Rise of the Tomb Raider will initially launch as an Xbox One timed exclusive, and the unveiling of Sony’s Share Play function on the PlayStation 4, which allows PlayStation Plus subscribers to play a friend’s game for a limited time without being physically present. September brought us not only the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, but also the annual Tokyo Game Show in Japan. While both conventions presented a couple of cool announcements and new releases, E3 and Gamescom effectively overshadowed them with their strong 2015 lineups. At PAX, Saint’s Row developer Deep Silver Volition announced its newest expansion for Saint’s Row IV, called Saint’s Row: Gat Out of Hell, where players descend into Hell as Johnny Gat to rescue the President of the United States. Meanwhile, Square Enix debuted their newest trailer for the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XV, which drops the series classic turn-based combat in favor of a more cinematic real-time experi-
Thursday, December 4, 2014
The Russian Ballet does Nutcracker World-famous troupe to perform in Rochester, MN. TEREASA HATTEN Staff Writer On Friday, December 5 at 7:00 pm, the one and only Mos-
This year’s tour began November 20 in Alabama, and will end December 31 in Florida with thousands upon thousands of people who will flock to their respective theatres to experi-
ence. Although the year was mostly lackluster in regards to major releases, October and November offered gamers a little respite with titles such as Civilization: Beyond Earth, Far Cry 4, and the next-generation version of Grand Theft Auto V, all of which released to favorable reviews by critics and consumers alike. While 2014 was a generally dull year for video games, next year promises to be quite the opposite with so many exciting new titles set for release. Like so many other gamers, I look forward to seeing what other surprises are just around the corner in 2015.
nutcracker.com
cow ballet will be gracing the Mayo Civic Center stage with the Great Russian Nutcracker. The Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis is another stop on their annual tour and performances will be held at 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. on December 6.
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5 stories tall, and 10 foot tall dancing puppets. This weekend’s show is approaching quickly, but there may still be time to purchase tickets! If you’re interested,
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ence this once-in-a-lifetime event. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is performed to Tchaikovsky’s full score and features several breathtaking props and moments. Some will include falling snow, a growing Christmas tree that will reach
head to ticketmaster.com and become one of the lucky few who have seen this rare and beautiful show.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
The EDM Family The musical epidemic taking over the music scene. JENNA VAGLE Staff Writer
A community is defined as a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Thinking about this definition, what community do you belong to? It could be as simple as the town you grew up in, the dorm you’re living in, the neighborhood you reside in now, the bar you go to, or the study group you are a part of. If you’re like many of the people your age, you could choose to be a part of the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) community; but it is not just a community, it is a family. This era of music has been criticized repeatedly: some say it’s just kids doing drugs and dressing ridiculously, but for those of us who have actually witnessed the phenomenon of a show or festival, it is so much more than that. It is an experience that makes one feel uplifted and embraced. Everyone is there for the same reason: to enjoy the music and come together as one. A common practice in the m family is PLUR, Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. It sounds weird, but that’s what most of us are: weird people doing weird things together. PLUR is a symbol of the unity that the EDM
Photo By Jenna Vagle
family is all about because no one is there to judge you or put you down. Everyone is loved and everyone is respected. Even if it’s your first show, you are welcomed with open arms. I recently read an article that says “Millennials are the new generation of hippies,” and it couldn’t be more true. The article written by Lauren Martin on elitedaily.com mentioned many similarities to the EDM family and the hippies of the 60s. It’s no surprise that most of us are trying desperately to defy our parents’ idea of who we should be. All through high school, we were told to plan for the future, get good grades, save money for college because those student loans will burden you after graduation, apply for scholarships, get a part-time job, do community service, and be a part of all extracurricular activi-
MSU Reporter • 19
A&E
ties because it looks good on a resume. Where in that mix did we get to do what we actually wanted to do? Where did we actually get to be kids? This is so relevant to the ideas of the hippies in the 60s— a defiant period coming out of the homemaker era. It was a time of war, but also revolution. Martin mentioned this in her article and I can’t help but relate it to today, as marijuana and gay marriage are being decriminalized and legalized. We are free spirits trying to find our place in this world, and we have found trust in each other to help us search for it. EDM has many different genres including dubstep, electronica, trap, house, techno, and trance to name a few; they’re all the same concept, but each has
BABADOOK “For a minute there, it looked as if horror was lost on 2014”. continued from 16 disturbing face. Truthfully, it’s more terrifying to know that the creature is present than actually seeing every detail of it. What makes The Babadook so special, however, is that the overt horror aspects are secondary to the real human emotion that guides the story. Even more than lanky monsters that hide in the dark, this film shows these supernatural events as subsidiary to the tragic lifestyle Amelia finds herself in, day and day out. So often throughout we feel her hopeless frustration in raising an unruly child alone and it’s unnerving when we feel that she may not love her child… and what that may mean in the end. This being is
literally feeding off her grief and depression, becoming a force that so clearly can lead to child abuse in many situations. Can you say “metaphor”? Even when familiar trappings spring up, such as the mother becoming possessed by the evil spirit, the overall thoughtfulness of the film makes it a cut above the rest. This is the litter chiller that could. It’s harrowing in its drama and deeply unsettling in its tone, leaving an eerie feeling that, like the book says about the Babadook, you just can’t get rid of.
Reporter Rating
EDM • Page 20
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Fall Dance Concert MSU dancers are ready to showcase their moves. JENNA VAGLE Staff Writer The MSU Dance department is showing the public what it’s been working on all semester this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in their Fall Dance Concert. The three show series will showcase the works from the dance faculty and selected students. The dances are all works that the department has choreographed themselves; two guest dancers will also take the stage.
The faculty and selected student shows will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. The student showcase on Sunday at 2 p.m. will feature MSU dance students who have auditioned and been selected by the dance faculty. Performances will be held in the Ted Paul Theater in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are sold at the Box Office located in the front lobby of the Performing Arts Center. One can also go online to www.mnsu.edu/theatre/sea-
son/ tickets/ to purchase tickets. Prices for the showcase are $10 for the general public and $8 for MSU students. Persons 65 and older, 16 and younger or have a group of 15 or more people who are not MSU students, can receive a discounted price of $9. One must purchase the discounted tickets at the Box office. For more information on all upcoming events for the Dance department, visit www. mnsu.edu/dance/.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
BOSSES continued from 17 high risk, highly complex plans with two guys who probably have problems operating a can opener. I always feel like I’m more forgiving of comedies than I am of other genres. If a comedy makes me laugh, then it did its job, even if the movie itself isn’t very good. Some of my all time favorite comedies are not great movies, but for whatever reason they resonate with me. Horrible Bosses was a both a good movie and a great comedy, HB2 is not a good movie, or really even a good one, but it did make me laugh. The most important part of a comedy is the comedy, and HB2 has
some pretty good comedy. It has a few jokes that don’t land, a few recurring gags that get old fast and a few call backs to the first movie that seem a little forced, but for the most part the jokes are pretty funny (special note to the pre-credit outtake reel, which is sadly the best part of the whole movie). So while Horrible Bosses 2 isn’t a great or good movie, it is funny, and it’s worth your time (but probably not your money).
Reporter Rating
EDM
“I recently read an article that says “Millennials are the new generation of hippies,” and it couldn’t be more true.” continued from 19 its own personality and beat. Dubstep features beat drops and a lot of bass, while trap contains aggressive lyrics and can be compared to rap music. The genre is contrary to what a lot of people think. It’s not just a person hitting play on a computer and playing back a track. It’s a whole set up of different sounds and recordings. Remixing songs and combining tracks together are common practices in house. Artists don’t just play music when
they’re DJing, they put on an entire performance—there are light and video screen set ups, laser shows, strobe lights, fog and sometimes artists use GoGo Dancers to get the crowd going wild. Dubstep and electronic are two of the more popular genres, and the big name artists are life changing. Bassnectar is one of the most prominent names in EDM. His tenth studio album, Noise vs Beauty, was released in June
of this year. Everyone has their own taste in DJs, so it’s hard to say who is most popular and what songs are hits. Other big names in EDM include; Skrillex, Excision, Paper Diamond, Borgore, Zeds Dead, Zedd, Kaskade and Steve Aoki. It’s changing lives. It’s giving people a reason to come together. It’s an era of peace, love, unity and respect. It’s a place to feel at home.
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
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Showdown at Blakeslee Stadium CHUCK ABBOTT Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks are coming off of an impressive 24-
21 overtime victory last Saturday against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. However, their opponent this week, the University of Minnesota, Duluth Bulldogs, is their hardest game of the year, according to coach Hoffner.
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Quarterback Ricky Lloyd (8) took the majority of the snaps last Saturday and completed 13 of his 25 passing attempts for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
“It is without a doubt our toughest game of the year so far. The Bulldogs do a great job running the football and stopping the run which are two huge keys to success come playoff time,” Hoffner said. Coming into this game with a 13-0 record, the Bulldogs are on a roll with a 25-21 comeback win against Northwest Missouri State and a 48-45 shootout against no. 1 seed in the region Ouachita Baptist that took extra time to decide the winner. This game is headed near instant classic territory as the no. 1 and no. 2 ranked teams in the country throughout the season are set to square off at Blakeslee Stadium at 12 p.m. this upcoming Saturday. The Mavericks want a big crowd to create homefield advantage, so if you want to go to the game, coach Hoffner will be in the Centennial Student Union today from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. handing out free ticket vouchers for the game. The Bulldogs are lead by star running back Logan Lauters. He has carried their rushing attack all year and will try to continue his success against the fierce run-stopping defense of the Mavericks. Lauters had an impressive game against Ouachita Baptist, totaling 173 total yards of offense and found the end zone 3 separate times. On the year, Lauters has rushed for 1,448 yards and 14
touchdowns. MSU will have to blow up the UMD offensive line and push them back if they want to stop Lauters from having yet another big day on the ground. “He’s a very special player not
only because of his ability to get yards after initial contact, but he really excels at his field vision
FOOTBALL • Page 24
umdbulldogs.com Quarterback Drew Bauer actually caught the game-winning reception in overtime to defeat Ouachita Baptist 48-45 last Saturday.
Nanooks try to cool off no. 2 Mavericks DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team made program history on Monday when they moved up from the no. 7 team in Division I men’s hockey to the no. 2 spot. The no. 2 ranking is the highest the program has ever received in their Division I history, with seventh being the previous program high, recorded this season and two seasons ago during Mike Hastings’ first season leading the program. The Mavericks have been ranked among the top 20 in the country for the vast majority of the past two seasons, but cracking the top five shows that this team is a legitimate threat, not a team that can just flirt with success. The past two seasons, MSU
got off to slow starts early in the season and had to push through to the end to make the NCAA tournament. This season, the Mavs put that behind them and got off to the right start. After going 2-2 in their first four games against NebraskaOmaha and Minnesota-Duluth, the Mavericks have won nine of their last 10 games on their way to an 11-3-0 record and the top ranking in the NCAA playoff rankings. The only other game the Mavericks dropped was at Bowling Green, when they split the weekend series against the Falcons. All three of MSU’s losses came to teams ranked among the top 15 in the country, revealing that the Mavs have seemed to finally find that early season consistency they have been look-
MEN’S HOCKEY • Page 26
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter Senior forward Max Gaede produced two assists in last Friday’s victory over Lake Superior State.
22 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
Men’s track and field ready for bright 2014-2015 With some great young talent coming in and some veterans sprinkled here and there, the men’s track and field team look to produce another 2013-2014 season.
Anthony Gustafson
Conference outdoor Champion Khalil Jor’Dan. Not to mention the other talents of team that contribute points. In all, the Mavericks have a lot of returning depth and solid group of incoming young freshman and a very strong group of transfers to rely on throughout the season. Coach Dilling and Coach Ahonen have already set the standards high for the team with a National title in sight. After last year’s accomplishments it is very much in reach.
the runner up in high jump at the indoor conference meet last year will bring his talents along with
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD • Page 26
Photo Courtesy of Minnesota State Athletics Sophomore Myles Hunter (top) broke the Division II freshman record in the 60-meter hurdles last season.
DENZELL CASTRO-OATS Staff Writer The Men’s track and field team led by second year head coach Jim Dilling will be in action at Myers Filed House for their first official meet of the season. Dilling is looking to further top where he left off last year. Through the 2013-2014 campaign the team won both the indoor and outdoor NSIC Championship meets. They placed an impressive 4th place at indoor Nationals earning them AllAmerican honors where they were able to qualify 7 individuals and a relay team. As for outdoor nationals the
Mavericks were only able to qualify 3 individuals but placed 8th overall in the competition where all three Maverick’s earned All-American honors. Above all the Mavericks totaled 15 All Americans, 4 National runner ups, and One National Champion. It seems as though it may be hard to top that this year but the team is determined to do just that. Returners for the Mavericks include a plenty talented group. Now a sophomore, Myles Hunter, holds the fastest time for a freshman in Division 2 history in the 60m Hurdles will be returning to the track. He is joined by senior Anthony Gustufson who is the reigning champion in
Frank Veldman This jumper took second in the high jump at the NSIC Indoor Championships last year by clearing a 6’9” jump.
the indoor 200m dash. Sophomore Frank Veldman, who was
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 23
Sports
College football playoffs: Who’s in, who’s out? In the first season of the college football tournament, the first four teams to be picked will be summoned this Sunday at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN. TOMMY WIITA Staff Writer It is a different kind of season this year for college football, as the new college football playoff system is going to be seen this
season. The biggest question going forward is what four teams will earn the honors of battling each other for the championship this season. Will the Alabama Crimson Tide be able to recover after last season’s fall against
nola.com (top) rantsports.com (bottom)
the Auburn Tigers? Can Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles repeat? What about Heisman-hopeful quarterback Marcus Mariota and the high flying Oregon Ducks? I have my predictions of what the NCAA football playoffs will look like after the selection show on Sunday. #1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE The Crimson Tide have undoubtedly returned to their number one spot they usually possess each year in college football. After a 55-44 win over the then 15th ranked Auburn Tigers, all they need to do is capture the SEC Championship game against 16th ranked Missouri Tigers. The Tide could be the only SEC team represented, which is a change for college football as that conference is considered one of if not the best in the NCAA. Alabama has had a steady offense all season, with Heismanhopeful wide receiver Amari Cooper leading the charge. Cooper has had a tremendous season, catching 103 balls for 1,573 yards (2nd in FBS) and 14 touchdowns. He is projected to be a high draft pick in the NFL draft is he chooses to forego his senior season. Alabama has done enough on both sides of the ball to claim the first seed in the college football playoff if they earn a win against Missouri Saturday. #2 OREGON DUCKS Here is also a team looking for redemption this season af-
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ter some late losses last season. Marcus Mariota has been more than a special player for the Ducks’ high powered offense. Mariota is pretty much a lock for the Heisman this season, as the junior quarterback has thrown for 3,470 yards, 36 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Ducks play the 8th ranked Arizona Wildcats on Saturday for the PAC-10 Championship. The Ducks just have to get past the upset-minded Wildcats and they
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will claim that second seed in the playoff. Mariota will be the key to the Oregon Ducks’ success, as their defense is ranked 92nd overall in defense this year. They have averaged to score almost 46 points a game, which is 4th in the nation. The Ducks have one loss on the season, which happened to be against the Arizona Wildcats on October 2nd. #3 TEXAS-CHRISTIAN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL • Page 24
24 • MSU Reporter
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
COLLEGE FOOTBALL “It is a different kind of season this year for college football, as the new college football playoff system is going to be seen.”
MSU FOOTBALL “Which quarterback that can make the fewer mistakes in this game will determine the outcome.”
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foxsports.com Trevone Boykin has a 59.3 completion percentage 3,254 yards and 26 touchdowns.
UNIVERSITY HORNED FROGS TCU has made their season into gold this year, as they were not really a team that was projected to look out for in 2014. Key wins against Oklahoma and Kansas State propelled them into where they are today. Their final game is this Saturday against the 2-9 Iowa State Cyclones. As long as they do not have a meltdown they should make the 3rd seed in the playoffs this season. TCU has had a well balanced team on offense and defense. TCU’s one loss this season was to Baylor, as Baylor is hoping for some luck and a win this weekend to sneak into the playoff. TCU has actually averaged more points a game this season than Oregon, as their
passing offense lead by junior Trevone Boykin has propelled them all season. The Horned Frogs have quietly moved up all season, as the coaching by Gary Patterson has given them a legitimate chance to win the Championship. #4 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES Never have a seen a team been capable of pulling out the comefrom-behind victory what seems to be every week, as Florida State should find their way into the college playoff. They play a very good Georgia Tech team for the ACC Championship game on Saturday, and if it’s like anything like how their season has gone it should come down to the wire. The Seminoles are led by
the troublesome Jamies Winston, who has put up up-and-down numbers so far this season. My prediction is for Florida State to get the win against Georgia Tech, as their undefeated record is also on the line. Their last three games were only won by five points or less against non-ranked ACC teams (Miami (FL), Boston College and Florida). The Seminoles are towards the middle of the pack when it comes to offense and defense this season, as they are have been labeled as the comeback kids this season. We will have to see how long their luck lasts, as hopefully it lasts to beat the Yellow Jackets Saturday.
and knowledge of the blocking schemes in front of him,” Hoffner said. The matchup I am really looking forward to seeing is the vision of Lauters versus the runstopping ability of linebacker Tyler Henderson, who is coming off of one of the best games of his career with 13 tackles. The two will see a lot of each other throughout the game, and both will be looking to have similar games compared to last week. At quarterback, the Mavericks will be facing a dual-threat player in Drew Bauer, who has thrown for 24 touchdowns but also has rushed for 877 yards and 12 touchdowns as well. The key for the Maverick defense in stopping Bauer will be to keep him contained and make him throw from the pocket to make him one-dimensional. For the Mavericks, there is still a bit of uncertainty as to which quarterback will take the field on Saturday. Ricky Lloyd is coming off a solid game both passing and running, but
Pieruccini has started ever since the Augustana game. Coach told me that the reason Pieruccini didn’t start was because he was a little banged up, tried to go and could not, and with Lloyd’s performance against Pittsburg State, Hoffner has a tough decision to make on who to start. Whichever quarterback plays, I expect to see a lot of scrambles out of the pocket and for either quarterback to look to extend plays with their legs, as Ouachita Baptist quarterback Kiehl Fraizer had great success doing so with 295 yards through the air and 105 yards on the ground. PREDICTION: These two teams are eerily similar in play style. Both UMD and MSU run the ball extremely well and stop the run with equal dominance. I think those two facets of the game cancel out and it will come down to quarterback play down the stretch. Whichever quarterback can make fewer mistakes in this game will determine the outcome. MSU 27, UMD 24.
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
R EPORTER PICK ‘EM | W EEK #14 COWBOYS @ BEARS
JOEY DENTON Sports Editor DENZELL CASTRO-OATS Staff Writer CHUCK ABBOTT Staff Writer LUKE LONIEN Staff Writer TOMMY WIITA Staff Writer DEREK LAMBERT Staff Writer
STEELERS @ BENGALS
RAMS @ REDSKINS
GIANTS @ TITANS
PANTHERS @ SAINTS
JETS @ VIKINGS
RAVENS @ DOLPHINS
COLTS @ BROWNS
BUCS @ LIONS
TEXANS @ JAGUARS
BILLS @ BRONCOS
CHIEFS @ CARDS
SEAHAWKS @ EAGLES
49ERS @ RAIDERS
PATRIOTS @ CHARGERS
FALCONS @ PACKERS
Thursday, December 4, 2014
MSU Reporter • 25
Sports
Heeeeeeeeeeee’s Baaaaaaaaaack Bust out your no. 48 jerseys, Torii Hunter has re-signed with the Twins. LUK E LONIEN Staff Writer Torii Hunter has resigned with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year, $10.5 million contract with a no trade clause, meaning Hunter has control of whom he would be traded to if the Twins were looking to deal him in late July. Hunter was the Twins 1st round pick in 1993. This is something many Twins fans have been waiting for since Hunter’s departure after the 2007 season. In 2014, Hunter hit .289 with 17 HR and 83 RBI, which is pretty good for a 39 year-old outfielder, but many people are disappointed in the Twins for bringing back an aged outfielder whose best days are behind him. His defense is not where it used to be, in fact he is now considered to be a bad defensive player by almost every defensive metric out there. His slash line is average, which does not excuse his $10.5 million salary, but what does is his leadership. He is here to be a charismatic leader and mentor for the loaded farm system. He will be the first charismatic leader on the Twins since he left in ’07. For some Twins fan, this was the day we all have been dreaming of. Our leader is back in action, in the uniform in which we hold most dear to use. Hunter said himself that his team has a lot more talent than the 2002 team that one an AL Central Division title, but it is lacking the
drive and willingness to be better. Hunter will be able to get that drive out of all the Twins players, and maybe will take the monkey off Joe Mauer, who is looking to redefine his swing. To me, this $10.5 million was going to be used on Hunter or on no one at all. The Twins are notorious for bringing back talent at the tail-end of their careers, like when the Twins brought in Paul Molitor to mentor a young 20-year-old by the name of Torii Hunter. This is that and more. The Twins will be looking for Hunter to be productive on a day-to-day basis on the field for the 2015 season, but in addition to that, I believe this contract was offered at such a high price because the Twins want Hunter to stay after his playing career is over. The Twins organization will find some way to keep Hunter around whether it is as a coach or a man in the broadcast booth. For those wanting the Twins to make a push for a top dollar pitcher, that was never going to happen. Expect the Twins to go after players like Justin Masterson or Francisco Liriano to solidify the rotation with Phil Hughes at the helm. What Hunter brings to the table as a baseball player is so much more than average outfielder; he is a leader that the Twins have been missing out on since 2007. A lot of young talent needs leadership, and Hunter is the right man for the job. Having
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Hunter in Minnesota just feels right. “I always told you, Minnesota was my here…me coming here was a no brainer” Hunter said at a press conference Tuesday. “I promise you, my last stop is with the Twins. I’m not playing anywhere else.” So bust out the Homer Hankeys, our leader is coming home.
Torii Hunter Twins Career (1999-2007) Year BA Runs Home Runs RBI SB 1999 .255 52 9 35 10 2000 .280 44 5 44 4 2001 .261 82 27 92 9 2002 .289 89 29 94 23 2003 .250 83 26 102 6 2004 .271 79 23 81 21 2005 .269 63 14 56 23 2006 .278 86 31 98 12 2007 .287 96 28 107 18
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26 • MSU Reporter
Sports
MEN’ HOCKEY ing for. While the season is still young and there is plenty of hockey left to play, there is plenty to be excited about in Mankato. This weekend, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks comes to town on Friday for a weekend series with the Mavericks. The Nanooks started out hot this season, posting a 6-0 record to begin the year, and were even ranked among the top 20 early in the season. However, UAF has tailed off quite a bit, and have fallen to a 7-7 record, including a 2-6 record in the WCHA. For the Mavs, there is plenty on the line this weekend. Last season, MSU trailed Ferris State University the entire season until the final weekend of the regular season when the Mavericks had a chance to tie FSU for a share of the MacNaughton Cup as regular season champions of the WCHA, falling one point short after a tie against Michigan Tech. This weekend, the Mavs can put themselves atop the WCHA with a sweep over the Nanooks. A series split would tie MSU with Michigan Tech for first place in the conference, but that’s hardly the goal in mind. Riding a six-game win streak, the Mavericks look to extend that streak to eight and take their place at the top of the WCHA before a nonconference series against Princeton next weekend.
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So what do Maverick fans need to know about the Nanooks? Although UAF lost Cody Kunyk, last season’s WCHA scoring champion, to the NHL, the Nanooks have gotten by with scoring goals throughout their entire roster. 15 players have scored at least one goal for Fairbanks, with 10 players scoring more than one goal. Sophomore forward Marcus Basara leads the way with seven tallies on the year, and junior center Tyler Morley has recorded 11 assists on the year and has 13 points in 12 games played. The question mark for UAF may be who starts between the pipes. Sophomore goaltender Davis Jones has seen the majority of minutes for the Nanooks, playing in eight games this season, but senior Sean Cahill has also seen five games, and junior John Keeney has played two. While none of the Fairbanks goaltenders have statistics that are worth noting, Jones has played the tougher opponents thus far for UAF, and could likely get the nod between the pipes given his experience this season. For the Mavericks, goaltending is the least of their worries. Junior goaltender Stephon Williams has posted a 1.52 goals against average this season and a .931 save percentage on his way to an 11-1 record. Williams, who lost the starting job last year to
Thursday, December 4, 2014
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD “The Mavericks will open up with and host the Chuck Peterson Open in Myers Field House Saturday.” continued from 22 Although, currently, the Maverick team stands 15th in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll. The Mavericks stand behind a 13th ranked Tiffin who the Mavericks topped in the last event at last year’s National Meet earning them 4th Place. But they stand in front of 18th ranked Souix Falls who captured a respectable season last year. The Mavericks will open up with and host the Chuck Peterson Open in Myers Field house December 6th.
Photo Courtesy of Minnesota State Athletics Justin McMurtry ran a career-best 51.64 in the 400-meter dash at the MSU Alumni Open last season.
sophomore Cole Huggins, has returned to his stonewall ways and this week was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after posting two shutouts in a sweep over Lake Superior State University. Up front, the Mavericks have also been finding their offense from nearly every player on the roster. Seven players for MSU have posted double-digit point totals, and it seems on any given night, anyone can bury the puck when the Mavs need it. Their depth is their strength up front,
Trevor Cokley • MSU Reporter
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proven by their team offense, which is third in the nation with an average of 3.79 goals per game. This could be an issue for UAF, who has the 40th ranked team defense in the nation, allowing 2.86 goals per game on average. MSU looks to extend their winning streak to eight games this weekend while the Nanooks look to climb back above the .500 mark. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
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Thursday, December 4, 2014
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