NDSU Spectrum | October 21, 2021

October 21, 2021 | Volume 125 Issue 9

Variety Page 4

Pass or Purchase: Goodr Sunglasses

Opinion Page 7

American revolution on the horizon

Opinion Page 6

Trey Lance: first NFL start

Bison win sixth straight, welcome Bears to town Saturday Ian Longtin Sports Editor

The Bison football team played spoiler in Normal, Illinois last Saturday taking down Missouri Valley rival Illinois State 20-0 on the Redbirds homecoming.

This was the Herd’s second shutout win of the season as the NDSU

defense continues to dominate FCS competition.

Bison defensive tackle Eli Mostaert made life miserable for Redbird quarterback Bryce Jefferson.

Mostaert finished the day with 3.5 sacks, as he and the rest of the Bison defensive front forced Jefferson to get rid of

the ball early, resulting in an abysmal 4 for 18 stat line for the Redbird signal caller.

The Bison offense, while once again unspectacular, did enough to walk away with the team’s sixth straight win to start the season.

Bison quarterback Quincey Patterson led

the way for the Bison carrying the ball 18 times for 100 yards.

Once it became clear the Redbirds simply could not move the ball on the Bison defense, the Bison got a up a few scores and leaned heavily on their run game.

The Bison passing offense could not quite

Fargo Record Fair 2021 at Fargo Brewing Company Grant Ayers Variety Editor

Calling music lovers of all genres far and wide: the annual celebration of everyone’s favorite hipster platform is back.

The Fargo Record Fair will be returning for another year of celebrating the creation and success of vinyl records, while also supporting local vendors and lesserknown artists.

Having started the Fargo Record Fair over a decade ago in 2009, it’s hard to believe that Dean Sime would be showcasing the popular event 12 years to music connoisseurs both younger and older.

With the event being absent from 2020 due to the pandemic, locals are excited to discover new music and support small vendors once again in a safe environment.

While they may have been restricted last year, efforts are being made for this to be their biggest year yet in both

sales and turnout.

The event is all-ages, with adult beverages being available to those of legal age.

Furthermore, the cost of admission is $5 for those in attendance, along with extra costs for the records and drinks.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, and continue through the day until 6 p.m. at the Fargo Brewing Company. Aside from the discovery of new music, there are plenty of other attractions and reasons to attend. Fargo Brewing Company will be offering its diverse variety of everchanging flavored beer and ciders throughout the event.

With over thirty vendors at the event, there is a wide array of music and other items to select from, while also supporting local businesses. Aside from physical vinyl records, CDs and merchandise will also be available for sale.

During the first six

months of 2021, U.S. vinyl record sales have grown 108% according to MRC Data. With this peculiar upward trend of the sale of vinyl records over the past few years, there is no better time than now to hop on the trend and purchase some records from small vendors and businesses.

Simply put, this will be an event any FargoMoorhead music lover won’t want to miss out on. There’s no better time to support the NDSU Bison Football

team on their game day and then support F-M vendors and expand your personal music collection and catalog.

With everyone missing out on the fun last year, the group couldn’t be more thrilled to be back up and running. Sime, founder of the Fargo Record Fair, stated, “We are excited to get the Fargo Record Fair going again after missing it in 2020. It will be great to see the area music fans after a long couple years.”

Co-News Editor

On Tuesday, North Dakota State University (NDSU) hosted national figure in suicide awareness, Kevin Hines, and the presentation of the Green Bandana Project.

Hines started off his presentation by speaking against suicide after his own attempt to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in Sept. 2000. He was one of 36 people to ever survive the fall.

The Green Bandana Project is an organization that works to provide

Continued on Page 8

R. Kelly conviction highlights problematic media Can you ethically consume media made by sexual predators?

Alex Light Photo Editor

Kevin Hines speaks at NDSU about suicide prevention useful resources to anyone who may be struggling with mental health or suicide. This organization aims to destroy the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage open conversations.

The Green Bandana Project began in January 2016 and has grown to 40 campuses around the nation.

Colin Bass founded the Bandana Project at his campus, University of WisconsinMadison. Since then students have joined the organization and helped change climates of mental health by activating students who

the passing attack may be asked to make a few plays that could decide their season.

The passing offense must find a way to get in sync before that time comes.

But for now, the Bison can enjoy the hard earned victory

Miami Police Department | Wikimedia Commons | Photo Courtesy

‘Fargo Record Fair’ Facebook |Photo Courtesy

Alissa Knudson

find their rhythm, which continues to be a theme as the season nears its halfway point. For now, the Bison can continue to control the ball and rely on their defense to force turnovers and give their offense short fields. However, when playoff time comes around, Patterson and

The Green Bandana Project table are already passionate about eliminating this stigma, stated the Bandana Project.

Halie Van Vleet is the Green Bandana student leader at NDSU. She has

NDSU |Photo Courtesy

found her work with the Green Bandana Project to be an extremely enlightening and inspiring experience.

Continued on Page 2

It seems as though the list of musicians and celebrities accused and convicted of sexual assault and harassment grows longer day by day; ranging from Harvey Weinstein to James Franco.

Over the past few weeks, I have heard countless conversations and discussions specifically about how we all need to stop listening to R. Kelly in the midst of his sentencing. Now, this isn’t a new conversation.

Most of these thoughts started popping up as far back as the allegations against Woody Allen and then were really brought forward with the emergence of the #MeToo movement.

Up until about two or three years ago, I believed it was necessary to separate the art from the artist; which, in most cases, I still think is okay to do.

However, I ended up meeting people who

have been victims of sexual assault themselves and doing so changed my mind.

Separating art from artist is problematic for multiple reasons.

Positions like these blur reality and give further power and recognition to individuals who have potentially harmed others.

More than this, most people know someone who has been a victim of sexual violence, and, most people also know someone who is a perpetrator of violence. By separating art from artist, you send the message to victims that their stories aren’t that moving to you, and you tell perpetrators that their behavior is acceptable to a certain extent.

We are now arriving at a point in history where perpetrators of sexual violence and harassment are being treated in a way Continued on Page 6

News

2

Kevin Hines speaks at NDSU about suicide prevention The Green Bandana Project and Kevin Hines speak about suicide and mental health awareness

Continued from front cover Students who work and are trained in the organization receive a green bandana to show others around them that they are there to help.

According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

On average there are about 130 suicides a day.

Students aged 15-24 are in the highest risk group for a majority of mental illnesses, though one in four will not seek help or treatment, according to the Bandana Project.

Kevin Hines spoke to NDSU students, telling his story and the importance of preventing suicide.

He urges students to not act on suicidal thoughts and to seek help when you need it. “‘I need help’, get used to saying it. Someday you might need to and it’s okay if you do,” said Hines

“The Green Bandana is a quiet sign of solidarity,” said Vleet.

“Meaning, without saying words, people who wear the green bandana are telling others that they are a safe, trustworthy and knowledgeable individual who is there to help.” “ S u i c i d a l idealizations are the greatest liars we know,” Hines said.

Hines speaks about the importance of education on mental health as a society. By asking someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, it gives people permission to speak on their pain, and the pain shared becomes the pain they had, said Hines.

“We, as a society, need to learn how to be bold and ask those questions or we will never know the true answers,” he said. Hines says that everyone has

an obligation and responsibility to all people. “We are not here for personal betterment or gain,” Hines explains, “what we are not here to do is damage or hurt each other with our words or our actions.”

Kevin stated that when he was experiencing suicidal thoughts, he thought that no one cared about his life, he now knows that everyone cares. When Hines first jumped from the bridge, he instantly regretted his decision, like many of the survivors have felt.

In that moment they had recognized that their thoughts did not have to become their actions.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or actions, visit https:// www.thebandanaproj. org/general-resources to find resources or

scan the QR code.

People who are interested in learning more about the Green Bandana Project should visit https:// www.thebandanaproj. org/ or scan the QR

October 21st, 2021

First e-cigarette to earn FDA approval in the US

One brand of e-cig gets approval, but that doesn’t mean the 6.2 million other applications will Anne Kesler

Head News Editor On Oct. 12, The Food and Drug Administration announced their approval of British American Tobacco to allow it’s Vuse Solo e-cigarettes to continue selling in the United States.

According to CNBC News, this marks the first e-cigarette brand to be approved in the U.S. However, the approval doesn’t extend to some flavored products under the Vuse Solo Brand.

Vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs) and e-pipes are some of the many terms used to describe electronic nicotine delivery systems.

These products use an “e-liquid” that may contain nicotine, as well as varying compositions of flavorings, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin and other ingredients.

In Aug. 2016, the regulatory authority of the FDA was extended to cover e-cigarettes through the agency’s deeming rule.

The FDA plans to review 6.5 million applications from about 500 companies. For smaller suppliers like Great American Vapes, tens of thousands of applications have been denied due to the flavored vaping products, specifically the tastes that appeal to

teens and those under 21.

Decisions for brands like Juul, the most popular e-cigarette at one point, are still pending. The company switched from selling fruit flavors in 2019 to its current tobacco and menthol flavor.

Usage among young adults Federal data from 2019 found that more than 1 in 4 high school students had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, up from 11.7% just two years prior.

According to the CDC, 19.6% of high school students and 4.7% of middle schoolers reported current use of e-cigs.

According to the 2020 North Dakota Student Wellness and Perceptions Survey, in the prior 30 days: 5.40% of NDSU students used vaping/ecigarettes on 1-2 days.

3.20% used vaping/ e-cigarettes on 1019 days, 1.40% used vaping/e-cigarettes on 20-29 days. and 4.40% used vaping/e-cigarettes on all 30 days.

Of those reporting having ever used vaping/e-cigarettes, 41.80% reported first using vaping/ecigarettes from 18-20 years old.

Drugabuse.gov claims that there are three top reasons as to why young adults are drawn to the new technology. Wanting to experiment is the top reason, followed by the liking of flavors and lastly they are able to hide them easier

in places that don’t allow their use, such as school classrooms, bathrooms, and other places around campus.

Emily Hegg, the Assistant Director of Health Promotion at NDSU Student Health Service, consulted with the Tobacco Cessation Coordinator with the North Dakota Tobacco Prevention and Control Program on the effects of ENDS. “Frequent use of these products can lead to negative effects in the lungs and heart.

Short-term effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, but using tobacco also affects one’s sense of taste and smell. Tobacco products negatively affect lung functions, one of them being the body’s first defenses against bacteria and respiratory viruses.

Nicotine exposure can affect memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention and mood.”

“Often studies promoted are about switching from a combustible cigarette to an ENDS/vape.

Switching isn’t quitting,” said NDSU Student Health Service.

“The addiction remains — only the device has changed.”

There are no longterm studies on ENDS use because not enough time has passed, and the devices and e-liquids are constantly changing.

Despite the FDA’s approval of some Vuse Solo products, Student Health Service’s stance

toward e-cigarette use does not change.

NDSU’s policy 153 Smoke-Free Facilities prohibits both e-cigarette (vaping) and smoking on NDSU grounds and University buildings, residence halls, apartments and enclosed structures.

Who to reach out to for help and steps you can take to stop your addiction NDSU’s Student Health Service pushes students to utilize the services they offer.

“If students are ready to quit tobacco or are wanting to learn more about their options, Student Health Service has Tobacco Treatment Specialists who can help students along the cessation journey,” Hegg said.

Specialists can provide education and guidance, discuss Nicotine Replacement Therapy and connect students to NDQuits.

Students can call (701) 231-7331 or schedule an appointment on the Student Health Portal.

“No one needs to quit alone — there is help,” Hegg said.

There are also opportunities to seek help through peer educators who coordinate education and opportunities on campus for students to learn about and encourage cessation of e-cigarettes, vaping, tobacco, chew and all forms of nicotine use.

For those who do not wish to seek help, Healthline offers nine steps to quit vaping.

code.

Students that are looking to get involved with the NDSU Green Bandana Project should visit https:// w w w. n d s u . e d u / reslife/get_involved/ residence_hall_ association/green_ bandana_project/ or scan the QR code.

Young adult man takes a hit from his vape.

Anne Kesler |The Spectrum

the Spectrum | October 21, 2021

3

The busy national day filled month of October Courtney Entzi Contributing Writer

With the end of October looming, it is easy for most to notice the month of October is a busy month for national holidays. All of the following national days and information is sourced from the National Day Calendar, located in Mandan.

The month started off with National Pumpkin Spice Day, marking the start of the fall season.

This day aligned with international coffee day as well.

On Oct. 2 custodial workers were at the front of recognition.

Often behind the scene, the Oct. 2 was meant to thank those who keep things clean and efficiently running.

Oct. 3 brought National Boyfriend Day. The 3rd brought appreciation posts and gifts from many loving girlfriends to their boyfriends.

National Taco Day was Oct. 4. According to the National Day Calendar, in 1964, Roberto L. Gomez established The National Taco Council.

Oct. 5 was World Teachers Day and Oct. 6, National Coaches Day. Oct. 7 was National Inner Beauty Day. This day focuses on raising awareness and supporting victims of human trafficking.

On Oct. 8, National Hero Day honors the people we look up to and who inspire us to be the best person we can possibly be, according to the National Day Calendar.

“In the United States, nearly 1 in 200 children are diagnosed with Pediatric Acuteonset Neuropsychiatric Syndromes and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.

PANS/ PANDAS Awareness Day on Oct 9 sets out

to increase research, education and support to those affected by the condition,” according to National Day Calendar.

For more information on PANS or PANDAS, visit pandasppn.org.

Oct. 10 was World Mental Health Day. According to the National Day Calendar, about 4% of the world’s population has a form of anxiety disorder, or 18% of the U.S. population.

For those experiencing issues with mental health there are many resources available through student health services as well as student counseling services.

The national lifeline for suicide prevention is 800-273-8255.

Students can access help at https://www. ndsu.edu/counseling/.

Oct. 11 was National Coming Out Day. This day is dedicated to raising awareness for those within the LGBTQ+ community to feel safe living openly. Oct. 11 was also National Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “President Biden issued a proclamation on Friday to observe this Oct. 11 as a day to honor Native Americans, their resilience and their contributions to American society throughout history, even as they faced assimilation, discrimination and genocide spanning generations.

The move shifts focus from Columbus Day, the federal holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus, which shares the same date as Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year,” said NPR. Oct. 12 is National Farmers Day. “In the midst of harvest-season, the day pays tribute to the men, women and families

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who put food in the grocery stores and on our tables every day,” according to National Calendar Day. Oct. 13 was National No Bra Day. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month which both come with the purpose of bringing awareness to Breast Cancer and those it affects.

Be Bald and Be Free Day is Oct. 14.

The day is meant as a celebration for those who shave their heads or those who experience hair loss, whether it’s natural or from medical treatments.

“National Day Calendar is the authoritative source for fun, unusual and unique National Days. We now track nearly 1,500 National Days, National Weeks and National Months.

In addition, our research team continues to uncover the origins of existing National Days as well as discover new, exciting days for everyone to celebrate,” said The National Day Calendar.

Oct. 15 is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness day.

“Pregnancy loss and infant death may include but are not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS or the death of a newborn.

Since 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, many families know the grief of this kind of loss,” said the National Day Calendar.

The 16th was

Several of the National Day Calendar team members proudly showcase their national day wall while sporting matching shirts.

National Dictionary Day. Oct. 17 was National Black Poetry Day. “Black Poetry Day on Oct. 17 honors past and present black poets. The day also commemorates the birth of the first published black poet in the U.S. Jupiter Hammon was born in Long Island, N.Y., on Oct. 17, 1711,” said National Day Calendar.

The 18th was National No Beard Day, the 19th was National Kentucky Day and the 20th National Chicken and Waffles Day. For the rest of the month students can look forward to National Get Smart About Credit Day on the 21st, Make a Dog’s Day on the 22nd, and National Mole Day on the 23rd.

The 24th is United Nations Day celebrating its founding in 1945. “The United Nations works for the entire human family of seven billion people and cares for the Earth, our one and only home,” SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said.

For all the foodies out there, Oct. 25 is National Greasy Food day, followed

by the 26th, National Pumpkin Day. According to the National Day Calendar, “National Civics Day on Oct. 27 celebrates the importance of civic education all across America.

The observance also commemorates the date the Federalist Papers were first published on Oct. 27, 1787. These documents served as a foundation for the United States Constitution.”

As the end of the month comes, there are four national holidays left. National First Responders Day, National Cat Day and National Candy Corn day will come respectively on the 28th, 29th, and 30th.

The last day in October is a very well known and widely celebrated holiday, Halloween.

“The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of

National Day Calendar | Photo Courtesy

Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.

Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trickor-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats,” According to The History Channel.

The month of October is a busy one, not all National Holidays are featured above as there are often many on one single day. Above is just a few of the national holidays in October.

For more information on National Days year round The National Day Calendar can be found at https:// nationaldaycalendar. com/.

“National Day Calendar is the authoritative source for fun, unusual and unique National Days.

We now track nearly 1,500 National Days, National Weeks and National Months. In addition, our research team continues to uncover the origins of existing National Days as well as discover new, exciting days for everyone to celebrate,” said The National Day Calendar.

Variety

4

October 21st, 2021

Review: The hottest new Squid Game Anime binge - ‘Horimya’ Red Light or Green Light?

Name Pos

Haley Grisham Contributing Writer

Everyone has the side they show to the world and the side they only show to those they trust. The anime, “Horimiya” perfectly shows this through the lives of high schoolers.

Hori is a social butterfly and one of the most popular girls in class but at home, she is the main caretaker of her 5-year-old brother.

Miyamura is a shy quiet boy at school, but when he’s out of school he’s tough and almost unrecognizable. Fate has them meet, and the more they talk the more they realize they have more in common than they thought.

As a romance, a

slice-of-life anime is truly a great watch, and anyone who enjoys “Say ‘I Love You’” or “Erased” would love “Horimiya”. Much like “Say ‘I Love You’”, the show is pushed almost entirely by romance and drama, with very little filler material that doesn’t directly contribute to the show.

As with other animes in the same vein, “Horimiya” is only 13 episodes with no hope for a second season.

The show is based upon the web manga by the same name and was originally released between 2007 and 2011 by Hiroki Adachi under the name Hero on their website. The anime covers the entire

Horimiya Facebook | Photo Courtesy

story arc within the web manga, and even though it was very well received by fans in Jan. 2021 when it was released, there is no more source material for a season two to cover.

As of now, there has not been any mention of a season two, especially since season one ties up all loose ends with a happy ending.

In general, “Horimiya” is a great show to binge-watch on a weekend to just feel all those warm and fuzzy feelings. It’s the kind of show you want to watch while curled up with a warm cup of hot cocoa as the season starts to change.

If there’s one thing that social media has managed to teach me over the last few years it’s that if you begin to see a multitude of people posting about a TV show, it’s probably one you should be watching. It’s the sole reason why I’ve watched and fallen in love with “Stranger Things” and “Outer Banks”.

I’m not somebody that can sit down and just start a show, I need to hear good things about it on social media or elsewhere.

So, naturally, when I started to see people talking about “Squid Game”, I was intrigued.

Couple that with my roommate turning on the first episode of the show one day, and I had myself a new show to watch.

The premise of the South Korean show almost sounds stupid: 456 people who’ve had their fair share of bad breaks are willingly kidnapped and taken to a secret location where they risk their lives

by playing children’s games for 45.6 billion won, equivalent to upwards of 35 million dollars.

After watching the first episode, my feelings toward the show were quite conflicted. On one hand, it was incredibly intriguing. I like to describe the show as the result of the “Hunger Games”, “Saw” and “Escape Room” all having a baby. But on the other hand, it truly was like watching a car crash.

It was just so out there and something that you knew just wasn’t right, but you just couldn’t look away.

However, as I fell deeper and deeper into the series and inched closer to the finale, my intrigue in the show continued to grow. It does a phenomenal job of keeping you on the edge of your seat.

In a short amount of time, I found myself getting more and more attached to the characters, knowing that due to the premise of the show, the ending probably wouldn’t be

all that pretty, resulting in a heightening sense of anticipation with each episode.

Looking back, if there’s one thing about the show that really jumps off the page, it’s the fact that I truly have never watched anything like it. Although it has its similarities to the aforementioned “Hunger Games”, “Saw”, and others, it has elements that make it stand out.

For one, hearing songs like Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” while you’re watching people play kids’ games with deadly consequences is a bit strange. Couple that with the different backstories and intriguing subplots, you’ve got yourself a show that is sure to catch your attention.

All in all, I was satisfied with what “Squid Games” presented itself with. I immediately understood the hype and intrigue behind it and am somebody that would be 100% invested in a second season.

Rating: 8/10

Netflix Twitter |The Spectrum

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the Spectrum | October 21, 2021

Review: Mac Miller’s ‘Faces’

The critically acclaimed 2014 mixtape has finally made it to streaming services Grant Ayers Variety Editor

The age of the mixtape was a strange one, to say the least.

Rather than profiting off of musical releases, artists had, and still have, the opportunity to publicly release digital mixtapes for free through websites such as YouTube and DatPiff.

The mixtape format allows artists to pursue full musical creativity, as clearing samples isn’t required as the artist isn’t monetizing from their song or project. The only downside as the Internet continued to evolve is that the general public moved away from downloadable files on their iPods and transitioned towards digital streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music and TIDAL, among many others.

The mixtape era has disappeared in the age of dominating streaming services, but that doesn’t mean that there are some true gems buried deep within the internet from some of our generation’s most beloved artists.

Some of the most well-known artists that

went on famed mixtape runs include Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and the beloved Mac Miller.

Miller had a total of thirteen mixtapes that have been forgotten, excluding diehard Mac fans.

The underground rise of Mac Miller

While most were released under his name, there were others released under alteregos. For example, Miller created a darker beat tape under the title and name Delusional Thomas, as well as a jazz project under the pseudonym Lovestein & The Velvet Revival at the young age of 20.

When ‘Faces’ was originally released in 2014, it quickly became the most shared and discussed mixtape of this decade at the time.

Cemented in the hall of fame of mixtapes, it drifted away from public popularity as the masses moved towards monetizing streaming services.

With Mac’s devastating death in the fall of 2018, his family and estate took careful consideration with how they should move forward with the possible release of posthumous music.

Rather than following in the footsteps of

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Pop Smoke, Tupac or Juice WRLD’s estates with the release of partially finished songs and adding big-name features, the Miller estate took a more honorable path.

The estate made the decision to first release his nearly finished 2020 album ‘Circles’, therefore completing the “Swimming in Circles” concept that Mac originally set out to complete.

Following the companion album’s release, little was known of where the estate would go next, as it was an honorable decision to not capitalize on the abundance of unreleased material he left behind.

Rather than move forward with the plethora of demos and half-finished ideas, the family decided to clear the necessary samples and release Mac’s critically acclaimed mixtape ‘Faces’ for release on streaming services.

After years of hard work and effort from his family and musical team, the 2014 mixtape has finally arrived in his original vision for most of his fanbase to hear in full for the first time.

Netflix Twitter |The Spectrum

The re-released project was blessed with a newly updated, glossy album cover.

The release

The formal release premiered on Miller’s YouTube channel with a sentimental short film documentary, followed by the project in its entirety complete with psychedelic music videos created by his team.

Immediately after the premiere, the moment came that all fans have been waiting on for nearly eight years.

The mixtape begins

with “Inside Outside”, addiction that took a a track that’s become star too early. known as one of the most chilling intros Use the QR code on a mixtape to date. below to continue Over a psychedelic and reading from the forth upbeat instrumental, paragraph in “The Mac repeatedly chants Release” “should’ve died already.”

The statement alludes to the intimacy of this project and an introspective look at his life at the time, as well as the foreboding descent into drugs and

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Opinion

6

October 21st, 2021

Mission trip philosophy Are they hurtful or helpful to the communities they serve?

Abigail Faulkner Staff Writer

Ciudad Juarez, El Paso de Norte, or to us English speakers, Juarez Mexico. At one point the most violent city in the world, crime has been on the decline since 2010— not because the cartel has been dealt with, but because the gang wars in 2007 have ended with the Sinaloa Cartel currently reigning supreme.

There are a few other possible explanations for the decrease in crime, like the dismissal of dirty cops. Please forgive me if I may be so bold, but I don’t think Juarez may be the happiest place on earth, I think Disneyland still is the king of that hill.

So it’s not too surprising that when I walked out of church the other night I saw an opportunity to take a mission trip to Juarez. I get to spend my spring break constructing schools and helping out locals.

But in talking to my secular friends about missions it has come to my attention that not everyone has a positive mindset regarding missionaries. And sure, I can see how someone without a background in the church may feel negatively about it.

If my only reference when talking about missions were the Spanish missionaries of the 1760s or the shallow Instagram post of impoverished children people have “helped” in other countries, maybe I wouldn’t think so positively about it either.

So that leads me to the question that has encouraged me to write about this article: are missions ethical? Is that something I want to take part in? Because we should think critically here, myself included, I shouldn’t just believe something to be true because I grew up thinking it was good.

The meaning behind the mission I think that heart behind missions is true, and most Christians are just trying to carry out a great command to tell people of all nations what they have seen. Matthew 28: 1820 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, Christians are simply trying to put their faith into action.

To be a Christian in more than name only, which I think is admirable.

The potential harm That doesn’t mean that they are inherently without harm. The first being the possible negative consequences it may have on a local economy. Why hire someone locally for a job that foreigners will do for free?

Furthermore, they often bring donated goods like toys and clothing meaning local retailers will stop purchasing products from local textiles and toymakers.

There are also some other things to take into consideration, like not being considerate of local traditions. For example, Christianity being talked about in Mexico isn’t anything new. Missionaries have been working there for centuries now.

That being said, it would be nonsensical— stupid even—to send a mission trip the week of Nov. 1 to Mexico City.

Seeing as how Nov. 1 and 2 are Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, that would be silly. It’s also harmful to dismiss these traditions because they showcase a lot of important beliefs held

by Mexicans. Despite the macabre name, Dia de Los Muertos is not a sad holiday. It’s a day to celebrate those who are no longer with us and to deny that is to deny valuable Mexican culture.

All this to say, you can be Christian, you can believe in the resurrection of Jesus on the third day, and still, recognize that there is value in other cultures and holidays.

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R. Kelly conviction highlights problematic media Continued from Front Cover that they truly deserve, and victims are being heard at a seemingly higher rate.

This is more so true for predators who are famous and well known than the people who you might unknowingly interact with everyday. The point being that if convictions of sexual predators like R. Kelly — that are broadcast at the highest and most public level — aren’t enough to make you think about whether or not you should be listening to “Ignition,” then you’re telling that guy who raped an unconscious freshman that was too hopeless to report that you’re not a danger to them. Personally, I want to do all I can to let rapists know they’re not welcome near me.

While it might seem like a stretch to connect listening to a song

or watching a movie that has contributions from sexual criminals to the terrible crimes that happen daily and at a much less public level, I think the content we decide to consume speaks volumes as to who we are and what we stand for.

A blanket boycott of every musician and artist who has ever been accused and charged with some kind of sex crime would be amazing — to never have to give those predators another penny is a dream. However, this is not at all realistic or helpful to anyone, even the victims of those specific artists.

After all, they are still famous and most likely will not just fall off the face of the Earth.

Pete Davidson recently got attention for proposing a solution to these moral dilemmas

of what we can and can’t watch, listen to or enjoy. He suggested that if there is no way you can get around listening to a song by an artist from the list of abusers, you should simply donate a dollar to a charity that helps individuals who suffer from abuse.

While this method might seem outlandish at first, especially coming from a comedian, Davidson is asking us to reflect on what we consume and why we consume it. More than this, it’s a lot more beneficial to donate a dollar to charity than it is to outright boycott an artist — if it were possible for everyone, we should do both.

One thing that is also important to discuss with this topic are the individuals that we choose to use as examples. I recently had it

pointed out that when people are starting conversations surrounding sexual predators, it is often those that are also part of the BIPOC community that get exemplified.

I cannot even count the number of times throughout my life that I have heard R. Kelly or Bill Cosby used as the butt of a joke having to do with rape or sexual assaul; however, I could not say the same about Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen or Roman Polanski.

I’m not trying to say that their race is the only reason these individuals get exemplified; however, I do feel like a lot of the attitude toward specific celebrities does in fact have to do with their race, as well as the race of their victims.

Take R. Kelly, for example. In the early 2000s the sex tape of him with an underage girl engaging in explicit activities surfaced. It gathered a huge amount of attention, yet, to my knowledge there were never any real charges brought against him.

Scan the QR code to continue reading at ndsuspectrum.com

Miami Police Department | Wikimedia Commons |Photo Courtesy

R. Kelly was recently convicted and given a sentence of life in prison.

7

the Spectrum | October 21, 2021

What does the Bible say about ghosts?

And what it doesn’t say...

Abigail Faulkner Staff Writer

Are ghosts real? I am sure this is not the first time that question has been posed to you and it doesn’t help that the answer is often subjective. I personally have remained undecided. I have had paranormal experiences; experiences that despite my logical approach to problems I have not been able to explain.

But what if I push it a step further? Are ghosts real according to the Bible? The Bible has many things to say about the afterlife. And with the spooky season approaching, questions about ghosts and ghouls are on our minds, and I love to ask these kinds of questions.

Furthermore I am not the first Christian to ask this question. In the

gospel of Luke chapter 24, one of the disciples saw Jesus walking on water and the passage reads: “While Jesus’ disciples were talking about what had happened, Jesus appeared and greeted them. They were frightened and terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost.”

So if Jesus’ disciples get to ask this question, I feel you and I get to ask it too.

There is also one other mention of ghosts in the Bible; one that has scared me a little since the first time I read it.

When King Saul visits the witch of En Dor to speak to the prophet Samuel who had died.

King Saul was able to speak to Samuel but he would have been better off not seeking him out at all since God specifically commands not

seeking out the dead.

First Samuel 28 verses 3 through 20, a big chunk of text — basically, Samuel is like, “Why did you bring me back from the dead?” and then tells Saul that the next day he and his sons will join him in the afterlife. Pretty crazy shit there.

This exact passage is why I don’t mess around with tarot cards, mediums, psychics, witchcraft or anything else that falls under that umbrella. I have no interest in learning about my future because when Saul did it when he talked to a ghost, he died the next day.

That’s all without saying that if you believe the Bible to be true, you also believe that there are such things as demons. Jesus cast out demons from a man and when

he asked the demons what their names were they said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Which is, ya’ know, horrifying.

But as much evidence I have presented to you saying that there are ghosts, there is some evidence saying otherwise. Hebrews 9:27: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”.

This suggests that immediately after we die, we go to face judgment.

Other verses refer to death as “the long sleep.” The hardest part about this topic is the Bible doesn’t truly confirm or deny the existence of ghosts. If you believe the Bible to be true, then we can be sure that the devil and demons are real, but ghosts are a grey

area.

You can pull up countless passages, argue and compare, debate and converse but, ultimately this isn’t the kind of question that determines salvation.

And as a result, not a lot of information is available on that topic biblically.

What I can tell you is that I have had supernatural experiences.

And I do think there’s a world beyond this one that we cannot see; things that science can’t really explain.

I have had experiences like that. I have had them all over the country. I have heard footsteps and felt malicious entities. Whether those were ghosts or not I cannot say. As October continues I will be talking about some of these experiences here in the paper and for the

final special issue, the Spooktrum, the week of Halloween.

If I had to put money down on an answer, I would say no, there is no such thing as ghosts.

I think when we die, we are either going upstairs or downstairs.

However in terms of spirits, I believe we all have souls and are spiritual beings, but our souls do not linger once we have left this earth.

Which means that all the supernatural encounters I have had have been entities not of this world at all. So I would implore you, dear reader, to be extra careful when messing around with spirits because you never know who, or what, will answer your call.

Death penalty is a black mark on our nation U.S. sentencing its citizens to death is immoral Delaney Haloran Opinion Editor

The death penalty is a surprisingly controversial topic still in this country.

While defining moral rights and wrongs can be a murky business, by and large, I would say most people can say with confidence that murder is wrong — except of course when it’s governmentsanctioned.

Moral duplicity aside, the fraught system surrounding the death penalty was highlighted just a few weeks ago when Ernest Lee Johnson was put to death on Oct. 5 in Mo. In 1994, Johnson killed three people in a convenience

store, and while this crime is terrible, it was committed by an individual with intellectual disabilities.

Despite requests of clemency from the Pope and two members of congress, a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, communication skills described as “less than those of a five year-old” and signs of remorse, Johnson was killed by the state of Mo.; his final message being, “For all the people that has prayed for me I thank them.”

Johnson’s case is a heartbreaking example of what some of the worst consequences of the death penalty can be. Still, even while ignoring all the cases

A room where lethal injections are performed is a horrifying reminder of reality.

where the innocent and intellectually disabled are put to death, even when guilt is absolutely clear and the crime is horrendous, the death penalty as a practice is still wrong.

The innocent and disabled

Of course, the idea behind the death penalty is that it will deter future crime. While the accuracy of deterrence will be addressed later, it’s important to acknowledge how innocence in death penalty cases and intellectual disabilities complicate matters considerably.

The idea of being put to death for terrible crimes is meant to chill us to such a point that we would never even

CACorrections | Wikipedia|Photo Courtesy

consider attempting to commit them; however, what is really terrifying is the not-so-infrequent reality of innocent people being put to death after wrongful convictions.

It will never be clear just how many innocent individuals have been killed via the death penalty.

However, the Death Penalty Information Center has done considerable research that’s found at least 20 individuals who, upon further inspection, were likely innocent.

The stories of these innocent individuals are distressing — fathers falsely accused of killing their children, citizens tied to crimes only by the color of their skin and so many of them who insisted on their innocence right until the point where they were killed. It is in this way that, far from showing our nation not to commit terrible crimes, we show the world the brokenness of our system and the injustice in killing our own citizens.

Add to this the 44 individuals with intellectual disabilities that were put to death between 1976 and 2002, and you paint a very depressing picture of our history with the death penalty. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that executing people with intellectual disabilities violates the constitution. Still,

Johnson was killed only a few weeks ago.

In the same way we look back with shame at those 44 individuals who were sanctioned to die by the hands of a system they couldn’t possibly understand, we will look back at the practice of killing individuals at all as barbaric.

The death penalty is ineffective and expensive

It would be one thing if the argument could be made that the death penalty, despite its medieval proceedings, was ultimately effective at deterring crime and saving lives — but it’s not.

Research has shown that, despite its most supportive advocates’ claims, there is no connection between the presence of the death penalty and murder rates. The foundation of death penalty support rests in its ability to deter crime and serve as retributive justice. Without this deterrence then, the death penalty just serves as a backwards suffering system that pushes the eye-foran-eye mentality to its most intense meaning.

Then of course there’s the recognition that the Venn diagram of individuals who support the death penalty but don’t support higher taxes is often a circle, despite how expensive the death penalty is to tax

payers. It’s been found that the average cost of the present death penalty system runs at about $137 million a year versus the $11.5 million a year system that has a maximum penalty of life in prison.

“Life in prison is often a far more daunting punishment than a death sentence, yet we result to the latter due to an impaired reliance on cowboy justice and retributive lawmaking.”

The death penalty require costs that go far beyond that of other forms of punishment.

Taxpayers usually bear the brunt of the financial burden for attorneys, experts, jury selection, long trials, increased security and repeated appeals because death penalty cases are so intensive.

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8

NFL MVP update

Sports October 21st, 2021

Kyler leads the pack as Henry stakes his claim as most valuable nonquarterback in the league Mason Urban Staff Writer

We are six weeks through the NFL season and the Most Valuable Player candidates are starting to separate themselves from the pack. It is still a little early, however, to make a clear-cut list, as there are some players on the

bubble who can easily play themselves back into the race.

Some players who can play themselves back into the race are Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen. While all three of these quarterbacks are having good years and play on good teams, they have been

slightly outplayed by throwing for a careerthe other players at the high 290.2 yards per top. game, while also 1. Kyler Murray completing a careerMurray is the high 73.8 percent of unquestioned leader his passes. Murray of the MVP race at is also on pace to the moment as he has throw a career-high in led the Cardinals to a touchdown passes, as 6-0 start to the season, he has 14 through six making Arizona the games, while throwing lone undefeated team just four interceptions. in the league. He is 2. Tom Brady It should be illegal that Tom Brady is still playing at this level at age 44, but here we are.

The GOAT currently leads the league in passing, with 2,064 yards. Tampa Bay is still humming along, with a 5-1 record, and Brady has a huge part to play in it. He has thrown 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions so far this season. If he can keep up this pace, it isn’t too hard to envision him surpassing Kyler as the favorite in a few weeks.

3. Lamar Jackson

Jackson and the Ravens are one of the hottest teams in the league Wiki Commons |Photo Courtesy

Jackson is coming off a ‘down year’ where his stock seemed to be at an all-time low.

Now, he has silenced

MLB championship series update

The Major League Baseball playoffs are in full swing, and they are living up to expectations Cayden Lloyd

Contributing Writer The American League Championship series features two powerhouses. In one corner the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game. They then went on to conquer the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series in four games.

Opposing them is the Houston Astros, who took care of the Chicago White Sox swiftly in four games.

In the four games that have been played so far, offense has been the story. Houston took care of the Sox in game 1 with the final score 5-4. Game 2 the Red

Sox offense exploded for two grand slams in 2 innings with the final score of 9-5. Once again in game 3 Boston’s offense came alive and featured another grand slam with a final score 12-3.

In the best of seven series, the series is even at 2-2, with a decisive game five on Wednesday.

In the National League, there has been some surprises.

The National League Championship Series features the underdog Atlanta Braves, who surprisingly took care of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series in four games.

Facing the Braves are the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers. The

Dodgers were favorites to win the World Series for the second year in a row and to no one’s surprise they won 107 games. If you are a Dodgers fan, you did have to hold your breath though, as the surprise of the season, the San Francisco Giants edged out LA in the division race, as they won 108 games.

The Dodgers settled for the Wild Card Game against the redhot St. Louis Cardinals.

LA took care of the Redbirds and matched up in the divisional round against their rival, the San Francisco Giants.

This series came down to the last pitch where the giants were victorious on a heartbreaking,

Bellinger’s series changing homer brought the Dodgers back from the brink

Flickr|Photo Courtesy

controversial checkswing call against the Giants.

The NLCS is being sparked by heroics from the Braves young squad. Austin Riley provided the walk off in game one with the final score of 3-2. Eddie Rosario walked off game two with a RBI knock in the bottom of the 9th ending the game with the final score of 5-4.

The Braves looked primed to take an insurmountable 3-0 series lead in game three before a game tying three-run homer

by Cody Bellinger tied the game in the bottom of the eighth.

A go-ahead double by Mookie Betts put the Dodgers on top for good, as LA sits just one game back.

Will the Red Sox offense be able to carry them to their second World Series in four years or will the Astros starting pitching be able to revive itself?

Will the young Braves core be able to keep their unexpected postseason run alive or will the shaky dodgers get back on track in the quest to defend their crown? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure, MLB’s playoffs are not disappointing people this year.

his critics and has put a Ravens team that has been decimated by injuries on his back. He is throwing for a career-high 281 yards per game with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

While the touchdownto-interception ratio isn’t great, his wide receivers have been in and out of the lineup all season long. Jackson is still the same game breaking threat in the run game, ranking seventh in the league in rush yards with 392.

The most notable story of his performance so far is that he might have just made himself a lot more money.

He is still waiting for a contract extension from the Ravens and could very well end up as the highest-paid quarterback in football when it’s all said and done.

struggling to takeoff, Henry has once again shouldered the load for Tennessee. He leads the league in rushing with 783 yards, 260 more yards than second place Nick Chubb.

Henry also leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 10, five more than than the six-way tie for second.

Each year analysts say that Henry’s body can’t take another 300-carry season, but he has shown so far that he isn’t human.

5. Dak Prescott

It’s amazing that Dak is on this list as he shattered his ankle just a season ago. However, he hasn’t missed a beat and is engineering one of the league’s most potent offenses.

Prescott ranks fifth in passing, with 1813 yards, while throwing 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

4. Derrick Henry Even though he has the Words can’t really Comeback Player of describe how dominant the Year award all but this three-year run has locked up, it would be been for Henry. With truly amazing if he won the Titans passing game the MVP along with it.

Bison win sixth straight, welcome Bears to town Saturday Continued from front page as they return home to take on Missouri State on Saturday.

The Bears will come into the Fargodome boasting a 4-2 record fresh off their 37-7 drubbing of Indiana State.

The matchup to watch is seeing how the Missouri State offense fairs against the topranked Bison defense.

The Bears have put up at least 30 points in every game since their week one loss to the Big 12’s Oklahoma State, and may be the first team that forces the Bison offense to keep up and win the game for the Herd.

Bear’s quarterback Jason Shelley has been excellent for Missouri State all season. The redshirt junior from Frisco, Texas (we know where that is right

Bison fans?) has posted 17 total touchdowns compared to just three turnovers so far on the season.

Shelley is capable of winning games from the pocket, but it’s his dual threat ability to gash teams by running the ball that makes the Missouri Valley offense so deadly.

Making Shelley and the Bear’s offense one dimensional will be key to the Herd continuing their unbeaten streak to start the season.

Whether it’s keeping Shelley in the pocket and letting the Bison’s elite front seven go to work, or eliminating passing lanes and forcing the Bears to methodically work their way downfield, it will be fun to see what the Bison scheme up.

Tim Sanger |Photo Courtesy

9

the Spectrum | October 21, 2021

Real or Fake: Super Bowl Contenders The contenders and pretenders of the NFL landscape ready. Despite having be honest here, they Dallas Korelc Contributing Writer

We are now through six weeks of NFL football, and we have seen some teams underperform and some teams over perform. When that happens, it can get hard to tell what teams are really in a place to contend for a Super Bowl. So, let’s look at the top five teams in each conference to decide whether or not they really have a chance to win it all.

AFC

Ravens: Real The Ravens are currently sitting at 5-1 and are at the top of the AFC, and this is no fluke. Lamar Jackson has been playing better than his MVP season, they have had a top three rush defense this season and they have beaten some very good teams like the Chiefs and the Chargers. If Lamar can continue to put this team on his back, they have a real chance to win it all this season.

Chargers: Fake Don’t get me wrong, the Chargers are still a very good football team. I just don’t think they are

a good pass defense, they have one of the worst rush defenses in the league as of now, and their offense has gone to sleep in multiple games this season.

Titans: Fake This is another situation where a good team just isn’t at that next level. They have Derrick Henry, but I don’t think that he is enough to immediately consider them contenders. I have fallen for that trap before, so I’ll believe it when I see it.

Bills: Real I already know what is on your mind here, the Titans just beat the Bills, so why are the Bills real but the Titans aren’t?

The Bills are just the better team, we have seen good teams lose to some not as good teams, it just happens sometimes. The Bills are leading the NFL in takeaways and have a top six offense with what I think is the defense in the league.

There is no debate, the Bills are for real.

Bengals: Fake This team has impressed so far this season, but let’s all

are not ready yet.

And that is fine, they had the worst team in the NFL a few years ago so the fact they even made the list is crazy. They have a lot of young talent that is only going to get better as the years go on, but for now, they are not ready.

Chiefs: Real Alright, I know they are sitting last in their own division, but it is still the Chiefs. Even when Patrick Mahomes is having a season not up to his standards, this can still be an elite offense, and a good football team. I am not going to count them out just yet.

NFC

Cardinals: Real The Cardinals have really been fun to watch. They have beat some solid teams, and are the last remaining unbeaten team in the NFL. They have a top five offense, and are third in takeaways in the NFL. Kyler Murray has played like a stud all year, and he has such a good team backing him up. I am not totally sold on them yet, just because of how good the NFC

NBA health care fraud Almost 20 former players find themselves at the center of new scandal Andrew Haugland Staff Writer

Former NBA players scammed the league out $2.5 million in early October. The NBA found out 18 previous players conned the league by creating fake medical expenses.

The NBA offers players, coaches and all employees health care coverage at little to no expense, but can find out if you are cheating the system. As the former ballers were found to be scamming the NBA in a scheme dating back to 2017, the perpetrators of the fraud placed claims of almost $4 million. FBI agents have arrested 15 former players around the country.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said that the fraud was led by Terrence Williams.

Strauss held a press conference in early October, highlighting the steps on how Williams was able to pull off the scheme.

“First, Williams obtained fraudulent medical and dental invoices.” said Strauss.

“Second, he sent those invoices to his coconspirators, other former NBA players.”

“Third, the coconspirators submitted the fraudulent claims to the plan,” Strauss continued. “Unaware that the claims were fraudulent, the plan paid most of the defendants’ claims.”

Strauss also said Williams was ‘paid kickback’ after tipping the other players forged information. In a U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York press release, he received an amount ‘totaling at least approximately $230,000.”

Williams, drafted in 2009 by the New Jersey Nets, played four seasons in the NBA. Williams moved around a lot during his NBA tenure playing on four different teams in his short time.

Williams was able to forge the fake invoices from a ‘particular Chiropractic Office in California.’ The office was created by people who worked for Williams. Williams was able to get the invoices from medical facilities in California and Washington state.

New York City Police Department commissioner Dermot Shea said, “Today’s

federal indictment represents the NYPD’s long-term commitment, working with its law enforcement partners, in making sure those accused of health care related fraud are held accountable.”

All those involved will receive on count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Williams will also receive one count of aggravated identity theft, which has a minimum sentence of two years.

The NBA said in a statement: “The benefit plans provided by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association to our players are critically important to support their health and wellbeing throughout their playing careers and over the course of their lives, which makes these allegations particularly disheartening. We will cooperate fully with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this matter.”

Amidst all of the legal chaos, the NBA regular season is set to begin on Tuesday. The case will continue to be investigated, as the former players await trial.

Wiki Commons|Photo Courtesy

Josh Allen and the Bills may be primed to bring Buffalo their first Super Bowl win

is, but they have as good a shot as anyone else this year.

Buccaneers: Real This team is about as good as we thought they would be. They won the Super Bowl last year, and kept all the main pieces on offense and defense.

They also have this guy named Tom Brady. I mean you can’t count out a Tom Brady led team any year, so this really shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

Especially when they have the best rush defense in the NFL. Packers: Fake I think the Packers are fake for one main reason. They haven’t played any really good teams. They

have been winning and have good stats to go along with that, but I think playing bad teams helps you boost those stats. There is plenty of time for this decision to change, but they are going to have to play well in their upcoming games against the Cardinals and Chiefs.

Cowboys: Real The Cowboys have the best offense in the NFL, while also being second in the NFL in takeaways. Like I said in my story last week, Trevon Diggs is a very important piece to this defense being successful, and he grabbed another pick six last week.

Dak was also able to have a 400 plus yard

game, Ezekiel Elliott seems to be back to his 2016 self and all that leads me to believe that they are ready to contend this year.

Rams: Real The only thing in the way of the Rams being at the top of this list was the Cardinals. If they had won their game against them, they would be sitting at 6-0 right now instead of Arizona. The Rams have a top 10 offense in the NFL, and are 5th in takeaways.

This team is legit, and I do think that they could compete in the NFC, despite how competitive the conference looks.

the Spectrum | October 21, 2021

10

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