VOLUME 122 ISSUE 47
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
The Spectrum
ndsuspectrum.com
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
INSIDE
Fargo flooding As the snow melts, the water levels rise
2
NEWS
NDSU trains students for a growing field in cybersecurity with new Ph.D. program
7
F EATU R E S
Spilling the beans: A ranking and guide to downtown Fargo coffee
11
Rosie Perez-Guerra Contributing Writer
North Dakota State President Dean Bresciani has personally reached out to the student body, requesting all hands on deck for sandbagging in hopes to avoid what seems like the inevitable -— a bad flood season. Jessica Jensen, department head of emergency management, compared Fargo’s current flooding situation to the 2009 flood that warranted school shutdowns. “This flood is far less concerning than the 2009 flood,” Jensen said. “The river came up, and water crossed land out in the county really fast in 2009 because the melt was really fast.” She also said that since 2009, Fargo has invested in “earthen levees,” which include: raised dikes, a modified El Zagal Golf Course to hold more water, added permanent flood walls and replaced pump stations so that they can pump more water, faster. With the measures taken since the last big flood, there is already a positive difference in how Fargo is handling the large amounts of water. Along with the measures above, Fargo has recruited its citizens to work diligently with sandbagging. In a recent news release by the city of Fargo, there is going to be a 39-foot barrier thanks to all of the volunteer turnout. Jensen said there will be even more protection with a 41-foot plan: “Arrangements are made to account for 2-feet of what they call ‘free board.’ The reason it is so realistic is because most of the structural measures put in place by the city between 2009 and now already have the city protected to that level. Sandbags in strategic locations will plug any existing gaps.” Community outreach is critical at all times, especially when there is a possibility of crisis. “Communication with the public should be clear, consistent and repeated. It should also be tied to actions people ought to take with respect to the potential crisis,”
Water rising has caused many bridges and roads to close. Jensen said. Samantha Montano, a professor at NDSU, along with many others were part of this critical community outreach — sandbagging. Montano went out to volunteer on Friday afternoon for around two hours. From what she observed, there was a good turnout of students from NDSU and even the Fargo mayor himself was there. “Volunteers were doing a number of different tasks. There were people actually filling the sandbags, tying them off and stacking them,” Montano said. “Other volunteers were replenishing supplies as needed and helping to coordinate the management of all the volunteers. The Salvation Army and American Red Cross also had a presence handing out refreshments.” Though sandbagging is helpful, Jensen said there are activities the Fargo-Cass residents are unaware of that are contributing to the success of preventative measures. “City officials are carefully monitoring water levels and the weather,” Jensen said. “They are also brushing off emergency operations plans and familiarizing themselves with their respective roles were a disaster to occur here.” Nonprofits are also meeting to
assess the needs of the city and figure out how to move forward in solving the needs. It is always important to be prepared, and Fargo has been working hard in preparations. Jensen said there are even more ways that citizens can prepare themselves. “Anyone who does not have flood insurance should purchase it for their property and contents,” Jensen advised. “People
PHOTOS BY MIRANDA STAMBLER | THE SPECTRUM
can also make sure that their sump pumps are working and that any property stored in their basements is raised off the ground and/or stored in water-resistant (plastic) bins.” Community outreach is critical, and so is self-preparation. The city of Fargo, as well as the citizens of Fargo, are working hard to prevent the impact a flood could have.
Unpacking Deng Geu’s decision to pack up Former Bison forward seeking new options
SPORTS
Snow keeps the Bison baseball team away for another two weeks, forced to play in Fort Wayne, Indiana
One of the Summit League’s most efficient scorers, Deng Geu is searching for a new team.
Thomas Evanella Staff Writer
As the North Dakota State men’s basketball team hoisted the Summit League championship trophy in
March, eyes were trained on the future. Players and fans already relished the Bison’s potential for the 2019-20 season. When NDSU downed Omaha in the title game, it only cemented the idea that the
program was in for a repeat. Central to this notion was the fact that all 14 players on NDSU’s roster would be returning. That was the case prior to Monday morning, when forward Deng Geu
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
announced his intent to graduate transfer. Geu’s departure follows an excellent junior campaign, one in which all the athletic tools and basketball acumen he had flashed came together. Geu
averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, both career bests. He ranked in the top 10 in the conference in points per 40 minutes, offensive rebounds, total rebounds and blocks.
CONTINUED ON | PAGE 11
The Spectrum NEWS
2 NDSUSPECTRUM.COM THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
A new Ph.D. addition
NDSU trains students for a growing field Phoebe Ellis
Head News Editor
North Dakota State has debuted its new Ph.D. option for those in the graduate studies of computer science. The new addition, a program for cybersecurity education, comes mainly from high demand in the field, according to Jeremy Straub, associate director for the NDSU Institute of Cybersecurity Education and Research. As the field of cybersecurity grows, so does the demand for professionals to teach in that field. This gave birth to the cybersecurity education Ph.D. program that is now offered at NDSU. “We wanted to create a pipeline for people who want to teach (cybersecurity),” Straub said. The program builds off the existing cybersecurity graduate program, with the difference being the courses are tailored to individuals that wish to become professors in the field. It’s also a response to large class sizes. Straub noted that in the past they’ve filled what was supposed to be a 40-person class with nearly 80 students due to demand and graduation requirements. “There was a necessity for additional instruction,” Straub said. How does a university create more professors in a growing field? Teach them. The courses offered today take a more holistic approach to a complex field of instruction, combining computer science knowledge with cybersecurity and teaching courses. Though the institute has not changed anything specific about the programs they offer, the new addition does offer general guidelines and policies to prepare students to teach at a 2-year or 4-year university. The Cybersecurity Institute itself has existed for about three years and focuses on “cutting edge research,” such as information trust, interaction between electric systems, systems security and student education. Cybersecurity approaches the challenge of addressing both physical security and electronic security. They also approach network security, ensuring the safety of stored data. On one hand, people can tamper with and destroy information. On the other hand, they can access that information to give themselves a competitive edge. This is the challenge that those in cybersecurity deal with. Ultimately, the program will emphasize professionals in cybersecurity working and managing classrooms to prepare students entering this growing field.
CASSANDRA TWEED | THE SPECTRUM
- JEREMY STRAUB, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE NDSU INSTITUTE OF CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Phoebe Ellis
Head News Editor
Straws up
The North Dakota State Bookstore has begun its sales of stainless-steel straws as it moves forward with efforts to make the NDSU community a little more eco-friendly. The straws come in packs of four, including two cleaning brushes and four silicone tips for when students need to take their tumbler with them out of the house. The straws are being offered in the bookstore after Kimberly Anvinson, the bookstore director, pushed for options that would help students live greener. In a previous interview with The Spectrum, Anvinson noted her commitment to making small changes to go green, including the use of stainless-steel straws in her home.
Aliens
“Chit-Chat with Aliens: a casual conversation on cultural diversity” is set for April 11. The event is intended to provide an open dialogue between and across cultures, including learning about the culture and traditions of various demographics. It is rumored the event will have a variety of food and a photo booth, according to the Facebook event page. Hosted by the NDSU Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services, Global Shapers Community FARGO and Fargo Moorhead International Potluck, the event will feature speakers and a panel sharing personal stories. The event will take place 6-8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Great Room.
reported by the Bismarck Tribune. Ziegler also noted that this would be a “long investigation.” Though police do not believe that the public is in danger, and that it was an isolated incident, they are still collecting evidence, reviewing security footage and more to identify a potential suspect. The four people found have since been identified, and their families have been notified.
Legislative Hinduism
A Hindu prayer opened the legislative floor session for North Dakota’s Legislature Monday, April 1, as reported by the Forum. The prayer was delivered by Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, and encouraged the legislators present to work toward the goal of people’s welfare. Zed also tried to open the U.S. Legislative floor with a Hindu prayer, but was interrupted and ultimately stopped by C h r i s t i a n protesters. Since then, Zed has made an appearance and said prayers at other state legislatures. He asked to come to North Dakota to educate the legislators on one of the world’s oldest religions.
In A Nutshell
Mandan murders
Four bodies were found inside an establishment in Mandan, North Dakota April 1, 2019. “These four people didn’t do it themselves,” said Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler, though there are currently no suspects in custody, as
“
“
“We wanted to create a pipeline for people who want to teach (cybersecurity).”
Armed responders
North Dakota senators have passed House Bill 1332, as reported by the Bismarck Tribune. The bill allows for an armed responder to be in schools for security purposes in the event of a threat to the school. Some threats may include a school shooter, a suspicious person or a violent person entering a school. The idea being that the armed responder can neutralize the threat with their weapon. The armed responder will not be working directly with the students, reducing the risk of a classroom accident. The bill is now set to return to the House for amendments.
3
THE SPECTRUM | News | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
NDSU Health Week: Vaping is a lie Two experts revealed risks and misconceptions of popular product Dakota State’s Health Week. The speaker after her, Jason McCoy, is a tobacco prevention coordinator for Clay County. McCoy said many people are behind the times when it comes to tobacco. “For the lion’s share of people,” McCoy said, “they don’t understand we’re not talking about cigarettes anymore.” According to McCoy, a principal at one of the schools he works with told him, “Cigarettes are not the problems in our schools,” the problem is vaping. McCoy said schools are having issues with vaping on a daily basis. The statistics back up this observation. While cigarette use among teens is down in both North Dakota and Minnesota, according to McCoy, 1 in 5 students vape. This is not a new issue, but it was a new question on the survey in 2017, according to McCoy. When it comes to these products’ age restrictions, students are pros at circumnavigating the law. “I talk to high school students,” McCoy said, “and I ask them this simple question: how long would it take you to get a hold of a Juul? (The answer is) 5 to 20 minutes.” This problem is exacerbated by marketing, according to McCoy. “It’s very youthcentric; it’s all the same thing the cigarette companies used to use.” This phenomenon is due to the fact that many of the same marketing companies are selling vapes now. These advertisements are not illegal like cigarette ads.
Ryan Nix
Co-News Editor
Kelly Buettner-Schmidt is an associate professor in the College of Nursing with an affinity for researching vaping. Her presentation April 2 focused on her publicized study of electronic cigarette juice. She researched the amount of nicotine in the liquid and whether it coincided with the labels. The study revealed that a majority, 51 percent, of E-liquid found in North Dakota stores is not what it seems. The nicotine found in the liquid was in some cases 172 percent higher than the package reported. The study was published in two different journals in 2016, according to Buettner-Schmidt. She said her and her team are working on a new, more comprehensive study. Buettner-Schmidt said she has been in tobacco control and prevention since 1991. The new age of tobacco, e-cigarettes are battery powered atomizers that heat up liquid nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and flavoring to create aerosol. The distinction between vapor and aerosol is important, according Buettner-Schmidt. “For the general public, (vaping) kind of means evaporate,” Buettner-Schmidt. “You think of kids. You think of water boiling. It’s all gone, and there’s nothing left.” This could lead some to believe the product is safe when it isn’t, according to Buettner-Schmidt. Buettner-Schmidt was speaking during North
Jason McCoy brings these vapes around for an exhibit.
Leif Jonasson Editor in Chief editor@ndsuspectrum.com Phoebe Ellis Head News Editor head.news@ndsuspectrum.com Managing Editor Ryan Nix Co-News Editor co.news@ndsuspectrum.com Miranda Stambler Features Editor features@ndsuspectrum.com Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor ae@ndsuspectrum.com Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor opinion@ndsuspectrum.com Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor sports@ndsuspectrum.com
Zachary Liu Head Copy Editor head.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Victoria Moss Co-Copy Editor co.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Brittany Hofmann Design Editor design@ndsuspectrum.com Photo Editor photo@ndsuspectrum.com Callahan Stewart Web Editor webmaster@ndsuspectrum.com Cassandra Tweed Graphic Designer graphics@ndsuspectrum.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Spectrum accepts letters to the editor by email editor@ndsuspectrum.com and by mail. Please limit letters to 500 words and submit them in a word document. Letters will be edited only for clarity. They should include the writer’s name, telephone number, major and year in school or title.
www.ndsuspectrum.com Main Office: 231-8929 Editor in Chief: 231-8629
Pauline Dunn Office Manager office.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Jonah Wagenius Business Manager business.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Hayden Tureya Advertising Manager ad.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Jordan Nelson Marketing Executive marketing@ndsuspectrum.com Jason Fye Circulation Manager circulation@ndsuspectrum.com
BUSINESS STAFF
EDITORIAL STAFF
254 Memorial Union North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58105
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. Opinions expressed on these pages are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty, staff, university administration or Spectrum management. The Spectrum is printed at Forum Communications Printing at 1030 15th Ave. SE, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502.
The Spectrum is a student-run publication at North Dakota State University in print since 1896. New issues are published Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year, except during holidays, vacations and exam periods. Each enrolled student is entitled to one copy. Additional copies are available for $1 by prior arrangement with the Business Manager.
CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED: NOW HIRING Internship Part-time paid Construction Manager internship with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Email cover letter and resume to: jim@ lakeagassizhabitat.org Questions: Call Habitat office at 218284-5253 opt 2 FOR SALE: 2006 New Beetle
Yellow Convertible (black top and interior). Car has 41K actual miles, automatic transmission, electric windows, leather interior. One owner. Only driven in the summer and covered in a heated garage over the winter. EXCELLENT condition. Asking $7000 or best offer. Contact (701) 2935787. Only serious offers please.
FOR RENT: Apartment - 3 bedrooms, 1 and half baths, living room, dining room kitchen. No pets. Walking distance to NDSU 1104 19th St N, Apt 1. Non-smoking. $750.00 per month. Call 701237-4540.
Finish The Year Strong
RYAN NIX | THE SPECTRUM
The Spectrum
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
4 NDSUSPECTRUM.COM THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
‘UNSUB’
Picking books based solely on their looks Brittany Hofmann Staff Writer
Normally, this book would not immediately grab my attention because the cover doesn’t scream, “Pick me! Pick me!” But, it was interesting enough for my boyfriend to pick it up while we strolled through the aisles at the library. He read the inside cover and thought I would enjoy it. Without asking him what it was about, I checked it out, and we were on our merry way. Three weeks later and my books are due back, and I have yet to crack open “UNSUB.” I renewed my books and dived in. From that moment forward, I could not put the book down — homework and responsibilities falling to the wayside. “UNSUB” is about a serial killer known as The Prophet coming out of the woodworks after 25 years to finish what he started in the east bay of California. The Prophet draws similarities to The Zodiac Killer with his signature symbol of Mercury and his cryptic notes and riddles left for the police to solve. Protagonist Caitlin Hendrix, continues in her father’s footsteps after he spiraled into insanity with the case that he couldn’t solve. Adamant that she would keep her personal life separate from her work, she eventually couldn’t help but blur the line when The Prophet began making his “work” more personally related to Caitlin’s life, calling her out on her lackluster police work. In the end, The Prophet’s code is cracked. His murders represent each of the nine circles of Hell depicted in Dante’s “Inferno” in which Mercury is the messenger that leads the sinners into hell — The Prophet is a vigilante in his own mind. But what is a thriller (with slight romantic undertones) without a suspenseful conclusion? The clock is ticking down, and Caitlin’s boyfriend Sean Rawlins’ life is on the line. With the help of her father, she stops at nothing to end the horrific reign of The Prophet. The story ends on a cliffhanger in which a breathy voice is on the other end of a phone call at Caitlin’s new job with the FBI. She and everyone else thought The Prophet’s game was over, but unbeknownst to Caitlin, The Prophet had a protégé. To be honest, I didn’t pick the book; my boyfriend did.
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
Review: ‘Lo-Fi Soul’ ‘American Idol’ favorite Haley Reinhart releases debut full length March 27 Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor
After receiving critical acclaim with her aching cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in 2016, Haley Reinhart released her first album of entirely original songs, “Lo-Fi Soul,” March 27. Reinhart first came into the spotlight as a contestant in 2011’s “American Idol,” where she made it to the top three. She also has performed with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, where her haunting renditions of songs like “Creep,” “Black Hole Sun” and “Seven Nation Army” showcased her ability to masterfully interpret modern songs through a retro lens. Jeff Goldblum even enlisted her voice on his jazz album. The two performed a playful rendition of “My Baby Just Cares For Me” that captured the hearts of fans once more.
‘Don’t Know How to Love You’
The soulful fourth track, “Don’t Know How to Love You” blends the voices of Etta James and Aretha Franklin with a guitar break the likes of Pink Floyd. A combination that may seem weird on the surface, but results in an overall moving and powerful piece. Reinhart’s mastery of soul balladry and its sweet and powerful dynamics shine in this love song about someone hopelessly in love but unsure if they fully communicate that to their lover.
‘Shook’
A sultry groove taking the form of a distorted ’60s girl band, “Shook” demands dimmed light, snapping and hip swaying. “I can’t stop this dirty linen/ shaking my head from left to right/just throw me in the wash, baby/ ’cause it’s been a night.” Trust me, just listen.
‘Baby Doll’
Probably the most modern sounding of all the tracks, “Baby Doll” ends the album with ’90s harmonies and drum heavy instrumentals. A mysterious love song, Reinhart refers to herself as Baby Doll, telling her lover to take care of her. REIGN DEER ENTERTAINMENT | PHOTO COURTESY
THE SPECTRUM | A
5
& E | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
Gaming companies get in on the jokes Every year the game industry gets a piece of the April Fools’ action Max Borman Staff Writer
Every year on April 1, game companies come out of the shadows to make their annual April Fools’ Day jokes. Sometimes, they are merely dumb fun, and other times they are just dumb. But because so many companies have their own jokes, it is hard to keep track of all of them. So, here is a nice little rundown of some of the best April Fools’ Day jokes of 2019.
Bohemia Interactive
The company behind fan favorite games “DayZ” and “Arma 3” made a fun announcement via their blog Monday. They announced the Bohemia Sandbox Theme Park. It will be housed in the north of the Czech Republic and have four zones for each of their popular games. DayZ World promises many roller coasters and themed foods in the iconic Chernarus terrain. Ylands Island will only be accessible by boat and will be a cheerful land where people can just wander about. They also announced plans for a battle royale event at a later date. Vigor Kingdom will not cost any money to go into, but will require $19.99 worth of personal possessions, which will then be distributed around the park for
other park-goers to be able to claim. Finally, in ArmaVerse, park-goers will participate in the largest live-action, role-playing event and live the life of a person, revolutionary. There is a lot more in the blog post, so definitely go check it out.
technology, which translates anger into supportive messages. This technology would actually be very useful.
Sniper Elite
The people behind the popular “Sniper Elite” games
PC Gaming Wiki
In a fun little jab to the current gaming climate, the PC Gaming Wiki rebranded itself as the Epic Gaming Wiki. They also revealed an exclusive partnership with Epic Games and rebranded themselves. They have also dropped support for forums, refunds, parties, account sharing, version rollbacks, screenshots, groups, marketplace, mod hosting, library sorting and the entire Linux platform in solidarity with the Epic Games Store, because it does not offer any of those. Nice jab.
Corsair announced another launcher called the Corsair Game Launcher Launcher. A nice little jab at the current amount of PC game launchers. It promises to help manage all the launchers that games have downloaded and allows you to buy “RGBucks,” which can be used to buy other digital currency. This is the future.
‘Anthem’ subreddit
CREATIVEC38 | PHOTO COURTESY
The “Anthem” subreddit rebranded itself today as ‘The Division 2’ subreddit. It is no secret that “Anthem” has not been received well, so it is funny to see the subreddit that is devoted to the game even take notice.
‘Total War’
Nvidia
Nvidia announced a revolutionary new technology called R.O.N., a virtual holographic assistant for all your gaming needs. From its cutting edge “TrollDestroyer” technology to its “TalkBlock AI,” this truly will help gamers. It also helps you save face with the “RageConverter”
Corsair
made an announcement Monday, announcing “Sniper Elite: Love in Your Sights.” It promises to be a wartime whirlwind romance game where you can finally find true love. However, it’s coming out in 20-never, so we have a long wait.
Creative Assembly announced “Total War Three Kingdoms Mobile Mode” with a very old-school looking website. It promises vastly inferior graphics and reduced gameplay features. Every gamer loves mobile games, so this sounds great.
‘League of Legends’
Riot released a bunch of cat and dog themed skins and graphics for their fun little April Fools’ mode: “Cats VS Dogs: Leave it all on the
show floor.” Jump into “League” to get some cool looking cat and dog themed skins and fight for the best pet. (It’s dogs.)
Asus
Asus announced the ROG Swift PG360 monitor. A full 360-degree monitor that surrounds the player; swivel chair sold separately. It boasts a 360Hz refresh rate and a 3.14159 ms response time. It is also compatible with Nvidia’s R.O.N. Just good luck getting in and out from it.
‘DOOM’
DOOM had a wonderfully wholesome announcement. Called “DOOM the Joy of Slaying,” it brings out the artist in everyone — much like Bob Ross.
‘Hearts of Iron IV’
A brand-new mode was announced for “Hearts of Iron IV” called “Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns 2: Sharkstorm.” It promises a high-stakes battle against “sharknados” during World War II. Oh, the horror. There are many other April Fools’ Day jokes posted by gaming companies, but these are some of the best. Every year game companies love to get their piece of the April Fools’ Day fun, and so now we wait to see what they will bring in 2020.
A NIGHT AT THE Re v i e w : ‘ S h a z a m ! ’ MOVIES WITH w i l l m a k e y o u fe e l TBD COMEDY like a kid again NDSU group performs hit skits
Brings pure joy to the pure of heart (and the rest of us) Zachary Liu
Spectrum Staff
Nathan Wetrosky Staff Writer
On March 30, the on-campus student organization To Be Determined (TBD) Comedy club, put on their annual sketch show titled “TBD Goes to the Movies” at Askanase Hall. The sketch show featured 10 skits created by some of the members of TBD Comedy. All of the skits were unique and funny in their own way, allowing everyone in the auditorium to have a laugh. The skits debuted were: “Chess,” “The Third Person,” “I’ve Got Nothing, I Try,” “Is Pepsi OK?,” “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” “General Surgery,” “Duel of the Minds,” “Gary Gang,” “Sorry I’m Late” and “Movie Theatre.” Of the 10 skits, one of my favorites was “The Third Person” written by Carter Moilanen. The skit focuses on a young couple who are out on a date, w h i c h appears to be at an Australian themed restaurant of some kind. Then, while they are in the process of ordering their drinks, a third member of their party shows up. His name is Stanzen, and he does not like being alone. Throughout the rest of the skit, he refers to himself in calculated first-person sentences, which were as bizarre as they were hilarious. Another favorite of mine was the final performance of the show, “Movie Theatre.” The skit featured all of the TBD Comedy members as they sat in a movie theater getting ready to watch “Expendables 4” (not a real thing, yet). Some of the key moments of this skit was a kid named Sylvester, a millennial on the phone with hemorrhoids and a successful marriage proposal. “TBD GOES TO THE MOVIES” was a good way to spend an hour. The show was a neat way to experience the creativity and humor offered by the members of TBD Comedy. If you did not get to see the show and are interested in any of the skits mentioned, the TBD Comedy club has their own YouTube channel with video recordings of the performances.
With just one word, teenager Billy Batson can transform into a mighty superhero, and apparently that same word can transform the fate of the troubled DC Extended Universe. Yes, “Shazam!” is that good. The central concept of “Shazam” is the question: “What would a teenager do with superpowers in modern day?” Apparently, the answer is try to buy beer, become YouTube famous and make some money as a street performer. The movie is your typical run-of-the-mill superhero origin story, until it’s not. Sure, Billy (Asher Angel) is a troubled orphaned teenager, but he earns his powers for being a good person, not because of some freak accident or tragic backstory. After sticking up for his
new differently abled foster brother Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), Billy gets the opportunity of a lifetime, one that most teenagers would, like, literally die to have. The powerful wizard Shazam offers the young protagonist his powers (the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Athena and the speed of Mercury) with two conditions: he must be “pure of heart” and protect the world from the Seven Deadly Sins. Billy politely declines, saying that he is far from a good person. To understand his initial reluctance, you have to understand Billy Batson the teenager first. Billy is a bit anti-social and has something of a rebellious streak. He also thinks he’s too cool for his foster family. He is more concerned with finding his birth mother after losing her at a carnival than getting to know them.
But deep down, Billy is a caring person, if not a little heartbroken. The wizard can see this, and eventually convinces Billy to agree. The heart and charm of “Shazam” are what elevates the movie from being just another CGI superhero slug fest. Instead of being a wall-to-wall, action roller coaster, “Shazam” decides to craft a pretty compelling family drama. And it works. You feel for Billy. You feel for Freddy. Heck, you even feel for the bad guy, Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong). And with that said, Zachary Levi as Shazam is truly a delight. His ability to bring both heart and levity to a character that is the definition of wish fulfillment makes the film. Without his youthful glee that he brings to the big screen, the entire concept would fall flat. Shazam even flosses — a popular dance amongst teens, or so I’ve been told —and it feels completely organic and not forced, which is not often
the case. “Shazam” is not without its bumps and bruises though. The film is light on action for most of its runtime, something that some viewers may find annoying. It also falls into the trope of the bad guy having similar abilities as the hero, but this makes sense given the context of the film. Ultimately, “Shazam!” is a fun time. It’s not the devastating gut-punch that some other superheroes films have been (looking at you “Avengers: Infinity War”), but that’s OK. It more than holds its own and is a welcome sign for the future of the DCEU. Also, for those interested, there is one midcredits scene and one after the credits finish. “Shazam” dances into theaters April 5. Wizards, superheroes and flossing, what more could you want?
CASSANDRA TWEED | THE SPECTRUM
6
The Spectrum FEATURES
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
First Ever Somali Night Hosted at NDSU Somali Student Association helps students feel a sense of community Audrey Wentz Staff Writer
Every year, students come onto campus hoping to find their second home. This year, a group of students found their second home by creating the Somali Student Association. This new group on campus was created to bring Somali students together. The overarching goal was to create and foster a community, which was emphasized in their inaugural Somali Night on March 30. This event was put together to celebrate Somali culture and bring the community together in Fargo-Moorhead. It was a night filled with dances, poetry and fashion, all while recognizing those in the community that have helped Somali students become acclimated to their new home. The unity and sense of community throughout the room was thriving. During the award ceremony, it was shown that there are many who have done a lot for the Somali population in the F-M area. The Somali Student Association Award went to Sharif Hashim Hassan for his efforts in leading and fulfilling Islamic duties and rituals within the community. The Recognition and Appreciation Award went to Dahir Ahmed for his work the past 22 years taking care of the well-being for many refugees and helping close the language barrier. The most memorable part of the event was the poetry. Zamzam Ulow, Jabril Hassan and Ashya Madi all performed various poems. Though each poem
was unique and read by a different person, the poems all shared the commonality of sharing their pride in their culture and being Somali. During the event, when seating fell short, audience members showed unity with each other and selflessness by grabbing more chairs for themselves and others, as well as helping those putting on the event. Sadiyo Hassan, the group’s vice president, noted that she’s “really grateful that we were able to showcase our culture, but the way that it brought us all together is what really made me love the night.” The theme, “Home away from home,” was chosen to represent that the F-M community is a place where Somali people have been thriving. It is a place that has been turned into their home, NDSU students celebrated Somali culture by performing traditional dances. even though their first home is far away. In tradition with Somali culture, tea and various desserts were offered at the beginning of the event. They offered three desserts: halwa (a sweet, gelatin-like delicacy), small cookies and a cake similar to a Bundt or pound cake. Putting on this event was made easier for the new group with the donations they received. Hajira Hassan, the Somali Student Association’s social events coordinator, also played a large part in putting it all together, as she spearheaded the project. This free event was sponsored completely through donations from Somali run businesses in the area. The Somali Student Association is already looking forward to holding the event again next year and strengthening the FargoMoorhead community.
PHOTOS BY MARYAM BUKHARI | THE SPECTRUM
Pinterest Interest Pinterest
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
With one month of the semester left, you need to get your stuff together Miranda Stambler Features Editor
With around one month left in the semester, it is time to start doing the things that you should have been doing in the beginning. Remember the beginning of the semester, when you promised to finally use a planner and now it is covered in layers of dust? Or when you thought you wouldn’t skip class as much, but now you haven’t been to some in a month? Or when you hoped you wouldn’t have a mental breakdown every week and now you’re on your third one today? It’s now the time to actually do what you planned in the beginning. Before you know it, it will be dead week, and you will be panicking because you didn’t do anything you strived for and stopped thinking about it all together after January. It’s time to turn your brain back on and scroll through Pinterest to figure out how to finish this semester strong.
Lists, lists, lists
There are many important assignments that need to be done within the last month, so now is the time to prepare. Writing down a list of the due dates and assignments will keep you from missing any
important and potentially gradebreaking project or test. Try to keep the list chronological so you can feel the satisfaction of crossing off each item one by one. It also doubles in a countdown to your final day this semester, and then it will finally be summer break.
Prioritize
Look at all of the assignments you have left and rank them on easiest to hardest or shortest to longest amount of time each will take. Once you have done that, finish the easier assignments first to get them out of the way, and then you have one less thing to worry about.
Organize
If you did not stay organized throughout the semester, now is your chance. Find those crumpled up papers at the bottom of your backpack and figure out whether they are still relevant, so you can prioritize them into folders or binders.
Calculate everything
Take the remaining assignments and the grades you have received so far to see how well you have to do for the rest of the month. Many students wait to do this until finals week to see what grade they need to pass the class, but doing it now
The countdown until the end of the semester has officially started. could save you a lot of stress. right track. If you’ve skipped one You could find out that you only too many, start going now. Many need to do average the rest of the think the beginning of the semester semester to receive the grade you is so important to attend, but the want, or you could find out you last month of the semester seems to have to ace everything to pass the have more points involved, so start class. Either way, you will either going to class. be stress free or have a reason to Sleep now work harder. People always say to not pull
Go to class
If you’ve already been going to class, then you’re already on the
all-nighters, but when stressful times like dead week and finals come around, sometimes you
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
can’t help it. Sometimes you end up staying up through the night because you need to finish studying or a final project. To prepare for those stressful times, take care of yourself now. Get a good amount of sleep and prepare for the worst. Good luck. There is only one month left. Let the countdown begin.
7
THE SPECTRUM | Features | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
Spilling the beans A guide to the downtown coffee scene PHOTOS BY BRITTANY HOFMANN GRAPHIC BY CASSANDRA TWEED THE SPECTRUM
A beautiful and delicious mocha from Young Blood Coffee.
Brittany Hofmann Contributing Writer
Despite its abysmal location in the middle of nowhere, downtown Fargo knows its coffee. If you were wondering where to meet your friends for a cup of joe or a cozy place to work on Saturday, I compiled a ranking of coffee shops in the downtown area to help. I’ve ranked the beaneries based on atmosphere, craft and taste, sampling a house brew and espresso craft beverage (a mocha) at each. Lowest rankings will receive one coffee cup, and highest will receive five.
Stumbeano’s:
Located underground in Robert’s Alley, Stumbeano’s felt like I was in the basement of my grandparents’ house — but not in a bad way. Lucky for me, I was greeted at the door by an old friend and fellow barista, which created a welcoming environment from the get-go. They offer a standard menu along with an assortment of pastries. The mocha I ordered was made with love and was served in a donated mug, which I can appreciate. (Save the planet!) That day, they were brewing their own beans from Guatemala with mild notes of citric acidity and a nutty finish. While the atmosphere was cozy, it was more conducive to a good conversation than homework.
Red Raven Espresso Parlor:
The experience at Red Raven could have been leaps and bounds better by better lighting and better parking. The lighting inside is too dark to work, but it creates the perfect atmosphere for when they host open mic nights and concerts.
Twenty Below Coffee.
Red Raven brings an alternative and eclectic vibe to the hipster stereotype of coffee shops downtown, and it’s well-suited for a more underground community. With that said, Red Raven is the perfect place for those looking for a strong (and I mean strong) cup of joe.
Twenty Below Coffee:
Twenty Below is admired and well-known in the community for its involvement and hospitable environment. The barista taking your order will start the conversation with a compliment, making you feel at home when you walk in the door. Despite this, the only reason I didn’t give Twenty Below a 5/5 was the intense bitterness to their espresso and house roast, Blizzard of ’66.
Young Blood Coffee:
When scheming up the idea for a coffee shop review, I had yet to visit Young Blood’s new location in Roberts Commons. Over the course of my endeavor to dive into downtown Fargo’s coffee scene, I found myself always wanting to go back to Young Blood even though I had other places to check off my list. Their brew of the day was slightly acidic and very earthy. The mocha I ordered was smooth and creamy, with the perfect amount of foam. My only critique was it cooled down too quickly, but that can easily be fixed by ordering it above the normal temperature. The inside is bright and welcoming, and I found it to be the perfect environment to spend a few hours grinding out assignments. Young Blood isn’t like other coffee shops in that they play their music via vinyl records through an incredible setup that any music lover could appreciate while sipping on the
sweet nectar of the gods.
Atomic Coffee:
I have nothing but good things to say about Atomic Coffee. The location is in the heart of downtown on Broadway with plenty of parking. I have never had to leave and search for a new place to work due to lack of seating like I have done several times at other locations. Their drinks are consistent, and the staff is always friendly. Their house brew was smooth with the slightest amount of acidity, but it wasn’t overwhelming like many roasts can be. Atomic Coffee has become my goto for work or meeting up with friends, but Young Blood has certainly given this coffee house a run for its money.
Nichole’s Fine Pastry:
Leave your devices at home — Nichole’s doesn’t have Wi-Fi, but this is a choice I can get behind. The lack of internet pushes you to concentrate on the work or conversation at hand rather than getting distracted by social media. Nichole’s doubles as a cafe with dozens of delicious options for lunch or dessert. Nichole’s Fine Pastry is not a place to sleep on.
Nichole’s Fine Pastry.
Babb’s Coffee House:
Babb’s is certainly one of the coolest looking coffee houses in Fargo, but this could be to distract from the lacking brews. The house brew, Dancing Goats, was OK, as was their mocha, but there was something lacking from the taste, and it seemed to be watered down. I visited around lunch time, and their special for the day smelled divine, so maybe their food is better than their coffee. Despite this, I will one day give Babb’s another chance.
Atomic Coffee.
Stumbeano’s.
Red Raven Espresso Parlor.
Melbourne: City of Art
National Gallery of Victoria brings many creative artists to light Erin Thostenson Contributing Writer
Melbourne is a vibrant, multicultural city. You can feel it around every corner. You can experience it just walking down the street as you hear people speaking different languages from all over the world. In such a diverse place, Melbourne’s art galleries, and especially the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), strive to reflect this and showcase the beauty the city has to offer. Since its founding in 1861, the NGV has been dedicated to curating works of art that represent the ideas and
passions of countless creatives across any medium imaginable. The NGV spans across two locations in Federation Square, the beating heart of downtown Melbourne, and St. Kilda, a beachside suburb, divided to feature both Australian and international art. Together, they house over 70,000 pieces from both modern times and the distant past, traversing back hundreds of years. One of the highlights of the Australian work at the NGV is the photography of Melbournebased artist, Darren Sylvester. His exhibit, “Carve a Future, Devour Everything, Become Something,”
combines the relationships people share with one another and the neon nightmares that pop culture and advertising can sometimes be. These ideas combine to create photos of unusual people in unusual situations, but all capture emotions that are universal: isolation, worry, desire for authenticity and real connection. Another standout exhibit is “From Bark to Neon: Indigenous Art From the NGV Collection.” This section of the gallery is brimming with paintings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media artworks from major indigenous Australian artists. Crossing decades, “From Bark
to Neon” covers many important movements in Australian art history from an indigenous perspective. What perhaps makes this exhibit special is the wealth of voices that are featured. “From Bark to Neon” spans across a good portion of NGV Federation Square’s third level, and each work by each new artist represents that artist’s craft, outlook, message and what indigeneity means to them. The NGV Federation Square experience is made complete by the work of Rebecca Baumann in “Intersections and Notions.” Crossing between exhibits, gallery visitors pass through Baumann’s art: stained-glass walls and
windows lining hallways that glow in the sunlight from the Melbourne summer. In the intersections between exhibits, visitors are illuminated by bright colors, in the warmth of the sun and encouraged to consider how the works of the different Australian artists featured in the NGV may intertwine with one another. This stained-glass artwork is built into the architecture of the NGV, perhaps a reminder of how the diversity and different identities found in Melbourne are weaved into the very fabric of the city.
The Spectrum OPINION
The mystery behind Nickelodeon
The real reason Nickelodeon ‘parted ways’ with Dan Schneider Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor
I
don’t talk about Nickelodeon a lot, which doesn’t make sense considering how much of it I watched as a kid. Dan Schneider, former TV producer for Nickelodeon, turns out to be a pretty weird fella. He’s the guy who is responsible for all the shows we knew and loved as a kid, such as “Drake and Josh,” “Zoey 101,” “iCarly” and “Victorious.” Nickelodeon parted ways with him a little less than a year ago, and I figured it was because he had been there awhile and they just wanted to bring in a fresh mind. However, the reasons they let him go are not what I expected. Supposedly, Schneider exploited his position to get “closer” to young female stars like Miranda Cosgrove and Victoria Justice. When I say closer, I don’t mean like sexual harassment close, but you can say this guy’s a creep. He was starting to become really suspicious, and that’s ultimately why Nickelodeon parted ways with him after so long. The weirdest thing about Schneider is his unknown foot fetish. There are clear signs
not only on Twitter and other sources, but from the shows themselves. If you guys ever watched “iCarly,” you might recall them doing multiple shows starting with their feet. One of the episodes
Like come on, Schneider. The entire episode is about members of the “Victorious” cast dunking their feet into a tank full of pooka fish in hopes of getting smooth feet. They all do it too. They end up getting sick
I
wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do next, but please, Dan, save your foot fetishes for your own time.
literally starts with Sam (Jennette McCurdy) having smiley faces on her toes along with dyed cotton balls for hair. “Victorious” has one episode entirely about feet smoothening. In the episode, Tori’s (Victoria Justice) sister Trina (Daniella Monet) gets some illegal “pooka fish.” These fish supposedly enjoy eating the dead skin from peoples’ feet, making them very smooth. After Trina gets smooth feet, the entire school surrounds her and starts feeling her feet in amazement.
in the end because the saliva of the fish is loaded with toxins. Everyone is in the hospital, and the doctors become amazed at how soft their feet are too. Just weird. Now to the tweets. These suspicious tweets happened while they were still making new episodes for “iCarly” and “Victorious.” A tweet by Schneider that dates back to May 19, 2010 is a good example. He tweeted, “Toes: similar to fingers, but not NEARLY as good. Who agrees?”
8 NDSUSPECTRUM.COM THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
The fact that all the letters in “nearly” are capitalized suggests Schneider likes his feet. A few days before that tweet, there was another one with a video link. “Video! Would you like to see @VictoriaJustice pour ketchup all over her feet? Well, here ya go,” and then the link appears after.
WIKICOMMONS | PHOTO COURTESY
How did you know, Dan? That’s exactly what everyone wants to see. There are so many more tweets I could point out, but that would make for a 2,000-word count. I’m pretty sure you get the idea anyway. This is just so strange and cringey to me because these are the shows we watched as kids. When we watch episodes that involve feet that much, we think nothing of it. We just think of it as another episode without connecting all the dots. When you look back at it later in life, however, you get different thoughts about it and actually think it’s very creepy. Obviously, not all the episodes were part of Schneider’s plot to involve feet, but there’s definitely some weird stuff going on there. The question I now ask is, why didn’t they get rid of him sooner? These tweets are almost 9 years old, as well as the episodes that portray feet. Couldn’t they have maybe figured out this guy is a little off the mark? I know they eventually did, but it took them until 2018 to do so. The fact that Schneider incorporated feet that much into the shows for his own sort of “arousal” is just messed up. I’m not saying Schneider isn’t a good producer; he made so many of my favorite shows. I’m just saying it’s sad to see his tenure at Nickelodeon end in such a suspicious and creepy way. I wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do next, but please, Dan, save your foot fetishes for your own time.
Album of the Month: March Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor
Another month, another album. This month’s winner goes to an album that was released March 1, so you could say it was destined from day one. There was a significant number of hip-hop/rap albums that came out this month, which makes it easy for me to choose a winner. “Shelby” by Lil Skies is my winner for the month of March. Kimetrius Foose, known as Lil Skies, became known in early 2018 when he released his debut studio album, “Life of a Dark Rose.” Many hit singles were part of that album, and the same thing can be said with his newest album. Skies has a unique voice, and his deep lyrics engage listeners and keeps them listening. “Shelby” is a tremendous album with many solid songs. My favorite song on the album is “Name in the Sand.” It differs from Foose’s traditional style of tone and really allows him to go deeper into his feelings. I felt a futuristic vibe when I listened to it. It’s almost like that’s
what the future of hip-hop and rap is going to sound like. “Nowadays, Pt. 2” also makes for a good listen. This comes after the preceding “Nowadays” on Skies’ previous album. This is more of a song you’d listen to in order to get hyped for something. A couple more songs I really liked from this album are “I,” “Stop the Madness” and “No Rainy Days.” This is one of the few albums I noticed where there really isn’t a bad song. All of them are good in their own way, but I feel as if the ones I suggested stand out the most. As always, I need to give out some notable mentions for people looking for even more music to listen to. NAV’s new album, “Bad Habits,” was released only about a week ago. I love NAV and this album. You’re going to want to listen to songs like: “To My Grave” and “Price On My Head” featuring The Weeknd. Other than that, there really wasn’t a lot of other genres that released good music in my opinion. As always, give these albums and songs a listen.
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
THE SPECTRUM | Opinion | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
9
A non-Christian on proselytization As Easter approaches, Christians are making moves to proselytize Delaney Halloran Staff Writer
Growing up just outside of Chicago with two former-Christian and current atheist parents, it was far more common for me to encounter religious skepticism than devotion. The greatest adjustment upon moving to North Dakota has been the exposure to Christianity. Most of my friends and classmates were raised Christian, predominantly Catholic, and with Easter fast approaching, I have seen individuals gearing up to proselytize. For those who aren’t aware of proselytization, it is an attempt to try to convert someone from one religious opinion to another. As someone who happily identifies as an agnostic, this concept terrified me. Certain on-campus groups were preparing to go to the dining centers to discuss religion with students, and I found myself feeling uncomfortable with the idea of someone entering a place of comfort and normality on campus with religion. However, several conversations with students and
some research has changed my perspective. See, my opinion on religion in this country has always been one of tolerance: “Believe in whatever religion you want, but don’t force others to believe the same way.” Yet, the Christian practice of proselytization, a practice outlined in the Bible (Matthew 28:1820), goes directly against the concept of tolerance. Jesus expected his followers to go and, “Make disciples of all nations.” It has become impossible for me to reconcile my firm beliefs in the importance of religious freedom with this idea that Christians should not go and perform an act they deem a command from Jesus, even if they do so in the NDSU dining centers. While this idea of conversion can come off as condescending and closeminded, I have to respect the fact that individuals who practice
Pregnant? We can help.
Free & Confidential Pregnancy Testing Limited Ultrasounds Options Counseling Other Pregnancy Help
701.237.6530 • firstchoiceclinic.com
proselytization are essentially trying to protect me. If I too were a Christian, and I believed my non-Christian friends and family
F
orcing our opinions on others cannot be allowed, and that goes for Christians and people of every other faith.
w e r e doomed, it would be inconsiderate of me to not at least try to convert
them. Not allowing Christians the opportunity to proselytize is as much an infringement on their religious freedoms as is forcing an individual into a religion they do not wish to be a part of. Therefore, individuals who spout religious tolerance but do not allow Christians to proselytize are hypocritical. I say this after years of sharing similar beliefs. However, some boundaries need to be established. There is a very big difference b e t w e e n approaching someone to talk about religion and standing outside Planned Parenthood screaming at women as they go to get cancer screenings. Christians today are stereotyped as being incapable of allowing individuals with alternative viewpoints to live peacefully, and I am not convinced this is the case.
There are stories on the news of Christians being intolerant and forceful toward those with different lifestyles. It is easy for people, and has always been easy for me, to lump all Christians into a mass of ignorant individuals. However, most people who attempt to discuss Christianity with non-Christians do so from a place of concern. To those individuals, like myself, who find the idea of being approached about religion extremely daunting, just remember it is a mandate of their religion meant to be helpful to you. Treat Christians with the same respect you would want them to show to individuals of differing faiths. To those individuals attempting to proselytize, remember that a lot of people are uninterested and unwilling to convert, and that has to be OK too. The beauty in this country comes from the ability of the people to deem what is acceptable. Modern Americans encourage religious tolerance, and that must be practiced by individuals of every spiritual learning. Forcing our opinions on others cannot be allowed, and that goes for Christians and people of every other faith.
10
The Spectrum SPORTS
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
Preparing for the Mania WrestleMania that is Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor
Strap in wrestling fans, this Sunday is the Showcase of the Immortals, otherwise known as WrestleMania. The WWE’s flagship pay-per-view is going to be a long one, with 14 matches currently scheduled on the card. So, in 50 words or less (75 for the main event, because it is so deserving), here is a breakdown of what will happen in each match from MetLife Stadium with all of the superstars from the WWE’s two brands, Raw and Smackdown.
Women’s Championship:
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
The first women’s main event at WrestleMania got really confusing. Rousey, the Raw champion, was going to defender her title against the Smackdown women. But last week, Charlotte won the Smackdown title, meaning both belts are involved in the match. Now, winner gets both titles. Expect the only woman not to walk in with a belt to walk away with two, assuming they get out of police custody following Monday’s Raw. Prediction: Lynch taps out Rousey to gain the titles.
Universal Championship:
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins
After years of shoving Lesnar and Romain Reigns down the fans’ throats, it feels as if the Beast Incarnate’s run in WWE is coming
to an end. Rollins, the winner of the Royal Rumble in January, is the perfect person to pick up the belt. Prediction: Rollins pins Lesnar.
WWE Championship: Daniel
hasn’t lost as the Demon, and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon won’t want him to start losing. Prediction: Balor defeats Lashley in a short match.
Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston
If Triple H loses, he will retire from in-ring action. Triple H has never beaten Batista. Feels like a Triple H win is in the cards. We are in the endgame now. Prediction: Triple H snaps away Batista.
Falls Count Anywhere Match:
The Miz vs. Shane McMahon
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor
Easiest prediction on the card. On Monday’s episode of Raw, Balor announced he would be donning his Demon persona. Balor
The Cruiserweight division, the WWE’s forgotten child. It is good fun, but doesn’t get time in the spotlight. A high-octane fight will occur, but to get some buzz on the title, a change is needed. Prediction: Nese takes the belt.
H vs. Batista
United States Championship:
Intercontinental Championship:
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese
No Holds Barred Match: Triple
Match of the night contender here. Kofi has taken the hearts of the crowd in his journey to this match, fully taking his chance (and a few unfair beatings) to get here. Bryan’s eco-friendly heel character, and his partnership with Rowan, his ring-side muscle, make this match even better. Prediction: Kofi loses through no fault of his own, Bryan retains and the WWE universe cries.
Easy one: if the big Samoa Joe gets Mysterio in his clutches, that is that. Mysterio’s speed and agility mean he can evade, which would make this match good. That said … Prediction: Samoa Joe gets Mysterio in his clutches to retain.
Cruiserweight Championship:
Women’s Tag Team Championship:
Bayley and Sasha Banks (c) vs. Nia Jax and Tamina vs. The IIconics vs. Beth Phoenix and Natalya
The first appearance of the newest championship in the WWE gets an old face in it. Hall of Famer Phoenix could be a force, as shown on Raw Monday. But expect the inaugural champions to retain. Prediction: Banks or Bayley pin a member of the IIconics to retain.
The former “greatest tag-team in the world” imploded, and now we have this match. This match will somehow involve The Miz’s father, who is only proud of his son when he is winning tag-team championships apparently. Mr. Miz is going to get hit in the face is the guess. Prediction: The Miz makes his dad proud, after allowing his dad to get hit in the face.
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
Reigns’ return from his bout with leukemia has been successful, but the WWE world is in the hands of top bad guy McIntyre. The Scottish Psychopath seems ready to kill someone, just look back a couple weeks to when he kicked
Dean Ambrose while he was stuck in the stair’s handrail.
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
Smackdown is the house that AJ Styles built, and Orton thinks he is the big guy on the show. Styles is a good wrestler and should be able to … (RKO out of nowhere). Prediction: Orton wins with an RKO.
Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin
It is the final match in Angle’s career. It has been a good career from the Olympic gold medalist and former Raw general manager. Corbin is the most hated member of the roster, and it wouldn’t be too big of a surprise if he gets pulled for John Cena. Prediction: Angle defeats someone and walks up the ramp to grateful “you suck” chants for the final time.
Andre the Giant Battle Royal
Of all the superstars that will be in the event, the biggest storyline is that Braun Strowman is bickering with Michael Che and Colin Jost from “Saturday Night Live.” The WWE still doesn’t know what to do with the Monster Among Men, so give him the win. Prediction: Che and Jost get those hands; Strowman wins.
Women’s Battle Royal
Speaking of superstars the WWE doesn’t know what to do with, Asuka was the Smackdown women’s champion two weeks ago, but with no clear opponent for WrestleMania. Since, she lost said title to Charlotte. She deserves better than this. Prediction: Auska, because who else deserves the win?
Out from the oven | April 4 From brackets to baseball Philip Atneosen Staff Writer
Busted brackets
Now down to four teams, no March Madness bracket remains unblemished. The tournament favorite Duke was eliminated in the Elite Eight by the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday. On Saturday, Gonzaga, another No. 1 seed, was knocked out by Texas Tech. In the Sweet 16, the North Carolina Tar Heels were eliminated by No. 5 Auburn. Virginia is the only No. 1 seed remaining in the tournament, and most brackets are in shambles. The Virginia Cavaliers, who won the South, will face the winners of the Midwest, the Auburn Tigers, in the Final Four. The game will be played in Minneapolis Saturday. The winner will go on to play for the championship Monday, which will also be in Minneapolis. The Cavaliers have been to the Final Four twice before, but they have never won, and their most recent appearance was in 1984. Auburn has been even less successful in the postseason. This marks Auburn’s first ever Final
Four appearance, and this is only their 10th tournament appearance. The other side of the bracket also plays in Minneapolis Saturday. The No. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders won the West, and they will play the winners of the East, No. 2 Michigan State. This marks the first ever Final Four appearance for the Red Raiders. They actually won their first ever Sweet 16 game in last year’s tournament. The Spartans have won two championships, most recently in 2000. With Tom Izzo as their head coach, they’ve appeared in 22 straight NCAA Tournaments.
before light bulbs were invented. With that being said, there are over 2,300 games left this year. Even though I don’t follow the MLB religiously, I think there’s a lot to pay attention to this year.
MLB season kickoff
On March 20, the 2019 MLB season began. This year marks the 150th anniversary of professional baseball. Since the last MLB expansion in 1998, there have been 51,097 regular season MLB games. If you wanted to watch every one of those games at a rate of one per day and finish today, you would have had to start in early 1879,
These are just a few teams I’ll be keeping my eye on this season.
Almost every MLB fan is watching the Philadelphia Phillies this season. With a 3-0 record, they’re currently the only undefeated team left. All eyes are directed toward their big offseason investment, Bryce Harper. The 2018 Home Run Derby winner should add some instant offense to a team that could really use it. Last year, Philadelphia ranked at the league average in home runs, below average in RBIs and slugging percentage and second to last in hits per at bat. With Harper on the team, they’re favorites to win the NL East. The Phillies haven’t won the division since 2011. As much as I hate the New York Yankees, they’re an exciting team to watch. Most of their position players are younger than 30, and they have some of the best hitters in the game. Last season, they rostered five players with at least 27 home
runs. Unfortunately, they’re dealing with a number of injuries right now. Didi Gregorius will be out until the All-Star Break, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks will be out for a few weeks and Miguel Andujar could be out for the season. When all of these players are healthy, the Yankees are one of the most exciting teams to watch, and I’ll be waiting until that happens. As a true Minnesota fan, it’s hard not to include the Twins. For the first time in a very long time, I’m excited to watch Twins baseball. No longer haunted by Joe Mauer’s contract, Minnesota makes a strong case for a wild card spot and even has a chance to take the division from Cleveland. I’ve heard only good things about Byron Buxton in the offseason, and we can only hope that Miguel Sano returns to glory when he comes back in May. Our new addition in Nelson Cruz will provide leadership in the absence of Mauer. Last but not least, Jose Berrios will look to build on his all-star season last year. Things finally look like they’re trending upward in Minnesota.
11
THE SPECTRUM | Sports | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019
Unpacking Deng Geu’s decision to pack up Former Bison forward seeking new options CONTINUED FROM | COVER
Geu had featured for three seasons with the Bison following his redshirt year in 2015-16. Still, starting minutes never materialized for Geu. The forward was stuck behind Dylan Miller and Dexter Werner in his first two years in the rotation. This past season, Rocky Kreuser started all 35 games as NDSU’s stretch four. Geu’s lone start came in a 2016 meeting with Waldorf University, an NAIA team. Geu averaged 18.3 minutes this past season, which was also a career mark. He and Kreuser split playing time, as the two never featured on the court at the same time. Still, Kreuser’s added length earned him the starting nod. Bison head coach Dave Richman has been prone to use a similar rotation in the past. Miller started far more often than Werner due to his height advantage for the opening tip-off. Werner, though, played the lion’s share of the minutes, and the two never featured at the same time. The situation isn’t an exact parallel to Geu and Kreuser’s rotation, however. Miller was never the caliber of player that Werner was, as evidenced by his inevitable transfer to Minnesota State Mankato. Geu and Kreuser, however, are far more similarly skilled.
Geu provided instant offense off the bench and quite often was called upon to spark the Bison. Such was his dynamism that it seemed at any moment he would command starting minutes. Still, he never supplanted Kreuser’s role, instead becoming NDSU’s sixth man. It was the same dynamic ability that appeared to warrant a starting spot that kept him as the sixth man. Richman frequently called on Geu to turn the momentum in the Bison’s favor with quick baskets. Geu delivered at almost every turn and in doing so became one of the Summit League’s most efficient and opportunistic players. This success, however, only served to solidify his role. Regardless, the writing was on the wall for Geu. Kreuser is also a rising senior, meaning that barring injury or a drastic alteration to the rotational scheme, Geu would have remained as the sixth man. Looking further down the roster reveals further obstacles for any hopes Geu may have had at becoming a starter. Assuming 7-foot Dickinson product Jordan Meidinger is finally healthy after two injury plagued seasons, he and Kreuser may find themselves in a similar arrangement to Miller and Werner. Meidinger suffered a season ending
ACL tear in November, and a leg injury stunted his development during his redshirt season a year prior. Odell Wilson IV also appears to figure into the equation next season. The 6-foot6-inch, 255-pound Wilson averaged 20.1 points per game as a high school senior and won two state titles at Minneapolis North. Another intriguing prospect is in the hunt for playing time next season as well. Noah Christensen, currently a senior at Breckenridge High School, ought to command minutes as a stretch four next season. Christensen measures at 6-feet-8inches, 180 pounds and aimed to add weight on the AAU circuit with the Minnesota Comets. Christensen had an extensive list of suitors, with Nebraska, Creighton, South Dakota State and the University of North Dakota all showing interest. He shut down his recruiting early in favor of sticking with the local Bison. Christensen is currently the only committed player in NDSU’s 2019 recruiting class. With Geu’s vacated scholarship though, another may be added in the form of a high school senior or transfer. Geu doesn’t quite fit into the same mold as some of the other players to transfer out of NDSU in recent seasons. It’s abundantly
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
clear that Geu’s skills are at a Division I level. A team in the market for a rotational stretch four could find Geu as a tantalizing piece, seeing as how he still hasn’t reached his ceiling. While many NDSU players have transferred under Richman’s tenure, Geu could be just the second to move to another Division I school. The other was Khy Kabellis, whose departure after his true sophomore season rocked the program. Kabellis moved to the University of the Pacific, where he finished off his four years of eligibility averaging 4.1 points per game. Kabellis’ transfer showed that the grass may not always be greener on the other side. In Geu’s case, that may be especially true, seeing as how the side he is leaving is coming off a conference championship. Because he is a graduate transfer, Geu at least wouldn’t have to lose a year of eligibility as Kabellis did. Any number of programs — be it Division I or not — could be in the market for Geu. If he’s seeking a starting role, that number may be reduced or even come from below the Division I ranks. Regardless, it’s clear that Deng Geu is betting on himself for his final year of eligibility.
NDSU baseball forced to play in Fort Wayne this weekend
S n o w k e e p s t h e B i s o n a w a y fo r a n o t h e r t w o w e e k s Ian Longtin Staff Writer
Spring baseball in North Dakota is an absolute hassle. There is always, without fail, snow on most baseball fields in the state. So, instead of the North Dakota State baseball team having their grand home opener against Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, they will head down to Fort Wayne, Indiana and play the three-game series there. The bright side is the series with Purdue Fort Wayne in late May will now be in Fargo. In the long run, this could be a huge positive. That series is one of the last in the regular season, and if the Bison need a few wins, playing at
home can make the difference. The Bison currently hold a 5-14 overall record and are 3-6 in Summit League play. The Bison have been playing games since mid-February, but have yet to play in front of a home crowd. Perhaps a little bit of Fargo baseball will help the Bison move up in the league standings. Catcher Sean Noel has been one of the leaders for the Bison so far. The senior from Mahtomedi, Minnesota leads the team with a .353 batting average and started in all three of the Herd’s Summit League wins. Noel has also only struck out twice in 34 plate appearances. One of the studs on the mound for the Bison has been true
KNDS RADIO
freshman Max Loven, who has stepped up and given the
Herd some quality innings as a starter. His
WE’RE LOOKING FOR NEW DJ S!
0-2 record does not look good on paper, but doesn’t do him justice to how well he has pitched. Loven has pitched passed the 6th inning all but once and leads all starters with a 2.23 earned run average. The only issue is Loven has not received much run support. The Bison have some pieces in play to have success; it just has not all come together yet. The Bison have a golden opportunity to start putting things together against Purdue Fort Wayne. After starting the year with four straight wins, the Mastodons have lost their last 21. That is not a typo. The Mastodons have not won a game since February. As it stands right now, everyone in the Summit League is looking
up at 9-0 Omaha. A series sweep here could make the difference late in the year for the Bison to have any chance of catching the Mavericks. The Bison will now have to wait until April 16 against Valley City State. Oral Roberts will be the first Summit League guests to Newman Outdoor Field for a three-game series April 19-20. NDSU will play 18 of their final 19 games in the cozy confines of Newman Outdoor Field in April and May. The only game outside of Fargo will be a mid-week battle against the University of Minnesota on April 30.
12
The Spectrum | North
Dakota State University | THURSDAY, April 4, 2019