MONDAY, APR. 7, 2014
VOLUME 117 ISSUE 46
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
‘…they push, push, push, ‘Oh we’re so diverse’…and then you actually get here and you’re sitting in a 300-person lecture hall and you’re that one person of color.’ - NDSU junior Chinyere Okwulehie
Campus Grapples With Low Diversity STORY BY JOSH FRANCIS & GRAPHICS BY WHITNEY STRAMER
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hen Kefa Mbogo arrived in Fargo in the fall to attend NDSU, it was a bit of a culture shock for the black freshman from the Twin Cities. Other students of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds agree the transition to living and going to school at one of the least diverse universities in the country can be a tough transition. While the school has a number of programs and initiatives to grow that population, some students say it isn’t enough. NDSU was ranked at the bottom of the U.S. News and World Report’s Campus Ethnic Diversity Index again in 2013. Only Florida A&M, a historically black college and Yeshive University, a Jewish University in New York had less diversity than NDSU. NDSU’s 2013 Student Demographic Report revealed that 20 percent of the school’s student population is non-white. Faculty diversity is not much higher, with 80 percent of faculty in 2013 classified as white. The university has tried to boost its diverse population during the last few years and it has. Diversity increased from 14 percent people of color in attendance in fall 2008 to 20 percent people of color in attendance in fall 2013, according to NDSU compliance reports. While diversity is low, the climate at the school is generally positive, according to the school’s 2009 Campus Climate Survey. Seventy-eight percent of Campus Climate Survey participants in 2009 revealed they felt comfortable or very comfortable with the climate for diversity at NDSU, down from 82 percent in 2003. The survey revealed that of minority survey participants 76 percent of students, 69 percent of staff and 64 percent of faculty reported they felt comfortable or very comfortable. NDSU President Dean Bresciani said in a listserv email that the survey is “…An effort to measure progress towards making North Dakota State University a welcoming and inclusive environment for all people.” Why diversity is important Though diversity at NDSU is low, school officials understand the importance of it. “I believe, and I think as an institution we believe, that diversity enhances everything,” said Kara Gravley-Stack, director of diversity initiatives and the LGBTQ programs. “If every student in the classroom had the exact same background we wouldn’t have rich discussions about…for example, U.S. history or literature.” She said a lack of diversity could contribute to “tunnelvision” or “group-think” mentalities. Gravley-Stack said she is currently working on a disser-
news
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BISON BREVITIES ‘DESPICABLE BREVS’ RAISES AWARENESS FOR AMISTAD WORLDWIDE
White student poulation at NDSU
Stats represent the fall student population for that year.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
2008
Have you taken the ndsu CLIMATE sURVEY FOR diversity Yet?
nO YES
Do you believe the NDSU COMMUNITY VALUES DIVERSITY?
85% 15%
81%
tation on this topic. She said there is an idea floating around called inclusive excellence — the idea that an institution is only as successful as its underserved population is successful. Students also recognize the importance of diversity. A February Tuesday Two email poll revealed 81 percent of 1,558 students surveyed feel the NDSU community values diversity. For NDSU freshman Gladys Oti-Boateng, NDSU is not the first school she’s attended that has lacked in diversity. She attended college in her home country of Ghana where diversity was also lacking. “I feel like being in a diverse school eliminates stereotypes,” Oti-Boateng said. “Once we come together, we get to teach each other our values and our morals and learn from each other.” Graduate student Jennifer Odom shared a similar experience, coming from a historically black college. She said she is learning more about the culture of a predominantly white area. Fargo native Lexi Vollmer, a Spanish education major at Minnesota State University Moorhead and member of NDSU’s Hispanic Organization of Latin Americans Club, also said diversity is an important way to build understanding amongst different cultures, especially in an area like Fargo-Moorhead. Culture shock For some students, the lack of diversity isn’t always apparent before they start attending the school. “It’s like the biggest lie, because you know when you come and tour here they push, push, push, ‘Oh we’re so di-
FEATURES FACES OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
54
19%
EMILY DRIESSEN PAYS IT FORWARD FOR SPRING BREAK
nO YES
verse’…and then you actually get here and you’re sitting in a 300-person lecture hall and you’re that one person of color,” said junior Chinyere Okwulehie. Some students said they knew about the diversity issues at NDSU but said the quality programs were the main reason they chose NDSU. Sinibaldo Romero, who is from Venezuela and the president of NDSU’s Hispanic Organization Latin America Club, said he came for the programs NDSU offered, not the diversity. What the college is doing NDSU administration is not ignoring the lack of diversity; there are major efforts to increase diversity on campus. The school is reaching out to diverse communities by sending admissions staff to high schools in areas like the Twin Cities, Gravley-Stack said. The school is also working to increase faculty and staff diversity as well. “We recognize an incredible need to diversify our campus,” she said. She said the NDSU Office of Multicultural Programs also works with admissions to send out information to prospective students of different ethnicities and cultures. The school is also targeting a larger minority group in the state, Native Americans, Gravley-Stack said. Native Americans make up about six percent of the state population but only one percent of NDSU’s population. NDSU offers a cultural diversity waiver for students from a culturally diverse group. The waiver significantly reduces tuition costs for students who qualify. The school started the Bison Bridge program last fall.
SPORTS
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DIVERSITY | PAGE 3
MEET-A-BISON CHEYENNE GARCIA LEADS SOFTBALL TEAM IN HOME RUNS
2 MONDAY, APR. 7, 2014
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Eight acts participated in “Despicable Brevs” put on by Blue Key at the Festrival Concert Hall Thursday. Approximately $5,000 was estimated to have been raised, with $3,000 set to go to charity.
Blue Key’s ‘Bison Brevities’ Provides Evening of Entertainment Student organization raises money, awareness for Amistad Worldwide Benjamin Norman Staff Writer
Glowing yo-yos defied gravity, neon juggling bottles flew through the dark and songs and dances were performed at Blue Key’s 2014 “Despicable Brevs” program, themed after the “Despicable Me” movie franchise. Eight acts competed for awards before a packed Festival Concert Hall Thursday night, providing entertainment for Blue Key’s fundraising nonprofit of choice: Amistad Worldwide. Although exact totals were not tallied by press time, “Despicable Brevs” co-producer Emma Kusick gave a ballpark-estimate of $5,000 being raised, with $3,000 of that going to charity. This was the first year Bison Brevs has donated to an international cause. Amistad Worldwide provides and implements long-term strategies and programs for the world’s poor, including the building of
water wells and expansion of orphanages. “We believe in teaching people to fish rather than just giving them food for one day,” director of Amistad Worldwide Tracy Alin said. “The purpose of this charity is to provide dignity and potential to the world’s poorest people.” India and the country’s impoverished children were the focal points for Thursday night’s presentation. “India has many needs,” Alin said. “There are 31 million orphans in India. That is a number I can’t even fathom… These are children who have nothing, no one is taking care of them — they are on their own.” Alin said that today India houses a third of the world’s impoverished; the country is projected to soon pass China as the most populous country in the world, as well. Alin presented a slideshow showcasing her nonprofit’s work while the votes from the judges and audience for their favorite act were being tallied. Alin was accompanied to the stage by Billie Sue Ellingson, a fellow advocate of Amistad Worldwide. Ellingson spoke at length about the history of Mercy Orphanage, a collection of shelters founded in India that Amistad Worldwide supports. Because of the generosity of a Minnesota widow named Connie MeyerSchultz and an empathetic Indian named Raj Kumar, Mercy Orphanage was founded.
After its humble beginnings, Mercy Orphanages has made an impact. “There are now 11 orphanages caring for over 500 children that have been rescued,” said Ellingson, an alumnus who received her master’s degree from NDSU in child development and family sciences in 2000. For $15 per month, underprivileged Indians are provided food, clothing, healthcare, education and skills training, Ellingson said. All funds go directly to those in need. Through Kumar, Amistad can construct a water well in India for $350. The procedure normally costs over $3,000 per well. Today, Amistad Worldwide is fundraising for 10 proposed wells in India, which, Alin said, will make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. With at least two to a family, the number of people served by the wells will reach over 10,000 people. “I can’t think of a better way to (help others) than getting involved in a project like this,” Alin said. Judges of the evening’s acts included NDSU vice president of student affairs Prakash Mathew, College of Engineering student support center director Joel Hanson, former basketball forward and NDSU senior Marshall Bjorklund and Alin. A committee of Blue Key members whittled down a record-number 22 auditioning acts to eight for the evening, said Kusick, a
junior studying microbiology. “You would be surprised with the amount of talent we have on NDSU,” Kusick said. The judges and audience selected yo-yo artist John Narum as the night’s best overall act. Narum was also won the “Judges’ Special” award, an honor determined by the judge’s choice alone. Blue Key also awarded scholarships to three NDSU students at the conclusion of the show. The winners are: Nathan Wyatt, a senior studying biotechnology with the Doctor of Service Scholarship Allison Haider, a senior studying biological sciences with the Leitorgia Scholarship Abigail Aspengren, a senior studying nursing with the Prairie Rose Scholarship The event kicked off with a special performance by Winter Drumline. Blue Key provided further entertainment in between acts, as members performed their own skit centered around “Despicable Me” characters and Bison pride. Kusick was pleased with the evening’s turnout. “I couldn’t be more proud of and grateful to my Blue (Key) peeps,” Kusick said. “Everyone has been working so hard, and it was nice to see the final product.
State Discrimination, Harassment Charges Decrease by 11 Percent Comprehensive training key to ethical work environment Lisa Marchand
Head News Editor
Harassment and discrimination decreased last year in North Dakota workplaces by just over 11 percent, which is nearly twice as fast as the rest of the country, a study by The Network revealed. The Network is an integrated governance, risk and compliance solution company that strives to create safer, more ethical work environments. They compiled information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and found that 71 charges were filed last year at various businesses, the names of which the EEOC does not release. The Network’s vice president of product management and corporate development, Jimmy Lin, said that Montana claimed the lowest amount with 18 charges, while Texas totaled 9,068 charges in 2013. The EEOC does not release specifics on who files harassment and discrimination charges, so there is no way to know which demographic files charges the most or least often.
North Dakota may not have had the lowest number of cases, but the state’s overall decrease was considerably better than the nation’s average of six percent. “Harassment and discrimination (in North Dakota) is actually decreasing at a faster pace than in the U.S. as a whole,” Lin said. Lin said that harassment occurs when an employee feels intimidated, insulted or humiliated based on their race, sexual orientation, disability, sex or any other character-
“The goal of every company should be to develop a speakup culture. Managers should want their employees to come to them if they feel something is wrong.” – Jimmy Lin, The Network istic that falls under anti-discrimination and human rights legislation. Discrimination occurs when a person or group of people feel they are being treated less favorably due to those particular characteristics. “The goal of every company should be to develop a speak-up culture,” Lin said. “Managers should want their employees
The number of workplace harassment and discrimination charges in North Dakota decreased by 11.25 percent in 2013, nearly twice as much as the nation’s average of six percent.
to come to them if they feel something is wrong.” He said creating such a culture begins with a solid and clear code of conduct that is reflected in a company’s training programs. “A comprehensive workplace harassment training program needs to include periodic education as well as follow-up awareness learning and ongoing awareness communications,” Lin said. “It can’t be viewed as a ‘once and done’ exercise.” Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach Evie Myers said that
IMAGE COURTESY OF | THE NETWORK, INC.
NDSU is proactive in reducing workplace harassment and discrimination through their extensive training programs. As of now, NDSU employees are required to complete sexual harassment prevention training. Employees can complete a variety of other training such as Title IX training, workplace violence training or personal safety and security training. Students, staff and faculty can also file a bias report form if they see or are subject to an act of bias, bigotry or hate.
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THE SPECTRUM | NEWS | MON, APR. 7, 2014
Mr. NDSU Brings Laughs and Hope in Charity Pageant
large, so this is very exciting considering it’s April 1, and April is autism awareness month,” Suda said. “We are kicking off our month of fundraising with a bang. It’s really exciting.” What anchored Suda’s testimonial was the accompaniment of her eightyear-old son, Ethan, whose autism inspired the family’s involvement in TACA. He was rewarded the privilege of crowning the new Mr. NDSU. “All these kids are talented, smart and awesome,” Ethan responded when
asked about what he thought of the contestants. “They put a lot of work into this.” The show was broken down into three categories: Bison wear, skits and/or performances and formal wear. A flash mob drumline, multiple boy band interpretations and even a Titanic reenactment set to a fluted instrumental of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” were a few of the ways the boys expressed their talents. After intermission and the three categories were completed, the judges worked together to shrink
the number of contestants from 19 to eight. If one was good enough to make the top eight, they were asked a random question chosen from a hat. This process continued as the numbers dwindled down to three. The top three competitors were Aaron Yaggie, Zachary Thelen and Muddi Kpohraror. At this point of the competition, all three men were asked the same question. “What kind of legacy do you want to leave at NDSU?” After three inspirational responses, the judges then took all aspects of their performances into consideration and decided on a final winner. Another fundraising tactic employed by the AGD girls was money buckets during intermission. Audience members voted for a winner of the Mr. Moneybags category by putting cash into the buckets of their favorite contestants. Three “mister” awards given out: Mr. Moneybags, which went to Aaron Yaggie; Mr. Congeniality went to Cale Homuth for having the most spirit and Mr. NDSU went to Zachary Thelen. “I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” Thelen said. “I’ll probably wake up in the middle of the night and start screaming.”
DIVERSITY FROM P. 1
Jose Rivera, a Puerto Rican graduate student, said the school is doing a good job in his program to attract students from all over the country and globe. Other students say no. NDSU graduate student Juan Francocoronado said the school does do a lot of diversity outreach but to very few places. He said while the school targets students from places like Puerto Rico or Brazil, they do not do a good job of attracting Latinos already living in the United States, such as Mexican-Americans. Diversity Obstacles North Dakota is one of the least diverse states in the country, with close to 90 percent of the population being white. That makes it harder for NDSU to draw in students from diverse backgrounds, because they have to go out of the state to find them. NDSU’s diversity has
been better than the state’s, but the school has more obstacles than just demographics. Weather and geography also play a big part in attracting diverse students to the university, Gravley-Stack said. North Dakota is one of the coldest states in the continental United States. The nearest large urban city to NDSU is Minneapolis, about four hours away. Getting the financial and staff resources to recruit from diverse areas is also a challenge that the school is addressing, Gravley-Stack said. “We’re putting efforts into recruiting students of color; we really want more students of color, more diverse students to come here, and so we are trying to put resources into it,” GravleyStack said. To take this year’s diversity climate survey, visit ndsu.edu/diversity/climatesurvey.
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NDSU’s Cinderfellas strut their stuff for a good cause Tessa Beck Staff Writer
ognized for the work they put in.” The show kicked off with a humorous video introducing the audience to the contestants and the fairy godmother MCs, Sarah Lohan and Brooke Rempfer, who led the audience throughout the evening. Thereafter the boys had their first shot at wowing the crowd with a group dance routine to “Holding Out for a Hero” by Jennifer Saunders. From there the show took a poignant turn when Jalene Suda, co-coordinator
for TACA North Dakota shared information about the organization, whose motto is, “We are families with autism helping families with autism.” Suda informed the audience about the current state of autism diagnoses, and the challenges that go along with working toward symptom remission. The cocoordinator also mentioned that services are provided at no cost to families, and that TACA is entirely funded by donations. “We get a lot of small donations, but nothing this
NDSU in Brief WRITTEN BY COLTON POOL
NDSU Student Government Presidential Candidates Hold Debate The two parties running for NDSU student government president and vice president held their first debate in the basement of the Memorial Union Thursday. Sarah Russell and Hilary Haugeberg went up against Billy Ogdahl and Jodi Boe
ND State Senator Works to Increase Scholarships for Lower-Income Students North Dakota state senator Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo, is seeking a raise of scholarship dollars for college students for low and medium income families, a press re-
ND Carries 14th Lowest State-Local Tax Burden North Dakota citizens currently hold the 14th-lowest state-local tax burden, a report by the Annual State-
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to debate different issues concerning student government matters and the issues that come with the positions they are running for. The event is the lone debate on the schedule for the candidates after Monday’s was cancelled due to the closure of NDSU’s campus. Ogdahl and Boe are running on a list of campaign platforms including: transparency and accessibility, free student access to Thundar’s Den, a student-focused campus infrastructure which includes faster internet and
better parking, international and graduate student health insurance reform and liability insurance coverage for organizations. Russell and Haugeberg are running on a platform honed in on unity of NDSU with one family, experience and legacy — each category pertaining to different changes and focuses the team want to see with student government and NDSU as a whole. Elections begin on April 9 and will go until April 10. Ballots are available online.
lease said. Flakoll, chairman of the senate education committee, will be going to other legislators to see how the current number of about 8,000 students with scholarships can be raised to 10,000. Another reform Flakoll is looking for is to increase the state funding of students from $1,648 per student to $1,700 per student — a three percent increase. Flakoll said the reworking of the needs-based scholarship program would cover 35
percent of North Dakota students who go to college. The press release cites that the families in the lowest 25 percent of income in North Dakota have to use 33.7 percent of that income for a two-year public campus and 42.6 percent for a four-year school. Flakoll said education is the best way to work towards long-term success for an economy, which is why lower income families need to be given further scholarship funds.
Local Tax Burdens said. In 2011, taxpayers in North Dakota coughed up 8.8 percent of their total incomes in state and local taxes — the national average is 9.8 percent. Wyoming replaced Alaska for the lowest percentage of income in 2011 with 6.9 percent. During that year, the tax
burdens as a share of state incomes decreased on average. Usually, taxpayers pay more to state and local governments, which accounts for 73 percent of total burden, the press release said. However, taxes paid in people’s own state decreased three years ago.
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The program is geared toward helping first-generation students from diverse backgrounds succeed in college. NDSU also conducts campus climate surveys, with the most recent one in 2009. The university is currently conducting a new one. The school and its different departments and campus organizations put on several diversity-centered events during the year. There is also an Equity and Diversity Student Ambassador program at NDSU to help with recruitment activities and building community among various groups on campus. Is it enough? Some students think the school’s diversity efforts are paying off, reflected in the graduate student population, which is 48 percent white, 35 percent people of color and 17 percent not reported.
The Spectrum Emma Heaton Editor in Chief editor@ndsuspectrum.com Lisa Marchand Head News Editor co.news@ndsuspectrum.com Colton Pool Co-News Editor co.news1@ndsuspectrum.com Connor Dunn Features Editor features@ndsuspectrum.com A&E Editor ae@ndsuspectrum.com Caleb Werness Opinion Editor opinion@ndsuspectrum.com Sam Herder Sports Editor sports@ndsuspectrum.com
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The annual Mr. NDSU event took place at the Festival Concert Hall Tuesday night. NDSU sorority Alpha Gamma Delta hosted the event, which raised over $3,50. Fletcher Neslon (pictured) was one of the performers.
EDITORIAL STAFF
All hail, a new Mr. NDSU has been crowned. Equipped with some dance moves, stage presence and “meggings” (a newly coined term, referencing the “man leggings” worn during the opening number), nineteen of NDSU’s finest duked it out in the name of charity. Festival Concert Hall filled its seats Tuesday night with an audience eager for entertainment and giving back. The event was hosted by NDSU sorority Alpha Gamma Delta, and as part of their philanthropy all proceeds went to Talk About Curing Autism. The AGD girls brought in approximately $6,000 at last year’s pageant, but with this year’s preshow sales exceeding $3,500, the sorority hopes to bring in $10,000 as a final goal. But running an event with so much at stake is hardly an easy task, and preparation is key — as iterated by AGD President Jennifer Fatz. “We started preparing in February,” Fatz said. “That’s when Kara (Mauch) and Alex (Hornbacher) started working on the event. A lot of these girls don’t get rec-
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4 MONDAY, APR. 7, 2014
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MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
Emily Driessen spent her spring break serving others through a Pay It Forward bus tour.
Faces of Student Volunteers
Emily Driessen pays it forward for spring break Emma Heaton Spectrum Staff
Sand. Surf. Sun. Drinks. Those words can describe many students’ college spring break. Others may just say, “my parents’ couch.” One senior at NDSU, however, tried something different this year. She hopped on a bus with 41 other students to embark on her first Pay It Forward tour, knowing little about what was yet to come. All Emily Driessen knew about the upcoming nine days was to bring jeans and a pair of shoes she didn’t care about. The tour stopped along five different cities to reach its final destination of Houston, Texas. Students did volunteer work along the way. “The mission is to help out people over your spring break with your free time and improve the community as well,” Driessen said. Driessen and other volunteers did a variety projects in each city. In Center Point, Iowa, the team cleaned parks and washed the walls of the local high school, which was lit-
tered with children’s dirty handprints. The team helped plant flowers in Tennessee and also stopped at an animal shelter, which was a difficult experience for an owner of two dogs herself. The shelter could not afford to keep all the strays that were found, so the ones that were kept in the shelter were on death row. “They’re so happy and healthy now…but they’re a minute from dying and that’s the only reason they’re there,” she said. Driessen said the volunteers got a wave of thank yous each time they lent a hand. “It was cool to see how our manpower could do something beneficial as opposed to getting wasted or tanning.” Driessen’s spring break trip wasn’t the first time she has paid it forward, however. She began volunteering at 10 years old when her parents brought her to a food shelter to serve to the homeless, which was organized by her church at the time. “I had no idea that people didn’t eat,” she said. “They didn’t have regular meals.” Most of her other volunteer involvement has been a bit more indirect, such as raising money for hurricane efforts or even helping people that are already well-off. She said that only taking a few hours of one’s time can get tasks done that would take others a lot longer to do on their own, and people appreciate the volunteers’ time. Driessen is also a member of the NDSU Lions Club in the “tail twister” position,
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
which requires her to make games to entertain people. She also serves as the Lacrosse Club’s president, which she also views as a volunteer opportunity. During her freshman year at NDSU, Driessen was also in the Freshman Leadership Organization. As a senior, the Pay it Forward tour will be her first and last. Driessen plans to continue her service efforts and has applied to be a camp counselor for middle school “STLFers (Students Today Leaders Forever).” “If I can make a positive impact on them
to keep them in the program, then that’d be great,” she said. “Then they can have what I didn’t.” Driessen said that although it is difficult to get wrapped up in your own everyday life, helping others gives people a way to forget about their own problems. “It’s so comforting to see that if I help other people, then if I need help, hopefully someone else would be there for me,” she said.
Fargo Foodie: Lucy’s North China Cuisine Emily Driscoll
Contributing Writer
There is only one Chinese restaurant in Fargo with exceptional lo mein, and there is only one woman to thank: Lucy, the owner of Lucy’s North China Cuisine on 32nd Avenue South. The environment is a perfect balance of sit-down restaurant and fast-food joint. It has the speed and feel of fast food, but the fresh, made-to-order food that restaurants have to offer. Lucy’s is always speedy, and the food is always steamy. Lucy’s is not much for the eyes, but it has exceptional food and service. Don’t let the fluorescent lights and traces left of the last business that stood there bring you down. Lucy’s is here to stay. Order the vegetable lo mein combo, cream cheese wontons optional. There is simply no better option on the menu, and you may find yourself wanting to order it again, every day for the rest of your life. Most lo mein is bland, slimy or stringy, but Lucy’s lo mein should be in the food encyclopedia, because it is simply the correct version. They have a great full menu with beef, pork, shrimp, chicken, fish and duck items as well. There are many delicious options
Lucy Penney, one of the owners of Lucy’s North China Cuisine, works at her register on a Tuesday morning.
that will likely please a meat lover. If you order a full dish, you’ll get a heaping amount with a side of rice. So if you’re taking that route, bring a group to share a couple dishes. They do carry out and eat in, and recently, they have started delivering as well. I would recommend ordering during off hours when there aren’t as many people clogging up the phone line, as they only have one.
Sometimes there is some congestion due to their lack of front counter staff. Best of all, everything is reasonably priced, especially the combo meals. They give you a heaping pile of food that will definitely provide leftovers for a price under $10. All of Lucy’s flaws are forgivable, because the things that matter most, food qual-
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
ity and table service, are provided. Eating Lucy’s lo mein is like smoking cigarettes. You’ll claim you’re not addicted until it’s too late.
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THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | MON, APR. 7, 2014
YOUR THREADS
Story and Photos by Holland Lind
ANDEE: home of handcrafted, upcycle neckties While roaming around downtown Fargo, trying to find hidden gems, I came across a gold mine of creativity and fashion. A store window on 8th Street caught my eye with whimsical design and immaculate ties and bow ties. I entered the store and was able to meet the owner, primary worker and founder of AENDEE handcrafted neckties. Ashley N. Dedin originally lived in a superb of Chicago and enjoyed making her own clothing. Working for Hancock fabrics, she quickly learned how expensive textiles were so turned to thrift stores, deconstructing garments to create new ones. As a self-taught seamstress, she expressed that art is always her first priority, and then she is a seamstress. While creating her own clothing, a friend asked her to make a tie for him in July 2013 and the rest is history. AENDEE is a small store in Fargo where Dedin creates these wonderful heirlooms and other merchandise. She also has a strong online presence with a website to work from. Dedin gets items from donations, thrift shops and special items people want created into something else. She makes heirlooms, custom pieces, wedding collections and ready-to-wear, as well as many other prod-
Located in downtown Fargo, AENDEE sells creative, classy ties and bow ties for good prices.
ucts including handmade soaps and girls hairpins. Although located in Fargo, AENDEE’s products can be seen in Minneapolis and recently heading much farther south than the Midwest. Their online store keeps Dedin
plenty busy with orders. So the next time you can’t find a great gift for the special person in your life or family member, think about ANDEE in downtown Fargo. With extremely reasonable prices never going over $50 and friendly service, it
Salmonella: Know the Facts Before You Cook
Bridget Eklund Works with Cockroaches for Cystic Fibrosis Research
Mercedes Pitzer
Contributing Writer
Jaime Jarmin
Contributing Writer
contributed to her family’s background. Growing up, Eklund was always fascinated by watching her father work in a science lab. “I always watched my dad work in the lab, and I always thought it was super cool,” Eklund explained. “It’s intriguing to know how all of the little, tiny things work so perfectly in the natural world.” Eklund’s lab experience working with the amoeba and cockroach models has since helped her realize that pathology is her passion. Her plan is to go to graduate school to pursue a focus in pathogenic bacteria. “Working with Dr. Fisher has been really beneficial for figuring out my passion,” Eklund said. “Getting hands-on experience has been really fun. I guess I was lucky and found out what I liked right away by working in the lab.” Eklund plans to present her cockroach model data in Valley City later this month.
eral tips a person can follow to help avoid said disease. These tips include avoid eating raw or lightly cooked animal-originated foods, keep foods properly refrigerated and/or frozen, clean hands before handling food, separate uncooked foods from ready-to-eat foods, cook food thoroughly to the center, chill food promptly after serving and when transporting and wash hands after contact with animals. If, however, you do get salmonella, it is important to drink a lot of fluids to keep hydrated and to get plenty of rest. Treatment for severe cases on the other hand, involves antibiotic therapy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic therapy “is recommended for patients with severe diarrhea, high fever, bloodstream infection or those at risk of severe disease or complications including young infants, older adults (over 65 years old) and immunocompromised persons.” Clearly, salmonella is not something you want to mess with. So remember, the next time you want to eat raw cookie dough before baking cookies (as tempting as it may be), just think of the possible consequences—it may not actually be worth it.
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While numerous students may earn money in college by serving food at a restaurant, selling clothes in retail or making coffee, one NDSU student is injecting cockroaches with bacteria as a way to earn money. For Bridget Eklund, a sophomore double majoring in biotechnology and microbiology, working as an undergraduate laboratory assistant in the Van Es building has been a building block toward discovering new ways to study bacteria outside of the traditional classroom and textbooks. Completing research in the lab with Nathan Fisher, a department of veterinary and microbiological sciences assistant professor, has given Eklund a clear picture of what she wants to do with her education. “I came to NDSU because they have such a strong focus on research, and I’ve always had an interest working in a lab setting,” Eklund said. Last semester in the lab, Eklund experimented with an amoeba model that helps with the understanding of how bacteria avoid phagocytosis, also known as the process of “being eaten,” as Eklund explained. After this project, Eklund attended and presented at a conference in South Dakota in October detailing her work with these amoeba models. Similarly, this semester Eklund’s latest project also deals with phagocytosis. However, this project consists of cockroaches, catheters, antibiotics and biofilms. This research with cockroaches is designed to potentially help understand
the connection between how the bacteria Stenotrophamonas maltophilia affects cystic fibrosis patients. “This bacteria is opportunistic, so it attacks patients that already have a compromised immune system,” Eklund said. “Cystic fibrosis patients are really susceptible to an infection to this bacteria.” Eklund explained that cystic fibrosis patients could develop various bacterial infections from using catheters. In order to study this phenomenon, Eklund and her lab partners are injecting cockroaches with catheters containing bacteria. Then, the cockroaches will be given various antibiotics and Eklund will later study the biofilms that were formed after taking the catheters out of the cockroaches. Basically, Eklund is researching how biofilms compete with antibiotics in catheter-injected cockroaches. Even though at first Eklund was uncertain about having to work with cockroaches, she discovered shortly after that this experiment has rarely been done before and the findings could have life-changing benefits for those afflicted with cystic fibrosis. “At first I was a little leery about working with cockroaches,” Eklund chuckled. “But this project gives us a better understanding about what is actually happening in a patient because there is no way to do this experiment in a human.” As Eklund’s love for science and the natural world has since grown from working in the lab with Dr. Fisher, her initial appreciation for the field is largely
JAIME JARMIN | THE SPECTRUM
To be honest, I got the idea for this week’s health article from a video posted on Facebook by a friend of mine. She had been dared to eat a raw egg and to record it as proof that she had actually done it. In the video, she says, “Let’s hope I don’t get salmonella, otherwise my lacrosse teammates are going to be mad at me this weekend.” This got me thinking— do people really know the risks of eating a raw egg? Do people even know what salmonella is? According to the Mayo Clinic, salmonella is a “common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract.” Salmonella is so common in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that it is “estimated to cause about 1.2 million illnesses in the United States, with about 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths” per year. The bacteria in salmonella are usually passed on to humans through ingesting contaminated food of animal origin—particularly undercooked meat, poultry, eggs and milk. Said food
is contaminated by feces, which is how the illness spreads. Once infected, people typically begin to experience symptoms within 12 to 72 hours. As stated by the World Health Organization, common symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. On average, the illness usually lasts anywhere between four and seven days, and most people recover without any treatment. However, if the case is severe enough, then treatment may be required. Such cases include when the disease travels to the bloodstream or if the diarrhea associated with the infection causes the person to become highly dehydrated. These complications could be life threatening, and as a result, may need immediate medical attention. The Mayo Clinic explains that increasing one’s exposure to international travel to countries with poor sanitation, owning a pet bird or reptile and living in group housing such as dorms or nursing homes can significantly increase a person’s risk to contracting salmonella. As for preventing salmonella, the Food Safety website states that there are sev-
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Bridget Eklund, a sophomore double majoring in biotechnology and microbiology, works with bacteria in the Van Es lab using amoeba models and cockroaches.
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MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
Jetty Rae sang and played “All you need is Love” on the acoustic guitar to the students and staff at the union.
Live@Lunch with
Jetty Rae brings soulful and acoustic sound to campus Emma Heaton Spectrum Staff
“We all hitch hike on this road, a travelers soul waiting to come in from the cold.” Jetty Rae, a Northern Michigan native, posted these lyrics along with a photo of a lone dilapidated tree in a snow-covered North Dakota field after her Live @ Lunch performance at NDSU, sponsored by Campus Attractions, on April 2. Rachel Austin, concerts coordinator for Campus Attractions, discovered Rae last year at the National Association for Campus Activities convention. “I thought it would be something interesting to bring to campus,” Austin said. Jetty Rae, a soulful and acoustic artist, has been recording since 2004. She gained recognition from her performance at the John F. Kennedy International Airport during JetBlue’s new terminal opening. After that, Jetty Rae was interviewed for MTV’s “Needle in the Haystack,” and featured Jetty
JETTY RAE
Rae’s “I Love You” on its up-and-coming artist blog. Rae’s mellow voice can also be recognized in Truvia’s jingles in its 2012 television commercials. Her music can be described as lyrics-driven and powerful. She has also performed with Miranda Lambert and Sarah McLachlan at the Lilith Fair in Detroit. McLachlan and Terry McBride chose Jetty Rae for this performance. Jetty Rae released her first full-length album, “Blackberries,” in 2007. Her most recent album released in August 2013, “Climbing Clouds,” includes her title track, which was the first single from the album. The album includes five other tracks: “Off the Grid,” “Fallin’,” along with a ballad version, “Too Big” and “Kerosene.” Jetty Rae’s tour also stopped at the University of Minnesota in Crookston before heading to Fargo. Next, she will perform at the University of South Dakota and Concordia College. Jetty Rae’s tour dates will wrap up in her home state throughout June and July. Jetty Rae’s music can be found on iTunes and Amazon; she has several music videos on YouTube; and is active on Facebook and Twitter. More information can be found at jettyrae.com.
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
F-M Symphony Closes Season With Renowned Guest Violinist ‘From London With Love’ showcases British composers Jack Dura
Staff Writer
To round out its first season with new music director Christopher Zimmerman, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with a world-renowned violinist for its finale. This Saturday and Sunday, “From London With Love” will showcase the works of several British-born composers and the skills and sounds of the F-M Symphony with guest soloist Chee-Yun. For over 20 years, Chee-Yun has dazzled the world with her violin concertos and sonatas, appearing frequently on National Public Radio and WQXR and WNYC, two prominent New York radio station. A native of Seoul, she has performed publically since age 8, and her love for music has extended beyond her own violin. She has given master classes all over the world at conservatories and universities such as the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Indiana University School of Music. Teaming up with the F-M Symphony was made possible by her past collaborations with Zimmerman, and there was really no difficulty at all in securing her spot in this season. “He said, ‘See if you can get Chee-Yun,’ and it worked out with her schedule, and we booked her,” Linda Boyd, executive director of the F-M Symphony said. Dividing the concert into two halves — one for the symphony, one for the soloist with the symphony — “From London With Love” features British compositions from all across the past four centuries. One of these is Henry Purcell, a 17th century composer whose works are quite possibly the oldest pieces still performed in contemporary times. Also featured in this concert is a work of 20th century composter William Walton. His “Symphony No. 1” serves as a teaser to the upcoming season. However, the F-M Symphony will perform just the first movement to end their season finale and lead into 20142015. “We’re going to open the next season with the full William Walton symphony,”
Boyd said, “and this one is going to have a really wide variety of music. It’s not going to be so heavy with British music and American music.” In fact, 2014-2015 for the F-M Symphony will be announced in full at this concert. While this season featured tastes of British and American composers to play off of their new music director’s heritage, next season will feature the far-reaching flavors of the Orient and South America, among others. Around 80 musicians in total will appear onstage for “From London With Love,” with some pieces calling for fewer or more musicians. The brass, woodwind and percussion sections will not perform for certain pieces, but strings have the spotlight for sure, and especially Chee-Yun, who will be performing at another symphony event as well — Urban Overture. “If we ever have any soloists on hand, we ask them to come and play a little bit, and that’s always a huge highlight,” Boyd said. “She agreed to fly in a day early, and she will be performing at Urban Overture.” Geared towards young professionals and adults, Urban Overture is at 7:30 p.m. on Apr. 9 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Fargo. Free food, a cocktail party and chanc-
es to purchase pre-season tickets and hear about upcoming concerts from Zimmerman himself are all available for attendees at this casual affair, which is a 21+ event. The end of its first season with its new music director is a definite milestone for the F-M Symphony, and capping this off with a guest artist such as Chee-Yun is a splendid way to end 2013-2014.
TICKET INFO TIME
7:30 p.m. (2:00 p.m. on the 13th)
DATE PRICE
April 12 and 13
PLACE
NDSU Festival Concert Hall
$31-35 for adults $15-18 for Students $5 Student rush 15 mins before show
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THE SPECTRUM | A&E | MON, APR. 7, 2014
Poe Project Brings Contemporary Update to Opera Jack Dura
Staff Writer
Since 1968, the FargoMoorhead Opera has relied on the same 20 operas to fill its seasons. For 2013-2014, the company shook things up with a co-production that brought together professionals from New York, Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, Minnesota and beyond. The Poe Project—this worldpremiere, double-bill production—came alive at Festival Concert Hall after five years of creation, writing, readings and rehearsals. “Buried Alive” and “Embedded,” the two one-act operas of the Poe Project, follow the veins of Poe’s “The Premature Burial” and “The Cask of Amontillado,” but in a thoroughly contemporary manner. “Buried Alive” concerns Victor (Christopher Burchett), who wakes up in the morgue, unsure of his existence and the people
around him. His pleading with his wife Elena to save him from burial is disheartening and almost haunting at times, as the undertaker (Jennifer Feinstein) and her assistants prepare him for his dirt nap. A dramatic burial scene ends poor Victor’s story, as his wife and undertakers bury him with the performers tossing colored powder onto Burchett’s white burial suit in a surreal performance scene. “Buried Alive” features a rich roster of voices, all of which carry over to “Embedded,” as this production calls for the same singers to perform in each opera. “Buried Alive” is much less climactic than “Embedded,” which reaches real levels of excitement involving a terrorist, explosions and a dramatic decision. Sylvia Malow (the beauteous Caroline Worra) is the top news anchor of her day, but a sexy, new reporter (Sara Gartland, a shimmering treat) threatens her turf
in “Embedded.” After a bad day on the set, Sylvia heads home, pulls a cork, and almost calls it a night before a mysterious cell phone and GPS wind up on her doorstep. A terrorist she had once exposed promises her the comeback story of her career should she follow the GPS to an interview with him. Unfortunately, the desperate anchorwoman cannot resist. After a vocal duel with her GPS (Feinstein) on the car ride to the interview, Sylvia finds herself in the Holland Tunnel, where disaster strikes. As revenge for exposing his prior crimes, the terrorist detonates bombs at either end of the tunnel, sealing off Sylvia’s escape, but leaving her with a few final options. Via a live Internet feed, the trapped anchor reports on the disaster and dies in the process, dramatically remaining immortal and shunting aside the newbie come to take her place. “Embedded” was largely
more enjoyable than “Buried Alive,” and merely because there was more movement. There was an adventure, there was a story, there was even a little bit of humor. Not that “Buried Alive” didn’t feature any of that; it’s just that there’s not going to be as much adventure in a hole in the ground versus in a flooding traffic tunnel. A down-on-her-luck heroine is always an audience favorite, and Worra was the clear favorite of the six performers. The F-M Opera entertained with this one, as well as gave audiences a ripe opportunity to acquaint themselves with this vocal art. The nice thing about a world premiere is that no audience member knows or is able to know how it will unfold. Being part of those to first see a full production like this is truly a one-time rarity, and once that chance is gone, it’s gone forever. “Buried Alive” and “Embedded” were presented on Mar. 28 and 30 in Festival Concert Hall.
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EVER SEEN A
SUB FLY?
Contributing Writer
If you needed more proof that console gaming is here to stay, look no further than the much-maligned Gamestop’s recordbreaking sales. Global sales for the retailer soared to $9.04 billion in 2013, breaking its previous 2011 record by $1.7 billion. That’s impressive when you consider that between the two records, in 2012, the company actually posted losses of $269.7 million. The swing brought them up to a $354.2 million profit for the year. So what’s changed? New consoles. In 2012, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox
360 were sitting at just about as high an install base as could be expected for six and seven-year-old hardware. That is to say, despite amazing existing libraries and some of the best games of the generation coming out around that time, the consoles had reached about as many buyers as they were going to. Last fall brought with it two shiny new boxes in the form of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Gamestop stated in a press release that new hardware sales at the company raised 29.7 percent between then and the end of the financial year. “The launch of new consoles in 2013 marked the return of innovation to the video game category and GameStop’s market share increased to an all-time high,” Gamestop CEO Paul Raines said. “Our emerging digital and mobile businesses, which did not exist three years ago, surpassed $1 billion of revenue.” While “traditional” games are riding the high of
new hardware, at least one sector of mobile games is in trouble. King, creators of the hugely successful “Candy Crush Saga,” finally began trading their company publicly on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The results were clearly not what they hoped, with a CNBC economic personality describing it as “a Stephen King horror story. It might be Misery, it could be even Cujo.” The company began trading their stock at $22.50 a share, but quickly fluctuated wildly — mostly in a downward pattern. At the time of this writing, their shares sit at $18.49, down over four dollars from where they started. Why does Wall Street have such little faith in one of the biggest mobile game producers in the world? The financial industry is worried that “Candy Crush” Saga might be the company’s one-hit wonder. While the company’s monthly user count sits at a staggering 400
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million, “sitting” is exactly what it’s doing. That concern rests among others about the long-term viability of the mobile games market. Other casual games companies like Rovio (“Angry Birds”) and Zynga (“Farmville”) have also fallen into the one-hit wonder category and don’t bode well for the industry as a whole. While Rovio smartly got into the very lucrative world of merchandising, “Angry Birds” remains their primary success. Meanwhile, Zynga fell victim to the Facebook gaming bubble and a move to mobile development was too little too late for the troubled company. It’s strange to see these trends in casual and “hardcore” gaming seesawing in such wildly different directions. Just a few years ago, economists claimed mobile games were the specter of death for consoles. Now the roles seem to be reversed as the oversaturated, undercurated phone market meets competition from the new consoles’ “seal of quality.”
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Opinion
MONDAY, APR. 7, 2014
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Shaurya Chawla
Contributing Writer
Recently, I came across an article in Daily News America, “How smartphones are on the verge of taking over the world.” I was so mesmerized by reading it that I couldn’t stop myself thinking about it. What fascinated me about that piece of writing were the facts mentioned in it, of which I can relate to our everyday lives. At the same time, I had trouble determining whether smartphones are actually taking over the world or if they are just taking over millions of lives. Smartphones have most definitely changed the lifestyle of many, and I believe now they are an essential part of modern life. Today everyone owns a smartphone, and according to the facts, an average person checks their smartphones once in every 6.5 minutes. This checking is not random but it is triggered by some events like reading news or emails or replying to messages. No doubt, smartphones provide the flexibility to have access to a variety of applications. We can calculate exponentials, logarithmic and roots to perfect decimal places without having scientific calculators. Now, one can go about social networking by using Facebook, Twitter and other apps anywhere and anytime. Overall, it has been recognized as a gadget that is multi-tasking, portable and easily maintainable and also has long time connectivity. Then, where is the need to carry laptops and calculators or rushing to places to finish the tasks? Despite how smartphones can reduce our workload by doing tasks in a moment’s time, it also becomes a distractor that potentially reduces productivity and keeps us away from our work. A few months ago, even I bought a Nexus so that I can have all the pleasures that come with a smartphone. Initially I wanted flexibility with the Internet connection, access to few apps such as for checking emails, grades on Blackboard or paying off necessary bills. It would also serve to help with reminders for tasks, and could stay in contact with my relatives through Skype. When exposed to so many functionalities of that smartphone, I couldn’t bear myself to download various apps for creativity, music and especially the games. Now, if it vibrates in a class or in a group meeting and possible anywhere, I rush myself to check it, be it an update or something else. Especially, for students, smartphones can be anything from a tool of learning to a convenient device for entertainment. And today, if you look around yourselves, even in college, almost every hand has a phone in it. If there is nothing to do, then a smartphone is the best buddy to have. But in reality, it keeps us socially isolated from the world. It has become a part and piece of our lives. We cannot resist looking at it like an antisocial geek for more than 15 minutes. Lastly, it is the only way we all can draw attention of others and flaunt our smartphones! Despite the fact that smartphones are valuable to us, I am not able to ignore the comment that it is taking over the world! But I have initiated myself to avoid using it all times. And now its up to you to manage this addiction! Shaurya is a senior majoring in computer engineering and minoring in computer science.
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Listserv emails bombard us with irrelevancy
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Keelia Moeller
Contributing Writer
The university sends out mass amounts of Listserv emails between 10 p.m. and midnight. We, as students, do not have the choice to unsubscribe from these announcements, and as they accumulate, it is possible that some of our truly important emails may become lost within the masses. Time and time again, I discover an email that was sent during the time frame of the Listserv bombardment. I either overlooked it from the day before, because I generally ignore these announcement messages, or discover it from a few weeks ago, hidden by Listserv. Many students even have their emails linked to their cell phones, and choose to receive notifications for emails. This is because we know that our professors often contact us this way. However, the magic of being notified goes away when our phones start to incessantly buzz between 10 p.m. and midnight with messages that are not even relevant to our lives. The fact that these messages are sent on a daily basis in mass amounts may not bother everyone, but we should at least be given the opportunity to make known our preferences, or opt out of receiving messages that do not interest us, or even relate to us and our academic careers. Most of the messages I receive are from sororities or fraternities, looking for recruits and encouraging students to join. Others relate to the College of Science’s “Penny Wars” or “Bicycle Safety at NDSU.” While theses messages may appeal to some students, I am not interested in joining a soror-
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
ity, nor am I planning to attend the College of Science, and I do not even own a bicycle. Even a decrease in frequency would make this problem far less bothersome. Rather than five days a week, it would be more effective to send them once a week. A Monday or Sunday night would be sufficient; this way, students are aware of activities at the beginning of the week, but only have to sort through the masses once. A small questionnaire relating to our extracurricular interests could also create a way for these emails to become more personalized and less overwhelming for each student. It is far too much work to sort through 20 emails in search of the one that may interest you. If the school wants to emphasize campus involvement, wouldn’t it be more effective for students to receive emails about on campus activities that actually interest them? This could be included with the other registration forms that must be filled out prior to each school year. If students know just now many Listserv emails they may have to deal with, they will take the time to share
a few preferences to prevent this from happening. It would also be effective for the questionnaire to contain a small checkbox that reads, “I would not like to receive Announcement emails.” This small box could save hundreds of students from the hassle of sorting out and deleting overwhelming amounts of Listserv emails in order to find the messages that are of actual importance. While I understand what NDSU is trying to do with these announcement emails, there are many other effective ways to achieve this goal. Personalizing campus involvement emails would allow students easier access to interesting events instead of forcing them to sort through irrelevant messages looking for something interesting. This, along with less frequent sending or allowing the opportunity to unsubscribe completely, will save students from the clogging of inboxes, the loss of important messages and the incessant notifications. Keelia is a freshman majoring in English education.
Grass-fed Beef vs. Corn-fed Beef
There’s a difference, but it’s a matter of personal preference Alyssa Langaas
Contributing Writer
Some people assume grass-fed beef is healthier, because they become accustomed to seeing the picture perfect image of cattle grazing on pasture and believe that is what cattle actually prefer. However, typically cattle prefer to eat corn over grass. Ty Lawrence, Ph.D. and assistant professor of animal science at West
Texas A&M University, was interviewed by Janet Riley, the vice president of the American Meat Institute. In his interview, Lawerence talked about a trial done with cattle to see if they would choose corn over grass. Well, the cattle chose to eat corn over the grass. Lawrence also explained that feeding corn to cattle is a very natural thing, and once cattle arrive at the feedlot they are fed specific rations and quality feed in order to grow efficiently. As for nutrition, both grass-fed and cornfed beef are packed with nutrients and protein. The main difference is in the levels of omega-3s. Corn-fed beef does have slightly lower levels of omega-3s than grass-fed beef does. If you are concerned about drastically increasing your omega-3s, you should know that salmon has 35 times more omega-3s
than beef. Grass-fed beef also contains lower levels of fat than corn-fed beef, but less fat also leads to a taste difference too. Because grass-fed beef are on pasture, the different types of grasses cause cattle to get a variety of nutrients. This can lead to taste differences of cattle coming from the same herd. Cattle that have been corn-fed have more consistency in the taste of their beef, because a feedlot manager or animal nutritionist usually monitors their feed. So, next time you’re in the mood for a hamburger, consider buying corn-fed beef and grass-fed beef in order to decide for yourself what you like better. Alyssa is a senior majoring in public relations and advertising/agriculture communications.
MN Legislature Proposes Tanning Bed Ban for Minors John Roach
Contributing Writer
Recent data regarding Melanoma and its increasing prevalence in the teen community has prompted a new piece of legislation to make its way through the Minnesota State Legislature. The bill, HF2177, proposes to ban Minnesota customers under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. Based on research suggesting a strong link between tanning beds and the development of Melanoma, Minnesota legislators have pushed HF2177 through the committee process over the past several weeks. HF2177 is by no means the first Minnesota bill to propose restrictions for tanning beds, as statute 325H — the statute which the legislature proposes to amend — already requires parental consent for customers un-
der 16 years of age. The proposed change to this statute aims to overhaul this standard, taking the decision completely away from parents and limiting tanning bed use exclusively to those over 18 years of age. The primary issue with this bill is not in the claim that extended use can contribute to cancer development as a variety of research has suggested a correlation between cancer growth and extended exposure to UV radiation. Taking precautions against overexposure to this naturally occurring — and physically required — radiation is certainly a noble ideal, but unfortunately HF2177 takes this a step too far. Banning minors from tanning bed use ultimately takes the responsibility from the parents and sets a precedent for the legislature to take this responsibility upon themselves. Exposure to sunlight, and the UV rays found in it, has also been linked to cancer development. No state laws cover this
equally dangerous phenomenon, however, as parents are expected to alleviate the danger by keeping their children reasonably protected from overexposure. While not all parents manage their children’s exposure to UV radiation perfectly, it is not the state’s duty or role to take this responsibility upon itself. Legislation such as HF2177 is a presumably well meaning overstep on the authority and responsibility designated to the Minnesota State Legislature. Parents are equipped and informed to make the proper decisions for their children’s well-being, and should not be stripped of the right to make decisions such as the one at stake in this scenario. While tanning beds certainly do provide a degree of danger, the parental ability to make informed decisions for their children should not be removed in favor of control by the state. John is a sophomore majoring in English.
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The Listserv Problem
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Smartphones: Taking over the world?
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THE SPECTRUM | OPINION | MON, APR. 7, 2014
The Freshman 15 and Diet Fads
How we’ve created an issue for ourselves Amber Zolondek Staff Writer
While making dinner in my apartment the other day, my roommate joined me in the kitchen to talk and catch up on the day’s events. It was a relaxing evening until I caught myself doing things I had never used to do. I was measuring pasta, reading the labels, calculating what and when I could eat something, if I allowed it and already regretting the meal I was making. I had become the girl I hated. Most of the time, people associate women who diet as either narcissistic or they have an eating disorder. I was clearly neither of those, as I had started like most women, trying to live a healthier lifestyle and take care of my body.
It led me to wonder where my obsession with this concern was coming from and why couldn’t I let it go? Unfortunately, I was afraid it has seemingly become something that had a deeper meaning. As an incoming freshman, my biggest fear was not that of getting lost, making no new friends or even failing a course. It was the freshman 15. Embarrassing, really, to think that this was my main concern over everything else I possibly thought could have gone wrong that first year. As the summer before college flew by, I felt myself becoming more and more anxious about the idea of coming here and drastically changing, physically, like most girls I knew that had left for school and came back from time to time. My freshman year roommate didn’t seem to eat, causing reason for panic and distress that I couldn’t seem to cope with. Even if she did, her diet consisted of Doritos, Root Beer and the occasional yogurt. While I, on the other hand, stuck to the salad bar because it was safe and set my alarms in the morning to make it to the gym by 6 a.m. I felt like I couldn’t
My one reason?
take part in the regular, fun things that freshmen liked to do. No King House, late night pizza or college night at Cherry Berry. It occurred to me that I wasn’t the only one struggling with this fear and found a little bit of peace when I moved in with my current roommate. Initially, her attention to food and exercise was really off putting, until I realized that I was the same exact way. She and I have tried to keep each other mindful about what we eat, but never degrading. While we keep most things in our kitchen wholesome or healthy, we certainly will be the first to jump up at the idea of grabbing Froyo together. If there has anything that coming to college has taught me about my body, is that it will change. It will always change. Naturally, I have the say as to if it’s for better or worse. However, depriving or nearly killing myself in order to maintain the idea of no weight gain is unattainable, and I’m finally okay with that. Amber is a sophomore majoring in public relations and advertising. Check out her blog at http://addcreamandsugar.blogspot.com.
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10 MONDAY, APR. 7, 2014
Sports
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
After starting at right tackle for the last two years, Joe Haeg is making the transition to left tackle for the Bison this spring. Haeg says footwork has been the biggest challenge.
JOSEPH RAVITS | THE SPECTRUM
Habits are Broken for Haeg’s Adjustment to Left Tackle Sam Herder Sports Editor
Joe Haeg noticed one day in class that he was naturally sitting with his right foot back. He consciously adjusted so his left foot was back, knowing his muscle memory will need to become the complete opposite. That’s because Haeg, who is used to playing right tackle for the last six years, is making the move to left tackle for the NDSU football team. Standing at 6-foot-6-inches and 293 pounds, the physical adjustment for Haeg hasn’t been a problem. It’s the other aspect of being an offensive lineman that presents the biggest challenge. “Obviously there’s a lot of mental things you have to deal with,” Haeg said. “Technique-wise, a lot of the stuff is the exact opposite so it really just takes a lot of reps to get used to.” The junior from Brainerd High School, Minn., was a fixture at right tackle the last two years for the Bison. But with an offensive line that returns only two starters, Haeg was an obvious choice that fit the mold of
the most important position on the line. “I feel with Joe, with his experience and his ability, we did want to put him back over to that left side and protecting the backside is where you want him and that’s where you want your best tackle,” offensive line coach Conor Riley said. “It was a pretty easy decision. Actually, after the season ended, one of the first things he asked me was, ‘Am I moving to left tackle?’ and I said ‘Absolutely.’” Haeg, who started his Bison career as a walk on, has the duty to take over the role of All-American and projected draft pick, Billy Turner. Taking over a big role isn’t something new to Haeg, though, as he replaced a three-year starter and All-American Paul Cornick as a redshirt freshman in 2012. But now Haeg has to adjust to being on the backside of the play with the duty to protect first-year starting quarterback Carson Wentz. “Left tackle is a big responsibility, you have to protect the quarterback’s blindside and that’s something that I’m really proud about, but have to do well in,” Haeg said. Repetitions have been key for Haeg in spring practice. While the technique of play-
ing offensive tackle doesn’t change drastically, the habits and comfort learned on the right side are thrown out when moving across the line. “It’s more the same than it is different,” Haeg said. “That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve had to deal with so far is getting used to having my stance different.” Said Riley, “Biggest challenge is just getting his feet right. He’s an extremely smart individual, so the play calls will not affect him one bit. Now taking footwork with your right foot as your inside foot and your left foot as your outside foot will be the biggest adjustment for him.” With Turner and right guard Tyler Gimmestad graduated and center Josh Colville forced to retire with chronic knee issues, Haeg and junior left guard Zack Johnson are the lone returning starters on a unit that has created holes for two 1,000 yard rushers for three straight years. Haeg said he knows he will have to step up as a leader. His position coach is already expecting that out of him. “With his experience and his ability, I do expect him to step up with a leadership
Bison Round-Up
Corrie Dunshee
Contributing Writer
Men’s Track & Field In Day One of the Stanford Invitational/San Francisco State Distance Carnival, sophomore thrower Quinn Baumann took second in the javelin with a mark of 194-03 (59.22m). Sophomore thrower Brandt Berghuis also took second in the hammer throw with a mark of 186-05 (56.82m). Travis Fitzke won the 5,000m at SFSU with a lifetime best of 14:08.19. This time ranks ninth in the NCAA this season and breaks the NDSU school record by four seconds. In the second day at Stanford, sophomore Brock Larson took fourth in the pole vault with a clearance of 15-09.25 (4.81m). At SFSU, senior Nate Mattson took fourth in the 200m with a time of 22.26. Women’s Track & Field The NDSU women’s track and field team broke four school records over the weekend. At Stanford on Friday, sophomore Sierra Rosenau posted a javelin throw of 155-7 (47.42m), breaking her own school record
by five and a half feet, and posting a national top-25 mark in the event. Senior sprinter Ashley Tingelstad placed fourth in the 400m, recording her secondfastest outdoor time of her career at 53.73. Senior Antoinette Goodman placed second in the 100m dash with a time of 11.65, one-hundredth of a second slower than matching her school record. Sophomore Erin Teschuk won the 1500m with a personal-best time of 4:31.11, which ranks sixth in NDSU history and leads the Summit League this season. At San Francisco State, the women took the top three places in the pole vault. Anna Benke and Caitlin Mack both cleared at 1208.00 (3.86m), sharing the No. 2 spot on the school’s all-time list in the event. Based on the number of misses, Benke took first and Mack took second. Brittany Stangl cleared 12-02.00 (3.71m), taking third in the event and placing ninth on NDSU’s all-time list. On Saturday, the 4x100m relay team of Deborah John, Morgan Milbrath, Tingelstad and Goodman broke the school record for the second time by running 44.81. The 4x400 relay team of Milbrath, Tingelstad, Ashley Heinze and Paige Stratioti
broke the indoor record three times and qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, and later won the outdoor record by running 3:36.29. Katelyn Weimerskirch broke the school record in the discus by throwing 159-10 (48.73m) at Stanford. Stratioti took second place in the 800m with a lifetime best of 2:05.94, coming in behind 2011 World Championships finalist Maggie Vessey. Stratioti now ranks fourth in the nation this season, and is the fourth woman in NDSU history to finish the event in under 2:06. Goodman placed third in the 200m dash with a time of 23.82 seconds. Mack and Stangl cleared the pole vault at 12-06.25 (3.82m), with Mack taking second and Stangl taking fourth. John took fourth in the 100m hurdles with a season best time of 13.68 seconds. Softball The NDSU softball team rallied in a Summit League doubleheader Saturday afternoon to defeat the University of Nebraska at Omaha with scores of 4-3 and 3-2 at Westside Field in Omaha, Neb. Krista Menke won both games to im-
role,” Riley said. “He doesn’t need to be the most vocal guy out there, but he needs to be a guy who’s having the same expectation level for the other guys in the group that he has for himself, which is clearly high.” Along with becoming a leader, Haeg has used the offseason to get bigger. Playing around 290 pounds last year, Haeg would like to hit the magical 300-pound mark as an offensive lineman. “My main thing is I need to gain weight,” Haeg said. “With gaining that weight, you really have to be able to stay athletic as you are.” The ultimate responsibility of protecting the quarterback won’t change for Haeg. Breaking the habits and becoming comfortable with the opposite footwork will be key. Even if that means adjusting how he sits in class. “The biggest thing you look at is use what you have … and Joe’s a pretty special player himself,” Riley said. “He’s extremely athletic and physical, and he’s extremely technically sound. The biggest thing he has to do right now is continue to play his own game. He knows what it takes.”
prove her record to 16-4 overall and 4-0 in Summit League play. In a complete first game win, Menke struck out a career-high 12 batters, and pitched two scoreless innings of relief in the second game. Overall, Menke struck out 15, walked six and allowed three hits in nine innings of work. Dana Elsasser of Omaha picked up the loss in the first game. Elsasser struck out eight, walked one, and allowed nine hits. Tabby Bayers started the second game for the Bison. Over five innings of work, Bayers struck out four, walked three and allowed four hits. Kat Barrow picked up the loss for Omaha, striking out four and allowing five hits. The Bison will be back in action this Friday and Saturday in a three-game series against South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. Baseball Due to weather and field conditions, the NDSU doubleheader against South Dakota State was canceled on Friday. The Bison will be back in action Tuesday at Newman Outdoor Field against Bemidji State University.
Age Before Beauty? Not in College Basketball Joe Kerlin Staff Writer
The growing debate in college basketball over the past three years has been philosophical debate. With college basketball players leaving earlier than ever, the question has been whether to build your big time basketball program’s roster around lottery picks or players that are willing to stick around the program for several years, maturing into a good basketball player. As fans, players come and go, but now that we are in the one-and-done era, there’s not enough time for fans to grow an emotional connection to their players. You would believe with chemistry and players staying together longer, Tom Izzoesque philosophy would prevail ten times out of ten. But with John Calipari’s championship in 2012 and his Final Four run this
season, many think Coach Cal is on to something. In 2011, the Kentucky Wildcats recruited the top class in the nation. With 6-foot-10inch rim-protector extraordinaire Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and point guard Marquis Teague joining sophomores Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones, Kentucky had the talent to beat most D-League teams … and the talent to run the 2014 76ers out of the gym. Zing! Kentucky ran its way to a national championship, and before anyone at Rupp Arena could blink, the starting five was gone. The pattern continued into the next season and Coach Cal recruited players that had their hearts set on the NBA after one season of college ball. A string of bad luck and bad team chemistry forced the Wildcats into a first round exit in the NIT. The critics gained critical momentum and that momentum continued through the
greater part of this college basketball season. As the tourney hit, pundits continued to doubt Coach Cal’s strategy of starting five freshmen, including me. But then the eighthseeded Wildcats made a run to the Final Four, shutting up the haters for good. So the question is does experience matter in college basketball? Does anything but talent really matter anymore in college basketball? I would argue the more talent the better. You can have your Shabazz Napiers. I’ll take freshmen Julius Randle, James Young and the Harrison twins. College basketball isn’t about building team chemistry and improving players from their freshman to senior years anymore. It’s a gold rush to see who can collect the most amount of talent as soon as possible. It’s about collecting the most skilled players as possible, using 30 regular season games to get them on the same page, and then lean-
ing on their God-given abilities to carry you through the NCAA tournament. College basketball is turning into a fantasy-like sport. You build a team to win now, not three years down the line. You’re not going to take fliers on guys that can potentially become great basketball players, you’re going to draft the best players available and see what happens. Program guys are great. I do not doubt the importance of guys like Adreian Payne and Dougie McBuckets (Doug McDermott). The cold truth is that college basketball isn’t as love-dovie as we make it seem. Don’t give me that “One Shining Moment” garbage. The NCAA has enough problems, so why not take advantages of its loopholes, load up on guys that won’t go to class, but can shoot 50 percent from three-point land? The real issue with college athletics is bigger than the debate about how to build a program. More on the NCAA coming soon.
11
THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | MON, APR. 7, 2014
Cheyenne Garcia has transitioned her high school success in California to the NDSU softball team, leading the team in homeruns.
PHOTO COURTESY OF | NDSU ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Meet-a-Bison: Cheyenne Garcia
Despite short stature, Garcia has homerhitting power Taylor Kurth
Contributing Writer
“I just hit the ball hard.” That is Cheyenne Garcia’s theory on how a woman who only is listed at 4-feet-11-inches can lead the NDSU softball team in homeruns with five already this year. Garcia, a sophomore, grew up in San Diego, Calif., where the weather is hot and the only snow days she had heard about were in
movies. “San Diego was good; I didn’t really know anything else,” Garcia said. “Now that I’ve seen this weather, I kind of miss it. Being prepared for the weather has been the biggest transition. I’ve never really wore a jacket before, much less two.” Garcia started playing softball when she was six years old. She was exposed to the sport very early and that early exposure sparked a fire inside her that would be fueled with each and every season. “I’ve always loved softball,” Garcia said. “I’ve always wanted to go to college, but going into high school was when I knew
that I could go to college for softball.” Garcia is a bit of a foreshadower because she envisioned all this before it even happened. She had a great career at Ranch Buena Vista High School. She was a fouryear starter. As just a freshman, she won Offensive Player of the Year and was second-team All-California Interscholastic Federation. She became first time allleague as a sophomore. The next year, she raised the bar. In her junior year, she was Player of the Year and first team All-CIF. Garcia broke the CIF record for triples in a game as a senior. She was also a three-year starter in field hockey, earning first
team all-league and All-CIF honors as a junior. After that type of high school career, Garcia needed to pick a college to take her talents to. Despite interest from Hawaii, San Diego and some east coast schools, this is where the home of the Bison, land of snow came into play. “I went on a visit,” Garcia explained. “Actually when I took my visit, I knew right away that I wanted to go there. I still had other visits scheduled with other schools. I knew right away. The environment and the team, it felt like a family. I’m really close to my family. So it made sense.” Garcia did take her visit in the fall before the snow came, so she was in for a culture shock when she actually attended the school. Garcia started her ca-
reer off at NDSU by making the All-Summit League second team. “I was actually surprised. I didn’t really think I was going to, but I did. So it was cool,” Garcia said. Garcia has played in only 80 games as a Bison but already has 11 home runs. “I have big legs,” Garcia said. “I feel like people underestimate me because of my size too, so it is kind of cool. I just hit the ball hard. Hitting the ball is my favorite part of softball.” Garcia is having a great year through 31 games. She has a batting average of .371, five home runs, 11 extra-base hits, 15 stolen bases and only two errors as a second baseman. Garcia has a few things that she likes to do when she is not on the field cranking balls to the point of no re-
turn. “I like to hang out with the team,” she said. “We like to play music, dance and play card games on the bus.” Garcia chose her jersey number through a concise, calculated decision. “Well my favorite numbers are two and three but number one was the only jersey that fit me. People had already (chosen) two and three, so it was easy.” Garcia is majoring in human development and social science in hopes of pursuing social work. Upon her completion at NDSU, she would like to attend graduate school. She also wants to hopefully get her own place back home in the basking sun of San Diego where she can go to the beach, lounge by the pool and bask in the sun.
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12
THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | MON, APR. 7, 2014
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