NDSU SPECTRUM | February 4, 2019 by NDSU Spectrum

VOLUME 122 ISSUE 34

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

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NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

Former White Supremacist Speaks Arno Michaelis gives his story of friendship and freedom from hate

Michaelis spoke at the Century Theater in the Memorial Union.

PHOEBE ELLIS | THE SPECTRUM

Ryan Nix

Co-News Editor

Arno Michaelis, a well-known former white supremacist turned activist, spoke to a crowd of North Dakota State students Jan. 31. Michaelis has appeared on the daytime talk show “The View” as well CNN and MSNBC, but this time the former punk rock skinhead was at the Century Theater in the Memorial Union. Michaelis started his presentation with a video that explained his current activism with Pardeep Kaleka, a member of Sikhism. Kaleka came into Michaelis’ life after the Sikh temple shooting in 2012 where six members of the church were killed by a member of the Hammerskin Nation. Michaelis said he helped found the group though when he was a skinhead. During the event, Michaelis talked about Kaleka’s father, Satwant Kaleka, who he said brought Kaleka to America where he worked hard to support his family. Satwant went from happily working 16 hours a day at a gas station to owning a gas station and other businesses, according to Michaelis. Kaleka was able to go to a prestigious school because of this. “They had literally realized the American dream,” Michaelis said. Kaleka’s story collided with Michaelis’ when her father was gunned down while protecting his Sikh temple in Wisconsin during the infamous Sikh temple shooting.

Michaelis said he fought off the shooter with a butter knife, holding the shooter up until the cops came. Two years before the shooting, Michaelis said he publicly came out as a former white supremacist in 2010. Michaelis said he had developed a name for himself as the “that ex-white supremacist guy.” Because Michaelis had formed the group that inspired the attack, Kaleka came to him for answers. According to Michaelis, Kaleka had two very simple questions: how can someone do this and how can we prevent this from happening. Michaelis had an analogy for the first question. He asked the audience if they had ever trained to establish a skill in a certain area. He went on to explain that when you do something every day for an hour or so, you get to the point where that activity is almost second nature. This is how hate and violence work, according to Michaelis. The idea of practicing is that, “It takes a thing that’s outside our comfort zone and brings them into our comfort zone,” Michaelis said. When people are indoctrinated in this way, they start to resent the good and beautiful things in the world, according to Michaelis. Michaelis said in the heat of his hate he actually got a tattoo of a swastika on his middle finger so that when he was confronted by a person of an undesirable race or someone showing

INSIDE

kindness toward him he could flick them off with that finger. Michaelis said this type of hate comes from a broken place. “Violence stems from suffering,” Michaelis said. This principle was integrated into his recruitment when he was a skinhead. “Recruitment was all based on blame and anger,” Michaelis said. The group would get new members by blaming the problems of young white men on African Americans and Jewish people. Michaelis said this cycle never actually solved the person’s problem, and in most cases, “The more you blame people, the less able you are to fix the actual problem.” The answer Michaelis gave to the second question was that “a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life, change the course of history,” and the best way to fight the type of violence and hate that caused the Sikh shooting is kindness and the everyday practice of kindness. Michaelis said he was inspired by a black woman at McDonald’s, that when confronted by his hate, turned it around and excepted him as a person. Michaelis said practicing kindness broadly is effective in fighting hate and violence. He has talked at 300 events just like this since he became, as he likes to say, a former white supremacist.

North Dakota State students share their thoughts on the bill to reintroduce Savanna’s Act

PHOEBE ELLIS | THE SPECTRUM

Meet the Horsemen’s Association–competing with horses or learning more about the industry

Struggling attendance just part of the larger issues for women’s basketball

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Reintroducing Savanna’s Act North Dakota State students share their thoughts on the bill

PHOEBE ELLIS | THE SPECTRUM

The Native American Student Association discuss upcoming events and their experiences in the community.

Phoebe Ellis

Head News Editor

Savanna’s Act, the purpose of which is to collect information on missing or murdered indigenous women, and originally proposed by Heidi Heitkamp, has now gained the attention of Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, as well as the nation. The North Dakota State Native American Student Association (NASA) shared their feelings on what the bill could mean for North Dakota and the nation.

James Joski, a member of NASA, said he thought the bill was a good start, and that it would lead to larger and more search and rescue operations when someone, man, woman or child, from a native community goes missing. Tyrel Iron Eyes, president of NASA, said that while he’s “sad that it’s taken this long to get here,” he’s “glad we’re at this point.” One student, Dara Jerome, said it was “frustrating to do something now when Heidi (Heitkamp) proposed this bill.” The bill was originally

introduced Oct. 5, 2017 by former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in response to the Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind case. The LaFontaineGreywind case was the case of a pregnant young Native woman, Savanna, who went missing in the North Fargo area. It was later discovered that she was murdered by a neighbor and the baby was cut directly from the mother’s body. The case stirred up controversy and outcries from some Native communities for one reason and one reason only — it wasn’t unusual.

That was the problem. Indigenous women go missing at a higher rate than any other population. The proposed bill, Savanna’s Act, was an effort to change that. It was an effort to look out for Native populations. However, the bill didn’t make it through the House when proposed to the U.S. Congress. Today, Hoeven and Cramer have reintroduced it to the U.S. Congress, and the two have co-sponsored the bill. Some of the frustrations being felt by the students in NASA, and potentially the greater Native populations

around North Dakota and the United States, were that it could simply be appeasing the requests without provoking actual change. Iron Eyes said if the bill is passed that he wanted to see if this is “more than just a token act that doesn’t actually do anything,” recounting experiences where people have asked why the bill is necessary or when they downplay the numbers, as Joski pointed out from his experiences. According to Iron Eyes, he personally felt that he was appeased by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010.

Even though the act gives tribes the right and ability to try non-tribal members, Iron Eyes felt that it was near impossible for tribes to achieve that. He continued to say the whole thing “felt symbolic” and that it didn’t give power to Native communities. If students are interested in participating in NASA events, there is an upcoming Lakota Culture talk Wednesday, Feb. 13 and a Powwow Saturday, March 30. These events and all NASA meetings are open to anyone, Native or not.

Upcoming Events Ryan Nix

Co-News Editor

Here we go again, another list of things to do in the upcoming weeks. As we begin to thaw from the polar vortex and reach balmy temperatures of 10-20 degrees, it might be time to stop getting takeout and start going out. Here are a few ideas for where to start.

Coffee love

Hotdish Entertainment will be hosting an ode of sorts to the popular coffee shop The Red Raven Espresso Parlor Friday, Feb. 15. The Red Raven is known for than just serving coffee beverages; they’re also known for hosting various events. According to the event’s Facebook page, “This year Hotdish Entertainment is making The Red Raven Espresso Parlor our valentine!

They’ve done so much for us, allowing us to book all these great all-ages shows that everyone can enjoy, so we figured we’d try and give back a little.” All proceeds of the fundraiser will go to buy the Red Raven new sound equipment. The event will have local musical acts Mr. Meaner and Maul.

Midwest Black History

Crystal M. Moten, a professor at Macalester College, will be speaking at the Hjemkomst Center Saturday, Feb. 23. According to the event’s Facebook page, “Dr. Moten’s lecture will examine the lives of African Americans, especially women, who migrated to the Midwest after World War II, paying special attention to their experiences, struggles and acts of everyday resistance.”

While the event is free to the public, the organizers of the event ask that the public reserve tickets online beforehand.

Human rights

The Dakota Medical Center will be hosting The Strategic Response to Human Rights and Diversity 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7. South Sudan READS will be presenting the keynote speaker, Gatluak Thach, a refugee and founder of the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE). According to the event’s Facebook page, “Dr. Thach is an expert in community and organizational development, program and budget planning and management, strategic planning, collaboration and partnership building, resource development (grant writing), executive coaching, advocacy and executive coaching.” GRAPHIC BY CASSANDRA TWEED | THE SPECTRUM

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THE SPECTRUM | NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

In A Nutshell Meghan Arbegast

801 N University Dr. Fargo

Contributing Writer

Woman found dead in car

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, Fargo police responded to a report about a woman that was found dead in a car. The woman, who was said to be in her 60s, was parked in the Cash Wise parking lot and was announced deceased by officials on the scene. Police claimed the woman had been dead for a while, though the police said they didn’t think she died from the below zero temperatures in the past couple days, KVRR Local News reported. Police are still investigating the cause of death and plan to identify the woman and inform her family soon.

Possible soybean trades

As North Dakotan farmers are stuck in the middle of a trade war, U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting to try and find a resolution. Farmers have had to hold their harvests of soybeans because tariffs were placed on the crop by China within the last year. Currently, North Dakota is ranked second in the country for exporting soybeans, but that doesn’t make any difference now as farmers have to find other markets. As reported by KYFR-TV, the new decision by the European Union that soybeans can be used as a source for biofuel could open up a new opportunity for farmers to export their crops.

Polar freeze

Throughout this past week, the Midwest has dealt with a polar vortex that has made temperatures drop around 50 degrees below zero. In some places the temperatures were said to be colder than in the North Pole with many towns across the region hitting their record lows. Due to the weather, schools were closed, mail delivery was postponed and flights were canceled. In parts of Wisconsin and Iowa, the temperatures caused power

outages, making thousands sit in the dark. According to The Washington Post, this latest cold spell has been linked to the death of six individuals, as officials urge everyone to use caution when stepping outside.

Sinkhole uncovers secret tunnel

In Miami, Florida public works employees were sent to investigate a sinkhole, but discovered a tunnel. The tunnel was reportedly around 50-feet long and ran below the street in the direction of the town’s Chase Bank. The FBI was called in with the police to investigate, though it is still a mystery of how many people worked on the tunnel, which is said to be very claustrophobic at only 2-3 feet in diameter. According to Time Magazine, police discovered a pair of boots, a ladder, a stool, some digging tools and a Honda generator inside the tunnel. The picture of the supplies was sent out to the public to help try and find the people who created the tunnel.

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Howard Shultz, the founder of Starbucks, is considering running for president in the 2020. Shultz will be running as an independent candidate and said he has many policies he wants changed in the country. According to The Washington Post, Shultz said he believes that federal debt is the nation’s biggest threat, stating that reducing the deficit would be one of his top priorities as president. Shultz also said he believes that America can’t afford to give citizens free health care and opposes the proposed higher taxes on the wealthy. Shultz claims that his potential presidential run will appeal to the “silent majority of voters,” but critics claim that the silent majority simply does not exist.

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Features

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Student Organization Spotlight Hors emen’s Ass o ciation Meet those who like to compete with horses or simply learn more ab out the industry

Horsemen’s Association gives you the opportunity to compete with different horses each time.

SHERIDAN HEID | PHOTO COURTESY

Miranda Stambler Features Editor

There are many different agricultural clubs to get involved with on campus, but the North Dakota State Horsemen’s Association allows those of all backgrounds, as long as you like horses. The club is one way to become more knowledgeable about your hobby or professional future. The student organization is for anyone interested in horses or the industry, not just someone in the equine science field. It does not matter if you have ridden a horse your whole life or never been near a horse, the organization is open to both beginners and experts. There are two areas that are open for those interested: the organization and the equestrian teams. Some members are a part of both while others only participate in one or the

The vice president of the organization, Fallon Ryan, is a captain of the Hunt Seat Equestrian team. Fallon learned about the equestrian teams through the student involvement expo. She automatically wanted to try out and has been a part of the organization and teams ever since. The organization has a wide variety of majors, from Heid, who is a biological science major, to Ryan, an animal science major. They explained how there are many science-related majors, but they also have members from all sorts of fields such as engineering, nursing, architecture, etc. Horsemen’s Association allows anyone who is simply interested in horses to participate. “The whole spectrum is on the team,” Heid said. The two executive members of the

“We’re really open to anybody, regardless of experience level.” - Sheridan Heid , President of Horsemen’s Association other. It is up to students to decide which they are more interested in. The teams compete with the Intercollegiate Horseman’s Association through visiting different universities in the Midwest. Those that are a part of the organization are welcome to join the teams on their travels. Members learn through speakers and events about the industry and competitions available. There are two different types of equestrian teams: the Western and the Hunt Seat. The Western Equestrian team focuses on Western Horsemanship and reining. The Hunt Seat team has jumping classes and equitation, which is judged on how the rider works with the horse. The president of the Horseman’s Association, Sheridan Heid, is also a captain of the Western Equestrian team. Heid grew up riding, but had never showed. She was considered a beginner when she showed to the team tryouts her freshman year. Since making the team, she has been able to meet different people and improve her riding skills. “Honestly, (the club is) probably my favorite college experience so far,” Heid said. The team aspect is split up into levels. Heid explained that one of the levels is “beginner walk-trotters,” which this year most of the people a part of that level had zero experience with a horse. “The first time they’re ever on a horse is at tryouts basically,” Heid explained.

organizations explained how teams are not gender specific, but instead co-ed. Everyone competes at the same level, and instead of having different competitions for different genders, everyone is equal. “We’re one of the few sports in the country really that judges women and men on the same basis,” Ryan said. After the season, the organization and the teams travel across the country for nationals. This year’s national convention is happening in March, where they will travel to Charlestown, South Carolina. At the convention students are able to explore the equine industry as well as have the option to run for office to be a part of the industry on a national scale. “It is a good way to network and meet other people and peers in the equine industry,” Ryan explained. Through these conventions, Ryan was able to be elected to the national board for the organization. She has networked with people all across the county, which helped get her foot in the door into the industry. This year, the regional competition will be hosted at the NDSU Equine Center Feb. 23-24. The Horsemen’s Association meets 6 p.m. every other Thursday in Hultz Hall conference room. The next meeting is Feb. 7. Visit MyNDSU.com to contact and gain more information about the organization.

SHERIDAN HEID | PHOTO COURTESY

THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

FARGO FOODIE Load e d

Tat er

To ts

A meal to make your hear t explo de

Nachos, but a Midwest version.

Miranda Stambler Features Editor

Tater tots are everywhere. They can be served as a side, appetizer, meal or snack. They really can be just about anything. This delicious form of potatoes is even better when there is more to it than just your average tater tot taste. It can get expensive trying to fill your Midwestern taste buds by constantly going out to eat or trying to cook things from scratch. Instead, allow yourself to combine

MIRANDA STAMBLER | THE SPECTRUM

a less stressful version of cooking by adding in frozen food that only needs to be heated up while you prepare everything else. Instead of following the strict recipes where if you add too much of something it can ruin everything, follow this recipe where if you add too much of something it makes it even better. This is an easy and cheap loaded tater tot recipe that will have your heart wanting to explode from not only a heart attack, but of happiness.

Ingredients

Frozen tater tots

Ground beef Shredded cheese (of your choice) Shredded lettuce Diced white onions Sour cream

Directions

1. Follow the directions for cooking the tater tots. Fill an entire cooking pan (usually around 2.5 pounds). 2. While the tater tots are cooking in the oven, mix in ingredients for the ground beef. The ground beef should be around the same weight of the tater tots. (In this case, it was 2.28 pounds.) 3. Put the ground

beef in a large bowl in small amounts and layer the ground beef with garlic salt, pepper and parsley. Once the final layer has been added, mix together with your hands so the layers are meshed equally. 4. Once the meat has been mixed, put olive oil in a sauce pan. On medium heat, add the ground beef and cover the pan. Leave it for 15-20 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked, while mixing every 5 minutes. Make sure to continuously break up the meat with a utensil so it does not clump while cooking. Clumping

will make it less of a mixture when adding it to the tater tots. 5. Once the meat and tater tots are finished cooking, drain the meat. 6. Add the ground beef to the tater tot pan as evenly as possible. 7. Layer on two 8-ounce bags of the shredded cheese of your choice. Then put the pan in the oven for about 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 8. Once the cheese and meat has been mixed with the tater tots, add on any toppings of your choice. Make sure the layers

are thick because once everything is mixed, there will not be as much as you thought. In this case, I used four handfuls of shredded lettuce, three handfuls of diced white onions and a couple tablespoons of sour cream. 9. Once everything has all been mixed together, serve for a nice heart attack on a plate. 10. There will most likely be leftovers. After refrigerating, more cheese and toppings may need to be added according to the portion you serve next.

Fake It Till You Make It Act like you have a green thumb and keep another plant from dying Ruby Redekopp Contributing Writer

Plants are hard to keep alive for anyone, let alone a busy college student, but hope is not lost. There are steps you can take to prevent the death of your beloved houseplant. Follow these five steps to gain insight into improving your plant parenting skills.

Step 1: Know the purpose of having a plant

Taking care of a plant requires some diligence. It’s easy to forget about your plant if you do not understand what motivated you to get it in the first place. Just like in business, if you set out with a clear idea of what you want to accomplish, you will be more likely to succeed. Knowing the purpose of having a plant will keep you motivated to take care of it. So, what are some good plant purposes to have in mind before you buy a plant? One plant mission statement could focus on the potential to boost your health. A 2016 article on Healthline reviewed by Dr. Deborah Weatherspoon lists the benefits of having an indoor plant. According to the article, plants purify the air, lower potential for illness, improve your mood and increase concentration and memory. Another possible purpose may simply be to function as an inexpensive and trendy decoration. A splash of green will give

a nice accent color to the boring, beige walls of an apartment or residence hall room. Plants can also be easily transported to a new apartment, and they don’t require you to pound nails into the wall or wrestle with Command strips.

Step 2: Choose the right type of plant

This is probably the most important step. Growing a lemon tree in your dorm room to support your new lemonade business may sound like a great idea, but some plants just aren’t meant to be caged up indoors. A few options for easy-to-grow houseplants from a 2016 HGTV.com article titled “Forgiving Houseplants” include aloe, snake plant, rabbit’s ear, philodendron, umbrella tree and cactus. Ask yourself these questions before you splurge on an exotic-looking plant: • How much light does this plant require, and how much light does my room provide? • Can it survive the dry air in winter? Tropical plants often require more humidity to thrive. • Does it need to be able to live without water during spring break? A snake plant may be the best choice. • What’s the ideal growing temperature for this plant? • Is this plant poisonous to cats or dogs? (If you have a pet.)

Step 3: Put it in the best location

No matter how hardy

Taking care of a plant isn’t as hard as you think. your plant is, it will need at least some sunshine. Keep in mind some plants will turn brown if they receive more than the recommended amount of sunlight. It’s important to read the instructions and provide the appropriate lighting. Don’t forget to open the shades on your windows too. Temperature should also be considered, as it varies around your room. If you put your plant next to the window during winter, check to make sure the window is not leaking cold air onto your plant. The rest of your room may be warm,

but your plant could still be freezing. Additionally, if you ignore the advice from Step 2 and buy a plant that requires a humid environment, stick it in your bathroom. Steam from the shower may be able to sustain your plant.

Step 4: Don’t overwater

The amount of water that a plant needs depends greatly on the size and type of the plant, as well as the size and type of the pot. GuideToHouseplants.com advises that plants require more water in the spring and summer when they are

RUBY REDEKOPP | THE SPECTRUM

experiencing growth spurts. A general rule of thumb is the soil should be dry before you water. Beware of overwatering and drowning your plant. Aloe, for example, can go up to two to three weeks without being watered.

Step 5: Research caretaking tips on gardening websites

The internet has a wealth of information from avid gardeners about keeping indoor container plants alive. Look up directions for fertilizing, pruning, deadheading and repotting

that are specific to your species of plant. Finally, no matter the type of plant, you should be on the lookout for pests that may be damaging your plant little by little. Common houseplant pests include aphids, mealybugs and slugs. They are small but fierce. Online guides offer help with pest identification and options for organic and chemical treatments. Before you know it, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful and proud plant parent.

6 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Arts & Entertainment T S

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he pectrum

Review: ‘Mind Over Matter’ Sumerian Records releases rock-doc about The Mendenhall Experiment’s founding member Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor

Hard rock/metal label Sumerian Records continues its foray into film with the rock-doc “Mind Over Matter.” The documentary shares the story of metal guitarist and Korn super fan, Brandon Mendenhall. The 35-yearold’s life seems almost too crazy to be true. Diagnosed at the age of 3 with Cerebral Palsy (CP), Mendenhall faces mobility issues in his left leg and hand. One doctor went so far as to say Mendenhall would never be able to play an instrument of any kind. This prompted his grandfather to cut the strings off the young boy’s toy guitar. “He was just trying to protect me. He didn’t want me to get hurt.” Mendenhall explained. The disability also effects his speech, earning him the nickname “Slimer” in school due to his drooling. Unfortunately, the bullying didn’t stop there. The physical abuse by his peers came to a head when the neighborhood bully tied Mendenhall to his porch with a rope around his neck. Luckily, a boy, Jason Howard, from down the street stood up to the bully and saved Mendenhall. A friendship soon formed between the two boys. It is Howard who introduced Mendenhall to what would become his favorite band. “One day I remember going over there and he was installing a car stereo, and he played Korn’s ‘Blind.’ I was like, ‘What is that?’ ‘Who is that?’ ‘Where can I get that?’” As Mendenhall learned

more about his favorite band’s members, he discovered lead guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer had an injury to a finger on his left hand. When Shaffer was young, he had an accident that shredded the end of one of his fingers. In order to strengthen it afterward, a specialist suggested an instrument. Shaffer began with an acoustic guitar, and the rest is history. It was a slow process, as

musician. He decided he would move to Los Angeles and pursue a job as an audio technician. When his career stagnated, he unsuccessfully tried to audition for multiple bands before deciding to form his own. Thus, the first lineup of The Mendenhall Experiment (TMX) was born. They hit the Sunset Strip, playing pay-to-play gigs. In 2013, they got the news that they were going to

“Playing the guitar not only improved my mobility on my left hand, but I also saw a ripple effect throughout my entire body.” - Brandon Mendenhall, guitarist for The Mendenhall Experiment Mendenhall’s hand that was supposed to form the chords was his left. The fingers on the partially paralyzed hand all moved in a group, but after a few years of playing his guitar, he was able to move each finger individually. He still can’t play traditional chords, but utilizes drop tunings to play flat chords. Mendenhall said he owes his mobility entirely to the guitar: “Playing the guitar not only improved my mobility on my left hand, but I also saw a ripple effect throughout my entire body.” Mendenhall claims the story prompted a sort of epiphany for him, and he bought an electric guitar with the help of his grandmother. It wasn’t until months into him playing that his grandfather found out. Mendenhall still doubted his future as a professional

play the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California. Mendenhall was over the moon to be playing at the same festival as his idols. Unfortunately, the band soon discovered they were playing on a side stage early in the morning. Besides sound technicians, no one was there. On top of that, the band was in a horrible car accident on their way back to LA. The strain of this disappointment and the trauma of the accident soon led to the demise of the lineup. From this ground zero sprung the current golden lineup. Blind and partially deaf bassist Nathan Stockton clicked with Mendenhall over their disabilities and soon joined the band. TMX’s former roadie, Mario Lira, took up guitar while his son, 15-year-old Bruce tackles

SUMERIAN RECORDS | PHOTO COURTESY

Brandon Mendenhall’s inspiring story proves a disability isn’t a death sentence for your dreams. the drums in the band. The powerhouse vocals are created by the youthful Mario Valadez. Things have been moving fast for the band ever since. Korn’s Schaffer secured TMX for the 2016’s Aftershock Festival, this

time on the main stage. They won Guitar Center’s Battle of the Bands, and recently signed a distribution contract with LeQuid Bit Productions through Universal. Perhaps Mendenhall’s favorite accomplishment, however, is recording a song for

their debut album with his inspiration, Munky Schaffer of Korn. The story is insane and heartwarming sure, but all it takes is one song to hear that it is well deserved praise.

‘The Word is Murder’

Reviewing books based solely on their looks Brittany Hofmann Staff Writer

Anthony Horowitz put his all into his work — literally. He is part of “The Word is Murder,” hired as a ghost writer to tell the story of a mysterious murder and how an ex-cop turned private investigator saved the day. On a seemingly normal day in London, Diana Cowper walks into a funeral parlor. That sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Diana plans out her funeral on the very same day of her murder, but is this more than just a coincidence? Detective Daniel Hawthorne seems to think so. Hawthorne is a retired detective doing freelance work for obscure cases, and he brings in the help of Anthony Horowitz to tell his life story. Unfortunately for Anthony, this job is more than he bargained for when he is drawn into the mysterious circumstances of Diana’s death and can’t seem to pull himself away. There is a minuscule part in this book that I found very interesting — the murderer’s identity is given to us at the beginning of the story. If you failed to catch this, you were left scrambling throughout the book to find out who the real killer was.

Could it be Diana’s wealthy actor son Damian? Or when he turns up dead, could it be his mistreated wife? Or perhaps her protective ex-marine father? Maybe it’s the vengeful father of the child that Diana killed in a hit-and-run accident? The answer is unclear until one old photograph solves the mystery. Anthony meets up with an old friend from a prestigious acting school, the same one that Damian and his wife attended. When his wife mentioned their old friend from school, the name rang a bell for Anthony. It turns out that the funeral director was that old friend working under a stage name at the time. To confirm the identity and get the real story, Anthony decides to pay him a visit. Jealousy turned to obsession for the funeral director, and he would stop at nothing to get revenge for Damian stealing his spotlight. Now that the director’s true actions have been revealed, Anthony’s life is in danger. Luckily for Anthony, Hawthorne came to the same conclusion and saves him in the knick of time. “The Word is Murder” is a classic whodunit tale with thrilling action at the turn of every page.

‘The Word is Murder’ is a classic whodunit tale.

BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM

THE SPECTRUM | A&E | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Blast from the Past ‘Mud and Blood 2’ is still very playable years later Nathan Wetrosky Contributing Writer

A long time ago, when I did not own a computer, a console or even a flip phone, I had my dad’s laptop (when he allowed me to play on it, of course). I scoured the internet for every single free-toplay tower defense and strategy game it contained. I remember I found quite a few that were really fun, but the one that I can still remember is “Mud and Blood 2” at Kongregate.com created by a user named “urbz.” “Mud and Blood 2” is a top-down 2D World War

II flash game from the year 2008, a few years before 2011 when flash games hit their peak in both being created and played. “Mud and Blood 2,” to me at least, was ahead of its time. Like many of the strategy games in this era, “Mud and Blood 2” is a tower defense game, but with a twist. The towers do not stand still and take the form of American and German forces. Playing as the Americans, your task is to hold your ground against the German onslaught. The only advantage the Americans have that the Germans do not is that the Americans get to sit tight and wait for them to come into range.

This game is very complicated for what it was built from. There are 24 different deployable units, 11 tactical orders that can be used, 15 different upgrades for troops and vehicles and 17 buildings that can be constructed to make units last longer. With all of this, there are also care packages that randomly drop. Some of these packages contain soldiers, tactical points or the all-important spoons and boxes. All these things work together. For instance, you cannot use a tactical order if you do not have an officer and a signaler. You cannot construct buildings if you do not have a combat engineer

near the area you want to place a structure. You cannot upgrade a tank if you don’t have a tank (duh). If you can get a solid defense going with a variety of units and upgrades, you might be able to last a few more seconds in this difficult game. The difficulty is one of the features I like most about this game. By difficulty, I mean completely random and uncontrollable events occurring. And by random events, I mean the potential for the Germans to bring in tanks on the second or third wave before you even have a decent defensive line or your own soldiers throwing a grenade at an ally. The

randomness of this game makes it truly replayable. There is no certainty of what is going to come next. You could be hit with lines of Tiger tanks, which will obliterate you, or just small infantry waves, which can give you time to set up more defenses. While this is a brutal war game, it is not without its fun quirks and gameplay moments. Here are the two of the top comments on the game’s webpage. “4 years of playing this game and I still don’t get how a tank or artillery piece can shoot underneath itself,” user “dogydoggydogface” commented. Another good one is from user

“insanity408”: “That depressing moment when you noticed the soldier with highest rifle skill in your squad is a medic.” This comment is quite funny considering that medics are the only units in the game that cannot use or carry a weapon. “Mud and Blood 2” is still a fun and interesting game that I find myself coming back to from time to time. It is free, runs well on even the lowest of system specs and it is easy to pick up. I have had many great times with this game, and I believe I shall have more in the future. So, stick to your defenses, trust your friends and hold the line.

Gaming News: February Free Games All the things from the gaming industry last week Max Borman Staff Writer

Another week goes by and with it a new set of news from the gaming industry. The freezing temps this week did nothing to faze game developers from releasing great products. This week is much better than last week so let’s get into the rundown.

‘Metroid Prime 4’ restarted

The highly anticipated next game in the Metroid Prime series has not gotten much news since its announcement in 2017. There were lots of rumors floating around, but now we have confirmation of its fate. “Metroid Prime 4” is being officially restarted from scratch. Nintendo announced that the game was not meeting their expectations, so they brought it back to the drawing board. The company initially working on it, which was rumored to be Bandai Namco, was taken off the project and it was handed over to Retro Studios. This means the game may not see the light of day during the Nintendo Switch era, but let’s hope it does.

‘Metro Exodus’ on Epic

In a big blow to Steam, it was announced that the highly anticipated “Metro Exodus” would be launching exclusively on the Epic Games Store. Anyone who has already preordered it through Steam will still have access to it and its updates, but you cannot purchase it from Steam anymore. The game will be a little cheaper on Epic due to the revenue split that they

‘Assassin’s Creed Rogue’ is being offered as the free game of the month for Xbox users. have. This is another large blow to Steam, as Ubisoft announced earlier that the highly anticipated “The Division 2” would also be an Epic Games Store exclusive.

Fantastic Spider-Man

“Marvel’s Spider-Man” got a new update, bringing with it two new Fantastic Four style suits. A sleek, white and black Future Foundation suit and the Bombastic Bag-Man suit, which is just a Fantastic Four outfit with a paper bag for a mask. The one thing the game needed was more suits, as there are only 38 others.

Xbox Games with Gold

Who doesn’t love free

games? Well, every month gamers who subscribe to either Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus get a host of free games. The free games for Xbox for February were announced, and they are pretty good. First up for gamers, they can download “Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon” for Xbox One and “Assassin’s Creed Rogue” for Xbox 360 and Xbox One through backward compatibility. “Bloodstained” pays homage to creepy sidescrolling games of the past like “Castlevania.” “Assassin’s Creed Rogue” takes the normal gameplay of an Assassin’s

Creed game and puts you in control of an assassin turned Templar, hunting down your old friends. Then on Feb. 16, come back and download “Super Bomberman R” for Xbox One and “Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy” for Xbox 360 and Xbox One through backward compatibility. “Super Bomberman R” is the classic Bomberman gameplay made for today’s graphics. “Jedi Academy” is an old classic that has you learn the ways of the force to become a Jedi or Sith.

GameStop won’t buy a

GameStop was pursuing possible buyout, but

UBISOFT | PHOTO COURTESY

has since stopped. Two companies looking to purchase the gaming retail giant have since pulled out. Hopefully this does not end GameStop. Where else would you get used games?

PS5 news

According to rumors within the gaming industry, Sony has already started focusing on developing PlayStation 5 exclusives, leaving PlayStation 4 behind. Sony will be releasing new games for PlayStation 4 later in the year, but game development kits for PS5 are reportedly already out in the world with high profile companies already working on games for it.

With Sony not attending E3 this year, gamers will probably have to wait until next year for a PS5 announcement, but they may surprise us. That’s about all the fun gaming news from this week. There were also various game updates for “Red Dead Redemption 2” as well as the addition of Piranha Plant to “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” Every week is different, and some more interesting than the last, so look out for next week’s rundown.

Opinion

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

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The Spectrum

I s Te c h n o l o g y G o i n g To o Fa r ? Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor

This is something I question almost every day. I look around and everyone, younger people in particular, is so reliant on technology to get through the day. We rely heavily on video games, television, phones, etc. You have to wonder if at some point there’s going to be some negative effects from this prolonged dependence on technology. I thought for the longest time that I was part of the Millennial Generation. My parents told me that’s what I was, and it sounded right because it’s the generation that comes after Generation X, which is what both my parents belong to. However, Millennial births range from 1980 to 1994, so us college students can’t be put in that category (unless you’re a 24 years or older). Generation Z births range from 1995 to 2012, so that’s where a majority of students fall. I don’t know how I feel about that. I grew up thinking I was a Millennial, and knowing I’m part of a later generation makes me think I’m too young. I bring up these generations because Generation Z is probably the first generation to be exposed to technology early in their lives. A lot of us grew up watching “SpongeBob SquarePants” or “The Land Before Time” on a big box television. That would shortly turn into watching “Drake & Josh” or “Zoey 101” on one of the first flat screens, still

at a very young age. Now, TVs and computers are so advanced that every young person owns one and uses them almost every day. The real killer, however, is the cellphone. As a middle schooler, and even through a little bit of high school, I had a slide phone that I was so excited to have. I finally got an iPhone toward the end of my sophomore year in high school, and by then everyone had one. From there, the rest is history. Everything college kids do nowadays involves technology, from the moment you wake up to when you go to sleep. Once we wake up, the first thing we often do is check Twitter or respond to our Snapchat Streaks. We will continue to check our phone constantly throughout the day to pass the time. Once we get all of our homework done for the day, it’s time to finish binge watching that Netflix show or play four hours of “Fortnite” before bed. (I’m not saying “Fortnite” is bad because it’s awesome). Then it’s time for bed, or more like it’s time to sit on your phone for an hour doing whatever until your brain decides it’s enough technology for the day. The cycle repeats the next day and so on. We don’t solely depend on technology just for entertainment, but also when we do our homework or study. Everything is online now. You can’t just buy a textbook and call it a day; there’s much more than that. Nowadays, they make you register for digital learning applications like Cengage,

The innovation of the iPhone could be the death of us. MindTap, Top Hat, ALEKS, etc. I understand these make courses go by much easier, but it’s so much different than when our parents went to college. You have to pay for this stuff on top of a possible textbook, which is something I’m not a huge fan of. You should only have to buy one or the other. College is too expensive as it is to make students pour money into every class in order to get a degree. My point is, we use technology almost

every moment of the day. It seems like the only source of entertainment nowadays. Our parents didn’t grow up with iPhones, social media, PlayStations, etc. They grew up reading books, playing with toys, going to parties or sporting events. While all this stuff is present today, it’s not used by many members of Generation Z. I can’t remember the last time I read a book because I wanted to. Any funny article I might want to read can be found online or on Twitter.

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On a Friday night in 1993, you would likely find our parents getting beer drunk at a house party or at a bowling alley. Now, it’s all about “squading up” on “Fortnite” or playing “League of Legends” on a PC. Times change. Kids in Generation Alpha (the generation after Generation Z) will grow up with iPhones, tablets and many other sources of technology. Future generations will continue the reliance on technology

as well. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but you wonder if there will be an effect in cognitive development due to this insane amount of technology use. We, Generation Z, are really the first to experience a technology overload. The internet kind of defeats the purpose of reading books or even newspapers (but, still read The Spectrum). This is just something to keep an eye on to see what direction future generations get steered toward.

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Album of the Month | January Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor

Oh, the suspense building up to what won Album of the Month for the start of 2019. The album I chose represents a different genre of music than my past choices. You usually see me recognize some hip-hop or rap album that everyone knows of and likes. I did a little more digging this time and am truly satisfied with my choice. I’m giving it to James Blake and his album “Assume Form.” I didn’t listen to James Blake that much prior to this album, but “Assume Form” definitely steered my attention in his direction, slightly. Some of the songs are a little too soft, and they are more of an “in the feels” kind of songs. Despite this, it’s worth giving this album a listen. This album is categorized in the electronic genre, according to Apple Music. That’s the kind of music you play on a dance floor at a wedding or something. I usually can roll with any song in that genre because they seem to be happier and party mode songs with not a care in the world. They apply to everyone. However, that didn’t seem to be the case for this album. Blake released a series of soft songs and a tremendous feature from Travis Scott in the song “Mile High.” Metro Boomin creates a powerful, engaging, almost touristic type beat that makes me want to listen to the song even more. The beat, combined with the melodies of

Travis Scott and James Blake, creates one of the better songs I’ve heard. It really does give you that “mile high” feeling in a way. Sitting atop the Rocky Mountains with a Coors Light jamming to this song would be the right thing to do. Easier said than done, but that could be considered paradise for some people, myself included. “Mile High” is my favorite song on the album, and it’s really

I’m giving it to James Blake and his album “Assume Form.” not even close, but it’s not the only good one by any means. “Tell Them” is also a really quality listen. This is an example of one his softer songs on the album, and Metro Boomin makes another great beat for this song. “Assume Form” is another soft song with a bliss melody. Usually, songs that are named after the album are made to be good. In this case, it backs up that line of thinking. I could have taken the easy way out here and chose Future’s album “The Wizrd.” Believe me, I really wanted to. I just thought his album sounded very similar to his other albums, and I couldn’t go through with it. Consider it an honorable mention at this point. Do yourself a favor and listen to “Assume Form.” James Blake performing at Roskilde Festival in 2011.

WIKICOMMONS | PHOTO COURTESY

Why I’m Writing This Instead of Being in Class Would a late start last Thursday have been that bad? Grant Gloe Staff Writer

At some point in your life, someone asked you: “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” Some of you picked mind reading. Poor decision. First off, it’s super creepy. Right up there with those who wanted to be invisible and sneak into the wrong locker room. Second, it’d be super boring on days like today. I’m writing this article on Thursday, Jan. 31. It’s been an amazing week. Classes have been cancelled the last two days, and even though that will inevitably come back to haunt me — it has been wonderful. Today though, they decided to not even delay classes. If you could read minds on a day like today, all you’d hear is a chorus of “I’m cold. I’m upset. I want to go home.” I’m sure you all remember the email that went out today. MATBUS would not be operating this morning. Hey, it was free to park on campus for a while, but there are a couple holes in this solution. There’s the obvious, “What if I don’t have a car, or my car won’t start because of the cold?” Well, I guess you’re walking. Hope you made it there in one piece. The problem I ran into was when I got up and drove to class. The only class I would have missed if it were a delayed start. Thing is, there aren’t enough parking spots for a normal day on campus. On a day where it’s drive or die, there were a good 20 other cars hopelessly meandering to find

spots. After doing some hopelessly meandering myself, I accepted that I was missing class. I came here to write this article, as I was cold, upset and wanting to go home. To be honest, I get that life still needs to operate in the cold. I’m a Minnesota boy; I’ve worked in some pretty bad weather

If you could read minds on a day like today, all you’d hear is a chorus of “I’m cold. I’m upset. I want to go home.” before. You throw on some extra layers and live with it. I have an understanding professor, so even if I feel bad missing class, I’m not

There were a good 20 other cars hopelessly meandering to find spots. terribly worried about it. Even so, I think I speak for a lot of us who went out in negative 20 degree weather (before wind chill) when I say ... You couldn’t have given us two hours?

I sure hope it’s warmer this week.

WIKICOMMONS | PHOTO COURTESY

NDSUSPECTRUM.COM

10 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Sports

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The Spectrum

MLB’s Free Agency Nightmare Mega deals are a thing of the past Thomas Evanella Staff Writer

By Feb. 20, all 30 Major League Baseball teams will open their doors for spring training in Arizona and Florida. Meanwhile, two of the game’s brightest young stars remain without a team to which to report. Such is the state of affairs for MLB in 2019. Free agency has been open for 94 days, and both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado remain unsigned. Two superstars — both under the age of 27 and on the threshold of their prime years, no less — are reaching free agency at the wrong time. This harsh reality for Harper and Machado is evidence of a larger trend in the majors: free agency now moves at a glacial pace. Perhaps, it’s because owners have become miserly with their riches. On the other hand, perhaps those same owners have become wiser after burning their hand on the hot stove too many times. Whichever it may be, players hitting the open market are finding themselves in a free agency ice age. Analyzing the current market for talent in MLB requires historical context. Since its inception in 1976, free agency has been an annual bidding war to acquire talent. It didn’t take long for salaries to skyrocket. In 1977, future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt earned the major’s highest salary. His $560,000 compensation more than doubled that of the previous year’s top earner, Hank Aaron. All it took was one offseason for Schmidt and others to reap the rewards of their newfound bargaining power.

Not long after, Nolan Ryan became baseball’s first million-dollar man, a milestone that was quickly surpassed. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and every top star makes eight figures. It wasn’t just the salaries that ballooned, however. Job security became an essential bargaining issue for players. Owners were happy to acquiesce. In short order, stars hitting the market were landing 10-year contracts. Eventually, owners began to feel the burn of prolonged commitments. New York Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez became the poster child for long-term deals gone awry. In 2007, New York re-signed a 31-year-old Rodriguez to a record-setting 10-year, $270 million pact. Rodriguez missed the 2014 season due to suspension and two years later was released. By his release, Rodriguez was a shadow of the prolific slugger he once was, maligned by multiple hip injuries. Resigned to a role as a designated hitter, Rodriguez batted .200 in his final season with a slugging percentage south of .400 for the first time in his career. The Los Angeles Angels tell a similar cautionary tale. In 2011, the Angels signed Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $240 million dollar deal. Now, the idea of Pujols delivering on that contract is farcical. Like Rodriguez, Pujols was over 30 when he signed his massive contract. Also like Rodriguez, injuries will make it impossible for him to deliver on his hefty pact. In the past two years, Pujols has turned in his two lowest slugging percentages of his career. Still, Los Angeles will pay a 41-year-old Pujols $30 million in 2021, the final

year of his deal. What has since ensued has been a seismic departure from the bygone paradigm of throwing money and service time at every star that hits the market. In its wake stand Harper and Machado. The warning signs of the new normal began surfacing last year. Former Arizona Diamondback J.D. Martinez hit the open market fresh off leading the majors with a .690 slugging percentage. He was met with a jarringly slow-moving market. It took 117 days for the 29-year-old Martinez to land with the Boston Red Sox on a 5-year, $110 million contract. It was as if Boston was shopping from the bargain bin. Martinez turned in a career year and was instrumental in the Red Sox’s title run. Go back in time even as little as five years, and Martinez or a player of his caliber would not have found such an arid landscape. This, however, is the environment Harper and Machado are up against. The market adjustment has been harsh for the pair. Call it the A-Rod Effect. Owners are reluctant to mortgage a decade of their team’s future, even if you are a 26-year-old with your best seasons still to come. Incidentally, the agents representing Harper and Machado are at least partially culpable for today’s stagnant market. Dan Lozano, who negotiated Pujols’ enormous contract, is Machado’s agent. Scott Boras, who secured Rodriguez’s mega deal, represents both Harper and Juan Soto, the heir to Harper’s Washington Nationals. It casts an ironic dichotomy. Boras is a figure of the mega deal era, all the while representing the new

Both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are waiting to cash in. wave of young talent that is dampening the free agent market. Players such as Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Gleyber Torres are coming off banner rookie campaigns. Each is 21 or younger and can be secured at a rookie minimum salary

of $555,000. With such an influx of precocious talent, dishing out a mega deal is nonsensical. Players are growing increasingly impatient with ownership. Revenues continue to rise, but players are finding the hot stove is tepid. It sets the stage for

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an intriguing negotiation when the present collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, 2021. In the interim, Harper and Machado are left to wait for what will surely be a dissatisfying payday.

Porziņģis Kicks Off Deadline Chaos Knicks-Mavs get the NBA trade market rolling Philip Atneosen Staff Writer

The New York Knicks sent away their franchise cornerstone in Kristaps Porziņģis to the Dallas Mavericks Thursday. New York also parted ways with Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke. In return, they received Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first round picks. Porziņģis met with the Knicks Thursday and requested a trade. Within a few hours he had been traded to Dallas. I have never held a position with any sports franchise, but this seems highly unusual. Usually

when a player requests a trade, the team waits days or weeks to hear all offers and decide what to do, and sometimes they don’t do anything at all. It took the Knicks only a few hours to abandon ship and trade away their most promising player.

Knicks outlook

For the Knicks, the main motivation behind the trade was to free up cap space for the upcoming offseason. Tim Hardaway Jr. is under contract until 2020, with a player option in 2021, averaging a salary of over $18 million. Courtney Lee is under contract for one more season after this one, in which he will earn $12.8 million. On the other side of

the trade, Dennis Smith Jr. is still on his rookie contract, and DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews enter free agency this season. The Knicks are hoping to sign two players to max contracts this offseason. Some of the biggest names in free agency this offseason will be Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson. Of those five, I believe the Knicks have the best chance to sign Kawhi Leonard. When Leonard was traded, it was believed that he wanted to land in a bigger market, such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia or New York. Playing for the Knicks would give him that opportunity. If the Knicks

can’t attract any players in free agency, they’re going to be seriously terrible.

Mavericks outlook

On the other side of the trade, the Mavericks received an all-star caliber player, who they hope will sign with the team in two years after the qualifying offer next year. The hope is that Porziņģis develops chemistry with fellow European teammate Luka Dončić, and that Dirk Nowitzki will mentor him. Porziņģis and Nowitzki already have an established relationship. They have communicated in the past and have played together before. Porziņģis has been compared to Nowitzki ever

since he became a draft prospect. Both players are from Europe, over 7-feet tall and can shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. One main difference between the two is their respective shot-blocking abilities. Porziņģis has averaged over two blocks per game for his career, while Nowitzki has never averaged more than 1.5 in a single season. The Mavericks have announced that Porziņģis probably won’t return to action this season, which means two things. First, it means the Mavericks organization is being especially cautious with his development and that they’re heavily invested in him. Porziņģis went down

with a torn ACL nearly a year ago and has been recovering ever since. The fact that the Mavericks are taking their time with his recovery shows Porziņģis that he is important to the organization and is the first step in convincing him to resign in two seasons. Second, it means the Mavericks will likely be in the lottery once again next season, allowing them to accumulate even more young talent on their already young roster. The Knicks-Mavs trade was just the first of many trades that will unfold this week. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 7.

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THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

Bison Steal Road Win Against Leathernecks NDSU’s bench lights it up in Macomb Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor

For the second consecutive weekend, the North Dakota State men’s basketball team hit the road as part of a four-game road swing. After stealing the first Summit League win away from home, the Bison pulled a comeback in Macomb to defeat the Western Illinois Leathernecks 78-76. Not for the first time this season, the Bison got off to a slow start. Five straight points by Kobe Webster gave the hosts a seven-point cushion inside the first five minutes of play. NDSU responded by turning to the bench and Deng Geu. The junior sunk his second 3-pointer of the early going and powered home a dunk to tie the game at 14-14. Tyree Eady converted a layup to give the Bison their first lead halfway through the first half. The Bison shooters then went cold. NDSU missed seven of their next eight shots, and Western Illinois pulled away. The Leathernecks led by as much as 13, following Isaac Johnson scoring five consecutive points. Eady played the role of the spark, as the Bison started the long fight back. An old-fashioned 3-point play and another made basket from behind the arc came either side of a Rocky Kreuser dunk, swinging momentum. C.J. Duff stymied the comeback with a 3-pointer for WIU to keep the lead at seven heading into the break. NDSU got inside at the start of the second half to pull within a possession. Sam Griesel finished off a fast break with a layup before Geu slammed home on the next possession as NDSU closed the gap to 46-43. The Bison scoring depth reared its head again to good effect. Vinnie Shahid hit from behind the arc and inside the paint of two straight

possessions, and Tyson Ward made it eight points with another 3-pointer to give the Bison the lead. Geu converted two straight shots and one from the charity stripe, as the lead changed back-and-forth. The junior hit a 3-pointer to give the Bison a four-point lead with less than eight minutes left to play. Ben Pyle responded with a 3-pointer himself for the Leathernecks. The one-score margin remained until 4:14 to play. Shahid finished a 3-point shot through contact and converted from the free throw line for a 4-point play, pushing the margin to 71-67. Cameron Hunter sank the dagger into the Leathernecks with another 3-pointer to put the game out of reach late. NDSU was efficient in their shooting on the night. The Bison shot 54 percent for the game and just over 60 percent in the second half. From behind the arc, the numbers were even better. A 42.9 percent 3-point shooting percentage was well above the season average of 34.3 percent. Geu was the star on the evening for the Bison. In just 17 minutes off the bench, the Sioux Fall, South Dakota native produced 22 points, a career high. Shahid finished with 15, and Eady and Hunter each added another 10 from the bench. NDSU held a 42-7 advantage in bench points. NDSU close out their four-game road trip with a midweek jaunt up I-29 to Grand Forks to take on the Fighting Hawks. NDSU won the first meeting between the in-state rivals 67-65 just over a fortnight ago. The Bison return to the Scheels Center to host Denver to open up a four-game home stand 4 p.m. Saturday as the second part of a doubleheader following the women’s game at 1 p.m.

Deng Geu led the comeback charge against Western Illinois.

BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM

The Decline of Bison Women’s Basketball Struggling attendance just part of the larger issues

BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM

Women’s basketball games are sparsely attended, due in part to the production on the court.

Taylor Schloemer Features Editor

Over the past few years, there has always been a difference in the atmosphere surrounding the Bison men’s and women’s basketball teams. No matter the matchup, the men’s basketball product as a whole is more complete: better action on the court and better intensity off the court. Even as both teams languish in the middle to lower parts of the Summit League standings, the differences are striking. The men averaged an attendance of over 2,700 last season while the women drew just over 768 in 14 games. Only twice did the

women draw a four-digit attendance. So, where has it gone wrong for the Bison women? After five Division II championships in the 1990s, the program has struggled in postseason play and lately in the regular season play as well. There is no way to sugar coat it: the Bison women have won exactly one game at the Summit League tournament. They have missed the tournament the same amount of the times as they have won a game. That on court play is a real reason why the stands are not being filled. Women’s basketball can be a bit slower than the men’s game, but that isn’t the real issue. The fact that it isn’t uncommon

for the Bison to miss five or six shots in a row can easily take a fan out of the game. Over the last three years, writing NDSU scoreless in over three and four minute spans is not uncommon for those covering the team. Basketball is a game of scoring, and when that dries up, there isn’t much to energize the crowd. The scoring average this year is down around 10 points per game at this point of the year, from 67.4 to 57.6. That scoring drop comes from a larger problem for the program. Last year’s leading scorer Reilly Jacobson transferred to Western Michigan last month. The second leading scorer Sarah Jacobson is redshirting this season.

On the recruiting front, it seems NDSU is struggling. The Bison gained a pair of commits in November, but none from North Dakota. NDSU has built a history of players from the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. A majority of the women’s basketball inductees come from the region. NDSU has lost out in recruiting area players. Lexi Klabo is the example of the moment when the Fargo Davis product signed with North Dakota, and she currently leads the Summit League in scoring. The players that have come to NDSU under head coach Maren Walseth haven’t stuck around for long. Besides Reilly Jacobson, Autumn Ogden,

Kennedy Childers, Megan Gamble and Brook Yaggie are just some of the players that have left the program. Part of that reason might be a lack of a production from each player. Childers was the most productive at just over 6 points per game. Over the last three years, the phrase “a young Bison squad” has continued to be used. Usually, teams stay young for two years at most. Veteran leadership is hard to come by, as just one senior is listed on the roster this year. Next year, the potential of three seniors will make it the largest senior class since 2016-17, should the team stay together. For the off the court issues, there is no quick fix at all. Getting students into the

seats will be the first goal. Hopefully, any momentum with attendance increases can start to roll. A fourgame home stand will be the chance to save the season. With winnable games and the Pink game against Oral Roberts upcoming, the atmosphere could get better. Also helping is a trio of doubleheaders with the men’s games, though the women are the matinee performance for each. If not, then the decline will continue. Stopping it is not a simple task, but the performances on the court will dictate how the response off it will change.

THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

CAREER 2019 EXPO spring

all ndsu students are encouraged to attend.

day one

TUESDAY

day two

WEDNESDAY

FEBRUARY

5 6

1 – 4 P.M.

AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES EXPO AND MARKETING AND SALES HIRING FAIR

1 0 a.m.– 2 P.M.

ENGINEERING, DESIGN, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXPO AND MARKETING AND SALES HIRING FAIR

FARGODOME

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