THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
VOLUME 117 ISSUE 31
Spectrum The
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
‘Students shouldn’t be penalized for getting an A-.’
‘Makes the grading reflect the students’ performance more accurately.’
‘Drops GPA Easier’
‘The proposed grading scale would help immensely. However, taking away a 4.0 from people who get A- rather than A wouldn’t be as fair.’
‘The low end of the grading would mess up your GPA.’ ‘It has worked so far.’ ‘The grading would stay a lot more standardized and simple to keep up with and follow.’
‘The simplicity of the current scale discourages focusing on small improvements or drops in a course grade from every assignment.’
‘It’s simple and you don’t need to fix something that isn’t broken.’
‘This would be a better representation of grades.’
‘The current process gives students more better grades.’
WHITNEY STRAMER | THE SPECTRUM
Keeping the Old Way of GPA NDSU students polled, want to keep current grading scale
Colton Pool
Co-News Editor
NDSU students appear as if they don’t want GPA changes anytime soon. Faculty senate and student government sent two emails last week to survey the student body about a possible proposal to change the current grading scale. Final results on Tuesday indicated that of the 3,673 students who voted, 2,196 want to keep the current NDSU standards. Under the current NDSU guidelines, students receive a 4.0 GPA and an A in a class for earning a 90 percent or higher. From there, a full point is taken off for every 10 percent lower the grade is until 60 percent or below is failing — an F. Two alternate methods of grading were presented in the survey, both adding further tiers of GPA. The first would add pluses and minuses to each division of a grade, with a new GPA representing each. For example, if a student earned a 79 percent in a class, rather than receiving a 2.0 GPA and a C, the student would earn a 2.75. The third and final choice on the survey would be similar to the second with the additional divisions, but would keep the 90 percent and above scale the same. So if a
student earned a 91 percent, the student would earn the same GPA as one with a 99 percent, while students with 89 and 82 percents would end up with different GPAs. However, 60 percent of the NDSU student body wants to keep things the way they are. Student Body Senator of Graduate Studies Chris McEwen said this kind of statement by NDSU students is noteworthy considering how many students voted. “I think it’s a pretty strong statement made by a lot of people in the student body that they would like to see the status quo as is,” McEwen said. “(The survey) basically said that they would rather keep the current grading system than move to a different choice. That was the kind of feedback we wanted to take forward to the faculty senate. That way, we wanted to know what to do as far as advocating for students.” Though 60 percent wanted to keep the grading scale the way it is, 40 percent want some sort of change. While 14 percent of student want each letter grade divided further, 27 percent of students voted to keep 90 percent or higher a 4.0 and have pluses and minuses with each letter grade below A. It is possible students simply aren’t looking for any change at all because they are used to the way things are. Of the 3,641 stu-
current grading scale
The proposed +/- scale
60% freshman
18%
13%
Sophomore
24% Innovation week ‘14 poster showcase event
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dents who gave their year in school on the survey, 59 percent of students voting were upperclassmen, with 27 percent of the total surveyed being juniors. “In my NDSU career, I would never have been benefitted by having the proposed grading scale,” said an anonymous response to the survey. “It is easier to convince a professor to change your grade when it affects an entire grade point.” No effect is set in stone. Student Body Vice President Erik Diederich admitted he wasn’t sure how much more professors would have to deal with requests for small bumps up in order to get a better grade. “They’re either going to say it will alleviate a lot of those ‘Please bump me up’ emails, or it would hyper-inflate them,” Diederich said, “like there’s going to be a ton of emails saying ‘Hey, bump me up one point because I would be going from a B to a B plus.’ I’m not sure if that’s a positive or negative.” While downsides are prevalent to the changes, the benefits would come for students who score in certain ranges. “Someone who gets 80% and someone who gets 89% get the same GPA,” an anonymous response said. “That’s too large of a gap and this scale would have helped me
4
Student government sought feedback to implement a +/- grading scale. The top row shows what type of grading scale students preferred. the bottom shows the standing of students that voted.
junior
numerous times… I’m a bad test taker and margins really help me.” Diederich, who said he received multiple question-filled emails ever since the first survey message was sent out, explained whether a student does or does not want any change is usually determined by what percentages students usually get. “From what I’ve gathered, the plus and minus system is a better representation of your efforts,” Diederich said. “It’s going to matter for both sides of the students. If you’re getting 88 (percents) or if you’re getting 78 (percents), you’re going to want the plus and minus system because you’re getting more GPA for just the plus than you would than the standard B or C. But if you’re an 81 (percent) student or a 71 (percent) student, you’re going to get lower GPA with a minus than a standard B or C.” Student government presented the results at a faculty senate meeting Monday and discussed what possibilities could come from it. While no decision came from the survey, the NDSU student voice was heard and taken into account. “It gives us some feedback as to what exactly are the students thinking,” Diederich said. “Those kind of questions are the ones that are starting to come.”
the proposed +/- scale without A-
graduate student
senior
27%
27%
21%
‘put a bird on it’ at mu gallery
8
11% MEET A BISON: PAIGE STRATIOTI
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News
THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Freshman manufacturing engineering major Michael Brewer presents his team’s Torch Table invention at Innoation Week ‘14’s Poster Showcase Event.
LISA MARCHAND | THE SPECTRUM
Innovation Week ‘14: Poster Showcase Event
Student teams unveil project ideas, compete for $5,000 Lisa Marchand
Head News Editor
Some of NDSU’s brightest innovators and future entrepreneurs gathered Tuesday to showcase their inventive ideas as part of this year’s Innovation Week Poster Showcase Event. Twenty-nine teams of students displayed their posters in hopes of becoming this year’s finalists. Three teams from each of the three tracks – Product, Service and Corn, will move on to compete for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize in their category. “We really want to encourage innovative thinking,” said Kim Lucier, education
services coordinator for NDSU’s Research and Technology Park. “We want to encourage entrepreneurship. We want to encourage startup companies coming out of the college.” Mike Brewer, a freshman studying manufacturing engineering, is competing in the Product Track, which has the most teams. He and his partner Jared Forst, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, banded together to create the Torch Table. A portable fire pit-grill with a long list of accessories fit for any tailgater, the Torch Table already has 70 preorders in the works. Brewer said that aside from moving on in the competition, their strategy is to create a prototype for their invention, but they need 300 preorders in order to do so. Another team of young entrepreneurs, freshman Alex Valley and sophomore Alex Volk, invented a safer adaptation for the gym squat rack. “When you think of an idea, if you don’t
act on it, it just kind of goes to die,” said Volk, a computer engineering major. “At least here you’re doing something, getting it out there and maybe getting someone to see it. Ideally someone will see it or will see
“When you think of an idea, if you don’t act on it, it just kind of goes to die. At least here you’re doing something, getting it out there and maybe getting someone to see it.” – Alex Volk
something maybe that will continue to spark this idea and make it grow and grow until maybe we can implement it in the world.” Valley and Volk said that their ultimate goal is to win the grand prize in the Product Track and that their winnings would go right
back into investing in the future of their invention. “It would be cool to see these in the gym, to see that we made something that everyone uses and it could transfer to other stuff beside the squat rack,” said Valley, a management information systems major. Innovation Week is a series of events sponsored by NDSU’s Office of the Provost and the Research and Technology Park. Now in its fifth year, Innovation Week ’14 is spread out across the course of the academic school year. Tuesday’s Poster Showcase was one of several events that will lead up to the actual Innovation Week, which will take place March 3-7. That week, the grand prize winners will be announced as well as the winning team of the People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by the public at Tuesday’s event. All Innovation Week events are free to attend and are open to the public.
Chipotle to Come to Fargo Mexican chain set to arrive this summer
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Fargo-Moorhead residents will soon have another eatery to satisfy their taco, burrito and other Mexican cravings. International-restaurant chain Chipotle will move to an undisclosed location in Fargo and is pegged to open in late summer. A Chipotle representative claimed the restaurant has been looking at adding a location in Fargo since late summer of last year. “Our customers tend to be a bit more educated and affluent than a typical fast food customer, so we look for neighborhoods that match that as well,” said Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold. “Finally, we look for locations that are reasonably close to main-on-main street intersections, that have good visibility and access, and, ideally parking.” Today if an NDSU student wanted a Chipotle fix, one would have to travel over one hundred miles to the closest restaurant, located in St. Cloud, Minn. Although not the cheapest place to find Mexican cuisine, Chipotle keep their higher prices because they only serve, according to their mission statement, “food with integrity.” “Food with integrity is our commitment to finding the very best ingredients raised with respect for the animals, the environment and the farmers,” reads Chipotle’s website. The company will only purchase what they call “naturally raised livestock.” This would include pork, beef, dairy cattle and chicken that have met Chipotle standards. These high principals have made a fan out of NDSU student Stephen Appel. “I couldn’t be more elated that Chipotle is coming to Fargo,” said Appel, a sopho-
more studying business administration. Michael Hanson, a junior business administration major, said he feels less elated. Hanson has only been to a Chipotle a handful of times, and he left feeling indifferent. “Their food is too dry,” Hanson said. His preferred Mexican eatery is Panchero’s Mexican Grill. Located off 13th Ave S. next to Lowe’s, Panchero’s specializes, like Chipotle, in burritos. There are differences, however, according to restaurant supervisor Bo Nechepurenko. “Everything is prepped fresh,” Nechepurenko said. But what really sets Panchero’s apart
“Our customers tend to be a bit more educated and affluent than a typical fast food customer, so we look for neighborhoods that match that as well. Finally, we look for locations that are reasonably close to main-onmain street intersections, that have good visibility and access, and, ideally parking.” - Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold from Chipotle is “bobbing,” according to Nechepurenko. Bobbing is store jargon for mixing the innards of a burrito all together to make a more homogeneous medley of meat, beans and rice. Chipotle has over 1,000 stores internationally compared to Panchero’s, which has less than 100. As for competition, Nechepurenko is not too worried about the rival coming to town. “We have quite a few regulars,” Nechepurenko said. “To begin with, customers will probably check out Chipotle, but I feel like our customers will stick with us. I don’t think it will affect us too much.”
The Spectrum
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THE SPECTRUM | NEWS | THURS, JAN. 30, 2014
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 Steven Strom A&E Editor ae@ndsuspectrum.com Caleb Werness Opinion Editor opinion@ndsuspectrum.com Sam Herder Sports Editor sports@ndsuspectrum.com
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Team of NDSU staff trained to catch concerning behavior Josh Francis
Contributing Writer
Since 2009, NDSU’s Behavior Intervention Team has kept an eye on concerning student behavior and overseen several campus entities that aim to prevent student crises. North Dakota University System recently received a $282,520 boost for mental health services. About 5 percent of that money will go to establish and train behavioral intervention teams at its 11 schools. “We are still working out the details regarding whether or not a BIT will be required of each of the NDUS campuses, but it is indeed something that we are recommending,” said Becky Lamboley, North Dakota
University System director of student affairs.
Lamboley said that although a timeline has not been finalized, BIT training should be completed at all 11 campuses by the end of spring semester. But NDSU already utilizes an intervention team, and so far school officials say it has been nothing but successful. “We have connected a number of students with appropriate help over the past 4-5 years, that would likely not have sought it out on their own,” said Janna Stoskopf, NDSU’s Dean of Student Life. Lamboley said from what she’s heard, NDSU’s
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254 Memorial Union North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58105
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WHITNEY STRAMER | THE SPECTRUM
BIT is successful, but its members will still train with the new BIT teams the system hopes to establish soon. She said NDSU’s team can share its experiences with the new teams. Working Together The intervention team meets on campus once a week and includes representatives from five entities including: Student Life, Residence Life, the Counseling Center, the University Police and Safety Office and Academic Affairs. “No one entity can know different aspects of a student’s life, so it takes people from a variety of areas to be able to understand what might be going on with a student and what might be the best intervention for their situation,” Stoskopf said. The team sprouted up because of a tragedy. “Behavioral Intervention Teams were created first at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois,” said NDSU’s Counseling Center director Bill Burns. “They were created to prevent violence, and we want to do that.” A 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech left 32 dead, and a 2008 shooting at Northern Illinois University left five dead. “We want to help students not fall through the cracks and get them the help they need to be successful,” Burns added. Each semester the team has had to intervene on several occasions. But Burns said the team is not there to discipline students, but to prevent tragedies from happening. Concerning behavior can be more than mental health issues, Burns said. Students who are having emotional problems or who are acting out in class can become concerns of the BIT, too. Reporting a behavior issue can come from students, faculty or staff. Residence hall staffs are trained to look for signs of behavior shifts or emotional troubles students might be dealing with. Josh Onken, assistant director of apartments, said each of their 12 full-time hall directors go through mental health and first aid training. Additionally, student residence assistants are also trained for crisis intervention. Onken said they use the “question, persuade, refer” system to avert escalating problems with students. Professors and other staff are also encouraged to refer students they are concerned about to the team. The University Police and Security Office also plays a major, front-line role on the BIT. “University Police personnel not only serve on the BIT committee, but on a daily basis interact with the other entities represented on the BIT to ensure timely action is being taken to provide whatever level
of intervention is necessary for our campus community,” said University Police and Security Office director Ray Boyer. Campus police serve as a constant point of contact for incidents which may require the BIT to intervene, Boyer said. If that is the case, the police communicate to the larger group about an incident and any students involved. “It doesn’t always work, but our chances for success have improved more from the fact that we recognize the value of the teamwork established by the BIT process,” Boyer said. Officers on campus are also trained extensively to deal with mental health issues and do so on a daily basis. Boyer said the emphasis on prevention is a critical piece of the BIT’s mission. “One of the key components to this doesn’t come from a public discussion about how well we do when we become aware of a problem,” he said, “but more about how we get to be aware of a problem.” The Process Depending on the issue, the team can choose to operate in different ways, Stoskopf said. The team looks at aspects of students’ life including where they live, if they have had issues with hall staff and dips in GPA or attendance. “That helps us to determine if the situation is an isolated instance or if the behavior is occurring in multiple areas around campus,” Stoskopf said. “If we determine there is a need to intervene, then we identify the appropriate method.” Depending on what the team uncovers, they can refer the student to the Counseling Center or have an informal discussion with the student about how their behavior is being interpreted, she added. Prior to the BIT being established on campus, the different entities on campus had communication backand-forth about student behavior, but not as effectively as they do now. Onken, Boyer and Burns said prior to the establishment of BIT, the different entities involved had strong relationships, but BIT enhanced them and made it easier for each entity to get a better idea of the issues each confronts. Road Block The key to the BIT’s success is communication, awareness and reporting. So far campus officials say the team is successful, but challenges could arise if there are incidents that get overlooked or if students or faculty don’t know about BIT. “The only roadblock that I can see is if faculty and staff are not aware of the BIT, or for some reason are reluctant to report concerns to the team,” Stoskopf said. “We rely on people to bring things to our attention.”
4 THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
Features
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
JOSH FRANCIS | THE SPECTRUM
The Memorial Union Gallery is presenting “Put a Bird on It” by North Dakota artists Ali LaRock and Paul Noot based on a “Portlandia” TV show sketch.
Birds Visit Memorial Union Gallery North Dakota artists ‘Put a Bird on It’ Connor Dunn Features Editor
If anyone’s ever seen the satirical “Portlandia” sketch “Put a Bird on It,” they probably laughed with Carrie Brownstein and former Saturday Night Live member Fred Armisen as the two put birds on everything in a craft store to make it more hip and sellable. North Dakota artists Ali LaRock and Paul Noot witnessed the “hilarious” comedy and decided to make it into something more. When LaRock and Noot, who together started the Bismarck Downtown Artist Coop, were looking for a new theme for their traveling show, the sketch provided everything they needed. “We both like birds and thought that could be a really fun theme with hilarious inspiration, so we decided to go for it,” said LaRock. The show, which had been travelling across North Dakota the past year, arrived
at the Memorial Union Gallery on Jan. 3 for its exhibit lasting until the closing reception on Jan. 30. Gallery director Netha Cloeter stressed the importance of the Memorial Union having the traveling show, as it will be the only Fargo venue in which the show will be hosted. “We are trying to figure out how NDSU can integrate itself in conversations and things that are happening in the community and North Dakota through art and history,” said Cloeter. “Offering this opportunity to our students is a great way to do that.” According to Cloeter, “Put a Bird on It” is loosely centered on the birds with both artists taking a different approach to that theme. “Ali’s works are serious and poetic, while Paul’s works touch political, economic or agricultural issues, but both artists use birds as an entry point to their art,” said Cloeter. “Both Paul and I see birds as symbols of communication and the different struggles and interactions people have with others everyday,” said LaRock. “We want people to look at the bird and relate it to human condition.” LaRock expounded further on her themes saying the combination of humor and play-
fulness of the birds paired with the intense issues seen in the works is a natural response to the way one can see the world — a place filled with so many wonder feelings and possibilities, yet a very frustrating place full of all sorts of struggles. Noot had a different take on his works, as he focused on the human spirit and nature to be the central subjects of his work. “I use segments of nature, ornamental architecture and the human body to evoke an instinctive response that leads to an emotional reaction,” said Noot. “My work is about creating a dialogue between myself, the artwork and the viewer.” Even with the separate meanings for their art, it is clearly evident that the birds are the visual epicenter of the exhibit. Cloeter illustrated the impact and centricity of the birds, as she described, “By using a bird as a vehicle to portray a visual poem of suffering or loss, it can take it to a whole different metaphoric level, so we are seeing birds as a carrier of human emotion.” On a more practical side, Cloeter pointed out the timing of exhibit during the frigid January month. “We wanted to put this show up at this time because it’s a little spring-like,” said Cloeter. “Birds have not come back literally,
Contributing Writer
Mercedes Pitzer
Contributing Writer
Often times, people will stand in line at a local fast food restaurant with a growling stomach, eager to place their order. Before they know it, their eyes become bigger than their stomach and they order more food than they really need to suffice their hunger. It’s okay to admit it — we’ve all done it. However, this can be a problem if done repeatedly. You see, this type of continuous action could potentially lead a person to being overweight or even being considered obese. According to the World Health Organization, obesity is defined as unusual or excessive fat that is accumulated and presents a risk to a person’s health. The WHO also states, “the fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed
EVENT INFO TIME DATE PRICE PLACE
5 to 7 p.m. Thurs, Jan. 30 Free and open to the public NDSU Memorial Union Gallery
College Life for Freshmen Shaurya Chawla
Obesity: Is it really as big a problem as we are told?
but metaphorically in the Gallery.” As with any of the Memorial Union Gallery’s exhibits, cost of admission is completely free. As with every show, the Gallery will host there a reception for people to gather and discuss the themes and ideas and celebrate the show. Both LaRock and Noot will be present during the “Put a Bird on It” public reception and artist talk on Jan. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. to answer any questions, talk about their works in the exhibit and art as a whole. “Since they are living artists, we get to ask questions about their work,” said Cloeter. “We can read the work our own way, but it is interesting to see what the artist has to say about it, too.”
and calories expended.” In other words, people are consuming more food than they can work off, and as a result, their weight increases. It is as simple as that. The most common way to measure obesity is by using the body mass index. On the Mayo Clinic website, it explains that the BMI takes a person’s weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared. If a person ends up having a BMI of 30 or larger, they are generally considered obese. Obesity should be taken seriously because it can lead to higher risks of developing numerous health concerns including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. These are just a few among many. Not only are there health-related limitations caused by obesity, but it can affect a person’s quality of life as well. This includes disability, physical discomfort and social isolation. As confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults (age 20 years or older) in the United States are considered obese — approximately 35.7 percent. Overall, the amount of people affected by obesity has nearly
OBESITY | PAGE 5
College is formally referred to as a degree-awarding educational institution. It is a place where we experience moments of joy, occasions of troubles and difficulties, time filled with some anxiety, anticipation and wonderful discoveries. It is different from the high school in every perspective. Be it the dress code, independency and most importantly, managing life with happiness. Freshman year definitely leaves an impact on the life of many students and marks the beginning of the college life. For some it is a wonderful moment of their lives, but on the other hand, it is bit scary and dramatic for others who commute from their homes and far away places to live on campus. Initially, the excitement starts from orientation. There are rising expectations in the minds of freshmen, who usually try to explore every new opportunity. And suddenly, with the first day of classes, students gain some stress. Gradually, it becomes more intense with the onset of fulfilling the deadlines, reading pages upon pages of textbooks and writing assignments. Life seems to become boring and restricted to the lectures. Sometimes, it turns into sleepless nights during the exam days, working hard to study. Progressively though, grades, deadlines,
completion of work and such situations become just a part and parcel of the college life. The most memorable part of the college life is friends. Every day, new friendships are made through chatting, social media and people hanging out. And this is the stage where most youngsters sometimes hurt each other or may enjoy the most of it. Friendships in college spring up anywhere — in class, dorms, dining halls, at the Wellness Center, walking on the street in campus area and, of course, out on weekends. And as a matter of fact, college friendships are the most satisfying and probably long-lasting relations of our lives. The second-most interesting thing of freshman year is the freshmen trying to indulge in almost all the events and activities being held in the university, because they believe that they have the ascendant power of independence and time. As a result of this, many have to face problems. The life of freshmen is totally different from those of sophomores, juniors and seniors. One can get up at anytime, probably just few minutes before class, or continue sleeping for the whole day if they have no classes. Watching movies all night long, gossiping with roommates and partying are the most common things practiced every weekend. Most freshmen find a lot of extra time
FRESHMEN | PAGE 5
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THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | THURS, JAN. 30, 2014
delicious, | photospotlight nutritious What is America best known for? Food. Almost every foreign student I have talked to brags about our good food. However, they do not brag about how they have gained weight since they’ve been here. Since it is so cold, our diets have changed; usually people eat less fresh foods in the winter than summer. Therefore, I thought about sharing a delicious and healthy meal. The main ingredients are pesto, olive oil and whole-wheat noodles. In addition, it’s warm! It can become difficult eating cold foods when it is below zero. So to everyone in this country, here is a great way to stay a little healthy in this bitter winter. Hopefully it is almost over and our bodies can be warm once again.
This delicious pasta contains three healthy ingredients: pesto, whole-wheat noodles and olive oil.
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
OBESITY from page 4 doubled since 1980. It has also been found that obesity tends to affect more women than men. The WHO says, “In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these, over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.” When asked about obesity, Holly Behlke, a junior majoring in criminal justice and management communi-
cation, agreed that obesity is becoming a problem. “It’s not like I think that the proper lifestyle is to be stick-skinny either. I just think that it’s important to be healthy in general,” Behlke said. Truth is, she could not be more right. It is important for a person to watch their weight, but it is just as important to not go too far the other way and be under-
weight. Now, even though all of this information can be a little intimidating, there is still a silver lining. The good news is that obesity, along with its related diseases, is highly preventable. Limiting energy intake from fats and sugars, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and engaging in physical activity can prevent obesity.
FRESHMEN from page 4 Remember, even the smallest amount of weight loss can improve or prevent health problems related to obesity, so do not be afraid to take that first step. Making small changes in your lifestyle now can make a big change in your life later.
in their schedule after attending classes on regular days and finishing the homework that they again have plenty of time for a nap. Some also like to sit all day long in their dorms or the dining centers and just relax. Since there is no one to stop them, this routine continues for about two years until life seems to change
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with the burden of achieving something real and following the final steps of their career path. Popular author Alan Dershowitz once said, “The same independence that brings a person in trouble in high school may get praise in the college.” College is the best time that should be thoroughly lived by every student.
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6 THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Daft Punk Awarded Album of the Year ‘Revenge Porn’
Site Founder in FBI Custody
Lorde takes song of the year Emma Heaton Spectrum Staff
‘Most hated man on the internet’ finally arrested
The 56th-annual Grammy Awards were Sunday night, hosted by LL Cool J. The show lasted three and a half hours beginning at 7 p.m. Beyonce and Jay-Z opened up the show with a performance of “Drunk in Love.” The Grammys had a lot of unexpected winners and losers and some interesting mash-ups between new artists and legends. By morning, over 4 million tweets were about the #Grammys. Here are a few things that viewers were talking about after the show. 5. The Beatles’ Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney Paul McCartney was scheduled to perform at the Grammys with a “surprise guest” — who happened to be Ringo Starr. Possibly more notable than the actual performance of “Queenie Eye” was 80-year-old Yoko Ono rocking out during the song. It was also announced that The Beatles would be featured in a two-hour special for the 50th anniversary of the group’s performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” “The Night that Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles” will air from 8-9 p.m. on Feb. 9 on CBS. 4. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift did not receive any awards this year; she won Grammys in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Swift may have expected to win Album of the Year, however, because she mistakenly reacted a bit too soon when Alicia Keys began announcing “Random Access Memories” as Album of the Year, possibly thinking Keys was announcing her “Red” album. She was also nominated for Best Country Album and Best Country Song, but was beat out by newcomer Kacey Musgraves.
Steven Strom A&E Editor
PHOTO CREDIT | CLIZBEATS.COM
By the end of the show, 1.2 million people had tweeted about Taylor Swift. Some talk was about her performance of “All Too Well” when she began head banging, maybe with a little too much enthusiasm, toward the end of the song. She also jammed out during the Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar performance of “Radioactive.” Tweeters joked they should have also shown Swift on camera during Metallica’s performance. The Big Awards 3. Lorde Lorde performed her hit “Royals” at the awards show and was awarded Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year. She was also the most-tweeted-about celebrity at the Grammys. Lorde’s resemblance to a witch, Severus Snape, the girl from “The Grudge,” Ozzy Osbourne, etc., may have been talked about more than her actual Grammy nominations and wins. 2. Daft Punk Daft Punk, the French electronic duo recognized by their robot helmets, took away Best Pop Duo/Group Performance featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers with
“Get Lucky” and Best Record of the Year with “Get Lucky,” while “Random Access Memories” was awarded Album of the Year. Pharrell made several appearances with Daft Punk, but he was also awarded Producer of the Year — and he sported a Smokeythe-Bear hat (or Arby’s, your call) all night. His hat is now featured in several memes and has its own Twitter account (@Pharrellhat). 1. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Macklemore and Ryan Lewis took home four awards out of their seven nominations at the Grammys this year: Best Rap Performance for their hit “Thrift Shop” featuring Wanz, Best Rap Song with “Thrift Shop,” Best Rap Album for “The Heist” and Best New Artist. Not only did the duo rack up some new shelf décor, but they made a huge gesture for equality during the “Same Love” performance. Thirty-three couples — gay, straight, of different ages and colors — were married during the song with Queen Latifah reading the vows. Madonna also made an appearance at the end with her song “Open Your Heart.”
‘Music of the Sun’ Shines as Snow Flies Jack Dura
Staff Writer
In showcasing culturally and ethnically diverse events, the Cheryl Nelson Lossett Performing Arts Series of Minnesota State University Moorhead can be counted on to present some rather intriguing performances. Last Saturday, the most diverse and different event of the series’ season took the stage at the university, uniting cultures, genres, instruments and arts. “Music of the Sun,” the collaborative tour of string quartet ETHEL and Pueblo flutist Robert Mirabal, unfolded on the Gaede Stage, bringing together two eclectic artists for a show that went beyond simply songs. Stories of the sun from the ancient culture of Native America were brought to life with the artists’ instruments, which when blended, created an unheard combination. The sweetness of Kip Jones’ and Tema Watstein’s violins supported the haunting eeriness and mystical moods that flowed from Mirabal’s various handmade flutes. Viola Ralph Farris and cello Dorothy Lawson provided a foundation for the music in several of the night’s pieces with Lawson’s low, deep plucks and Farris’ steady supports.
Mirabal’s abilities were the most-marveled at of the night, as his sounds covered a vast spectrum of sentiments from lighthearted anticipation to morbid foreboding. In these songs of the sun, Mirabal stopped several times throughout the performance to provide some history and insight into the Pueblo way of life, some of which came to life in the night’s songs. Not only the sun was represented in the repertoire. Corn, the coming of spring and growing older were all embodied in the artists’ music. Watstein took a moment to address one song – “Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector” – to discuss its subject and if the song is about a little fairy or a giant. There was quite an amount of interaction with the audience during the program, and the performers’ push to get their audience thinking on the music’s meaning made it accessible to all. Audience interaction went further than stage patter, however. Prior to the performance, Mirabal posed with audience members for photos in the Gaede Stage lobby. Afterwards, he left a basket of corn kernels from his home for audience members to take as part of a Pueblo lesson he shared during the performance. Hands down, the favorite moment of the
night was the group’s encore, “Possessed by Obscurity,” a piece composed by a student at the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project. For nearly a decade, ETHEL had worked right alongside emergent indigenous artists, and this piece, they said, is a concert favorite. Noticeably more intense than the pieces that came before it, the encore song stole the whole show as ETHEL and Mirabal rocked and rolled on their strings and flute. Farris and Watstein duked it out in a viola/violin showdown while Mirabal fluttered away on his flute to Lawson’s booming cello and Jones’ crisp violin. A standing ovation went all around as the five finished and made for the exit. Attendance was hardly sellout, as the 330-seat venue was a little over two-thirds full. Those in attendance got just what they wanted, as this phenomenal pairing of two highly skilled artists is unlikely to be matched. Breaking down the walls of what their instruments traditionally do, ETHEL and Robert Mirabal brought collaborative diversity to Moorhead for an arts series that could not have included a better event. “Music of the Sun” was presented on Jan. 25 at MSUM’s Gaede Stage.
‘Verde River’ Reads Like a Western ‘Godfather’ Jack Dura
Staff Writer
Newest in Dusty Richards’ Byrnes Family Ranch series, “Blood on the Verde River” has a lot in store for potential readers. Following the adventures of rancher Chet Byrnes and his family, friends and farmhands, this novel furthers all the characters’ story in the intrepid settings of late-19th Century Arizona Territory. Right off the bat, readers should be aware that starting the Byrnes Family Ranch series is best if done at the beginning. Confusing character relationships and backstories can hamper understanding how everyone falls into place with each other, and as the fourth story in this series, “Blood on the Verde River” spends no time on catching readers up to speed. However, after a few chapters, it is apparent how the main players in this story figure in with one another. Having fled Texas due to a family feud, Chet Byrnes sets up shop on ranchland with his twice-widowed
wife Marge, and by this book, they have found success several times over. Other family members such as Chet’s sister Susie and several nephews join the couple on the ranch, as well as numerous hired hands and cowboys. Keeping up with all of this can be difficult, especially in a fast-paced plot such as this. Moments move pretty fast as Chet’s adventures take him everywhere. One minute, he is riding off to rescue a prostitute, the next he is cuffing three outlaws for a Mormon’s murder. Over 400 pages of chasing cattle rustlers, outlaws, kidnappers and bank bandits fill this story, and most of it conjures up a good time for the reader. One could make the comparison that Chet Byrnes and his ranch operation run a lot like Vito Corleone and his crime family of “Godfather” fame. The resemblance is definitely there. Here, author Richards has a head of a family fulfilling favors for those who come to him for help, with an inner circle of trusted aids to assist the patriarch in dealing out justice wherever needed. A strong sense of family is also found in
these pages, and this also parallels themes of “The Godfather.” Susie contends with being a newlywed, a widow, and then a newlywed again while Marge worries over her sensitive pregnancy. Chet tries to keep a handle on his nephews, one of whom runs one of his ranches, and another who runs away to New Mexico. While “Blood on the Verde River” has a somewhat weak plot made of smaller subplots, the story is very readable, especially for fans of Western fiction. Shootouts and gunfights fill these pages, and it would not be giving too much away to say that justice is always done, in one way or another. It would be nice to have a larger, overriding story rather than a connection of many adventures, but this book seems more like a slice of Arizona ranch life than anything else. While embellished in some places and slightly overdramatic in other, Dusty Richards’ “Blood on the Verde River” has what it takes to entertain a fan of Western fiction. Guns blaze, outlaws are caught and decency always prevails at the end of the day.
Normally, when one writes for Arts and Entertainment, the entertainment is intentional. I doubt that was the case when the FBI finally arrested Hunter Moore—the vile, despicable and many other adjectives my editors probably wouldn’t like me to use— owner and operator of isanyoneup.com. I am going to chock this one up as entertainment nonetheless. It certainly entertained me. “Is Anyone Up?” is what’s known as a revenge porn site — the biggest such website, in fact — a “service” that allows the lifeless and disgusting to post nude or compromising pictures of people (usually women) for public, nonconsensual perusal. Such interactions often include personal details about the victims, including names, phone numbers, addresses, email accounts, etc. Needless to say, this often leads to terrible ends. Victims who have their photos distributed (again, without their consent) can find themselves fired, abused and digitally and physically stalked. It’s even directly led to several cases of suicide. Not that Moore cares, or did care. Before his arrest, he described himself as a “professional life ruiner.” He is on record as insulting and berating any victim that asks for their picture to be pulled down in accordance with the law. He’s even made death threats to those that accuse and report on him. Despite his public villainy, it’s been notoriously hard for victims and their supporters to go against him. United States law enforcement, historically, is laughable in this regard. Victims are blamed; men and women alike in positions of law brush off and ignore the events as either the victim’s fault or “no big deal.” Few examples underscore this better than the fantastic article by Charlotte Laws, the author, former private investigator, talk show host, activist and mother that spearheaded the FBI investigation against Moore, which you can read on Jezebel.com. Moore won’t be the only one to go down for the crimes. The photos used on “Is Anyone Up?” did not only include images stolen or distributed by angry ex-lovers. Many were outright stolen from victims’ computers and phones through the hacking efforts of Moore’s partner, Charlie Evans. Together, the two (now in FBI custody) have been charged with “conspiracy, seven counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information and seven counts of aggravated identity theft.” Previously, the operators of “Is Anyone Up?” have been able to get away with their crimes on fear — the fear those struck felt of having their identities forever associated with the very photos they wanted kept private, and fear of the roughly $60,000 cost of civil lawsuits. Because of new state laws regarding “revenge porn” and the highly illegal nature of hacking into someone’s private computer (not to mention the tireless work of Laws, and activist hacking group Anonymous) the government has finally gotten involved. Moore’s very public, very damning comments, death threats, insults and net-based aggression towards those involved (including a field for adding someone’s home address to their photo on his site) it’s going to be very difficult for his attorneys to make a defense. And so, justice prevails at least this one time in the world of sexual harassment and privacy invasion. Hurray! For a much longer, more in-depth explanation of the events leading up to the arrests, check out http://bit.ly/1atjTIs.
The Spectrum
7
Opinion
THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
How Cold is ‘Too Cold?’
MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM
Walking to class can become dangerous if you don’t dress properly; frostbite can become one of your worst nightmares.
When does cold become dangerous? Caleb Werness Opinion Editor
This winter season the Midwest has seen and felt the brutal cold of this winter. Temperatures in the negative teens have become a common occurrence. Walking outside in the freezing cold accompanied by gale force winds can make one’s face sting while simultaneously making it numb. It is a rather unpleasant experience to say the least, and beckons the ques-
CLARIFICATION In the article “ASU fraternity throws racist MLK party,” the fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon of Arizona State University was referenced. The investigation statement released on Jan. 24 concluded the party was not an official fraternity event and was off campus. Only 16 of the 125 members were involved (the ASU Interfraternity Council guidelines for an official fraternity event is 30 people). Only one watermelon cup was at the event and was brought by a party attendee who was not a member of TKE. According to the investigation statement, not all of the photos were from the night of the MLK party. The chapter officers who were at the party have resigned from their positions. The Beta-XI chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon has been placed on probation.
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tion, just how cold is “too cold?” NDSU has already had one day cancelled due to extreme cold conditions, but what exactly makes up the conditions for said “extreme cold?” The real danger when considering exposure to extreme cold is the risk of frostbite and possible hypothermia. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, temperatures with a wind chill of -20 Fahrenheit can cause frostbite to exposed skin in 30 minutes. After that, the drop in temperature raises the chances of frostbite exponentially. Being out in weather with a -45 to -50 wind chill and colder will lead to frostbite in five minutes. In the last week, Fargo’s average temperature only went above five degrees Fahrenheit for one day. The average wind speeds
of the week ranged from 11 to 21 miles per hour. The conditions we have seen this winter have the potential to be considered dangerous. Walking to class becomes something that should not be approached casually. It is important to dress in multiple layers to assist in reducing the winds effects. Also make sure that when outside in these cold conditions that you cover up as much of your body as possible. Frostbite can be very dangerous if not treated properly and/or quickly. Catching frostbite early is crucial. The Mayo Clinic lists the symptoms of frostbite as: -A slightly painful, prickly or itching sensation -Red, white, pale or grayish-yellow skin -Hard or waxy-looking skin
-A cold or burning feeling -Numbness -Blistering, in severe cases If you think you or a friend has frostbite, it is important to call a doctor immediately and treat the area. Cold weather is a part of a typical Midwest winter. Sometimes, as we have seen this year, temperatures can drop very low. The best solution is being cautious and smart. Always stay bundled up; better to be too warm than too cold. Soon enough it will be spring and the snow will be melting. Until then, stay warm (maybe we will even be fortunate enough to get another day off out of this cold). Caleb is a sophomore majoring in English.
Grammy Awards Reveal More Than We Bargained for Our focus of attention has slipped Amber Zolondek Staff Writer
As I sat down to tune into the Grammys on Sunday night, I increasingly felt my face wrinkle up with each performance and star appearance. Although musicians are expressing emotions through music and lyrics, why is it that it has to be done with such vulgarity and shamelessness? Beyoncé found it necessary to not only dress in hot pants and a bustier-like getup, but had to grind up on rap star and husband, JAY-Z in order to sing “Drunk in Love.” I did not realize that a performance required such little clothing and increased sex appeal. The Huffington Post described the queen of pop’s performance as “sultry” and “hella sexy,” whereas I saw it as “embarrassing”
and “overrated.” The woman can sing; I will give her that. But could her performance have done without such a graphic display of her body? Year after year it seems like wardrobe malfunctions and plain nudity becomes more accepted, or worse, expected. Let’s not forget when Britney Spears and Madonna showed their ability to shock viewers with that televised tongue-filled lip lock over 10 years ago. It is tiring to watch music artists and those in the limelight trying to out-do one another. This year at the VMAs, Miley Cyrus took to the stage with Robin Thicke just to prove to the viewers that Hannah Montana was no longer a force to be reckoned with. In fact, the chick had gone bad. Twerking and dancing half-naked on a married man just to generate publicity and revenue. Cyrus certainly knew her actions would reflect on her bank account and industry success. In 2004, during the Superbowl’s halftime show, Justin Timberlake tore Janet Jackson’s top, exposing Jackson’s breast on live television during his surprise appearance to the song “Rock Your Body,” at the same time that he ironically sang the line “I›m gonna
have you naked by the end of this song.” It was allegedly an accident, however the incident was taken to the Supreme Court. It became known that it was partially part of their dance routine that had faulted, which was nicknamed as “Nipplegate.” Each and every one of these events proves to the general public, broadcasters and media just how much power celebrities and musicians have when taking stage. Being spontaneous is great, so is making a statement, but when it is at the expense of exposing yourself or a co-worker, you begin to make others question your cause and/or sanity. No longer does it seem to be about a specific idea or movement, but rather who can surpass another celebrity’s controversial statement, dance move, outfit, etc. The Grammys, the VMAs, halftime shows, they all become the same when they revolve around carnal choreography and forget what the main event is actually about: the music.
If this trend continues, it would be absolutely preposterous for any young college student to pursue a career in journalism. Starting-level income is much too low to support a family, not to mention how hard it is to move up to better jobs because of how many other reporters and editors compete for those jobs. However, with the evolution of online information, I am certain journalism is the only profession that will never die out. This is largely due to one simple need in the human psyche — the need for information. Some day, there will be a single pill that will substitute for daily diets, leaving tons of culinary professionals scrambling. Technology will make it possible to instantly transport anywhere, making the automobile, airplane and other modes of transportation obsolete. During all this journalists will still be making a living reporting to their readers in the depths of the Internet. Most newspapers today don’t make their money off of selling printed newspapers; they make it off of advertising for other businesses. And this business can just as easily be done on the Internet as on paper. Even if newspapers and news businesses charged money for viewers to go on their websites, I still believe people will be so hungry for new information they will need to buy these reports.
Journalism today is far from becoming extinct; it is simply evolving. No matter what, people are going to want to read about what kind of shenanigans Justin Bieber and other outstanding idiots are up to. Just as well, average citizens will be on the lookout for how their favorite sports team is sitting its conference. The only reliable source people can find out these things from is a professional journalist. A major obstacle standing in the way of reporters making money off of their work are people called “citizen journalists,” or people who rely on information based off of other journalists’ works. Citizen journalists are the ones who post their own blogs with quotes from bigger news stations such as Fox News or CNN without having talked to any source personally. However, if the professional journalist were to become a dead breed, where would these couch reporters get their information? If it weren’t for journalists and other communication professions, the average person would know little to nothing about the vast world, which is only becoming larger with the expansion of the Internet and other technologies. And as long as people want to know what is going on in their world — and they always will — journalists will be here to stay.
Amber is a sophomore majoring in public relations and advertising. Also check out her blog http://addcreamandsugar.blogspot. com.
Adapting to One’s Environment Why journalism will be an everlasting profession Colton Pool
Spectrum Staff
All too many experts will say how journalism is a dying profession, and it sure seems like they aren’t far from the truth. There are various statistics to back up the researchers, including the steep decline in traditional-media news consumers. But one shouldn’t look much further than how the newspaper business has done in the past 10 years. Various big-time positions are getting laid off all across the country, leaving top-notch journalists and reporters, who once raked in extremely large salaries, looking for jobs. And don’t forget about the Chicago Sun Times. They laid off their entire photography staff, which not only left them without income, but also forced reporters into working twice as much to continue their production.
8 THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
Sports
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
JOSH FRANCIS | THE SPECTRUM
Women’s Athletic Director Lynn Dorn said she holds an unusual position in athletics as most programs have changed the title to senior associate director or senior women administrator.
Bison Women’s Althletics Director Holds Veteran Presence Dorn talks her past, present and future goals Emma Heaton Spectrum Staff
With the announcement that previous head football coach Craig Bohl accepted a new job in Wyoming and the hiring of new head coach Chris Klieman, athletic director Gene Taylor was also thrown under media’s watchful eye. The last time the women’s athletic department received that much media attention may have been during the event of the director of women’s athletics’ two-week, unpaid suspension. But that was two years ago now, and the unintended consequences from the suspension have impacted Lynn Dorn on a daily basis. Dorn said the entire experience has made her a much more thoughtful person. The incident in February 2012 has been her only indication of wrongdoing during her career. She is in her 37th year at NDSU, and as women’s athletics director, holds an unusual position. Dorn said NDSU is probably one
of the few left in the nation that has a director for women’s athletics; most models have a senior associate director or senior women administrator. Dorn received her undergraduate degree in health, physical education and recreation from Bemidji State University then went on to get her master’s in physical education and athletics administration from the University of Minnesota. She went back for more graduate work in physical education. Before coming to NDSU, Dorn coached at the high-school level in Crookston, Minn. “I was not a very good coach,” she said. “I very much prefer athletics administration and the opportunity to work with a team of very gifted and talented coaches.” Women’s basketball head coach Carolyn DeHoff said the entire athletics department aids coaches in their success. “I’ve been involved in several athletic departments, and I believe that our athletic department does everything possible to provide a successful working environment for coaches,” she said. “Which in turn allows us to be successful with our programs.” Dorn works more directly with the coaches than student athletes, but said, no question, the best part of the day is to visit with the athletes. “Thet are such quality people,” Dorn said. “We are just so lucky we get young
people that are dedicated to a common goal; they understand the value of academics, and they understand the value of getting a degree.” DeHoff said the student athletes view Dorn positively as well. “I believe are (sic) women feel that Lynn is a huge supporter for them,” DeHoff said. “She’s been an administrator for many years and has seen how Title IX has strengthened the options for women.” Dorn said she doesn’t view the women’s athletic department as having a struggle. “Everybody is always looking for opportunities to increase their visibility, increase their relevance if that’s the right word,” she said. “ … All athletes on the men’s side and women’s side say they’d love to play in front of a full house every week; they’d love to be filmed like the Fargodome.” In fact, Dorn said the most challenging part of her job doesn’t involve the women’s equality in athletics, but persistent fundraising. “Every time — just because the amount external funding that’s necessary — anyone going into athletic administration really has to be comfortable with fundraising,” she said. “They have to be willing to go out, meet people and cultivate relationships.” When it comes to women’s athletics, Dorn does have to deal with the visual as-
pect of athletics and some questions that are brought up about women’s uniforms. Dorn said that the scrutiny that women holding positions in public office receive is similar to women in athletics. “The world of athletics is very much the same,” she said. “It’s very limited, it’s very first-impression, it’s very, very visual. So those are the challenges that we are continuing to overcome as women in society, not just women in sports.” One question surrounds women’s basketball and whether the uniforms should be more tailored to not look so much like the men’s uniforms. Dorn doesn’t see NDSU changing its uniforms directly for women, but uniforms will follow trends. Dorn’s entire career has been one of success with seven national titles, 62 North Central Conference titles, 21 Summit League Championships and eight conference all-sport trophies in women’s athletics. She said she cannot pinpoint what her next big goal is but is taking things one step at a time. Dorn said that although it will be much more difficult in Division I, women’s athletics will focus on winning the conference and then look at the NCAA playoffs. “Lynn is an exceptional women’s athletic director and takes a lot of pride in aiding her coaches and our student-athletes,” DeHoff said.
Meet-A-Bison: Paige Stratioti Pace Maier
Contributing Writer
NDSU student athletes don’t come to play for the Bison athletic teams because of the warm weather Fargo has to offer. These athletes knew a Chipotle restaurant had to come to Fargo sooner or later, and that’s why they chose to play for this great University. Well no, not exactly. For track and cross-country star Paige Stratioti, she chose NDSU because of the great coaches the program had to offer. “I immediately liked coach Ryun (Godfrey) right away when I met him,” Stratioti said. “Your coach is one of the people you spend the most time with and the most important.” Stratioti is a junior from Duluth, Minn., majoring in human development and family science. She runs middle distance on the Bison track team and recently broke the NDSU record in the 600m. “It felt great,” Stratioti said on breaking the record. “I knew I was ready in training, and it was good to obviously see it happen for real.” Her favorite event to run is the 400m, and if she ran the 800m more often, it would be her favorite event. She is a team player to say the least. “I enjoy watching my teammates and I
think that is better than competing sometimes, because you are with them and you see them work really hard to succeed, which is awesome,” Stratioti said. Stratioti’s favorite athlete is Brenda Martinez, who won the bronze medal in the 800m at the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Moscow. “I definitely would like to be an AllAmerican, especially to be an All-American with your teammates on a 4x400 relay,” Stratioti said. The Bison track and field team has competed in many states at many different events, but Stratioti’s favorite athletic facility to run at is the Texas Longhorns stadium for regionals or at the Drake Relays, because it’s a packed house. Many athletes at all levels have a pregame ritual, but Stratioti isn’t too superstitious. “I just like to prepare mentally, and I love to eat a big breakfast,” she claims. When Stratioti isn’t breaking school records, receiving conference academic recognition or running cross-country for NDSU, you can find her listening to country music, eating pizza and soaking up the sun in Napa Valley, which is her favorite vacation spot. The indoor season continues for Stratioti and the NDSU track and field team, competing Saturday in the Bill Bergan Invitational in Ames, Iowa.
Paige Stratioti is a dual-sport athlete for NDSU, recently breaking the 600m school record.
“Practice has been going really well so far, so I want to keep building on the season and progress,” Stratioti said on the rest of the season. If you see Paige Stratioti on campus or
SUBMITTED PHOTO | THE SPECTRUM
running around Fargo, make sure you are thinking positive thoughts, because if she could have any superpower, it would be the power to read minds.
9
THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | THURS, JAN. 30, 2014
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Flight Wright NDSU senior’s dunks have become staple of his game Sam Herder Sports Editor
NDSU head men’s basketball coach Saul Phillips once ended practice early because he saw a TrayVonn Wright dunk so unbelievable, he figured nothing else could be accomplished that day. Granted it came towards the end of practice, Wright has been giving his teammates and Bison fans treats like that since he came to campus in 2010. The 6-foot-7-inch senior forward from Waterloo, Iowa, has wowed anyone that has witnessed him play with his leaping ability and finishes around the rim. For Wright, his highlightreel dunks may not come as a surprise, considering his first dunk occurred the summer before seventh grade. But he does understand the significance his dunks can have on a game. “It’s a morale booster,” Wright said. “It gets the crowd into it, especially at home. It makes the game a lot more fun.” With a 40-inch vertical, Wright has delivered momentous dunks for the Bison since he played as a freshman in the 2010-11 season. Those dunks are what initially caught the eye of Phillips. “My god, we gotta get him,” Phillips remembered thinking. “The first thing you notice about him was his dunks. You’re in a gym with five different games going on at once, and there’s high school kids running all over, you’re looking at a few of them here and there. And he went up and punched one … it got my attention in a hurry.” Four years later, Wright’s coaches and teammates say they are over the wow factor. In fact, they come to expect at least one big dunk a day. Junior point guard, Lawrence Al-
TrayVonn Wright has been dunking since junior high and continues to provide highlight jams for the Bison.
exander, who had Wright as a host when he visited campus, said his first impression of Wright was how tall he was. Then he played a game of basketball with him. “The first night of open gym, I really saw how long he was and how athletic he was and it was pretty amazing,” Alexander said. The little effort Wright shows to dunk leaves many people expecting him to rattle the rim every time he’s in the lane. Not only are the fans expecting it, but his teammates and coaches seem to cherish it. “It’s fun to be on that bench as he gathers to go up, the whole bench kind of senses it,” Phillips said. And to give Wright some motivation, Phillips likes to tell him before every game that there is a kid who saves his money up all week just so they can watch Wright dunk. The kid is sitting somewhere at the top row waiting, and if Wright doesn’t get a dunk in, he’s going to go home sad and thinking he wasted 10 dollars. Wright doesn’t have a mindset of dunking every time he’s in the lane, though. Although he says he’s never been blocked on a dunk attempt, it’s his instinct that takes over when he’s in the air.
“Sometimes you think about,” Wright said about the decision to attempt a dunk over someone or not. “Other times, it’s just natural reaction.” While Wright’s dunks have people talking after the games, he has improved his versatility in all facets of the game in his years at NDSU. Maybe the most impactful spot Wright has is on the defensive side. Wright has totaled 156 career blocks. He’s led the Bison in that category the last two years, and his 61 blocks last season was the second highest single-season total in NDSU history. Offensively, Wright has managed to increase his points per game each year. Averaging 5.7 points a game his freshman year, where 24 of his 63 made field goals were dunks, Wright reached a double-digit scoring average last year and is now third on the team with 11.3 points per game this season. “My primary position on the team is defense, because I can switch a lot of ball screens and alter shots, block shots,” Wright said. “Offensively, I’ve been working a lot on shooting in the four years I’ve been here. The athletic ability came naturally, but I’ve worked on ball handling and getting my body in the right position to
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score.” Wright’s field goal percentage this season is .506. That is up from .446 last season. He also leads the Bison with 98 rebounds, a statistic that reached 204 total rebounds last year. “He’s so versatile,” Phillips said. “He can score inside and he can score outside. He can defend the perimeter and alter shots. He can rebound, handle the ball and he does a lot of things very well. He’s become a very complete ball player for us.” That versatility has helped the Bison reach a 15-5 record so far this season. The one aspect of his game that will be most remembered, though, is his dunking ability. His team has seen him do it all, but a few specific dunks still stick out. “My favorite one was (last year) against South Dakota,” Alexander said. “He got a tip slam and with his vertical, he was literally looking in the rim. But overall, he does it every day in practice.” Wright couldn’t pick out a certain dunk that’s stuck out to him the most. As Phillips said, they all kind of blend together. But that’s bound to happen when you’ve been doing it since junior high.
NDSU to Conduct Volleyball Tryouts Sam Herder Sports Editor
The NDSU volleyball team has scheduled a tryout for students interesting in becoming part of the NCAA Division I team.
Full-time, female students enrolled at NDSU in the spring semester of 2014 are open to attend the tryout at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the Bentson Bunker Field House. The BBF is located on the northwest corner of
Centennial Boulevard and University Drive. Showing the capability of Division I skills will be the benchmark used to evaluate athletic ability. Students are expected to bring appropriate gear to the
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Help for All Ages There is help and hope for those dealing with untreated mental illness and substance abuse.
701.476.7216 | prairie-stjohns.com | Fargo, ND
tryout. Pre-registration is required to tryout. Information about the volleyball tryout is available by contacting Sarah. Rauen@ndsu.edu.
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THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | THURS, JAN. 30, 2014
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