THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
VOLUME 121 ISSUE 41 NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
Students of Every Nation International Week starts with Parade of Nations
DAN UKKELBERG | THE SPECTRUM
There are nearly 750 international students at NDSU.
Dan Ukkelberg Co-News Editor
The North Dakota State Parade of Nations, featuring students from around 35 different countries, took place Monday, Feb. 26 in the Memorial Union. Every country that was featured was given a short time to introduce themselves, their country and their country’s flag. Following this, they walked in pairs and paraded out the doors to take photos on the MU stairs. Alicia Kauffman, director of International Student and Study Abroad Services, said it is important that NDSU and the community understand how many countries are represented here. “I think a lot of times people don’t understand how many countries we have represented in our student body,” Kauffman said. “This is a chance for people to come out to events and learn about individual students and their cultures.” Kauffman said there are about 750 international students from nearly 80 countries. “International Week has been around in different forms since the ‘80s, but it has been more formalized in the ‘90s, and this parade has always been a standard piece of the International Week for
many years,” Kauffman said. Other events of International Week include coffee of the day from a different country every day, all day trivia, “A Day in the Life” featuring the experiences of international students and many other activities in the Student and Study Abroad Services office. “’A Day in the Life,’ is a panel of international students and returning study abroad students who will answer questions from the audience about their experiences, either going abroad for a period of time or choosing NDSU as their place of study,” Kauffman said. “They will talk about the things that they experience in adjusting to a new culture, the interesting things they notice when they are first coming to a country and give the audience a chance to see from their perspective.” Kauffman encourages that every student attends an event even if they are not sure what to expect. “Our focus is to help students learn about others but also, if they haven’t thought about studying abroad, maybe learning about other cultures might interest them in doing a study abroad experience,” Kauffman said. “I think learning about other cultures makes us excited about going to other countries and learning more about ourselves.”
Professor Receives Nurse Educator of the Year Award Abigail Vetter, nominated by students, wins plaque at state convention Miranda Stambler Features Editor
A terrible loss turned into a chance to impact people in a different way for Abigail Vetter, assistant professor of practice in the school of nursing. Vetter has affected her students so much that senior nursing students nominated her for Nurse Educator of the Year, resulting in her winning the award at the state convention. Vetter has a Master of Science in nursing, is board certified as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and is completing her doctorate through Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While being a professor at NDSU, a mother, wife and completing her doctorate, she also works in Minneapolis at Children’s Minnesota. She incorporates her continuation of practicing into her teachings by bringing real-world experience to her students. Vetter was originally fulfilling her degree in environmental engineering, but once her third child was born with a rare life-limiting condition, it all changed. Vetter began to learn how to advocate and care for her daughter. Toward the end of her life, she spent a lot of times in the hospital, leading Vetter to be surrounded by nurses and physicians, more than ever before. “I mean, as much as it was really awful to have a child going through this, I really enjoyed watching the team work together,”
Vetter shared. “I enjoyed the science of trying to figure out what was going on with her and how to correct that and how to work with all of that.” After her daughter died at the young age of five and a half years old, it affected how she felt about her career, causing her husband to encourage her to go back to school to become a nurse. “I just felt like I’d be happier
any differently as any other professor did. “I really try to relate to my students as to where they are in their program and in their lives and how my course impacts them and changes their thoughts on what they’re doing and how they apply that as a nurse,” Vetter said. Many students wrote letters in support of her nomination, to which several
“I don’t have words to describe how I feel about it, because it really hasn’t sunk in yet.” – Abigail Vetter, assistant professor of practice with that, more fulfilling — because of what we had gone through. I just thought that it might be something that I might have a different kind of impact on people than I was having in my other degree,” Vetter explained. After being a pediatric nurse primarily in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Sanford Children’s Hospital, Vetter moved onto impacting students. “I always enjoyed education — I just (thought) it’s always kind of been a dream in the back of my mind to be able to be a professor. I really didn’t think it would happen this early in my career,” Vetter shared. After being nominated for the Nurse Educator of the Year award, Vetter was surprised and humbled. Her first response to being told she was nominated was, “Well, what did I do?” because she did not think she approached teaching
INSIDE
5
talked about Vetter’s ability to relate concepts from class to the real-world and understanding the impact on patients because of their actions. A problem many professors encounter is forgetting that students are just students and shouldn’t understand the concepts yet, but Vetter keeps that in mind. She explained how she knows they are not practicing yet and that they are only nursing students, therefore she tries to create an environment with less pressure to be perfect. “I don’t expect my students to be perfect because they’re not. They’re students; they’re still learning,” Vetter said. She gives 100 percent of herself to her students and expects the same in return. She will even start a topic completely over until they all understand the information. Her favorite part of
A glimpse into Cathay, ND, a nearly completely abandoned town
MIRANDA STAMBLER | THE SPECTRUM
Abigail Vetter feels humbled by her award, but also proud of her accomplishment. teaching is that “click” from the book to the hugged them and plans to moment where a student real world. “Why is this save the letters they wrote had been struggling, but important to me, and not just to always look back at. finally, they fully get it. why is this important, but Although Vetter was clearly Also, seeing a student not what are the impacts of this still speechless on the only focusing on the medical and so spreading it beyond topic, she described it as side but realizing they just that rote memorization humbling, out of the blue, must incorporate everyone — when you can bring it to inspiring and invigorating. involved since it is a child that higher level, I think the She hopes to continue being — the family is just as students appreciate it more,” impactful and taking it to the important. Vetter said. next step while continuing She explained that for Vetter has thanked all her teaching and practicing professors to be successful students who nominated throughout her career. they must apply concepts her, cried in thankfulness,
6
Sophomore Abigail Walker’s passion for theatre is paving the path to Broadway
11
Predicting the Summit League men’s basketball tournament
2
News
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
In Need of Needles Fargo’s proposed needle exchange program addresses public health concerns Phoebe Ellis
Head News Editor
Since legislators authorized needle exchange programs in North Dakota in 2017, Fargo Cass Public Health has submitted their request to provide a needle exchange program and hopes to see it up and running by the end of March. A needle exchange program is a program in which intravenous (IV) drug users can bring their used needles and be provided with sterile needles for free. The aim of this program is to reduce the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. It will also be a place where users can receive information about the diseases they may contract from re-using needles and addiction. Information on sexually transmitted diseases and safe sex practices will also be provided, according to Dr. John Baird of Fargo Cass
Public Health. On top of clean needles, people who take advantage of the program can also receive rapid tests for HIV and other diseases. The services will be provided at a city-owned
“We’re acknowledging that people want to get help and assistance.” – Dr. John Baird, Fargo Cass Public Health building near downtown Fargo to ensure accessibility and will be open Monday through Friday for about four hours daily. Although needle exchanges have been around since the
1980s, North Dakota began to realize their importance due to the high number of deaths related to the opioid crisis and rise in infectious diseases, particularly HIV and hepatitis C. Concerns that people often have with providing these types of programs is that it only enables the drug use. “I don’t see it that way,” Dr. Baird said. “It’s the opposite of enabling; we’re acknowledging that people want to get help and assistance.” Additionally, several studies following the opening of several needle exchange programs in the 1980s found that places that had them often saw a decrease in people who use their services. That means that the number of IV drug users are going down because fewer people need the service of clean needles. Dr. Baird reminds the North Dakota State community that if someone is struggling with addiction, even if it’s not with IV drugs, to feel free to stop by the center once it’s up and running to get help with their addiction.
North Dakota Republican Party Takes on Marijuana Dumps Tefft With states continuing to legalize marijuana, when will North Dakota? Ryan Nix
Staff Writer
Marijuana-related arrests have risen from 1,533 in 2009 to 3,362 in 2016, according to a report by the North Dakota Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General’s office also released statistics showing marijuana makes up more than half of the drug arrests in North Dakota. Grand Forks Police Deputy Chief Jim Remer believes these statistics might be due to legal confusion. People might not be aware that marijuana consumption is illegal in North Dakota because of America’s “patchwork” of laws Remer said. Eight states and the District of Colombia have legalized recreational marijuana; Vermont and Canada are set to legalize marijuana in July. “I think at times people can get very frustrated over that because they maybe don’t understand that or think, ‘It’s legal there. It should be something that is OK here.’ That’s just not the case,” Remer explained. Remer added that the police will continue to enforce the laws of the state and that users should know the local laws before lighting up. NDSU professor Steven Briggs is not surprised by the fact that marijuana accounts for over half of drug
arrests. “Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance outside alcohol for some age groups,” Briggs said. Briggs did question the correlation between arrest records and actual use of marijuana. “When you look at arrest figures, it’s not a direct indicator of drug usage; it’s drug usage plus the police behaviors that lead to the identification of drugs in the first place,” Briggs said. According to Briggs, “most drug arrests, we believe, are made in the context of traffic stops, and the
This trend of arrests, however, has been visible in multiple large-scale busts recently. In the last two months, Stutsman County reported two busts, netting 676 pounds of marijuana. Two University of North Dakota students were recently put on trial after getting caught with 60 pounds of marijuana, large amounts of cash and a rifle. Highway Patrol Lt. Michael Roark said many of the perpetrators are passing through North Dakota on their way to other states. According to Josh Dryer, the campaign manager
“Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance outside alcohol for some age groups.” - Steven Briggs, NDSU criminal justice professor
way in which the drugs are identified is because of a search by the officers. So some of those searches will be discretionary.” Briggs said sometimes the contraband can be in plain view of the officer and thus no discretion is needed. Officers can also use discretion when making the arrest Briggs said. The actual statistics on marijuana use according to Briggs show a “slight general increase in marijuana usage in the last couple of years, but it’s not a substantial rise by any means. It’s actually a pretty small rise in marijuana usage.”
for the organization LegalizeND, “all of that trafficking would come down if it were legal within (North Dakota).” LegalizeND is collecting signatures to create a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana for the November election, and Dryer said there is a real market for the drug in North Dakota. Dryer said North Dakotans will resort to illegal trafficking in order to obtain marijuana if North Dakota does not legalize the substance.
White nationalist is expelled from District 21 GOP Dan Ukkelberg Co-News Editor
White nationalist Peter Tefft was expelled from his membership in the District 21 Republicans Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Cass County Republican Convention in Fargo. Conner Swanson, chair of District 21, ran against Tefft for chairman in a meeting in May 2017. Swanson said Tefft wanted to be a delegate this year, but he “directly goes against the views of the Republican Party. Our party does not tolerate hate speech or bigotry.” If anyone thinks the Republican Party endorses things such as “white supremacy and hatred, they can leave our party because we don’t want their votes,” Swanson said. Tefft claims that his agenda and the Trump agenda align well. Tefft was blocked from making comments about this on social media for District 21. “This has been going on for a long time,” Tefft said. “They are trying to cut me out and take away my voice, but the rest of the state is going to vote for the Trump platform whether Connor and our district does it or not.” Sydney Arends, president of the College Republicans at NDSU, said some people can misinterpret Trump’s agenda. “I know there are some topics like immigration that people can spin the wrong way,” Arends said. “We just want to make sure everyone coming into this country are striving and can strive for the American Dream.” The decision to expel him is “not against a person; it’s against an ideology,” Swanson said. Tefft said he is upset that so many people focus on his “activism” when he claims to
see things that he considers troubling from Swanson’s “activism.” “I would like for the attention to be brought that Conner himself is engaging in identity activism as he is a member of the LGBT community and so that is why I was removed, because I was making people aware of that,” Tefft claimed. “He wants to keep attending these pride events where just last year, there was an all-ages drag show, and according to the college of pediatricians, pushing transgenderism on kids when they’re still developing is child abuse.” Swanson said Tefft is just trying to make excuses for his expulsion from the organization and that Tefft was expelled because he simply does not hold the views of the Republican Party. “District 21 and all of the ND GOP want their values to be upheld,” Arends said. “We
“Our party does not tolerate hate speech or bigotry.” - Conner Swanson, chair of District 21 are an organization that promotes traditional values such as helping your neighbor.” Tefft told The Forum the day after the convention that he “was shocked” to be voted out, but he will continue his “pro-white” advocacy. “It’s upsetting to me, but I’m going to work hard to make amends with District 21,” Tefft said. “I plan on staying in this part of Fargo and continuing to support the Trump agenda.” Swanson said Tefft was voted out of the organization by a large majority.
KNDS 96.3
NDSU Student run + Community radio listen live & online at kndsradio.com Bison sports live shows new music @kndsRAdio
3
THE SPECTRUM | NEWS | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
In A Nutshell “The intent is to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, be adults about it, go outside to the street fair, and have a really good time,” Valley News reported.
Amanda Johnson Staff Writer
NDSU athletes participate in mock combine
“Athletes raced against the clock in the first ever mock combine at the NDSU Wellness Center,” WDAY reported. Courts were set up with the same obstacles that the NFL Combine includes. Athletes did each drill three times and the best score was saved. The times were then compared to scores to last year’s NFL combine. “It’s a lot of effort. Not only is it physical, but it’s also mental too. Like getting yourself to say ‘okay I can beat that mark I just had,’” WDAY reported. Coordinators of the program hope to do the event again next year.
North Dakota health
“Each year, 1,000 North Dakotans die prematurely due to smoking-related illnesses,” the Forum reported. Each year, $559 million is spent on medical claims and lost productivity; $57 million of that is Medicaid costs. Adult and teen smoking rates are on the decline with more people trying to quit smoking. “E-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy, and other non-tobacco nicotine products” are used “as a substitute for smoking,” the Forum reported.
Alcohol allowed during downtown events
“On Monday night, the Fargo City Commission voted unanimously to allow people to walk in and out of restaurants and bars, without feeling pressed to finish their alcoholic beverages,” Valley News reported. Downtown businesses will be able to serve alcohol to crowds at the street fair and other events without customers having to stay inside their business.
States to consider animal abuser list
“While the main goal of collecting names of convicted animal abusers is to prevent them from being able to adopt or purchase other animals, registry backers say such lists could also be a way to raise red flags about people who may commit other violent crimes ranging from domestic violence to mass shootings,” the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported. Pet dealers and shelters will be required to check the registry prior to providing an animal. If an animal is provided to anyone on the list, then there will be a fine. People who had animal abuse chargers prior to the registry are not on the registry and not every county in the state has abuse registries. “It’s already possible to do a nationwide criminal background check on a potential pet adopter, which would reveal not only cruelty convictions, but also other violent crimes,” the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported.
Seed bank reaches one million mark
“The vault storing the world’s most precious seeds is taking delivery on Monday of consignments that will take it to the one million mark,” BBC News reported. Seventy thousand seeds will be added to the storage chamber buried in a mountain in the Arctic Circle. “Cereal staples, unusual crops like the Estonian onion potato, and barley used to brew Irish beer are among them,” BBC News reported. Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the Global Seed Vault. About 90,000 seeds were withdrawn to make up for samples that are stranded in Syria because of the conflict. There is currently a total of 1,059,646 seeds in the vault.
Jack Hastings Editor in Chief editor@ndsuspectrum.com Phoebe Ellis Head News Editor head.news@ndsuspectrum.com Daniel Ukkelberg Co-News Editor co.news@ndsuspectrum.com Miranda Stambler Features Editor features@ndsuspectrum.com Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor ae@ndsuspectrum.com Erik Jonasson Opinion Editor opinion@ndsuspectrum.com Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor sports@ndsuspectrum.com
Madison Hilber Head Copy Editor head.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Zachary Liu Co-Copy Editor co.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Larisa Khanarina Photo Editor photo@ndsuspectrum.com Brittany Hofmann Design Editor design@ndsuspectrum.com Sarvani Dasari Web Editor webmaster@ndsuspectrum.com Brenna Mueller Graphic Designer graphics@ndsuspectrum.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Spectrum accepts letters to the editor by email editor@ndsuspectrum.com and by mail. Please limit letters to 500 words and submit them in a word document. Letters will be edited only for clarity. They should include the writer’s name, telephone number, major and year in school or title.
Skylar Berthold Staff Writer
A case of a missing person escalated in 2013 when local authorities realized that the 11-yearold, Anthony Kuznia, had autism. Chief Mike Hedlund, along with the East Grand Forks Police Department, assisted the Polk County Sheriff Department with an extensive search to find the young boy, who was said to have a tendency of wandering off. In a saddening turn of events, Kuznia’s body was found in the Red River. Chelle LeMier, president of the Red River Valley Asperger-Autism Network, recalls how her son, Bob, used to wander. She specifically describes how she once found her son playing outside in the snow in nothing but a T-shirt and a diaper. Wandering is not uncommon with individuals with developmental disabilities. In fact, according to Autism Speaks, nearly half of the percentage of those with disabilities will end up wandering away from their surroundings some point in their lifetime and often end up in dangerous situations where they are left helpless.
This fact served as the incentive for the police department to begin working with Project Lifesaver. Starting in 2014, a project went underway to provide radio transmitters that can be worn by atrisk individuals. At that point, authorities can use a locator system that points responders in their direction. The technology is proven to be effective. For example, Jake Thompson, the project’s coordinator, said that an 83-year-old man reported wandering in the fall of 2017 was found within seven minutes by simply using the device. Now, local legislators are looking to prepare a bill that would ultimately help authorities around the nation find vulnerable people such as those with autism. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota has recently been using her time in office to highlight how crucial she finds this technology to be. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has introduced the Kevin and Avonte’s Law, which passed in the Senate and will soon be debated in the House. If this bill were to pass, it would ultimately lead to numerous benefits for those with autism. The
bill would reauthorize the now-expired Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program and would offer up to $2 million in grants to support those with Alzheimer’s, dementia and autism. In a recent visit to the Moorhead Law Enforcement Center, Klobuchar described the situation by saying, “We’ve had a number of cases where law enforcement, despite sending hundreds of people out, have not been able to find a senior or have not been able to find a kid.” Moorhead Police Chief David Ebinger described the technology as invaluable. GPS systems are one example of a tracking device that has already been widely discussed as being a valuable tool for this situation, but admittedly not everyone is able to afford them. In order to get a client set up with Project Lifesaver, it would cost around $300 upfront and about $40 a year after that. The bill would be valuable in providing those who may not be able to afford these tools with everything that they need in order to essentially halt a dangerous scenario involving wandering from happening.
www.ndsuspectrum.com Main Office: 231-8929 Editor in Chief: 231-8629
The Spectrum is a student-run publication at North Dakota State University in print since 1896. New issues are published Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year, except during holidays, vacations and exam periods. Each enrolled student is entitled to one copy. Additional copies are available for $1 by prior arrangement with the Business Manager.
Pauline Dunn Office Manager office.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Jonah Wagenius Business Manager business.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Addisen Long Advertising Manager ad.manager@ndsuspectrum.com Thomas Evanella Advertising Executive ad.exec@ndsuspectrum.com Preston Gilmore Marketing Executive marketing@ndsuspectrum.com Tyler Dewitz Circulation Manager circulation@ndsuspectrum.com
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. Opinions expressed on these pages are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty, staff, university administration or Spectrum management. The Spectrum is printed at Forum Communications Printing at 1030 15th Ave. SE, Detroit Lakes, MN 56502.
(218)227-0000
www.RKAKRentals.com
NOW RENTING!
LAST MINUTE RENTALS AVAILABLE
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AVAILABLE NEAR CAMPUS! Town Homes, Apartments, and Single Family Houses Along With Great incentives!
Call Today!
Klobuchar backs bill to locate people who wander due to developmental disabilities
BUSINESS STAFF
EDITORIAL STAFF
254 Memorial Union North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58105
New Technology to Find the Wandering
CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED: FARGO TO FARGO BIZ MARKETING & PROMOTION OFFICE AND MARKETING STAFF POSITIONS. HOURLY + BONUSES. DAYS OR EVES. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BUSINESS MARKETING AND PROMOTION. WEST FARGO OFFICE LOCATION. CALL CAYDE (701) 282-8333 or (701) 210-0666 FOR RENT: Unique 2 BD* Lofted Den* 16’ Vaulted Ceilings* Heat Paid, newly remodeled w/ oak kitchen cabinets,
wood floors, cats ok. Volleyball, basketball & playground areas. By Cashwise/ Applebees. Call 701235-3166 or email windwood@hegenes. com. APARTMENTS FOR RENT. Eff, 1, 2 and 3 Bdrm apartments available, Small dog in select units. Single or double garage included. Heat paid, updated building, wood floors, ceramic tile, built-in microwave, walk-in closets. Cats ok. Call Shawna today at (701) 297-9500 or email
evansassist@hegenes. com. Northwood Commons Apartments located close to NDSU! 2 Bedroom apartments available with rent ranging from $690 to $790. Also features an indoor pool. Call George at 701-2802369. Eff, 1 & 2 BR INDOOR POOL, Wood floors, heat paid, Exercise center, builtin microwave, close to malls & restaurants. Cats OK. 701-2826357 Dakotaview@ hegenes.com.
4
Features
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Women’s Week: Talk About Sexual Abuse Representation Kelly Cameron and Natalie Smith Carlson bring awareness to sexual abuse Miranda Stambler Features Editor
For the beginning of Women’s Week, put on by the women and gender studies department, Kelly Cameron and Natalie Smith Carlson talked about two different representations of sexual abuse in writings. Cameron has a master’s degree in English, a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition and a graduate certificate in women’s studies. Carlson has a master’s degree in composition rhetoric, as well as an emphasis on women’s studies. Throughout the event ,“Transitions in Representations of Sexual Abuse,” on Feb. 26, Cameron talked about an online advice column “Dear Sugar: The Baby Bird,” by Sugar. This piece was about a woman who was sexually abused by her grandfather and uses vulgar language and imagery to show how it affects her everyday life. The two of them correlated this piece to an older writing, “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” by Thomas Hardy, which demonstrates what many women go through with rape, sexual assault, catcalling and more, all in a book published in 1892. The theme of staying quiet about these actions are throughout the whole text, which is what they hope to change. Cameron and Carlson are taking information from different time periods and different types of women and men to bring awareness toward this problem that has stayed relevant within our society for a long time, longer than many realize. These two feminists
want to give historical background so women are more willing to accept what they have heard and speak up. With many standing up within the media about their sexual abuse experiences, especially with the #MeToo movement, Carlson explained, “It just seems like an important time to stop and really reflect on this whole situation that’s happening, not really letting it go by.” “I would assume people who are younger than us, like maybe some of the people who were here (college students), that they don’t know how long things have been going like this,” Carlson said. “I would assume that they might think that it’s a newer thing just because they haven’t had the experience of knowing how long these problems have been.” Cameron explained how she believes it is important for people to be continuously reminded of the problems within society as well. A way to help continue the movement of speaking up, Carlson believes we must believe women who speak out and encourage others to do the same. “We’re really conditioned in our culture to dismiss and blame and look the other way, so it’s important to ask people to keep thinking about facing it and standing up for it,” Carlson said. Carlson explained how even in true stories people are skeptical in “how did the event really go down” or “what did she do” instead of acknowledging that a woman was sexually abused. Since one focus was written by a man about a woman and the other was written in first-person from a
MIRANDA STAMBLER | THE SPECTRUM
Natalie Smith Carlson and Kelly Cameron (left to right) presented their findings about sexual abuse Feb. 26. woman’s perspective, one begins worth commenting on,” Cameron to acknowledge any experiences they have been through, “So that to question whether a man writing explained further. They explained how a lot of you’re ready to turn it off or walk a story or a woman would be better for listeners to understand. Both items in pop culture today show away from it if it gets to be too Cameron and Carlson agree that sexual abuse or harassment, but much — it’s so embedded in the it depends on the audience; some don’t deal with it in a sense to culture to blame the victim that men may listen to another man, but bring awareness, rather they use it the victim also often times blames themselves too, so they might it is also now a time that woman as a plot device. When consuming pop culture, not even really be in touch what want men to step aside and let them Cameron explains that people happened to them or they might speak of their experience. With the #MeToo movement should be questioning why that feel really guilty about it and so that just happened and continues movie or television show is watching something like that could to arise, they applied their featuring sexual abuse in that story. be really harmful.” Both Cameron and Carlson analysis toward this as well. “I would hope they (audience) Carlson explained how the overall would question the purpose — be hope these types of events gain a cultural society in “Tess of the critical of how it is presented and larger audience and spread more awareness to topics that have been D’Urbervilles” mirrors our society why,” Cameron said. Another tip for consuming issues for a long time. today in terms of sexual abuse. “A society that makes sexual abuse something involving sexual abuse, seem so normal that it’s barely Carlson explained that people need
Create a Vision Board to Envision Your Future Goals are hard to obtain and keep track of; make it easier by making a board to remind you of what you want
A vision board can be online, in a book, on a wall or anywhere you want to create your future.
Amanda Wagar Staff Writer
If I were to ask you what you want from your life right now, some of you may have an answer right away, but for most people, it takes a little more time. Often, it may take anywhere between a few minutes to a few years before many of us have an idea of what we want from our lives. That is why the law of attraction, the idea that our attitudes and beliefs attract opportunities that help us live out those attitudes and beliefs, was such an appealing concept to me when I stumbled across it on Pinterest, which ultimately led me to creating a vision board. What is a vision board? A vision board is a tool that uses the law of attraction to help you visualize what you want out of life all in one place. It helps by serving as a reminder so
you can work your way toward that goal. The magical thing about a vision board is that there is no right or wrong way to go about making one. Whether you want a physical one on a large poster board, or create a Pinterest board themed around your dreams, this concept is built around helping you visualize and enact your desires. Here is how you can get started making your own vision board:
1. Physical or digital?
If you are creative and thrive off having a physical product, you may want to create your vision board on a poster board or even dedicate a wall in your space to your dream life. Pinterest is another option for easy vision board creation. I would recommend using Pinterest for its instant accessibility wherever you go and to name your board something you will
PIXABAY | PHOTO COURTESY
remember. With the Pinterest option, it is easy to add and delete pins over time as your vision board grows and develops with your desires and dreams.
2. What are some dreams or wishes you want your board to reflect?
This is a great time to reflect on your life and what you want for yourself. Personally, I recommend looking inward with your goals as opposed to material items, but in the end, your board is yours to create.
3. Create
Give yourself the freedom to put whatever reflects your dreams onto your vision board and know that you can always change it as you yourself change in the future.
5
THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
NoDak Moment| Erik Jonasson II Staff Writer
A green F-150 pickup truck rode up to City Hall after I had appeared, making the rocks under the snow make the unmistakable crunch sound of a rural road. Assuming my presence had attracted this city dweller’s attention, I waited outside for them to approach me. Perhaps they were going to tell me to move along, that there wasn’t anything there for me. Maybe they were going to tell me off, some scumbag who wanted to look at the poor remains of someone else’s life. How dare I? Maybe it was inappropriate for me to be here. Off in the distance, I hear a dog bark, and I hear the dweller say the only thing I would hear this camo wearing, curly short haired women say, “Oh, shut up Hunter.” Cathay, North Dakota, located roughly 50 miles outside of Jamestown, is home to a lot of things, abandoned cars, windswept homes and a dog named Hunter apparently. It isn’t home to a lot of people though. Cathay according to the 2010 census had 43 people residing within its 0.18 square miles. I would estimate that that number is much smaller, perhaps a couple handfuls now almost a decade removed. As we move on from Hunter’s barks, we walk down the plowed roads. The roads, plowed for the few who still call Cathay home, offered no resistance to my car’s presence and I can report that Cathay is a very pedestrian friendly town. Walking down the town we pass Cathay City Park, where we can only assume play has not happened for a while. The town had a bunch of “Slow Children at Play” signs, which seemed almost like an insult to a town whose school lies rundown and closed.
A furry Cathay resident, left behind.
Fresh Snow Prints: Cathay, North Dakota A glimpse at a town soon to be forgotten
As we rounded the next block after passing a group of abandoned homes, we see our first church. It is assumed that this church has seen its last service. The inside had been left to rot as the past’s trash lain inside to collect age. A percolator, a large number of discarded boxes filled with books, old clothing, blankets and church books laid forgotten. This house of God was no longer open. After going to church we went along looking for anything else we could find. Cathay once was the home to over 250 people, a pretty large amount considering the city’s size. This amount warranted a post office, a city hall, two churches, a school and, of course, a gun club. Walking in the back corner of the town we happened upon a home, which seemed to have been vacant for a while. I wanted to see if I could see inside; perhaps there was something important left behind whenever this family had picked everything valuable up and moved out. I lifted my boot over the snow bank and made fresh snow prints in the ankle-deep snow perhaps for the entirety of this winter. As I approached, my heart dropped. Fur. I saw fur. The gray fur made my stomach jump as I was anticipating perhaps Hunter’s friend having walked off to die on this porch in front of me. As I stepped closer, I made a discovery that seemed to make me happier: it was instead a giant, furry child’s toy. Disturbing, creepy perhaps, but not as sad as a recently dead animal having walked away to die alone. Looking inside, it seemed this house hadn’t been a home to anyone for a while. Perhaps, its only furry resident was on its porch laying ignored. We walked toward the school next, having visited, what I am for sure, was an old alum’s home. The school is perhaps the most impressive abandoned structure in
ERIK JONASSON II | THE SPECTRUM
ERIK JONASSON II | THE SPECTRUM Cathay, North Dakota, once had a population of 250, but now lays mostly abandoned. the town. A small school by modern with only aging memories inside, After visiting the second standards, but still a large structure we made our way to the gym church, it was starting to get to see completely abandoned. connected to the school. No dark outside and it seemed like This split-level school lies windows offered any glimpses we had worn out our welcome. undisturbed, with only animal inside, besides one small window As we had traveled amongst the tracks near it. Making our fresh on a door. forgotten, it became apparent that footprints, we traveled up to the Looking at the gym it was those who chose to live in Cathay front door. Peering inside, it was obvious what type of state this still had pride. All the roads were obvious that this school was not school was in, run down. A lone plowed. Everything locked up serving any kids now or anytime basketball lies next to the hoop; I and no vandals appeared to have recently. am sure it hadn’t seen a decent shot descended on the town. We walked around the attempt in years. We left Cathay behind, as did perimeter and looked inside at Part of the roof lies on the most of her inhabitants. I have what was left behind. Tables, ground and snow blew inside like never seen anything quite like a bunch of insulation hanging a snow globe. The only light other Cathay. The silence mixed with the off the ceiling making large than the roof’s absence came from sound of the wind off the prairie stalactite structures. Bottles, can the windowed hallway across the made for a suspenseful feeling. It openers, abandoned and discarded way. All of this lay, locked and felt as though we could touch the mechanical equipment that seemed forgotten. history of Cathay clearly now. to have aided a boiler of the heating That is the story for most of Soon though, that possibility may system at some point in time, now the town of Cathay. Locked off end, with weathering and the last laid collecting rust. from modern life and forgotten. of her inhabitants leaving, it is a Amazed at every chance I had Although, I can report I had full wonder what will happen to little to look inside at what was now service there, which struck me as old Cathay, North Dakota besides nothing more than a brick structure odd and convenient. the obvious, fading into obscurity.
Cathay’s old public school, now sits abandoned.
ERIK JONASSON II | THE SPECTRUM
An Introduction to Monterrey One of Mexico’s largest cities and my home for the next four months Paige Johnson
Contributing Writer
In the state of Nuevo León, just two hours south of the Texas border, lies the heart of international business and the largest university system in Mexico. While not immediately recognizable compared with Mexico City, Playa del Carmen or Cancun, Monterrey is Mexico’s third largest metro area and ninth largest city. It also has the second worst traffic, after Mexico City, or so I’m told. Monterrey is known as the “City of Mountains” (or el ciudad de las montañas, for those who want to practice their Spanish) because it is surrounded on each side by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, with Cerro de la Silla as its most recognizable formation.
Cerro de la Silla is the most recognizable formation in Monterrey’s mountains and gets its name from its distinct saddle-shape. The Sierra Madre mountains provide ample hiking opportunities for those who love the outdoors or those who just want to view the city from above. Monterrey is also a hub for Mexican and international business. Prominent Mexican companies like OXXO, CEMEX and Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery (that produces local favorite beer brand, Tecante), and international businesses, including Whirlpool, Sony, Caterpillar and Boeing, have locations in Monterrey. This creates a vibrant population from all over the world and all over Mexico. It also creates plenty of jobs for the students graduating from Monterrey’s largest university, and
Mexico’s largest university system, Tecnológico de Monterrey. Tecnológico de Monterrey was founded in 1943 as a college meant to teach mainly engineering and technical-related job skills. Since then, it’s expanded to include a variety of degree paths, plenty of athletics and cultural activities and 31 campuses spread throughout the country. Tecnológico de Monterrey, or “Tec” as it’s affectionately called by its population, gained prominence not only in Latin America but also around the world as a leader in education and research. Despite being considered by some the most “Americanized” city in Mexico, Monterrey is thoroughly Mexican. Carts serving tacos at all hours dot the streets, a truck selling Mexican sweet bread out the back passes through neighborhoods throughout
PAIGE JOHNSON | THE SPECTRUM
Off in the distance, behind a statue of José María Morelos, lies Cerro de la Silla, a natural landmark unique to Monterrey. the day and the city is starkly personal favorite is, but I’ll and residents. During my semester abroad, I’ll give divided not by football keep you updated). Monterrey is a bustling, you a glimpse into this haven teams, but by fútbol teams: los Rayados and los Tigres friendly city that provides in the mountains, from local (I haven’t been here long physical landmarks and recipes and customs to enough to tell you which my natural landscapes to visitors museums and murals.
6 THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Arts & Entertainment T S
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
he pectrum
Weathere d Unfaze d by Winter Weather, Ro ck Aquarium Fargo’s weekend weather proved no match for this Minneapolis band at day two of TND Fest Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor
Day two of The New Direction Fest saw bands loading in and playing through Fargo’s three-inch snowfall to a crowd of eager fans. Sitting at No. 3 on the bill, Minneapolis alternative/emo rock band Weathered took the time to sit down for a chat. Upon meeting Weathered members Justin Hieb, Christian Rasmussen and Alec Panchyshyn, it was apparent that a trend of engaging with genuine passionate musicians was emerging. If you would have told me a year ago I would spend an entire weekend meeting and interviewing great regional bands, let alone talk about the movie “New In Town” or laugh about Joe Walsh with them, I would not have thought it possible. That is the great thing about life though — it constantly surprises you. To be fair, any interview including a man with a handlebar mustache is destined to entertain. Taking their name from a The Hotelier track, the band came together through a series of acquaintances. Guitarist and lead vocalist Justin Hieb explained, “Well the other member Jon, who isn’t here right now, and I were going to school in New Ulm, Minnesota, so that is how we met in college. He ended up transferring schools and that’s where he met Alec at Mankato State. We kind of found you (Christian) through your sister and Craigslist, too.”
Drummer Alec Panchyshyn added, “It just all kind of came together really nicely.” Go to Grandpa’s House in Moorhead 7 p.m. April 3 to see them do their thing along with Stars Hollow and Formerly Bodies. Laura Ellen Brandjord (LEB): So I hear you guys are going on tour with Stars Hollow soon? Justin Hieb (JH): It’s Stars Hollow’s release tour for their EP they have coming out. They actually had the tour already booked, and we played their town a few months back. They were just like, “Hey, you should hop on this run with us.” Alec Panchyshyn (AP): Yeah, we play Grandpa’s House in Moorhead which will be super fun. We are good friends with Antonio, the guy that lives there. I think we are just staying pretty close to the Midwest like we are going through Iowa, South Dakota, I don’t think we are going very far east. LEB: Coming up as a band in such a saturated music scene as the Twin Cities has, do you find it easier or more difficult to make a place for yourselves and become successful as a band? AP: I guess, to me personally, it comes down to the kind of genre and type of venue you are playing. We did a lot of house shows when we were starting out. I think the kind of people that would show up to house shows, I just think we are preferred by a different crowd. Christian Rasmussen (CR): Minneapolis is kind
of weird because there is so much music, but they all have their own pockets. I think anywhere it’s hard for bands to breakout, but I mean Remo (Drive) did it. You just have to keep at it and play good shows. JH: I think it definitely has its pros and cons. It’s nice to be in a city that has so much going on so you can kind of cultivate yourself. But it can be hard sometimes to break out of your niche. You just have to go and play to everybody. That’s what Remo did. They stopped playing the same basement and went everywhere else. AP: You know, I think all the extra not really music but production side of things has so many artists I think is a big help. I mean, artists that get involved that aren’t necessarily in “the scene” but are still part of it still. I think its also really great for networking. JH: The reason we started having bigger and bigger goals for ourselves as a band was we saw these other bands doing these cool things and we thought we really aren’t that much different from them. It’s not really competitive. AP: It is like positive reinforcement from your peers. Everybody supports each other. JH: Not everyone has a band they can look up to like that in their scene but we do, and a lot of them are playing this weekend. LEB: Now, I just have three “fun” questions for you guys. They don’t necessarily have anything to do with your guys’ music as a band. They’re
LAURA ELLEN BRANDJORD | THE SPECTRUM
(Left to Right) Bassist Christian Rasmussen, vocalist/guitarist Justin Hieb and drummer Alec Panchyshyn.
just interesting to hear your answers. The first one is what musician you would bring back or one band you would prevent from ever breaking up if you could? CR: I would break up every band, honestly. I’m glad when they break up; “Good, about time.” I would actually bring back Tom Petty. JH: I haven’t thought about this answer long, but I would say Balance and Composure. Even if they didn’t make any new records, I just want them to still be playing shows. LEB: Favorite venue or event you have played at so
far? CR: I’d say The Ox outside of Sioux City is a fun place to stay. Like they even separated the meat from the sauce for the spaghetti. AP: Take Hold Fest is always really fun. We played in Florida this past December and met some really kind people that put us up in a really nice place and offered us a bunch of food. We played some pretty decent shows and got to explore Fort Lauderdale. JH: I think Take Hold Fest was definitely one of the best things we have been a part of. Canada was cool. LEB: What is your dream gear?
JH: I feel I really like what I have right now; it’s just to improve it. The amp I play with definitely needs to be taken in, and I need to drop a lot of money on it just to fix the little things. Otherwise, I love everything I have. AP: I need a new drum set really bad but I have no idea what my dream kit would be. Cheap and quality if that’s a thing. I mean there’s definitely sounds that I like and I try to make note of where they come out of brand wise. I feel like the coolest thing about gear is knowing you can make it sound good regardless of what it is.
Abigail Walker: From North Dakota to Broadway Commitment to her passion in theatre is paving the way to her ultimate goal Brittany Hofmann Staff Writer
I sat down with Abigail Walker this past week to talk about her leading role in Theatre NDSU’s “Tartuffe”. Walker is in her second year at North Dakota State, majoring in musical theatre. If you regularly attend Theatre NDSU’s productions, you will have seen her as the supporting role as Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan,” Calypso in “The Odyssey” and as Little Becky Two Shoes in “Urinetown: The Musical.” Brittany Hofmann (BH): This is your first time being the lead in one of NDSU’s productions, what’s that like? Abigail Walker (AW): It’s a little stressful trying to find the balance between school and rehearsal, but it’s a really good experience to have and I think a lot of college kids who are in theatre can benefit from it. BH: Where would you like your career in theatre to go? AW: The ultimate goal, of course, is Broadway. For me, anyway. It sounds so fun to be able to share what I love with thousands of people at a time. If I’m not on Broadway, I would like to work at a children’s theatre company because I worked at a children’s theatre company when I was in high school and just seeing the joy on kids’ faces after the shows was so heartwarming.
BH: How do you adjust to new roles? AW: I go in with a completely open mind. I try to forget past roles, and I don’t try to compare roles. It’s a lot of character research, reading the play over and over and analyzing who your character is. BH: What has been your favorite part about performing ‘Tartuffe’? What’s different about it compared to other productions you’ve been in? AW: My favorite part is Tech Week. It’s always
as a student and being a part of the theatre? AW: It’s really hard. I definitely push all of my other responsibilities to the side and focus on the show, which as a theatre major, I can kind of get away with that. Taking theatre classes, the professors understand what it’s like to be in a show and the show takes up hours of your time every single day. (They) understand that you’re not going to be 100 percent focused on your homework. It’s a lot of trying to manage my time wisely, which I’m not great at.
“The ultimate goal, of course, is Broadway. For me, anyway. It sounds so fun to be able to share what I love with thousands of people at a time.” - Abigail Walker the best because the entire show comes together. That’s when everyone really finds out who they are as their character,; you get your costumes and your makeup. It’s the finished product — months of work that comes together. The set is so gorgeous; the costumes are beautiful. What’s different about it? Well, it rhymes. It was weird trying to figure out how to say lines and make them sound like I wasn’t trying to make them rhyme and sound like actual sentences. That was definitely a challenge. BH: How do you tackle all of your responsibilities
BH: Who has been your biggest influence in your college career? AW: My professors. They’re professionals and they understand this business and that you have to put in hard work to get the results. Every single one of them is always there pushing each student. That’s super important when you’re trying to go into this career. BH: What is one thing you’d like to accomplish with your time at NDSU? AW: Experience. At a bigger theatre university, it’s harder to get cast in shows so some people will only do one college show
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
Abigail Walker, sophomore, has already made her talent well known at NDSU. before they go try to be the experience that you want in “Tartuffe” this upcoming on Broadway, but here, to be a professional. weekend, March 1 - 3. since it’s a smaller theatre You can catch Abigail community, it’s easier to get in her lead role as Elmire
7
THE SPECTRUM | A&E | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Enjoy Strategy Like Never Experienced Before ‘Men of War Asault Squad 2’ deserves much more attention than it is currently receiving Nathan Wetrosky Staff Writer
This last weekend during the crazy nightlife that I lead, I found myself bored and wondering if I had a game I had not played for a while. The game I saw that needed some attention was “Men of War: Assault Squad 2” developed by Digitalmindsoft. After playing the entire weekend as the great and mighty Soviet Union, I decided an article of information about the game using some moments from my playthrough would be in good order. “Men of War: Assault Squad 2” is set in World War II and is acclaimed by many as the best real-time strategy title out on the market to date. This much-improved version of “Men of War: Assault Squad” brings with it lots of new content. “Men of War: Assault 2” is a World War II game where you can play as any one of the five large nations who contributed to the war effort. These are the United States, British Commonwealth, Soviet Union, Germany and Japanese Empire. According to the Steam Store page, there are “15 new single-player skirmishes, 65 multiplayer maps and five game modes, 250 vehicles at your command, more than 200 soldiers with unique equipment and battles that are fought in diverse environments.” As you can see there is a lot of
content and great gameplay available to anyone who wants a strategic WWII experience. For the most part, the game is all about using your infantry, artillery and armor to push the enemy back and then using whatever remains to capture Command Points. There are many different strategies to hold and acquire these Command Points. A well-rounded and slow approach will almost always win the day, but creativity is encouraged in how you deal with a situation. You could have squads of soldiers go prone and sneak around enemy lines until the moment is right, or you can save up enough MP to cash in for the faction specific special unit. The Soviet Union’s version is a massive mortar gun on tank treads that can level a building in a single shot. Hail Mother Russia. As a battle progresses and you have captured the center command point you unlock an ability that will help bring swift defeat to your enemies. My favorite ability belongs to the Soviet Union. Can you guess what that ability’s name is and what it does? If you guessed the name “For Mother Russia” and the ability to throw a large number of conscripts at the enemy, then you are correct. Yes, overwhelming numbers is Russia’s special ability and it is made 100 times better if you can time the activation with the refrain of the song “Moskau”
by Dschinghis Khan. I like this ability more than others because the conscripts rushing forward to face the enemy gives a much-needed break. I can use the time to regroup my soldiers and be ready to push forward again after the conscripts have softened up the enemy. For instance, the USA’s ability is to send two P-51 Mustangs with two rockets each at a specific location on the map and blow whatever it is they are aiming at to kingdom come. This is a very quick and destructive ability, but it is temporary compared to the Russian conscripts, who will stick around and keep fighting well after the ability has recharged. Graphically, the game is very well done. Everything looks well-polished and to my knowledge, every weapon, vehicle and artillery piece looks historically accurate with every bump and edge placed with great care. As previously stated, buildings are 100 percent destructible and this gives an extra strategic flair for the game. If an enemy is hiding inside a house, you can attempt to destroy it with them in it. Or if there is a lack of cover, you can shoot down trees or buildings to give you an edge over your opponent. Sound design is also incredibly well done. If the volume is at the perfect level, it sounds like you are in a battle yourself. While your soldiers are fighting,
DIGITALMINDSOFT | PHOTO COURTESY
‘Men of War Assault Squad 2’ offers gamers a nearly perfect RTS experience. you can hear each individual gunshot. You can also experience a sort of mixed fear and desperation in your men as an enemy armored vehicle (let us say a German Tiger) heads their way and they are out of anti-armor weapons. The sharp pings of bullets hitting the metal hull of a tank add so much to the battle. There is also a great musical score which, if you have patience, can make an epic charge of armored vehicles and infantry so much more epic. “Men of War: Assault Squad 2” is not a new game. However, it is definitely one that should be checked out if you are interested in owning a nearly perfect
strategy game. I say nearly because there is one thing that somewhat hinders the game’s greatness — the core gameplay. Like I said before, the goal for most missions is to capture all of the Command Points on the map to win the battle. Other than a few missions, the goal of each is repeated over and over again, even though each battle is completely different. I know that this is somewhat a representation of real war where capturing and holding various positions is crucial to winning. In this game, however, I feel there should be a few different missions rather than just capturing and holding, capturing and holding capturing and
holding. Overall, “Men of War: Assault Squad 2” is an amazing real time strategy (RTS) game that already has a lot of attention but I think it deserves more. I have not even mentioned the map editing, multiplayer or the modding community that pumps out new variations of the game almost daily. Those are features that you may have to mess around with yourself to get a better scope of the game’s awesomeness. “Men of War Assault Squad 2” can be found on the Steam Store and is on sale many times throughout the year.
Stars Hollow Talk New EP, Release Tour Iowa emo rock band look to future with new music and return to Fargo April 3 Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor
Night one set the bar high for the remaining two days of The New Direction Fest. The Aquarium was packed with eager fans of regional stars such as Household, Remo Drive and Stars Hollow. The latter of which I found myself in the good fortune of interviewing. Laid back and friendly are two adjectives I would easily use in describing the members of Stars Hollow. As this was my first New Direction Fest interviewing or otherwise, the fact that they were easy to approach and talk to cut the nerves down substantially. Something as simple as a genuinely warm greeting and introductions were just the start of a very enjoyable interview. Comprised of Tyler Stodgill on guitar and lead vocals, Jesse Ledbetter playing bass and vocals and rounded out by drummer Andrew Ferren, Stars Hollow formed while at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Of the band’s formation, Stodgill said,”Me and Jesse both went to college at Iowa State, which is in Ames, so that’s where we met, and I knew Andrew from my old band recording.” The band also finds itself fortunate to live in a Midwestern city with a decent music scene. Ledbetter admits the scene is pretty fluid. “It kind of fluctuates because it is a college town. People come in and live there (Ames) for a few years and leave.” Ferren added, “If someone takes it over and pushes it, it does well, and if not then there is no accountability and eventually someone
realizes it’s a sinking ship and brings it back.” Their new EP “Happy Now” releases March 23 on Bandcamp. Laura Ellen Brandjord (LEB): Do you think living/ growing up in the Midwest shaped or influenced your music in any way? Tyler Stodgill (TS): I’d say so in the sense that there was nothing better to do. At least for myself, I’ll say it was because there was nothing better to do and it was a good use of my time. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized I like midwestern bands more because I listen to a lot of bands from this area of the country, but it’s not really intentional by any means. Andrew Ferren (AF): I grew up in the country so it took me a while to start listening to local music. Like the first time I was on tour, actually, the last time was when I was 16. So it’s been almost 10 years and it was such a different time. And like Myspace was so prevalent and I was what I would call a ‘second generation’ emo kid. So like I was LIT-ERAL-LY the only kid that looked the way I did at my school. I’d in fact say it was harder to do what I was doing where I lived, but that being said, it just kind of happened and it all worked out. Jesse Ledbetter (JL): I had a similar thing going on, but I had my cousins who played in bands. I was really young going to metal concerts not really knowing what was going on. So that was what the community and music scene was like when I was growing up. I didn’t really get into ‘emo’ as an umbrella term or DIY stuff until I went to college, but I grew up in that ‘Midwest heavy’ sound. The
only other kid that was like me found me within the first two weeks of school and we started a band together. We even drove to another town that had a decent record store. LEB: What bands do you take inspiration from for Stars Hollow? TS: All very different. I listen to personally a lot of Midwest emo from like 2010-2014. Unfortunately, most of the bands I’m really into broke up really early. But I’m also still weirdly influenced by the music I listened to growing up as a scene kid like From First to Last and stuff similar. JL: I think that is what we all have in common. TS: Yeah, I’d say it is our common denominator. AF: I’m like the only one that doesn’t actively listen to new music regularly. I really only listen to Underoath’s first three records, From First to Last, Hit the Lights are great ... I’ve been trying to keep up with current bands in our genre. LEB: I have to say I really enjoy your guys’ musical arrangements. Even though the guitar has a lot going on, it doesn’t overwhelm anything else. You also have this contrast of brightness of the cymbal work and guitar against the darkness of the bass line and vocals. Does this balance naturally happen as you are writing songs or is it not until a track is mixed at the end that it’s achieved? JL: I think that part of it comes from our writing process. A lot of times it starts out with Tyler writing a complete song on guitar, then jam it out with Andrew and then my part comes in at the end. I think that we all have such differing influences that the kind of
LAURA ELLEN BRANDJORD | THE SPECTRUM
Stars Hollow return to the FM area at Grandpa’s House April 3, as part of their release tour. way we write isolated from singing but I have some AF: No, no right now each other allows those actual notes throughout. actually. The other option influences to be felt in a So that was a big thing I would be Hit the Lights. really cool way. guess, was moving away Probably play guitar in that AF: We never write in from just screaming for the just because the band that I the same room. He (Tyler) sake of screaming to trying have listened to the longest usually comes up with the to incorporate some sort of without lapsing would be structure and him and I kind melody to certain parts. And them. I listen to them all the of figure it out and send the there is a few parts where it’s time, and their guitar stuff is demo over (to Jesse), kind of just actual singing, which is really good too. like “here you go.” something really different JL: I’d like to be in My TS: Yeah, I’d definitely for us. Our first EP was kind Bloody Valentine. Here’s the say no certain vibe is of pop-y but not really, and thing though, they do this 30 intentional. then on the split we did with minutes of this like wall of LEB: You guys are some friends they were a noise and kind of send their going on tour in support of little more serious. I’d say audience into a trance or your new release, right? these are a lot more pop-y something. I would just get TS: The EP is coming and fun ... I want it to be fun, to be as loud as humanly out a month from today and I want it to be energetic. possible with like a gigantic (Feb. 23). We are going on LEB: I have a few, wall of amps. tour with Weathered and q u o t e / u n q u o t e , ” f u n LEB: One musician Formerly Bodies March 29 questions” for you guys to living or dead you would through April 7. end on. First, if you were want to jam with? AF: Aren’t we coming hypothetically separated, TS: Who was the back through here? I think what band past or present guitarist for Chiodos before I saw a poster here with our would you want to play he quit? Jason Hale? I would names on it. for? jam with him because that TS: Yeah, we’ll be back TS: From First to Last. would satisfy like all ages of here in about a month. We I want to be in First to Last my obsession. are basically touring to really bad. I just really love AF: I’d have to say all the cities we’ve had a their guitar work. Thomas Erak from The Fall good time in and have been AF: The first thing that of Troy. I’d don’t think I supportive of us. popped into my head was could keep up, though he is LEB: What can fans to be a touring drummer for really good. expect from it? Taylor Swift, unfortunately. TS: I don’t know. I do TS: If it was before this a little more; its not really year.
8
Opinion
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Gun Control for Dummies Drop your retweeted garbage and stop humping the Constitution for a moment teachers to arm themselves against an assault rifle attack and walk around with your huge raging hero boners thinking you yourself will stop a god damn AR-15 with your
Erik Jonasson II Opinion Editor
I am not going to pretend that I know every answer out there. Although let’s be honest, I think we all know pathways that would cause change. Gun control: it is one of the most polarizing issues facing this country today. Basically, taboo in almost any conversation and shakes people to their very core. Emotions run high, which makes total sense because no one is having the conversation right. Is this the time to get Twitter famous and shame half the country and call Trump a murderer? Is this the time to walk around with AR-15s and tell elementary school
murderers. And listen, liberal America, most people want exactly what you really want. But you have to stop equating responsible gun owners to mass murderers; they
It is time to drop the politics and have an intelligent conversation. There are literally lunatics gunning down children in schools with death machines and you want to jump on your soapbox and preach your agenda? pistol? For f--- sakes, you bloody idiots, no. It is time to drop the politics and have an intelligent conversation. There are literally lunatics gunning down children in schools with death machines and you want to jump on your soapbox and preach your agenda? Look, buddy, you can hump the Second Amendment all you want, but let’s be clear, it isn’t more important than progressive legislation that could stop mass
are completely different types of people. We all want automatic weapons to be unattainable by those mentally unfit for having them. And frankly the counter-argument, “Well they will get it either way;” well, sure, maybe in some cases, but don’t you want to make it just slightly harder for a mass murderer you prick? Is it possible that perhaps better background checks could stop one killer? Isn’t that worth it alone?
How will having mental checks affect any good, responsible gun owners like possibly you reading this? You might have an assault rifle for fun. Perhaps you enjoy shooting it once a year, have a gun safe and are totally responsible. How will better background checks and vetting affect you? It is the future school shooters that should be f---ing shivering in their trench coats. You know, the guys we are trying to stop? Don’t think it’s just half the country having this conversation wrong. You, a Twitter famous idiot who enjoys the clapping emoji and the Beyoncé clapping GIF, are just
How does you getting retweets and starting shouting matches behind a computer screen help anything? You are doing nothing. Stop pretending you are doing anything productive. Instead, call your senator, or better yet, perhaps research who you vote for beyond the president and vice president. Government starts at the local level. Vote for people who listen to you and refuse to be bought by large companies. Look, I promise you, telling half the country they are idiots and pushing your own agenda is cancerous to anything productive. It isn’t helping the next group of
Is it possible that perhaps better background checks could stop one killer? Isn’t that worth it alone? as awful at this. How is preaching your opinions to a vast group of people who agree with everything you say affecting anything?
victims. Just accept you are all idiotic donkeys, drop your politics and be the damn adults you are.
People Need to Stop Using Children to Push Their Agendas Politicians and the media need to stop standing on the graves of victims to prop up their agendas Ezra Gray
Contributing Writer
As I’m sure everyone is aware of at this point in time, a tragic school shooting took place in Parkland, Florida that left 17 dead and many more traumatized. Since then, many of the shooting survivors have become vocal advocates for gun control, appearing on national news channels such as CNN and ABC News. Unfortunately, the mainstream media have not treated this tragedy with the respect it deserves, instead opting for using this tragedy and its survivors in order to push their anti-Second Amendment agenda. Frankly, I find this moral grandstanding and shaming of Second Amendment defenders as a sickening and immoral political ploy. Let me preface this by saying that every empathetic and decent person who knows about this appalling shooting mourns and grieves for those who were gunned down. No one with a moral bone in their body wouldn’t pray for the families of the victims and those who were fortunate enough to survive. I’m also not going to get into the gun control debate seeing as how tired and unproductive that discussion has recently
become (and if I’m being 100 percent honest, I’ve never heard one good argument against the Second Amendment). That being said, using a calamity, especially one as egregious as a school shooting, to prop up a political narrative has become overwhelming
Let me preface this by saying that every empathetic and decent person who knows about this appalling shooting mourns and grieves for those who were gunned down. commonplace in the mainstream media. The media has a history of using tragedy to push their narratives. One must only look up the debates that were held after shootings such as Sandy Hook or Orlando to see this tactic in use. Media talking heads like Piers Morgan or Van Jones will use the untimely murders of people, especially children, to push for vague gun control policies and bans. The talking heads pushing for more
and more gun control will imply or sometime outright claim that because someone like Dana Loesch or Sheriff David Clarke wants to preserve the Second Amendment that they must not care about the victims. This disgusting tactic was blatantly displayed by CNN last week when they held a Florida town hall meeting with the survivors of the Parkland shooting who favored gun control in attendance. This town hall looked less like an exchange of ideas and more like the Two Minutes Hate scene from George Orwell’s “1984.” People in the crowd would jeer at Sen. Marco Rubio, cheering loudly whenever one of the shooting survivors said that people who support the NRA are “against children.” Given CNN’s track record of dishonesty and scripting debates, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stuffed the audience with leftists and/or scripted the questions that were asked by the Parkland survivors. I have no problem with these Parkland survivors voicing their opinions on gun control. Every American has the right to speak their mind. What I don’t want is for these victims to be used as some sort of platform or crutch for the blatantly anti-Second Amendment media or leftist
politicians. If these teenagers want to toss their hat into the political discussion, they should be just as vulnerable to criticisms as everyone else. As callous as it may sound, a person does not become some sort of expert on firearms or immune to criticism when they
This town hall looked less like an exchange of ideas and more like the Two Minutes Hate scene from George Orwell’s “1984.” survive a shooting. I don’t become an expert on drug policy just because someone high on PCP attacks me behind a Cenex. If the victims want to make political statements, that’s great, but they should not be immune to criticisms. The survivors should be comforted and the dead should be mourned, not used as a soapbox for idiots like Don Lemon to rail against every American’s Constitutional rights.
Leisure Laundry 801 N University Dr. Fargo
Phone: 701-293-6900
Recently Expanded & Remodeled (Now Better Than Ever) 3 - 60 lb. washers Mon - Sat 7:30am - 10pm 3 - 40 lb. washers Sunday 9am - 10pm 2 - 35 lb. washers 8 - 18 lb. washers Large
Hours
40 Top Load Washers
38 Maytag Dryers Dry Cleaning Available
Capacity Washers Good For Comforters, Sleeping Bags, other Large Items or Bulk Laundry!
9
THE SPECTRUM | OPINION | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Spring Break Survival Guide Some advice on how not to die 10/10, highly recommend.
Exercise
A healthy exercise regimen makes a huge difference down the line.
Grant Gloe
muscles and brain need it to do stuff. No really, I’m breathing right now. If you haven’t hopped on the bandwagon, I highly
Even when we’re sober we survive off noodle bricks and light things on fire.
Staff Writer
For many people, next week is the liver’s time of reckoning. Spring Break is the number one time of year for alcohol-related deaths, maybe. The reason for this is that we’re idiots, guys. Jesus, even when we’re sober we survive off noodle bricks and light things on fire. We never stood a chance. As my public service for the month, I put my mind to work on fixing this issue. So, don’t expect me to be holding any doors. Here are a few tips you can use over Spring Break to not die.
Drink water
Water is the most amazing substance on this Earth. I literally drink it every day. It comes out of most of my faucets. It even comes in these cool cubes that keep your drink cold and answer like twenty riddles about people dying.
Good cardiovascular health and good BMI have been linked to reduced rates of many types of cancer and heart disease. If my health and wellness class taught me anything, it’s that we are in a crucial time in our
recommend. It will keep you from dying.
Kill or be killed Vitamins and Minerals
Those supplement pills are not enough guys. Most of it just ends up leaving
Water is the most amazing substance on this Earth. I literally drink it every day. lives. Even if you stop later, exercising in our twenties will have lasting effects on our health. Getting to the gym is hard, but it will definitely keep you from dying later on.
Breathing
Oxygen is super useful for things like cellular respiration. It’s not some alternative medicine crap. Believe it or not, your
your system as urine. There is no substitute for a healthy diet. Make sure you’re getting all your greens and don’t try to go, “Oh well, I’ve been good today.” You should be proud of your hard work and not throw it away on a doughnut. Vitamin deficiencies will have you tweaking on nature and fatty foods will make your heart look like a Crisco tub. The liver is going to need some TLC for some of you. Definitely will kill you.
PXHERE | PHOTO COURTESY
Mark Beggs: Transgender Male in Female Wrestling Division Female-to-male wins second state championship in girls’ tournament
FLICKR | PHOTO COURTESY
The transgender debate finds its way to Texas high school wrestling.
Mark Simonson Contributing Writer
Mack Beggs is a transgender wrestler undergoing the transition phase from female to male. He is currently taking a low dosage of testosterone. Beggs is a senior at Euless Trinity High School in Dallas, Texas. Recently, Beggs had won the Texas girls state title for the second year in a row in the 110-pound division. He had a 32-0 record coming into the tournament. The tournament took place in Cyprus, Texas, which is on the outskirts of Houston. Beggs defeated three female wrestlers to win the state
championship. The last victory came when he defeated Chelsea Sanchez in the finals. Last year, debates started due to Beggs having steroid therapy treatments while wrestling girls in tournaments. This also drew concern about competitive fairness as well as transgender rights. Varying regulations The rule for wrestlers from Texas public high schools is that they must compete under the gender shown on the wrestler’s birth certificate. This resulted in Beggs’ request to wrestle against the guys to be denied. The birth certificate rule was determined
and approved by the University Interscholastic League in 2016. The University Interscholastic League serves as the governing body of all Texas high school sports. Jamie Harrison, deputy director of the League, said the ruling helps schools determine competition. When Mack Beggs wrestles at the college level, he will get to wrestle in the men’s division. This is due to a regulation that the NCAA passed in 2011. The regulation says that studentathletes who have any testosterone in their bodies as a result of medical treatment are not allowed to compete against females in gender-
specific sports. The only exception to the NCAA’s ruling is if a student-athlete is transitioning from male to female. The Olympics also allows wrestlers to wrestle with the gender they identify with. Opponents’ responses Beggs’ mother, Angela McNew, said that he has received a lot of respect from the girls that he wrestles. “People think that Mack has been beating up on girls,” McNew said. She continued on to say the wrestlers Mack faces “... are tough. It has more to do with skill and discipline than strength.” Last season, two female wrestlers forfeited rather
than wrestle Beggs in the regional tournament. They claimed to have forfeited for their fear of injury while wrestling Mack. This season, however, only one female wrestler has forfeited. Angela McNew said the opponent’s coach and teammates insisted that she wrestle Beggs. However, she refused to do so. The lawsuit Last year, a parent filed a suit to prevent Beggs from competing in the female division. The parent felt that the testosterone gave Beggs an unfair advantage in the tournaments. A number of others seemed to agree with this sentiment, not to mention his steroid therapy treat-
ments. Beggs’ presence in the girls’ tournament comes at a time when the belief that gender is not binary is slowly rising. Over this past week, President Donald Trump ended federal protections to allow transgender people to enter facilities corresponding to their gender identity rather than their biological gender. Also, in Texas, lawmakers are working on a bill that will require transgender people to use facilities that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.
10
Sports
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM
The Spectrum
Women’s Summit League Tournament Primer An all-South Dakota final on the horizon Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor
With the turn into March, sports fans begin the tumultuous four weeks known as March Madness. While there is still over a week to go until Selection Sunday, conference tournaments for both the men and women are next up on the schedule. The eight teams of the Summit League will descend upon Sioux Falls, South Dakota this weekend for the Summit League tournament. While the men’s side is close, and potentially unpredictable, the women’s side is clearly cut into classes. There are three teams that have double-digit conference wins, three with less than three wins and a pair of 7-7 sides. No. 1 South Dakota Coyotes vs No. 8 Fort Wayne Mastodons Like the men’s tournament, South Dakota schools sit on the top of the Summit League standings. For the women, it is the Coyotes who claim the top seed. Perhaps the best indication of who will win this is the current form of the teams. South Dakota comes in winners of their last 18 games dating back to Dec. 16 against Tulsa and are perfect in the Summit. Fort Wayne comes in without a win in 10 games. Their singular win of the calendar year came against Omaha Jan. 9 at home. The Mastadons hold the
worst defense in the league, giving up 79.6 points per game (PPG). Couple that with the worst offense in the league producing just 50.9 PPG, the mountain may be too large for Fort Wayne. The Coyotes bring one of the most balanced offenses in the conference. USD has four players averaging over 10 PPG in Summit League play. In the regular season, South Dakota handled Fort Wayne easily, taking both games, winning 85-43 in Vermilion and 79-60 in Fort Wayne. No. 2 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs No. 7 North Dakota State Bison The Jacks suffered just two losses in the Summit League this season, and both were two possession losses to South Dakota. NDSU meanwhile comes in with just two conference wins, both over bottom-ofthe-barrel Fort Wayne. The difference can be seen in the experience of the starting lineups. SDSU starts a pair of seniors, one true and one redshirt junior and a redshirt sophomore. The Bison have just one senior and one junior, neither of whom have started consistently in Summit League play. Macy Miller and Madison Guebert lead the conference’s top offense for the Jacks. Miller leads the Summit with 18.2 PPG this season, and Guebert sits fourth at 15.1 PPG. Miller is dangerous from deep, knocking down 46.8 percent of her 3-point attempts. NDSU doesn’t quite
carry the same offensive threat. Reilly Jacobson leads the Bison in scoring with 12.9 PPG in the Summit. Sarah Jacobson is the only other Bison averaging double digits. The key for the Bison is to play a full 40 minutes. NDSU suffers from a minus 95-point differential in the second half. The Jacks are plus-238 in the same time frame. With two losses in the last week where NDSU were either close or leading at halftime, NDSU’s morale may be low in the second half. The Jacks took both games in the regular season in dominate fashion. A 8363 beating of the Bison in Brookings and a 85-64 win in Fargo sets the stage for an opening round win for the Jackrabbits. No. 3 Western Illinois Leathernecks vs No. 6 Omaha Mavericks Wester Illinois has lost to just two teams in the Summit, and they both hail from South Dakota. The Mavericks have just three wins, snatching two from the Bison and one from Fort Wayne. The Leathernecks play at a break-neck pace with quick cuts and solid shooting. In contrast, Omaha tends to take advantage of Courtney Vaccher down low with Amber Vidal running the point. WIU is led by the one of the best players in the conference in Emily Clemens. On the season, she enters the tournament a single point behind SDSU’s
IT PAYS To Do Your RESEARCH
Miller in the scoring charts, but has averaged 20.3 PPG in conference play. Add to that seven assists per game to another pair of players who average over 14 PPG in Taylor Higginbotham and Morgan Blumer, and Clemens is perhaps the most dangerous player in the Summit. Omaha will need a clean game to keep the game close. WIU holds a 7.6 advantage in the turnover battle this season. Omaha is minus 2.7 in that statistic this year. Western Illinois put up 90 and 103 in the teams’ two meetings this season and look set to put up big numbers again in Sioux Falls. No. 4 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles vs No. 5 Denver Pioneers The battle of the .500s seems like it will be the closest game of the opening BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM round of the tournament. Both teams went 7-7 in Sarah Jacobson is second in the Summit League in assists (113) conference play and split the heading into the conference tournament. in the semifinals. USD looks season series with the home Golden Eagles. Denver meanwhile has prime to make the finals for team winning. Overall, both just one player averaging the fifth time in six years. teams have 16 wins, and On the other side of the Denver lost just one more more than 10 points. Claire Gritt averages 10.3 PPG. bracket, it is hard to see the game. Both teams average Behind her is a balanced high-seeds getting upset. In nearly 70 points per game. offense with five more their two meetings, Western ORU does hold a slight edge players averaging over eight Illinois has failed to find an answer for the Jacks’ in points allowed, 61.3 PPG points per game. The game will be won defense, putting up a measly to Denver’s 69.5. down in the paint and off the 48 and 42 points in the Oral Roberts gets a bunch of offense from their glass. Denver’s Jordyn Alt games. All the stars have aligned top three shooters. Faith leads the conference with 8.3 rebounds per game. Oral for the third all-South Ihim leads the team with Roberts holds down the next Dakota final in the last four 14.6 PPG and the third-best field goal percentage in the two spots on the list with years. SDSU has won the Summit at 56.7 percent. Ihim at 8.1 and Martianez championship both times, as the two seed, when USD Maria Martianez and Maya averaging 7.5 rebounds. Neither team seems up to won the regular season Mayberry also average double-digit points for the stop the top-seeded Coyotes championship.
Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services, a leading U.S. research company in the testing of generic medications, has a great opportunity for you to EARN UP to $800 by participating in a clinical research study. Search no more!
You may be able to participate if you’re: • At least 18 years of age • In general good health • Able to pass a drug test • Willing to have multiple blood samples taken • Able to spend several nights in our facility
Pecos McLeod • Las Vegas Call our recruiting3760 department today!
4801 Amber Valley Parkway • Fargo
1.877.58.NOVUM
Learn more at www.GoNovum.com
11
THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Predicting the Summit League Men’s Tournament All signs point to SDSU going dancing, but anything can happen in a tight field
BRENNA MUELLER | THE SPECTRUM
Thomas Evanella Staff Writer
The Summit League men’s basketball season has reached a fever pitch, and after a season of intrigue, the league title and a trip to the NCAA tournament boils down to three games. Which team will walk out of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center with the hardware remains to be seen, but with only two days until the tournament tips off, it is time to scout the field. Each of the conference’s eight member schools earned a bid into the tournament this year as a result of IUPUI’s defection. While South Dakota State and South Dakota highlight this year’s top contenders, it is anyone’s game afterward. The in-state rivals vied for the top spot all year, but the Jackrabbits finished 13-1 in first. Both teams have aspirations for state bragging rights and another title. It came down to the final two games of the regular season to separate Denver and Fort Wayne, who were both jockeying for the No. 3 seed. Ultimately, it was the Pioneers who edged the Mastodons by a half-game for the spot. North Dakota State stumbled throughout the second half of the season. Still, a 22-point win over Omaha on the season’s final day may signal that the Herd are moving in the right direction at the right time. The Bison squeaked into the No. 5 seed ahead of a youthful and energetic Oral Roberts squad. Omaha and Western Illinois close out the octet, and while neither side dazzles in the standings, either side may have the offensive firepower to shock one of the South Dakota teams up top. With that in mind, The Spectrum has broken down the quarterfinal matchups to discover who will be the last team standing when the dust settles and the players to keep an eye on this weekend. No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs No. 8 Western Illinois Leathernecks The Jacks are loaded with offensive talent, pacing the conference in scoring with 85.3 points per game. SDSU has scored over 90 points three times in conference action and gone over the century mark once. Mike Daum, a shoo-in for his second conference Player of the Year Award and member of the midseason watch list for the Lou Henson Award, averaged a doubledouble this year with 23.6 points per game (PPG) and 10.1 rebounds per game. True freshman David Jenkins burst onto the scene with 15.9 PPG in his debut campaign. Western Illinois’ Kobe Webster counters
him on the opposite end. Webster one-upped Jenkins, scoring at a clip of 16.3 PPG. Teammates Dalan Ancrum and Brandon Gilbeck supported the youngster with double-digit scoring averages this season as well. In spite of this, it would take a mammoth effort from the spark plug Webster and the rest of the Leathernecks to upset the titleholders. No. 2 South Dakota Coyotes vs No. 7 Omaha Mavericks The second matchup Saturday night features both ends of the Summit League’s defensive spectrum. The Coyotes’ stout defense posted the top mark in scoring defense and opposing field goal and three-point percentage. Meanwhile, Omaha ranked last in the three categories. Surrendering only 67.3 PPG, USD is a matchup nightmare for the Mavericks, who ran up the scoreboard in three of their four conference victories. Omaha has marquee wins over Denver and Fort Wayne, but have lost their last four games, the worst skid in the bracket. Omaha’s best chance to unseat the stingy Coyotes is to turn the game into a shootout. The South Dakota defense is too good to let that happen, though. UNO’s Zach Johnson brings the firepower with a scoring average of 17.4 PPG, but USD and top-15 scorers Matt Mooney and Tyler Hagedorn can spark the offense if need be. No. 3 Denver Pioneers vs No. 6 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Denver comes to Sioux Falls as a team capable of making noise and turning heads. The Pioneers may have only finished the season with an 8-6 record, but there are no weaknesses to the disciplined squad. Joe Rosga is surging of late, scoring more than 20 points in four of the last seven games. The junior shot a blistering 55.6 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc during conference play. Possibly one of the conference’s most overlooked players, Rosga is heating up at the right time, as is his team. Denver finished its season 7-2, presenting the best threat to the top two. Oral Roberts features five players averaging north of 10 PPG. Emmanuel Nzekwesi is an emerging young power, but Denver’s methodical style of play ought to wear down the Golden Eagles. The three seed is instrumental for Denver’s championship hopes, as they will avoid SDSU in the semifinals. No. 4 Fort Wayne Mastodons vs No. 5 North Dakota State Bison The Bison have undoubtedly been the most frustrating team to watch in the 2017-18 season.
Paul Miller can score, but will need help if the Bison are to upset No. 4 Fort Wayne. NDSU is capable of playing incredible basketball, as evidenced by their win over South Dakota, but frequently plays from behind after spotting opponents leads. In their home matchup with the Mastodons, NDSU allowed Fort Wayne to jump out to a 12-point lead in under seven minutes of play. Avoiding such a deficit will be integral if the Bison hope to advance. Their offense begins and ends with Paul Miller, who is third in the conference with 19.4 PPG. It’s no question the senior can score, rather it is a matter of who
will join him. Miller was the only player to score in double-digits in last year’s quarterfinals burnout against IUPUI. Tyson Ward, A.J. Jacobson, Jared Samuelson and Cameron Hunter support Miller on a sharp-shooting team. In a toss-up matchup, Fort Wayne senior Bryson Scott gives his squad a key advantage. Scott can score at will, posting a dominant 22.2 PPG this year. Kason Harrell and John Konchar provide a punch on the offensive end to relieve the scoring burden from the outstanding guard. The Mastodons’ offense is unstoppable,
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
so the best hope for the Bison is to bottle them up, which they have the ability to do as one of the Summit League’s better defensive sides. Ultimately, the last quarterfinal game will come down to the wire, but regardless of the outcome, the winner figures to meet their maker in the semifinals against the Jackrabbits. With such a packed field, the Summit League tournament ought to provide entertainment and drama once again. Let the madness begin.
12
THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018
Four Burning Questions for the Summit League Tournament Addressing the hot topics ahead of the conference’s premier event Thomas Evanella Staff Writer
The Summit League tournament begins this Saturday, March 3 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Before the gripping seven games get underway, keep in mind some of the major storylines.
Can anyone stop the Dauminator and the Jackrabbits?
South Dakota State went on a blistering run in conference, posting a 13-1 record with an average margin of victory of 11.5 points. It appears to be a cakewalk for the Jacks, who rank No. 4 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major poll and are a strong candidate to ravage brackets in March Madness. However, there are landmines in the field that can derail SDSU’s title aspirations. On their own half of the bracket, Fort Wayne looms as a possible semifinal opponent. The two sides played two hotlycontested games decided by a total of nine points. While the Jacks emerged victorious from both, the Mastodons, led by Bryson Scott and sidekicks Kason Harrell and John Konchar, have the firepower to match SDSU. In the finals, the Jackrabbits are liable to run up against Denver or in-state rival South Dakota. SDSU beat the Pioneers by 22 points in Brookings but narrowly escaped Colorado with a win Feb. 8. Denver is trending in the right direction, and if the two meet in the finals, it will be a matchup of the Summit League’s two hottest teams. The Coyotes meanwhile are the only team to beat SDSU in conference play and would relish the opportunity to take another swing at the top dogs in the state.
Who are the dark horses in the field?
It is challenging to choose a dark horse in a field of only eight teams, but a few sides could play the role of Cinderella and shock the conference. Chief among these teams are Denver and Fort Wayne. Denver is a departure from other sides in the conference in that they have a grinding style of play, evidenced by their No. 7 ranking in shot attempts. That style could present an issue to opponents in a stretch of three games in four days. The Pioneers have a strong identity and have won seven of their last eight, putting momentum on their sides. Fort Wayne has the capability to match up with any team in the conference thanks in large measure to their scoring capabilities. The Mastodons lead the conference with 15.4 turnovers per game and use the takeaways to generate points with their lethal offense. A
finals appearance is possible given that their side of the bracket avoids the league’s best defense in South Dakota. North Dakota State also presents an outside title chance, although inconsistent play may ultimately doom the Bison.
Who are the unknown players to watch in the tournament?
The Summit League is currently enjoying a renaissance of sorts with an infusion of upand-coming talent. Beyond the headliners such as Scott, Mike Daum, Paul Miller and Matt Mooney, many young players have a chance to make a name for themselves in the tournament. David Jenkins Jr. of SDSU and Kobe Webster are both battling for the Summit League Freshman of the Year Award. The two rank seventh and eighth in the conference in scoring average, with Webster holding a slight edge. Jenkins posted two electrifying performances, scoring 31 points on two occasions, against Colorado and Denver. Webster has had his share of dominant performances as well, scoring over 20 points eight times this year with a high-water mark of 27. Emmanuel Nzekwesi of Oral Roberts, who took home the honor last year, is also a player to keep an eye on. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Texan used a powerful physique to tally 12.5 points per game and 7.1 boards per game, both increases from last year.
Quarterback Dilemma in Minnesota Who will lead the Skol chants next year? Cody Tusler Staff Writer
As we go deeper and deeper into the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings look to be the team that has the most interesting quarterback situation. The Vikings currently have just one quarterback under contract, Kyle Sloter. Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford are going to be free agents. Minnesota signed Keenum to a oneyear deal last year, but did not place the franchise tag on him this year. This could lead him to sign a decent contract for a team that is in need of a signal-caller. The beloved Bridgewater, who sat out all of the 2016 season with a knee injury, came back at the end of the 2017 season. Though his playing time was short last season, it was a heartwarming sight to see him back under center for the purple and gold, even if his two passes resulted in an interception and a bad drop. The Vikings opted not to pick up Bridgewater’s final year of his contract and allow him to become a free agent this year. They opted out before his return this
season for the fact that they didn’t know how he was going to return from injury and save themselves money if he wasn’t able to return. Bradford came over after the injury to Bridgewater and played well for the Vikings, completing 71.6 percent of his passes for an NFL record at the time. This year saw Bradford’s history of injuries continue. He suffered a knee injury early in the season, which laid way for Keenum to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game. I would like the Vikings to resign two of these guys back, Keenum and Bridgewater. To me, a guy that brought you as far as a conference championship game is hard to let go. Bridgewater was slated as the future of the organization and showed a lot of promise, helping the Vikings reach the playoffs in 2015. If the Vikings sign both and let them battle for the starting spot, then they could have a good backup to help if injuries hit the starter again, or one could be possible trade bait for other teams in need of a quarterback. There is tough competition for teams needing a quarterback this upcoming season as
the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals are a few teams that a solid quarterback could push them over the edge. Other teams like the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers are teams that either need a quarterback to help build or for the future. A possible option is going after free agent Kirk Cousins. Any team that has a need of a signal-caller would be stupid not to look at Cousins, a well-rounded quarterback that can help a team get over the hump. A couple downfalls that would hurt the Vikings is his price and how familiar they are with Cousins. Cousins’ price tag will be big, and they could use the money on other positions, especially with head coach Mike Zimmer being a defensive guy. The Vikings are very familiar with Keenum and Bridgewater. Having one of those two will be easier with new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. Pluses for the Vikings are that they are close to Cousins’ home, who is from Michigan and played collegiately at Michigan State, and Minnesota is built to win now, which Cousins could be looking for.
What can Bison fans anticipate out of NDSU?
Last year’s underwhelming quarterfinal loss to IUPUI is still fresh in the memory of Bison faithful. This year, an inconsistent squad stumbled down the stretch to a 5-9 Summit League record, the nadir of which was a six-game losing streak to conference foes. The Herd managed to close the season with a 22-point win over Omaha, which could springboard them into rejuvenation. When Paul Miller finds his shooting stroke, NDSU is a hard team to put away. With that in mind, he cannot bear the scoring load for the Bison alone. A.J. Jacobson, Tyson Ward or Cameron Hunter will need to alleviate the burden if they are able to move past Fort Wayne. NDSU played two difficult outings with the Mastodons, both of which resulted in losses. The Herd can get revenge if they can hang in the game and avoid burying themselves in a deep hole. A second-half onslaught can give NDSU a lead and perhaps catapult them into the semifinals. Much like their season, however, nothing is a certainty.
NDSUSPECTRUM.C