VOLUME 122 ISSUE 41
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
The Spectrum
ndsuspectrum.com
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE
Cast out the cold with the Stick steps up Coffee and Cocoa Crawl at the Combine Audrey Wentz
Former Bison quarterback’s stock rises in Indy
Contributing Writer
From the farmer’s market to the street fair, downtown Fargo always has something going on. Though each year the winter weather creates more of a problem for those who don’t want to brace the cold and freeze outside, the Coffee and Cocoa Crawl acts as the perfect solution to this problem. Every year, local businesses across and off Broadway open their doors and offer free coffee or hot chocolate to those participating in the crawl. For $15 per person online, attendees were guaranteed a commemorative mug, a map of all the locations and a wristband to get free samples of the coffee and cocoa. This year, there were 25 locations across downtown Fargo that participated, and some even went so far as to offer cookies or other treats in addition to the coffee and cocoa. One thing that was surprising with the event was its setup. Initially, it would be easy to assume that the event would just include coffee shops and would be an event orientated toward time spent sitting and talking with friends. However, it turned out that more than just coffee shops participated in the event. It was surprising to see clothing and gift shops offer coffee or cocoa to people
The coffee and cocoa crawl was only $15 for over 25 samples. as they window shopped. Swanson Health Products Puzzled Escape Rooms, and free cookies and Salon Duo, Others and Pink homemade hot chocolate Thread Boutique were some from Stabo Scandinavian of the surprising storefronts Imports. The Silver Lining that offered coffee. Clothing Creamery also offered a store Boots & Heels and frozen hot chocolate ice Swanson Health Products cream for people to enjoy. both participated by offering The Coffee and Cocoa hot cocoa. Crawl was a community Some of the more focused event that brought memorable offerings ranged focus to small businesses. from Nutella hot chocolate Walking up and down the offered by Twenty Below streets of Fargo, seeing Coffee to the chocolate others with the mugs covered cherry hot chocolate matching yours, created an given out by Boots & Heels, environment that not only who also gave 20 percent had the aesthetic of the off coupons to those in event, but also brought a attendance. sense of unity. Talking with Other samplings included people and business owners gluten-free brownies from in passing brought the true
AUDREY WENTZ | THE SPECTRUM
North Dakotan spirit to the event. The participating shops were perfectly spaced to ensure that if you got too cold walking, there was a stop nearby. A free trolley was also offered to each end of downtown as well as to the farther locations. Not only was the crawl priced reasonably, even for college students, but it also proved to be worth the money and time spent. The Coffee and Cocoa Crawl was the perfect event for enjoying the winter weather with friends on a nice Saturday afternoon.
Easton Stick posted the third fastest 40-yard dash time among quaterbacks.
Thomas Evanella
Sextival Festival CONTINUED ON | PAGE 2
Kim Heazlett gives a wine-pouring demonstration to an NDSU student.
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
PHOEBE ELLIS | THE SPECTRUM
Staff Writer
Former North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick took part in the annual NFL Combine this past Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NDSU all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense took the field alongside 17 other quarterbacks chasing NFL aspirations. The NFL Combine represented the next step on Stick’s path to the professional ranks, and the former Bison rose to the occasion. Stick participated in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, 3-cone drill and 20-yard short shuttle as well as on-field passing drills. That’s to say nothing of the psychological tests and interviews behind the scenes. The results were positive for Stick, who now directs his gaze to NDSU’s pro day, which will take place on March 24. Entering the NFL Combine, Stick profiled as one of the more athletic quarterbacks participating. The Omaha, Nebraska native proved just that in his on-field workout. Stick clocked in at 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which ranked third among all quarterbacks at the Combine. The quarterback also ranked third in the broad jump with a leap of 9 feet, 10 inches and in the vertical jump with a height of 33.5 inches. Where Stick really impressed was in the 3-cone and 20-yard short shuttle drills, which measure agility. He finished the 3-cone in 6.65 seconds, good for the secondbest time by a quarterback at the NFL Combine since 2006. Stick clocked a time of 4.05 seconds in the short shuttle, fourth best at his position since 2006. Stick also excelled in the various passing drills, throwing short, mid-range and deep passes. He demonstrated accuracy on intermediate passes and touch on the deep ball, two common themes throughout his years at NDSU. Among the second group of passers, one that featured Gardner Minshew and Jarrett Stidham, Stick had some of the best throws. Much of the criticism around Stick centers on his throwing capabilities. Stick’s passing came under scrutiny at the East-West Shrine Game, where he had mixed results in drills. At the NFL Combine, however, Stick was able to change the narrative... CONTINUED ON | PAGE 11
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NDSU student Peter Buggert shares his experience of being a transgender man
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Podcast ‘Levar Burton Reads’ blends classic ‘Reading Rainbow’ with love of science fiction
Opinion: Why picking the perfect roommate is one of the most important decisions
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The Spectrum NEWS
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Sextival Festival Condom demonstrations w e r e p a r t of t h e S e x t i va l CONTINUED FROM | COVER
PHOTOS BY PHOEBE ELLIS | THE SPECTRUM
The sexual education festival came just in time for spring break.
Phoebe Ellis
Head News Editor
The Sextival, a sexual health and education festival, took place at the North Dakota State Wellness Center Wednesday, Feb. 27. The festival included booths that ranged in content from drinking responsibly to how to insert an internal condom, and several booths offered free condoms, both internal and external, and lubrication products. Also offered at the event was free testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI), sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Though this was the first time the event has taken place, Emily Hegg, assistant director of Health Promotion for Student Health Service, said it’s an important event, and it lined up nicely with the timing being before spring break. Hegg suggested that if someone is sexually active, they should be tested for STIs every six months, though there’s no problem with being tested more regularly.
KNDS RADIO
“The more you get tested, the safer you are,” Hegg said. She also talked about a program she’s been working on called “Junk Mail,” which will be coming out soon. Junk Mail is a grant-funded program that aims to educate students on safe sex practices by mailing them a box with information about safe sex resources and safe sex supplies every month — free of charge to the student. To receive Junk Mail, a student must request the service. The event also offered alcohol pour demonstrations instructed by Kim Heazlett, SHS Health Promotion coordinator, in an effort to educate students on how much they’re really drinking. Heazlett encouraged students to measure their drinks, noting that when we free pour, “We don’t know how much alcohol is in our drinks.” She also advocated for having a sober friend there with you to ensure you get home safely. Another boother, Christopher Wegner, passed out condoms and talked about his work with the Rural AIDS Action Network.
WE’RE
Wegner attended the Sextival with the purpose of educating students. Wegner talked about the organization’s education work going to junior and senior high schools in the area to decrease the stigma surrounding sex and increase awareness and education. “Sex should be enjoyable,” Wegner said. He also noted that minority populations have “unfortunately carried the burden and stigma of disease,” citing the targeting of gay men when we talk about AIDS. In a perfect world, Wegner said he would like to see STIs and STDs standardized to the point where people aren’t afraid to talk about them. NDSU student McKinley Solberg, who’s studying human development and family sciences, worked at a booth at the event as a violence prevention educator, and she also works to prevent domestic abuse on campus. “I am very passionate to make sex less taboo … to make people take better care of their sexual health,” Solberg said. The ultimate goal for SHS is to have the Sextival take place at least once a semester, according to Hegg.
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THE SPECTRUM | News | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Bills! Bills! Bills! We’re talking about drugs, guns and God in local politics Ryan Nix
Co-News Editor
Being involved in politics can be rewarding and interesting, but sometimes it’s hard to sift through the legislation to find something worthwhile. Here are some bills that are bound to spark interest.
Drugs in the Senate
The North Dakota State Senate has voted to eradicate minimum sentencing for some drug dealing and manufacturing. This would give judges more discretion in processing these crimes. To be specific, the bill would take away minimum sentencing for an offense that takes place after your first, according to Inforum.com The bill will now move to Gov. Doug Burgum for a signature. “The use of mandatory minimum sentences do not seem to be having the desired deterrent effect that was initially sought,” Sen. JoNell Bakke, D-Grand Forks, said. Pat Bohn, the director of parole and probation for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the bill will not lessen the bite of the penal system in North Dakota. “The court still has its full availability of the maximum penalty at hand,” Bohn said.
Gun laws
A committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a “red flag” bill, sending the piece of legislation to a full House vote. The red flag bill is similar to a bill that was shot down in North Dakota recently. Basically, if someone is deemed by the police or their family to be incapable of possessing a firearm, then the police can seize the firearm. This law has been debated heavily and protested by both sides of the issue. Some,
WIKIPEDIA | PHOTO COURTESY
Minnesota is the only state government with a split congress. including law enforcement, said this law could help prevent suicide. “The vast majority of suicides I have gone to have not been with firearms,” Rep. Brian Johnson, R-Cambridge, said. Some gun owners and activists see this bill as an attempt at “gun grabbing” with no due process. California was the first state to introduce this type of gun restriction with many following suit, such as Maryland. Minnesota’s majority Republican Senate has said they will block the bill.
South Dakota state religion
An amendment to a previous bill would mandate that all schools have a plaque, sign or piece of artwork with “In God We Trust” featured on it. The plaque would have to be a certain size and be visible in a prominent area. The new bill would also protect schools from the legal dispute and pay any legal fees incurred by the school, according to the Forum. The main argument against the bill is that the words are religious in nature, but proponents say the signs encourage patriotism.
Upcoming Events
Meghan Arbegast Contributing Writer
Medical marijuana is here
North Dakota’s first medical marijuana dispensary, The Botanist, opened in Fargo. The dispensary opened Friday, March 1 after delaying the opening by a day. According to Valley News, the director of the state’s Medical Marijuana Division, Jason Wahl, apologized for inconveniences the delayed opening may have caused patients and caregivers. Wahl said The Botanist will have many product types available, including dried leaves, flowers and vaporizing pens, while most dispensaries in other states only offer dried leaf and flower products. In order for qualified patients and designated caregivers to enter, they must have their registry identification card.
Frigid temperatures affecting cattle
Temperatures across North Dakota have been below freezing for over 50 days, which isn’t typical for this time of year. The temperatures are costing cattle ranchers thousands of dollars, as they have to accommodate to their cattle. According to U.S. News, as the calving season approaches, pregnant cows require twice as much food through the winter season, so they don’t lose weight. Cattle also need access to water that isn’t frozen, and ranchers need to provide bedding, so the cattle aren’t distressed from the weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Indemnity Program gives grants to those who lose cattle because of weather conditions.
Tough decisions on women’s facility
North Dakota’s only facility for women is
In A Nutshell The Dakota Woman’s Correctional Rehab Center and is located in New England, North Dakota, a small town with a population of 602. Gov. Doug Burgum is trying to move the women to a new facility, though this is causing concerns for the locals. According to Next City, the locals of New England believe that moving the women to another facility would wipe the small town off the map. Burgum is making the women’s center a main priority and wants to end the state’s contract with the New England facility by moving men currently at the Missouri Valley facility to temporary housing and transforming the state hospital into a minimumsecurity prison for men.
New York Times said that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the investigation because a similar incident happened on a playground in Brooklyn just a week before. According to the New York Times, anti-Semitic crime rates have been up over 70 percent in New York City over the last year.
RNC goes after Michael Cohen
As Michael Cohen delivered his public testimony to the House Oversight Committee, Wednesday, Feb. 27, the Republican National Committee (RNC) released a 47-second long video titled, “Have Fun in Prison!” According to Yahoo Entertainment, the video had old clips of Cohen describing President Donald Trump as a friend. The video comes as the RNC is trying to distance themselves from Cohen, who was deputy national chairman in 2017 after being named to the organization’s finance leadership team. Cohen is heading to prison May 6 after he plead guilty for lying to the Senate Intelligence Committee about campaign finance violations and tax fraud.
Boy charged for anti-Semitic graffiti
A 12-year-old boy was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment after anti-Semitic graffiti was found on a school playground on Feb. 22. The playground was located in Rego Park, which is a heavily Jewish populated area in Queens, New York. The boy was processed as a juvenile and then was released to his family. The
Ryan Nix
Co-News Editor
CLASSIFIEDS
Here are some events. There is usually a long intro to this piece for no reason, but this time is going to be different. There is just no use in having an extra three sentences before the actual article.
Psychic event predicted
Psychics will be reading fortunes and analyzing the complex inner workings of North Dakota State students from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21. The event will take place in the Great Room in the Memorial Union. According to the NDSU event page, there will be a variety of psychic readings. “We are bringing in local psychics that provide a variety of different services, such as palm reading, handwriting analysis and more!”
Sustainability in reality
The F-M Sustainability Network will be hosting its March gathering at the Front Street Taproom 5-7 p.m. March 4. According to the organization, the purpose of it “is to create a platform for individuals interested and/or involved in local sustainability initiatives.” The event is for networking with leaders in sustainability. There will be a speaker at the event: Mike Bush, the engagement coordinator for Audubon Dakota. According to the event page description, Bush will be talking about a local sustainability project “where unused riparian land (often flood
buyout properties, but not always) in the Fargo-Moorhead area is being restored to native forest or prairie habitat.”
Stronger communities
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will host an event at the Delta Hotel March 29 concerning the plight of suicide in the LGBTQ+ community. The conference will include breakout sessions and general talks with foremost experts in the field. According to the Facebook event page, “The goal is to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ suicide risk, bring research findings to the attention of professionals and the public and explore strategies for LGBTQ+ suicide prevention in local communities.”
Leif Jonasson Editor in Chief editor@ndsuspectrum.com Phoebe Ellis Head News Editor head.news@ndsuspectrum.com Managing Editor Ryan Nix Co-News Editor co.news@ndsuspectrum.com Miranda Stambler Features Editor features@ndsuspectrum.com Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor ae@ndsuspectrum.com Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor opinion@ndsuspectrum.com Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor sports@ndsuspectrum.com
Zachary Liu Head Copy Editor head.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Victoria Moss Co-Copy Editor co.copy@ndsuspectrum.com Brittany Hofmann Design Editor design@ndsuspectrum.com Photo Editor photo@ndsuspectrum.com Callahan Stewart Web Editor webmaster@ndsuspectrum.com Cassandra Tweed Graphic Designer graphics@ndsuspectrum.com
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The Spectrum FEATURES
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
The experience of being a transgender man NDSU student Peter Buggert shares his story
Peter Buggert shares his experience of being a trans man.
Features Editor
Although Peter Buggert did not know what transgender was until he was 15, he knew as a child that he was a boy. Originally from Alexandria, Minnesota, and now attending North Dakota State, Buggert shared his story of being a trans man. Since he can remember, Buggert would tell his mother that he was a boy. And he would ask for handme-downs from his three older brothers. A memory that stood out to him as a child was playing hockey in his brother’s handme-down snow gear. One time a man ran into him on the ice and said, “Hey, watch out little guy.” This made Buggert excited for three days straight. He constantly reminded his parents of the man who called him a “guy.” Later in life, when Buggert learned the term transgender, he planned to change his name legally. At one of his previous jobs, each of the lockers were assigned to employees, but the taped names were stuck,
so the names on the lockers were old. His locker name was “Peter.” Buggert wanted to fit in with the rest of his family’s names: Caleb, Luke, Ben and Dani. Before he came out, he would constantly ask his mother how she felt about certain names and use her opinion to decide on a name for himself. That is when “Peter” stuck with him. Although he has not experienced discrimination within his job search, Buggert said he worries about it in the future. His name is legally changed, but on documents he must provide past names, so “No matter what I do, my whole life, they’re (employers) going to know,” Buggert said. Most of his friends and family were not surprised by his coming out as transgender, but a fear he had was how his family would react. “Before I came out, I was super scared my parents were going to kick me out, that everyone was going to hate me and that it was going to be a really hard time. My
parents, they’re kind of just the typical Midwestern family,” Buggert explained. “And so they weren’t really supportive of being trans before, but they love me no matter what, so they’re OK with it, and I’d say they’re more supportive now.” Now, he explained how his whole
“
people wouldn’t be able to tell.” While most do not know his story, others who do tend to ask questions politely. He gets questions like “How did you know?” “How old were you?” “Doesn’t it worry you that you’re going to change back one day?” and
“I guess just having a story that goes well is something that I’m really grateful for.”
“
Miranda Stambler
MIRANDA STAMBLER | THE SPECTRUM
- PETER BUGGERT, NDSU STUDENT
family accepts him, even his “old Catholic grandma.” As a freshman on campus, he has not had any bad experiences because most do not know he is a trans man unless he chooses to share. “I’m here, and people don’t know I’m trans,” Buggert said smiling. “I never thought that would be a thing, you know, that I’d look like a guy and that
“How do I know?” from younger people who are trying to figure out if they also identify as transgender. These are not harmful in Buggert’s eyes, but the internet is a different story, where the questions and peoples’ opinions become worse. In the past, he’s been called a “sex freak” online multiple times. Other times,
people try to stereotype him with “super butch lesbian” to which he explains that he is interested in men and they respond with him wanting to be a “gay guy.” Many stereotype people within the LGBTQ+ community, and sometimes they do not realize they are doing it. Some believe that because Buggert identifies as a transgender man, he is a social justice warrior (SJW), feminist or liberal rather than conservative. Others question how he can be a biology major and ask, “How can you believe in biology?” Buggert explained that many people do not understand or know the definitions of a trans man and a trans woman, which results in him getting questions like, “Oh, so you have a penis?” For some, that would make them uncomfortable, but Buggert laughs it off. He understands that it is even difficult for himself to explain. According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, a trans man is defined as “a man who was identified as female at birth.”
Buggert wanted to share his story because he is grateful. “Not a lot of trans people are willing to be public.” He explained how many are scared for their life, scared of people’s reactions, scared that they will be kicked out and scared of many more potential outcomes. “I feel like it’s kind of my responsibility, as someone who’s in a really good place compared to other people, to try and help when I can,” Buggert said. There is no question that acceptance and inclusion of those in the LGBTQ+ community is becoming better, but it still could use work across the world. Many people in the transgender community have created a map of which states are more accepting than others according to their laws. Minnesota is toward the top of the list, while North Dakota is very low. Buggert explained that in North Dakota there is not a lot of representation for the LGBTQ+ community, but that “it’s about what you would expect.”
GRAPHIC BY CASSANDRA TWEED | THE SPECTRUM
THE SPECTRUM | Features | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
5
Dry times in the Midwest Taking care of your skin in spite of dry weather
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
Developing a regular skincare routine doesn’t have to break the bank.
Brittany Hofmann Contributing Writer
While our minds can transport us to another place — perhaps a sunny, tropical paradise — our bodies are unfortunately stuck in the horrifically cold climate of the Midwest. Being a sufferer of the evil eczema, I have found a way to perfect my skin care routine to thwart the weather from taking over my already irritated skin.
Cleansers
If you wear makeup on a daily basis, it’s important to start off with a clean slate before you dive into your skincare routine. Cleansers vary from basic, gentle cleansers to a more targeted
audience. If acne is a problem for you, many facial cleansers pair up with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Both of these can triumph villainous acne, but they can also dry out your skin. That’s where moisturizer comes in to save the day.
Oils and serums
Facial oils and serums aren’t essential to a successful skincare routine, but they can be an added luxury to accompany it. Recently, I’ve discovered the Burt’s Bees nourishing facial oil. It contains all the goods to keep my skin hydrated, such as rosehip seed extract and jojoba oil. Oils can be mixed in with moisturizer for a lighter application, or used on their own
before applying moisturizer. Serums, on the other hand, can provide an extra boost in a specific area. For example, there are many hyaluronic acid serums on the market. Hyaluronic acid is found in many moisturizers, but as a serum, it’s more concentrated and results are more evident.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
Even if your skin is oily, it’s important to moisturize. With oily skin, you may avoid moisturizer because it makes your skin even oilier, but a moisturizer made for oily skin can help to balance the oil production. Skipping a moisturizer can make matters worse.
With my dry skin type, I have grown to love a heavier moisturizing lotion. Regular use of the Clinique moisture lotion has produced spectacular results, and I no longer experience flaky patches. They also have one to control oil. If you are looking for something within a college budget, the Target brand Up and Up moisturizer is relatively cheap and does the job. Not only is it affordable, but it contains SPF. Even though the sun isn’t showing itself at this time of year, protecting yourself from it is still important.
Masks and sprays
Masks and facial sprays are even less of a necessity, but are good ways to spice up your selfcare or skincare routine.
Facial sprays are full of nutritious substances for your skin at a smaller concentration than oils or serums. They can be applied throughout the day for refreshment. Mario Badescu offers several affordable facial sprays, ranging from lavender and chamomile to orange and sage. The most important thing to remember when developing a rigorous skincare routine is to maintain it. If it’s not applied regularly, you won’t see results, and your skin will suffer. Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and you’re stuck with it for the rest of your life, so take care of it.
From The Herd Shop Game Fuel and Taco Bell Chips Taylor Schloemer Spectrum Staff
It would have been nice to be a fly on the wall during the meeting at Taco Bell when they decided to go ahead with a line of tortilla chips. I suspect the meeting went something like this: Boss: “All right people, the Doritos Locos Tacos are a big hit. How can we expand the market?” Employee 1: “Expand into different flavors of shells.” Employee 2: “Make a nacho chips flavored quesadilla.” Employee 3: “Make our own tortilla chip to compete with Doritos.” Boss: “Brilliant!” And so, the Taco Bell chips were born. They are available in three different spice flavors that correspond with Taco Bell’s three sauces: Mild, Hot and Diablo, none of which are better than Doritos. What’s more interesting is the fact that the perceived
order of spice is off. The Diablo, with their black chips, carries the least amount of spice and is a general disappointment. Eating a bag of the Mild isn’t bad and carries a nice balance. This is the most similar to a Dorito and would likely be the chip to use when Doritos finally sees the competition and pulls out of the Locos Tacos deal. Meanwhile, Hot is the chip to go for in terms of flavor, but the heat lingers for a while after eating, so be warned. But it is quite the journey to actually eat one of these chips. First off, the smell is not great. It is a sharp smell, but not a pleasant one. The generic “spice” smell is potent. Then there is the fact that the chip looks like a Dorito that got dropped in a pile of sawdust. The taste of the Mild and Hot aren’t bad, and getting through a bag is possible, unlike the poor performance of the Diablo. A good idea for a companion beverage is the item in the Herd Shop that
receives the most marketing as compared to unfavorable placement: the Mountain Dew Game Fuel. A tough, little find at the bottom corner of the energy drink section, these things are pretty good. Three favors are available: an original Mountain Dew, fruit punch and tropical, the last of which was used for this review. To be fair, expectations were not very high heading into the first sip, but it was pleasantly surprising. The tropical flavor popped, and it was quite smooth for an energy drinksoda hybrid, a bit better than a Monster Mutant. The caffeine content isn’t too high at 90 mg for a bottle, which is slightly lower than most coffees. The best thing that Game Fuel has going for it though has nothing to do with the taste, but the can itself. It has a resealable can, which is brilliant. It is sturdy enough for multiple openings and closings. Big props to the marketing department for
TAYLOR SCHLOEMER | THE SPECTRUM
Gamers, Taco Bell and Mountain Dew once again created a duo for you. calling the instructions categories. For this review, chips and drink, I put in my on how to open the tab a I settled into the gamer best performance in “Tetris,” “tutorial” instead of just looking to improve their which is the current fad in boring instructions. It is an performance because fitting the Spectrum office, so the into the other category duo works. However, the on-brand decision. However, if you are would likely end with people effect on K/D ratios is still unknown. enjoying this duo, odds throwing stones at me. After consuming the are you fit into one of two
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Go anywhere with ‘Levar Burton Reads’ Podcast blends classic ‘Reading Rainbow’ with love of science fiction Laura Ellen Brandjord A&E Editor
Levar Burton is best known for his roles in “Reading Rainbow” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and he combines both in his podcast, “Levar Burton Reads.” In the age where podcasts and audiobooks are eagerly devoured by young and old alike, Burton creates a memorable hybrid. The title is selfexplanatory and speaks to the show’s single-minded focus. The podcast is simply Burton reading a different short story every episode, which is done largely ad free. On top of that, there is no more than a brief commentary on the particular work before you follow Burton into the fantastical world of his choosing. As to the process of choosing the stories read, Burton explains at the head of each episode, “The only thing these stories have in common is that I love them, and I hope you will too.” It should be noted that the works are largely science fiction, but that shouldn’t deter people unaccustomed to the genre. Many of the science fiction tales have interwoven themes that speak to social justice, rights and the human condition. Burton reads in a cadence that is all at once soothing and intriguing. However, perhaps the most cathartic part of the podcast is when Burton has listeners take a deep breath and exhale
‘Levar Burton Reads’ is the best podcast to unwind to while sipping your favorite beverage. before he starts the reading. It is like a passive meditation to listen to Burton’s episodes. Each episode is between 30-60
minutes long, making it ideal to fall asleep to or for taking a mental break from work or studying. Each episode is self-
contained, so feel free to browse until you find a summary that strikes you. Still not sure where to start? Here are a few suggestions:
LAURA ELLEN BRANDJORD | THE SPECTRUM
Episode 32: “Jackalope Wives” by Ursala Vernon LIVE! in Portland: “The Fliers of Gy” by Ursala K. Le Guin
Episode 9: “1000-YearOld Ghosts” by Laura Chow Reeves
‘The Division 2’ is just more of the same And that’s not necessarily a bad thing Max Borman Staff Writer
A couple of weekends ago, people who either preordered or got invited to the private beta version of “Tom Clancy’s The Division 2” got to experience a chaotic postapocalyptic Washington D.C., after the infamous “Dollar Flu” had spread from New York to the U.S capital. This sequel takes place seven months after the events that happened in its predecessor, “Tom Clancy’s The Division.” Not much else has changed from the original game, besides a definite upgrade in graphics and the seasonal change from winter in the original to summer in the sequel. Other than that, however, the game feels much like the first one, which is not necessarily a bad thing. “The Division 2” is another looter-shooter game, but this time it was made by Ubisoft. While other looter-shooter games tend to be more science fiction based, this game is more on the realistic side with a few sci-fi elements to it. In the game, players are a part of an elite agency called “The Division.” Ordinary citizens are activated at a moment’s notice to help bring stability to the country and fight back against people who seek to do it harm.
The beta release let players experience a tiny slice of what the game has to offer: a couple main story missions, a host of side missions, a settlement, some endgame content and the revamped “Dark Zone.” The main story missions and side missions feel like they did in the first one. Players have some objectives they have to complete with hordes of different types of enemies in between. The side missions feel similar, but they offer a little more variety with different types of objectives and locations. A cool new feature comes with the settlements. In “The Division,” New York felt emptier with only the main base of operations in sight. In “The Division 2,” however, there are multiple settlements that you can help out and upgrade. In return, they will assist you on your journey. Along with the new settlement feature comes enemy checkpoints and resource depots. Taking those can help the settlements, your base of operations (which is the White House) and give you more places to spawn when you inevitably die. This feature makes the world of Washington D.C feel more alive than New York ever did, as well as giving you more to do. The settlements also supply gear and lots of side missions for your pleasure.
The endgame content offered was the ability to participate in the game’s version of raids. A couple of players fight harder enemies in a mission to get more loot. Many games of the same ilk have something similar, and the version included in “The Division 2” does not seem all that different. The highlight of the original game comes back in this one: the Dark Zone, or DZ, the place where all the fun begins. The Dark Zone is a player versus player area that you only need to venture into if you want the best of the best loot. Here, more difficult enemies and players that could backstab you at any moment are waiting. The Dark Zone contains pieces of D.C. that are out of control and cannot be controlled, and the highest tier of loot is just sitting there abandoned. The only problem is you are not the only one trying to get it. If you manage to kill enemies and avoid rogue agents (players who have killed other players are labelled this to keep you cautious), then you have to complete one final test. Players must go to an extraction zone and call a helicopter to come and get the loot. Everyone else in the DZ can see that a helicopter was called and can come and take your loot if you do not protect it well enough. This creates a sort of cat and
UBISOFT | PHOTO COURTESY
‘The Division 2’ private beta occurred this weekend, letting players experience a war-torn Washington D.C.
mouse game where you are waiting anxiously, hoping that no one comes to cause any trouble. The beauty of the Dark Zone is everyone is on a level playing field. No matter what level your character is going into the zone, they will be made equal with everyone else until you leave. This prevents an overpowered, max-level player from just sitting and waiting for poor, defenseless players to destroy. The Dark Zone also has its own leveling system. The more enemies you kill and loot, the higher your DZ rank will be, which in turn lets
you get better loot. It’s a system that was great in the first game and is improved in the second one. If you did not like the first game whatsoever, then you will not like this game. It does nothing to pull players that did not play the original one. It feels just like a newer version of the original game. Again, this was only a review of a tiny slice of the game. The full game releases March 15. From this tiny slice, however, if you liked the first one, then “Tom Clancy’s The Division 2” is going to be a must buy for you.
THE SPECTRUM | A
7
& E | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
‘Someone’ Picking book s solely on their look s
The modern design juxtaposes the classic writing style of Alice McDermott.
Brittany Hofmann Staff Writer
An ordinary life told as an extraordinary tale, “Someone” by Alice McDermott is quietly enthralling and vividly intimate. The story starts at the stoop of a quaint neighborhood home in Brooklyn, New York, where Marie sits and waits for her father’s arrival at the end of every day. There, she sits quietly, not interacting with the other kids playing stick ball in the street, but instead has a brief conversation with the poor, ugly woman that lives in the
same building, Ms. Pegeen Chebab. Pegeen is described as a homely looking woman, yet to find a husband because of her looks and clumsiness. This clumsiness would ultimately take her life when she unfortunately falls down a flight of stairs. The death of Pegeen is the first experience Marie will have with death, and unfortunately it’s not her last. “Someone” is beautifully written and completely immersed me into the ordinary life of Marie, beginning with her childhood in the late 1940s. Throughout the book, you are left to devise your
own image of Marie because she is never definitively described, except for her small stature and thick glasses. If not for those glasses, she is nearly blind. Marie’s first heartbreak was brought on by the untimely death of her beloved father after a fight with cancer. She experiences her second heartbreak with Walter Hartnett, a man born with a leg too short. Walter talked of marriage and children with Marie, so when he took her out for lunch one day, I was just as shocked as Marie when it was revealed that he was leaving for the weekend to marry someone else.
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
Sadly, Marie sobs all the way home, where her brother, Gabe, would help heal her broken heart with a walk. On their stroll, they run into Tom Commeford, who awkwardly addresses Gabe as “Father,” despite never finishing his ordainment. Despite the mistake, they have a polite conversation. Marie and Tom would not see each other again until the funeral of Old Bill Corrigan — the blind umpire to the children’s neighborhood baseball games during Marie’s childhood. Strangely enough, the death of Old Bill would bring together Marie and Tom into a relationship they
never saw coming. Constantly feeling unloved, Tom makes Marie feel special, and soon enough they are married with their first child on the way. It is never revealed what may be handicapping Marie. With her blindness, hypersensitivity to touch at a young age and “childlike build,” I came to the conclusion that she had been born prematurely. The birth of their first child, little Tommy, nearly kills Marie, and she is advised to not have any more children by her brutish, postwar general doctor. Despite this and the warnings from her mother
and brother, she and Tom go on to have three more children — Johnny, Susan and Helen. The lack of detail in “Someone” can be frustrating, but the writing style of McDermott is charming, and it perfectly embodies just the right amount of emotion to tell the story as Marie would have. The story ends circuitously, with the proclamation from Pegeen Chebab that were her last words to Marie at the start of the book in which she would attempt to use her clumsiness to find “someone nice.”
Shoot for the stars ‘Space Engineers’ leaves Steam early access with an overhauled survival mode Nathan Wetrosky Staff Writer
After being one of the first games on Steam early access, “Space Engineers” was officially released Feb. 28. There is a lot to be celebrated by the game’s development team pulling this rare occurrence off. The first update for “Space Engineers” came out Oct. 25, 2013. Since then, it has endured weekly updates for nearly six years. Leading up to the game’s official release, fans and players alike had only small tidbits of information and no weekly updates to the game (the developers usually push out weekly updates) to go off of, but “Space Engineers” leaving early access should have fans of the title excited. Here are a few of the most exciting things brought by this update.
Ladders
One of the most requested items from developer Keen Software House was to add ladders to the game. Yes, ladders. When
designing ships, players would only have stairways, their jetpacks and clumsy elevators to maneuver ships. Many times, it would be easier to have a ladder to navigate up and down a ship rather than to construct an overly complicated device to reach another level.
Wind turbine
Back in the day, if a player were to land in an area full of iron and nickel, they would be OK until they needed more power and uranium to fuel reactors. Now, with the addition of wind turbines into the game, players can get a small, but constant flow of electricity to run equipment and tools. These are only useful when in an atmosphere, but the higher up in the air they are, the more power they can generate.
Progression tree
A progression tree has also been added to the game. This is used to help track how a block, or an assembler, will be used to build something else. This tree will be helpful when figuring out what the next move will be while constructing a ship or base.
After six years, ‘Space Engineers’ is in prime form. It also helps with than finding pirate dens and managing resources by only blowing them to bits). allowing players to build This scenario reveals something within the reach the location of a base of available material. about to be attacked by an overwhelming swarm of Never surrender drones. Only the best ships scenario and equipment can stem the This new survival tide. scenario sets a goal for For a complete list of players after they have items, head to the Keen achieved space travel (other Software House forum.
KEEN SOFTWARE HOUSE | PHOTO COURTESY
Throughout the development of “Space Engineers,” the team from Keen Software House was always responsive and listened to its player base. And now that the game is officially out of early access, it is safe to say that the team is still doing just that. Despite “Space Engineers” being a
“completed” game, it will still be continually updated until it is seen as perfect from both the perspective of the community surrounding it and its developers. “Space Engineers” can now be found in the action games tab of the Steam store. Go forth and build something amazing.
8
The Spectrum OPINION
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Picking the perfect roommate
Why this is one of the most important decisions Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor
It’s getting to the point where students (especially freshman) will be looking for their future roommates to live with. If you’re lucky, you’ll just be living with your dorm roommate. In most cases though, you’ll be living with someone else and/or more people. You will go into the year thinking it will be awesome, and for the most part it will be. However, how much fun you’ll have versus how frustrated you’ll get solely depends on the people you choose to live with. It’s a very important decision that needs to be broken down before being made. Perhaps the most important thing to look for in a potential roommate is shared interests. My roommates and I are huge sports fanatics, and you’ll rarely see our TV without a college basketball game on (at least this time of year). We also like to do the same activities such as working out, playing video games and watching movies. If you don’t have roommates with similar interests, it’s just simply not going to work out as well as it could. You can maybe try new things and make them try new things, but ultimately you will be on different pages for the year. It will also make conversations slightly awkward because you won’t be able to relate sometimes. So please, find someone who likes the same things. Try to pick someone you’ve known for and hung out with for a while. Yes, you will have your differences and your fair share of arguments, but for the most part you know who they are. At the end of the day, you will be glad you lived with them. There’s a difference between knowing someone
PEXELS | PHOTO COURTESY
For starters, it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep your place clean. for a while versus knowing someone for a while and hanging out with them a lot. If you room with someone you’ve known, but didn’t hang out with all that much, be prepared for new experiences. You will learn a whole lot more about that person, some good and some bad. More often than not, I feel like it has a higher potential to lead to a bridge-like gap between the two. Just be careful about choosing a roommate you don’t know a lot about. Try to choose roommates that are on the same or similar schedule as you. This can depend on what your class schedule looks like, and I’m not saying you have to have the same class times. However, have an idea of when your roommates like to go to bed and wake up.
If you live with two night owls and you have an 8 a.m. every day, that could get old real quick. Similarly, if you don’t have to wake up until 10 a.m. and your roommate has an 8 a.m., be
perfection. You must realize that no matter how close you are with the people you are about to live with, nothing will be perfect. When people say nobody’s perfect, they couldn’t be more right. What
W
hile this is only a temporary decision, it’s a long one. prepared to wake up and fall back asleep. None of this will apply to you if you’re a heavy sleeper, but for you light sleepers, this can make or break your roommate relationship status. Once you find your roommates, don’t expect
I mean by this is you will get annoyed at some of the things they do, especially if you haven’t lived with them previously. When it comes to your roommates, you generally start to notice their flaws and their flaws only. It can get to
a point where you don’t even appreciate anything they do well. It will irritate you so much that you’ll think or talk about them behind their back in a negative manner. It’s up to you whether or not you’re going to confront them regarding the issue. It’s easier said than done, but it’s definitely worth it being honest with them and communicating what’s bothering you. Otherwise, they’re just going to keep doing whatever it is that bothers you. And, believe me, there will be things your roommates do that bother the absolute crap out of you. Make sure you have everything you need in your room. Sometimes you’re just going to get so annoyed to the point where you will need some alone time. This is the significance of having a prime setup in your room.
Get some lights, a giant TV, Xbox, speaker, mini fridge or whatever else that brings you joy. Make your room feel like the home itself without the rest of the home. You’ll be in the living room hanging out with your roommates for the most part, but having a safety valve for when that’s not working is key to success. Please read this, especially if you’re a freshman looking for roommates for your sophomore year. It’s important to know this stuff beforehand rather than find out after you’ve signed a yearlong lease with four people you’re sick of after the first week. While this is only a temporary decision, it’s a long one. Take your time and pick the right roommate.
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GRAPHIC BY CASSANDRA TWEED | THE SPECTRUM
THE SPECTRUM | Opinion | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
9
Album of the Month:
F E B RUA R Y Jacob Elwell Opinion Editor
I wasn’t expecting to write this article for at least a week, but I forgot February only has 28 days in the month. So, here we are, picking a winner in a jam-packed month full of music with limited days. There’s no doubt there have been really popular artists releasing music this month, such as Offset, Ariana Grande, Gunna, Lil Pump and many more. However, I decided to dig a little deeper. I know the months of February can be a bit depressing compared to other months, so I picked an album that put me in a good mood. That album is “The Love Train” by Meghan Trainor. I chose Meghan Trainor’s album because all of the songs kind of cheered me up. It’s also been awhile since some recognizable Meghan Trainor music has come out. She’s known for “All About That Bass,” a song released in 2015 that blew up. I have always liked Trainor. She has a fantastic voice, and her lyrics are just as good. “Foolish” is my favorite song on her new album. It starts off strong and never fades away. “All the Ways” is also a great song. There are only six songs on the album, but those are my two
favorites. However, they are all good, and I think everyone should listen to it if you’re feeling down during this way too cold month. This album probably didn’t get as much recognition as it should have, so I’m here to spread the word. I know, I’m crazy for not picking Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” album. “Thank U, Next” is a good song, but it was released prior to the album. The song “7 rings” seemed to have people up on of their feet, and I really don’t know why. It’s essentially a remix of the song “My Favorite Things” from the classic movie “The Sound of Music.” It’s a good song, but I don’t believe it lives up to the hype. There really wasn’t any song that got me in a giddy mood, besides maybe “fake smile.” I think Ariana Grande’s name is just really popular
right now, and that alone had all the people flocking. I love Ariana Grande’s music, but this is not her best album. 2019 is off to a solid start in terms of music. I need to list some notable mentions. Wiz Khalifa collaborated with Curren$y for “2009.” “Benz Boys” featuring Ty Dolla $ign is a great listen, along with “Eastside.” Offset’s “Father of 4” is no p u s h o v e r. The Migos member shows he can ride solo with this album. “Red Room” is my favorite song from that album. For all the country fans, Florida Georgia Line released an album called “Can’t Say I Ain’t Country.” The song “Simple” was popular before the album dropped, but it still made it on there. “Women” with Jason Derulo WIKICOMMONS | PHOTO COURTESY is a good song on top of that. Go out Meghan Trainor performing at Jingle Ball in 2014. and listen to these albums as well.
BYOB (Be Your Own Boss) How you can make money and, more importantly, make me money Grant Gloe Staff Writer
Hey there! I know we haven’t really spoken in a while. I think that’s just a shame. To make amends, I’m offering you a super-exclusive, all-inclusive, once-ina-lifetime business venture. A chance to be your own boss, make your own hours and get us both some pocket change! I have recently come across a growing, unknown, self-starter conglomerate that is expanding its network as we live and breathe. Now that I’m a part of it, I’d like you to join my network. For a mere $10,000 investment, you can be moving glamorous, revitalizing, all natural, interchangeable keyboard keys. You’ll be chanting SOS (Sell Our Souls!) for the hottest new product: Mary Keys. I know what you’re thinking: “Why should I give you 10 grand that I made at a real job for ... alternative medicine keys?” First off, rude. Second, they are so much more than that. They are aesthetically crafted by completely unknown, t o p respected artists and also my three kids p a i n t them after school. They have built-in electromagnetizers t h a t rejuvenate your auroras, increasing productivity and flushing the toxins from your sys SDFGWTQNYRHTSEAT Sorry about that! I’m typing this while driving. If I leave my car in one spot too long, the repo man will take it. Doesn’t bother me one bit because I’m typing on my Mary Keys! My finger tips are being stimulated by micro-implosions, reverting my nerve receptors to maximum capacity. I know it’s a lot to take in. Making lists of all your friends and family and family’s friends. Making people realize that individual keyboard keys costing $2.99 a piece are 299 percent worth it. Making sure you remember to mention it in every conversation, even with strangers. I don’t envy you kid. But that’s only because I’ve already moved 7,000 units of product! Look at me, I’m only $200 in the hole! Here at Mary Keys, we’re all about sharing. This business was founded on a key principle: “If we all share our money, I can have more of it than you.” So come on board! Because I am so hungry. Looking into the promising future at the top of a pyramid scheme.
PEXELS | PHOTO COURTESY
10
The Spectrum SPORTS
NDSUSPECTRUM.COM MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Mo’ Bison women take money, pair of road losses no problems Br yce Harper is a Poor quarters doom NDSU in South Dakota, Purdue Fort Wayne Ian Longtin Staff Writer
The North Dakota State women’s basketball team’s road woes continued to close out the regular season. Losses at South Dakota and Purdue Fort Wayne left the Bison (7-21, 4-12) with just one win away from Fargo. NDSU were unable to walk out of Vermillion with a win, losing to South Dakota 76-57. Losses by Purdue Fort Wayne and Omaha to go along with a win by North Dakota means the Bison will be the No. 7 seed in the Summit League Tournament. The Bison’s first opponent will in fact be South Dakota. If they hope to win the next meeting, the Bison must be able to stop long runs by the Coyotes. After the Herd were able to hang around in the first half, South Dakota outscored the Bison 25-9 in the third frame. A 17-3 run to end the third quarter firmly put the game away. Despite going a respectable 10 of 23 from the 3-point line, the Bison were absolutely dominated down low. The Coyotes outscored the Bison 50-14 in the paint. This simply will not cut it if the women hope to make some noise in the Summit League Tournament. One bright spot for the Bison on the day was Michelle Gaislerova. The sophomore guard scored 20 of NDSU’s 57 points and moved into a tie for third in school history with 72 3-pointers on the year. The Bison now have the benefit of having seen USD just 10 days before meeting them again. This may give NDSU a chance to make some adjustments and fix whatever it was that went wrong in the third quarter. The Bison were only down by eight at halftime, so they’ve shown that they can play with South Dakota. On Saturday, it was another case of one bad quarter dooming NDSU. The Bison were outscored 30-14 in the fourth, losing the season finale 66-46 to Purdue Fort Wayne. The problem is the Bison are playing some of their worse basketball of the season. Something will need to change if the herd hopes to make a run at a Summit League Tournament title. Despite going just 3 of 17 from the field in the first quarter, the Bison found themselves only down three points going into the second frame. The Mastodons took a four-point lead into halftime. The third quarter was just not fun for anybody. Purdue Fort Wayne and
Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor
Softball
The Bison went west for the Stanford Nike Invitational and swept through the opening day with wins over Cal Poly and Montana. Against Cal Poly, the Bison got on the board early and often in the 8-0 win. Madyson Camacho took advantage of a Mustang error off Sam Koehn’s sharply hit ball to the shortstop to score in the first inning. Maddie Hansen crushed her team-leading fifth home run in the third, a two-run shot to extend the lead to 3-0. The lead doubled in the fourth. Montana DeCamp plated Vanessa Anderson with a single to left field. Two batters later, DeCamp, along with Camacho, crossed the plate
sign of things to come Philip Atneosen
M
JOHN SWANSON | THE SPECTRUM
The Bison women closed the season with one win in their last 10 games. the Bison combined for 18 points. The third quarter was also the second time in the game the Bison failed to score 10 or more points in a quarter. With an almost nonexistent offense, the Bison were still in a great position to win going into the fourth quarter. Alas, a combination of the Mastodons catching fire, 12 of 16 from the field, and some bad turnovers turned the game into a rout. Rylee Nudell and Gaislerova accounted for well over half of NDSU’s points. Nudell put up 14 points, and Gaislerova scored 12. Gaislerova also moved into sole possession of third place in NDSU history for 3-pointers made, hitting
on a Zoe Stavrou ground ball. NDSU tacked on solitary runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Stephanie Soriano’s single down the right field line scored pinch runner Lauren Reimers before Katie Shoultz rounded out the scoring, bringing home Anderson. Throughout, KK Leddy controlled the game from the pitcher’s circle. The junior threw her second shutout of the year, striking out six and giving up just three hits. Leddy came on in relief of Paige Vargas against Montana. The freshman gave up just four hits in five innings of work, but gave up two innings in the top half of the third to give the Grizzlies the lead. That lead was short lived. The Bison bats got to work in the bottom of the frame. Camacho’s double scored Shoultz, and three batters later Camacho crossed the plate along with Cara Beatty following Hansen’s double.
her 73rd and 74th on the year. The Bison are not hitting on any cylinders right now. A date with South Dakota looms, and it’ll take one of the Bison’s best games of the year if they are to have any chance of toppling the ‘Yotes. The Bison need to figure things out in the paint, they were badly outscored again down low, and cut back on the turnovers. These are not quick fixes, but they are musts. Who knows? Perhaps the Herd can catch USD on an off night and walk away with a first-round win. Crazy things can happen in March, so not all hope has been lost quite yet.
Shoultz was at the center of the Bison’s insurance runs in the sixth, hitting the infield single that scored Koehn before being brought in by DeCamp’s single to left. That allowed Leddy, who was brought in on the top half of the sixth, to close out the game. Vargas, who faced a pair of hitters in the sixth, took the win with Leddy recording the save. The second day saw the competition level go up, as NDSU faced No. 23 Northwestern. The Big Ten outfit got the bat on the ball early, downing the Bison 7-0. The Wildcats put up five on Leddy in the opening frame and didn’t look back. Northwestern pitcher Kenna Wilkey allowed just two hits to the Bison. NDSU’s game against Stanford Saturday was cancelled, but the Bison were scheduled to play the Cardinal Sunday afternoon. NDSU travels down to Florida next weekend and throughout spring
Staff Writer
LB spring training is upon us, and it seems spring spending is too. Two of the largest contracts in American sports history were signed in the last few
weeks. The first was signed by Manny Machado, the new third baseman for the San Diego Padres. He signed for $300 million over the next 10 years. At the time of signing, this was the second largest contract, in terms of overall dollar amount, in MLB history, just behind Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year, $325 million deal. It’s now the third largest in MLB history. The Philadelphia Phillies signed right fielder Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million contract. That contract is the second largest in the world, just behind boxer Canelo Álvarez’s $365 million contract. There has never been a better time in the United States to be a professional athlete. In the NFL, the salary cap for 2019 is set at $188.2 million, which is an increase of 53 percent in the last decade. In the NBA, the salary cap increased nearly 80 percent in the last decade and is nearing $100 million. The NHL salary cap has seen a relatively smaller change, increasing by 40 percent in the last decade to $79.5 million. The MLB has seen an increase too, but the impact of that increase means less due to the difference between the MLB and the other sports mentioned. What makes baseball different from the others is that it doesn’t have a true salary cap. Instead, there is a luxury tax threshold. The NBA also has a luxury tax, but the MLB’s system has far fewer limitations. If a team exceeds the threshold, which was $197 million this past year, they are taxed a percentage of that. For example, the New York Yankees, who have exceeded the threshold every year since 2003, paid 50 percent more for every dollar they spent over $197 million last year. In short, MLB teams can spend however much they want on players as long as they’re willing to pay the luxury tax. The freedom of MLB teams is just one reason why MLB players get larger contracts than hockey, basketball and football players. Another key reason is that MLB players have the ability to sign long-term contracts. NHL players are limited to eight-year contracts at the most, and NBA players can only sign for six years at a time. The NFL currently has no limit to the duration of a player contract, but it would be foolish for a team to sign a player for an extended period of time. Due to the high injury risk in the NFL, contracts only become riskier the longer they get. In terms of overall dollar amount, the top eight largest sports contracts in the U.S. are MLB contracts; the ninth largest is James Harden’s $228 million NBA contract. While it’s not uncommon for NBA and NFL contracts to be worth more annual money than MLB contracts, it’s unrealistic to think we’ll ever see any NBA, NFL or NHL contract surpass the size of MLB contracts, barring any major changes to the format of those leagues. The good news for all professional athletes is the market is going to continue to grow. Given the increasing popularity of the NBA, we could see an NBA contract hit the $300 million mark in the next decade. The fact of the matter is that the world, including the United States, is in love with sports. As the market increases, so does the size of the contracts. Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are a sign that the contracts are only going to get larger.
break for a total of seven games.
Baseball
A weather affected weekend for the Bison saw the team drop two of three games against Northern Colorado. In the opening game, NDSU opened a lead through the middle innings, with the exclamation point coming on Carter Thompson’s solo home run in the fifth. But Northern Colorado scored in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to tie the game. A walk-off single in the ninth won the game 7-6 for the Bears. The opening game of a Friday doubleheader of seven inning games went the way of the hosts again. The Bison got the first lead of the game in the third with Jake Malec scoring on an error. That turned out to be the only run for the Bison. The Bears tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth and another in the sixth for the 3-1 win.
The finale brought out the fireworks, as both teams saw the bats light up. NDSU opened the scoring again, with Peter Brookshaw plating Bennett Hostetler with a double before scoring on a Brock Anderson single. Northern Colorado scored three in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Another Brookshaw double scored Hostetler, and Hunter Koep drove in Brookshaw two batters later in the third to give the Bison the lead again. NDSU added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and two more in the sixth on throwing errors. NDSU made it 11 runs with three more in the seventh. Hostetler’s RBI single came two hitters before Alex Abercrombie’s triple to round out the scoring. NDSU is scheduled to travel to Mississippi Valley State for a fourgame series next weekend.
11
THE SPECTRUM | Sports | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019
Bison secure No. 4 seed, split final week Shahid saves momentum heading into postseason Taylor Schloemer Sports Editor
Locked in at the No. 4 seed for the Summit League Tournament, the North Dakota State men’s basketball team looked for momentum to close out the regular season. Vinnie Shahid made sure the Bison escaped Purdue Fort Wayne with a win with a lastsecond 3-pointer to give the Bison a 69-66 victory. The two sides, separated by just a single game in the standings, played that way in the opening 17 minutes. Neither team was able to build more than a four-point lead in the early goings. NDSU put together the first big run of the game at the tail end of the opening half. Cameron Hunter and Jordan Horn each connected on 3-pointers, and Sam Griesel scored four of his 10 first-half points as the Bison stretched out to a 44-33 halftime lead with a 10-0 run. However, if there is one thing that should worry the Bison heading into the postseason, it will be losing leads in the second half. The bug bit again, but it could have been worse for the traveling Bison. The Mastodons couldn’t muster points coming out of the break, but John Konchar got the scoring going for the home team after four minutes of scoreless play. Jared Samuelson and Shahid hit consecutive 3-pointers to push the Bison up 57-44. That gap was all but erased four minutes later as the Mastodons’ offense hit an 11-0 run. NDSU responded again with Samuelson sinking a 3-pointer and Tyson Ward completing a 3-point play from the foul line. Konchar’s tip-in pulled the ‘Dons to within two. Jarred Godfrey hit two free throws with under 12 seconds remaining to tie the game. Shahid ended the game in regulation, pulling up and making a 3-pointer from the right wing with under a second to play. The junior finished with 8 points on a balanced scoring night
BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
Tyson Ward hit a career-high 28 points against South Dakota. for the Bison. Ward led the scorers with 11, and Hunter and Griesel each finished with 10. The Purdue Fort Wayne win was a good bounce back for the Bison following a midweek loss to South Dakota. NDSU led for a majority of the game, but the Coyotes came back to win 75-65. The Bison jumped right out of the gate, storming to a 9-0 lead. The Coyotes chipped away at the gap and took their first lead of the night midway through the first half. Tyree Eady hit from behind the arc, and Deng Geu and Ward each hit a pair from the charity stripe to restore the Bison’s ninepoint lead. USD got back to within a possession before the end of the half. Tyson Ward dropped
four straight points out of the break to give the Bison an eight-point lead, but that was the beginning of the end for NDSU. A 9-0 run by USD gave the Coyotes the lead. Ward responded with a 3-pointer, but then USD outscored their guests 37-20 the rest of the way. Ward finished with a career-high 28 points on the night on 8 of 13 shooting. The junior was the only Bison to shoot over 50 percent from the field. NDSU shot just under 30 percent in the second half and 29 percent from the 3-point line the whole game. The Bison men head into Sioux Falls for the Summit League Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will face Oral Roberts Sunday night. NDSU beat the Golden Eagles in both meetings this season.
Stick steps up at the Combine Former Bison quarterback’s stock rises in Indy Still, “arm talent,” a favorite buzzword among media analysts, will still be a point of derision for Stick. Fortunately for the winningest quarterback in FCS history, there is an ocean of tape that dispels this notion. Some of the most memorable moments of Stick’s Bison career came through the air, including two 50-plusyard touchdown passes to Darrius Shepherd in the 2017 and 2018 national championship games. In his senior season, Stick made a handful of procaliber throws in virtually every game. A key area for improvement for Stick will be in his velocity and timing. Some of Stick’s passes lacked the same pace out of the hand that Stidham was able to showcase. Additionally, it was clear that Stick was out of sync with unfamiliar receivers, which is common at the event. Stick’s last chance to impress scouts will come at the pro day, where he’ll have the benefit of throwing to familiar receivers such as Shepherd and Dallas Freeman. Being the center of attention will also afford Stick much needed repetitions to show off his proverbial arm talent in front of what ought to be a crowd of at least 20 NFL teams. Outside of Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock, franchise-altering talent is in short supply in the 2019 quarterback class. This year’s crop of passers projects to be full of career backups. It’s the sort of role Stick is likely to find in the NFL.
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BRITTANY HOFMANN | THE SPECTRUM
After a positive showing at the NFL Combine, Stick’s stock should continue to rise among front offices. Stick’s highlights are littered with both designed and improvised runs, as well as evidence of a deep understanding of a pro-style offense. These are arguably his two best attributes and impossible to evaluate in drills. As more scouts get the chance to evaluate Stick’s footage, they’ll come to learn what most Bison fans already know: even though Stick developed in the shadow of Carson Wentz, he’s a top-tier quarterback in his own right.
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The Spectrum | North
Dakota State University | MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019