NDSU Spectrum | Oct 17, 2013

THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 2013

VOLUME 117 ISSUE 14

The

Spectrum

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FOR THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE

in the name of green space students weigh in on fate of churchill field

page 3

churchill hall

family lifecenter

EastPatio

dinanhall

memorialunion

IMAGE COURTESY | GOOGLE EARTH

equity & diversity center coat drive

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Pedestrians on campus

BISON Travel to So. Illinois

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News

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The Spectrum

MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM

Coat drive donations can be delivered to the Alba Bales House from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Keeping Students Warm and Cozy

Equity & Diversity Center coat drive kicks off Stacey Ann Schulte Staff Writer

The NDSU Equity and Diversity Center is kicking off its annual coat drive and is requesting that students, faculty and staff donate gently used winter coats, boots, hats or mittens.

Regina Ranney, the diversity program coordinator, said there is a developing need

for many students to equip themselves with winter gear for the North Dakota winters.

“One concern [is] that many of our students may not have transportation to be able to go out and get a coat,” Ranney said. “The more coats we can get, the more choices students have, and our area of need is really for coats which are appropriate for our… winters.”

Students who demonstrate a need for food or clothing assistance for themselves or the dependent children can contact the EDC for this service. Its focus is student based and to support the diversity of those on campus.

“Many of our students who come from

MTV True Life Casting Project Casting volunteers wanted for MTV’s “True Life” Co-News Editor

-Look between the ages of 16 and 28.

-Jealously between each other’s body types.

-Mentally and romantically distant because uncomfortable in their body.

-Afraid of going out in public, over what people may think.

-Eating in secret to avoid judgment.

These are just a couple of examples that MTV True Life is looking for between couples in a mixed-weight relationship. And if

MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM

someone comes to mind, get in touch with MTV and become a casting volunteer.

Each volunteer will get the opportunity to gain experience in television production and casting, which can be a great opportunity for any communication major.

Opportunities abound to connect with people, such as through face-to-face contact, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.

There are endless chances to discover the perfect characters for the episode.

While gaining experience, volunteers have no time commitment, make their own hours and can help from home. Casting directors provide all the information needed to get the project rolling.

If MTV casts a lead that the volunteer sends in, the name of the volunteer’s name will appear in the end credits. He or she will also receive an IMDB credit, which is an online database on information to films, television and video games. This opportunity may serve as a resume-builder for communication majors or anyone who is interested.

“We do not have a set deadline for the casting helper project,” Aguilera said. “We are looking for leads as soon as possible and are actively following up with any leads that we get in. We are yet to lock down our final couple, so there is still a chance to find someone for the show.”

If interested, email studentcastinghelper@gmail.com giving a name, phone number and an appropriate contact time.

For more information, contact Aguilera at (212) 846-2361.

that holistically approaches student learning, growth and development,” said Malika Carter, a graduate student in Human Development and Family Science.

With the support of Niskanen Apartments’ hall government, they purchased a freezer so the pantry can accept freezable food items. Cereal, canned goods, peanut butter and noodles are popular items.

Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the EDC in the Alba Bales House behind Ceres Hall. For those who cannot deliver donations, call 701-231-5728 and arrangements will be made to pick up donated items.

North Dakota Boasts Lowest Unemplyment Rate in the Nation Students still unsure of post-graduate job opportunities

Lexus LaMotte MTV’s documentary series ‘True Life’ is looking for short term casting volunteers to bring in the next great True Life characters.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to work directly with the casting director and producers to find casting leads for the new episode, True Life: I’m in a Mixed-Weight Relationship.

“The episode deals with couples who have relationship-threatening conflicts due to a huge difference in body weight,” said Carlo Aguilera, Associate Producer of MTV True Life.

Communication majors received a listserv email in which Aguilera wrote an informative message in hopes of getting students to help. Kelly Paynter, communication department academic assistant, said that MTV’s True Life producer, David Abelson, contacted her directly on the casting project.

“We posted ads on Craigslist and contacted a few colleges to find some people to help us with our casting search,” Abelson said.

The ad posted by MTV gave an informative view on exactly what they were looking for between couples.

warm winter climates are simply unable to purchase winter outerwear at home and cannot afford to purchase these items here,” Ranney said.

In past years, faculty, staff, students and organizations such as NDSU Bookstore, Churches United for the Homeless and United Campus Ministries collected enough coats to serve more than 200 students.

In 2010 the EDC expanded the coatdrive program to include an ongoing food and clothing pantry, housed on the third floor of their building.

“Since its inception, the Equity and Diversity Center has supported an ethic of care

Stacey Ann Schulte Staff Writer

From a young age, people pose the stereotypical question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers tend to consist of things like: astronaut, firefighter, soldier, doctor and rock star.

As one gains in experience and years, those answers may change. Rarely does the student consider future job placement.

Rather, it is assumed the coveted bachelors’, master’s or doctorate degree will result in gainful employment.

According to Michael Ziesch of Job Service North Dakota, unemployment in North Dakota is at a record-setting rate compared to that of other states. At 2.7 percent versus a 7.3 percent national average, it is clear that the state’s economy is strong. The question becomes, “How does that impact the student, lecturer or graduate?”

Building a resume may be at its prime right now in the state of North Dakota.

Along with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, Forbes named it this year’s second best state for business and careers, bringing North Dakota up one spot from last year. However, some are skeptical.

Ranae Arneson of the Fargo Moorhead Human Resources Association stated, “Low unemployment rates, while a significant measuring stick of a healthy economy, cause problems in that it becomes harder to fill entry-level jobs. As growth occurs, it becomes an issue of supply and demand.”

Of the 500 NDSU students polled by Hospitality Management students at random in the Memorial Union, 86 percent indicated that they hoped they would be able to obtain jobs in their field after graduation. Mean-

while, 34 percent of the respondents indicated they were becoming aware their employment opportunities were not disclosed upon selecting a major.

Jeff Roy, a 2010 NDSU alumnus (M.S. Natural Resources Management), confirmed that while the low unemployment rate has not directly affected his post-graduate employment status, he believes there is oversaturation in the job market.

“Graduates compromise a lot,” he said.

“I was always told that you were able to select your job when you graduated. What I found is that you accept positions that are available, regardless of job function, standard hours or benefits.”

Samantha Eidenschink, a junior in public relations and advertising, said she believes almost all the graduates she has spoken with are still looking for jobs.

“It gives false hope to the students still enrolled,” she explained.

Trailing right behind the state of Virginia, NDSU’s home state boasts a 3.7 percent job growth rate as well as the third best economic growth rate in the nation. Forbes credited the booming oil industry to North Dakota’s strong economy.

The Bakken shale formation is where the oil is produced. It sits mostly in western North Dakota and has led to strong growth in employment and record low unemployment in its core area. Called the “Bakken Effect,” it has resulted in low unemployment rates in counties more than 100 miles away from the oil producing area, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Allison Pillar, a junior in new media and web design, advises caution.

“I also think it’s a distraction from the fact that the oil won’t last forever and people may have jobs, but maybe not sustaining ones,” she said.

Continued on page 3

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Good for you . . . Good for your community!

Flu season is here. Getting a flu shot early is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and others.

FLU SHOT CLINIC Thursday, October 24 9:30 am—3:30 pm Prairie Rose Room, MU

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Open to all NDSU students, staff and faculty.

Check or cash (exact amount appreciated).

Student charge may be billed to student account.

Student Health Service

He works to stop disease at the source.

Dr. Guy Palmer relies on his graduate student research assistants to help him diagnose emerging diseases in animals and prevent them from being passed to humans.

You can be involved in innovative research at WSU, too. More than 70% of our graduate students receive teaching, research, or staff assistantships, which can include a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a monthly salary.

Washington State University offers 67 master’s and 46 doctoral degree programs.

gradschool.wsu.edu

Students Weigh in on Fate of Churchill Field Lisa Marchand

Head News Editor

Students weighed in on the future of NDSU’s largest academic building that will partially encompass Churchill Field and the east patio of the Memorial Union. Through the online survey, the majority of students made it clear that as much green space as possible must be conserved.

The student body approved the newest Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics building last year, but its permanent location was chosen last month. The decision came down to two sites: the engineering pay lot or the east side of the MU and part of Churchill Field.

Student government originally opted for the pay lot, but administration overrode the decision and chose to build on the other site.

Robert Kringler, the executive commissioner of governmental relations and intercollegiate affairs, said he realized the issue was one that students felt passionately about. In order to gain better insight into how the student body felt about the potential loss of green space, he and his committee created an online survey.

“I talked with my commission members and we decided that we needed to pull some student data together to give [administration and the architects] some actual numbers to work with to influence the layout of the building on Churchill Field,” he said.

Of the 927 students who completed the online survey, 40 percent chose “10 percent or less” as an acceptable loss of Churchill Field’s green space. Options ranged from 10 percent to 90 percent loss. Kringler explained that they did not include an option for 0 percent loss of green space, because it is not realistic.

The majority of students saw Churchill Field’s purpose as natural green space, while a space for recreation came in at a close second.

Students also rated how important the area is to their college experience. 36 percent felt it is “very important,” while 13 percent were at the opposite side of the spectrum and chose “not important at all.”

Students who took the survey were able to leave additional comments to make their case. Responses were mixed. Some expressed the importance of constructing the STEM building as a way to advance the university.

“If NDSU is serious about becoming a top STEM university, then they should not worry about a space that is only used by a tiny fraction of the students less than half of the year,” one student wrote. “There are plenty of other green spaces in and around NDSU that serve the same purpose.”

Others felt that taking away any green space is unacceptable.

“I do not think this is a good space for a new building,” another student said.

“Space is very limited on campus, but [Churchill Field] is one of the few large areas on campus that still has a lot of greenery and should not just be thrown away,” Erik Diederich, vice president of student government and a construction management major, represents the student body on the STEM Building Advisory Committee. He, like the majority of student government, chose the pay lot site as his first choice.

“We always want to take concrete before we take any green space, because there’s just so limited green space on campus,” Diederich said.

“The decision has been made and now we need to compromise and work with [administration].”

Administration, he said, has been extremely helpful in moving forward with the Churchill Field location. Administration and the STEM Building Advisory Committee agreed to hire a local landscape architecture firm, Land Elements, to ensure maximum utilization of the space.

Diederich said that he feels the architects will “revolutionize Churchill Field.” This firm worked with NDSU previously on the landscaping at Barry Hall.

Diederich’s committee and administration are also teaming up with Zerr Berg Architects of Fargo and BWBR Architects of St. Paul, Minn. BWBR specializes in several arenas of architecture including education buildings.

Diederich said the architects were pleased with the survey results.

“This was putting the numbers behind the voice,” Diederich said, “and it gives the whole discussion a lot more value.”

NDSU’s STEM Building will be the largest academic building on campus between 110,000 and 115,000 square feet. The building will be strictly for academic purposes; there will be no departmental offices. Plans are not finalized for an exact amount of classroom facilities, but the building will also include a computer lab and designated study areas.

“We’re calling the [Memorial] Union the ‘living room of the STEM Building,’” Diederich said.

“You’ll go into the STEM building and go to class and then when it comes to study groups, you’ll either choose a room in the STEM building or move into the Union and kind of harness the services that the Union provides.”

Diederich explained that although attaining a 10 percent loss of green space may be unlikely, the space will be better utilized and the people behind the project are doing their best to conserve as much of Churchill Field as possible. They plan to remove the concrete wall on the east side of Churchill Field and move the trees toward the boulevard, opening up a larger area for recreation and activities.

Construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2014, and the building should be open for the fall 2016 semester.

Unemployment from page 2 One thing remains clear.

It is important students understand they must do their homework and research opportunities as well as the risks associated with their chosen fields.

With student loan debt skyrocketing, post-graduate employment will become

increasingly important. According to Arneson, it is not unusual for students to develop relationships with companies early through employment or internships and carry those on through graduation and beyond. She believes the focus will shift over time.

“The bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma,” she said. “Students will find that in order to advance, they will either need to put more time and energy into building work skills or building that academic resume.”

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Features

THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 2013

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‘Tis the Season - Flu Season What to do to prevent and treat the flu Mercedes Pitzer

Contributing Writer

With the flu season beginning with full force, it is a good idea to know how to prevent and treat it. While there are the standard precautions such as the flu vaccine or washing one’s hands, there are also others that college students seem to forget.

One of which, is sleep. This may be difficult for students, especially with midterms upon us, but it is important to get the recommended eight hours every night.

Holly Behlke, a junior majoring in criminal justice and management communication, said sleep is a necessity.

“I love sleep,” Behlke said. ‘It helps me stay healthy. If I don’t get eight hours a night, I make sure I find time to take a nap the next day.”

Not only is sleep often forgotten, but taking antiviral medications are too.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention affirms that this is a successful form of treatment, especially for those that begin taking them within the first two days of exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Antiviral medications are prescription

drugs that come in various forms such as pills and liquid. These particular medications can make the illness milder and can shorten the time one is sick.

A physician at your local health center can prescribe these antiviral medicines if they feel they are appropriate.

Although these lesser-known precautions of the flu may be important to keep in mind, the flu shot is the most significant form of prevention.

On the Wallman Wellness Center website, it states that the safe and effective flu vaccine is the best defense from getting the flu. The vaccine is the best defense because it is made of a form of the killed flu virus, in which case, cannot give you the flu, but can prevent it.

Due to the virus changing each year, the vaccine changes as well. This is why it is important to get the vaccination annually.

This year, a flu shot clinic will offer vaccinations to NDSU students, staff and faculty for $20. The clinic will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Prairie Rose Room in the Memorial Union.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the flu, visit the Student Health Service Center located in the Wellness Center off 18th Street North and Centennial Boulevard.

The staff is friendly and visits are free.

Together, we can make this a healthy semester by taking first step and getting the flu vaccination.

Savvy Shopper

Clothes$$

Stephanie Stanislao | Features Editor

For some, shopping is just a necessity, while for others it is a hobby—a time to indulge in a little “retail therapy.”

Shopping can be a blast to fill up your closet with new duds…well, at least until you look at your bank account and realize that you may have racked up a good chunk of change just on buying clothes.

But, you don’t have to go into shock every time you go on a shopping spree. No, there are ways to save money while adding to your wardrobe.

Follow these helpful tips and you will be well on your way to huge savings during your next shopping trip.

B-line for the clearance section. Just because you want to spend less on clothes, does not mean that you have to buy clothes that are of poorer quality. Many, if not most, clothing stores have a designated space in their store for clearance items. Before venturing out into the full-priced areas of the store, head straight back to the clearance section and see what you might find there

$

first.

Buy second-hand. You know what they say: “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure.” Consignment stores are full of great clothing finds. Most consignment stores usually only take gently used clothing and accessories, so a lot of what you will see at these shops are like-new.

Give your closet a facelift. It can be fun to get new clothes, but more often than not, our closets get overlooked. Go through your clothes and see how you can re-invent your wardrobe. You might be surprised at how many outfits you can put together and refashion to fit your fashion wants and desires.

Invest. It can be tempting to always buy clothing on sale at already reasonably priced stores. However, sometimes it is better to invest in a few signature pieces that are of excellent quality, even if they are a bit more costly. Because, if you wear these pieces, such as boots or outerwear, frequently you are going to want them to last longer and not wear out as quickly.

Fargo-Moorhead Foodie

Caution: Pop’s Roadside Eatery may make your head spin Emily Imdieke

Contributing Writer

MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM

The Spectrum

| for the students

BISON BITS

Upon adventuring into the great outdoors of Fargo late one school evening, a friend and I decided to try something new. We chose to hit up Mom’s Diner, or Pop’s Roadside Eatery or Tailgators Sports Cafe… I couldn’t figure out exactly where we were eating. I think we were dining at Mom’s? Wait, no, it definitely wasn’t that one…maybe Pop’s? I’m still slightly confused as to where I actually ate.

This conglomerate of restaurants is united in a large building that I have passed by many a time on my drive down Main Street.

I have always questioned its existence and was finally prepared to try it out for the first time and with high expectations. My conclusive feelings are that I am still confused.

If I understand this business, (which I really am not claiming I do) Tailgators, Pop’s, and Mom’s are all located in one building.

At Tailgators, you have to be 21 to enter, so I assume it’s mainly a bar (but these are also things that you can never really figure out when trying to eat out with people who are under 21).

On the other side of the building there is Mom’s and Pop’s, for which there is one door that you enter Mom’s and then also have the option to continue on through a doorway into Pop’s.

While Mom’s looks like your typical roadside diner, you know, kind of looks like your grandma’s house, Pop’s is actu-

ally themed somewhat like a garage with the most noticeable characteristic being the license plates that spackled the walls. Although it didn’t seem like they put too much effort in the design, they did have TVs at almost every booth, which appeared to be entertaining to the regulars who didn’t look like they planned on leaving anytime soon...

We ended up finding our spot in the Pop’s section of the eatery, ordering Mom’s onion rings, a Cajun chicken pita and a breakfast burger…from some kitchen located in the building or another (evidently all three restaurants also share kitchens, so you can decide where you want your food from. Maybe? Sort of? Where were we eating at again?)

The food was of the average diner quality—good but not anything out of this world.

I was impressed by their pitas though, since many restaurants do not carry such items…unless they are the Pita Pit or Extreme Pita, who do not carry anything else.

The onion rings were also battered in the store, giving them a slightly fresher quality that, to be honest, I can’t really taste in onion rings anyways. They’re deep fried, and they taste like deep-fried food, that is all.

As a final comment, I only saw one waitress in the building the entire time. I mean, they weren’t that busy, but there were quite a few awkward moments where I was waiting impatiently—due to hunger of course—for service to arrive. Not to mention, I think I asked her relatively normal restaurant questions that seemed to confuse her about what food they actually served there.

So, I don’t know if I made this clear, but as to not confuse you, this eating experience was really confusing for me. I don’t like being confused… I really don’t like being confused.

If anything the food was good, but nothing really it made it an experience that I would like to go through again.

0.5/5 Stars

What is your most embarrassing childhood Halloween costume?

Eugene Lee Junior Landscape Architecture

Carson Christy Sophomore Mechanical Engineering

Fletcher Nelson Senior Elementary Education

Michaela Hedglin Freshman Architecture

Olivia Vogt Freshman University Studies

“When I was five I was one of those ventriloquist dummies for Halloween.”

“I was a purple dinosaur when I was six.”

“I was a piece of licorice.”

“I only remember being Annie the ragdoll when I was four.”

“I was never really embarrassed about my costumes, I was always enthusiastic about the holiday.”

THE SPECTRUM | FEATURES | THURS, OCT. 17, 2013

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6 THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 2013

Arts & Entertainment

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The Spectrum

Common Courtesy: Album Review They’re right back at it again Nolan Alber

Contributing Writer

Hailing from Ocala, Fla., A Day to Remember is a band that’s gained recognition for its unusual blend of the hard rock and melodic pop-punk genres. Consisting of Jeremy McKinnon (vocals), Neil Westfall and Kevin Skaff (guitars), Josh Woodard (bass) and Alex Shelnutt (drums), the band has been playing since 2003.

Their unique musical style has helped them gain a massive fan base and put out four studio albums (the last of which came in 2010). Engaged in a tough legal battle with its label, the band had kept its newest album, Common Courtesy, under wraps for months.

Even under these circumstances, A Day to Remember has used its struggles to create its most dynamic and meaningful album to date.

I, along with thousands of other ravenous fans, had been anticipating Common Courtesy’s release since its first single, “Violence (Enough is Enough),” dropped last December. Queuing up the album on release date, I had my fingers crossed it would meet my expectations. Within the first two tracks, I was already blown away.

Coming out with pure energy, the opening “City of Ocala” starts with a driving guitar and wastes no time in cutting to a catchy, melodic verse. Jeremy McKinnon boasts powerful and well-written lyrics with a voice that has matured to impressive levels.

The song seamlessly integrates with the beginning of “Right Back at it Again,” where McKinnon screams an emphatic “We’re coming out swingin’!” Drawing heavily from its pop-punk roots, the track

delivers exciting hooks that don’t stop until a climactic breakdown in the final seconds.

While A Day to Remember has sought a larger focus on their pop sound in recent years, they are still a band based on scream vocals and harsh guitar play. “Dead and Buried,” “Violence,” and “Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way” hearken back to some of their earliest work.

Dark lyrics parallel all three guitars’ blaring and cynical tones, punctuated by Shelnutt’s skillful fills and accents. They’re tossed in sporadically throughout the album, and (brilliantly) catch the listener unaware before the sound gets too light-hearted. It’s a little disappointing that the album doesn’t get much heavier than these select tracks, but it’s a problem that’s easy to overlook as the minutes go by.

At times, Common Courtesy can be strictly experimental. “The End of Me” and “I Surrender” are two of the best examples where A Day to Remember alters its sound to fit a distinct style. For the record, this is not a bad thing. The songs pull influences from a handful of new genres like emo, alternative and even pure pop, showing the band’s versatility under any context.

“I’m Already Gone” is a big change of pace and is the kind of acoustic track that takes the world by storm, populating YouTube and Facebook feeds for weeks.

Both lyrically and instrumentally, Common Courtesy is the band’s best-written effort. Fully understanding the themes and meanings of most tracks would take knowledge of the album’s and the band’s complicated histories. However, those who are unfamiliar with either aren’t left in the dark.

The song “The Document Speaks for Itself” is a not-so-subtle protest about A Day to Remember’s lawsuit with its label, Victory Records. With an artful use of diction, though, the song is vague enough to encompass any type of relationship. You’d swear McKinnon had written about a crazy ex or

a bad friendship if you didn’t know the specific background of the track.

“Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometimes You’re the Nail” pleases the ear with smooth transitions between heavy breakdowns, radio-friendly melodies, soft chords, a powerful bridge and emotional screams.

From beginning to end, the album feels sincere.

Although it’s minor, it’s worth noting different commentary-esque additions to multiple tracks on the album. Rather than go for clean recordings, A Day to Remember tacks on different background noises from studio development. For example, “Sometimes You’re the Hammer, Sometimes You’re the Nail” begins with a low-quality sample of a jam session, where the band first formulates the melody of the track.

“I Remember,” the grand finale of Com-

SUBMITTED PHOTO | THE SPECTRUM

mon Courtesy, ends with five minutes of reminiscing, telling funny stories and looking back at who they used to be. Some might criticize the use of these recordings, but I feel it adds to the overall tone and character of the album.

No matter if you’re a metal-head or pop star, casual fan or diehard who’s stuck with the band from the beginning—there’s something for everyone to enjoy on Common Courtesy.

While A Day to Remember is far from the heaviest it has been, that doesn’t mean its newest release is something that can be put off. Some tracks left me with nostalgia, some with a feeling of warmth and some kept me banging my head for days on end.

Even if you don’t purchase the album, I recommend scrubbing through some tracks.

Trust me, you will find something to love.

‘Handing Down the Names’ Succeeds as Season Starter Jack Dura

Staff Writer

As the premiere production of the Little Country Theatre’s centennial season, expectations were high for “Handing Down the Names.” This unpublished play by Steven Dietz won out http://www.ndsu.edu/ finearts/NS-images/theatre/940-Names.jpg last week as a terrific starter to the season with a story many Fargo-Moorhead residents can connect to.

Following the fictional Dorn family through the centuries and across the world, “Handing Down the Names” documents the various plights that many Germans from Russia experienced in the 1700s and 1900s onstage.

It all begins with a widowed mother-tobe and her brother-in-law marrying for the sake of her unborn child in 1766. Deciding to pull up stakes and relocate to the Saratov region of Russia with many of their coun-

trymen, husband and wife brave land, sea and the elements in hope of a better life.

These hardships that play out onstage— death of children, familial separation, war—

Promised new land and many other perks

represent the worst of what many Germans

by the imperious Catherine the Great, the

from Russia faced when leaving their coun-

Germans from Russia flowed into the Sara-

try.

tov area, only to be dealt extreme hardships

Families were indeed separated, and

upon arrival. Our heroes the Dorns lose one

yes, many never saw their loved ones again.

of their own and must struggle through their

Mothers and their children did indeed die

first Russian winter totally unfamiliar with

during childbirth. Husbands and wives were

their new surroundings.

ripped apart during the days of the Russian

Time, however, has a funny way of mov-

Revolution. Above all, that glimmer of hope

ing on, and the timeline jumps ahead to

that so many families clung to was often-

1907, when the fourth-degree descendants

times the only thing they had in coming so

of the first Dorns uproot and immigrate to

far and losing so much along the way.

America.

These experiences all materialize in

It is here where hardship hits the heavi-

“Handing Down the Names,” a play whose

est, as difficulties in leaving the country, sur-

cast is to be commended for handling the

viving on the boat and entering the United

raw realities that take place onstage. Many

States clobber the ever-hopeful Dorn family.

Germans from Russia settled in and around

They endure three deaths and a separation

North Dakota, and many area residents can

before arriving at their final destination—

claim such people as their ancestors. See-

farmland outside of Windsor, Colorado.

ing situations their ancestors experienced

PHOTO CREDIT | NDSU DIVISION OF FINE ARTS

play out onstage will make any descendant heartily appreciate the strength of those who came before them.

“Handing Down the Names” continues its run at Askanase Auditorium from 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 to 19 and 2 p.m. Oct. 20. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for non-NDSU students and $5 for NDSU students and are available online at ndsu.edu/ finearts and by phone at 231-7969.

The Spectrum| we’ve got it covered

7

THE SPECTRUM | A&E | THURS, OCT. 17, 2013

‘Call of Duty’/’World of Warcraft’ Publisher Goes Independent Yeah, it’s technically an indie developer now Steven Strom A&E Editor

Activision Blizzard, video game publishing’s juggernaut, has finally purchased itself from its parent company, Vivendi Universal.

Activision Blizzard is a titan of the games industry. The publisher holds the reins of “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft,” and “Skylanders” as well as any number of licensed products from Spider-Man to James Bond.

Next year, the company will be releasing Destiny— the first multi-platform game from developer Bungie since “Halo.” Activision Blizzard’s economic impact and importance to the video game industry is undeniable, no matter how you may feel about its games or practices.

The publisher surprised the industry in announcing a bid to buy 249 million of its stock market shares for $8.17 billion in July.

Unfortunately for the company, and the investment group including

SUBMITTED PHOTO | THE SPECTRUM

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and Chairman Brian Kelly, the bid was halted by lawsuits from unhappy shareholders. One of those investors was Douglas M. Hayes, who took issue with the buyout, as it would “unjustly enrich Kelly, Kotick and the other participants.”

The plan worked, for a time, as the Delaware Chancery Court issued a preliminary injunction in response to the lawsuits, halting progress on the publisher’s bid for independence.

Kotick will not be denied, however, as just a few months later (i.e. just a few weeks ago) the Delaware Supreme Court lifted the injunction. On Oct. 13, Activision Blizzard purchased its independence with 429 million shares, while the investment group snagged 172 million (or just about 24.7

percent stake) of the company.

Vivendi Universal isn’t completely out of the game, however, as it holds just about 83 million shares, or about 12 percent of the overall publisher.

Kotick is quite optimistic about the buyout, saying the company’s developers will benefit from a newfound “focused commitment to the creation of great games,” which is a bit like the hyenas saying Pride Rock will be a whole lot better without Scar mucking things up.

Still, some members of the games press have expressed cautious optimism about the newly independent publisher (that’s right, technically speaking, one of the world’s largest and most profitable publishers and development houses have gone indie).

The idea here is that Kotick and the new regime will allow Activision Blizzard’s internal developers more creative leeway, now that they’re out from under the yoke of Vivdendi. Given the company’s track record of mercilessly gobbling up and shuttering subsidiaries, however, that seems unlikely.

It’s likely we’ll continue to see a handful of enormous-budget, high-selling blockbusters like the upcoming “Call of Duty: Ghosts” scheduled for later this year.

Of course, there’s always the chance I’ll be pleasantly surprised, and in this case I would hardly mind being proven wrong about a game company’s intentions for the industry—especially one with the resources to spare like Activision Blizzard.

Bits and Pieces of Family Life Unfold in ‘The Dining Room’ Jack Dura

Staff Writer

Familial experiences are explored in the FargoMoorhead Community Theatre’s current production of “The Dining Room.”

A high-mannered dramedy, this play analyzes 50 years of situations centered in the dining rooms of the white Anglo-Saxon Protestants— the WASPs—of New England.

In two acts and two hours, “The Dining Room” glimpses the 1930s through the early 1980s, and in no particular order. Each momentary vignette lasts for generally five to seven minutes and captures conversations in a multitude of premises at the same spot—the old family dining room.

Six cast members present these scenes, which range from a young woman typing away at her term pa-

per in the ’70s to two people discussing their extramarital affair at the woman’s daughter’s birthday party in the ’50s.

Other scenes include a son home for the weekend from Yale, barely missing his mother and uncle romancing each other at teatime; a sick grade-schooler quizzing the maid on her future; a father planning retaliations for an incident at the country club; and two high-schoolers breaking into the liquor cabinet.

Many moments were realistic. Some were very relatable. Take for instance the Thanksgiving meal at the end of Act One. Three brothers attempt to aid their senile mother in remembering, but she is stuck in her girlhood years. This vignette portrayed all too well the painful affliction of dementia and the lengths loved ones will go to in trying to help.

One other scene audi-

ences will appreciate is the vignette of the carpenter and the divorcee. Called to inspect a beloved old table, the carpenter finds himself mutually infatuated with his newly divorced client while crawling around under the table together. A second chance at love was left open to the audience when the two agreed to work on repairing the old table as a team, ending what could very well be a scene from a budding love story.

In fact, many scenes from “The Dining Room” could take on lives of their own in other productions. Several seemed like snapshots of other plays, previews almost.

On the other hand, others were not, and were mined purely for a laugh or a short reflection. A scene between a psychiatrist and an architect illustrates the former perfectly.

Another aspect of this production to admire is the

one recurring character that ties everything together. A servant appearing at a breakfast in the ‘30s retires following her last dinner party in 1982, and this is just wonderful.

“The Dining Room” has no other recurring characters.

All six actors have multiple roles, but this seemingly insignificant servant proves the most important in the end.

She wraps up the experiences of “The Dining Room” very well, and in a play with a myriad of scenes like this, that tiny tie to two parts of the show is most appreciated indeed.

“The Dining Room” continues its run at The Stage at Island Park 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 to 19 and 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at 333 4th St. S. Advanced tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $6 for children and are available at the box office and by phone at 701-235-6778.

The Spectrum

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8 THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 2013

Opinion

NDSUSPECTRUM.COM

The Spectrum

Walk Much?

Caleb Werness

Contributing Writer

I remember as a little kid being told to look both ways before crossing the street. Why? So you don’t get hit by a car! It seems to be common sense you would think. Although, after spending time on the NDSU campus, I see that it might not be as common as we think.

Over the last few weeks as I walked to class I have watched people walk around campus. I imagine it has to be frustrating as a driver when people are not willing to let you make a turn when you are already halfway into the intersection. I know pedestrians have the right of way, but that does not excuse one to be selfish and rude.

I watched people walk right across Centennial without so much as glancing in either direction. Now, I understand that people are in a hurry to get to class and some people have to get across campus in ten minutes to their next class. Yet, I do not see why some people just refuse to pause for a moment and let a vehicle pass by.

I like to think that at NDSU, we as stu-

MATAYA ARMSTRONG | THE SPECTRUM

dents, as people, are kind and thoughtful

behind you.

were young that paying thoughtful acts for-

toward our fellow Bison. By taking a few

So, fellow NDSU students, I challenge

ward is something to strive for. So I ask us to

seconds to let a car pass so they are not stuck

you. Next time you are heading to class or

do that. Simply do a selfless act for someone.

waiting for the next cluster of people to pass.

back to an apartment or the residence halls,

After all, it is not a hard task. To me, it is the

take a moment to let a vehicle pass by or

same as holding a door open for the person

make a turn. We all were taught when we

Caleb is a sophomore majoring in English.

Let’s Do Away With Columbus Day Glad to Feel Vulnerable Again Nathan Stottler Spectrum Staff

In case you missed it, our nation observed Columbus Day this past Monday. Though we didn’t get out of class, Columbus Day is still observed by most banks, state governments and a good portion of the federal government.

It wasn’t until I came to college that I really realized who Christopher Columbus was. I had gone through elementary and high school trusting to my instructors that he was the original European discoverer of the “New World.” I had believed that his voyage proved to the Europeans that the world was round when many thought it was flat.

Yet when I began to study the founding of European settlement in the Americas, I came to know the real Christopher Columbus. A man that was perhaps the third to discover the New World—a millennium and a half after the Native Americans and about five centuries after the Vikings.

I learned that he was, to put it mildly, a real jerk. He met the native villagers who greeted him and his men with kindness and abundant hospitality. He returned the favor by establishing a government to rule them, by selling them into slavery, by founding a culture of sex trading among his men and by spreading rampant disease.

He not only destroyed the culture of the natives on the islands he visited in the Bahamas, but he inadvertently destroyed cultures across the western hemisphere and, at the same time, established the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

These last two are less-known facts about Columbus, but they are important parts of his legacy nonetheless. The smallpox disease that the Spaniards brought with them to the New World wreaked havoc among native populations. It spread like a wildfire and had a horrible mortality rate. From the Caribbean it moved north into the central plains of North America, and south into the Amazon Rainforest and Andes Mountains of South America.

By the time white explorers finally reached these regions, the populations they found there were decimated. Some experts

estimate that only around 20 percent of Native Americans survived to see their lands settled by Europeans, all because of smallpox. There were—at one point—millions of natives inhabiting the western hemisphere, and white explorers never saw the full extent of these cultures because the smallpox came before them.

At the same time, Columbus’ greed for gold transformed politics across the globe.

The massive amounts of precious metals he found in the Caribbean and shipped back to Spain saturated the gold markets of Europe and caused the gold industry of the Gold Coast of Africa to collapse. When Europeans in Africa could no longer make money on gold, they turned to capturing Africans and enslaving them—the beginning of the transAtlantic slave trade.

So why is it that we dedicate a whole day to the remembrance of Christopher Columbus? A hiccough in the annals of history, perhaps, is the best explanation. Historians in the 18th and 19th century began to place undue credit on Columbus and his voyage and his spot in history. Over the centuries they began to gloss over the nastier facts of his voyage, until we get to where we are today.

Our elementary school teachers are still telling their seven- and eight- and nine-yearold students that Columbus was the first to discover the new world, that he taught the world the earth is round and that he is some kind of hero worthy of his own day off.

I find this appalling. There are four states in the U.S. that refuse to observe Columbus Day—Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii (observes Discovery Day, marking discovery of the Hawaiian Islands) and South Dakota (observes Native American Day.) There are also a number of cities across the U.S. that have replaced Columbus Day with days observing Native Americans, including Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Sebastopol C.A. I think that the United States needs to follow in the suit of these cities and states.

Christopher Columbus, though he may have been no more than a product of his times, is not a figure worthy of remembrance, unless it is to teach our children how not to behave.

Nathan is a senior majoring in landscape architecture. Follow him on twitter @ nwstottler.

Samantha Wickramasinghe Opinion Editor

Usually on Saturday afternoons I go out to do grocery shopping. Likewise, on the last weekend after shopping at Hornbacher’s, I was waiting in front of the New Horizon Manor building on Broadway. I was carrying my school backpack, which was filled with grocery items, and I also had one more plastic bag, which I held by my hand.

I was waiting for the bus, but I was not sure whether it had been already left or not.

I was feeling a little impatient. The only thing that gave me hope was the sight of another person who was driving an electric wheelchair in an awkward manner. He was pushing the joystick of his wheel chair back and forth, which made him go round in circles on the sidewalk. He must have been in his mid twenties, if I had assumed correctly.

As I closely observed him I noticed that he was suffering from some sort of a physical deformity.

I asked him whether he knew the bus would come or not. He waited for a moment, looked at me and made a grunting noise, which sounded like a yes. I felt relieved.

I assumed that he must have been waiting for the bus too. As I observed him more and more, I saw the severity of his illness, and I was struck by the feeling that it could happen to anyone including myself. Maybe I was overthinking or I was being hypersensitive, as somebody would argue. But I felt that I, too, was susceptible to death, sickness and decay.

In life there are moments where we feel everything around us is surreal and incomprehensible. I was feeling the same. I was questioning why this man had to live that way. I did not understand why suffering has to exist in the world. I did not understand why I was carrying a bag full of groceries, and I did not understand where I was going.

Was I going home? Okay after that where will I go? I felt that my life halted for a moment at that bus stop.

This chain of thoughts was broken as I saw the bus coming toward me from a dis-

tance. The person on the wheelchair wiggled at me as if he wanted to say, “It’s better you waited for the bus.” I smiled with him and held the plastic bag firmly as the bus finally stopped.

The bus driver asked me to get in at first and then he assisted the person who was on the wheelchair. The wheelchair came into the bus successfully after a few failed attempts; the bus driver buckled it and asked the person whether he wanted to wear seat belt. As an answer for that question the person took something that looked like a white board, which had the entire English alphabet along with numbers from one 1 to 10.

I realized this person had speech imparities, which made it difficult for him to speak.

He first pointed at one and then five. The bus driver was confused. I assumed that he was asking for bus number 15. I said loudly to the bus driver that this person must have been looking for bus number 15. The driver went back to his seat and radioed something to the GTC. The person quickly looked at me with gratitude.

I was questioning myself whether I was sympathizing him. I did not want to look at him with sympathy. Nor I did want to compare his suffering to any other kind of suffering and think this one was better and this one was worse. I realized that I have helped him in some way, and I just realized that I have to be much more sensitive to people like him.

Before this incident, I have been so busy with my college and my life, and I was focused so much on my own sufferings. But after this incident, I felt vulnerable again, and I embraced that beautiful feeling. I realized that life could change in a minute. I was feeling a great sense of freedom. I felt I should always try to speak kindly to people and try to become a better person in life without taking this moment for granted.

In life, there are these little insignificant moments that move us. We should not let them be random incidents. I did not let that moment get lost in my past. I wrote it down and kept it closer to my heart, and I shared it with you readers.

Samantha is a senior majoring in Journalism.

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9

THE SPECTRUM | OPINION | THURS, OCT. 17, 2013

Praise for Parallels in ‘Handing Down the Names’ Jack Dura

Staff Writer

As The Spectrum’s theater reporter, I have seen a ton of plays, musicals and other onstage shenanigans since I signed on a year ago. I’ve previewed and reviewed many productions, but a play I recently saw really resonated me—Theatre NDSU’s “Handing Down the Names.”

This play follows a family of Germans from Russia and the various hardships they endured in their lifetimes, ranging from familial separation, death of children and wartime experiences.

In a nutshell, this was show was fantastic.

This is because it was based on real experiences, and, living in an area that was the final destination for many Germans from Russia, audience members could connect to it. I did.

My great-grandmother Barbara Gette was born in

1908 in the village of Semenovka near Saratov in Russia. Her parents, Andrew Gette and Elizabeth Koenig, had six children together, five of which were born in Russia.

In 1913, my great-greatgrandfather left for America from the port of Hamburg with his brother. He left behind his pregnant wife and four children under 10 years old. I have no doubt in my mind that the plan Andrew Gette had was to save enough money and send for his family as soon as he could, presumably within a year or two. It didn’t quite happen like that.

Instead, the Gette family was separated for eleven years with an immense expanse of ocean and earth between them. War hit Russia in 1917, and Semenovka was literally caught in the crossfire.

The Gettes were a rather affluent family in their region of Russia, owning the

oil and flourmills and some large tracts of farmland.

They maintained winter and summer homes and kept servants.

By 1918 the Gettes were living in a shack, subsisting on potatoes and the trash that my great-grandmother’s brother John stole from the concentration camp he escaped from.

During this time, a widespread famine coincided with the war, and Anne and Catherine, my great-grandmother’s oldest sisters, died in the spring of 1918. They gave their meager amounts of food to their younger sisters Barbara and Betty so they would not starve to death as well.

Meanwhile, in America, Andrew Gette had saved the money for boat tickets for his family, and sent it to his wife. It never reached her.

He had saved three thousand dollars.

He started saving again, and finally sent the tick-

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ets, which reached his wife through a family friend. Following John’s escape from the concentration camp, Elizabeth and her surviving children escaped their war-torn village on a night in 1922.

Here the family story gets a little foggy. I believe they lived at a seaside town in Latvia for two years before boarding the S.S. Estonia in September 1924. The voyage was very rough, but they arrived safely at Ellis Island. However, they were detained for a few days for reasons unknown.

It was at a train station

in Thief River Falls that the family was reunited with Andrew again. Now just imagine that reunion. Just imagine not seeing your father or your husband for over 11 years, and with so much having happened in the time between: war, famine, the death of children, the loss of one’s home and journeying thousands of miles to an entirely new land.

I know all of this because I have researched my family tree. I’ve interviewed countless relatives about our ancestors’ lives in Russia, and the stories that have been told are incredible. You can’t

make up a story like the one the Gettes lived. Truth is truly stranger than fiction.

The hardship, the struggles, the sheer uncertainty of what lay ahead for them—it was all paralleled in “Handing Down the Names.” I’ve always held a strong appreciation for my Gette ancestors but after seeing this show play out such raw realisms experienced by the Germans from Russia, I even more so salute the strength of my Gette ancestors, and I commend Theatre NDSU for choosing this play for its centennial season.

How to Fall in Love with a Research Paper Nolan Alber

Contributing Writer

There is a seven-word statement that makes almost any school student—high school or college—shiver with fear: “It’s time to begin our research paper.”

They’re long. They’re hard.

And they take hours of yawn-worthy reading. But what if I told you it didn’t have to be that way?

There isn’t some kind of sorcery to a good and interesting research paper and I’m writing this article not to preach about the obvious, one “secret” to write great papers that instructors have been telling their students about. “Dawn of time is to choose an interesting topic, and it makes research more fun,” they’ll always say.

Every time these advices are brought up, students roll their eyes. They have heard them too many times to count, and they have never once been beneficial to their papers. I have a bit of different advice, I’ll tell you even though and it’ll sound absolutely nuts.

First, brainstorm every topic you can think of... and I mean everything: dogs, “Star Wars” and hip surgery. Sure, but none of those are very creative. Try something more elaborate, like “Why Chihuahuas are a national icon for spoiled rich women,” or “How ‘Star Wars’ is a metaphor for making a sandwich,” or “Hip replacements are contributing to a socialistic government.” Eventually you’ll come up with an idea that will catch everyone’s eye, but your instructor will surely reject it.

Great! Then you finally have the perfect topic to write about. When it comes to writing papers, I have noticed a huge misconception among students. They seem to think that because it’s something they’re handing in, its topic needs to be as dry as the Sahara desert

and as boring as a Sunday sermon.

So often, people write what they think their teacher wants to hear. This is a great approach if you have no personality and/or soul. If you break out of that shell, though, and prove to your instructor that you can make a great and unusual paper, I’d be willing to bet he or she will give it the green light.

In high school, I wrote two research papers (one my junior year and another as a senior) and it was the first time I had used the strategy above. We spent several weeks researching our topics, filling over 250 note cards with facts and sources and finally writing an eightpage-long (single-spaced!) paper. It was tough, but I actually enjoyed doing it.

The topic for my junior year was a little unorthodox. How do you think my teacher responded when I came up and told him, “Mr. Teacher, my topic is ‘Why a zombie apocalypse is plausible in today’s society’? I’ll tell you how he responded: He loved it.

Research was tough (the library sadly lists all zombie books under fiction) but in the end, I found everything I needed to write the paper.

But more importantly, I learned mounds of undead trivia I could now dump on my friends. When all was said and done, Mr. Teacher handed me back a perfect paper.

Honestly, though, it was just a one-off thing, right? It would be tough to top that topic when I started my senior paper. But I went up to Mr. Teacher the next year and told him my topic was going to be, “Why ‘South Park’ is a prime example of American satire,” He couldn’t say no.

For those unfamiliar with the show, “South Park” is an adult cartoon riddled with profanity, crude humor, racism, sexism and just

about everything else that people could find offensive.

I sought to defend the finer points of the show, praising its criticisms of topical issues and creative use of four-letter words.

In hindsight, it was a brilliant topic for a research paper.

While everyone else was reading old, dusty books, which were four-feet thick and filled with boring information on tuberculosis, horses and the study of Mexican delicacies, I was watching a cartoon about 10-year-olds swearing at each other.

After three weeks of this, guess who was universally hated by his English classmates?

Granted, it did require some legitimate research on studies, topical events and popular opinions. As time went on, though, I genuinely started to see how valuable South Park is as a satire.

While doing a peer review, one of my classmates who hated South Park with a passion, came up to me and explained how I opened his eyes to the show’s satirical efforts.

By the time grades rolled out, as you’ve probably already guessed, I proudly gloated over another A+. In high school, I was that weird kid who liked writing papers. I enjoyed the research.

I enjoyed taking notes. I enjoyed writing it. But most of all, I enjoyed the first few days, when we’d do nothing but brainstorm topics.

I’ve retained a ton of the information from these papers. The topic was something I actually wanted to learn about, and not just a formality. Maybe the real secret to writing well is to take a step back from the assignment, consider your options and then choose the most ridiculous choice possible. It worked for me, did it not?

Nolan is a freshman majoring in English.

10

Sports

THURSDAY, OCT. 17, 2013

NDSUSPECTRUM.COM

The Spectrum

NDSU’s Brock Jensen (16) is coming off a huge game against Missouri State, in which he had over 300 passing yards and three touchdowns. He will look to continue his hot streak Saturday when the Bison visit Southern Illinois.

WHITNEY STRAMER | THE SPECTRUM

Bison Prepare to Hold Off Upset

Southern Illinois poses as a dark horse in Missouri Valley Colton Pool Staff Writer

Now coming off a win in its homecoming, No. 1-ranked NDSU will be looking to tarnish another.

The Bison are scheduled to go on the road to Carbondale, Ill., to take on Southern Illinois 2 p.m. Saturday in the Salukis’ homecoming game.

Even though SIU isn’t a ranked opponent, SIU is far from a team to overlook, NDSU head coach Craig Bohl said.

“They’re playing well right now,” Bohl said. “They came up with a big win over Northern Iowa.”

Two weeks ago, the Green and Gold rode the sound waves of the Fargodome to beat top-10 UNI with a 14-point fourth quarter comeback. The Salukis, on the other hand, had to go to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to take on the Panthers and won by a touchdown in

overtime.

Bohl said the win showed many people what SIU is capable of.

“They’re playing with a great deal of confidence right now,” Bohl said. “They’ve beaten a couple of real good teams. To win the way they did in Cedar Falls was very impressive.”

While the Bison (6-0, 3-0 MVFC) won 41-26 against Missouri State, the Herd had

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR #19 Kory Faulkner, Sr. qB 1724 yds, 17 tds passing, 179 yds 2 tds rushing #31 Malcom Agnew, jr. rb 529 yds, 2 tds rushing #4 Mycole Pruitt, JR. TE 506 yds, 4 tds receiving #9 Bryan Presume, SR. LB 71 tackles, 8 tfls, 3 sacks, 1 int, 1 ff difficulties with MSU’s 3-4 defense—the same style of defense the Salukis run.

Bohl said SIU (4-3, 2-1) runs a slightly different kind of 3-4, with the down lineman having more mobility than MSU’s.

“They put a lot of guys up at the line of scrimmage and play a lot of man-to-man

Volleyball Swept by Western Illinois Corrie Dunshee

Contributing Writer

The NDSU volleyball team dropped a 3-0 sweep to Western Illinois on Sunday at Western Hall in Macomb, Ill. The set scores were 25-20, 25-15 and 25-20.

In the first set, the Bison took a 5-0 dominant lead over WIU, and later held a 16-14 lead. However, WIU came back with an 11-4 run to take the first set victory.

WIU then took a 2-0 set lead after hitting .379 in the second set to gain 25-15 victory.

The third set gave the Bison one last lead with a score of 5-4 over WIU before they pulled away with a 25-20 win.

Sophomore outside hitter Jenni Fass-

defense,” Bohl said. “That’s been their philosophy for a lot of years.”

While many players were limited to the sidelines or injured during the game, Bohl said most players will be good to go this week.

Starters Carlton Littlejohn and Marcus Williams will both be ready to play against SIU. Williams, who fractured his hand, will need to wear additional protection during

bender had 14 kills in the match, while freshman Emily Miron had three solo blocks and freshman libero Emily Milligan had 16 digs. WUI’s Samantha Fournier led her team with 12 kills in the match.

NDSU’s attack percentage was .107 compared to WIU’s .252.

The Bison are now 1-17 on the season and 1-4 in Summit League play. Western Illinois is 9-11 on the season and 3-2 in Summit League play.

The Bison volleyball team will return home this weekend for two Summit League matches in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.

Fort Wayne will be the opponent at 7 p.m.

Friday and IUPUI will be the opponent at 7 p.m. Saturday.

the game.

“Marcus will be ready to go,” Bohl said.

“He’ll have a little bit of a casting on his hand, but his thigh bruise is fine.”

The Salukis, with dual-threat Kory Faulkner at quarterback, poses problems for the Bison defense, Bohl said.

Faulkner has gone for 1,727 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air and 179 yards and two scores on the ground this season.

“I think he’s a great field general,” Bohl said of Faulkner. “He makes really good decisions, is fairly mobile, takes care of the football and has got a good arm.”

However, the Bison also have a proven leader under center.

Despite lacking a run game from NDSU, which is known for being hard to stop on a consistent basis, Brock Jensen had a career day against MSU with 313 yards through the air and three touchdowns.

Since the Salukis run the same style of defense as MSU—which shutdown the Bison running game and is known for giving the Bison headaches—Bohl said his team may need to rely on the passing game once again.

While it’s not his normal style of play calling, Bohl said Jensen’s production has come at a good time.

“I think we’re throwing the ball better now than we did a couple years ago, and that certainly showed up last week,” Bohl said.

“I think that’s certainly going to help us.”

Women’s Golf Finishes Fifth to End Fall Schedule Sam Herder Sports Editor

The NDSU women’s golf team finished its fall schedule on a high note in terms of school history. The Bison’s 922 was the third best 54-hole score in school history that placed them fifth in the Missouri State Payne Stewart Memorial at the Rivercut Golf Course.

Rare enough, four of the NDSU golfers finished with a 16-over-par 23. Sarah Storandt, Abby Weller, Cassie Wurm and Alex Schmid all finished tied for 21st place.

Hailey Boner rounded out the scoring tied at 35th with a 236.

Out of the 17 competing teams, NDSU

was fourth after one round of play on Monday. The second round scheduled for later that day was suspended due to darkness and resumed on Tuesday.

Led by Storandt’s 74 and Weller and Boner both knotting a 76, the Bison shot a 303 in the opening round. Schmid’s and Wurm’s 77 and 80 rounded out the scoring for NDSU, respectively.

The Bison trailed third place Southern Illinois by 3 strokes heading into Tuesday. But the Bison were unable to close the gap and Missouri State slipped by NDSU with a final score of 914.

Oral Roberts finished on top with an 891, Wichita State was second with a 905 and Southern Illinois remained in third with a final score of 910.

Bison Soccer Wins Thriller Taylor Kurth

Contributing Writer

Overtime and Bison soccer are starting to become intertwined. They went to an extra frame for the second time in as many games on Sunday. At 2-1 in Summit League play (6-7 overall), the Bison defeated the winless South Dakota Coyotes 1-0.

In what was a defensive stalwart all day long, the Bison finally scored the lone goal of the day 93 minutes after the clock had started. The Bison and Coyotes were frustrated all day long by the respective defenses and goalkeepers.

As the clock ticked down to zero minutes

with neither team leading, the Bison probably felt like they had been there before.

Well, they had. On Friday, just two days earlier, they entered overtime against Omaha knotted at one. On Sunday they entered overtime knotted at zero.

Lauren Miller ended Friday’s game with a goal eight minutes into the extra frame.

Apparently, that was too much of extra time, because on Sunday, Miller showed her clutch gene again. This time by scoring the game winner after just three minutes of time passing.

Miller took a pass from Amy Yang about 10 yards from the goal, made a move left and then right to create a gap between her and the two defenders, before reaching for

the top shelf. Her reach was just out of goalie Mackenzie Viktor’s reach. As the ball fluttered down the back of the net, Miller was stormed by her teammates for the second time in three days.

It seems the Bison have found the recipe for winning: don’t let the other team score more than them, take them to overtime and get Lauren Miller the ball.

“It was an unbelievable finish,” NDSU head coach Mark Cook said. “This team dug down deep and got the result and that’s what we wanted.”

The Bison moved to 7-7 overall and 3-1 in Summit League play and Coach Cook was very proud of moving to .500.

“Right now to get to .500 is a great ac-

complishment for this group, we had a tough early season schedule and we’re playing some really good soccer right now,” Cook said.

Lauren Miller scored three goals on the weekend to move to seven on the year and that now leads the team. Those seven goals are also tied for second overall in Summit League play.

The Bison will be back on the field going for their third win in a row against conference and border rival South Dakota State at 6 p.m. Saturday in Brookings, S.D. With a Bison win, that would put them all alone in second place in the Summit League Conference as well as giving them the head to head tie breaker over SDSU.

THE SPECTRUM | SPORTS | THURS, OCT. 17, 2013

11

A Lecture for NDSU Fans might be the safest bet in Vegas. With NDSU getting past the toughest part of its schedule unfazed, you’d be a fool to bet against the Herd. But even with all the confidence in the world for their undefeated team, NDSU fans portray critical disappointment because the Bison aren’t meeting their expectations on how the team should be playing.

After each victory, the flaws and mishaps are pointed out, analyzed and critiqued. Never mind the quarterback threw over 300 yards for a career high, the team only won by 15. Never mind the team defeated a No. 4 ranked conference rival, the offense looked stale and ineffective in the first half.

When did Bison fans turn from undying support and praise to critics and pessimistic outlooks?

Once Brock Jensen threw his pick-six against Missouri State last weekend, many Bison fans were brought back to last year and his midseason turnover spree.

“We can’t keep winning if Brock throws these passes.”

Did you ever think that Jensen’s arm was hit as he

Countering the faithful’s unjustified complaints Sam Herder Sports Editor

Talk of the sky-high expectations surrounding the NDSU football team and if they are justified is a topic that’s been brought up as of late. Many think the thought of expectations being too high is pure poppycock, considering the Bison are two-time defending FCS national champions and only lost three starters from last year.

Others, like myself, think the expectations for the team have become too demanding.

While Bison fans haven’t been shy to voice their unimpressed opinions, I haven’t been too impressed with the fans’ performance of their own.

First, the expectations for the Bison to go undefeated and win another title

threw? Or that he has thrown 12 touchdowns compared to four interceptions so far this year?

“Why aren’t we blowing out these middle-of-the-conference teams? We can’t let them stick around.”

Did you ever think that the Bison had five wins last year that were within a touchdown or less? Or that the gap between the top and bottom of the Missouri Valley Football Conference is significantly narrower than any other FCS conference?

“But these slows starts to the game could spell trouble down the road.”

Did you ever think that this team is built for the fourth quarter? The West Coast Offense isn’t going to razzle and dazzle opponents. It’s going to wear opponents down until the team is in complete control entering the final stanza. When the Bison are up by 10 after the third quarter, but hold a 27-minute to 18-minute time of possession advantage, that shows they have firm control of the game.

“Against No. 4 Northern Iowa, the biggest opponent of the year, our offense struggled and our run game was nowhere to be found in the first half.”

Did you ever think that the Panthers hold opponents to 137 yards on the ground on average? Or that on average, opponents only score 15.8 points per game against UNI? And the Bison rushed for 160 yards while scoring 24 points. Or did you think that scoring 14 fourth quarter points against a No. 4 team is pretty impressive?

Even the best players are being targets of criticism as if they are a segment on First Take.

“If Marcus Williams keeps playing like he is, his draft stock is for sure going to go down. He has regressed as a player.”

Did you ever think that maybe NFL scouts will take a harder look at how he performs at the Combine? That his lifts, times and drill performances alongside other pro hopefuls will mean more than his battles with FCS receivers? And as for his play on the field, he still has a presence that takes away half the field. In a pass-happy game, you’re going to get beat every once in a while.

I understand the recent string of success is making BisoNation ride on a high right now, but let’s cool it with the annoying fan complaining that usually comes

with any professional team.

Heck, even when “College GameDay” came to town, fans weren’t satisfied with the location decision.

If Samantha Ponder popped out of your birthday cake, are you going to complain about the type of candles on the cake? Come on.

And while everyone is enjoying being kings of the FCS, why do some need to be a buzz kill and say it’s time to move up to FBS? “We’ve done what we needed to do in this league.

We’ve outgrown it and it’s time to play with the big boys.”

Did you ever think that half the 2011 recruiting is going to a different school or playing basketball at the Wellness Center because they’re not on the team anymore? Yes, the Bison are dominating this year and even bring back a core of starters next year, but two years from now, no one even knows who the next big playmakers are. It might be back to a 3-8 rebuilding year. Kind of like 2009. We didn’t forget, did we?

I’m even seeing students leaving the game after the first quarter. I sat in the student section during the UNI game and couldn’t believe

what I was hearing.

“You want to go back to the keg and just watch the game on TV?” Did you ever think that you’re being spoiled with the presence of the best football team in NDSU history and an FCS dynasty in the making? Next year at this time, Bison fans may be wishing to relive the 2013 season.

I realize fans will be fans.

But I miss when NDSU fans would cheer and high-five each other after wins instead of shaking their heads because the performance wasn’t as crisp as they wanted. I miss when fans would say, “undefeated, let’s keep it rolling” instead of “if we play like that again, we won’t be undefeated much longer.”

The Bison are heavy favorites to three-peat as national champions. Expectations may be higher than a Wiz Khalifa tour bus, but maybe some ought to begin enjoying instead of complaining.

Because hey, at least you’re not an Appalachian State fan; the last FCS team to three-peat that is currently 1-5 in its first year in the FBS transition.

possible four playoff games again this season, Jensen still has time to get better.

He’s already become the general of the offense that is as numb as David Ortiz during big moments. This is what sets him apart from any quarterback BisoNation has ever seen. Jensen’s uncanny ability to bring the team back from any deficit in any environment has been a spectacle to watch. Rolling out of the pocket to keep plays alive and being more than willing to tuck the ball and run for a first down is a skill only a handful of quar-

terbacks play with.

The Jensen-era has been a special one and with only a handful of games remaining in his career, I urge Bison fans not to take it for granted. Students: Don’t leave the game early because you never know what will happen next. Bison diehards: Stop comparing him to Steve Walker or Kevin Feeney.

Jensen is a step above the rest and we should be thankful to have watched the career of one of the greatest ever.

Jensen the Great Joe Kerlin Staff Writer

The Bison quarterback position has seen some great talent throughout the years, and with that storied history comes great expectations.

But what exactly are those expectations?

National championships are obviously the ultimate goal and for Brock Jensen; he has been darn good at doing just that. But it’s how he has been accomplishing these feats that have got me thinking he is making the

leap into greatness in front of our eyes.

Before the season, Brock Jensen was a very good quarterback with a skill set that was unique compared to what Bison fans have seen in the past. He doesn’t quite have the wheels like Jeff Bentrim, who ran for 2,945 yards in his career, or Chris Simdorn, who ran for 3,313 and ranks fourth among alltime leading rushers in Bison history.

But Jensen hasn’t been exactly lighting it up through the air throughout his career either.

Jensen played 30 games between the 2011 and 2012 season and passed for over

2,300 each year. Currently, he is 145 yards away from breaking Steve Walker’s school record of 7,033 career passing yards, a record that will most likely fall this week against Southern Illinois.

Numbers don’t tell the entire story. If he stays healthy, Jensen will have played in the most games ever by a Bison quarterback.

Jensen has made the leap to elite quarterback and when it is all said and done, will be the greatest quarterback to wear green and gold. This elite group is something Bison fans always thought Jensen could accomplish, but there have

been doubts along the way.

His two three-interception games back-to-back last season comes to mind, and this was really a time where people were questioning if Jensen had the ability to take over the game with his arm.

These questions were answered last week when Jensen threw for a careerhigh 313 yards in a threetouchdown performance against Missouri State.

Jensen’s maturation into becoming an elite quarterback has been a joy for Bison fans everywhere to marvel at. It’s his world, and we’re living in it right now.

With five regular season games remaining and a

Throwback Thursday Freshman

Senior

#5

No. 12 Vilanova

at No.25 New Hampshire

Cal Poly

at No.10 Montana

No.2 Sam Houston St. No.5 Florida St. at No.9 McNeese St. at No. 3 Clemson

(NFL) Minnesota at New York Giants

26

Colton Pool

Sacramento at North Dakota

26

Stephanie Stanislao

Indiana St. at Illinois St.

23

Joe Kerlin

at Southern Illinois

Football Pick’em

28

Travis Jones

Sam Herder

No. 1 NDSU

Total Points

ratings as of 10/14

28

12

THE SPECTRUM | NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | THURS, OCT. 17, 2013

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