February 21, 2019

Cordially invites you to join us inside for our 2019

Wedding Guide THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2019

A glance into Yoruba marriage ceremonies Page 2

Taboo & turmoil: history of same-sex marriage Page 5

2 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Find all your wedding needs at A to Z Rental

STEVEN JOHN NDIKUM STAFF WRITER The A to Z Rental Center in Mankato was opened in April 1968 by Agnes & Harry Kullberg & their nephew Bill.

Located at 1428 N Riverfront Drive, they are open from Monday to Sunday. Their entire inventory fit into the building that now houses their showroom. They began with a few assets and made a legacy which lives till date.

Most often, before walking to the altar and accepting each other for better and worst, it comes with the memories and hardship you both went through. A to Z Rental Center is one of the more familiar rental shop in the Mankato

Photo courtesy of Mankato Bridal Show

community which facilitates the happenings of such reunions. Moreover, their services are also extended to assist families with events decors and rental services for any festive purpose. Since 1968, they are enormously known for garages sales, and

weddings facilitative services.

It’s always a good endeavor not to only sell but to foster proper use of what is bought.

They go further to plan, design and attribute colors which match the event.

A to Z also considers the weather condition of its

geographical premises, making sure the materials they provide are weather friendly and appropriate for their customers. Furthermore, A to Z Rental offers one of the most extensive and comprehensive inventories in southern Minnesota.

Diversity is not simply a box to be checked; rather, it is an approach to business that unites ethical management and high performance. A to Z is one of the companies in Mankato which deals with diversification. They are not only limited to put smiles on faces and events, but they are also engineers and technicians. Since 2003, A to Z has been an ASV Track Loader dealer. Their services are also extended to ASV track loaders for rental and sales. A to Z Rental has been selling, renting and repairing Honda Engines since 1979.

Honda has been providing the rental industry with one of the finest power plants available. The durability and longevity of Honda Engines in this field is unmatched.

Since 1979 A to Z Rental has been independently owned and operated without expanding its roots to other territories.

A glance into traditional Yoruba marriage ceremonies involved come together and start the wedding planning.

The groom’s family sets out a date when they would go visit the bride’s family. This initial visit, called “the introduction”, takes place at the bride’s family’s designated location.

This is a sign of honor and respect to the family. On this day, the groom and his family come with lots of food stuffs as a sign of seriousness. Once with the bride’s family, they make their intentions known on wanting to make the bride their daughter. When the bride’s family agrees, a mini-celebration occurs and

OLUWATOMIKE BALI STAFF WRITER In the today’s world, there is vast variety of different cultures and traditions people believe in and practice.

Marriage is a very important component that is affected by culture and traditions.

Marriage is a legal recognized union between two people as partners in a personal relationship. With different cultures coming together, a “different” marriage is celebrated. In this article, I will be taking you on a journey to experience one of Nigeria’s cultural marriage celebration.

Nigeria is located in West Africa. Over 250 languages are spoken

Photo courtesy of Zumi

in Nigeria; Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and English being the main languages. The Yorubas are from the western part of Nigeria and one of the biggest celebrations that

goes on in a typical Yoruba household is the marriage celebration.

Once a couple involved in a personal relationship agree to get married, the families

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YORUBA PAGE 4

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Thursday, February 21, 2019

2019 Wedding Guide

MSU Reporter • 3

Wedding Guide Verizon Center to host annual Mankato Bridal Show Media sponsors of the event are Minnesota 93 Radio and Hot 96.7 with show sponsors including JMH Photography and Memorable Moments by KW. Any and all couples hoping to have the wedding of a lifetime should come to the event for expert planning and vendor options for this special event that happens only twice a year.

MICHAEL MCSHANE STAFF WRITER Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but Mankato has not yet finished with the merry making.

Southern Minnesota couples will still have an opportunity to get ready for the biggest day of their lives Sunday, Feb. at the Verizon Center for Mankato’s biannual bridal show.

The event, organized

by Courtney Werpy, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and finish by 1 p.m. and will allow couples planning their wedding the opportunity to meet and find vendors that best fit their idea of their perfect wedding.

The event is free admission and will include live music as well as other bands coming to audition for any potential couple’s wedding.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

There will be over 50 vendor booths throughout the event that will cater to around five to 800 couples estimated to come to the event. A full list of vendors is on the Mankato Bridal Show website which is subject to change.

Some of the many vendors that will be at the bridal show are Najwa’s Catering, Mankato Golf Club and Unique Touch Photography.

The first 300 attendees will be able to go home

with a free “swag bag”.

Couples registering for Sunday’s event will also be able to win one of five grand prizes which could be a DJ Package which includes a four-hour DJ service valued at $500-$1,250 Honeymoon voucher.

Other amenities at the event include a free mimosa for attending brides and grooms, hor d’oeuvres provided by Najwa’s Catering, and a free redcarpet photo taken by JMH Photography.

Becky's Floral & Gift Shoppe

719 S. Front St. • Mankato

507-345-7800

www.beckysfloral.com

4 • MSU Reporter

News

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Social & Behavioral Sciences Career Fair full of oppurtunities

JOSHUA SCHUETZ STAFF WRITER Bernie Sanders recently announced his candidacy in the 2020 presidential election.

It was an unsurprising announcement, especially given his near success in the Democratic primary during the 2016 election.

What his candidacy, and the elections of other progressives such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have in common is that they demonstrate the extent to which democratic socialism has become mainstream in American politics.

Socialism was once the death knell of candidacy. No politician in their right mind wanted to be associated with socialism, linked as it was to communism. The Republican Party used the term as an attack on former President Barack Obama.

Now, however, candidates who accept and even embrace the label have either won elections outright or have come close to doing so.

Democratic socialism in America, generally speaking, has two broad forms. The first, represented by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, is closer to social democracy as practiced in Norway and many other Scandinavian countries.

The second wing lies in organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America. This group is more radical, espousing the abolition of capitalism and the socialization of numerous industries. Rep. Ocasio-

PYNX page 5

JOSHUA SCHUETZ STAFF WRITER Graduation is on the horizon, and for many students, the job hunt is beginning. It is a scary and exciting time, full of opportunity and missed sleep.

Job hunting is tough; leads can be hard to come by, a jobseeker might have no idea what kind of career interests them or what companies are hiring. For inexperienced jobseekers, (a category which most college students fall into) it’s even harder.

That’s why the Career Development Center, along with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, sponsored a career and internship fair Tuesday. It began at 9:30 a.m., and lasted till 1 p.m. in the afternoon.

“Many of the employers here came specifically because they’re targeting social and behavioral science majors,” said Matt Carlson, an Assistant Director at the Career Development Center, who specializes in helping students in the College

Reporter Archives

of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “We have 91 tables with employers at them. We have almost two hundred recruiters here,” Mr. Carlson said.

The employers came from a diverse set of fields. Insurance companies, law-enforcement agencies, county and municipal governments, and nonprofits were all present.

Among these employers were Ameriprise Financial, the City of Minneapolis Police Department, Progressive Insurance, and the Habitat for Humanity.

“This is a great way to get

from diverse backgrounds.

For aspiring students, defining success is an important first step to achieving it. “The most important thing is to know who you are, why you’re doing this, and where you want to go. You need to start with what success would look like for you,” Carlson said.

“Everybody has a different plan, everybody has a different goal, and so if you know who you are and what you want, that’s half the battle of getting to where you want to get to.”

Letter to the editor: health insurance solutions I wish to respond to Guest Writer, Nimotallahi Quadri’s, recent article on the international student health insurance policy. It is unfortunate the writer was not aware of services available on campus regarding this policy.

Kathy Grant, Student Insurance Advocate for Student Health Services, works to be available to international students by

offering drop-in sessions each semester in addition to being available most days by appointment.

All international students should have received an email inviting them to attend a recent 2-hour session on Feb. 5 in the CSU. She also speaks at every new student orientation.

Last semester, Kathy worked with the International

Student Association to administer an international student survey on preferences for future policies.

While we would welcome suggestions or ideas, I am disappointed in the lack of investigation before this article was published. Kathy or I would be happy to further discuss the questions posed in the article to help students receive accurate information

about the health insurance policy. We would like to be part of the solution to help students be more informed of their benefits and be able to provide their feedback to seek improvements and changes in the policy. Thank you.

Wendy Schuh Director of Student Health Services Wendy.Schuh@mnsu.edu

FIND A PLACE TO RENT AT

YORUBA

Continued from page 2 the date is set for the main traditional wedding.

The traditional wedding starts off with the guest of each couple representative coming in and sitting at their allocated seats. The groom, his family and the bride’s family then make a grand entrance, dancing in as the take their seats. The marriage and acceptance letter that is written by the groom is then read by one of his friends, this follows with the groom and his friends prostrating in front of the

all of these employers in one room. You can talk to a lot of people and get a lot of work done in a very short period of time,” Carlson said.

One of the most important goals of any college career fair is to help students build and nourish relationships with employers that will translate into professional success.

“The target here is to connect and network, but the end result of that is interviews and opportunities for internships and jobs,” Carlson stated.

This wasn’t the last career fair either. There will be a future career fair for students

bride’s family asking for his wife to be released to him alongside with their blessing.

This is also a sign of honor and respect. After the groom receives the blessing, he then awaits his bride. The bride also comes dancing out with her friends dressed beautifully and veiled. She dances towards her parent and kneel to also receive their blessing, after which she receives the groom’s parents’ blessing and dances towards her husband. When she is with her husband,

M A N K AT O ' S R E N TA L L I S T I N G W E B S I T E depending on their religion, they are joined with either a Bible or a Quran. The dowry is paid, food is served and the dancing begins The Yoruba cultural wedding is one of the many ways marriage rites are performed across different cultures. In some cultures, weddings are celebrated for days with a lot of festivities, while in the western world it’s a lot simpler. It doesn’t tend to have as much as a Yoruba wedding, though it is still just as sacred.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

News

MSU Reporter • 5

Taboo and turmoil: the history of same-sex marriage

MARIA LY STAFF WRITER On June 26, 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states after a decades long battle for the fight for equality and the right to marry.

The battle all started with a law student and librarian.

Richard Baker and James McConnell applied for a marriage license in the state of Minnesota and ultimately were rejected, even bringing the case to the Supreme Court in the famous case Baker vs. Nelson.

Since this case, many LGBTQ activists fought to get the right to marry as states began banning samesex marriage with Maryland leading the way.

Many peaceful protests were done over the years such as the mass same-sex wedding ceremony where 2,000 couples pledged their vows with another 5,000 protesters participating in the mass wedding on Oct. 10, 1987 in front of the National Museum of Natural History.

Along with not being able to marry, many samesex couples were also not given the right for hospital

Photo courtesy of NY Times Pooja Mandagere, left, and Natalie Thompson outside the Supreme Court on Friday, June 26, 2015 after it ruled in favor of same-sex marriage.

visitations and right of legal guardianship of their ill partners. In 1989, things

for domestic partnerships that granted rights such as hospital visitations. Many

“Although the battle for gay marriage was won, we still have a long way to go as certain powers in government continue to threaten the well-being of LGBTQ individuals and rights.” started to change when San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed a law for unmarried couples including gay couples to file

states followed suit including New York which deemed same-sex couples that have been together for ten years or more as families.

However, the LGBTQ community’s fight for gay marriage began to face setbacks as former President Bill Clinton signed into law

the Domestic of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 that specified only heterosexual married couples could be granted federal marriage benefits.

The LGBTQ community however, began to see the light when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2010.

Soon after, many cities and counties began to protest as they issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples. Oregon county, as a protest to the state of Missouri, banned all marriage until “the states decide who can and can not wed.”

By 2015, 13 states had banned gay-marriage and over 20 countries had already legalized gay marriage such as the Netherlands in 2000 and Canada in 2005.

HISTORY page 7

PYNX

Continued from page 4 Cortez is associated with this wing, which has some representation in the Democratic Party.

What the term “socialism” means in the American context remains fuzzy, but it’s clear that the term has become

destigmatized, and is only going to become more mainstream in the future.

Whether it will be embraced by the Democratic Party as a whole remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: democratic socialism is here to stay.

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6 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 21, 2019 EMAIL THE EDITOR IN CHIEF:

DAVID BASSEY

How hookup culture may affect marriage

david.bassey@mnsu.edu OR AT reporter-editor@mnsu.edu

SPRING 2019 FALL 2015

EDITOR IN CHIEF: David Bassey .......................389-5454 EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rae Frame ............................389-5454 NEWS EDITOR: Madison Diemert ..................389-5450 NEWS EDITOR: SPORTS EDITOR: Nicole Schmidt ......................389-5450 Kevin Korbel .......................................

SPORTS EDITOR: A&E EDITOR: Luke ...........................389-5227 LucasLonien Torborg .....................................

MADISON DIEMERT NEWS EDITOR Millennials are currently in the middle of a phenomenon described by many as “hookup culture.”

A lot of this is due to dating apps, like Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, etc. and some of it has to do with social media. Because of this, hooking up with someone is accessible with a click of a button, and overall, it has been normalized.

This in turn is resulting in less long-term, committed relationships. As young people we just want what’s fastest and easiest, and dating apps are the gateway to satisfying those needs. Our generation doesn’t seem to want to put their time and energy in relationships.

If you can get that instant sexual gratification, why would you work toward a relationship? This is the thought process of many millennials, especially those in college. Of course, it’s fine if you’re not looking for a relationship, but this alludes to a larger issue.

Less people have been getting married. According

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POLICIES & INFO POLICIES & INFO

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to the Pew Research Center, the marriage rate in the U.S. for adults was 72 percent in 1960. By 1980, it was around 60 percent, and 2016 that percentage dropped down to about 50 percent of adult Americans.

Marriage has always been a big deal in western culture, but the fact that less and less people have been getting married shows that it has become less of a priority.

If you can get the same sort of satisfaction out of a hookup, why even try to put

the time in for a relationship, nevertheless marriage?

Hookup culture, it seems, is ending marriage. There are so many people I’ve met who have said they’d rather hookup with someone than get into a relationship. Their reasons were that they don’t have enough time, they don’t want to settle down with someone, and that they don’t want to have to worry about anyone else while they’re in college.

But this isn’t necessarily a problem, if you think about it.

While people are deciding to just hookup, they have more time for themselves. They can focus on their education, their potential careers, and find out what interests them.

Overall, I believe hookup culture is affecting marriage in a negative way. People have way too much on their plate to worry about a relationship, so they’d rather give in to their immediate satisfaction with dating apps. And if this is how you want to live your life, then more power to you.

“What are your thoughts on marriage?”

GEORGIA MUELKEN, BIOMED “Something I’m looking forward to in the future, but not right now.”

MOHAMMAD ALHUWAISH, MEDICAL SCIENCE “I think it’s important.”

SAM DUNCAN, NURSING & SPANISH “It’s not necessary, but if that’s your thing, then cool.”

MAT HANSON, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING “It’s an everlasting bond.”

• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made call Editorsuggestion in Chief Rae •inIfthe youReporter, have a complaint, or Frame like at 507-389-5454.

The Reporter will would to point out an error made in the correct any orDavid misspelled Reporter, callerrors Editorofinfact Chief Bassey at 507-389-5454.

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Compiled by Kolby Spomer

PATRICK NORRIS, GEOGRAPHY

LISSETTE GARZA, DENTAL HYGEINE

“I think it’s a good thing.”

“People get married eventually.”

Thursday, February 21, 2019

News

MSU Reporter • 7

HISTORY Continued from page 5 After a long headache inducing fight for gay marriage, Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan voted in favor of same-sex marriage, legalizing it across all 50 states on June 2015 and ultimately repealing DOMA. Many couples celebrated in this historic moment, with many celebrities taking to Twitter to express their extreme joy and gratitude with #LoveWins.

Former President Barack Obama tweeted, “Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else #Lovewins.”

Lesbian icon and talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres tweeted to her millions of followers, “Love won. #MarriageEquality.”

Gay pop star, Sam Smith, blew up his twitter feed to show his excitement for the Supreme Court ruling and tweeted, “ALL 50 STATES!!!!

So happy. Times are changing my friends. We have such a long way to and so…”

Reporter Archives

Many companies also took suit to express their support with Ben and Jerry’s temporarily renaming their cookie dough ice cream “I dough, I dough.”

Not all felt happiness and rainbows that day however, with many taking to social media to express their distaste of the Supreme

Court’s decision.

President Donald Trump, at the time, tweeted, “Once again the Bush appointed Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has let us down.

Jeb pushed him hard!

Remember!”

Although the battle for gay marriage was won, we still have a long way to go as

certain powers in government continue to threaten the wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals and rights.

One of these government officials being Vice President Mike Pence, who believed gay marriage signaled societal collapse and “deterioration of marriage and family” and firmly believes being gay is

a choice.

Like Pence, Trump is no kind friend to the LGBTQ community either. In an interview with The Des Moines Register, President Trump stated, “I’m not in favor of gay marriage. They should not be able to marry.”

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8 • MSU Reporter

Where to Worship

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Where to

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ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) The Beacon Center

1506 Warren St., Mankato 6:00 p.m. Chapel following our $1 supper on Thursdays

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

304 Monroe Ave., North Mankato Worship Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. & Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.

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www.r

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Where to Worship

Worship

UNITARIAN NIVERSALIST ELLOWSHIP OF MANKATO

We are a welcoming people of diverse beliefs who commit to nourish the spirit, broaden the mind, nurture the earth and build community.

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MSU Reporter • 9

10 • MSU Reporter

Thursday, February 21, 2019 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

A&E Editor Lucas Torborg

lucas.torborg@mnsu.edu

Multi-cultural Fashion Show celebrates diversity The Student Events Team bring new elements to their annual fashion show

MARIA LY STAFF WRITER

The Student Events Team at Minnesota State University, Mankato hosted their annual Multicultural Fashion Show with new special elements and a drag show Tuesday.

The vice president of the Native American Student Association, Mallory Glynn, was the MC for the night as she wore her own special Native American attire.

Walking the runway, there were fashion models representing a vast array of countries, from Ivory Coast, Nepal, Nigeria, Morocco, India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Somalia, Uganda, Japan, Ghana, and United States.

Arnavee Maltare, the Business Manager of the Student Events Team said,

Maria Ly | MSU Reporter

“I loved the clothes the models had on tonight, especially Ivory Coast. I really liked it!”

Each model had a little

story to go with their cultural clothing, with several of them wearing traditional ceremonial clothes for weddings. Some models,

however, strolled down the runway with everyday clothes from their country.

Marie Cato, one of the models walking the run-

FASHION page 12

Academy Awards reverses its decision to cut four award categories thanks to backlash

ALYSSA BUNDE STAFF WRITER

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, has reversed its decision to not air four of its award categories live after receiving copious amounts of backlash. The awards show had previously decided to cut the awards being broadcast in order to save time, according to USA Today.

Russell Crowe, upon first hearing the news, took to Twitter to show his disapproval, calling it “a fundamentally stupid decision.”

In an open letter from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) described John Bailey, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, announcing that this year’s Oscars presentations for Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Live Action Short and Makeup and Hairstyling Awards would not be broadcast live. The four awards would instead be presented during a commercial break in order to cut the shows time from four hours to three.

According to Insider, the award show received record-low ratings last year, hence the priority for a shorter telecast.

The ASC open letter continued, stating that, “since its inception, the Academy

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Awards telecast has been altered over time to keep the format fresh, but never by sacrificing the integrity

of the Academy’s original mission.”

Seth Rogen was also quoted in the letter saying,

OSCARS page 12

Thursday, February 21, 2019

A&E

MSU Reporter • 11

Cobain: Remembering an icon A look back at the star on his 52nd birthday

KOLBY SPOMER STAFF WRITER This week Kurt Cobain would have turned 52 years old. Despite tragically dying at the young age of 27, Cobain’s impact on popular culture is still felt to this very day. Artists like XXXtentacion and Travis Scott cite Nirvana as a huge influence on their lives in and outside of music.

Stores like Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic sell clothes with the groups signature smiley face to this day. The group garners around 11 million listens a month on Spotify despite only having finished two studio albums in their short run of fame. Most, if not all, of these amazing feats can be attributed to Cobain and the mystique surrounding his legacy.

Kurt Cobain, the man was best known as the lead singer of Nirvana and a voice of his generation. He would sing about his inner pain, his thoughts on society as a whole, and most importantly to him, he would make some incredibly catchy melodies.

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Kurt in many ways mirrored legends like Lennon and Marley in this way. He cared deeply for music and people, and found it to be one of the most important things in life.

However unlike these legends, Cobain did not enjoy the limelight much at all. He

would stay out of it whenever possible, and in the weeks leading up to his death discussed the idea of leaving Nirvana to start making more lowkey, acoustic tracks and collaborations with artists like Michael Stipe of R.E.M. By those closest to the tragic

Brothers in Smollett case are bodybuilders, aspiring actors

CHICAGO (AP) — An attorney representing the brothers at the center of an investigation into the attack reported by Jussie Smollett said Wednesday that her clients “manned up” and testified in front of a grand jury, before prosecutors charged the “Empire” actor with filing a false police report.

Gloria Schmidt spoke to reporters outside a Chicago courthouse where the brothers met with the grand jury, which was collecting evidence in the case. Without providing details, she said the two men accepted money from Smollett and wanted to come clean. She said they weren’t motivated by any promises from prosecutors.

“There was never a change of heart,” Schmidt said.

“There was a point where this story needed to be told, and they manned up and they said, ‘We’re gonna correct this.’ Plea deal, immunity, all of that — they don’t’

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

care about that.”

The brothers, identified by Schmidt as Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo and Olabinjo Osundairo, are of Nigerian descent. But they told a reporter at CBS2-Chicago that they were “born and raised in Chicago and are American citizens.”

They are bodybuilders who have developed an online following and have dabbled in acting and at least one

failed business venture, according to social media posts and news reports.

Abimbola Osundairo, 25, graduated from Lake View High School in Chicago, where he participated in football, track and field, soccer and wrestling, before joining the football team at Quincy University in western

SMOLLETT page 12

star, he was described as a very caring, kind person. One of his most famous quotes reflected as much. “If you’re a sexist, racist, homophobe, or basically an asshole, don’t buy this CD. I don’t care if you like me, I hate you.”

Kurt Cobain the legend

was seen as a different person, however. He is remembered more for what he believed in then how he was. Many don’t know about aspects of his life outside of him and his music. He has become more of an image than a person. For example, many people think Cobain found recreational drugs to be an okay way to deal with problems. This cannot be further from the truth, as Cobain himself has a statue erected in his hometown that contains a bittersweet message from the icon. It proclaims “Drugs are bad for you. They’ll f--- you up.”

Cobain is considered by many to be the last true rockstar. He had a reach that few other people, let alone artists, have ever gained.

Contemporary and Metallica member Lars Ulrich described it best when he said “With Kurt Cobain you felt you were connecting to the real person, not to a perception of who he was — you were not connecting to an image or a manufactured cutout. You felt that between you and him there was nothing — it was heart-to-heart.

There are very few people who have that ability”. With Kurt Cobain’s death the world lost not only a legend.

They lost a friend as well.

12 • MSU Reporter

A&E

SMOLLETT Continued from page 10

FASHION

Continued from page 10

Maria Ly | MSU Reporter

way representing Morocco said, “My favorite part was getting to walk. Walking the runway was so fun, I loved it.”

A new element in this year’s fashion show was the addition of American culture shown through Greek life on campus and drag queens.

Lydia Jagodzinski, the Speakers and Entertainment Chair for the Student Events Team, said, “I just think drag was such a cool element of the show. I think it’s a part of American culture that I don’t think people realize and it’s becoming more normalized because of RuPaul’s Drag Race. I also think having Greek life was a cool, added bonus to the show, but of course all of the international students modeling their home attire was super awesome!”

Ending the show were performances from drag queens KC Jae and Luna Muse. Jae did a stunning performance with an outfit reveal and stunning looks. Muse tore up the runway with her lip sync performance of “Kitty Girls”

by RuPaul.

Many were impressed with the drag show claiming it as the “best part of the night.”

Nidia Mariscal, a student on campus, said, “I really loved the drag show. I’ve never been to one before.

So when I saw the performance at the end. I was like, ‘Wow!’” The Multicultural Fashion Show was a success as it brought a diverse set of countries as well as a unique take on American culture onto the runway.

In the words of drag queens all over the world, the show was “sickening!”

OSCARS Continued from page 10 “what better way to celebrate achievements in film than to NOT publicly honor the people whose job it is to literally film things.”

Cinematographers, directors, actors and filmmakers all signed the letter.

Some of the more recognizable names on the petition included Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, Danny DeVito, Spike Lee and Joe Russo.

It can be assumed that the large amounts of backlash caused the Academy to reverse its previous decision. However, according to Insider, the Academy defended the decision and stated the controversy was fueled by “a chain of misinformation.”

This is not the only con-

Thursday, February 21, 2019

troversy surrounding the Academy Awards. Their planned host, Kevin Hart, stepped down from his position after homophobic tweets from years past resurfaced, according to Cosmopolitan Magazine.

The star was given the option to apologize or step down. Hart refused to apologize and instead chose the latter. The actor stated, “The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed [the homophobic tweets] several times.”

Despite the series of controversy, the Academy Awards will continue as scheduled. They will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time Sunday, Feb. 24.

Illinois, according to a football profile on the university’s website. Olabinjo Osundairo, 27, also was on the Quincy football team and had attended Latmos Comprehensive College in Lagos, Nigeria, according to his football profile.

The brothers also told a CBS2 reporter in a phone interview that they are not racist, homophobic or anti-Trump, the news station reported. Smollett, who is black and gay, told police that two masked men hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him before beating him up and throwing some kind of chemical on him the early morning of Jan. 29. He also said his attackers shouted, “This is MAGA country,” an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” and looped a rope around his neck.

The Osundairos were arrested in the case Feb. 13 at O’Hare International Airport after returning from Nigeria when police learned at least one of them worked on “Empire.” Police said they left for Nigeria on the day of the attack. But they were released after two days, when police said the “investigation had shifted” following interviews with the brothers.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office charged the 36-year-old Smollett on Wednesday with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report.

Smollett’s attorneys, Todd Pugh and Victor P. Henderson, met with prosecutors

and police earlier Wednesday afternoon. It’s unknown what was discussed or whether Smollett attended the meeting. The attorneys didn’t reply to requests seeking comment. A man identified on some videos as the Osundairos’ business partner, Leland Stanford, did not respond Wednesday to a Facebook message. The Osundairos did not respond to a message on their Team Abel Facebook page or to an email posted on their YouTube page, and a voice message left at a phone number listed for their father also was not returned.Smollett’s lawyers had said the actor was angered and “victimized” by reports that he may have played a role in staging the attack.

“As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with,” the weekend statement read.

“He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.”

The statement said one of the brothers was Smollett’s personal trainer, and the Chicago Tribune — which is not naming the brothers — reported that Smollett follows their bodybuilding page on Instagram.The Osundairos, who promote a fitness and diet program under the title

“Team Abel,” have more than 20,000 Instagram followers and more than 1,600 followers on Facebook. They also have a “Team Abel” YouTube channel.

They’re also aspiring actors who have posted auditions online and reportedly worked with Smollett on “Empire.”

The Tribune reported that neither brother has been credited for work on “Empire,” though the older brother said in a 2015 interview that he played the prison bodyguard for Chris Rock’s character. Rock gueststarred on the Season 2 premiere of “Empire” in 2015.

Each appeared on an episode of NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” last year, and both had roles in the 2017 indie movie “The Worst Nightmare,” the Tribune reported. One had a small part in Spike Lee’s 2015 film “Chi-Raq.” State records showed the Osundairos established a party and decoration story in 2015 that was dissolved last year, the Tribune reported.

Federal court records show they filed for bankruptcy in 2016 with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt and their store “operating at a loss.”

The newspaper reported that the older brother pleaded guilty in 2012 to aggravated battery and was sentenced to two years of probation for a stabbing that occurred a year earlier about a block away from the brothers’ home, according to Cook County records. His brother was ticketed for a DUI in 2015.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

MSU Reporter • 13 Have a story idea or a comment?

Minnesota State University, Mankato

EMAIL

Sports Editor Kevin Korbel

kevin.korbel@mnsu.edu

Mav hockey has one goal: win WCHA title With a share of the title already captured, they look to capitalize starting Friday

BRADY OLSON STAFF WRITER The Minnesota State men’s hockey team has already clinched a share of the WCHA title, but they will have a chance to take the whole thing when they travel to Fairbanks to take on the University of Alaska Fairbanks this weekend.

Holding a 12-point lead over both Bowling Green and Lake Superior State in the WCHA standings, the Mavericks only need to grab a tie or better in their last four games to clinch the full championship.

According to Massey Ratings, MSU only has a 0.06 percent chance of losing their final four games. With the odds of clinching the way they are, these last four

Kjerstin Hall | MSU Reporter

Junior winger Parker Tuomie (right) and the Mavericks look to capture another WCHA title this weekend. games will still be important in terms of seeding for the NCAA tournament.

As of now the Mavericks are a borderline No. 1 seed.

They are currently fourth in

the latest USCHO rankings, and they could leapfrog third-place Minnesota-Duluth depending on this weekend’s results.

This team has consistently

shown shades of last year’s team than was ranked first in goals per game. They are currently fourth in the same category for this season, averaging nearly 3.7 goals

scored compared to 1.9 goals allowed.

Along with this offense has been the play of freshman goalie Dryden McKay. Since he returned as a starter, he has been one of the best goalies in the country. He is currently sixth in goals allowed per game and has been saving more than 92 percent of shots that come his way.

An interesting statistic that this team has feasted on is time in the penalty box. The Mavericks have spent 80 minutes less in the box than their opponents, which has led to a plus-15 difference in power play goals.

Another catalyst for the Mavs’ success on the power play is their efficiency. They are currently sixth in power play efficiency, scoring on 26 percent of their opportunities.

The Mavericks will play UAF at 7:07 pm, Friday and Saturday. You can listen to the game on KTOE AM 1420.

Wild and Wolves struggling to stay in the hunt With the loss of Jimmy Butler and Mikko Koivu, both teams are struggling for playoff position

JOHN LAFOREST STAFF WRITER After a pair of playoffs appearances between the notable winter sports teams for the 2018 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Wild see themselves again in similar situations down the 2019 home stretch, but this time in position of losing out on a playoff spot this season.

Since Minnesota Wild General Manager Paul Fenton announced Feb. 6 that captain Mikko Koivu would miss the remainder of the season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee during that week’s game at Buffalo.

The team has struggled to win games ever since, going

1-5-1 in games since his injury.

Koivu, 35, had recorded 29 points and 22 penalty minutes 48 games with Minnesota before the injury. He’s been a pivotal piece on the team’s roster ever since he got drafted in the first round of the NHL draft in 2001.

Since that time, he’s set the franchise record in games played, assists and total points scored. Koivu recently tallied his 200th career NHL goal on Jan. 21 at Vegas to become the second player in team history to reach the milestone.

The Minnesota Wild are currently the second wild card after 60 games played in the season. The loss of Koivu early in the month will surely challenge their playoff hopes for the remainder of the season.

The Timberwolves on the other end is a different situation. Former Wolves star player Jimmy Butler was the closer for the team in his only

Photos courtesy of the Associated Press

With the injury of Mikko Koivu (left) and the Wolves trading away Jimmy Butler (right), both teams have struggled to stay competitive this season. full season with the franchise.

The All-Star was one of the best wing-defenders and scorers on the team.

The disgruntled Jimmy Butler finally got his wish early in the season when he was traded after 13 games.

The Timberwolves are 23-21

since his departure.

A season after making the playoffs for the first time since Kevin Garnett was in uniform, the Timberwolves sport a record of 27-30 sitting three games behind the Clippers for the final playoff spot, questioning Butler’s value to

the team tremendously.

While superstar Karl-Anthony Towns has stepped up as the clear number one guy on the team, he’s still not get-

MINNY WOES page 15

14 • MSU Reporter

Sports

Thursday, February 21, 2019

NBA: 4 biggest storylines for the 2nd half Sports editor Kevin Korbel looks into the four biggest storylines after All-Star weekend to his thumb late last month.

Now, interim GM Danny Ferry is attempting to try to convince the NBA to rethink forcing the team to play Davis for the rest of the season, even with the unease of the organization hanging over his back.

Will LeBron and the Lakers make the playoffs?

LeBron James and the Lakers currently sit two spots out of the playoffs, sitting three games by the Los Angeles Clippers, who currently hold the eighth seed in the conference.

Now with James returning from an injury, he gives the Lakers a fighting chance at making the playoffs with 24 games yet left to be played.

If he can provide just a little bit of support for this team, like he has in the past for a lot of talent-depleted Cleveland Cavaliers teams, they could sneak into the playoffs.

Will anybody compete with the Warriors?

The Warriors have been to the Finals the last four seasons, and have won championships in three of those appearances.

KEVIN KORBEL SPORTS EDITOR With the NBA All-Star weekend now past us, and the first games of the second half of the season beginning tonight, there are many big headlines to keep note of for the rest of the season.

Here are four storylines to keep track of for the rest of the NBA season: How will the Anthony Davis saga end?

After Pelicans GM Dell Demps was recently fired due to the drama surrounding Anthony Davis wanting to be traded from the team at the trade deadline a couple weeks back, the team and the organization now are questioning whether or not to play him for the rest of the season.

Keep in mind as well, Davis was out for an extended period of time after an injury

Photos courtesy of the Associated Press

NBA All-Stars Anthony Davis (left) and LeBron James (right) look to be major storylines headed into the second half of the season.

With the addition of DeMarcus Cousins in free agency, and with their roster still built to play with the best teams in the NBA, can anybody stop the team from winning their fourth championship in five seasons?

The Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and Boston Celtics look to be the three biggest contenders in the East, should the Warriors make it to the NBA Finals once again. All three of these teams, while they’re playing

good basketball as of late, still don’t seem to match up well with a team who has the

NBA page 15

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Sports

MSU Reporter • 15

NBA Continued from page 14

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Duke forward Zion Williamson (pictured) is projected to go #1 overall to the lucky team with the first overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. depth to win another title this season.

Who gets Zion?

Duke forward Zion Williamson has been a powerhouse for the basketball

team this season in his first year with the Blue Devils.

Now, many NBA teams across the league are paying close attention to the 6’7”, 285 lb. behemoth from Duke,

as he’s currently dominating the NCAA landscape with his mixture of awesome dunks, and mystifying moves heading towards the bucket this season.

MINNY WOES Continued from page 13

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) and the Minnesota Wild continue to struggle after losing Koivu for the season. ting enough consistent production from his supporting class, like the once promising Andrew Wiggins, which would take the team to the next level.

After a Jan. 15 matchup between the Wolves versus Jimmy Butler and the Sixers, Joel Embiid was impressed with the win and said, “It was an honor to be part of the third stringers and get a win against real NBA starters.”

Embiid, trolling the whole roster of Wolves, was referring to an incident where Butler beat the first team with the third.

Embiid and the Sixers are in a spot the Wolves want to be, and that is firmly in the playoffs.

Although Butler’s level of importance is still in question, as the Wolves could ultimately end at or around where they finished last sea-

son as the eight seed.

The Timberwolves have been hit by injuries all season at the point guard position. The position is getting healthier as of lately as the team will look to make the playoffs back-to-back season.

Now with both teams struggling for a playoff position, let’s see where these two teams will be towards the end of the year.

Look for teams like the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Phoenix Suns to be prime contenders of the No. 1-overall pick once the NBA lottery comes into the picture.

With the NBA season officially reaching the second

half of the season, look for these storylines to be the biggest deciders of what’s to come the rest of the way.

We can only hope now for a competitive season, one that includes somebody putting up a fight with the Warriors.

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16 • MSU Reporter

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Thursday, February 21, 2019