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Murder case against ex-cop in Floyd’s death goes to the jury ASSOCIATED PRESS The murder case against former Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd went to the jury Monday in a city on edge against another round of unrest like the one that erupted last year over the harrowing video of Chauvin with his knee on the Black man’s neck. The jury of six white people and six people who are Black or multiracial began deliberating after nearly a full day of closing arguments in which prosecutors argued that Chauvin squeezed the life out of Floyd last May in a way that even a child knew was wrong. The defense contended that the now-fired white officer acted reasonably and that the 46-year-old Floyd died of a heart condition and illegal drug use. After closing arguments were done, Judge Peter Cahill rejected a defense request for a mistrial based in part on comments from California Rep. Maxine Waters, who said “we’ve got to get more confrontational” if Chauvin isn’t convicted of murder. The judge told Chauvin’s attorney: “Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned.” He called her comments “abhorrent” and “disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch.” Chauvin, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, all of which require the jury to conclude that his actions were a “substantial causal factor” in Floyd’s death and that his use of force was unreasonable.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021
Students march, raise voices against hate By JULIA BARTON Staff Writer
Hundreds of community members and students gathered Sunday to march against antisemitism and white supremacy in honor of Daunte Wright and everyone else who has lost their lives to police violence. The event was hosted by multiple groups including YWCA Mankato, Diversity & Inclusion at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and Indivisible of St. Peter and Greater Mankato. Starting in parking lot 23 on the corner of Monks Avenue and Stadium Road, hundreds gathered with signs as they marched down the busy street while letting their voices be heard. The march led to Centennial Student Union Mall at MNSU, where students, faculty and city officials took the stage to speak out and voice personal experiences regarding racism. Reauna Stiff, incoming Student Government president, share her experience as a young African American woman. “I remember when I was 12 years old hearing when
MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter Numerous students from around the Mankato area marched to the campus mall Sunday afternoon to hold a demonstration against antisemtism and white supremacy in wake of recent events.
Trayvon Martin was killed. This just shows how my generation has seen these cases time and time again and have grown up seeing this,” Stiff said. “I want to encourage the young people to keep speaking out and showing up because we will not tolerate racism or police brutality.” This event was in response to the recent stickers posted
Cadets spend weekend preparing for summer training full story on page 5
around Mankato and St. Peter espousing white supremacist and neo-Nazi views. Mike Laven, President of Mankato City Council, shared how he must represent all members of the community. “As the President I represent all 42,000 people and I represent the people here who are against racism,” he said.
“Over 20 years ago I said I will represent the community at large. That means I have to represent everyone regardless of why or who. That is the role I took and the job and responsibility you expect me to do and I am incredibly proud of the organizations that put this together.” The rally is just one of ANTI-HATE on page 2u
Pinky Swear PACK promises financial aid to cancer patients By JULIA BARTON Staff Writer
MAXWELL MAYLEBEN • The Reporter
The Pinky Swear PACK at Minnesota State University, Mankato is a student-led organization taking a stand to support children fighting cancer as well as aid their families financially. Their mission is to raise money through fundraiser events and food drives while also raising awareness of childhood cancer.
This is the first year this organization has been at MNSU as they started in August of 2020. The Foundation itself is a larger non-profit organization based in Minneapolis that helps children battling cancer and provide their families with direct financial aid for basic needs. Olivia Lindenfelser, junior and president of the PACK at MNSU, said she joined the group to help CHARITY on page 2u
India farmers’ protests increase worry in international students By JENNA PETERSON News Director
For just over half a year now, farmers in India have been protesting recent laws that have been passed to sup-
port corporate farms, or otherwise not lending a helping hand to small, local farms. This leaves community farms alone and unprotected from cheap labor, and our Minnesota State University, Manka-
to International students fearful of their family’s lives. MNSU senior Trivedi (who asked that his full name not be published) said some farmers are struggling to survive. “Our farmers are no longer
protected by the government,” he said. “Every supply a farmer needs comes from their own pocket, and since the profit hasn’t changed in 10 years, these farmers are lucky if they can earn any money from
their work.” Ayush Sharma, a junior at MNSU, agrees that these farmers are struggling and need help. “Our government is trying FARMERS on page 3u
2 • MSU Reporter
News
CHARITY continued from page 1
ANTI-HATE continued from page 1
Courtesy photo
children. “I wanted to help make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer and their families,” she said. “I also wanted to help raise awareness about the Foundation and childhood cancer.” Although COVID-19 has limited the amount of fundraiser events this school year, that didn’t stop the PACK from raising money in alternative ways. “Even though we’ve been limited to what we can do, my favorite memory would have to be the Trunk-orTreat event we did in the fall,” said senior Ali Bryniarski, a member of PACK. “It was fun to start getting to know the other members.” Some previous fundraisers included partnering with Chipotle and Noodles for events that directed a portion of sales to the PACK Foundation. Their most recent fundraiser was the “It Takes Two” event which asked people to donate $2 or more that
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
went directly to the Foundation. Continuing to grow in numbers, the PACK is just getting started as they hope other students will join them in the coming years. “Other students should join because of the mission to help children and their families going through cancer,” said Alivia Ploeckelman, a sophomore member of the Pinky Swear PACK. “A cancer diagnosis is hard for not only the child, but the family as a whole.” The Pinky Swear PACK food drive is being held now through April 23. They are accepting non-perishable food items such as canned goods. The main donation box is located in the Centennial Student Union building near Jazzman’s cafe. All the donations from the food drive will go directly to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.
many that have been conducted this month as many hate-crimes and other police violence incidents have happened recently. “The sad part about today is that this is about the third or fourth time in the past couple weeks I’ve had to do this,” said Henry Morris, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at MNSU. “We had to do this for our Asian American brothers and sisters, our Latinos, and of course for our African Americans. We need to figure this out, there is no peace without justice.” Some in the crowd asked where MNSU President Richard Davenport was. Morris offered an explanation. “He really does wish he could be here,” Morris explained. “I don’t want to get into his medical issues but I know that he cannot be around crowds because he has a compromised immune system. But he is here in spirit.” During the rally students were able to amplify their voices and share their personal experiences with racism. Ciree Cox, Vice President of the Black Student Union at MNSU, talked about what she experienced while protesting in Minneapolis last summer in honor of George Floyd. “I would hear the gunshots at night which they don’t speak about on the news. There were white supremacists shooting black
MANSOOR AHMAD • The Reporter MNSU Student Government’s president-elect Reauna Stiff spoke during the demonstration on the campus mall Sunday afternoon.
people, kidnapping them, beating them up and driving them off the road. A lot of that wasn’t on the news, but I saw it happen with my own two eyes and I heard it,” Cox shared. Uniting the community and honoring those who have lost their lives to police violence was one of the main goals for the rally. Yurie Hong, who is a part of Indivisible of St. Peter and Greater Mankato, spoke about the importance of these rallies. “Demonstrations and rallies are the foundation, they are the floor, they are not the ceiling. It is important to show up as individuals and
as organizations to be able to look each other in the eye and stand in a big group and say, ‘Hey white supmacist, you don’t get to define what this community is and what it’s going to be!’” Hong said. Grasping the attention of many bystanders, students walking by were able to listen in on this important conversation. Chris Russert, senior at MNSU, expressed why he chose to support this movement. “We keep seeing this happen over and over. The only way this is ever gonna stop if we keep coming out here and showing up for each other,” Russert said.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
News
MSU Reporter • 3
FedEx shooter didn’t have ‘red flag’ hearing A former employee who shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis never appeared before a judge for a hearing under Indiana’s “red flag” law, even after his mother called police last year to say her son might commit “suicide by cop,” a prosecutor said Monday. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said authorities did not seek such a hearing because they did not have enough time under the law’s restrictions to definitively demonstrate Brandon Scott Hole’s propensity for suicidal thoughts, something they would need to have done to convince a judge that Hole should not be allowed to possess a gun. The “red flag” legislation, passed in Indiana in 2005 and also in effect in other states, allows police or courts to seize guns from people who show warning signs of violence. Police seized a pump-action shotgun from Hole, then 18, in March 2020 after they received the call from his mother. But prosecutors were limited in their ability to prepare a “red flag” case due to a 2019 change in the law that requires
MICHAEL CONROY • Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
courts to make a “good-faith effort” to hold a hearing within 14 days. An additional amendment required them to file an affidavit with the court within 48 hours. “This individual was taken and treated by medical professionals and he was cut loose,” and was not even prescribed any medication, Mears said. “The risk is, if we move forward with that (red flag) process and lose, we have to give that firearm back to that person. That’s not something we were willing to do.” Indianapolis police have previously said that they never
did return the shotgun to Hole. Authorities say he used two “assault-style” rifles to gun down eight people at the FedEx facility last Thursday before he killed himself. Police said Hole, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, purchased those rifles in July and September 2020, just months after police had seized the pump-action shotgun. Other amendments to the law in 2019 made it a misdemeanor for a person deemed dangerous to buy or possess a gun and a felony offense for anyone to give or sell a gun to a dangerous person.
FARMERS continued from page 1 to become more privatizing and in the end this won’t help the farmers and their family,” Sharma said. “The whole issue is a political thing and we need to help our people.” Trivedi and Sharma said their families aren’t directly involved with the issues at hand, but they very well could be at some point. “My parents are farmers and they are angry,” Sharma said. “Not everyone will be happy with the bills our government passes but we should allow our farmers to be more manageable.” Another issue with the protests is the lack of media revealing the truth of what’s taking place. Trivedi explained how the national news stopped covering these protests but instead smaller news and YouTube channels would post video coverage of what was taking place at the capitol. There have also been conversations about these protests on Twitter, but many people receive backlash for speaking out, and end up deleting their posts. The two students shared their beliefs on people being able to use their voice for the greater good. Bouncing off of this, Sharma stated, “We need to get ground coverage of what’s really happening. We need correct information from people who are really there to prevent false information from being thrown around” Despite the protests taking place on the other side of the world, MNSU students should be tuned in to the events taking place and recognize the importance of them. “The protests in India might not directly affect the MNSU community, but it’s still important for people to be knowledgeable about what’s taking place,” Trivedi said. “We care about the protests here in America, so please care about the protests in our homeland.” Stirring conversation about these protests can start small and create a domino effect, as Trivedi discussed. “I was happy to hear about you covering this topic. We need to start small. If the school will cover this story then other schools will hear about it and share their stories as well. This is important because sometimes my friends and I won’t even know what’s going on.”
4 • MSU Reporter
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
SPRING 2021 EDITOR IN CHIEF:
MAXWELL MAYLEBEN maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu
Protests can create change, violent or peaceful Editorial Throughout the past year the country’s news coverage has been filled with protests, ranging from the pandemic lockdowns to Black Lives Matter. It may begin to make you wonder about the productivity of protests and whether they truly work or not. Having been to protests before, we can base our experience to say they’ve been mind-changing and thought provoking. Speakers who share their stories, protesters holding their signs, and the large number of people who gather together creates an energy unknown in any other circumstance. The big question is, what comes out of these protests? In American history there have been countless protests and riots that have shaped our country. The Boston Tea Party is arguably one of the more famous ones, but there are others in modern politics that have changed the way of American law. The women’s suffrage movement grabbed the attention of the American people by holding their parade the night before President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration. This organization fought for women’s rights, and because of the planning and execution of the protest, they were able to accomplish many of the ideologies they held. Years later in New York the Stonewall riots took place, us-
madison.diemert@mnsu.edu
Stroking the fires, California style... NEWS DIRECTOR: Jenna Peterson jenna.peterson-3@mnsu.edu MEDIA/DESIGN DIRECTOR: Mansoor Ahmad mansoor.ahmad@mnsu.edu SPORTS EDITOR: Daniel McElroy daniel.mcelroy@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING SALES: Anna Lillie 507-389-1063 anna.lillie@mnsu.edu Logan Larock 507-389-5453 logan.larock@mnsu.edu Baylee Sorensen 507-389-5097 baylee.sorensen@mnsu.edu Olivia Haefner 507-389-1079 olivia.haefner@mnsu.edu
ing more violence than other protests. While some are critical about this, the violence can also be seen as a necessary tactic. Leading up to these riots, the New York Police Department would raid gay bars and torment those inside the bars. When the community got sick and tired of this abuse for simply existing, they turned against the police department and resisted any arrest they tried to make. In result, this created tension between
the communities and the riots took place. Following the riots there have been nationwide Pride parades and the Supreme Court has created anti-discriminatory laws. The March for Our Lives campaign was created following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students, faculty, and community members gathered together to voice their unease with gun laws
and regulation in the state. With petitions being signed, marches in Washington D.C., and emotions running high the March for Our Lives organization was able to help pass the Safety Act, which increased gun restrictions in Florida. Protests, as part of the First Amendment, allow the American people to voice any concerns about lack of governmental law and implement the change they wish to see.
“Are the protests creating change? If so, how?” Compiled by Samuel Adjidjonu
ROSE GAYE, JUNIOR
MADISON DIEMERT
JACOB KULIG, SOPHOMORE
ROSELINE GAYE, JUNIOR
KOLBE O’BRIEN, JUNIOR
“It’s the same thing happening “I think they are making a “They are out there protesting “I don’t know how much of a change, and its a push for change there’ll be, but they are over and over. It’s a good to change the world, but a change. More people are way of expressing ourselves, nothing is changing. We wont definitely being heard. I don’t getting aware of what is going think any change has been but there needs to be more stop till we see change...” on...” made...” action...”
OKIKIOLAMIDE AFOLAB, SOPHOMORE “They kind off are and not. On the government side they see the protests as threats...”
BUSINESS MANAGER: Jane Tastad 507-389-1926 jane.tastad@mnsu.edu ADVERTISING DESIGN/ PRODUCTION MANAGER: Dana Clark 507-389-2793 dana.clark@mnsu.edu
• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, contact Editor in Chief Maxwell Mayleben at maxwell.mayleben@mnsu.edu. The Reporter will correct any errors of fact or misspelled names in this space. Formal grievances against the Reporter are handled by the Newspaper Board. • The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a studentrun newspaper published twice a week, coming out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Reporter generates 78 percent of its own income through advertising and receives approximately 22 percent from Student Activities fees. The Reporter is free to all students and faculty, but to start a subscription, please call us at 507-389-1776. Subscriptions for the academic school year are $55.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing. • Letters exceeding 400 words may not be accepted. The Reporter reserves the right to edit letters to fit space or correct punctuation. The Reporter reserves the right to publish, or not publish, at its discretion. Letters must contain year, major or affiliation with the university, or lack thereof. All letters must contain phone numbers for verification purposes. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE MSU REPORTER ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OR STUDENT BODY.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
News
MSU Reporter • 5
ROTC sends cadets to Camp Ripley for training By MAXWELL MAYLEBEN Editor in Chief
Last weekend, the Minnesota State University, Mankato ROTC program sent several cadets to Camp Ripley with ROTC programs from other schools such as University of Minnesota, St. Johns, University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. Juniors were the primary training audience during this weekend’s event, as they are preparing for a larger, 38-day program called “Cadet Summer Training,” or CST. In preparation for CST, junior cadets in the Military Science program, or MSIIIs, had to practice a new rifle qualification, run missions and, most importantly, hone leadership skills in a field setting. Cadets arrived at the camp on Thursday. After organizing into mixed-school platoons and attending a safety briefing and a few classes, they settled in for the night. Their bed for the night: The cold fields and forests of Camp Ripley. Night-time temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. And while the ca-
MAXWELL MAYLEBEN • The Reporter MNSU Student and cadet Lucas Mortenson is seen in formation with a platoon Friday afternoon at Camp Ripley. Unbeknownst to them, there would be a simulated IED explosion further along the road.
dets were sleep-deprived because of the cold, they were also in charge of maintaining “Patrol Base Operations.” At night, MSIIIs arrange themselves into a “Patrol Base,” which is shaped like a triangle. This arrangement al-
lows for alternating security while some are able to get rest. “When you’re in the patrol base you’re not just la-dee-da ing,” said Lucas Mortenson, a senior who is also training with the juniors. “You gotta do weapons maintenance, you
gotta make sure your battle buddies can get their food, you gotta make sure that those big guns are getting cleaned.” Mortenson, the gun team leader for his platoon, is in charge of the M240 Bravo, a large machine gun. These
weapons are placed at the front two apexes of the Patrol Base, as those are the places most expected contact with the enemy. “It is the most casualty-producing weapon,” said Mortenson, “That baby is 27 pounds of pure fun.” On the second day, cadets were sent to the rifle range to attempt a new rifle qualification that many had never tried before. The former qualification simply required two firing positions, was replaced recently. “Now it’s different where you do a few different positions, you use a barrier, it’s a much faster pace,” said Jacob Findlay, an MSIII at MNSU. “It’s supposed to be more combat-realistic type shooting.” The majority of the second day was devoted to practicing the new qualification, as they will be required to qualify again during summer training. “This is one of the core things we get evaluated for at CST is our shooting,” said Findlay. “This being the first time a lot of us have done this, being able to do this right now really helps us get ready for the summer.” ROTC on page 6 u
6 • MSU Reporter
News
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
ROTC continued from page 5 After range shooting, the next two days were filled with missions for the cadets in their platoons. One example of a mission included a platoon getting ambushed with an improvised explosive device (IED) while walking down a road. Each platoon, surprised by the simulated explosion, was evaluated on its reaction to said explosion. During these missions, there were several cadets, not at the junior level, responsible for supporting roles to make things go smoothly. “We play the enemy,” said MNSU sophomore Spencer Intress, an MSII. Intress, along with a handful of other MNSU sophomores, was tasked with playing the opposition force, or “OPFOR”. “We are out here assisting MSIII’s that are going to be conducting missions,” said Intress. “As an MSII we are here to learn and assist the MSIIIs for their camp this summer.” Emily Peterson, a senior or MSIV at MNSU, was also there to assist the MSIIIs in their training. Being a senior, Peterson’s role was to train, advise, and counsel the cadets. “My role here is a TAC (training, advising, and counseling) which means I am with a platoon of MSIII individuals who I oversee and evaluate and I also just offer them guidance from my years,” Peterson said. Peterson spoke to her experience as a woman in ROTC. “Being a female in the military is definitely something that is new to some individuals,” said Peterson. “It’s given us a great opportunity to show that we can do it if we want to. And allowing them to let us do it if we can.” For cadets going through CST, including Mortenson, the training was extremely beneficial. “It was pretty mind opening for a lot of people,” said Mortenson, speaking to the effectiveness of the training weekend. “A lot of people didn’t know what to expect, but now a lot of people know what they are going to see down there.” The MSIIIs that attended this training will travel to Fort Knox in Kentucky this summer for over a month’s worth of training exercises. At the end of CST, each cadet will be evaluated. Their performance will dictate what job they receive if they go active duty.
Junior Cadets are seen qualifying their rifle skills and performing various missions to enhance their tactical and leadership skills. The juniors were sent to Camp Ripley last weekend to build on these skills in preparation for “Cadet Summer Training” or CST, a training camp at Fort Knox in Kentucky. During CST, cadets will be evaluated on their technical abilities, as well as leadership qualities. Photos by MAXWELL MAYLEBEN • The Reporter
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
MSU Reporter • 7
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8 • MSU Reporter
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
No. 18 Mavericks sweep Bulldogs By DANIEL McELROY • Sports Editor
By KOLE BUELOW Staff Writer
Maverick Athletics
Their season of domination continued over the weekend, when the Minnesota State softball team swept Minnesota-Duluth (20-10) in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. The Mavericks (22-7) started the day far stronger than they ended it, beginning with a 7-0 win in game one, followed by a 2-1 win in game two. It was a struggle for the Mavs to record any hits in the first two innings and even into the third when they scored their first run. The Bulldogs walked Madi Newman, then hit Sydney Nelson with the first pitch of her at bat, and walked Kylie Sullivan to load the bases with Carly Esselman up to bat. Esselman hit a sacrifice fly in foul territory to bat in Newman from third and advance the other two base runners and take a 1-0 lead. Sydney Nielsen was due up next, swinging at a pitch on an 0-1 count and doubled to center field, driving in both base runners. The Mavericks took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, all due to the three consecutive walks from UMD pitcher, Sam Pederson. Hannah McCarville recorded an RBI for herself, when she drove in Nielsen to make it a 4-0 game off of three hits. In the sixth inning, the Mavs found themselves in another loaded bases scenario with two outs, when Esselman came up to bat. Esselman kept a great eye on the ball, drawing a walk with a 3-2 count and forcing Hannah Hastings to score and extend their lead. Nielsen came up big again with the bases loaded, singling to center field and
Sydney Nielsen led the Mavericks in hits in the 7-0 win, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI’s.
driving in two runs to take a 7-0 lead. Mackenzie Ward took the win on the mound for the Mavericks while pitching a complete game. Ward sent 13 batters back to the dugout with strikeouts and allowed just four hits while throwing 145 pitches, the most she’s thrown all season. Ward improved her record to 13-3 following the win. The next game was not as eventful, with only three runs scored in its entirety. The Bulldogs got the bats going right away with an RBI single to start the game, but MSU answered back immediately in the bottom of the first inning. The Mavs got two runners on base, followed by Torey Richards’ sacrifice bunt, putting the runners on second and
third. McCarville reached on a fielder’s choice advancing one runner to third, and driving in a runner to tie the game at one. Hannah Hastings then recorded an RBI single when she drove in Nielsen, taking an early 2-1 lead. Despite the Mavs recording six more hits throughout the game, the scoring would come to a halt and Minnesota State sent Duluth back north with a sweep. Freshman Katie Bracken earned just her second start on the mound and her first win of the season while pitching a complete game. Bracken threw out 92 pitches, allowing four hits one run, and one strikeout to improve her record to 1-1.
No. 25 Mavs grab four wins in contest at Upper Iowa By KOLE BUELOW Staff Writer
The Mavericks men’s baseball team traveled to Fayette, Iowa this past weekend to take on Upper Iowa in a four-game series. Before the series began, the Mavericks held the second place spot in the NSIC while the Peacocks sat in eighth. Minnesota State had crucial games ahead of them if they were looking to regain first in the conference, while Upper Iowa looked to crack the top five. The Mavericks did not disappoint this past weekend, as they swept the Peacocks four games to zero. Game one of the series was a thriller to watch, as both teams scored their first runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The Peacocks struck first on a wild pitch in the fourth but the Mavericks responded
Madden’s Savoy wins semifinal game
in the fifth scoring on a fielder’s choice play. From there on out, neither team could score until we reached extra innings. In the top of the tenth, the Mavs scored on an RBI double, and that was enough to hold off Upper Iowa as Hunter Even earned the save. Game two was all Minnesota State, as they ran up the scoreboard on Upper Iowa in an 8-0 shutout. Collin Denk of the Mavericks earned the win, as he held the Peacocks to only three hits and zero runs heading into Sunday. As Sunday rolled around, both teams were ready for their next two games as we got started for game three. The Mavericks got on the board first in the second inning as they scored on a bunt, and later added another run in the inning, off an RBI single. The Mavs tacked on more
Maverick Athletics Colin Denk took the win in the 8-0 shutout at Upper Iowa.
points throughout the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, as they scored on a home run, an RBI single, and an RBI double to put them ahead 5-0. After a last-ditch effort from the Peacocks in the ninth inning, they were only able to add one run to the score before the Mavs
closed out the game 5-1. As we turned the page to our last game of the four game series, the Mavericks knew they had taken the series, while the Peacocks were fighting for at least one win. The Mavs once again beat SWEEP on page 9u
In week eight of PlayVS collegiate esports, Minnesota State had both of their Madden team members compete in best of three series. Simek, one of the two Madden players, faced off against UTK Esports (University of Tennessee-Knoxville) and No. 2 Savoy faced off against WVU Potomac State Esports. Simek fell in the series against UTK in a 0-2 sweep while Savoy won the series against Potomac State 2-0. Savoy also advanced to the championship game in the NACE league last week, continuing his great season. Savoy started us off in week eight against WVU, playing as his go-to team the Green Bay Packers. The first quarter of game one was scoreless, but Savoy got on the board first with 20 seconds left in the first half. Savoy completed a three yard pass to put up the first points of the game. After another scoreless quarter of play once we returned from half, WVU got on the board with a two yard rush to tie the game 7-7. Once Savoy got the ball back, he knew the best thing to do was run the fourth quarter clock down to give his opponent no time to come back if he scored. He did just that, knocking in a 45 yard field goal to go up 10-7 with ten seconds left in the game. After a last second heave that fell short of nearly anyone on the field, Savoy took game one of the best of seven series by a score of 10-7. Game two started off much faster for Savoy, as he punched in a one yard rush only two minutes into the game to go up 7-0. After a great defensive stand, Savoy got the ball back and took advantage of it. Savoy planned a perfect go route on press coverage to burn the defender for a
MADDEN on page 9u
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Sports
Yankees restless with 5-10 start
KATHY WILLENS • Associated Press
WFT’s Alex Smith retires
MSU Reporter • 9
ASSOCIATED PRESS
RICH SCHULTZ • Associated Press Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith is shown in action against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game in Philadelphia. Smith announced his retirement April 19, 2021.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Alex Smith retired Monday after making an improbable comeback from a gruesome broken leg, saying he’s ready to leave the NFL but believing he’s still able to play QB. Smith made the announcement on Instagram a few weeks shy of his 37th birthday, hoping to enjoy more time with his family. “I want to say thank you for believing in me, and thank you for helping me believe in myself — and in the impossible,” Smith said. “Because even though I’ve got plenty of snaps left in me, after 16 years of giving this game everything I’ve got, I can’t wait to see what else is possible.” Smith earned AP Comeback Player of the Year honors for getting back on the field last season, two years removed from an injury that required 17 operations. After breaking his right tibia and fibula in a game Nov. 18, 2018, against Houston, he said he wondered if he’d be able to take walks with his wife or play with his kids in the yard — let alone play in the NFL again. He was hospitalized for almost a month and survived a life-threatening infection in addition to the operations. Smith spent the next year and a half rehabbing and was back at practice when Washington assembled for
training camp last summer. Smith’s first game action since the injury came Oct. 11 when Kyle Allen was injured, and he made his first start at Detroit on Nov. 15. He went 5-1 as the starter, including a victory at Philadelphia in Week 17 on a strained right calf that clinched the NFC East title for Washington. The injury prevented Smith from playing against Tampa Bay in the wild-card round the next week, which Taylor Heinicke started and impressed enough to earn another contract. Coach Ron Rivera agreed with those comments, noting he was worried about Smith’s health. “The biggest thing he and I talked about, really, was that there was really no roadmap to get us to where we were,” Rivera said last month. “He worked his butt off to put himself in a position to come back and play. ... It was always in the back of my head: ‘What if he gets hurt again? What if he hurts that leg, that specific leg?’ I don’t want to be the guy that put him back on the field to let him get hurt again.” Smith was released in March and signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Smith initially expressed his intent to keep playing but went unsigned over a month into free agency.
The New York Yankees’ players and staff are restless. So are fans. A 5-10 start, the franchise’s worst in 24 years, has shaken a team that expects to contend for a World Series title. “Right now we would be a team that an opponent would want to play because obviously we’re not firing on all cylinders,” general manager Brian Cashman said Monday. “So if you have a chance to catch us right now, you’re catching us at the right time, through obviously yesterday’s games, and we look forward to that changing.” Batting, pitching and fielding have faltered. New York’s .210 batting average is next-to-last in the American League, and a team with a dearth of left-handed hitters is batting just .202 against right-handed pitchers. The Yankees’ 55 runs entering Monday tied Detroit for the AL low. Ace Gerrit Cole is 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA and the rest of New York’s starters are 1-6
with a 6.39 ERA. Twelve errors have led to 10 unearned runs. Only the bullpen, which has a 2.43 ERA that is third best in the major leagues, has performed to expectations. “There’s a lot of tossing and turning going on,” Cashman said, “but we’re going to do everything in our power to avoid that finger pointing or having those frustrations boil over into something negative and make sure that we just rally the troops around each other and try to be there in a strong, supportive way, because right now we earned any negative criticism.” Cashman accepts the carping — but said it was unacceptable and illegal for fans to throw balls on the field during Friday’s 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay, which caused the game to be stopped for 2 minutes, 15 seconds. “I don’t care how bad you’ve played, no one has earned having things thrown at them on the field in that one particular game,” he said. “But ultimately, the rest of it is, yeah, it’s part of the process, too.
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MADDEN continued from page 8 45 yard touchdown to go up 14-0 with 4:46 remaining in the half. After yet another great defensive stand, Savoy turned his defense into offense as he ran a perfect two minute drill style offense 84 yards for a ten yard touchdown. Savoy also decided to go for the two point conversion on the touchdown, converting, and going up 22-0 going into halftime. Savoy was not done yet, where he turned
an interception into a pick six on WVU’s first drive of the second half, putting the Mavericks up 29-0. After another defensive stop, Savoy ran down the clock as much as he could before punching in another 6 points with a conversion on the extra point to go up 36-0. That was all the series wrote as Savoy stopped any more offense from WVU for the rest of the game, winning the game and the series for the Mavericks. Savoy is set to play their next series in the NACE Championship this Thursday, April 22.
SWEEP continued from page 8 the Peacocks 12-6, securing the sweep and earning four more crucial conference wins. The game was highlighted by a three-run home run in the third inning by Mikey Fredrickson of the Mavericks, with Nick Altermatt earning the win. Minnesota State now sits first place in the NSIC, and is set to play their next series this weekend, April 24 and 25, against Wayne State.
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10 • MSU Reporter
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
ASSOCIATED PRESS The vaccine rollout in Japan has been very slow with less than 1% vaccinated, causing concern about the postponed Tokyo Olympics that are scheduled to open in just over three months. Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the vaccine rollout, said last week that even if the Olympics go on, it’s possible the venues will be empty. This is partly because of the low vaccination rate. Fans from abroad are already banned from the Olympics, and it’s hard to imagine venues even half-filled with mostly unvaccinated fans. Many non-Japanese entering Japan are expected to be vaccinated. Q: Are Japanese athletes being vaccinated? A: This is a minefield for the organizers and the Japanese government. It will be very unpopular to push young, healthy athletes to the front of the vaccination line when almost no one else in Japan is vaccinated. Traffic on social media is strongly opposed. Kono, organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa said the government so far has not issued any plans to vaccinate athletes. However, Kono has said he is ready to deliver vaccines if Hashimoto and the government think they’re needed. “So far, there is no consultation or no action about Japa-
nese athletes getting vaccine,” he said. Marukawa said last week the government is considering testing all athletes daily. Previous plans had called for virus tests every four days. That change may show up when the second version of the “Playbook” is published this month. The IOC has said vaccines are not required to participate. However, IOC President Thomas Bach has openly encouraged athletes to be vaccinated. Of course, that causes conflict when athletes are a priority ahead of vulnerable populations. Q: Tokyo organizers have repeatedly said the Olympics will be safe and secure. Last week the British Medical Journal challenged this. Who is responsible if they are not? A: IOC vice president John Coates, in an interview published online Sunday in the Japanese magazine “Number,” responded to the question. Coates said, quoting the magazine: “The responsibility for the response to COVID-19 during, before and after the games lies with the Japanese government, and to a lesser extent with the Tokyo city government. Under an agreement with the government, the Tokyo government and Tokyo organizers, the IOC is doing its best to keep to a minimum the spread of infections, as well as the contact between the Japanese public (and the athletes). The IOC is responsible for that aspect.”
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JAE C. HONG • Associated Press
Will Japanese Olympians be vaccinated ahead of the public?
The Olympics rings are reflected on the window of a hotel restaurant as a server with a mask sets up a table, in Tokyo. The vaccine rollout in Japan has been very slow with less than 1% vaccinated.
Q: When are we likely to know if there will be local fans in venues? And if so, what will be the capacity? A: Hashimoto has said for weeks that a decision could come this month on capacity at the venues. Now she seems to be hedging. “Within April I would like to set the basis direction,” she said Friday at her weekly press conference. “The final judgement time — this as well we need to monitor the situation of the pandemic and we need to remain flexible for that.” Hashimoto did not raise
Kono’s suggestion that there may be no fans, and did not challenge it. It seems increasingly likely that local fans could be banned, too, as cases surge in Japan’s two largest metropolitan areas — Tokyo and Osaka. Ticket sales are worth about $800 million to local organizers. Any shortfall will have to be made up by Japanese government entities. Q: Where do we stand with the torch relay, which started on March 25 from northeastern Fukushima prefecture? A: It was run for two days
last week in a largely empty city park in Osaka. The city’s mayor and prefectural governor forbade that it be run on public streets because of the rising cases in the region. Organizers say the torch will be taken off public streets again on Wednesday in Matsuyama City, which is located in Ehime prefecture. Local officials have also asked it be taken off public roads on May 1-2 in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. It will be held there “in restricted areas without spectators,” organizers said in a statement.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
MSU Reporter • 11
“Next Fall” is Theatre’s last call for this semester By SYDNEY BERGGREN Staff Writer
“‘Next Fall’ is a show about love and religion,” says Minnesota State University, Mankato sophomore Jonothan Mor, “but also it’s a show about human beings and how we come together in the face of crisis.” Opening in MNSU’s Andreas Theater on April 21, “Next Fall” is a story about queerness, religion, and humanity. Mor, who plays Luke, says the show focuses on his character and Adam, played by MNSU senior Nick Finkin. It focuses on their relationship and the ways they experience being queer through religious and non-religious communities. “It’s funny and witty but it also deals with some serious subject matter — it’s very real in that way,” says director Eric Parrish. Parrish, who is a first-year graduate student in the MFA theater program, says this show has a special place for him out of the large variety of shows he has directed. “I’m an openly gay man and I’m also a practicing Christian, so this play is very important to me,” he said. “When I first saw it in 2011 it was one of the first times that I saw a gay Christian being represented in a storyline, and that’s a big deal.” The storyline of “Next Fall”
Courtesy photo Jonothan Mor (left), Faith Peterson (center) and Nick Finkin (right) perform in “Next Fall” at the Andreas Theatre for the Theatre Department’s last show of the semester.
follows characters Adam and Luke through two different timelines with the first being the aftermath of a car crash. Luke is rushed to the hospital and the audience is given a view into the waiting room, where his parents, an old friend, a new friend, and Adam anxiously wait for any news. The second timeline covers the last five years of their relationship. This includes Adam and Luke meeting, getting to
know each other, falling in love and navigating their relationship. Mor and Finkin provide a slew of both witty and heartfelt lines that endear the audience to their characters and intrigues viewers about their relationship. Freshman Faith Peterson, who plays Adam’s best friend Holly, said, “It’s this back and forth between Adam and Luke and the different perspectives that the characters have about
their relationship, whether it’s a difference in their stance on gay rights or spirituality. It’s very thought provoking and emotionally investing.” Peterson said the show is meant to be a unique slice of life. “What I appreciate about Holly is she’s such a lovable character,” she said. “I keep going through this process and finding the connections between her and I. A lot of what Holly does is finds humanity
and connects with every single one of the characters. She also finds the ways to love them in their own beautiful human ways.” Mor said he holds many similarities to his character, the biggest being they are both queer men who grew up very religious. “I had to learn to change my perspective on religion and being gay,” he said on his experience. “While we hold a very similar kind of attitude and background, there’s also vastly different ways we approach things. I’m out to most, if not all, of my family, but Luke really is not, so there are big differences of mindset.” Both Peterson and Mor said their favorite part of the show was getting to meet and work with new students. “They are so much fun,” Peterson said. “It was so easy for them to make me laugh, and I really appreciated that because it helped me be more comfortable with them.” Added Mor, “I have never gotten to work with my castmates in this kind of setting. I loved seeing both the characters and cast members develop new relationships.” “Next Fall” will be showing in the Andreas Theater on April 21-25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at the department’s website.
Rejected Broadway posters on sale to help theater community ASSOCIATED PRESS Letting the world see your failures is usually something most people try to avoid. Not for theatrical poster designer Frank Verlizzo — he hopes you’ll put his on your wall. Verlizzo is selling prints of his rejected posters for such shows as “Cabaret,” “Equus” and “Matilda” with all proceeds going to the aid organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “It’s exciting for me because it’s work that I particularly loved that I didn’t think anyone was ever going to see,” says the artist. “So it’s kind of wonderful that they’re now out in the world, for better or for worse.” The 16 posters included in the series — each goes for $399 with a frame — were either rejected, never pitched or part of a group of submissions that Verlizzo made that allowed only one winner. One highlight is an alternative
FRANK VERLIZZO • Associated Press
poster for “The Lion King.” Disney, of course, went for Verlizzo’s stark animal mane stamp that has become iconic. But now people can mount an unpublished design of his which uses paw prints from King Mufasa and newborn Simba to illustrate both the past and the future. “There are a million reasons why a
poster gets rejected for a show,” he explains. “It’s a room full of people. It’s like one big beauty contest. Everybody has their favorites.” The offerings include an intriguing one for “Matilda” that uses letters of the alphabet to make up a graphic portrait of the imaginative heroine. Verlizzo created it for the Broadway run of
the musical but producers decided to keep the previous West End campaign. Verlizzo, who designs under the moniker “Fraver” — a combination of his two names — says opening his vault and helping fellow artists during the pandemic was a “no-brainer.” “The devastation in the theater industry was unbelievable. So many of my friends were unemployed instantly,” he says. “I hope it raises a lot of money.” The project is in partnership with Gelato, the global production platform that enables artists to sell their designs to customers anywhere in the world using a network of local producers, which means carbon emissions are minimized. Julie Ryland, who led the project for Gelato, said each poster takes you behind the creative process and in some ways celebrates the people who work on Broadway who often aren’t seen. “Each one has a story.”
12 • MSU Reporter
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