December 6, 2012

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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THURSDAY

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H 32 • L 22

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ryan lund • msu reporter

Page 2 • Reporter

News

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

President Davenport leads delegation to China MSU president and other administrators to establish ties with “sister cities.”

CHRIS HOUCK

staff writer

In the life of an institution such as a state university, it is important for its staff, leaders and executives to be concerned with the outreach opportunities available to its students.

However, the jobs of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s leaders, as well as the community leaders’, are not confined solely to the school or the greater Mankato area in order for them to expand their influence, and as a result the trade sometimes requires those leaders to visit foreign countries.

Earlier this week, University President Richard Davenport traveled to China, bringing with him several members of the school to the country in order to expand MSU’s influence across seas.

Members of the area’s delegation to China include

Mankato Mayor Eric Anderson, Linda Baer, interim vice president for Academic and Student Affairs; Ginger Zierdt, director of the Center for School-University Partnerships; Doug Mayo, vice president of University Advancement and chair of the Department of Elementary & Early Childhood Education; Juan Meng, associate professor of marketing and Mary Davenport, wife of Richard Davenport, who is the Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Riverland Community College in Southern Minnesota.

Davenport and his delegation departed on Dec. 2 and are currently working on increasing the Mankato area’s influence overseas.

The delegation’s trip to China will include attempts at creating partnerships within the region, as well as recruit students from the area

by visiting Beijing, where a consultant currently works for MSU in order to garner attention from potential students to attend the university.

During the time spent in China, the members of the Mankato area will visit cities such as Tongxiang in Zhejing Province and Yongcheng in Henan Province. While visiting there, Anderson will take part in a signing of diplomatic documents of memorandums of understanding with the two cities, establishing them as sister cities to the city of Mankato.

The Eleventh Overseas Investment Strategy Forum sponsored by the Western Returned Scholars Association at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing will also have Richard and Mary Davenport speak during its meeting.

The two Davenports will stress the importance of international relations between

such organizations as MSU and WRSA, with Richard Davenport delivering a keynote address during the conference and Mary Davenport taking part in a roundtable discussion in order to highlight current trends in global education.

The WRSA is a Chinese government-affiliated entity, which was founded in 1913 and consists of over 40,000 Chinese scholars and researchers who have studied abroad.

The association has visited the United States in the past, visiting such places as the University of Southern California.

According to USC’s website, the WRSA’s involvement during their stay, as well as their general policy, includes study and research in an area they visit in order to increase a dialogue with other nations, concerning the use of education.

The WRSA has made a

number of recommendations to the Chinese government which are under consideration at some of its highest levels. The organization is also credited with creating a think tank, the Center for China and Globalization in order to broaden and expand the areas of educational collaboration.

The delegates’ visit to China highlights a large part of MSU’s five-year goal concerning international students.

With about 770 of the 15,400 students who attend the university being from foreign nations, the long term prospect is to entail 1,000 international students by the year 2017.

Davenport and his delegates were invited to speak and interact with the Chinese delegates by Changdong Xu, chair of the Western Returned Scholars Association Entrepreneur Alliance and are expected to return to the United States by Dec. 10.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

News

Reporter • Page 3

Holiday heist prevention

The holiday season often leads to break-ins while students are away, and learning to avoid them is key.

ELISE KONERZA

staff writer

Within the next two weeks, Minnesota State University, Mankato students will be finishing their finals packing up and heading home for winter break. When these students are receiving Christmas presents at home, how do they keep the rest of their belongings in their unoccupied houses, apartments or dormitories safe?

Winter break and the weeks after students return are common times for not only residential break-ins, but vehicle break-ins as well. New Christmas presents become a target for thieves. After Christmas, breakins occur more because the odds of breaking into a car or home and finding something of value to steal are greater.

Burglaries are occurring in the Mankato area on a regular basis, although Matt DuRose of the Mankato Department of Public Safety claims that it’s tough to decipher whether there are more break-ins during the regular school semester versus winter break-ins. He instead said

that there should be an awareness that these break-ins occur year round.

The most common items reported stolen are electronics.

Gaming consoles, televisions, DVD players and laptops are commonly stolen. These items are easy to conceal and very portable for thieves to take and are some of the most common possessions in a household. Living rooms and kitchens are commonly the first rooms entered by theives in a household, and this is where most of the items reported stolen are found.

“We have been finding lately that spare change and cash from wallets and purses are being targeted by thieves,” DuRose said.

Thefts from vehicles and burglaries continue to be common and many involve these items being stolen in addition to electronics. There is no way to track these items and they can be used anywhere.

Places such as Craigslist, eBay, and pawn shops are common places thieves sell the items they have taken. Police are able to track certain items at those places. Serial numbers can also

play an important role in the findings of your stolen items. All serial numbers get entered into a nationwide computer should they be found in a traffic stop, or a service call, which can be tracked to the local case file.

In order to stop the burglary from occuring in the first place,

of becoming a victim. Although, there still are people who kick in doors and windows to enter a house.

Students are advised to ask their friends who have stayed in the city to check on their apartment or dorm while they are gone. Commonly stolen items

web photo

make sure windows and doors are locked at all times. Many burglaries occur due to unlocked vehicles or homes. By locking doors and windows, you are greatly decreasing the chances

should be locked in a safe or brought elsewhere. If some of the items have serial numbers, keep track of the makes, models and serial numbers. This will be the best source to track the item

if it were to be stolen. If there is no serial number, write down a good description or make a personalized marking that can easily be distinguished.

During break, the chances of forced entry increase as there are fewer people around to report loud noises or see the break-in. Many apartments and dorms are also left unoccupied, leaving these residences vulnerable. If a student or community member sees or hears suspicious people, they are urged to call 911 to report it, DuRose said.

If a break in were to occur in your own place, first call 911 to report it. An officer will arrive to gather information related to when and how it may have occurred. They will look for any evidence to collect and document the incident.

“I can’t stress enough for people to lock their doors and windows,” DuRose said.

The use of security or motion lights are very helpful too, if possible. Lock up valuables and keep close track of your items.

Meet your neighbors and watch out for one another.

Good Luck in the Semi-Finals to the MSU Football Team & Coaches!

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Page 4 • Reporter

News

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

Mankato homeowners to see lower taxes in 2013

County will reportedly raise tax levies 2.6 percent.

TIM FAKLIS

staff writer

Aside from farmland owners, the majority of Mankato residents will likely be seeing lower taxes for 2013.

Blue Earth County and the city of Mankato are planning to raise their property tax levies about 2.6 percent each, which in turn will help keep a little bit of money in the pockets of its local residents throughout most of next year.

“Generally, an easy way to understand property taxes and what share each property pays is to think of a pie. First, the levy determines the size of the pie. The larger the levy, the larger the pie,” said Michael Stalberger, Deputy Director of Taxpayer Services for Blue Earth County. “Each taxable property gets a slice of the pie, the size of the slice is determined by the property’s value and classification relative to everyone else’s. The higher the value of the property, the larger

your

the slice of the pie.”

Farmland owners will not be seeing the same benefits as other residents in the area, and most of that has to do with the value of the real estate market

the other property types, the slices of the pie paid by farmers have grown, while the slices paid by people who own houses, apartments, or businesses will shrink because the farmers are becoming responsible for more of the overall pie.”

There will be a public hearing on Dec 10, where they will discuss several factors, including $500,000 that is left in the budget, and is set to be replaced

by a fee on utility bills for street lights throughout the city.

The levy itself is only half of the proposed tax bill, the other half being tax base and the land value, which is something that the government itself can’t do much about. In Mankato, the tax base fell about 0.3 percent, which indicates that even if

Taxes / page 8

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for farmland in general, considerably more than the rates of residential, commercial, and apartment “The market for agricul-

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tural land continues to be quite strong resulting in valuation increases, whereas the markets for the other property types has been rather stable or even falling slightly.” Stalberger

said. “So, if the values hadn’t changed, everyone would be paying a little more. But, because the values of agricultural land increased much more than

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

News

Reporter • Page 5

Jim Bathey talks baseball, jobs

The MSU grad and Brewers marketing VP discusses his experience in the jobs market and the MLB.

william cadyhi• msu reporter Bathey, who works for the Milwaukee Brewers, spoke in front of MSU students and staff in Ostrander Auditorium Monday afternoon.

ERIC PERRINE

staff writer

Minnesota State University, Mankato alumnus Jim Bathey spoke to students and faculty Monday in Ostrander Auditorium about his journey following graduation, and the importance of leadership in his role as vice president of consumer marketing for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball

team.

Bathey, who attended MSU from 1990-91, earned a master’s degree in sport administration while helping coach the Maverick baseball team as the graduate assistant baseball coach.

After graduating, Bathey worked for Frito-Lay as the third-shift supervisor where he “managed people.” He then

moved to Scott Paper Company, a “reputable company selling toilet paper,” Bathey said.

Knowing he wanted to pursue a career in sports, Bathey went against the advice of his parents and left his paying job at the paper company for Vero Beach, Fla. to intern with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

When the internship ended, Bathey learned of an opportunity selling season tickets with the Brewers and landed the job, finishing up his first year with the team in 1992.

“I loved going to work every day,” Bathey said. “[I] loved selling the Brewers.”

Moving up since his first year with the team, Bathey was promoted to his current role in 2010.

It is this work ethic and constant drive for advancement and improvement by Bathey that made Marcus Ableman, president of the MSU Sport Management Club, after talking with Todd Pfingsten, Director of Campus Recreation last year, want to

bring Bathey in to speak.

“I kind of always had that mind frame that he really has a good story to tell, just about his work ethic, his attention to detail, how he, especially in sales, moving up the ladder in sales is difficult to do,” Ableman said.

Ableman also explained that Bathey serves on the Sport Management Club advisory board, but hasn’t ever been able to attend a meeting, so it was a “great opportunity to get him down here to speak” and

attend the advisory meeting.

Bathey’s ability to advance in the tough industry of sales is “exactly” what the club models itself after, Ableman said.

During the presentation, Bathey explained that it is important to hire the right people so you can create leaders instead of followers because “great organizations have many great leaders” rather than just one.

Bathey / page 10

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Ed/Op

REPORTER STAFF - FALL 2012

POLICIES & INFORMATION

Editor in Chief: Megan Kadlec (507) 389-5454

• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Megan Kadlec at (507) 389-5454. 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, which can be contacted at (507) 389-2611.

NEWS EDITOR: Ryan Lund............................. (507) 389-5450

• The Minnesota State University Mankato Reporter is a student-run 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 $35.00 and subscribers will receive the paper within three to five days after publishing.

sports editor: Reece Hemmesch.................(507) 389-5227 Variety Editor: Emre Erku........................... (507) 389-5157 ADVERTISING sales: Natasha Jones.............(507) 389-1063 Business Manager: Jane Tastad................ (507) 389-1926 ADVERTISING DESIGN MGR.: Dana Clark....(507) 389-2793

reporter-editor@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5454

• 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.

Follow the Reporter on Twitter @MSUReporter or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/msureporter

Thanks for a great semester, Mavericks.

The Reporter appreciates it.

MEGAN KADLEC

editor in chief

I’ll be the first to admit that this semester hasn’t been easy, but it also has been an amazing learning experience for everyone on the Reporter payroll, myself included.

From problems with content to full email inboxes, it’s been quite the semester. Add in the daily battle of having pages upon pages of blank pages with nothing to fill them (I thank God for the Associated Press at these times), and you’ve got yourself the perfect concoction for a stressful semester.

But somehow, we’re all still hanging on. And it wouldn’t be that way if we didn’t, at least sometimes, have fun together. Whether we’re editing each other’s work or procrastinating as every college student does, fun is always to be had in the good ole’ Reporter office.

The guys who work in this office constantly make fun of me, though I wouldn’t have it any other way. To my editors: You’ve had a tough semester, and I appreciate your ability to have fun despite the crazy shit you have to deal with on a regular basis.

Ryan Lund, props for standing up and taking on the news section midway through

the semester. You’ve managed well. Also, you make an awesome companion for coffee shop and museum adventures in Chicago – thanks.

Reece Hemmesch, you’re a rockstar for putting up with so many huge supplemental issues. Our Vikings Training Camp issue has never looked better, and even though SportsZone made us want to rip our eyes out, you did a good job.

Emre Erku, you’re awful.

No, I’m kidding. Despite all of your weird comments and talk of partying, I would miss you if you were gone. With all your excitement about Hoffner’s first press conference, I think you should try writing a news story sometime. It’d be good for you.

Schuyler Houtsma, I wish you were in the office more. I always love our conversations on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, especially when they involve you yelling at me for not seeing The Dark Knight Rises (which I still need to do.)

To Jane: You are phenomenal. You keep this paper alive with your conversation and baked goods.

To Dana: Thank you for being patient with me at the beginning of the semester. I realize that I’ve had

some problems with layout and sending the paper, but you’re always there to tell me exactly what I did wrong.

Thank you.

To the Ad Sales Team: As much as I hate admitting it, you keep this paper running, even though it may not seem like it when we have 8-page papers.

To the front desk staff: I hope you know that the editors and I are all jealous of you. Getting paid hourly for putting up Christmas decorations and doing your homework must feel awesome.

Kidding.

To our staff writers: come visit us more. We get lonely up here sometimes and all we really want is a visit from an eager to please staff writer.

The office is not a scary place to be, I promise. And for anyone who wants to be a writer, come apply! We’re always looking to add to our team.

To the Newspaper Committee (Kellian Clink, Ellen Mrja and Max Sundermeyer): thank you for all your hard work redoing the bylaws that bleak Friday afternoon in October. Also, Ellen, thank you for always being there for me when I have a legal question.

You’re the best.

To our loyal readers, thank

archive • msu reporter Some of the Reporter staff hangs out with Stomper before the MSU Homecoming Parade this September.

you. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve the Reporter, feel free to set up a meeting with me or shoot me an email. Any and all feedback is welcome.

That being said, while everyone is off enjoying Christmas cookies and Egg Nog with their families this winter, I’ll be locked in my office, starting, and finish-

“How are you feeling going into finals week?”

ing, projects I simply don’t have time for during the semester. If anyone wants to come save me from a diet of Ramen and coffee, feel free. I could use a real meal.

Have a great month off and I look forward to being back to produce the Jan. 15 edition of the Reporter for you.

Happy Holidays, Mavericks.

Compiled by Lela Magxaka

Derek kubicek, sophomore

Kayla Mcfadden, Junior

Shirwa Horsi, Senior

Shafi Qanyare, Senior

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“Stressed, but happy for break.”

“Stressed, confused, numb; really all I’m thinking of is my vacation.”

“Ready for vacation time already.”

“Ready for winter break, trying to keep calm, and to get done with exams and assignments.”

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Where To Worship

Reporter • Page 7

WHERE TO WORSHIP First Lutheran Church 1114 W. Traverse Road St. Peter, MN 56082 www.flcstp.org Mankato United Methodist Churches

Worship Services at: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Sundays 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays We are an ELCA, Reconciled in Christ Congregation.

Belgrade Avenue UMC Hilltop UMC Centenary UMC The Korean Fellowship

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- Excellent Bible-based teaching - Choice of music styles: - Contemporary includes full band playing relevant worship songs - Traditional includes organ and hymns 1250 Monks Avenue - 345-4011 On the corner of Monks Avenue and Balcerzak Drive.

Close walking distance from MSU! Give Bethel a try and see if it can be your 'church home away from home'! Come - just as you are - now is the time to worship.

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Page 8 • Reporter

continued from 4

12

there was no tax increase whatsoever, tax bills in that regard would have increased, even if the effects would have been minimal.

The bases of these taxes are from Jan 2 of this year. They estimate the market values and classifications of different types of properties, both residential and commercial. “It is this tax capacity, combined with the local budgeting decisions each year, that results in the tax bill property tax payers will pay.” Stalberger explained.

There are some cases where values of homes went up because of residents making changes to their homes, including interior renovations. In those cases, because their values went up, they too receive a slight tax increase, the same being the case for apartments and commercial properties.

To this point, nothing is finalized. The county and the city held a budget meeting on Monday, and will hold another one next Tuesday to further discuss what has been proposed to this point, as they continue to amend and attempt to perfect the tax situation for residents. The final tax bill will be put into place later in the spring as the governments finalize their decisions on the budget.

With the end of the semester in sight, many students at Minnesota State University, Mankato are quickly making plans for their four weeks of freedom. Whether staying in Mankato or heading home come Dec. 14, students will have a month to do whatever they please with few obligations – except for work, of course.

All the extra free time can be daunting, so I’ve created a list of 12 things to do over break (it’s sort of like the 12 days of Christmas, only obviously not): 1. Work – Without pesky class schedules, homework and studying, winter break can be a good opportunity to squeeze in some extra hours at your part-time job, or find another one. With extended holiday hours and higher sales, many businesses are hiring seasonal employees for the next month. Who knows, maybe you can save up enough money to finally pay of that credit card bill that’s been looming over your head for the past few months.

2. Volunteer – Need some volunteer hours in

TAXES “It is this tax capacity, combined with the local budgeting decisions each year, that results in the tax bill property tax payers will pay.”

News

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

activities to cure winter break boredom

MEGAN KADLEC

editor in chief

web photo

your field to put on a resume? You’re in luck. Many organizations, like the Humane Society and Campus Kitchen, are looking for seasonal volunteers to help them out since many people take time off to see their families.

3. Plan Ahead – Speaking of that resume, start working on yours. Seniors who are looking for

full-time jobs after they graduate in May, or even underclassmen who want to land the perfect internship, could benefit from taking a crack at resume writing and portfolio building. What we are too busy to do during the semester can be a great activity to fill a lazy winter afternoon.

4. Get a Hobby – The school year can be stress-

CONGRATULATIONS! Best of Luck to the MSU Football Team from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes!

ful, and students often can’t even find the time to sleep, let alone do the things that make them happy. Whether it’s woodworking, stamp collecting or knitting, winter break is the perfect time to explore a new hobby or rediscover your love for something you used to enjoy.

5. Winter Activites –

Winter Break / page 11

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

News

Senate hosts “Simple Act of Civility”

courtest of minnesota state student association SAM WILMES

staff writer

On Tuesday afternoon the Student Senate hosted “The Simple Act of Civility,” a program meant to educate students on civility in, and outside, the classroom. The presentation, hosted in Ostrander Auditorium, featured three ten minute presentations. The speakers focused on their roles with the University and why civility is critical to the positions they hold.

Student Senate Vice President David Schieler was very happy with the show.

“The presentation went amazing today,” Schieler said.

About 50 people attended.

The event kicked off with Peer Educators Acting for

Change and Equality performing a skit on civility. Vice President of Student Affairs David Jones introduced the Civility campaign. According to it’s website, the campaign has set up fliers, posted electronic messages across campus, and set up table tents to spread their message.

Student Association Diversity Expert David Bassey discussed civility and minorities. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender center also participated in the event, with LGBT Director Jessica Flatequal speaking on civility and the LGBT community.

Flatequal came away very impressed with the Student Senate.

“I think it’s fantastic that student government put on this

event to emphasize the importance of diversity and civility. I was honored to be asked to be a part of it. My talk focused on the scary realities and connections between acts of incivility and the more horrific forms of violence that our incivility can ultimately support,” Flatequal said.

The director is also very impressed with the way MSU treats the LBGT community, but she knows more work needs to be done.

“I think MSU offers a very welcoming and affirming campus for our LGBT students, staff, and faculty. I’m very proud to be a Maverick. However, there is always work to do, and always steps we can take to advance our knowledge and understanding of LGBT people or any identity that is different from our own,” she said.

What Flatequal stresses in her work stresses on the impact of everyone’s actions.

“No one action exists in a vacuum nor is it independent,” Flatequal said. “Everything we think, say, do (or not do), has an impact on everything and everyone. “ A faculty association representative spoke about the need to be civil in the classroom. Being civil in the classroom can take many forms - from listening to the teacher to listening to your fellow classmates when they

Civility / page 11

Reporter • Page 9

BATHEY “People don’t care what you know until they know you care,” Bathey said. continued from 5 The people who Bathey looks to hire for his marketing team must be competent, focused, resourceful, be a team player and be positive-minded because he wants them to achieve just like he did.

“People don’t care what you know until they know you care,” Bathey said.

Bathey explained that on the road to becoming a great leader a person needs to see him or herself as “being successful before [he or she] can be successful.”

And once a person has established a “clear vision and direction” for success they can do what great leaders do: openly identify problems, empower others, set and celebrate goals and increase communication and encourage others to do so.

Something Bathey likes to do as a leader is provide his employees with a lagniappe, which is an unexpected or indirect benefit. When employees go above and beyond what their position calls for, Bathey awards them with stickers of achievement on a Brewers helmet, something that each of his employees has on his or her desk. This way they know that he notices and cares about their work.

The event was made possible with the help of Ashley Strom, assistant director for Non-Traditional Students, Registered Student Organizations, and Leadership, Ableman said. Strom helped Ableman co-sponsor the event by finding the appropriate funding to organize, market and pay for Bathey’s travel expenses.

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Page 10 • Reporter

News

Mississippi dropping slower than expected ST. LOUIS (AP) — A revised Mississippi River forecast offered a bit of a reprieve for shippers Wednesday, showing the water level isn’t dropping as quickly as feared. Still, at least two large barge companies already are reducing their loads over concerns about the river’s depth.

Months of drought have left the Mississippi near historic low levels, a problem worsened last month when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduced the outflow from an upper Missouri River dam, lessening the amount of water that drains into the Mississippi where the rivers converge near St. Louis.

The river at St. Louis on Wednesday was about 13 feet deep. The Coast Guard has said further restrictions on barge traffic — most notably in a 180-mile stretch between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill. — are likely if the river dips to around 9 feet, though the decision is based on observation of conditions and not the level on the gauge.

Earlier National Weather Service forecasts had projected getting to the 9-foot level

by Sunday or Monday. But a Weather Service hydrologist told The Associated Press on Wednesday that revised modeling now calls for reaching that level around Dec. 29, then dropping another foot by Jan. 2.

Hydrologist Mark Fuchs said the earlier modeling didn’t account for water draining back into the Missouri River from its flood plain — draining that is occurring because the river is so low.

“It’s prolonging everything,” Fuchs said, though he warned the Mississippi “is going to get down there eventually if it doesn’t rain.”

Barge operators know that as well. Two operators say they’ve already decided to reduce the size of their barge loads.

Cargo Carriers has shortened its drafts — the submerged portion of barges — to 7 feet for vessels headed from the Gulf of Mexico at Louisiana to points north of St. Louis, Cargo Carriers President Rick Calhoun said. Cargo Carriers is the shipping arm of Minnesota-based Cargill Inc., operating 1,300 barges.

Drafts generally are as low as 12 feet underwater but have been restricted to 9 feet because the river is so low, restrictions that could tighten further as the river level drops.

Calhoun said every foot of reduced draft means 200 tons — or 13 percent — less cargo being shipped. At this time of year, Calhoun said, the company’s northbound cargo is road salt and fertilizer.

While lessening cargo

weight helps barges ride higher, shipping costs increase because more barges are required to move the cargo and tow boats go through more fuel because more trips become necessary.

“The industry is really in a difficult position right now,” Calhoun said. “It’s very much a dicey and day-to-day situation.”

Nashville, Tenn.-based Ingram Barge — the nation’s biggest carrier on the inland U.S. waterway system — also plans to cut drafts to 8 feet for barges traveling north of Cairo, a company spokesman said.

The severity of the issue surfaced Monday, when an 18-barge tow ran aground on a submerged sandbar at a curve south of Memphis, Tenn. Refloating that barge took some 20 hours, causing a backup of 12 northbound vessels and twice that number headed downriver, the Coast Guard said.

“The low river definitely is affecting the way mariners are transiting the river,” said Lt. Ryan Gomez of the Coast Guard’s Memphis office. “It is a concern right now.”

River shipping trade groups have warned of a potential economic disaster if river traffic is restricted or shut down for an extended period.

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

Concert brings campus ministries together This Friday, various campus ministry groups are coming together in order to put on a concert.

The concert, Worship BandFest, will take place at Crossroads Campus Ministry, located on Maywood Ave. Student leaders at Crossroads developed the idea in 2011, stating that they wanted to worship with their friends that were involved with different ministries. The first concert was held in December 2011 and the second, this April.

“The students rarely get to hear each other’s worship bands play, because the students each worship with their own Christian communities,” said Pastor Tammy Dahlvang.

The students who put on the concert last year hoped to involve all campus ministries in the concert, sending an email to all Registered Student Organizations with a Christian affiliation.

This year, Crossroads, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, CRU, the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center and Hosanna Highland will be working together. The leadership in these ministries are “happy to facilitate the friendships our students have with one another,” according to Dahlvig.

Christian musicians “To Be A Man” and “True Chico” will be performing at Friday’s concert.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

News

Reporter • Page 11

CIVILITY continued from 9 WINTER BREAK “Start working on that New Year’s resolution a bit early this year. Excuses are easy to make share an opinion. all decide to be civil in order Cake and coffee was served to produce a global change. A when you’re wading through a sea of exams, essays and afterwards. global shift in civility may hope The student association to reduce global violence. A projects, but not so easy when you have no plans or began conversation of a civility very long and beautiful goal in time commitments.” campaign over a month ago, acrelation to our simple University continued from 8 Whether it’s begging your dad to let you use his snowmobile or breaking out the old skis, the time to take advantage of the snow that should be headed our way is now. Don’t feel coordinated enough to snowboard?

Opt for bringing back memories of your childhood by going tubing. Better yet, take your younger siblings if you’re at home. They’ll love it and you’ll love being out of the house.

6. Relax – Catch up on the latest season of the Walking Dead or spend a day lounging around your apartment reading that book you never finished.

Take a break from everything and do nothing all day. It’ll be good for you.

7. Start a Project – Always wanted to write a novel or build a bookcase?

Take advantage of your free time to start working. It can be tough to find motivation to do things you really want during the semester.

8. Hit the Gym – Start working on that New Year’s Resolution a little bit early this year. Excuses are easy to make when you’re wading through a sea of exams, essays and projects, but not so easy when you have no plans or time commitments.

9. Go on an Adventure – While most people avoid driving during the winter months, a weekend on the road can do you some good.

Whether you’re heading to Wisconsin Dells or Chicago with your friends or visiting family in North Dakota, taking some time off to create new experiences is good for you.

10. Catch Up With Old Friends – I’ll be the first to admit that, when school is the busiest, I forget I have friends that I should talk to. If you’re going home for break, make it a point to go out for coffee, or beers, with as many of your old friends as possible. You’ll either have a great time and

restore an old friendship or have a funny story to tell your friends in Mankato about the guy you used to have a crush on who gained a lot of weight and turned creepy.

11. Start Cleaning – Winter break is probably the only time until May most students will have days on end to re-organize and clean their entire apartment. This is also an excellent opportunity to organize, and back up, the files on your laptop. It’s one of those things that need to be done, but no one actually wants to do.

12. Have Fun – Above all else, winter break is supposed to be just that, a break. Take time off and do exactly what you want to do, even if that means sitting in front of the television in your pajamas drinking hot chocolate and watching Pawn Stars all day.

cording to Schieler.

“The action was referred to our student affairs committee for planning at that point,” Schieler said.

Schieler knows that civility is a much bigger project than one person can achieve.

“Civility is more than a personal decision. Civility is a cultural decision. We must

campaign,” Schieler said.

Schieler wanted the presentation to show students the effects of civility (Or lack thereof.). ”The most important thing I believe students may gather from the presentation was that each act of violence, not matter what its nature, is first validated by our uncivil treatment of others,” Schieler said.

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conGRADulations!

December 2012 graduates, YOU’VE MADE IT! But don’t stop now. The CDC is still available to help you with resumes, cover letters, interview skills and more!

Check mavjobs.com regularly for job and internship openings. www.mnsu.edu/cdc

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Page 12 • Reporter

News

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

Suspect released in Cold Springs officer slaying MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A day before the funeral for a central Minnesota police officer killed in the line of duty, the man initially accused in the fatal shooting was released from jail after authorities said Tuesday they didn't have enough evidence to file charges.

They vowed to keep investigating the slaying of Cold Spring Officer Tom Decker, and they asked the public to continue helping in the search for the 20gauge shotgun believed to have been used in the shooting.

"Investigators will not rest until we fully determine what happened the night of Officer Decker's death and bring to account those responsible," said Drew Evans, assistant superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Decker, 31, was fatally shot late Thursday behind a downtown Cold Spring bar as he and his partner were checking on a man reported to be suicidal.

Authorities had described the shooting as an ambush, though they offered no details.

Ryan Michael Larson, the 34-

year-old man arrested roughly an hour after Decker was killed, walked out of jail shortly before noon Tuesday. The BCA and the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that prosecutors did not have "sufficient documented evidence" to continue holding him on suspicion of second-degree murder charges.

The Associated Press was unable to reach Larson for comment, and he did not appear to have an attorney. While jailed over the weekend, he told the St. Cloud Times that authorities had the wrong guy, and that he was asleep in his apartment above the bar when Decker was shot.

"Basically, they have no evidence whatsoever that points in my direction," Larson told the newspaper. "They have no gun, they have no fingerprints, they have nothing."

On the night of Decker's death, police received a call from Larson's family indicating he might be suicidal. Larson told the St. Cloud Times that his family had simply misinterpreted text messages he had sent,

adding that he had met Decker a handful of times. He called Decker a "great guy."

Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall said she could not comment on whether Larson was still a suspect, citing the active investigation.

Kendall explained that the legal standard to charge someone with a crime is higher than the standard to make an arrest.

She said charges won't be filed unless she believes a case can

be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and there just isn't enough evidence at this point.

When asked if the missing murder weapon was a factor, Kendall said: "It's part of it, but it's not the only factor."

Kendall wanted to assure the public that authorities were doing everything they could, but stressed that many details couldn't be released because it's an active investigation.

Under state law, authorities

have 36 hours once a suspect is in custody to file criminal charges. An extension can be granted if there is good cause — and in this case, prosecutors were granted an extension until noon Tuesday.

Decker, a father of four, had been with the Cold Spring Police Department for six years.

He grew up on a farm just south of Cold Spring, a city of roughly 4,000 residents about 75 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

CHRIS HOUCK

MSSA

staff writer

MSSA met for their last official meeting of the semester on Wednesday covering topics ranging from a new textbook program for students, the status of campus life and other projects that are currently being implemented or proposed for the future of the university.

Senator Blake Grotewold gave a presentation to the student senators, saying that the Academic Affairs Committee has been getting a lot of complaints about the high cost of textbooks and, as a result, he has designed a new website for students to be able to sell and buy the books that they need.

The website would allow students to post books that they are selling and drop them off at the MSSA office, where they would then be able to be paid for by students who saw the posting on the website.

The possible site that was shown to the senate is still in a prototype phase with Grotewold saying that it may

possibly be integrated with Minnesota State University, Mankato’s website and that it will be operating sometime between early and mid-spring semester 2013.

Senator Ben Shakespear gave an update on current living conditions at the McElroy dorms, as well as speaking about the status of its surrounding buildings.

Shakespear addressed recent improvements at Carkoski Commons, saying that times spend in line have been shorter since the start of the semester, also noting that the building will undergo some aesthetic changes over winter break in order to provide a better atmosphere for students to dine.

Senators Nick Jirik and Lado Jobava spoke about the new Integrated Business Experience program that the College of Business has recently implemented, saying that it has gained statewide recognition for its success and were looking for ways to inform more students of the program.

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News

Reporter • Page 13

Activists attempt to force Xcel to change MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Clean air advocates sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, seeking an order to require the EPA to mandate that Xcel Energy install the best available technology to reduce emissions at Minnesota’s biggest power plant.

The six groups that filed the lawsuit said pollution from the coal-fired Sherco plant near Becker is unhealthy for people and is a major contributor to haze that obscures the views at Voyageurs and Isle Royale national parks and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. They said a haze-cutting plan that state

regulators submitted to the EPA is deficient because it doesn’t require Xcel to install technology used at similar plants elsewhere that would most effectively cut Sherco’s emissions.

So the lawsuit asks the federal court to order the EPA to mandate that Xcel use what’s known as “best available retrofit technology” at Sherco. It says the EPA is obligated to do so under federal law.

“We hope this action will spur the EPA to force the Sherco facility to meet modern air quality standards and to stop compromising people’s health and the ecosystems of our national

treasures,” said Kevin Reuther, legal director of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

Frank Prager, Xcel’s vice president of environmental policy and services, said the company had not had the chance to review the lawsuit and could not comment on it directly. But he added that Xcel is investing $50 million in improvements at Sherco that will cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by about half, which he said will be adequate.

An EPA spokeswoman did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Page 14 • Reporter

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MSU Hosts ‘Vagina Monolgues’

SARA VAGT

staff writer

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Eve Ensler’s show The Vagina Monologues, and preparations are under way for Minnesota State University, Mankato’s showing. The Vagina Monologues will be showing at MSU on Feb. 14 and 15.

Abigail Barefoot, graduate assistant for the Women’s Center said, “Because this is the 15th anniversary of the creation of the Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler created the One Billion Rising Campaign. The spotlight monologue is centered around the one billion rising

and the idea that 1 out of 3 women will experience violence in their lifetime, which means that over 1 billion women on this planet will be impacted by violence. So while the spotlight doesn’t reflect one particular place, it represents the magnitude of violence women face worldwide.”

The Vagina Monologues is an important show. It brings taboo issues such as sexual assault, incest, domestic violence and many more to light.

Contrary to what the title leads people to believe, the show is not just for women either.

The Vagina Monologues is an enlightening show for anyone of any gender. However, the show does have some graphic material and age should be considered if bringing family or friends to the show.

According to The Vagina Monologues homepage, “The award-winning play is based on V-Day Founder/playwright

Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women. With humor and grace the piece celebrates women’s sexuality and strength. Through this play and the liberation of this one word, countless women throughout the world have taken control of their bodies and their lives.”

However, this show is perfect for anyone with an open mind. The Vagina Monologues’ strives to end violence against women, and the best way to do this is by raising awareness through people seeing the show.

The Vagina Monologues’ homepage also says, “Performance is just the beginning. VDay stages large-scale benefits and produces innovative gatherings, films and campaigns to educate and change social attitudes towards violence against women.”

The Women’s Center finds the issue of violence against women extremely important and because of this MSU has done The Vagina Monologues many times in years past. Spe-

cifically, the Women’s Center helps sponsor the show, and this year it is being headed by Barefoot. Kayla Green, Nik Price and myself will also be helping direct the show this year.

During this past month, auditions have taken place and a cast list has been released.

Rehearsals are set to begin in January.

“We are currently in the beginning stages of preparing for The Vagina Monologues. We are just now scheduling meetings with our amazing crews, which include our directors who are helping create a vision for this year’s monologues and the benefit team, which will create an event to help promote The Monologues and raise money,” said Barefoot. “Expect to see a lot of work in upcoming months as The Vagina Monologues’ show comes closer.”

Since the performance will take place in the Ostrander, there will be no specific set built. The Vagina Monologues

is less about the set, the lights, and sounds cues. The show is more about the messages and issues that are being discussed.

Promotional merchandise will also be on sale in January.

Last year t-shirts, chocolate vaginas, buttons, and pictures with “The Vagina Man” were available for purchase. The Women’s Center hopes to continue to sell these things this year, and they are also adding temporary tattoos to their list of merchandise. MSU students will only pay $5 a ticket and non-students will pay only $8.

Ten percent of the total amount of tickets and merchandise sold will benefit the spotlight campaign this year, which is the One Billion Rising campaign mentioned above.

The rest of the money will be used to benefit other important causes that the Women’s Center sponsors.

The Vagina Monologues is a fun yet informative show that everyone who is age appropriate should see. It is definitely worth the price.

Mankato’s Sibley Park Holds ‘The Kiwanis Holidy Lights’ TRISH BJERKE

staff writer

At Mankato’s Sibley Park, from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31, one million lights will decorate the trees with choreographed holiday spirit. The Kiwanis Holiday Lights, put on by the Mankato Area Foundation, include a 50foot Christmas tree, a 40-foot long tunnel, warming houses and heated restrooms.

Viewers are able to either walk or drive through Sibley Park. Those who walk will hear Christmas music playing outside and those that drive are notified to change their radio stations to sync with the lights. The music ranges from the classic “White Christmas” to a Christmas remix of “Gangham Style.”

The event is completely spectacular. You can see the lights from a great distance away and feel the excitement already.

Looking at Christmas lights may seem childish, but the lights bring joy to all ages. Red, blue, green, yellow and every other color turn a normal park into a memorable event.

It may not seem like Christmas season due to Mankato’s lack of snow, but if holiday cheer is what you’re missing, the lights will deliver it. The combination of music and beauty is both inspiring and romantic. It has potential to be the perfect date spot: get some hot chocolate, find your favorite display and act like a kid again.

The mission of the Kiwanis Holiday Lights is to build on past traditions and raise food donations for those in need around the Mankato area. The event is free, but donations are encouraged. The lights are on from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Scott Wojcik, the president of the Mankato Foundation, wrote in the Kiwanis Holiday Lights bulletin that the project has spent almost two years in the making. Many companies from around the area acted as sponsors for the event. The money they donated went toward the costs to upgrade the power supply in Sibley Park, the purchase of over one million LED lights

and the additional equipment needed to assemble the display.

By Dec. 31, over 1,000 volunteers will have helped collect money, direct traffic and explain to people what was happening next.

The Mankato Area Foundation began in 1974. Since then, they have dedicated themselves to “building a community of individuals that believe in the strength of giving. We continue today to shape Greater Mankato through connecting acts of giving with our community’s needs.”

Donors from around the area rely on the Mankato Area Foundation to make sure their contributions are as effective as possible. The Foundation has connected philanthropic interests with community needs. Through their grantmaking programs, they enrich the quality of life.

They have five areas of giving: education, culture, recreation, aesthetics and civics. The lights display came with great help from the Rotary Club in La Crosse, Wis., as they have been doing the lights for the last 18

years.

So, now that the Mankato Area Foundation and the Kiwanis Holiday Lights have been explained, Christmas lights need a little background.

According to the Library of Congress website, Thomas Edison created the first string of electric lights. This would make sense since he created the first successful light bulb. In 1880, Edison hung lights around his laboratory. Railroad passengers got the first glimpse of these lights that Christmas season.

Before Christmas lights were popular, candles were used to light Christmas trees. In 1882, Edison’s friend and partner, Edward H. Johnson, created the very first string of lights specifically for Christmas trees.

He wired eighty red, white and blue bulbs together and hung them on a pine tree. On Dec. 22, he turned the lights on, marking the opening night for electric Christmas tree lights.

In 1865, President Cleveland had the White House Christmas tree decorated with hundreds of lights. Until 1903, Christmas

lights were only used by the wealthy. To light a Christmas tree back then would have cost $2,000 today. In 1923, President Coolidge lit the National Christmas tree that had 3,000 twinkly lights on it.

By the 1920’s, the lights became more modern. Lights shaped like people, birds, Santa and whatever else you can imagine were made.

Bring your holiday spirit to life with the Kiwanis Holiday Lights in Sibley Park. The amazing display runs until New Years Eve, so there’s plenty of time to check them out.

Page 16 • Reporter

A&E

Thursday, December 6, 2012 T

Texting Friendly Theaters: Maybe the Worst Thing since Polio

JAMES SCHYULER HOUTSMA

web editor The golden days of the movie theater are slipping away like an intangible fog of nostalgia. Watching a movie from home has become just too cheap and convenient to compete with. This is quickly becoming an inconvenient truth movie audiences have become accustomed to. So in their desperation, some movie theaters chains may be turning to a concept that’s been floating around for a few months now. A concept they don’t fully understand: text-friendly movie theaters. But some ideas aren’t looking for anything logical. Some ideas just want to see movie theaters burn.

If my eighth to tenth Batman reference this semester didn’t spell it out well enough, theaters accepting of texting or general phone use is not an okay thing.

Proponents of this… thing claim that by designating specific movie showtimes as “text acceptable,” modern text savvy, attention deficit audi-

ence members will not feel persecuted by “strict” rules when they go to the theater and perhaps even feel compelled to Tweet their favorable reaction or sing the movie’s praises on Facebook.

To be fair, theater chains looking for ways to get the most people they can into their establishments is completely understandable. I, for one, am continually hopeful that theater attendance sees nothing but an upspike in the future.

But this is the absolute wrong way to do that.

For starters, how far back can you recall where there hasn’t at least been that one person during the movie who is constantly whipping out their phone and distracting you and others with their demonic LED light of doom? My best guess would be no more than five theater outings before that has happened.

Theaters may threaten

action if you’re caught being disruptive (some more than others) but the rub is that you first have to be caught, and for that to happen there has to be someone there to catch you.

No one wants to get confron-

tational when it comes to this and unfortunately that’s cause of so many ruined movie viewings.

Not only that, but in catering to the thoughtless minority, theater owners would be

pushing away the people who actually enjoy going to the theater. Putting up with inflating ticket and concession prices, as well as half an hour of previews and commercials is taxing enough but we put up with it because we love the experience of seeing these movies as they were meant to be seen. Call me old fashioned, but I’m of the mindset that when you go to the movie theater and pay money, it’s for the opportunity to see a movie.

But they’ve completely sidestepped the problems by having designated screenings for these chatty Kathys, right? Not really.

What happens when the regular screenings of say The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn or Django Unchained sell out? Are you going to throw your whole schedule into whack or are you going to opt for the room full of bright

touch screens, as well as a rumored movie screen? Or, worst case scenario, people view this conditional acceptance as unconditional for all occasions?

We’ve already gone over how not enough is done as is to keep people from doing this.

I’ve got a suggestion for everyone that might put this issue to rest: don’t text in the theater. While we’re at it, same goes for talking. As I’ve wanted to bellow in a primeval howl numerous times, the theater is not your fucking living room.

While you’re good to do what you will in the comfort of your own home, you’ve paid money for the purpose of focusing your attention on the movie and the movie alone.

For you to half ass it and be distracting is rude to both the filmmakers and the other theater goers who payed to be interjected into the story on screen, not your conversations.

With any luck, theater chains will fall to reason and we can put this awful possible future in the past.

CONGRATULATIONS MSU FOOTBALL and Good Luck this weekend!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

A&E

Reporter • Page 17

The Intereseting faces of MSU TRISH BJERKE

staff writer

Mark Martinez Mark Martinez is the Technical Coordinator for the Centennial Student Union. That last event you went to in the Ballroom would have been impossible without him: he supervises tech support for all events in the CSU and sets up audio, sound systems, projection and lighting when they are necessary.

Martinez is from California, around the Los Angeles area, and he attended San Diego State as a theatre major. While at SDS, he became interested in multi-media. In 1997, he moved to New York and “worked at a lot of places there.” He moved back to California in 2005 where he worked as the Director of Event Technology at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

The Golden Globes are held at that venue, which gave Martinez a chance to be a liaison between the hotel and Dick Clark Productions.

“The hotel consists of different parts, and there were afterparties in each part. We’d do the after-party set up,” he said.

Martinez has met celebrities like Paul McCartney and Janet Jackson, and now he’s one of Mankato’s own. Besides work-

ing at the university, he has helped out at Two Fish recording studio in Mankato. There, he helped record and produce bands.

“I like being at MSU because of the students,” he said.

“They share experiences and I can share experiences that I’ve had. There’s a vibrancy from the youth of students.”

He is especially proud of the tech students he works with. At the last United States Institute for Theatre Technology Conference, MSU’s team took first place in the Tech Olympics.

Next time you notice the technology in the CSU, remember the guy behind it.

Amy Brenna “As a girl over six feet tall, college has given me an experience that I would call abnormal,” senior Amy Brenna said.

“If you’re tall and you’re a girl in college, people automatically assume you’re either in sports or intimidating,” she said.

When Brenna was a freshman, she was approached by a peer and was asked whether or not she played volleyball. She lied and said “yes” and walked away from the inquirer.

“When people ask you stupid questions like, ‘Do you know you’re really tall?’ yeah, I obvi-

ously do. I formed a way to give them responses in a passive way because it’s a pain in butt. As a woman, it has become more of a thing of pride rather than a form of embarrassment.

“After studying abroad for a semester in Spain with a population that came up to my tits, I was inspired to appreciate my height. When I got back to the United States, I realized I had acquired a confidence that would allow me to walk into Red Rocks and get any guy I wanted. Not only am I confidant in that department, but I also have confidence in everything else that I do,” Brenna said.

Clayton Wagner “I was here before Ford Hall was even an idea in some prof’s head,” Clayton Wagner said.

Wagner is in his 20-something semester here at MSU. “I heard (President) Davenport gives you a free coffee cup when you reach the ‘student for a decade’ level, so I think that’s what I’m shooting for,” he said.

He started taking classes through MSU when he was sixteen because he hated high school.

“I’m 6’5” but pretty gotdamned uncoordinated, so sports weren’t exactly an option. I had to explore alterna-

tives. College seemed like a good fit,” he said.

At age seventeen he began taking a full course load on campus and commuted everyday even though he was still technically a high school student. He has a degree in Finance, but he “didn’t like the way it looked on his wall” so he came back for a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. This is his eighth year as a student at MSU. Wagner reminisced about the party scene years ago. He was here when Amanda Jax died an alcohol-related death.

“What was most on the minds of myself and my peers was the house party scene. It was insane, in a span of a few

years MSU saw the alcohol death of her [Jax], a male student fell off the bleachers at Blakeslee stadium, a girl got hit jogging on the hill, plus another girl getting hit while walking across the street with her friend.

Also, someone fell off a balcony at U-Square,” he said.

He isn’t sure that MSU’s party scene has recovered since then. He said the cops really cracked down since then.

“I went from being the youngest kid in my classes to now being the oldest,” said Wagner.

So watch out Mavericks, this could be you.

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Page 18 • Reporter

A&E

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

First Hobbit reviews in – sales in pitchforks and torches go up

JAMES SCHYULER HOUTSMA

web editor

Recalling past experiences, people sometimes seem shocked when they find out that a majority of movies are often screened weeks in advance of their release date for critics and select audiences.

Upcoming awards contenders Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty recently made their world debut for these groups over the Thanksgiving holiday to raucous praise.

But what film fanatics who pay attention to reviews, like myself, have been wondering is when the notices for The Hobbit, Peter Jackson’s long awaited return to his epic Lord of the Rings franchise, would hit the interwebs. That day has finally come. And judging by the reviews, heads up are in order to anyone expecting The Hobbit to be a strong awards contender or surpass the original trilogy, the message being to stop thinking that way.

• web photo

As of this writing, the evening of December 4th, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey shows a total of 20 reviews submitted on Rotten Tomatoes.

15 of these reviews are overall positive in their outlook and 5 are negative for an early grand total of 75% on the Tomatometer (Tomatometer represents percentage of positive reviews, not the movie’s cumulative

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What is not so guaranteed is how the film will be received once it is released next Friday.

“Universal acclaim’ is not something that’s often found with movies that receive a handful of negative reviews so early on. That’s not to say that The Hobbit is assured to be a bad movie. On the contrary, it has many things going for it and still has a strong chance of getting a warm reception upon release (this writer is predicting a final Tomatometer score between 80-87%).

The only question now is how the general public will accept the first of the three movies. To throw my two cents into the ring, the vibes of another Dark Knight Rises situation are strong with this one. Established fans are predisposed to take it in, while regular audiences may

be at the mercy of their own tastes as to whether they accept it or not. Not to mention the flood of overly negative user comments that poured in (presumably by die-hard fans) once the critical reviews appeared seems awfully familiar to what happened with the prior movie.

As to whether the film will garner any awards buzz, it’s still early but the early divided reaction seems like a blow to The Hobbit’s chances at the serious Oscar gold the Lord of the Rings movies drew, although consideration in technical categories shouldn’t be ruled out yet.

Whatever the case may be, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens next Friday, 12/14 for you to see where you stand on it.

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score.) The average rating as of now is 6.6/10.

So far, critics are praising Jackson’s prequel for its attention to detail/faithfulness to the book, performances, and rip-rollicking second and third acts. Others are bemoaning its prominent pacing issues, awful 48 fps frame rate (luckily only playing in certain theaters), overall childish nature, and the movie being unable to escape the shadow of its predecessors.

So what does this foretell for The Hobbit and its chances for success? Well, considering its immense popularity around the world and the higher price for a 3D ticket, it’s almost a forgone conclusion to say that The Hobbit will make at least a billion dollars worldwide by the end of its run. That financial success is almost guaranteed.

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

A&E

Reporter • Page 19

TV Line: The CW Hits the Spot With ‘Arrow’

ANDREW SIMON

• web photo

staff writer For ten years, The CW found success exploring how Clark Kent became the red and blue crusader of justice Superman in the series Smallville. Now with Clark donning the cape and suit and the series over, the network set its sights on different programs. NBC and David E. Kelly failed to resurrect Wonder Woman earlier this year with a mediocre pilot, and Warner Bros.’ big screen Batman movies destroyed the potential series chronicling Bruce Wayne’s earlier years. However, there was an idea. In the latter half of the Smallville run, playboy billionaire Oliver Queen became an instrumental element in the DNA of the show, breathing new life

into the series and becoming, for lack of a better comparison, a wannabe Bruce Wayne.

Now that character – but minus the actor who portrayed him previously – has his own show in The CW’s Arrow. Partying billionaire Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is an embarrassment to the Queen name and his family, never taking anything in life seriously and destroying any and all relationships and friendships he has. On a cruise with his father, the ship is hit by a terrible storm, destroying the ship, and leaving Oliver the lone survivor, stranded on an island for five years. The island – as many islands tend to do in television land – changed him fundamentally.

Brutal, lethal, calculating, and with quite the eye and talent for archery, Oliver Queen endured his own purgatory on the island, and returned to his city a new man, with a goal in mind.

In the public face of the world, he would play the part of the Oliver Queen all the tabloids and old friends knew and loathed, but in private, he would don a suit and use his skills to exact vengeance on the corrupt who continue to leave the city to rot.

Essentially, the character is a less complex Bruce Wayne, but regardless of the similarities, Oliver Queen is an interesting enough character to sustain a series, and through the absolutely

terrific performance from newcomer Stephen Amell, one can’t help but be immersed in his goal to rid Starling City of its decadence. From a character standpoint, Oliver is surrounded by family who cares about him, who are disappointed by the man that returned from the island, who remains unchanged and picked up exactly where he left off, and this creates an intriguing dynamic that could not be explored in a Batman tale. There’s even corruption in his own family, and whenever the bomb explodes in the Queen clan, the series will catapult into an entirely new playing field of storytelling.

For now, Arrow is sitting comfortably in Bad Guy of the Week format, but executing it far better than Smallville did in its early years. Possessing a book, written by his late father, with the names of all the big-time villains in Starling City, each episode follows Oliver as he aims to take them out one-by-one, either by means of violence, political sabotage, or disabling them long enough for the authorities to come about.

But this is, after all, a show on The CW, so naturally the actors are all exceedingly handsome or beautiful, and there’s the constant struggle of two separated characters who will inevitably hook up before the season is over. Luckily, the series has found a decent

enough balance between the acts of the vigilante and the hormonefueled problems for the characters that one doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Outside the glamor of gorgeous stars and subplots best left for teen dramas, Arrow is incredibly dark in its lighting and storytelling. Families plotting to kill one another, deception of some kind in every episode, a city where nearly every politician and cop is corrupt in some way or another, and greedy men on top who will do anything to keep their power. These aren’t new ideas, but they’re wonderfully intertwined with Oliver’s story of vengeance and redemption.

A show is only as strong as its lead actor and character, and Stephen Amell owns the role of Oliver Queen. Ridiculously built up and publicly charming, Amell can play the public figure of Oliver in his sleep, but things get all the more interesting when he deepens his voice and becomes the monster he is when he puts on the costume. For as long as Oliver Queen is burdened by the demons of his past and continues his quest of vengeance, Arrow will remain a hotly anticipated, enormously riveting series.

The supporting characters are slowly becoming developed, such as CW-vet Katie Cassidy’s Laurel, the ex to Oliver and lawyer who plays the Rachel Dawes-

esque character in the recent Batman trilogy, fighting the good fight and standing up for what’s right.

Her knucklehead father, played by Paul Blackthorne, Detective Quentin, who has made it his personal goal to bring down the vigilante, is sadly borderline cliché, but there are hints of a greater character under the surface, waiting to rise. Finally, guest star John Barrowman (he of Doctor Who fame) has a role of a man who seems to be in control of everything that happens in the city, a character that could become a Lex Luthor figure to Oliver.

Arrow is a success. Suffering from still finding its footing, falling into formulaic storytelling instead of serial, the show is nonetheless strong enough because of the thrilling work by star Amell, and the darkness of Oliver Queen.

Fans of the Green Arrow comic series will find much to love here, and anyone with zero exposure to the character will find it easy to jump onboard.

Already ordered for a full 23episode freshman season, here’s hoping Arrow stays on for a long time.

Arrow airs on The CW, Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Page 20 • Reporter

A&E

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Variety Section’s Story Time: What Would You Do? EMILEE STRUSS

staff writer It’s Halloween night and you and your friends are walking down James Street in Mankato.

You pass by an orange vehicle that has one door locked and the other door unlocked. Innocently sitting on the passenger seat is a small brown purse. It was obviously left there in the open because the owner was close by.

To be specific, the owner was across the street, sitting around a bon fire enjoying the night with some friends.

Nobody is looking, and think of what could be inside that purse. Maybe the owner just withdrew $400 for rent and has it sitting there. If you are going to snatch a purse, lets be real, you’re not going to assess your thoughts. You came to steal and that’s what you will do.

Needless to say, that purse was snatched.

There wasn’t $400 in that purse. However, there was a pink iPod, three credit cards, an aqua blue Bible and a dollar. The purse-snatcher was quick, and sneaky. We were literally sitting across the street and never heard a door open. When I left the bon

fire, I didn’t even think to check on my purse. When I got home, I searched the seat, under the seat and both sides. Then, I thought, I am not that crazy of a driver. I put it on the seat, it’s now gone and I left my door open.

Quick and easy calculations will explain that you just had your purse snatched. Dang-it.

That means I need to cancel all my credit cards, and my Bible was in that purse! I just bought that one. It was nice and small, aqua blue and had a little gold sparrow on the cover. I never thought to report it because who knows where my purse is now. That was a bad assumption. I should have reported it. But an odd series of events would eventually lead that Bible back to my home. Before the Bible appeared, I received an email from the Mankato Safety Department. The email informed me that three ID’s were found with my name on them. I have three ID’s because I have kept all of them since sixteen. It’s fun to look back at my sixteen-yearold self. We all like to look at old pictures.

Weeks later, while at work, I noticed three missed calls and

two voicemails from my eightysix year old grandpa who is a local resident. My parents told him to call me if he had another heart attack scare. I quickly dial my voicemail while the lady slowly asks for my four-digit code to enter. Then slowly reads the number back to me. My voicemail was interrupted by a fourth call from grandpa. By this point, I am swiftly walking towards my car, ready for whatever action needed. I answer his call with a frantic, “Grandpa!

Are you okay?” He calmly responds, “ Yes, a lady called for you.” Confused, yet comforted, I responded, “Why?” Grandpa explains that a lady in North Mankato called him explaining that she found an aqua blue Bible on her front porch

in a Ziploc baggie. She saw my name in the cover, looked up my last name in the phone book and called Grandpa. This was the only information he needed to share with me. There was no heart attack; besides the one he gave me for calling four times. It was like playing detective, and to finish the case, I called the number that Grandpa had given me. A sweet lady answered the other line.

She explained that someone must have placed the Bible in a Ziploc baggie and specifically placed it there. Why would they pick her front porch? The many questions running through my head were thought-provoking.

They got me nowhere besides to this lady’s house to pick up my returned Bible. As soon

as I knock, she welcomes me inside of her warm home. Her husband came around the corner and gave me a highlighter. He told me this one wouldn’t bleed through the pages. Before I left the couple’s home, they asked if they could pray for me. They prayed for the purse-snatcher and myself.

Things are just things. A purse can be replaced. All the contents inside it can be replaced as well. As I was getting a new Credit Card, I was told that many things were stolen Halloween night from the downtown area. Maybe other things were returned to their owners like mine. Maybe that is overly optimistic. Either way, this story turned out to be more of a blessing than an unfortunate event.

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THIS WEEK IN MAVERICK SPORTS:

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Sports

reporter-sports@mnsu.edu | (507) 389-5227

TODAY

DECEMBER 6TH FRIDAY

DECEMBER 7TH SATURDAY

DECEMBER 8TH

NO EVENTS SCHEDULED

2:07 pm WOMEN’S HOCKEY...................................@ St. Cloud State 7:37 pm MEN’S HOCKEY..................................vs. Alaska Anchorage 8:00 pm BASKETBALL................................................ vs.Winona State 2:00 pm FOOTBALL................................................. vs. Valdosta State 6:00 pm WOMEN’S BASKETBALL.................................vs. Upper Iowa 7:07 pm MEN’S HOCKEY.......................................Alaska Anchorage

FOR MORE COVERAGE OF your favorite Maverick TEAMS VISIT: MSUMavericks.com

Mavericks take first conference game of season, 76-71 The MSU men’s basketball team used their glasswork to tip off their 2012 NSIC campaign with a five-point victory over Concordia St. Paul.

REECE HEMMESCH

sports editor

The Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s basketball team used a 23-point performance from junior guard Zach Monaghan to defeat Concordia St. Paul, 76-71 Saturday in the Taylor Center to improve MSU’s record to 5-0 on the season.

It was MSU’s first conference game of the season in the competitive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference where MSU was picked to finished third in the preseason coaches’ poll.

With the win the Mavericks have now entered the national scene as they received their first NABC division 2 coaches poll ranking, entering the poll at no.

20 in the country.

The Mavericks finished the first half with a close, 35-34 edge on the Golden Bears, whose record dropped to 1-3 with the loss; but the second half the Mavericks would pull away from Concordia with 41 points to end the game at 76-71.

Even with the high score for MSU, the Mavericks shooting was a little off all night as they shot just 35 percent from the field total, a new season low for the squad. As the shots did not fall for the Mavs’, the rebounding picked up the slack as MSU outrebounded Concordia 42-34 on the night, including 18 offensive rebounds which led to 21 second chance points for the Mavericks.

Monaghan, a transfer from South Dakota State University, hit six of his 14 shots including three from behind the arc to take MSU’s leading scoring honor on the night. Monaghan also tallied eight assists in the victory.

Junior Forward Connor O’Brien and sophomore center Assem Marei also finished in double-digits for the Mavs’, recording 16 and 13 points respectively while sophomore Zach Romashko contributed eight points off the bench as well.

For the Golden Bears it was the guard play of Cole Olstad and Terez VanPelt that kept them close throughout the game, as the two each pitched

Concordia NO. 20 MSU in 18 points apiece to lead Concordia in the losing effort.

The Mavericks will now host a set of NSIC games this weekend when Winona State and Upper Iowa come to town Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

Winona State was ranked as high as ninth in the country before this past weekends’ 6463 loss to Upper Iowa dropped them down to no. 18, just two spots ahead of the purple and gold.

Anytime the Warriors come to town it is a big night in the Taylor Center as these two squads might be one of the bigger rivalries in the NSIC basketball scene at this point in

71 76 time.

Last season the Warriors came into Mankato and walked all over the Mavericks in a 78-72 game. The two then met a little later in the season down in Winona when once again the Warriors took it to MSU by a score of 85-63.

Upper Iowa comes into this weekends contest with an un-traditional 3-2 start to their season after beating Winona State this past weekend and receiving two non-conference wins over William Jewell and Truman State at the beginning of the season.

Both games will be played in the Taylor Center and are scheduled for 8 p.m. starts.

Playoff Football Gameday Joey Denton • staff writer

Valdosta State (10-2) at Minnesota State (13-0)

2 p.m., Saturday • Blakeslee Stadium RECAP: The Minnesota State University, Mankato football team came out on top of a defensive battle 17-10 over Missouri Western State to advance to the final four in the NCCA Division II tournament. After three quarters, the game was tied at 10 until the Mavericks were given the ball on their own 20-yard line with 8:51 left in the game. After moving the ball 68 yards down the field, redshirt freshman Connor Thomas received the handoff and took it 12 yards for a touchdown and a seven-point lead with 3:16 left in regulation.

Thomas ran for 159 of the team’s 289 rushing yards on 19 carries, while junior quarterback Jon Wolf added 67 yards of his own. After two plays of the Griffons’ proceeding drive, they found themselves in a third and 18 hole, so quarterback Travis Partridge tossed a long ball, landing in the hands of senior safety Earl Brooks to clinch the game.

HISTORY: This series is starting a new history between these two schools, as they will play each other for the first time. The Mavericks have already made history as they were the first team to complete their regular season undefeated, 11-0, and gave Blakeslee Stadium, not only its first playoff victory but two victories.

MSU NOTES: The Fifth ranked Mavericks come in to this weekend on a 14-game winning streak with a 13-0 record. The Maverick defense just came off arguably their best performance this past weekend as they only allowed 243 total yards and forced three interceptions, including the game clincher. The Griffons came into the game rushing for 289 yards a game until the Mavericks held them to just 83, including holding one of the best running backs in the country, Michael Hill, to 50 yards on 15 carries. After Thomas’s performance, he leads the Mavericks with 866 rushing yards on the season while Wolf and he each have 10 touchdowns. In the air, Wolf has thrown for 1,560 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in 10 games. Defensively, the Mavericks still sit at third in the country in total defense, giving up 270 yards a game and fifth in rushing defense, giving up 83 rushing yards a game. Sophomore linebacker Kris Fleigle leads the Mavericks with 67 tackles, and senior cornerback Robert Gunderson leads the way in interceptions with five on the season.

VSU NOTES: The 10-2 Valdosta State Blazers came from behind in their 48-26 victory over Carson-Newman, scoring the last 26 points. In their 525 yards of total offense, running back Cedric O’Neal collected 194 rushing yards with three touchdowns. In the air, quarterback Cayden Cochran threw for 246 yards on 23 for 31 and three touchdowns and a pick. O’Neal’s 1091 rushing yards this season leads all the Blazers, while Cochran has a 65 percent pass completion percentage with 2,323 passing yards and 23 touchdowns this season. The Blazers possess two very explosive receivers in Gerald Ford and Seantavious Jones. The two combine for 1,736 receiving yards with 24 touchdowns. Last Saturday defensively the Blazers gave up 392 yards, and 362 of them were on the ground. So far this season, the Blazers have given up 156 rushing yards a game while giving up just 186 passing yards a game. Leading the way for the Blazers is linebacker Chris Pope with 107 tackles, 44 solo, and defensive end Tyler Josey with 41 tackles and a team leading eight sacks for the season.

shannon rathmanner • msu reporter Sophomre center Assem Marei contributed 13 points and six rebounds in MSU’s 76-71 victory over Concordia. The Mavericks are now ranked no. 20 in the country after the close victory over the Golden Bears.

PREDICTION: The Mavericks have loved being able to stay home throughout the playoffs and it will definitely play a role as Valdosta State comes up to see what Minnesota weather is like in December.

Although the Mavericks have an edge in the rushing attack, the Blazers bring two very athletic receivers who have been making big plays all season. If the Mavericks can limit the big plays and continue to pound the ball on the ground like the last two playoff games, then it’s off to the ship.

Page 22 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

Mavericks heating up at the right time The MSU men’s hockey team is currently rolling on a four-game winning streak after sweeps over Wisconsin and Bemidji State, and with their upcoming schedule, there’s no reason the wheels can’t keep moving.

RYAN LUND

news editor

It’s been a while since the Minnesota State University, Mankato men’s hockey team has been in this kind of company, but following a four-game winning streak, including a historic road route of Big 10bound Wisconsin, the Mavericks are working their way up the WCHA standings.

Minnesota State, picked to finish near the bottom of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, have won their way into a three-way tie with Colorado College and North Dakota, earning a share of fifth place.

The performances were also enough to earn MSU a pair of votes in the latest USCHO poll, designed to replicate the NCAA’s tournament selection process.

While the team has yet to crack the top 20, the Mavericks trail only Ohio State, Providence, Alaska and Michigan, and with a home series against last-place Alaska Anchorage next on the docket, MSU is in prime position to aim even higher.

Four of the Mavericks’ nine remaining series, 18 games in all, are against teams currently ranked in the bottom half of the WCHA, including a pair of home series’ with sixth-place Michigan Tech and eleventhplace Wisconsin.

The team will ring in the new year with a trip out East for series’ with UCONN and Providence as part of the UCONN tourney, be-

fore returning home for their aforementioned date with the Badgers.

The Mavericks are led by sophomore Matt Leitner, who has dominated the score-sheet of late.

Leitner’s 18 points, including 14 assists, are currently tied for fifth in the WCHA. Nebraska, Omaha junior Ryan Walters currently leads the conference with 20 points.

However, the catalyst of much of the Mavericks’ recent success has been freshman net minder Stephon Williams, who has started in each of the Mavericks last four wins, including a shutout against on Friday night against Bemidji State.

Williams also posted an impressive 152 minutes of consecutive shutout time that began in the second period Nov. 24th in Wisconsin, and held well into the third period on Saturday, when his bid for a second straight shutout was cut short on a controversial third period goal.

Williams, however, did not emerge from the series empty-handed, earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.

The Fairbanks, Alaska native is 4-3-1 on the season, with an impressive 1.92 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

Sophomore Brett Stern recorded the first goal of his career Saturday on a feed from freshman Teddy Blueger, before adding an assist on a Matt Leitner goal later in the game, earning WCHA Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors, sharing the title with Wisconsin

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goaltender Landon Peterson, whose 35 saves led the Badgers to a 3-1 road victory over Denver Saturday night.

Speaking of Teddy Blueger, the gifted Latvian centerman received an honor of a different sort this week, as the International Ice Hockey Federation announced that the freshman will once again represent Latvia in the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia from Dec. 26th to Jan. 5th.

Blueger will take part in Latvia’s pretournament camp, which is scheduled to run from Dec. 10-22 in Broceni, Latvia, just 70 miles from his hometown of Riga.

The Shattuck Saint Mary’s graduate is the NCAA’s lone representative on the Latvian roster, comprised mostly of players from HK Riga, a member of Russian junior league MHL, as well as four players from Canada’s CHL. For now however, the team’s focus remains squarely on the coming series, one where MSU has thrived in recent years.

The Mavericks are 35-24-7 all-time against the Seawolves dating back to the 1982, although MSU owns a 208-3 mark over the past eight seasons.

The puck drops at 7:37, Friday at Mankato’s Verizon Wireless Civic Center, and again at 7:07 on Saturday.

david bassey • msu reporter Freshman forward Teddy Blueger is impressiving everyone in Maverick territory with eight points on two goals in six assists. The latvian native has been recently chosen to represent his country in the World Junior Championships.

DEDICATION PAYS IN FULL! Congratulations to our Maverick Football Team going 13-0!

Wishing good luck on this Saturday's game from everyone over at

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Sports

Reporter • Page 23

Opinion: Give Adrian Peterson the ball EMRE K. ERKU

a&e editor

Biting at each other’s necks like a nation of vicious pit bulls starving for a juicy slab of meat – this is the National Football League, and this is war. But these violent yet brilliant masters of destruction who crave the sweet wine of victory and detest the stench of defeat must deal with a force that exceeds the powers of Zeus and Poseidon combined.

A ruthless god amongst heathens and a man amongst mere infants, Adrian Peterson is a running back that can effortlessly bulldoze through the tackling attempts of a defensive line stacked with spike-headed demons, then seamlessly evade the precision of a secondary full of human lawn darts only to go on to score another touchdown that began from more than 80 yards away.

And this slight exaggeration isn’t all that farfetched; the unstoppable brute ran for 210 yards with a hard earned touchdown against an infamous rival team that has handed the Minnesota Vikings an erasable past of misery.

So why on earth did head coach Leslie Frazier attempt to utilize the undoubtedly questionable arm of Christian Ponder Sunday against the Green Bay Packers during red zone threats created by the sprinting brutalities of Peterson?

With all do respect to the Pack’s defense, which was without the frightening and animalistic presence of Clay Matthews or the thieving sticky fingers of Charles Woodson, Peterson was running as if only a nuclear missile had

just enough strength to slightly untie his left cleat, but offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and Frazier decided that AP wasn’t the option to go to during stints in the red zone.

Maybe they thought he needed a breather, or maybe they were too dumbstruck by his performance they couldn’t possibly bring their minds to make the correct play call. Whatever the reason was, to not hand the NFL’s leading rusher the ball in such crucial moments is an open sore neglectfully left out for the rest of football world to mock.

Yours truly unfortunately partakes in this disease of ridicule with the respects that his own team has let him down time and time again.

Vikings’ star receiver Percy Harvin is still plagued by an injured ankle, so Ponder’s repetitive bubble screen to the speedster was clearly out of the question.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph, Ponder’s go-to man, isn’t always going to be open, excluding his touchdown catch in the first half, And Ponder himself is a digressing quarterback stuck in the middle of monstrous pack of football doctorates.

His time to develop into the promising stud that Vikings’ General Manager Rick Spielman hoped for is spinning its last circles around the toilet bowl before its inevitable flush down the drain. May the football gods have mercy on your soul, Ponder, for if they don’t, you still might end up draining some other team in league.

As for Frazier and Musgrave, in the begging of the third quarter – off an 82-yard blast through

the Pack for a TD in the first half – AP again decides to shoot through the cheese head defense on Minnesota’s own 39 yard line and dance his way to the Pack’s red zone. And what did you two decide on?

Instead of keeping the ball with AP, who would’ve more than likely carried the ball past the goal line like a scorching hot machete through a stick of old butter, the decision was made to rely on Ponder’s mindless arm and school boy panic to make a play. Then, of course, Ponder was depressingly picked off in the end zone by Packer’s safety Morgan Burnett, and every bartender in Minnesota began pouring the next round. But even a toothless drunk could’ve predicated the same outcome.

Lets just exclude the second Ponder interception that ended the third quarter, for tears will billow out the eyes of yours truly and anger will rush through the blood of every vein. Just the fact that Ponder threw for only 119 yards, one TD, and two interceptions, is a harsh enough reality to have given, this writer, years of posttraumatic depression.

Instead, lets refocus on how all of this could’ve been avoided by handing the ball off to Peterson – freak of all freaks – at the times when it truly mattered most.

Maybe Musgrave and Frazier can take their heads out of each other’s cheeks, rethink their offense strategy and let AP do what he does best, it’s a lot more reasonable than relying on the overworked Vikings’ kicker, Blair Walsh, to kick a missed field goal with two minutes left in the game.

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Page 24 • Reporter

Sports

Thursday, December 6, 2012T

NFC North playoff landscape beginning to take its shape After Minnesota’s two straight losses to division opponents Green Bay and Chicago, the NFC North is starting to unfold playoff-wise with the Bears and Packers looking for a playoff berth.

ADAM KRIESEL

staff writer

web photo After Minnesota’s dissappinting 23-14 loss last weekend to the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, it’s looking as if the green and yellow will be back in the playoffs after all after their slow start to the season.

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After a pleasantly unexpected start to the season, the Minnesota Vikings have dug themselves a hole that may now be too deep to climb out of. The Vikings squandered a huge opportunity to shoot up the NFC North standings by losing back to back games on the road against Chicago and Green Bay. That means the losses not only hurt Minnesota, but also helped the Bears and Packers separate themselves.

With four games remaining Minnesota is third in the division and tenth overall in the NFC with a 6-6 record.

Dallas, Washington and Tampa Bay are also 6-6, but Minnesota loses the tiebreaker to all three. Also ahead of them is Seattle at 7-5. Realistically speaking, the Vikings would need to finish with a better record than all four of those teams in order to make the playoffs. With games against Chicago, Green Bay and Houston still on the schedule, it is fair to say that the cards are stacked against them.

As bleak as Minnesota’s season is starting to become,

at least they are better than the Detroit Lions. The lowly Lions are just 4-8 and 0-4 against the rest of the NFC North. What was supposed to be a promising year for Detroit has turned into a guessing game as to how they will blow their next game.

The preseason playoff contenders have now become the little brother to the rest of the division bullies around. Multiple heartbreaking losses have taken all the wind out of their sails and Detroit fans are once again asking themselves when the misery will end.

For the moment, Chicago and Green Bay are the only legitimate playoff contenders remaining in the division.

With identical 8-4 records, Green Bay holds the tiebreaker for the time being thanks in part to a 23-10 Week two victory over the Bears at Lambeau Field.

Chicago is in control of the first wildcard spot but must beat the Packers in Week 15 if they want a shot at the division title. Regardless of that game, the Bears will likely find themselves in the postseason one way or another. Last week’s overtime loss to Seattle could play a huge factor when it

comes to playoff seedings.

Green Bay is currently in the best position of all the NFC North teams. They are in control of their own destiny. If the Packers win their remaining four games, one against each division opponent and another against Tennessee, they will be NFC North champs.

The division title will likely be decided in Week 15 when Green Bay travels to Chicago. A win would likely clinch it for Green Bay, while a loss could very well put their hated rivals Chicago in the driver’s seat.

When factoring in the rest of the NFC, it appears very likely that the North division will have two representatives in postseason play. That is nothing new for one of the more feared divisions in the league.

If Minnesota manages to win out and can get losses along the way from Washington, Seattle, Dallas and Tampa Bay, then the division will send three teams into the playoffs. That is a rare occasion in the NFL, and a lot of things need to in the Vikings favor in order for that to happen this year.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Sports

Reporter • Page 25

MSU fights to 0-0 draw, drops 4-3 loss to top-ranked Ohio State MSU goaltender Danielle Butters notched 83 saves on the weekend, but MSU’s offense could not conjure enough for a victory as the Buckeyes walked out of Mankato with a win and a tie.

NO. 10 OSU MSU

TIM FAKLIS

staff writer

After tying the first game and losing the second to the no. 10 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes this past weekend, the Minnesota State, Mankato women’s hockey team finds themselves at a 5-10-3 record, and 3-8 in the WCHA, putting them at sixth place in the conference.

In the opening matchup, defense was the name of the game; with goaltender Danielle Butters coming up with 45 saves on the night, and neither team able to put the puck in the net, resulting in a scoreless tie.

“After the first period we started to play better and cut down on turnovers which didn’t give them many easy chances, plus we won lots of stick battles.” Mavericks head coach Eric Means said.

In game two, the Mavericks stayed with the Buckeyes all game long. Tracy McCann, Kathleen Rogan, and Casey Hirsch all got on the board with goals, but the offensive attack of Ohio State was just a bit too much for the Mavericks, as they ultimately fell at a 4-3 score.

One stat that stands out was that the Mavericks were only able to muster one shot on the net on the Buckeyes in the third period, but coach Means believes that sometimes, stats can be a bit deceiving.

“We actually were playing very well to start the third period, but our opportunities weren’t ending up in shots on net,” Means

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NO. 10 OSU MSU

said. “Pucks were either shot wide or blocked. However, about half way through the third we started to tire because we were playing a short bench.”

Throughout the series, one of the bright spots for MSU the goaltending of Butters, who was able to put up 45 saves in the shutout in game one, followed by a solid 38, despite the four goal conclusion.

“She has been great all year long,” Means said. “She had some very nice saves on the weekend and she deserved a better outcome than a tie and a loss.”

The Mavericks are done at All Seasons Arena for the 2012 calendar year and will be traveling to St. Cloud this weekend for a matchup with the Huskies on the campus of St. Cloud State.

The Huskies currently sit at 6-11-1 on the season, and 2-10 in WCHA play, good for last place in the conference. They swept Lindenwood University on the Lions’ home ice a week ago, with momentum possibly swinging back in their favor.

A year ago, the Mavericks lost the season series to St. Cloud State, getting edged out by the Huskies three times in four tries.

There is still ample time for the Mavericks to get above the .500 mark this season, with sixteen games remaining in the season, including games against WCHA opponents St. Cloud State, Minnesota, Wisconsin

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and also another chance for Eric Means to get a victory over the team that gave them troubles just this past weekend in the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Coach Means knows his team can be better if they can stay out of the sin bin for the most part of their

games.

“We need to be better on special teams, we win because we stay out of the box and score on the power play,” Means said.

The season is half over, and while the Mavericks aren’t necessarily in the prime position at this point, there is still plenty of season to go.

For most teams in any

sport, this is the point where a struggling team either implodes and the season is lost, or a level of inspiration pulls them through, and gives them inspiration to improve as the season comes to a conclusion. It remains to be seen which of these teams the Mavericks will ultimately become.

peter menke • msu reporter Junior goaltender Danielle Butters stopped 45 shots in the shutout tie Friday and 38 Saturday in MSU’s 4-3 loss to Ohio State.

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