Issue 21 02/20/2018

NEVADA SAGEBRUSH SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO SINCE 1893

THE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

FIRST COPY FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES $1.00 EACH

NEWS in REVIEW

By Karolina Rivas

INTERNATIONAL

VOLUME 124, ISSUE 21

FRATERNITIES LOSE RECOGNITION University suspends six organizations after failure to agree to new policies

RUSSIAN CURLER SUSPECTED OF DOPING Russian bronze medalist, Alexander Krushelnitsky, is suspected of doping after failing a preliminary drug test, NBC reports.

“It’s stupid,” added Russian women’s curling coach Sergei Belanov in an interview with Reuters. “But Alexander is not stupid, so I don’t believe it.”

Curling is a sport played on ice where athletes slide a granite stone across a lane of ice toward a target. Participants use a broom to sweep the surface of the ice path in order to control speed and direction.

According to NBC, the president of the Russian Curling Federation, Dmitry Svishchev, believes that Krushelnitsky’s food or drink may have been spiked with the banned substance.

The athlete has since been required to undergo a second drug test.

NATIONAL

TRUMP SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING GUN BACKGROUND CHECKS On Feb. 10, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that President Donald Trump is open to bipartisan legislation to strengthen the background check system when purchasing a gun, NBC reported.

“The President spoke to Senator Cornyn on Friday about the bipartisan bill he and Sen. Murphy introduced to improve Federal Compliance with Criminal Background check Legislation,” Sanders said in a statement.

“While discussions are ongoing and revisions are being considered, the President is supportive of efforts to improve the Federal background check system.”

This statement comes in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting where 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fired at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, taking the lives of 17 people.

Cruz has since been charged with premeditated murder.

LOCAL NEW DOUGHNUT SHOP OFFERS OVER 50 FLAVORS Locally owned doughnut shop, Holey Schmidt Donuts, opened its doors Saturday next to the Discovery Museum on Center Street.

The doughnut shop offers 50 to 75 flavors ranging from Oreo Cheesecake to Nutella, Channel 2 reports. The goal of the doughnut shop is to create a fun space for parents and kids, according to owners Cadi and Galen Schmidt.

“As a mom, there’s not that many places that you want to take your kids,” Cadi Schmidt said in an interview with KOLO 8. “You don’t want them to be too loud, you don’t want them to be touching things they shouldn’t be touching and so we wanted a place that you could bring your kids and feel comfortable.”

Inside the shop, the walls are decorated with art designed by a local Reno artist and kid-friendly walls with a chalkboard magnet and legos.

While you wait in line, visitors are able to view how the doughnuts are being made through a window that showcases the kitchen.

The shop will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

The UNR chapter of Alpha Omega Tau’s house as it stands on Monday, Feb. 19. ATO is one of six fraternities that have lost recognition from the university after refusing to sign a new regulation agreement by Monday, Jan. 22.

By Karolina Rivas and Madeline Purdue Fraternities at the University of Nevada, Reno, have lost recognition from the university after failing to comply with new regulations by Thursday, Feb. 15. Four fraternities — Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Alpha, Theta Chi and Zeta Psi — have declined to sign the agreement and have lost recognition as official university organizations for the rest of 2018. Two others are in negotiations with the university’s Office of

Fraternity and Sorority Life.

The 33 university fraternity and sorority chapters had until Monday, Jan. 22 to agree to the new regulations. The fraternities that didn’t sign by the deadline have since been removed from the university’s Greek life website.

Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kappa Sigma’s national chapters are in negotiations with the university and have received an extension on the signing deadline. As of print time, neither organization had agreed to sign the new contract.

Regents to consider tuition, fee increases University of Nevada, Reno, undergraduate and graduate students could see a 1.8 percent increase in tuition and fees for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years, pending approval from the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents The NSHE Tuition and Fees Committee made the recommendation based on inflation, and if approved by the Board of Regents, would apply to all eight NSHE schools for both resident and non-resident tuition.

It is the first tuition and fee increase the committee has recommended since 2014, when a four-year, four percent increase was instituted through the 2018-2019 academic year.

Typically, the committee, made up of the NSHE Chancellor and a select number of university and college presidents and student representatives, meets every two years to consider data and make a recommendation to the Board of Regents regarding tuition and fees, according to a report

by Chester Burton, Chief Financial Officer at NSHE. Student hearings were held as well “to gather student input on the committee’s recommendation,” the report says.

At UNR, the 1.8 percent increase would amount to an additional $8.25 per credit hour for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE DESERT

nity refused to sign the new regulations, they would lose recognition and would be disaffiliated with the university.

Disaffiliation would mean that the fraternities will no longer be associated with the university rules and campus events, and will lose benefits and resources from the university.

“These policies are about prioritizing the health and safety of our students,” Megan Pepper, UNR director of fraternity and sorority life said in an interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal. “We have a

UNR Med introduces surgical program

By Madeline Purdue

By Ryan Suppe

Karolina Rivas can be reached at karolinar@sagebrush.unr. edu and on Twitter @karolinarrivas.

The new university regulations were sent to Greek life organizations in a 51-page agreement. The university has required each organization to hire a live-in advisor in their chapter facility before the 2020 calendar year. It also requires that a comprehensive report outlining incidents or conduct involving individual chapter members be sent to the university at the end of every semester. These reports are managed by the chapter’s internal standards board.

If a sorority or frater-

lot of good resources for students.”

The Nevada Sagebrush reached out to Pepper for comment, but did not receive a response by print time.

Pepper told the RGJ these disaffiliations were not a direct result of specific incidents, but this is the third time in the last two years that fraternities have been disaffiliated with the university.

In October 2016, Sigma Nu pledge Ryan Abele fell down a

See GREEK page A2

ASUN sees increase in female candidates

By Madeline Purdue February and March around the University of Nevada, Reno, is election season.

Campaign signs litter the lawns on campus, advertising candidates that want to represent their college in the Associated Students of the University of Nevada Senate. However, this election season stands out among past elections due to one thing — more female candidates.

In the 2017 ASUN election, females represented 21 percent of the total candidates running for ASUN Senate — seven female candidates out of 32 total candidates — six of whom won.

This year, the number of female candidates nearly doubled. There are 13 female candidates seeking to represent their college in the ASUN Senate, and at least one female candidate is running for a seat in every college but the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources and Interdisciplinary Programs. However, their representation still remained under 30 percent with a total of 48 candidates running in 2018.

This is also the first year in the 120 year history of ASUN there is an all-female ticket for the President and Vice President positions. Hannah Jackson and Carissa Bradley are running for president and vice president, respectively. Jackson currently serves as the Speaker for the ASUN Senate, and Bradley is the Chief of Staff. They are

See UNR MED page A3 Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

See TUITION page A2

A4

The University of Nevada, Reno, Medical School as it stands on Monday, Feb. 19. The school introduced a surgical program due to increasing interest in the professional career by UNR medical students.

THE FACE OF NV REPUBLICANS?

A6

PLAYING NANCY DREW

See ASUN page A2

A7

NEVADA SAGEBRUSH

THE

Student voice of the University of Nevada, Reno, since 1893.

Volume 124 • Issue 21 Editor-in-Chief • Jacob Solis jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

News Editor • Madeline Purdue mpurdue@sagebrush.unr.edu

Asst. News Editor • Karolina Rivas mpurdue@sagebrush.unr.edu

Sports Editor • Brandon Cruz bcruz@sagebrush.unr.edu

Asst. Sports Editor • Javier Hernandez bcruz@sagebrush.unr.edu

Greek

Continued from page A1 a staircase at the fraternity’s house and later died from injuries sustained during the fall. An investigation conducted by the university showed the party had alcohol, marijuana and topless dancers, even though members signed the university’s policy agreement

against these substances and activities. In January 2017, UNR revoked the chapter’s charter for 15 years.

In June 2017, the university also revoked Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s charter for four years following reports of hazing and underage drinking in October 2016. It is unclear if the student who reported the incidents to the university was injured or harmed

because of the alleged hazing.

Furthermore, several fraternities were involved in alcohol-related incidents that violate university policies over the past two years.

These fraternities faced repercussions such as not being allowed to accept new members, disciplinary probation and additional education requirements.

“I think these new

policies are to address what isn’t seen behind closed doors,” Tristan San Luis, president of the student-run Interfraternity Council, said in an interview with the RGJ. “I think these are the right steps to fixing problems we have had in the past.”

Pepper told the RGJ that a live-in adviser will be helpful in offering guidance and support in emergency situations.

Tuition

Opinion Editor • Ryan Suppe rsuppe@sagebrush.unr.edu

Continued from page A1

A&E Editor • Joey Thyne jthyne@sagebrush.unr.edu

Design Editor • Nicole Skarlatos nskarlatos@sagebrush.unr.edu

Photo Editor • Andrea Wilkinson awilkinson@sagebrush.unr.edu

Copy Editor • Robert Roth jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Copy Editor • Clay Temme jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Multimedia Editor • Bailey MeCey bmecey@sagebrush.unr.edu

Web Manager • Willis Allstead wallstead@asun.unr.edu

Illustrator • Zak Brady jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Social Media Manager • Jessie Schirrick jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Distribution • Zacary Brown jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Staff Writer • Emily Fisher efisher@sagebrush.unr.edu

Media Adviser • Nichole Collins nmcollins@unr.edu

CONTRIBUTING STAFFERS Ben Engel, Carla Suggs

DISCLAIMER The Nevada Sagebrush is a newspaper operated by and for the students of the University of Nevada, Reno. The contents of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those opinions of the university or its students.

It is published by the students of the University of Nevada, Reno, and printed by the Sierra Nevada Media Group.

ADVERTISING For information about display advertising and rates, please call the Advertising Department at 775-784-7773 or email adnevadasales@gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters can be submitted via email at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

CORRECTIONS On Feb. 13, The Nevada Sagebrush erroneously printed the headline ‘Nevada dives into Mountain.’ The headline should have read ‘Nevada dives into Moutain West Conference.’

SOCIAL MEDIA The Nevada Sagebrush @NevadaSagebrush @SagebrushSports Nevada Sagebrush nvsagebrush nevadasagebrush.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

A2 | NEWS

File Photo/Nevada Sagebrush

Mayor Hillary Schieve speaks to students at the ElectHer workshop on Saturday, Nov. 18 2017. Some students who attended the program decided to run for ASUN.

running unopposed.

ASUN Continued from page A1

Jackson and Bradley helped organize and run ElectHer in November. The ElectHer program is a national workshop brought to different universities across the country to encourage and prepare female students to get involved in student government and other leadership positions.

They partnered with the program and the Center for Student Engagement to bring the workshop to UNR. Amy Koeckes, the Associate Director of the Center for Student Engagement, said she was passionate about bringing equality to the ballot because of decreasing female representation in ASUN. “Over the past five years, I have been looking at data from student elections and there was a void of women running and winning office,” Koeckes told The Nevada Sagebrush in November.

Just under 70 students attended ElectHer, and seven that did — excluding Jackson and Bradley — decided to run for ASUN in 2018. According to data collected

by ElectHer, the only candidate that went into ElectHer without intending to run for Senate and left wanting to, and actually did, was Division of Health Sciences candidate Claudia Feil.

“It was an eye-opening experience for me to see how my perspective would help the fellow students of Nevada,” Feil said.

“Before I went to ElectHer, I was an intern for ASUN offices, and I didn’t feel like the students would benefit from my perspective.

After, I realized that any perspective that isn’t the norm would be a great representation, and that’s what we need for our students.”

Jackson said that while ElectHer was a successful program, it is just the start. She hopes to bring more programs to campus that will encourage different types of people to run for office.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned this year is how important representation is,” Jackson said.

“We started with ElectHer, but that’s really a jumping-off point.

After seeing the discrepancy of how little women we have in office, we want to create programs for women of color, other groups on campus like veteran students, student with disabilities, that face unique challenges when it comes to running for office. We want to create more programs like this and have more affinity groups and resources for those people to feel comfortable in order to take on these leadership positions and run for office.”

Koeckes agrees, and said all students should be represented in ASUN. “The campus is made up of a wide variety of students from different backgrounds, different experiences,” Koeckes said. “Ultimately, if you want representation from the people, which is a true democracy, you want student government to represent that.”

Representation has already begun to expand in the elections.

There are multiple candidates that are non-white. There is also a candidate that is gender neutral running for the College of Liberal Arts.

“As a gender neutral Hispanic student, [I hope] to bring issues of underrepresented groups to the campus,” said College of Liberal Arts candidate Natasia Mata in her candidate profile. “While the university has been phenomenal in welcoming all types of students, improvements can still be made and certain issues should still be addressed.”

Jackson said that ElectHer brought together different perspectives and shows how important diversity in student government is.

“Our government should be everyone’s government,” Jackson said. “Everyone has an ownership and what we do and the change we make on campus. You don’t have to be a political science major and you don’t have to be involved in this kind of work to be able to make a difference. It’s actually more valuable that we have these different perspectives all coming together.”

Madeline Purdue can be reached at mpurdue@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @madelinepurdue.

After the last increase from 2014 takes effect, next year’s registration costs at UNR will be $224 for undergraduates and $274.75 for graduate students per credit.

The proposed tuition and fee increase would raise those registration rates to $228 for undergraduates and $279.75 for graduate students in 2019-2020 and $232.25 for undergraduates and $284.75 for graduate students in 2020-2021. The increase would not affect student fees like the ASUN fee, technology fee, health center fee, student success fee, etc.

If the tuition and fee increases are approved, residents would pay $7,884 in 2019-2020 and $8,011.50 in 2020-2021, compared to the $7,509 paid in 20172018. Non-resident students would pay $22,365 in 2019-2020 and $22,483.50 in 2020-2021 compared to the $21,981 paid in 20172018. This does not include room and board and is based on a 30-credit class schedule.

“Ultimately, the board can choose whether to approve the recommendation,” Burton said.

The Board of Regents can also vote to increase the committee’s recommendation or decide on a lower rate than 1.8 percent, Burton said.

The committee’s recommendation will be presented for information only at the Board of Regents meeting March 1-2, and the board will take action on the proposed increase at its June 7-8 meeting.

Per Board of Regents policy, the minimum annual increase for tuition and fees is set at the Higher Education Price Index, or HEPI, which in 2016 was 1.8 percent.

HEPI is an inflation index for higher education institutions. It is issued in an annual report and is calculated by Commonfund, an asset management firm for nonprofits.

According to the Commonfund website, HEPI “measures the average relative level of prices in a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by colleges and universities each year through current fund educational and general expenditures, excluding research.”

HEPI compiles data from government and economic agencies that cover operational costs for colleges and universities like faculty and employee salaries, utilities, supplies, fringe benefits and miscel-

SENATE RECAP

The Nevada Sagebrush reached out to the affected campus fraternity organizations for comment but none — including one national organization — provided a statement by print time.

FEB. 14

By Madeline Purdue

PUBLIC COMMENT WIEGAND FITNESS CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Madeline Purdue and Karolina Rivas can be reached at mpurdue@sagebrush.unr. edu and on Twitter @ NevadaSagebrush.

Jim Fitzsimmons, director of fitness and recreational sports, gave a presentation for the one year anniversary of the opening of the E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center. The highest use the gym has seen in a single day was more than 5,500 people.

The average use is 3,200 people per day, and about 85 percent of enrolled students have used the fitness center. Fitzsimmons sent a survey out to UNR students who go to the fitness center less than three days a week. Students reported that the main reason they don’t go is they don’t have enough time. Students asked for more fitness class times, extended weekend hours, better-trained staff and increased parking.

laneous services, according to the Commonfund website.

“It’s like the CPI [Consumer Price Index] but specific to higher education,” said Vic Redding, vice president of administration and finance at UNR. The CPI is used by the federal government to calculate inflation rates for the U.S. economy. The CPI is measured by taking a basket of goods and services, calculating an average of price changes for these goods and services and making a judgement about inflation rates based on those calculations. The HEPI is based on the same idea, but on a smaller scale for colleges and universities.

The NSHE Tuition and Fees Committee recommended the minimum increase based on the 1.8 percent HEPI calculations.

Redding said Nevada generally ranks a little below the midpoint in tuition costs compared to other public universities in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

According to the NSHE tuition and fees report, Nevada ranked seventh out of 16 WICHE schools for average resident undergraduate tuition and fees (based on 30 credits) at $7,103 per year for the 2016-2017 academic year. Wyoming ranked first at $5,055, and the University of California was last at $13,548. Nevada ranked third for lowest average graduate tuition, only behind Utah and New Mexico.

The March 1-2 meeting where the Board of Regents will consider the tuition and fee increase will be held at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas. Video or telephone conference connection will be available at the NSHE System Office in Reno.

APPOINTMENTS FULLMER NOMINATED TO CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Wes Fullmer was nominated as science and engineering commissioner for the department of clubs and organizations. Jared Desamero, director of clubs and organizations, said Fullmer has an impressive resume as a freshman and has been excellent as an intern for the department. The Senate approved the nomination.

LEGISLATION POSSIBLE UPDATE TO ASUN CREDIT REQUIREMENTS VOTED DOWN BY SENATE Sen. Cammie Lee petitioned to put a question on the ballot during the 2018 ASUN election that involves the number of credits a member of ASUN needs to be enrolled in to hold office. Currently, the requirement is that these students must be enrolled in seven undergraduate credits. Lee said this requirement is outdated and does not reflect the current university policy on course credits. She asked to change the requirement to have ASUN officers enrolled in 30 credits during an academic year.

There was a discussion among the senators if the requirement is fair to students, and if it would exclude some students from participating in student government. The question was not added to the 2018 general election ballot.

COMMITTEE ALLOCATES FUNDS TO INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Ryan Suppe can be reached at rsuppe@ sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @salsuppe.

File Photo/ Nevada Sagebrush

Students walk into the Joe Crowley Student Union on Sept. 4, 2017. The university is looking to increase student tuition.

The committee on academics submitted a resolution in support of allocating funds to the International Research Experience based on where students are placed. The IRE program sends 12 UNR students to do research at universities in foreign countries.

In the past, scholarships were given to students with the best academic qualifications. However, high academic qualifications were already a requirement for the program, and instead the committee wants to give scholarships based on the distance and cost of living of the host countries. ASUN has a budget of $10,000 to allocate to the program. The resolution is a recommendation about how the process should work, but it is up to the program how to distribute the money. The resolution passed.

Madeline Purdue can be reached at mpurdue@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @madelinepurdue.

Guide to ASUN Elections

By Emily Fisher Campaign signs of all different sizes and colors are planted around the University of Nevada, Reno, campus once again, meaning one thing: the ASUN election season is officially underway.

The Associated Students of the University of Nevada represents all undergraduate students at UNR through an official group of elected students.

Modeled after the United States government, ASUN is made up of three separate branches: The Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch.

Each spring, the Association prepares to welcome new elected officials including one to three representatives from each college.

ASUN elections are more important than some students may realize. The As-

sociation is in charge of a budget of nearly $3 million, derived from student fees and profit from the Wolf Shop. The newly elected president will be in charge of developing a new budget to be approved by the ASUN senate. This budget determines how funds will be distributed throughout the year including funding for programming efforts, clubs, publications, services and scholarships.

The students elected will soon be in charge of making decisions that affect every individual on campus. ASUN Officers become engaged locally as well as nationally and are actively involved in different aspects of the university including meeting with administrators, system officials and legislators on a regular basis, improving UNR’s campus and discussing studentrelated concerns and initiatives.

This is News You Can Use with a guide to the ASUN election season.

CAMPAIGNING The election season began with the official start of campaigning on Feb. 7. At 8 a.m. candidates officially announced their desire to run for office, expressing their campaign promises and goals for the new school year.

After attending filing and campaigning workshops and completing the 2018 candidate packet, students running for officer positions use the campaign period for outreach. Along with the hand-painted signs scattered across campus, social media and special campaign events are hosted so students have the chance to meet their

potential officers.

If you want to find out more about the students running for positions, a full list can be found on the ASUN website.

DEBATES

Candidate debates are an important part of any election, including ASUN’s. Commencing on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Ballroom B, the debates are open to all students and are the best way to get to know candidates, their goals and their ability to defend them.

The first set of debaters on Feb. 22 are the candidates for CABNR, the College of Education, and the College of Business Administration. On Monday, Feb. 26 at the same time and location, candidates hoping to fill seats in the Division of Health Services, and the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Engineering will debate.

Students running for seats in Interdisci-

plinary Programs, the College of Science, and the Reynolds School of Journalism will be the last to debate on Feb. 27 before the general elections debate on Tuesday, March 13 where the candidates for president and vice president will debate and answer questions about their campaign and goals.

ELECTIONS

The voting period officially begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14 both online via WebCT and in the Blue Fishbowl on the second floor of the Joe from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. A free barbecue at 11:00 a.m. the same day will take place in front of the student union and help kick off the voting period.

Voting closes the next day at 5:00 p.m.

Emily Fisher can be reached at efisher@ sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @ NevadaSagebrush.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

NEWS | A3

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

Nationwide program looks to prevent opioid addiction on campus

By Karolina Rivas A pre-med student, Kayla Aikins, was named campus captain of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Students For Opioid Solutions on Feb. 14. The Students For Opioid Solutions is a nonprofit organization across college campuses in the U.S. aimed at preventing university-related opioid deaths. “[This appointment] could reduce the use of opioid substances as well as potentially save lives. It is important for students to feel safe on and off campus,” Aikins said.

“Creating a safe environment with highly trained staff and personnel benefits everyone.”

According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid-related deaths among Americans under

the age of 24 nearly doubled from 2005 to 2015, when 3,165 cases were reported. The United States Department of Health and Human Services also disclosed that the number of opioid-related emergency room visits by this age group had almost doubled, from 52 per 100,000 patients to 97 in 2014.

According to the SOS, the grassroots movement plans to pass legislation that will reduce the number of deaths from opioid overdoses on college campuses.

In order to pass this legislation, SOS must go through a five-step process.

SOS says they must first pass a student government legislation by calling upon school administrators to require that residential life and campus police officers receive training to recognize an opioid

overdose. Once training is completed, the program must ensure that schools are able to annually record and report the number of opioid overdoses and deaths with a requirement of amnesty for those affected. Lastly, SOS will enact a Good Samaritan clause that will protect students who come to the aid of someone suffering from an opioid overdose.

“I have seen several incidents in which students were under the influence of opioid drugs,” Aikins said. “One of which involved a motorcycle accident close to campus. Opioid drugs are popular among certain groups of students who often use peer pressure to encourage others to use – this has been evident in student housing complexes such as The Republic.”

According to a press release,

Kayla Aikins’ goal is to guide SOS’s life-saving legislation through the student government. Aikins says that she has a few propositions in mind such as mandating classes on recognizing signs of opioid overdose, requiring Naloxone to be carried by residential buildings and campus police, and requiring the university to annually report opioid overdoses.

“We are absolutely ecstatic to have Kayla on our team,” Gerald Fraas, president of SOS said. “She is a hard worker and dedicated to the cause,” Gerald Fraas, president of Students for Opioid Solutions said.

Karolina Rivas can be reached at karolinar@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @karolinarrivas.

frankieleon via Flickr

A person dumps pills from a bottle into their hand. A University of Nevada, Reno, student has been assigned by the national nonprofit Students For Opioid Solutions as the captain for UNR.

Student Health Groups to duke it out in third annual ‘Battle of the Brains’

By Emily Fisher Each year in April, pre-health students across the University of Nevada, Reno, campus come together to battle for ultimate bragging rights and the title of the smartest and “Most WellRounded” Pre-Health Student Organization on campus at Battle of the Brains. The third annual event put on by pre-professional advising is currently looking for more clubs to compete for a trophy, and a plaque on the University Advising Center’s wall.

Battle of the Brains is not only a fun way for students to test their knowledge compared to fellow students’, but it’s also a great way to prep for challenging graduate and medical school entrance tests.

“Many of the students are going to be expected to take very rigorous examinations, like the MCATs,” said pre-professional coordinator Grace Cardenas Leal at last year’s event. “We really want to make sure that there’s a way that students are prepping up, but also having fun in the process.”

The event is set to take place on Sunday, April 8, in the Pennington Student Achievement Center at 2:00 p.m. So far, the clubs and organizations competing are Phi Delta Epsilon, the two-time reigning champions, Alpha Epsilon Delta, the newest Pre-Health Honors Fraternity, the Pre-Physician Assistants Club, MEDLife, the American Medical Student Association and the Nevada Pre-Dental Society.

The registration deadline is Thursday, March 1, and the advising center is waiting to hear back from other pre-health organizations, including the pre-PT club and even the music therapy club.

The full list of 2018 categories has yet to be announced. However, past years have included categories like Bioethics, Global Health and the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and even ‘Orgo Hacks - The Wonderful World of Organic Chemistry’. This year’s Battle of the Brains will feature re-defined categories, as the advising center wants to emphasize the need for future health care providers to be exposed to diverse populations, languages, lifestyles and even healing modalities.

“Teams need to really think about who they want to represent them in terms of these factors,” Leal said.

Each team can have up to six members compete; however, they only need a minimum of three members to register for the competition.

The advising center encourages non-playing members from the pre-health clubs competing to come out to the event and cheer their team on. These members can “play from the sidelines” and individual prizes will be awarded to anyone on the sideline that scores higher than any other sideline player.

The game is designed like a game of Jeopardy, with 10 category topics that each contain 10 questions. The topics will be divided into two rounds. During each round, three members will be allowed to assist each other in answering the category questions, and at the end of each round, a preliminary score will be tabulated. At the end of the second round, each team’s cumulative score will be totaled and the team with the highest combined score will be the winner.

If your pre-health club wishes to participate, contact Grace C. Leal at gleal@unr.edu by March 1 to officially register your team and receive Battle notifications.

“Come see which team in not only book smart, but street smart,” the event’s poster advertises.

UNR Med Continued from page A1

The University of Nevada, Reno’s Medical School has introduced a new surgical program to its curriculum to meet increasing interest from medical students.

“The goal of this initiative is to provide a sound, basic education in surgical principles to all UNR Med medical students, as well as encourage those students who choose careers in surgery to be the very best surgeons who will eventually practice in northern Nevada, our rural communities and our state,” UNR Med Dean, Dr. Thomas L. Schwenk, said.

Surgical education is a key component of a medical student’s training, and all students must complete clinical surgical training in order to complete their education.

Surgery has also been an area of interest for students at UNR Med. Nearly 20 percent of UNR Med graduating students have matched to a surgical residency.

The surgical program will be available to third-year students and will ensure they get hands-on training locally — at Renown Health, the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and offices of other surgeons in Reno — so they can start to determine if they want to follow a career in surgery.

This will also help students determine surgical specialties such as general, plastic surgery, orthopedic, neurosurgery and more.

UNR Med has brought on two local surgical professionals to head the department of surgery at the school. Dr. James Harris is a senior member of Western Surgical Group and the largest multispecialty surgical group in northern Nevada. He has a medical degree from Wake Forest University and a general surgery residency at the University of Southern California Medical Center. He also completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at City of Hope. He was a surgical residency program director and chief of the division of surgery at Greenville Hospital Systems in Greenville, South Carolina. He has been a fellow of the American College of Surgeons for more than 25 years.

Dr. Lori Rawson is the chief of surgery at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System.

She has a medical degree and urology residency from Loma Linda University. She is involved in local and national VA branches.

She is also a graduate of the VA’s Leadership Development Institute and the VA Health Care Leadership Development programs.

“Under the leadership of Drs. Harris and Rawson, we are delivering one of the most comprehensive core medical education experiences to our third-year students through the new department of surgery and in-hospital training,” Schwenk said.

The program is expanding to include all 70 third-year students, up from just three students currently.

Madeline Purdue can be reached at mpurdue@ sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @madelinepurdue.

Joining the sagebrush Joining theis just sagebrush is just one click away. one click away.

You know you want to.

You know you want to.

The best part? We like volunteers and Thesometimes best part? Wewe’ll like volunteers even feedand yousometimes pizza. If you’re journalism just want to we’ll evenfun, feedlove you pizza.

If you’reor fun, love learnor a just newwant media skill, email us at journalism to learn a new media skill, email us atjsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu.

Writers Writers Photographers Photographers Audio/Video Multimedia Designers

Emily Fisher can be reached at efisher@sagebrush. unr.edu and on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.

Designers

- ,

@NevadaSagebrush

Photo courtesy of Grace Leal

The students of Phi Delta Epsilon pose for a photo after winning the 2017 Battle of the Brains. They look to defend their title when the competition returns on April 8.

The Nevada Sagebrush

/ 5 @nvsagebrush

The Nevada Sagebrush

A4 | A&E

PACK N THE EVENTS THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS WEEK

By Joey Thyne

FOR THE CULTURE TALENT SHOW DATE: Tuesday TIME: 7 p.m.

LOCATION: JCSU Theatre INFO: . The men of Phi Beta Sigma are throwing a culturally-based talent show. Not only will this be a fun night full of entertainment, it is a symbol of the University’s great relationship with Greek life. Any questions, please contact Brandon Cruz. He can be found leaving Sagebrush deadline early or working out to get swole for Coachella.

KARAOKE JAM DATE: Wednesday TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: The Center INFO: Come celebrate

Black History Month by embarrassing yourself with your off-key singing.

Just remember, it’s not you who’s tone deaf, it’s them. The Center is throwing a karaoke night for FREE. There will also be complimentary snacks.

For centuries, music has been able to unite people across races, culture, sexuality and gender.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DATE: Thursday TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: JCSU Theatre

INFO: OK sure, this movie isn’t an “Oscar favorite.” It doesn’t “pander to critics.”

The special effects aren’t “pleasant to look at.”

The acting isn’t “good.”

The humor isn’t “funny.”

The script doesn’t “tell a cohesive story” with “engaging characters.”

Zack Snyder hasn’t “made a good movie in nine years.” Anyway, check out Justice League at the Joe for FREE.

HYPNOTIST DATE: Thursday TIME: 9 p.m.

LOCATION: Glick Ballrooms INFO: You can get all the

charm of a cruise ship dinner show right here on campus.

Just an FYI, you are probably already hypnotized by society’s lies, but whatever.

Not me. I watch Viceland.

Ever heard of it? Hypnotism is a great excuse, though. Failed a quiz? I was hypnotized. Text your ex? Hypnotized. Caught watching Justice League?

Hypnotized.

STIRR LIGHTLY EP RELEASE PARTY DATE: Saturday TIME: 7 p.m.

LOCATION: Holland Project INFO: Local band Stirr

Lightly is throwing an EP release party at the Holland Project. Fun fact: EP stands for “extended player.” If you get nothing else from my section, at least you know that now.

Tickets cost $5. Fine Motor and Madooji will open.

Three UNR professors play in Fine Motor. “Dad Rock” has gained a negative connotation, but I love a band that can admonish me for adjusting the thermostat.

Joey Thyne can be reached jthyne@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @joey_thyne

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

‘Twelfth Night’ sets Shakespeare in the Black Rock Desert

By Ben Engel

With only three weeks of rehearsals left, the cast of “Twelfth Night” is both nervous and excited. The Play follows the character Viola, who gets shipwrecked and must dress as a man.

“She dresses as a man for security reasons,” says Marygrace McManus, the actress playing Viola. “She thinks she’s all alone in the world.”

Cabral — or Adi as he’s called by his cast — was excited to take on this play when the concepts of gender and identity are issues on everybody’s mind.

“I’ve done a lot of work exploring the intricacies of gender in performance, so this play was really chosen so that we could focus on gender as performance, and gender performance for survival as a huge element of the story,” Cabral said.

Cabral is not the only one excited about exploring gender with the characters in “Twelfth Night.” Many of the cast members love the freedom Cabral has given them in terms of character exploration. One way Cabral has been exploring gender with his cast has been with extensive voice work.

“I love the approach of voice and speech for actors and nonperformers as a way to empower ourselves in space, empower how we use our voice, empower how we present ourselves to the world,” Cabral said. “I think there’s a healing quality to voice work that really drew me to it.”

Besides voice work, the cast has been heavily emphasizing their characters’ physicality.

Each cast member tries to make everything about their character unique from the rest of the cast, down to the way their character walks and sits down.

Aiden Billharz has taken physicality to new heights by learning some acrobatics for his character, Feste.

“I was kind of joking at the time because no way could you teach someone a backflip in two months,” Billharz said.

Cabral thinks all of this physicality will help make Twelfth Night much funnier, as “Twelfth Night” is a comedy.

“The antics Viola gets herself into by disguising herself as a man are hilarious,” Cabral said.

“Fitting in comic timing that help

to elevate the story and bring the comedic elements back to the foreground has been another fun part of our process.”

The cast has had some difficulties while preparing the show for opening, including staging as well as the Shakespearean dialogue.

Despite the show being performed in a circular theatre, the cast has found ways to open up the space in order to be visible by more of the audience.

“One of the first things that Adi broke us out of was the feeling that we needed to be next to each other to have a conversation,” Billharz said. “This way, we could spread out and use the whole stage while still talking to each other.”

The biggest difficulty Cabral and the cast have had to overcome is the play’s language itself.

“Shakespeare is a lot of people’s weak points,” Cabral said. “The language is really hard to listen to. It’s very poetic, and it’s a structure that we’re not used to listening to.”

In order to bring the play into the present, they’ve changed the setting from Illyria, the original setting, to the Playa in the Black Rock Desert.

“When you think of Shakespeare, you think puffy sleeves and period pieces, but what we’re doing is bringing it into a modern setting to make it more relatable,” Billharz said.

Not only does the Playa bring “Twelfth Night” into the 21st century, but the Playa also plays into the theme of identity.

“One of the biggest rules on the Playa is self-expression,” McManus said. “When people step on to the Playa, they’re allowed to be whoever they want to be and express whatever they want to express.”

The Playa’s culture is being infused into the show with the help of Assistant Director, Riley McKinney who has attended events at the Black Rock Desert for several years.

“I have found a home in its culture and community,” MicKinney said. “The space for radical self-expression and encouraged participation in all things is the reason I am who I am today.”

Cabral is thrilled with the cast’s growth in rehearsals as well as their worth ethic.

“They’re so much more confi-

Ben Engel/Nevada Sagebrush

Actors prepare to perform in the round for the production of “Twelfth Night.” The Shakesperan play opens March 2.

dent about making new choices,” Cabral said. “It certainly makes my job easier. They’re really responsible, and they’re really good at balancing their workload. If they’re not rehearsing a scene, they’re off on the side doing their homework.”

Above all, the entire cast and crew is eager to show their audiences what they’ve been working on.

“The countdown to opening night is always filled with stress, panic and sleep deprivation,” McKinney said. “But it’s also filled with the comfort of knowing we will be ready by the time we open. I have full faith in my cast and crew that we will have an amazing show by March 2nd.”

“Twelfth Night” opens at the Redfield Studio Theatre in less than a month. The show runs

March 2-4 and March 7-10. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. except for the 1:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 4. Tickets can be purchased at the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR) Theatre Department website.

Ben Engel can be reached at joeythyne@gmail.com and on Twitter @joey_thyne.

Wolf Pack Comedy Club gets sketchy in LA Schumacher wrote and performed in the bank teller sketch. “I got to kiss a fellow performer, Vincent, right on his stubble.”

After performing, they received a standing ovation. Some of the workers in the light booth missed their cues because they were laughing too hard.

“I was backstage helping out a majority of our show, but hearing laughter all the way from the back was a thrilling thing,” said Wolf Pack Comedy Club Vice President Viviane Ugalde.

“Our members are smart and funny people.”

Katz says any sketch is only as good as the energy put in by the performers. “If you have the right people who aren’t afraid to be silly Photo courtesy of Wendy Katz and goofy, then I think any An audience waits for the Wolf Pack Comedy Club to take the stage at “Sketchella.” sketch would potentially The comedy festival took place at the Univeristy of Southern California in Los Angeles be really funny.” on Feb, 16 and 17.

“Sketch comedy is never well done,” Schumacher

By Joey Thyne Sketchella, a festival hosted Panther” entirely by white said. “If it were, it wouldn’t by the University of South- actors (written by Katz work. It is cheap to create, In the summer of 2016, ern California. Students wherein she plays Christo- requires only 3-4 minutes the Wolf Pack Comedy from the University of pher Walken), a drug deal of your time, and leaves Club languished in purga- California, Los Angeles, Ari- ruined by the theme song enough to the audiences tory. The old leader did not zona State University and to “Reba” (“I’m a Survivor” imagination to fill in the renew its club status, and Cal State University also by Reba McEntire), Katz’s blanks.” many feared that no one on performed. “coming out party” where Aside from performanccampus would ever laugh “Sketchella was, like a she comes out to her Mor- es, Sketchella held panels again. Then, a savior came first kiss, a gratifying yet mon friends as Jewish, a sex with comedy writers on along and revived the club humbling experience,” scene from “Ratatouille” Saturday who spoke about and restored comedy at said comedy club member where Remy controls Lin- their experiences in the UNR. Rachel Katz, now a Cullin Schumacher. “We guini as he makes love to industry. Guests included senior studying journalism, went fairly confident in Collette, a scenario where “Comedy Bang Bang!” writis the comedy club’s fearless our material, but seeing a young man’s parents are er Dan Klein, “Broad City” leader. other comedy troupes re- shocked and disgusted writer Naomi Ekperigin, On Feb. 16 and 17, 11 ally makes us wanting to do when they walk in on him “Adam Ruins Everything” students from the comedy more, better.” alone in his room perform- writer Glenn Boozan and club at the University of NeAt Sketchella, UNR’s ing ventriloquism and a “Saturday Night Live” and vada, Reno, traveled to Los comedy club performed bank robber and bank teller “Key and Peele” writer Rich Angeles to perform sketch sketches with premises in- performing the finale from Talarico. comedy for the first time at cluding auditions for “Black “Dirty Dancing.”

“The best thing the panel

said was to just keep writing,” Katz said. “I know it sounds cliche but no one is going to hire someone who has nothing to show for themselves.”

Wolf Pack Comedy Club Vice President Viviane Ugalde said her favorite panelist was Ekperigin.

“She gave great advice about writing comedically in different situations, and how to keep writing even if you don’t feel like you’re funny enough,” Ugalde said.

Schumacher’s favorite panelist was Klein.

“He told us all to fail, and that’s really easy to do,” Klein said “Not everything will work, so don’t treat it like it will.”

Katz prefers writing sketches over anything else.

“I personally like to write a lot,” Katz said, “I think stand-up is cool, but I like being with people and it’s kind of lonely doing standup. I like having a conversation.”

“Live Sketch Comedy is this weird thing that is amazing to see,” Ugalde said. “It’s supposed to be pre-written, but sometimes a line is forgotten or something happens and the troupe member will improv, and it will be funnier than what was written. It is the best to see funny people work on their feet. I think it works so well because audiences can relate to almost anything, so starting with four people sitting at a table has the audience already committed to whatever

is about to happen next.

Whether it be robots, or a dinner scene.”

UNR’s comedy club has approximately 15 rotating performers.

“I got into comedy club to disappoint my parents,” Schumacher said.

“I think everyone’s funny in their own way,” Katz said.

“That’s just my opinion.

If they weren’t funny I wouldn’t invite them to things. We’ve got a guy that looks like Zach Galifianakis...mixed with Charles Manson, now that I think about it...”

Katz plans to pursue comedy after her spring graduation. She hopes to get a job at NBC and work up the ranks until she can submit her pilot: “A Synagogue in Tonopah.”

“It’s about this Rabbi and her name is Rachel Katz,” Katz said. “She goes back to Tonopah where she’s from, she’s been in Rabbinical school and running a Synagogue there. So she goes back to Tonopah to revamp her childhood synagogue in Tonopah, Nevada.”

Looking ahead, there are plans to do a stand-up show, a variety show and a collaboration with the Libertarian club before the end of the semester.

Meetings take place every Thursday 6:30 p.m. in the Joe for anyone interested in joining.

Joey Thyne can be reached at joeythyne@gmail.com and on Twitter @joey_thyne

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

A&E | A5

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

‘Black Panther’ wins in every way

By Carla Suggs I’ll start by saying this: if any part of you is even remotely considering seeing Black Panther in theaters, do it. You’ll thank me later.

Now, allow me to elaborate.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about “Black Panther” is the inclusion and representation of many real African cultures. For example, several characters proudly wear different body modifications, like raised scars on their chests and torsos, pierced faces and other physical traits traditional to African tribes. Not to mention that a majority of the wardrobe, hairstyles, and music featured throughout the film is heavily inspired by (if not entirely taken from) African cultures. Another intriguing aspect of this film is the role that women play in it. “Black Panther” highlights the strength and power of women, specifically black women, like no other superhero film has before. The Black Panther himself is protected and served by a regiment of warrior women known as Dora Milaje, who don armor and beautifully shaved heads.

Well into the film, we get to see these women in full combat mode as they go head-to-head against their male counterparts to protect their king. Even the younger sister of the Black Panther, Shuri (Letitia Wright), sheds the typical role of a fragile princess in exchange for a super intelligent tech wizard, who uses her knowledge to develop weapons, medicine, transportation and a new suit for her big brother.

One of the most visually breathtaking scenes in the film occurs toward the beginning, as Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Okoye (Danai Guriria), descend into Wakanda, a fictional African country that thrives off a valuable metal called Vibranium. Accompanied by Afri-

can rhythms and melodies, Wakanda is revealed to us in all its lush, perfect beauty, and even the characters themselves are blown away at the sight of it. Not only that, but there’s a striking contrast between the rural ways of life and the technological advancements shared by the Wakandans.

Sheepherders are seen running to keep up with T’Challa’s state-ofthe-art airplane as it flies by.

Families living in huts watch as the plane soars overhead.

It becomes clear that this is not a country based on social stratification, but rather the freedom to live however one chooses.

Of course, “Black Panther” isn’t just two hours and 14 minutes of perfect sunshine and rainbows. The conflict presented in “Black Panther” is the most real thing about the movie. Early on in the film, T’Challa’s father, King T’Chaka, is seen visiting his brother N’Jobu in Oakland, California, in the early 1990s.

N’Jobu is serving as a spy for Wakanda, yet he and his brother soon enter into a disagreement about Vibranium, which N’Jobu has been smuggling out of Wakanda to help the outside world.

His argument is that it’s Wakanda’s duty to the world, especially black people, to use the Vibranium to fight back against those who abuse their power. This highlights the obvious barrier between Wakandans and their panAfrican brothers and sisters, who face prejudice and hardship in other parts of the world, while the Wakandans don’t. Yet this issue on whether or not to share their precious resources persists throughout the film and presents a tough choice for T’Challa as he faces multiple enemies in different forms.

The actors in this film also went above and beyond to portray dynamic characters that are easy to fall in love with. “Black Panther” features film veterans like Angela Bas-

sett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman, as well as up-and-comers like Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke. Chadwick Boseman has not only a voice like warm honey, but also a remarkable understanding of what it means to be the Black Panther. Of course, Lupita Nyong’o is always a breath of fresh air when it comes to playing any part, especially that of Nakia. Yet Michael B. Jordan is possibly the most commendable actor for his role in the film, playing Erik “Killmonger”, an American foil to the Black Panther who also gives the film some of its most quotable lines.

Overall, go see “Black Panther.” Just do it.

Carla Suggs can be reached at joeythyne@gmail.com and on Twitter @c_swayzy.

Movie Review ‘BLACK PANTHER’ Release Date: Feb. 16 Genre: Superhero

ASUN

f /nevadaASUN

@nevadaASUN

NevadaASUN.com

@nevadaASUN

Mobile App

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

A6

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

STAFF EDITORIAL

L

University right to demand stronger oversight of campus fraternities

ast week, the university revoked recognition of four campus fraternities after they refused to agree to new university regulations, and the fates of two more hang in limbo as they continue negotiations.

These new regulations?

The requirement of a live-in advisor, and a comprehensive report of all incidents throughout the semester.

On one hand, we understand why the fraternities might be reticent to agree to this kind of a deal. This university policy seems one step short of full Big Brother-esque overreach, an overstepping and over-enforcement of the university's duty to regulate Greek life.

However, we do not agree with the decision to reject the university's terms.

Whether or not anyone within Greek life (at either the chapter or national level) wants to admit it, there is a hazing problem that has yet to be solved by the self-regu-

lation currently governing the system.

Deaths, be they accidental or otherwise, at, around, or because of fraternities at the University of Nevada, Reno, are not common, but nor are they impossible, or even that unlikely. It was just last year that Sigma Nu pledge Ryan Abele died tragically after a night of drinking and a lethal fall down the stairs at Sigma Nu's house.

Sigma Nu was eventually sanctioned by the university and its recognition revoked.

But what good are such measures after the fact? Do they really provide any solace? The answer, of course, is no. And we shouldn't be surprised that the university has decided to pursue the measures these six fraternities find so detestable.

Moreover, there's the wrinkle of responsibility. Roughly one year ago, 19-year-old Penn State student Timothy Piazza was hazed at a fraternity party and given alcohol.

He would later fall down the stairs and be left unattended

for 12 hours before help was ever called. Piazza would die both from his injuries, and from the irresponsibility of those around him.

It's a case alarmingly similar to Abele's, and it led to a damning report against Penn State University: you are responsible for doing nothing.

A grand jury investigation into Piazza's death found the administration showed "shocking apathy" toward fraternities who might be allowed to do wrong, and a local Attorney General said it would be better to shut "these dens of depravity down" than allow more people to die under the same or similar conditions.

While Penn State's administration disagreed with that characterization, it would still seize control of its Greekletter organizations and institute a strict zero-tolerance hazing policy.

In comparison, is the request for these standards documents so outlandish? Is it ridiculous to think the university should have so much

“FAKE NEWS” IN REVIEW

By Ryan Suppe and Joey Thyne

INTERNATIONAL NORTH KOREAN LEADER EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN ‘AMERICAN SUPERHUMAN’ MICHAEL PHELPS’ ABSENCE FROM PYEONGCHANG

control over its Greek life?

Or is it foolish to continue to assume that same Greek life can continue to self-regulate without the risk of another death or more dangerous incidents?

For that last question, ultimately, we think the answer is yes.

The editorial board can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush. unr.edu and on Twitter @ NevadaSagebrush.

Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house on Evans and E. 9th St. near the campus of UNR. The SAE chapter at UNR lost recognition until 2021 for alcohol use and endangering the health and safety of others. Four other fraternities also lost recognition last week for refusing to agree to new University policies.

NV Republicans should steer clear of Sheriff Joe Arpaio

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wrote in his blog this week he was disappointed to see Michael Phelps isn’t participating in the 2018 Olympics. Kim was planning to kidnap the “superhuman” American athlete and study his “mechanical workings.”

“It is with great regret that I announce Michael Phelps did not appear in Pyeongchang,” Kim wrote in his online blog kimvibes.blogspot.com. “I had hoped to kidnap the superhuman American Michael Phelps, remove its shell and study the innerworkings of that skillfully crafted machine.

But alas, my superhuman army will have to wait until another time. Bummer.”

Kim had been planning the operation for years, according to his blog, and even orchestrated complex peace talks with South Korea so his country could participate without suspicion. Cheerleaders were trained with specific chants to lure Phelps into a trap, and they wore red to trigger his artificially implanted animal instincts.

NATIONAL AMERICA’S TOP SJW IS THE HOT NEW GAME SHOW In the same vein as “American Idol” or “So You Think You Can Dance,” the new hit Fox series “America’s Top SJW” is travelling across the country to find the wokest social justice warriors. The show features celebrity hosts Mark Ruffalo, P!nk and Alison Brie.

The top social justice warrior will be crowned after a series of challenges including “Identify That Micro-Aggression,” “Check His Privilege,” “Scold A Carnivore,” “Tweet About Trump,” “Smoke Those American Spirits,” “Thrift Shopping with a Purpose” and others.

Last week, contestant Paul Strickland was eliminated during the quiz portion.

When asked “What gender is the future?”

Strickland answered “female.” The answer, of course, is “binary gender is a social construct.”

Tabatha Richter won the first round after a flawless display of “Constructive YouTube Commenting.”

All of the contestants are white and have septum piercings.

LOCAL GOOSE SHIT ON BOTTOM OF UNR STUDENTS’ SHOES COULD FERTILIZE MILLIONS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND, NEW STUDY FINDS

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaking with supporters at a campaign rally for Donald Trump at the Prescott Valley Event Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Arpaio is running for U.S. Senate and is making public appearances, including in Nevada.

W

hat do Republicans value? Lower taxes, of course, stronger borders, freedom from unwanted government intrusion, a strong military, economic independence and other things.

Basically, they value smaller government and bigger freedoms for individuals.

How does Sheriff Joe Arpaio embody these values?

Arpaio, 85, was sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona for over two decades. During his tenure he built “tent city,” an outdoor enRyan campment for prisonSuppe ers in the 120-degree Soup of the Phoenix heat which Day he described as a “concentration camp.” He instituted “round-ups” where Phoenix police would detain migrants without cause. He was ordered by a judge to stop, but he didn’t stop and was charged with contempt of court. President Trump later pardoned him.

He also had a reality TV show, for what it's worth.

Definitely a lot of border security in there, and we know Republicans love a reality TV star, but before the GOP takes

this old-school, no-nonsense lawman in as one of their own, shouldn’t they consider some of the other elements of Arpaio’s story?

Don’t Republicans value human rights?

Doesn't the GOP value the Constitution?

Republicans claim to be the "party of Lincoln," and they honor him as their first president. The GOP is the party that venerates the Constitution as a holy text, enforcing the law, granting us freedoms and protecting us from the evils of true democracy.

These are ideals that I am very much drawn to. I’d rather be governed by the law than by wishy-washy people any day of the week. I’ve taken core humanities, I’ve read The Lord of the Flies and I’ve heard about the Stanford Prison Experiment. But, how do you support a party that puts people like Sheriff Joe on the stage, a man that violates some of the most basic principles of republicanism?

And a man who I’m sure would love to be a guard in the Stanford Prison Experiment.

For a man who has worked in law enforcement his whole life, Arpaio has a mind-boggling lack of respect for the law.

He violated people’s rights. He oversaw an inhumane prison system. He ignored his duties as sheriff to engage in political tomfoolery. And, when a judge told him he was violating the Constitution, Arpaio ignored him and hired a private inves-

tigator to dig up some dirt on the judge and his wife.

Sheriff Joe gave a speech in Minden on Sunday, his second appearance in Nevada in the last six months. He was the keynote speaker at the sold-out Lincoln Reagan Dinner, a conservative fundraising event.

Lincoln would roll in his grave if he saw his and Arpaio’s name side by side.

I wonder what the crowd was like at this thing. Were people standing up and cheering when Arpaio ranted about Obama’s fake birth certificate? Did they hoot and holler when he bragged about all of the brown people he illegally detained in Arizona? I can only wonder because the event organizers denied press access to The Nevada Independent, which I depend on for such coverage. The First Amendment is in that document they hold so sacred, but it's probably for the best to avoid coverage of this event.

His appearance was most likely a publicity stunt to attract donors. But, that’s not the way it looks. It looks like Nevada Republicans support Sheriff Joe, and Nevada Republicans should absolutely not do that, even if the president supports him, even if you like that he is strong on border security, even if you think prisoners should have to wear pink underwear, even if you think any conservative is better than a liberal.

Putting people like Sheriff Joe on a

pedestal will fracture the Republican party. It will split between members who support people like Arpaio and those who cannot. Public representatives of the party like him will force regular Republicans into hiding. Those who might be outspoken about the party’s values will have to choose whether to publicly support a man with no regard for human rights and no regard for the law. If they choose not to, they will go into hiding.

Most will probably choose the latter, and their opinion won’t be heard until election day when they cast a vote for someone they really don’t believe in.

Arpaio does not embody Republican values. He is a mutation of Republican values. He’s like a Frankensteinian monster made up of all the evil things that have unfortunately been bred in the party over the last few years.

Surely, there is a better-suited representative of the party somewhere that can give these keynote speeches. Surely, Nevada Republicans don’t want Sheriff Joe to be their spokesperson.

Opinions expressed in The Nevada Sagebrush are solely those of the author and do not necessarily express the views of The Sagebrush or of its staff. Ryan Suppe studies journalism and philosophy. He can be reached at rsuppe@sagebrush. unr.edu and on Twitter @salsuppe

Goose excrement is an excellent source of fertilizer but the tons of shit currently residing on the bottoms of UNR students’ shoes is not being utilized, a new study from the Progressive Odorous Organics Party finds.

John Accretion, Chief Executive Officer at POOP, said the inaction by the UNR administration is a gross misapplication of fecal resources, referencing the goose excreta lining pathways across campus.

“Kids are stepping on this shit all day every day,” Accretion said. “And where does it go?

They go home and their dogs lick the goose shit off the bottom of their shoes. We could use that as fertilizer to grow crops and feed the poor.”

POOP is an international organization dedicated to researching ways that animal droppings are being under-utilized or misappropriated. For example, in 2015 they sued a private citizen in Minnesota for running over his dog’s shit with a lawn mower instead of donating it responsibly.

Students at UNR have thrown their support behind POOP as well.

“I don’t care what they do with it, I just hope POOP can get this shit taken care of,” said Roberta Grumet, a member of UNR’s Stool Hygiene Initiative Team.

The geese near Manzanita Lake could not be reached for comment. They are very territorial.

Photo by This Incredible World via Flickr

Fake News field reporter Kenneth Lowe attempted to interview this goose near Manzanita Lake ragarding the recent goose dropping controversy. The goose was having none of it. Lowe's feathers were ruffled but he was otherwise unhurt.

Ryan Suppe and Joey Thyne study astrology.

They can be reached at rsuppe@sagebrush.

Editor’s Note “Fake news” is not real news and should not be interpreted as such. Interested in real news? Check out the news section.

Sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 OP-ED

@SagebrushSports | nevadasagebrush.com

ATHLETES IN POLITICS:

the voices that can’t be silenced

L

ebron James, Kevin Durant, Colin Kaepernick and Ibtihaj Muhammad. All four of these individuals have much more in common than you might know. James, Durant, Kaepernick and Muhammad are all minorities, athletes and have voiced their political opinions regarding the state of the union; but, more i m p o r t a n t l y, they charged toward the Jersey Shore extra that a s s u m e d Brandon the role of Cruz President just a year ago.

Muhammad cemented her place in Olympics history by becoming the first female, MuslimAmerican to win a medal for the United States in 2016 while fencing and wearing a hijab.

Muhammad was originally up in arms after Trump instituted his travel ban which restricted travel from eight nations: Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, North Korea and Venezuela. Although the ban has been deemed unconstitutional twice by two circuit courts, Muhammad still felt as if she was constantly being judged by those around her when she talked to CNN back in August of 2017. “…Even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn’t change how you look and how people perceive you,” said Muhammad in an interview with CNN. Muhammad was a silent leader in political diversity talks by wearing her hijab while competing and finally vocalizing her qualms when the travel ban hit.

Along with Muhammad, we have Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protests that began

during the 2017 NFL preseason.

Kaepernick was using the stage he was given to address a blight on society: police brutality and the overall maltreatment of minorities. But as soon as the protest began, the “patriotic” portion of the American public was outraged with the display.

To them it was a disrespectful gesture against those who fight for our country. But little does everyone know, the National Anthem has racist undertones, and more specifically, a redacted third stanza with oppressive remarks.

“And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution No refuge could save the hireling and slave From terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Through this verse Francis Scott Key states the pollution, or problem, brought on by the British will be washed away with the blood of slaves and mercenaries.

Once the movement gained a great deal of traction, President Trump decided he’d throw in his two cents.

“Frankly the NFL should have suspended him for one game and he would have never done it again,” said Trump in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

While I see that Trump is trying to appeal to American citizens in the armed forces with this comment, he has no continuity in the sides he supports. This was shown when he made the remark that he’d rather have American heroes “who weren’t captured,” when referring to John McCain.

No I do not agree with Trump’s remarks, but if he is going to take a stance, how about trying to stick to your guns on an issue instead of flip-flopping when it fits your agenda?

Does taking a political stance as an athlete force that individual to choose between childhood passions and social activism? Because in the case of Kaepernick, the decision was made for him after he threw his hat into the ring.

Since Kaepernick kneeled during the National Anthem, he appears to have been blackballed by the league: once a Super Bowl-contending quarterback, benched for what seems to be the rest of his career.

The most recent political “uprising” in the athletic world surfaced when James and Durant spoke about the nation and James said President Trump does not “give a f*** about the people.”

The comment and interview as a whole received a lot of flak from Laura Ingraham, who responded by telling James to keep his “Political commentary” to himself and “Shut up and dribble.”

Now, James and Durant are in no way in a position to lose their jobs. They’re two of the main figure heads in the National Basketball Association, so there’s no grey area to say they weren’t good enough to be on rosters, which people used as a cop out for why Kaepernick wasn’t lucky enough to find an NFL team to play for.

To those of you who say politics has no place in sports, I ask you to open your eyes and put yourselves in their shoes. Take a step back and look at the history of sports and politics. The earliest date I can recollect of the two colliding would be the 1968 Olympics where gold medalist Tommie Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos raised the black power fist on the podium. Just like Kaepernick’s protest it was silent

In Case You Missed It

country. Intelligence is not solely determined by educational status or financial hierarchy. Athletes should continue to use their unique platforms to address and fix the social issues that have plagued our nation for decades.

Swim and Dive Nevada Swim and Dive took third place in the Mountain West swimming and diving championships for the second straight year.

Standout senior Sharae Zheng once again outdid herself, taking home gold on the platform dive. This marked Zheng’s eighth Mountain West diving championship. On top of Zheng’s expected dominance, junior Rebecca Murray struck gold with her 49.44 second finish in the 100 yard freestyle. Nevada continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the Mountain West swim and diving scene.

Nevada Rifle Nevada’s No. 8 ranked rifle team ended its impressive season on a high note with a win against UTEP in the NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 17 in El Paso, Texas. Senior Justin Nissen led the team with an aggregate score of 1166.

Emily Capaul put together a stellar performance with an aggregate score of 1162 and Mitchell Van Patten came in two points below Capaul with an aggregate score of 1160.

Baseball Pack Baseball began its season in Irvine, California, to take on the University of California, Irvine in a 3-game series. Nevada had a rough time facing off against its California counterpart during the first two games, losing 0-4 and 3-4 respectively. But on the final day of the series something clicked with Nevada Baseball. The offense was unstoppable Jake Jackson took over the mound for his first collegiate start. Starting Jackson proved to be an intelligent decision as he helped lead Nevada to an 8-1 victory.

Brandon Cruz can be reached at bcruz@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @SagebrushSports

Brandon Cruz can be reached at bcruz@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @SagebrushSports

Mondadori Publishers via Wikimedia Commons

American sprinters Tommie Smith (1) and John Carlos (3) throw up the Black Power fist after their 200m race during the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. It was a sign to the world that injustice and opression would no longer be tolerated.

but powerful. It represented the start of the social revolution in America led by the Black Panther party and its associates.

Politics has always been in sports, but it’s just become more prevalent due to the technological age we’ve found ourselves in.

Every man, woman and child with a voice has the right to speak about the political state of our

SPORTS | A7

Playing Nancy Drew: After injury, Nevada searches for point guard replacement

F

ollowing the seasonending right Achilles injury to starting point guard Lindsey Drew, Nevada must find a way to fill that void in the rotation. With a short bench, the Wolf Pack must rely on somebody from its bench to step up in Drew’s absence.

Whether that comes from one guy or a combination of guys, the Wolf Pack will Javier have the luxury Hernandez of testing out new lineups in the upcoming home games against the 10th and 11th ranked teams in the Mountain West in San Jose State and Colorado State.

Below are some of the most likely candidates to eat up the minutes left by Drew: Elijah Foster — The Wolf Pack big man and the only holdover from the David Carter era lost his place in the rotation this season. In scarce minutes, he has shown spurts where he can be a serviceable defender, rebounder, and spot-up shooter.

Last season, Foster looked like the perfect compliment to Cameron Oliver in the post. He was averaging 12 points per game 7.4 rebounds per game through the first seven games of the season. This was done as the fourth or fifth option on offense. With a suspension due to a domestic battery charge halting his early success, Foster has yet to crack the rotation after his return this season.

Nevada has shown that it has struggled to defend the paint this season. While Foster is not a true rim-protector — he is as tall as the Martin twins — after Jordan Caroline he is most likely the only player that can consistently provide defense against traditional bigs.

Foster has always been a player reliant on confidence and rhythm.

1

With a bump in minutes, he could provide some much-needed help in the interior on both ends of the court. . Hallice Cooke — Hallice Cooke is most likely Nevada’s best “effort” guy. Every time he steps on the court, he provides the Wolf Pack valuable minutes on defense with the occasional longrange bomb. While he is not a player that manufactures his own shots, he always plays within the offense. His quick trigger on offense is tolerated because he brings a different spark when he is in the game.

As the primary backup to Drew, stepping up into greater minutes could allow the Wolf Pack to continue to use its small ball style of play.

Cooke is a player that Musselman trusts. He may be the most likely candidate to get the lion’s share of Drew’s minutes. . Josh Hall — Josh Hall is like Foster in that he is a rhythm and confidence type of player.

When his game is working, he can be a lights-out shooter and a great defender. In addition, he is a capable ball-handler that can bring the ball up the court on semi-transition opportunities. In the NCAA Tournament game against Iowa State, he had some key floaters that kept the Wolf Pack in the game.

However, also like Foster, his minutes have been inconsistent this season. Musselman is always quick to praise Hall whenever he does well on the court. In order to stay on the court, Hall’s floor must be at least a decent three and D. If he can do that, Musselman will most likely make him a part of the regular rotation.

While it seems like Musselman is experimenting with Cody Martin as the point forward in the game against Utah State, once rest in between games shortens during tournament time, he will most likely have to turn to one of these players for extended playing time.

2

3

Javier Hernandez can be reached at bcruz@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.

Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

Wolf Pack sharpshooter Kendall Stephens drives to the cup during Nevada’s game against UNLV on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. The Wolf Pack will face the Runnin’ Rebels in Las Vegas next week.

Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

The Wolf Pack huddles during its game against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Nevada is currently ranked 20th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Court Report

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

@NevadaSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

A8

UPCOMING MEN’S GAMES LAST GAME’S SCORE

87 - 93 Final

1

2

T

Utah 40 47 58

vs SJSU

vs. CSU

at.UNLV

at SDSU

7 p.m.

2/21

1 p.m.

2/25

8 p.m.

2/28

7 p.m.

3/03

at Mountain West Tournament T.B.D. 3/07

WOLF PACK ON A TEAR Nevada Basketball wins back-to-back games, Drew out for the season with torn achilles

NEV 52 41 93 AP TOP 25

1. Virginia 2. Michigan State 3. Villanova 4. Xavier 5. Duke

24-2 26-3 24-3 24-4 22-5

6.Gonzaga 7. Texas Tech 8.Kansas 9.Purdue 10.North Carolina

25-4 22-5 21-6 24-5 21-7

11. Cincinnati 12. Auburn 13.Wichita State 14. Arizona 15. Clemson

23-4 23-4 21-5 21-6 20-6

16. Ohio State 17. Michigan 18. Rhode Island 19. Tennessee 20. Nevada

22-7 22-7 21-4 19-7 23-5

21. West Virginia 22. Saint Mary’s 23. Houston 24. Mid Tennessee 25. Florida State

19-8 25-4 21-5 22-5 19-8

Standings Conference Overall

Nevada

12-2

23-5

Boise State

11-4

21-6

Fresno Sate

9-5

19-8

UNLV

8-6

19-8

Wyoming

8-6

17-10

New Mexico

8-6

13-14

SDSU

7-7

15-10

Utah State

7-8

14-14

Air Force

4-9

10-15

Colorado State

4-11

11-17

San Jose State

0-14

3-22

NEVADA’S 2017-2018 SCHEDULE Opponent

Result

Nov. 10

Idaho

W, 88-64

Nov. 13

Rhode Island

W ,88-81

Nov. 15

at Santa Clara

W, 93-63

Nov. 18

at Pacific

W, 89-74

Nov. 21

Davidson

W, 81-68

Nov. 24

at Hawaii

W, 67-54

Date

Nov. 29 vs. Illinois State

LOOKING BACK

PROBABLE STARTERS

SAN JOSE STATE (3-22, 0-14 MWC) 21, guard, Jalen James Senior, 6-foot-4 4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg 20, guard, Noah Baumann Freshman, 6-foot-5 5.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg 32, forward, Ryan Welage Junior, 6-foot-9 18.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg 5, forward, Keith Fisher Freshman, 6-foot-8, 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg 13, center, Oumar Barry Junior, 6-foot-11, 5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg

The Nevada Wolf Pack defeated the Boise State Broncos and the Utah State Aggies on the road this past week. The two victories put the Wolf Pack to 23-5 overall on the season and ranked 20th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll this week.

In the battle for first place in the Mountain West Conference, Nevada pulled out a tough victory against the Boise State Broncos and its sold out crowd, handing the Broncos their first home loss this season.

The Wolf Pack was led by Caleb Martin and Kendall Stephens who scored 21 points apiece, while Jordan Caroline recorded a double-double as he scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

At the end of the first half, starting point guard Lindsey Drew hurled a three quarter court shot to try and beat the buzzer but injured his Achilles in the process. He has since been declared out for the re-

mainder of the season.

“The key in the games in both games one and game two is defending the three ball,” Musselman said.

“I thought we did a good job getting a hand on the three ball shots. It was a hard-fought game.”

Three days later, the Wolf Pack bussed to Logan, Utah to face the Utah State Aggies. The Wolf Pack shot lights out from the field as Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, and Caroline combined for 73 points in the game. Utah State tried to mount a late-game comeback, but the Wolf Pack was able to hold momentum and pull out the victory in Logan.

“I thought offensively we were phenomenal, shooting the ball 59 percent in the first half then in the second half 60 percent. 59.3 percent for the game,” Musselman said. “Obviously the job that Cody did today playing the point, he was phenomenal scoring the ball.

I thought his defensive rebounds were huge. The points of emphasis coming into the game was just the fact that we had to rebound the ball a little bit better.”

In the upcoming week, the Wolf Pack will take on the San Jose State Spartans and the Colorado State Rams. Those two teams are the 10th and 11th ranked teams in the Mountain West Conference, respectively. With the Wolf Pack heading into the final stretch of the Mountain West Conference, they stand at only seven scholarship players remaining on the season.

San Jose State has lost 14 straight games after a win against Santa Clara on Dec. 21, 2017, and have yet to notch a victory in conference

play. Against the Wolf Pack this season, they led by two at halftime before the Wolf Pack got separation in the second half.

As for Colorado State’s last ten games, they’ve won just twice — once against San Jose State, the other against Wyoming.

With Lindsey Drew’s seasonending injury against Boise State, the Wolf Pack can use these games to prepare for the final road trip of the year against UNLV and San Diego State before the Mountain West Tournament.s and that this mentality carries on.”

10, forward, Caleb Martin Junior, 6-foot-7 19.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg 11, forward, Cody Martin Junior, 6-foot-7 13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg 13, guard, Hallice Cooke Senior, 6-foot-3, 4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg 24, guard, Jordan Caroline Junior, 6-foot-7 17 ppg , 8.8 rpg 21, guard, Kendall Stephens

Senior, 6-foot-7 13.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg

W, 98-68

Dec. 2

at UC Irvine

W, 76-65

Dec. 5

Texas Tech

L, 76-82

Dec. 8

vs TCU

L, 80-84

Dec. 17

Radford

W, 77-62

Dec. 19

UC Davis

W, 88-73

Dec. 22 Southern Illinois Dec. 23

W, 86-64

San Fransisco

Dec. 27 at Fresno State

L, 64-66 W, 80-65

New Mexico

W, 77-74

Jan. 3

Wyoming

W, 92-83

Jan. 6

at Air Force

W, 83-57

Dec. 30

Jan. 17 at San Jose State

W, 71-54

Jan. 20

Boise State

W, 74-68

Jan. 24

at Wyoming

L, 103-104

Feb. 3

at Colorado State

W, 76-67

Feb. 7

UNLV

L, 78-86

Feb. 14

at Boise State

W, 77-72

Feb. 17

at Utah State

W, 93-87

Feb. 21

San Jose State

7:00 p.m.

Feb. 25

Colorado State

1:00 p.m.

Feb. 28

at UNLV

8:00 p.m.

Mar. 3 at San Diego State 7:00 p.m.

Mar. 7-10 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

LOOKING AHEAD

NEVADA (23-5, 12-2 MWC)

Javier Hernandez can be reached at bcruz@sagebrush. unr and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.

MOUNTAIN WEST STANDINGS

THIS WEEK’S GAMES Nevada vs San Jose State When: Wednesday, February 21 Where: Lawlor Event Center

Nevada vs. Colorado State When: Sunday, February 25 Where: Lawlor Events Center

Javier Hernandez can be reached at bcruz@sagebrush.unr and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.

“

Andrea Wilkinson/Nevada Sagebrush

cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutline goes here cutlinealkdfj

Just wanna thank all of Wolfpack nation for their support and wishing the best for me through this minor setback. My squad is fully confident in continuing our winning ways and to keep putting on for Nevada/Reno” — @AntiLindseyDrew

TOP 25 PREDICTIONS

NEV vs SJSU The Nevada Wolf Pack return for its final homestand this season against San Jose State and Colorado State. The Wolf Pack, who is without point guard Lindsey Drew, showed that it can still find its groove offensively while using Cody Martin as the point-forward.

San Jose State has lost all of its Mountain West Conference games this season. Even with a limited rotation, the Wolf Pack should be able to blow the Spartans out of the water. Look for Nevada to get ahead early and get its walkon some run.

65-49 NEV

OSU vs RUT GTWN vs XAV The Buckeyes dropped back-to-back games this past week--a 23 point blowout loss against Penn State and a loss against rival Michigan.

The Buckeyes seem to be reeling after a surprising season thus far. They slid out of first place in the Big Ten after the loss to Michigan.

Today, they face Rutgers at home. This game should be a good bounce back game for the Buckeyes as Rutgers is one of the worst teams in the Big Ten Conference. Look for Keita BatesDiop to rediscover his shot after some tough performances last week.

70-60 OSU

Georgetown lost a close one last time out against Xavier. With the Musketeers getting stomped by conference rival Villanova, they will look to bounce back against a Bulldogs team who is one of the surprise teams in the conference.

Look for Trevon Bluiett and JP Macura to lead this bounceback road game against the Bulldogs. While Georgetown had an explosive run in its previous game against Butler, their defense was porous. The Musketeers should be able to exploit their weak perimeter defense and come away with a convincing victory.

63-52 XAV

PUR vs ILL The Purdue Boilermakers, from top to bottom, is one of the hardest teams to beat in college basketball. This year, with center Isaac Haas dominating the paint with his silky smooth jump hook coupled with the sharpshooting from the rest of the team from beyond the arc, this Boilermakers team is the best its been in years.

Perennially dubbed as a sleeper in the NCAA Tournament, this year they should make a deep run if all the chips fall correctly. After a shaky outing last time around, look for the Boilermakers to stomp the Illini.

80-55 PUR