November 10, 2009

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Opening the discussion campus-wide

MSU administrators and student leaders discussed space utilization of the CSU and future potential program cuts Monday at open forum

photos by wale agboola • msu reporter(Left to right) MSSA Vice President Bob Dooley, Vice President for Institutional Diversity Michael Fagin and Director of Chicano-Latino Affairs Guadalupe Quintero were among those who contributed to the open forum discussion Monday afternoon in the Centennial Student Union.

Several higher-up members of the Minnesota State administration gathered on the first floor of the Centennial Student Union Monday to hear student concerns regarding the use of space in the CSU and the prospect of closing or suspending academic programs in response to projected budget shortfalls beginning in 2012.

President Davenport was there, as was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Olson, Vice President of Finance Rick Straka and Vice President for Institutional Diversity Michael Fagin, among others.

Leaders of the student body, including MSSA President Murtaza Rajabali, Vice President Dooley and chairman of the Student union Board Jayme Pretzloff, were also there to answer questions.

MSU students heard about, asked questions about, and voiced their

opinions and ideas about issues that may affect their experience at MSU in the near future.

Most of the student questions came in the first half of the discussion, which centered on the use of space in the student union.

“Utilization of space (in the CSU) impacts [students] directly because students own and pay for this building, and they should have a lot of voice about how to use it.”

The subject has been on students’ minds recently because of a proposed Latino Center in the student union.

The Plaza Comunitaria, housed within the center, would provide Mexican immigrants with an opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma from the Mexican government.

Davenport said he had received a letter from the Chicano Latino American Student Association saying it “would like a Latino Center, and the

first choice would be on the first floor of the student union.”

At the forum, students asked what that would mean for other organizations trying to get a permanent spot in the union, and why a Latino Center would potentially receive priority over them.

Davenport acknowledged that, with more than 200 clubs and student organizations vying for space and time, allocating permanent places within the union is “a really big issue.”

Dooley said the determining factors in getting a spot include “how closely to the union’s mission [the groups] adhere, how much space they need and where, and how many students they serve.”

When asked if the Latino Center wasn’t a question of “if,” but of “when and where,” Davenport nodded.

Director of Chicano-Latino Affairs Guadalupe Quintero reiterated the case for a Latino Center. “The Latino population [in Minnesota] is increasing rapidly,” she said. “Other public schools

in the area look to MSU as an example of Latino programming.”

But at least one student expressed concern that the center could have the effect of segregating the student population in the CSU, rather than fostering multiculturalism.

“That’s why the majority of the MSSA is opposed to [the Latino Center],” Rajabali said. “We want the CSU to be open; that was the reason for its $13 million renovation just a few years ago. “

Fagin disagreed with that assessment, saying there was a “misconception of what the Plaza Comunitaria will be … The glass window [outside the Latino Center] won’t be a barrier, but will welcome all students to come inside.”

Some students wonder how the administration can be so sure of the Latino Center’s feasibility.

Though the exact costs involved in

JOHN FRITZstaff writer

new class schedule builder to aid students as class registration comes up

news, Page 5

Discussion / page 4

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President Davenport to gift bonus for scholarship, loan program for low-income and underrepresented studentsDANNIE HIGGINBOTHAMnews editor

Minnesota State President Richard Davenport came together with community leaders and students to discuss the issue of college access during a meeting Thursday.

The meeting, called an informal mentoring session for students with issues regarding financial aid, race relations and registration, brought in Minneapolis civil rights and Uhuru Solutions activist Spike Moss and Zachary Metoyer, of the Metropolitan Community Development Corporation.

The session dealt with the issues presented by many students in the College Access Program (CAP), who had prepared a list of issues and requests for President Davenport.

CAP student Vanessa Chandler read off the list students had put together, asking Davenport to forgive bills left over from summer

class. She also questioned why the university offered loans to students unable to find credit-worthy cosigners, why Davenport had not yet given his bonus to the university, as he mentioned he was considering, and why the CAP program had not yet moved back under the division of institutional diversity and its vice president, Michael Fagin.

“I used to believe in this program and brag about it,” Chandler said, “but now I would not suggest this program to my cousin or other high school seniors because of how much trouble it’s given me.”

In response to the question about outside student loans that require cosigners, Davenport said the university is only following federal guidelines.

“The guideline for loans for students are the same for all,” he said, adding that the university is trying to find a solution for students who can’t find cosigners. “We can’t just

give money away — it’s public money. We’re held accountable by the state. We can’t just give money to students and not expect them to repay.”

In response to the question about giving his bonus to the university, Davenport said he shouldn’t have to answer the question, but did anyways.

“I will be giving my bonus to the university in the form of scholarships and loans,” he said, explaining he wanted a loan format so that the program would be self-sustaining and the fund would continue and benefit future low-income students.

“I’m making this gift and I don’t want to hear any more about it,” he said.

One CAP student asked Davenport to sign an agreement with the program, which Davenport refused to do.

“That’s not how we do business,” he said, adding he doesn’t sign personal agreements with any other programs on campus. “You’re just as

important as any other student.”Davenport said he is

committed to sorting out the problems CAP and other students may have.

“By the very role I take, you know the commitment is there,” he said. “I would not have supported the program if I didn’t think it would be for the public good.”

The CAP program, which recruits promising high school students who nearly qualify for college and works with them and takes a special look at first-generation, low-income college students, began after Davenport took the position of president.

Some CAP students expressed sentiments of racism, saying that many of them had to go through the financial aid verification process multiple times and that they felt minorities had been targeted.

Each year, the federal government selects approximately 30 percent of students to undergo the

verification process, where students have to send in proof of theirs and their parents’ income in the form of tax returns. It is unknown as to why a certain student is chosen.

“We don’t want you to experience racism,” Davenport said. “I can’t control everything on this campus, but I promise to do all that I can.”

According to Davenport, there were good reasons why the CAP program moved from the division of Institutional Diversity to its current location, in the College of Education.

“There were some personnel issues that I can’t talk about,” Davenport said. “If Dr. Fagin wants to reveal information he is free to deliver, he can.”

There are some issues both Davenport and Fagin are legally not allowed to discuss in public because of privacy issues. Davenport also pointed out that the CAP staff, most

Solutions / page 8

Coming together to look for solutions

• Reporter News Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 News Reporter • Page 5

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the project aren’t yet known, said Straka, money wouldn’t come from student fees but from the general fund, reserves or strategic initiative.

There is no money available to accommodate new centers by adding on to the CSU, Pretzloff said, adding that the more than 200,000-foot union already exceeds the recommended 10-square-feet per student by a wide margin.

CSU Operations Director Scott Hagebak noted that more than 2 million people pass through the union each year, and every square foot is designated.

“Unless you want to reduce the usability of the building, instead of adding new centers you should take a look at the use of space currently,” he said.”

Davenport conceded that there hadn’t been such an analysis of space utilization done in the CSU, like there has been in other areas of campus.

“We need to do that,” he said.

Students appeared less interested in the second half of the forum, which dealt

with the prospect of cutting or suspending academic programs once the extent of the 2012 budget restraints becomes known.

This may be because the cuts won’t have a huge immediate impact on students already attending the university.

“There will be a four-year step-down process that phases out any program getting cut,” Olson said.

This would entail gradually reducing the classes offered and not allowing new entries into the major, rather than an immediate shutdown of the program, so students already in a major slated to be cut are assured they can find enough credits to graduate.

There are many unknowns heading into 2012, Olson said, and nobody knows what, if any, programs will be cut.

“We don’t know what the budget situation is going to be or the number of professors willing to take an early retirement” that could alleviate spending cuts, he said.

The university is developing criteria it will use in the spring

to determine what programs may get cut. These criteria include centrality to the university mission, enrollment within and cost of the program, and the employability of the program’s graduates.

Students offered one partial solution: charge higher tuition for programs that cost more to maintain.

Administrators said they have looked into this idea, known as differential tuition, and already employ it in graduate and doctoral programs where demand is higher.

While there isn’t any undergraduate differential tuition, “We’ve thought about doing it at satellite sites, such as in the metro area, where convenience factors in,” Olson said.

Though not of immediate concern, students will likely suffer the effects of program cuts in the near future.

The school’s budget “is about to go down a cliff in 2012,” Rajabali warned. wale agboola • msu reporter

MSSA President Murtaza Rajabali and MSU President Richard Davenport listened as other participants, such as Vice President Bob Dooley, spoke at the open forum, held Monday afternoon in the Centennial Student Union.

DISCUSSION There hasn’t been an analysis of spacial utilization in the CSU, unlike other areas on campus continued from 1

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Building the blocks to the semesterNew schedule builder will help students during registration

Student information technology employees have developed a program to help students build their class schedule easier than ever before.

Student IT employee Tom Rogers, along with Court Cromwell-Carl and Gerardo Orellana, developed a one-of-a-kind program that allows Minnesota State students to lay out their courses in an-easy-to-read visual, letting them better organize their schedules.

“We started a test run of the program last year in early August,” said Ted Johnson, director of Web and application development, who helped and supported the student developers.

The program is now available on the MSU Web site for students to use as they plan their schedules for spring 2010.

Rogers started mentally developing the program months before pitching the idea to his supervisors.

“Every semester I would

sit down with colored pencils and draw out a class schedule,” Rogers said. “Being both a perfectionist and someone with no artistic ability, I would become frustrated. I thought, shouldn’t my computer be able to do this for me?”

Rogers, a philosophy major who has never taken a computer course, became familiar with class data while working for a community college.

Rogers went to work designing the program he had dreamed up in his head with the help and support of his coworkers.

“This would have never got off the ground if not for the support of my supervisors,” Rogers said.

Rogers said that his student coworkers, Gerardo and Court, were instrumental in the completion of the program.

“Gerardo did all of the PDF work so that the schedule can be printed and saved,” Rogers said. “Court worked on the visuals.”

Two key staff members who helped with the program included Web Developer Alexey Lazar and Web Master Jeffery Hundstad

from ITS, according to Johnson.“When I first started

researching the idea for a class schedule builder program, I first went to Ivy League school Web sites to see if I could find something similar that they offered,” Rogers said. “I was not able to find any builder like the one we created anywhere online.” This was without logging in as a registered student.

The IT group recently attended a technology conference in Denver where they were led to believe that the MSU course builder is one of the few, and possibly the best, online course builder available online today.

“There are others out there, but from what I’ve seen ours is the best,” Hundstad said.

“The difference between this course builder is that it is made by students, with student’s frustrations in mind,” Johnson said.

The Class Schedule Builder is easy to find and easy to use. When you visit www.mnsu.edu, you can find the class schedule builder by clicking, “Current

Students,” then, “Class Schedule,” and from there you should be able to see “Class Schedule Builder” link toward the bottom right corner of the page. Another easy way to access the page is to go to www.mnsu.edu/schedule.

Once you arrive at the Class Schedule Builder, you will see an empty Monday-through-Friday schedule. By clicking on certain days and times, you can fill times you work or know you will be busy with a blue box. By doing this, the schedule builder knows you are unavailable to take classes at these times.

After you have prior commitments taken into account, you can turn your attention to the options on the left of the course builder. There are filter items to check or uncheck to help specialize your search. For example, if you are only interested in taking classes Monday through Thursday, in the 100-200 level that apply as general education courses for the 2007-08 undergraduate bulletin, you can customize your search to view only these courses.

With so many options available, it is best to go to the site and play around with the options to familiarize yourself with the program, according to Rogers.

After you have your schedule laid out to your liking, you have the option to save it as a PDF or import the schedule into other scheduling programs like Apple, Google and Outlook. With the PDF option students can print their schedules, or send them to an adviser to get their input.

“This program was not meant to, nor could it ever, replace a student adviser,” Rogers said. “There is so much value in talking to an actual person about the courses they recommend you take. A computer might be able to tell you your requirements for graduation, but it won’t ever be able to offer advice on what is best for your education the way a adviser could.”

After you are satisfied with you course schedule, you can click “Register for courses” right

Semester / page 8

[email protected] Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (507) 389-5454


Centennial Student Union Room 293, Mankato, MN 56001 • (507) 389-1776

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• If you have a complaint, suggestion or would like to point out an error made in the Reporter, call Editor in Chief Nicole Smith 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.• 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. • 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.

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What do you think about the potential for academic programs

to be cut in the future?

“I think it sucks for future students, but I’ll probably be done before the cuts happen, so it doesn’t really affect me.”

Brandon Lamack• Sr • aviation

“If we cut programs, we’re going to have less students that will want to come here and it will hurt the school in the long run.

“I hope it’s not my program!”

Luz PimentaL-aviLa • Sr • int’L BuS.

YeSenia Garcia • Jr •int’L BuS.

“I think there’s a really good chance it’s going to happen and it’s a growing

concern.”

cLaire LindSaY • Sr • PoL. Sci

Minnesota State administrators and a few student leaders gathered Monday afternoon to touch on recent topics of controversy: uti-lizing space in the Centennial Student Union and the potential program cuts that could result from the impending budget deficit of 2012.

Representatives from faculty, finance, Chicano-Latino Affairs and a bevy of other applicable campus sectors were there to discuss the potential location of the Latino Center.

The topic, although seemingly exhausted in the past few weeks, is still in progress with plenty of unknowns including the location and cost. The open forum gave the MSU community a chance to hear a run-down of upcoming plans for the proposed center, but many specific questions were answered vaguely as not much information seems solidified at this time.

But tangible facts weren’t the only miss-ing component of this forum — there were few students in attendance.

In the open area of the CSU near the

Heritage Room, the location allowed some students to listen in during their lunch, but not many seemed to be there for the forum. It is understandable that some students weren’t available due to the inconvenient time slot — 11:30 to 1 p.m. — but it seems the poor turnout has more to do with apathy than students’ busy schedules.

What programs, organizations and groups are allotted space in the student union is an issue that all students should care about be-cause the building was created for us. There were many varied opinions about the Latino Center and the general use of space in the union, but only few comments and questions came from students. It can be difficult for students to wrap their heads around the is-sues that don’t necessarily affect them today, but students should be interested in campus politics and invest into where how their space and student fees are being used.

MSU is advancing rapidly and while this should benefit students, it is hard to accom-modate a population that doesn’t let admin-istration know what it wants.

The open forum was an effort to clear the air about these issues, and while this was probably helpful for many students who hadn’t been following the issues much, not much new information was given.

The future of MSU programs is un-known, but President Davenport and others ar the open forum let the campus know, there could be some major changes coming soon.

For those who missed the open forum, it isn’t too late to get informed. The university will continue the discussion of the Latino Center and the gloomy financial forecast as the year moves forward. Being a part of university decisions and voicing opinions should be invigorating for the college-age community so students should take ad-vantage of the opportunites given to get engaged.

This is probably one of several forums to come in the near future. Hopefully the next one will be planned a little further in advance so students can make arrangements to show up and speak up.

The Reporter is looking for your opinions, thoughts, comments and concerns regarding on- and off-campus issues, current events, or anything else you want to

get off your chest.

Contribute your thoughts today by submitting a letter to the editor online at www. msureporter.com, via e-mail to [email protected] or in person at CSU 293.

This is your space — fill it.

Student input absent from open forum



Wo(man)’s best friend

Preventing the cat-pocalypseAs you may have heard, Roland Emmerich just

finished making a movie about the scientifically proven apocalypse that will be occurring in 2012. Aside from the unconditional, selfless monetary thanks we owe him for warning us two years in advance, I feel it necessary to correct one of the blatant flaws that will be appearing in his film: the lack of robot cats.

The fury of the cat was first documented by Egyptian scholars, who wrote of the sacred nature of the animal after an epic battle between man and machine took place on the arid plains of Azaroth. The battle was long and arduous, but man arose victorious, as the feline warriors had yet to perfect their plasma armor for Earth-bound use. Since then, the species has quietly turned recluse, hiding its technology from humanity as its power slowly grew, plotting revenge for thousands of years from the comfort of our own living rooms.

Although their adamantium skeletons are currently cloaked by a sheath of bio-synthetic tissue and fur, these adorable-looking, furry beasts are perfect killing machines — designed by robots from the future for the ultimate extinction of man. And who could choose a better

instrument of destruction? With claws and teeth created for the sole purpose of shredding living flesh, while retaining their stealthy – but calming - fur exoskeleton, there can be no doubt regarding a cat’s created purpose.

But the truth of their violence will be far worse than simple claws and teeth. Consider the following, very plausible scenario: a platinum-plated Bengal tiger with glowing red eyes, holding a crib full of babies hostage with an HX-4000 Photon Rifle while he drools diesel fuel all over your favorite bed spread. Now imagine it being real, and bring your fears into the 21st century, sir.

I mean, you saw the “Transformers” movies, right? Just think about the cat robot and you’ll have a general idea of what I’m talking about here.

So, as it is written, cats have lain dormant, silently biding their time until an activation signal could be mass-transmitted to their neural receivers and they could once again rise. Roland

Emmerich’s 2012 is that signal. The release of this film will mark the breaking point of collapse for legitimate film making, and as Hollywood falls, so – clearly - shall the world.

Already I’ve seen disturbing evidence of their rise to power. I’ve found my own cats, Dwight and Shrute, chewing through my third season DVD collection of

“The Office”, clearly infuriated by the origin of their namesakes. Less than a week ago I awoke to both of them laying on my pillow, their fusion power cells rumbling uncontrollably, which I believe was their attempt to radiate my brain.

The following day they were caught chewing on Ethernet and power cables. I removed them from the cords immediately, then curled quietly in my recliner, afraid for what mainframe they may have hacked or what new, untold secrets they might have uncovered from government databases. One time, I cleaned a lump of hair they had coughed up from the carpet: clear evidence that their false, biological exteriors are beginning to break apart.

So what do we do to prevent the upcoming Cat-Pocalypse? Well, if researchers are correct, there is no way to defend ourselves except through negotiation. I, myself have begun asking my cats for forgiveness. I continue to feed them bite-size, processed robot food and clean their oily waste (which they prefer to leave in a box filled with sand, perhaps an ancient obsession with their lost battle in Azaroth). Ultimately, I hope that my willingness to bow at their feet will be sufficient, as there is no doubt that premature aggression will only serve to anger the beasts further.

There’s just something about owning a dog that makes life worth living. It may be the adorable puppy eyes, the cuddly personality, the constant attention a dog begs for or that always friendly greeting when arriving home from a long day of school or work. A dog is a lifetime companion that can give you years of endless love and devotion.

Now, you may think I’m being biased when I state that I am a dog lover, and I probably am, only because I have been around dogs my whole life. My mother and younger brother both suffer from asthma and my mother is severely allergic to pet hair. So cats or any other animals with a coat that sheds were never an option in my house. However, dogs that didn’t shed were welcomed. So to clarify, I don’t hate cats. I love cats and in fact, I love all animals, from elephants to mice, but dogs have always had a special place in my heart.

I have been blessed with three wonderful dogs in my lifetime. My first dog, Ginger, was a poodle that my parents bought after six months of marriage. My mother told my father that if they bought a dog, she wouldn’t ask for any children for a few years. Clearly, my mother didn’t hold up her end of the bargain because two months later she was pregnant with baby No. 1. I give this dog credit; she put up with three children and was chased around the yard multiple times with a baseball bat after my brother learned how to walk. Ginger was with our family up until the age of 16 when our family made the decision to put her down because of old age. I was 12-years-old at the time and I witnessed the death of a dog that was by my side since I was born. It was difficult for me, especially at that age, but somehow I knew that our family did the right thing.

My second dog, Rusty, was a rambunctious toy poodle with an energetic soul. My parents gave Rusty away to my grandmother’s friend while we were away on a family vacation. My parents were developing their first gray hairs from Rusty and couldn’t handle him anymore. Even though my parents gave Rusty away without anyone knowing, we were only upset for a short amount of time

because we never had the chance to form a strong bond with Rusty. And not to mention he is still to this day alive and well.

And finally, there’s Sadie. A Cockapoo that made me laugh every single day because of her comical personality. We had a special bond only because we bought her when I was old enough to understand and appreciate that bond. On Oct. 15, 2009, Sadie was put to sleep at 8-years-old because of health complications. My mother informed me of the news when she came down to Mankato to take me to lunch. My parents put Sadie down without telling anyone. I never got to say goodbye.

I will never forget Sadie and she will always have a place in my heart. Even though one day she may be replaced physically, the memories of her will last forever.

Owning a pet teaches children responsibility and boy did I learn that from Sadie. I also learned that dogs are not cheap. I speak the truth when I tell these next stories and my entire family can testify on my behalf.

It was Christmas Day of 2001. My 91-year-old grandmother contributes hundreds of presents into the dice game we have played every Christmas since I can remember. Sadie found a glass of eggnog that someone set on the floor during the chaotic dice game. Within minutes of the start the game, she was passed out in the middle of over 100 presents and didn’t even flinch when my 250-pound uncle stepped on her. No one thought anything of it because we assumed she was exhausted from the eventful Christmas gathering. After the game was over, she sat by our basement door waiting to go upstairs.

While she was sitting there, she managed to leave a puddle of pee within the walking path of the visitors. I took her outside to go to the bathroom and she tiptoed three steps through the snow and then toppled over.

Then took another two steps and collapsed until I finally realized that something wasn’t right. I picked her up, called to my mother and my mother immediately smelt bourbon on Sadie’s breath. She was taken to the animal hospital and received an I.V. to detoxify her body. Yes, my dog was drunk and detoxed on Christmas Day, which left my parents with a $500 bill to pay off. Even though Sadie was a dog she sure knew how to drink like a fish. If there

were a competition for the drunkest dog, she would have had a gold metal around her neck. As funny as it is now, it was extremely terrifying at the time, so please avoid serving your dog liquor.

And then there was the time we brought her on a family vacation to Bemidji. We left her in the cabin while we went to grab a bite to eat and when we came back she had found her own meal to eat. Rat poison. Another hospital visit and another couple hundred dollars down the drain.

And finally, whoever said chocolate could kill dogs was wrong. Because Sadie ate over a pound of a Hersey’s chocolate bar when she was left home alone. Nothing in sight but a panting dog with chocolate covered fur and tinfoil scraps all over the dining room floor.

Sadie was a smart dog. On top of all the trouble she got into, she managed to master the art of zipper opening, door opening and toilet paper pulling. I now look back on all the trouble Sadie got into and I can’t help but laugh.

I’ve heard endless stories about heroic dogs and how they saved a life. There was Belle, the Beagle who pressed 911 with her nose when her owner collapsed from

ashley wall • msu reporterAshley Wall’s dog Sadie

ashley wall • msu reporterAshley’s dog Sadie recently passed away.

Matt Sauer

Ashley Wall

Best friend / page 9

• Reporter News Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 News Reporter • Page 9

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on the Class Schedule Builder. This brings you to a log in screen which brings you to E-services. The program brings you straight to the register step at E-services, so all you have to do is enter your PIN.

“The program is not perfected, it is still in the beta stage,” Johnson said. “To compare it to the space program, we have launched the program but now we have to continue working to ensure the program is a success.”

The course schedule updates every five minutes, so the courses you have chosen may become full in that time period without the program displaying it is full. The site warns “the Class Schedule Builder does not guarantee class availability and it does not reserve a seat in the class. Registration is not complete until you have confirmed your registration by entering your PIN number and received a green check mark and the message “Registered” for each course.”

Deb Schultz from the registration office wants students

SEMESTER Program is still in testing continued from 5

to remember they can use the Registration Help Center for any questions they may have during the registration process. Students can contact the center by calling 507-389-2252 or by e-mail at [email protected].

“There is more I’d like to see done with the program, but I’ll be graduating at the end of this semester,” Rogers said. “I’d like to see more filters added like, classes you’ve already completed.”

Assistant professor of technical communication, Gretchen Perbix will perform a usability study with the program within some of her courses in the next few weeks.

“We want to keep perfecting the program so that it is as user- friendly as possible,” Johnson said.

Studies show that 89 percent of visitors to the MSU Web site are going there for registration.

“These numbers show that this is what students are using the site for, so this is where we want to be spending our time and energy,” Johnson said.

notably director Tonya Phillips and academic support advisor Abdulkadir Alasow, moved with the program. Fagin remains an active participant in the program as well.

Davenport promised to touch on students’ concerns about racial insensitivity and took to heart the idea of mandatory diversity training for staff in whatever location CAP ends up in, saying he supports the idea 100 percent.

“I want you here,” Davenport said. “We’re going to fight as an administration to keep you here.”

The discussion continued after Davenport left.

“Sometimes when people say things, you’ve got to take them seriously,” Moss said. “I take him seriously. I don’t want to believe one side is right.”

Moss said it seemed the politics of the institution were more important than the needs of the students.

“This move targets Fagin, me and [Intercultural Student Center Recruitment and Retention specialist] Dalton Crayton,” Phillips said, saying the personnel issues stemmed from the fact that someone alleged that Crayton picked up Fagin’s laundry.

“There is no welcome rug,” Moss said, saying America only accepts European culture. “They look at you as people who want a handout.”

Phillips said the

administration stopped and threatened CAP staff. She also said they don’t e-mail her back anymore.

“I don’t want the institution’s money,” she said. “I’d rather work with the community than take the institution’s money.”

Phillips said she felt a lack of respect as an African-American director on campus, citing an issue at Wednesday’s meeting of the Minnesota State Student Association as an example.

According to Phillips, three female senators, while discussing the idea of moving CAP to student support services, whispered amongst themselves “So now we’re going to bring these illegal immigrants in?”

“Now I’m not going to say what color these girls were, but they were on the student senate,” she said.

“White,” said a student.Phillips said she thinks the

senate thinks all CAP members just want handouts, and said she challenges them to go through the academic boot camp they go through, which requires waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run. Phillips and Fagin ran as well.

MSSA speaker Thomas Williams, who attended the session, said speech like this is in no way representative of the MSSA.

“Those comments aren’t tolerated,” he said.

President Murtaza Rajabali echoed the sentiment.

“That was a personal opinion

and the majority of the student senate doesn’t think that way,” he said. Rajabali said he personally spoke with those responsible about what they said.

Williams said Rajabali and the senate decided CAP might find its place in student support services, since it is more service-oriented and less political, but Phillips said it was “like putting the LGBT center in the science department.”

Many CAP students want the program back in institutional diversity, as it was the place where the program began.

Phillips encouraged CAP students to keep working hard and walk with pride.

“Don’t let majority people make you feel less than who you are,” she said.

The session is only the latest step in the series of meetings about the program. CAP students protested in September over what they felt were unfair issues regarding financial aid. Many CAP students ended up with huge bills left over from summer classes, and several were in danger of being sent home.

They also had heard the program would be closed down, but these rumors turned out to be false.

CAP students are required to have all their financial aid done by April, but according to Davenport, some students didn’t get their packets in until the day before school started.

SOLUTIONS “There is no welcome rug ... they look at you as people who want a handout.” continued from 3

msu website screenshotA screenshot of the new program, which will take effect in the spring.

• Reporter News Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 News Reporter •

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College students have a ton of responsibilities including class, homework, jobs, friends, relationships, and extracurricular activities. Some students choose to add yet another responsibility by getting pets.

Chelsea Nickerson and Ben Jones adopted a border collie that they named Toby. The couple got the dog from a neighbor.

“Ben’s neighbor had puppies and was selling them for $50. Ben and I went out for dinner and talked about it. It was so spur of the moment,” Nickerson said.

The couple splits all of the expenses for the dog, including vet visits, food, treats, and toys.

Every month food cost about $40.

“It’s a lot of work but I’m glad we got Toby,” Nickerson said. “It’s a lot of work but I wouldn’t change a thing. It brought us closer together.”

Sue Erickson, the receptionst of 20 years at Mankato Pet Hospital, said, “College kids with pets can be a good idea if they properly do their homework.”

Erickson cautioned students about three main issues concerning pet ownership: checking if the landlords allow animals, evaluating if the student has enough time in his or her schedule, and knowing what will happen to the pet when the student graduates from college.

Often, landlords will require deposits for pets to stay in the house. Some landlords will have requirements such as only cats or small dogs.

According to Erickson, both dogs and cats can be expected to cost $400-$600 for the first year. Cats will need to be declawed, spayed or neutered, and have the constant need for food and cat liter. Dogs will need to be spayed or neutered and will eat more food.

Cats are easier than dogs because you can leave them for 24 hours and they will be fine. Dogs require more work and attention. Dogs can be left for up to 8 hours but puppies need anywhere from constant supervision in the beginning to being able to be alone for a few hours.

“It is important to make sure all of the roommates are on board,” Erickson said.

Erickson said that she has seen roommates fight over

custody of the pet when students graduate. It is important to think about the future of the pet and to make sure it can move with you after college.

“Pets can be a joy and it can be a comfort to come home to. There are many people who can handle it but students should go in to it with open eyes,” Erickson said.

For example, Brittany Reinke and Brandon Lamack have two dogs, an 11-month-old black lab named Bullet and a 7-month-old golden retriever named Trigger.

The couple lives together and has a routine for taking care of the dogs.

“The days I get up first I feed the dogs, and we have our schedules set up so the dogs are rarely home alone,” Reinke said.

Reinke brings her dogs almost everywhere with her. The dogs ride along to pick Brandon up from school, they take trips to the dog park and even wait in the car while their owners are at the grocery store.

Reinke said, “I love to bring them to Petco because they can actually go there.”

When no one is home the dogs are kept in the kennel, but that rarely happens.

According to the article “College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times,” published in the Science

Daily, college students with pets deal with stress better and are less likely to report being lonely or depressed.

Some students get more than they bargained for when they get a pet because they do not realize all of the responsibilities that come with pets. Others get surprises along the way.

Jessica Hanevik was at a sorority retreat at a campground when she came across a homeless cat.

“I took her to the vet right when I got home from the retreat. I wanted to make sure she was okay and they told me she was pregnant,” Hanevik said. “I decided to keep her until she had the kittens. I have to get rid of her but I’m keeping one of the kittens.”

Hanevik already had two cats, but now she has six because the one she found and decided to keep had three kittens.

“It’s messy,” she said. “We keep the cat and the 6- week-old kittens in the bathroom. It’s a one-bedroom apartment with six cats for the last six weeks,” Hanevik said.

“I guess I’m kind of biased but I would recommend [pets to other students],” she said, adding that she doesn’t advise getting a dog. “Cats take less time because you don’t have to take them out.”

An extra responsibilityThough pets may be a burden, many students find their comfort worth it

JENNY POLLOCKstaff writer

a seizure; or Eve, the Rottweiler that saved her paraplegic owner by biting her ankles and dragging her 50 feet away from her burning car.

Sadie never saved any lives or won any awards and she definitely never dragged me from a burning car, but she gave me a reason to wake up each morning with a smile on my face. She filled the missing piece of my life and made me a better person.

The bond created between humans and dogs is a different bond than one created between two humans. It’s funny because

no matter how much a dog is punished, they will always be there for their owner. I think Roger Caras said it best: “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” And Sadie, you filled a gap in my life and have made me whole.

So here’s to you Sadie, Thank you for blessing our home for eight joyful years and thank you for always being there for me when I needed someone to need me. You were an extraordinary dog, a great cuddle partner but an even better friend.

BEST FRIEND continued from 7

• Reporter Advertisement Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Winter Car Care Guide Reporter •

Getting vehicles ready to go for snow

MSU students encouraged to winterize vehicles before the Minnesota snow falls

ERIN ROHRERstaff writer

wale agboola • msu reporterSenior automotive engineering techonology student Paul Lasorsa checks under the hood of one of Minnesota State’s vehicles to show what’s important to inspect before winter arrives.

An icy road and carpet of fresh snow can be nerve-racking for many students. However, taking pre-season precautions can help students save money and secure safety in the long run.

Although many students maintain their own personal vehicles, there are also those who don’t understand the severity of not preparing vehicles for winter. On college budgets, students sometimes avoid servicing vehicles when needed. What students don’t realize is that rather than spending up to $3,000 in damage costs after

mechanical failure, they could be spending around $40 to quickly service their vehicle, lasting the

entire winter.Brian Steffensmeier,

service manager at Snell Indoor Auto Center, encourages students to get their vehicles checked before the Minnesota winter hits.

“I would primarily

tell students to check the battery strictly because they don’t realize that summer heat is actually harder on batteries than the cold is,” Steffensmeier said. “The winter months are brutal on vehicles, and entering the season with an already damaged battery is just asking for trouble. Several other precautions include

checking coolant, antifreeze, wiper blades, belts and hoses.”

Steffensmeier also said that checking the tire tread depth is a major preventative measure to take. The lack of tire tread depth can make traveling in snow difficult for students, usually causing the majority of winter accidents. Considering purchasing snow

tires is just one more way to improve traction and prevent an accident on slick roads.

Several students still rely on their parents help when it comes to maintaining their vehicles. However, a simple pre-season check up is quick and easy on the budget. The best part of it all — many students can even check vehicles over themselves.

Chris Larson, a student in the automotive engineering technology department, expresses to students that preparing for winter is crucial and not complicated at all.

“The easiest way to get vehicles ready for winter is to have them looked over

Getting ready / page 14

INSIDE CAR CARE:Winter emergency kit checklist

Savings on tires, car washes, oil changes and more

“A few of the most important inspections should consist of antifreeze levels, battery and

ignition system, heater and defroster, windshield wiper equipment, oil and tires.”

— Brian Steffensmeier, service manager at Snell Auto Center

• Reporter Winter Car Care Guide Reporter • Page 13

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• Reporter Winter Car Care Guide Tuesday, November 10, 2009

by a local repair shop or, if students feel comfortable, they can check a large amount of it themselves,” Larson said. “A few of the most important inspections should consist of checking antifreeze levels, battery and ignition system, brakes, exhaust system, heater and defroster, windshield wiper equipment, oil and tires.”

Larson also said that every student should have an emergency kit ready in their vehicle. Emergency kits usually include a foldable shovel, windshield scraper, flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, water, snack food, matches, warm clothing, first aid kit, tow chain or rope, road salt, reflective distress flag and jumper cables.

Some of Mankato’s auto repair shops include Ron’s Auto Repair, Snell Indoor Auto Center, Jiffy Tire & Auto Repair, Tom’s Auto Repair and Midas.

Servicing vehicles is not the only means of preparation students should take before the winter season; taking other preventative measures is also critical.

“Check road conditions before heading out and let someone know when you’re leaving, where you’re going and when you plan to arrive,” Larson said. “Dress appropriately in many thin layers rather than one thick layer, and don’t rely solely on cell phones in case of an emergency.”

Wintertime is extremely unfriendly to vehicles. Students need to remember that it’s always less expensive to maintain their vehicles properly than repairing them in the end. With just a few precautions, students can make it safely through another Minnesota winter with little or no hassle.

GETTING READY Every student should have an emer-gency kit in their vehicle to prepare for potentially dangerous sce-narios due to poor weather continued from 11

Warm Clothes: Winter coat, hats and gloves

A couple blankets

Non-perishable foods

Water

Shovel

Kitty litter or Sand (for ice)

Candles, an empty coffee can and cup(for melting snow to drink)

First Aid Kit

Tire Chains

Flashlight and Batteries

Strike anywhere matches(in a water tight container)

Small tool kit

Road Flares/ bright colored cloth

Jumper cables

Compiled by: Elena Shufelt

illustration by ann reichel • msu reporter

The year is 1976, an innocent age in which an unmarked package is nothing to worry about and half of Frank Langella walks around being mysterious. It’s a time when conspiracy lurks around every corner, when no one can be trusted; it’s the time a terrible movie occupies. It’s “The Box.”

Adapted from a short story by Richard Matheson (“I Am Legend”), “The Box” is a science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, conspiracy, romance and horror film with so many plot points and references that it caves in on itself, revealing

in its wake the dusty remains of Cameron Diaz trying to act sincere.

When couple Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) are visited by the deformed Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) who offers them cold hard cash in return for the couple’s cooperation in killing an unknown person, a series of off-the-wall events involving hypnotic, somnabulant peeping-Toms, government cover-ups and other-worldly

magical nonsense are set off.For starters, the goof-ball

performances by Diaz and her supporting cast (save Langella, at least the half that played in this movie) are heart wrenching to watch — in a bad way. Like watching a third-grader trying her best in front of the class, it’s hard not to pity Diaz, whose

fake Southern accent provides one of the best laughs the big screen has had to offer this year.

“The Box” feels like it was made over a period of at least 10 years, that writer-

director Richard Kelly (“Donnie Darko”) sewed portions of the film together intermittently with little thought whatsoever. Maybe between different projects he wrote pieces of it, or after a long night of drinking, or sometimes in the dark he would just see where his pen took him.

The film has so much to say that it ends up talking over itself, as some messages and storylines are touched on briefly and never brought back again. It’s like trying to convince someone to convert to Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism all at the same time.

The film’s main message


movieweb.comHalf of Frank Langella does not a good movie make; skip “The Box.”

JACOB BOHRODstaff writer

Half man, half mystery, completely lame

Box / page 16

Encountering the hoax of ‘The Fourth Kind’

I admit it: I fell for “The Fourth Kind,” hook, line and sinker. If you know nothing about it and have any desire to see “The Fourth Kind,” stop reading and do so, or suffer a meaningless, giggle-inducing 98 minutes.

Written and directed by film-industry newcomer Olatunde Osunsanmi, “The Fourth Kind” is a sloppy, over-the-top sci-fi thriller only forgivable when viewers go blind to the hoax it revolves around. In this way, it is a peculiar film, defined almost entirely by viewer knowledge of its subject matter, which, when minimal, yields an enthralling and terrifying experience, but, when sufficient, turns shrieks into laughter and gaping mouths of disbelief into gaping mouths in service to a yawn.

The film poses as a dramatization of actual case studies, backed by real video footage and audio recordings, many of which are shown throughout. This is the hook.

As the film begins, actress Milla Jovovich speaks directly to the audience, outing herself as a performer in the film and purports to be playing a character based on a real woman, Dr. Abbey Tyler, who is also featured via a filmed interview intermittently. This is the line.

Some of the characters’

names are presented as aliases, the most gruesome of “real footage” is blurred out and those that wish to remain anonymous have their names silenced all together. “The Fourth Kind” purposely breaks the fourth wall (coincidence?) in order to convince the audience of its greatest sell: the recordings of real events.

A psychologist investigating the link between numerous cases in her practicing town of Nome, Ala., Dr. Abbey Tyler supposedly recorded sessions with her patients, and, adding police video and recordings of Tyler herself, the film contains many split-screens in which the “real video” is juxtaposed with the dramatization. The home video and audio is a terrifying mixture of alien-possessed Alaskans, UFO evidence and police archives. This is the sinker.

Of course, “The Fourth Kind” is a hoax. Like Orson Welles and the “War of the Worlds” before it, the film goes to amazing lengths to convince audiences of its truth, challenging the audience to a gullibility test that questions the foundation of what we deem to be entertainment and how far we are willing to go in that definition.

Within the illusion, the film is amazing to watch. The corny acting and suspicious dialogue

Hoax / page 16

JACOB BOHRODstaff writer

New Number 4 an all-American eatery

sam campbell • msu reporterDowntown Mankato gets its very own Four Seasons in the Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen.

From the owners of Neighbor’s Italian Bistro, Dino’s Pizzeria, Tav on the Ave and Absolute Custom Catering

comes the newest in Mankato’s downtown dining — Number 4.

Owned by Independent Mankato Originals’ Patrick Person, Christopher Person and Natasha O’Hara, Number 4 blends American culture and

cuisine in an otherwise quieter side of town.

Located in the Landkamer Building on East Walnut and Second Street, Number 4 prides

SAM CAMPBELLstaff writer

Four / page 16

• Reporter Variety Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Variety Reporter • Page 17

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about greed and capitalism is muddied by its fantastical imagery and underdone of higher-power allusions. It’s hard to take the message seriously when the film skips around so much — at one point exerting its foundation in reality and then at the next depicting some lady conjuring other dimensions.

References to Jean-Paul Sartre and Arthur C. Clarke show an attempt at fleshing the tale out and conveying a message of philosophical importance (on life and death, forgiveness, sacrifice, technology), but are ultimately drowned out by the film’s other screaming ambitions.

Elsewhere, the musical accompaniment is distracting and tedious. The film is afraid of silence, as its mismatched, annoying soundtrack is ever-present, a mistake that exemplifies the film’s hyperactivity.

In the end, it’s hard to tell what “The Box” is about (besides everything, that is). Even its more recognizable themes are underscored by smaller ones, such as how women are more likely to give into greed than men, a subtle and sexist claim that works to showcase female weakness.

While “The Box” poses numerous challenging questions to the viewer in lightning-fast repetition, by the end, it’s hard to care whether or not these questions are answered. Do you want to know what the box does? Of course you don’t.

BOX continued from 15

within the “real” narrative are chalked up to the dramatization, or completely ignored all together as the home video and audio drives the picture. It doesn’t matter if the characters seem like they’re putting on a show, because the film asserts that it is a show.

The scares are as real as the home recordings, and that’s all the film needs to be successful: convince viewers that 1) these events actually took place, and, in turn, 2) an alien threat exists, is targeting humankind and may have already paid a visit to you and me.

When the curtain is lifted and “The Fourth Kind” is revealed for what it truly is, a wholly fictional movie consisting of that girl from “Resident Evil” flailing around while a bunch of no-names try to act, it loses everything it once had.

Each scene is goofier than the next, each character more like something out of SciFi Channel original movie, each line more obviously scripted than “The Hills.” Without the gimmick, “The Fourth Kind” is a silly, fruitless and empty gesture

destined to be instantly forgotten by those who see it.

However, the gimmick is there, and it begs a serious look at how our culture views entertainment. If we buy into the fact that the film shows real footage of people in serious mental pain and anguish and a brutal murder-suicide caught on tape, what does it say about those of us who willingly seek it out as entertainment?

Moreover, is it true that the proposal of a basis in reality brings in more viewers, that if a film displays itself as a true tale of murder and other unspeakable acts that we are more likely to go see it? Where do we draw the line between entertainment and real life?

By elevating to a new level the tradition of many horror and sci-fi films, “The Fourth Kind” earns its audience. Its odd and committed approach at realism makes it stand out from the crowd, but once that realism is broken, its unpolished nature reveals it as a sickly, poor excuse of a sci-fi thrill.

movieweb.comThriller/horror a hoax, but actually effective in its approach.

HOAX Fake, ridiculous and thoroughly entertaining continued from 15

itself as an American Bar and Kitchen encompassing the all-American menu of a Four Seasons redone in a trendy, urban atmosphere. Ranging from the World’s Greatest Hotdog to the Lamb Shank, Executive Chef Mark Kohner has designed a menu in the hopes of pleasing everyone.

“This menu has something for everyone, for every occasion,” reads the Number 4 menu. “[Kohner] uses inspiration from American culture and the Four seasons to create homemade, unique cuisine unlike anything you have ever experienced.”

Kohner has worked in the Twin Cities for the past fourteen years at such restaurants as La Grolla Italian Restaurant and Pazzaluna Urban Italian in St. Paul, Minn. and The Wayzata Country Club in Wayzata, Minn. He also cooks a Neighbor’s Italian Bistro in Mankato.

Along with their menu Number 4 also features a wide variety of cocktails, wines and beer on tap, including a special locally-brewed house ale. Drink specials include a Happy Hour from 2 - 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with $3 taps, rails and wines.

According to manager Jake Fredrickson, Number 4 aims for a Gastropub approach through great food and competitive pricing with the hopes of

revitalizing the northeast side of the downtown area. With the recent construction on the Second Street and Mulberry Street intersection finished — opening up traffic to the northeast end — there is no better place for a new business than the historic Landkamer Building.

Having completely revamped the interior in black leather and decorative cast iron, the building itself was built in 1936, originally as a furniture outlet. Still bearing the same full-length showcase windows, Number 4’s environment is a composite of throwback history and avant-garde taste.

Having cemented a loyal customer base through their homegrown businesses, it is no doubt that the owners of the Mankato Independent Originals have established the newest addition to quality dining in Mankato.

Number 4 is open Monday through Friday 11 - 1 a.m. and weekends from 9 - 1 a.m. For more information visit www.mankatoindepedentoriginals.com or www.number4mankato.com.

FOUR New downtown restaurant an all-American dining delicacy in the historic Landkamer Building continued from 15

• Reporter Variety Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Variety Reporter • Page 17

Sometimes a film is made that has so much charm and personality that any of its faults or misdoings can be overlooked and ignored in its storytelling. “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is an excellent example.

Those willing to go along for the ride in this campy uncovering of military practices, “Jedi Knights” with paranormal super powers included, will be treated to a spectacle of laughs and thrills in Grant Heslov’s delightful adaptation.

Anchored by a remarkable cast, the engaging character performances help captivate the film’s dissenting plot line.

George Clooney as the bumbling Lyn Cassaday, a member of a group of American-trained psychic spies, is hilarious in his juggling act of a performance that will have audiences questioning whether or not he’s completely bonkers, or a man of mind-bending potential.

Jeff Bridges as the enlightened Bill Django, founder of the “New Earth Army” and teacher of peace-inducing psychic empowerment (based on real-life U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jim Channon), gives a zany and offbeat performance that hasn’t been seen since his beloved character “The Dude” from “The Big Lebowski.” Along with Kevin Spacey, the yang to Clooney’s psychosis yin, and Ewan McGregor as

our level-headed narrator, the film’s collection of colorful characters keeps our interests even when the film stumbles in its plotting.

Bob Wilton (McGregor) is a disgruntled reporter after finding his wife Linda having an affair with his editor. He travels to Kuwait and stumbles upon Lyn Cassaday, where he becomes privy to Cassaday’s alleged special-ops unit of psychic spies. Unsure of what to make of Cassaday’s incredible stories, he embarks with him on a special mission to Iraq to find Cassaday’s former mentor Bill Django.

Learning the ways of Cassaday’s former unit The New Earth Army, a process riddled with enlightening Jedi references that only pepper the film with more laughs thanks to McGregor’s former lightsaber wielding, Wilton joins Cassaday and begins to submit his own reasoning to Cassaday’s farcical judgment.

Though the film has trouble maintaining continuity, cluttering its overall plot as it divulges into a cascade of different flashbacks from Cassaday’s New Earth past, the performances of its star-studded cast leave viewers thoroughly entertained and indifferent to the time-line’s leaps. It is in these flashbacks of the New Earth Battalion’s training regimen that the film truly shines (led by Bridges, the unit is subject to a hilarious dance number in order to free their minds of the task at hand). The story becomes secondary as it acts as a vehicle for the charades

of its wacky characters, all the while leaving its viewers chuckling.

“The Men Who Stare At Goats” may not win over all viewers with its fleeting and often absurd story arc of military secrecy along with its underlying quips, but the privilege to see a cast enamored with such seemingly emphatic lunacy is worth the price of admission alone.

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about greed and capitalism is muddied by its fantastical imagery and underdone of higher-power allusions. It’s hard to take the message seriously when the film skips around so much — at one point exerting its foundation in reality and then at the next depicting some lady conjuring other dimensions.

References to Jean-Paul Sartre and Arthur C. Clarke show an attempt at fleshing the tale out and conveying a message of philosophical importance (on life and death, forgiveness, sacrifice, technology), but are ultimately drowned out by the film’s other screaming ambitions.

Elsewhere, the musical accompaniment is distracting and tedious. The film is afraid of silence, as its mismatched, annoying soundtrack is ever-present, a mistake that exemplifies the film’s hyperactivity.

In the end, it’s hard to tell what “The Box” is about (besides everything, that is). Even its more recognizable themes are underscored by smaller ones, such as how women are more likely to give into greed than men, a subtle and sexist claim that works to showcase female weakness.

While “The Box” poses numerous challenging questions to the viewer in lightning-fast repetition, by the end, it’s hard to care whether or not these questions are answered. Do you want to know what the box does? Of course you don’t.

BOX continued from 15

Staring into the psychic mind of the New Earth Army’s Jedi Warriors ... and at goatsDEAN GORDENstaff writer

movieweb.comJeff Bridges (left) leads the U.S. Army’s Free Earth Battalion and George Cloo-ney is his top “Jedi Warrior.”

There is never a good time to lose a game in any sport, but the Mavericks may have chosen the most inconvenient time to do so, after losing this weekend to St. Cloud State.

The Mavericks looked to control their own destiny coming into the game, need-ing just a win to assure them a first round bye, and home field advantage throughout the early stages of the NCAA DII tournament.

Needless to say, things didn’t exactly go the Maver-icks way on Saturday.

The Mavericks led 7-6 with 6:34 left in the first quarter, but the Huskies struck back as Tyler Allery caught an 8-yard pass from Derek Stripling.

Stripling would run in a touchdown early in the second quarter, and all of the sudden the No. 4 Mavericks were looking at a 20-7 deficit.

Julian Phipps would score for MSU to put the game at 20-14 going into halftime.

There was no scoring in the

third quarter, but running back Jake Aberg ran in a seven-yard touchdown to give the Mav-ericks a 21-20 lead late in the game.

It looked as if possession and time would be a huge factor in who would win this game, and that was certainly the case.

The Huskies’ Dante Steward ran in a three-yard touchdown with just 57 seconds left that would give them the win over the Mavericks — their first defeat of the season.

Despite the loss, the Mav-ericks were hot on the ground as both Aberg (22 carries, 148 yards, one TD) and Phipps (14 carries, 100 yards, two TD’s) both rushed for over 100 yards.

The Mavericks piled 286 rushing yards compared to the Husky’s 150.

The problem for the MSU offense was their passing at-tack as Steve Pachan and Cody Rose combined for just 64 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

In his first game back since his concussion, receiver Vinny Flury was almost non-existent, catching just one ball for one


- Football loses final game of season to St. Cloud State

- Volleyball is swept by South-

west Minnesota State

- Soccer loses in NSIC semi-

finals to Winona State

It was a rough weekend for Msu athletIcs

- Women’s hockey goes 0-1-1

against Bemidji Stateshannon rathmanner • msu reporter

The MSU football team looks in disbelief after losing their first game of the season. They finished with a 10-1 record and will gear up to play to Hillsdale this Saturday at home.

Timing not right for MSU football

Despite losing to Winona, MSU earns bid in NCAA TourneyLEVI ZIMMERstaff writer

KYLE RATKEsports editor

dan moen • msu reporterLaura Leber led the Mavericks with a team-high 24 points over the regular season.

Minnesota state 21 st. Cloud state 26

Soccer / page 20 Football / page 22

The Maverick’s were granted a gift in the form of an at-large bid into the 2009 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship after posing a less than stellar weekend perfor-mance.

“Soccer’s a funny game — the scores aren’t always an accu-rate ‘tell-all’ of how the game went,” said junior forward Ann Kincaid.

After a drama-filled first round of the North-ern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament the Maverick’s came out against Winona State University as strong as they finish against Mary University.

On Friday the Maver-ick’s were granted an op-portunity to avenge a 4-2 loss at home two weeks prior to Winona. The winner of this match would place them firmly planted in the Cham-pionship game of the NSIC tournament

Following the loss on Oct.

24, senior goalkeeper Sheila Reynolds was obviously upset and eager to get another shot at the regular season champs.

“Hopefully we will face them again and prove that we are a better team than what the score shows,” Reynolds said.

Well they got that chance but were unable to capitalize, falling short again, this time 2-1.

The Mavericks managed to keep the Warriors in check for one period but gave up two quick goals to start the second. Although the Maver-

• Reporter Sports Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Sports Reporter • Page 21

NCAA DII Tournament

Round one(20) Hillsdale (9-2) at(8) MAVERICKS (10-1) Sat. 12 p.m.

Winner plays at (3) Grand Valley State on 11/21

NSIC North

(16) Saginaw Valley (9-2) at (6) Nebraska-Kearney (10-1) Sat. 12 p.m.

Winner plays at (4) University of Minnesota-Duluth on 11/21

FOOTBALL

School Conf. (1)Concordia-SP 19-0(14) MAVERICKS 14-3(15) Wayne State 14-3(17) Minnesota Duluth 13-5(13) SW Minnesota St. 12-5MSU-Moorhead 10-7Upper Iowa 7-10Augustana 7-10Winona State 7-10Bemidji State 7-11Northern State 6-12Minnesota Crookston 3-14St. Cloud State 3-16Mary 1-17

OVR30-024-526-620-822-720-1016-1512-179-1910-1911-166-237-247-22

VOLLEYBALL (NSIC)

(5) MAVERICKS vs. (4) Min-nesta- Duluth in Denver, Colo. on Friday at 2 p.m.

Time TBA

Winner plays Metro State on November 15th in Denver, Colo.

(*) = Tournament seedings

SOCCER (NSIC)

SOCCER Mavericks earn fifth seed in NCAA tournament, set to play the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Friday. continued from 19

icks fought back and posted a goal of their own, off the foot of Kincaid, it wasn’t enough to defeat the Warriors.

Kincaid was the lone Maverick honored as a part of the 2009 NSIC/Bank Soccer All-Tournament Team.

The Maverick’s bid into the National Tournament of 48 is the only at-large bid given to a NSIC team. By way of selection there are 24 automatic bids (winners of their conference tournaments) and University of Minnesota-Duluth defeated Winona State

to capture the NSIC championship giving the Bulldogs the auto-matic bid.

Setting up a Sept. 20 rematch between the Mavericks and Bulldogs. The winner of the match will then have to face the one seed in their regional bracket Metropolitan State University. Metro posted an impressive 20-1-1 record and suffered their only loss at the hands of the Mavericks the first week of September.

The Maverick’s lone NSIC at-large bid is the fifth time in school history the women’s soccer team has taken part in the national tour-nament and third in the last three years.

The Mavericks had even more to be

thankful for as season awards where handed out. Last season’s player of the year junior forward Laura Leber was honored with a first team all-conference award along

with her teammate senior midfielder Gina Paletta.

Junior defensemen Kristen Carpentier was named to the second and junior midfielder Jessie Audas was on the third team, respectively.

The Mavericks finished their 2009 season with 13-4-2 mark and will meet Duluth on Friday in Denver, Colo. at 2 p.m. Central time.

Ann Kincaid

• Reporter Sports Tuesday, November 10, 2009Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Sports Reporter • Page 21

THURSDAYNovember 12th

Doors open at 9

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625-7553

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Johnny’s Back

Johnny holm& HiS TRAvEliNg FUN SHOw

Senior leader making an impact on a young MSU squadAlly Kwikkel has been looked up to lead on and off the courtPAT DELANEYstaff writer

erin spartz • msu reporterKwikkel (10) has gone through her ups and downs at MSU and is having an exceptional senior year as a Maverick.

The Minnesota State wom-en’s volleyball team has shown off its abilities all season. The talent, leadership and work ethic are some of the main rea-sons why the Mavericks have been able to be near the top of the NSIC all season.

However, there is one athlete on this team who was not supposed to be here right now. Senior right-side Ally Kwikkel is in her fifth year with the Mavericks, because of an injury that ended her 2007 season. While Kwikkel may have been set back a year, she cannot imagine not being on a better team.

“This season has been so much fun,” said Kwikkel. “It is a lot different than when I first got here. It has been really exciting to see how we all have played together this year.”

Kwikkel, along with Kelly Sandstrom, are the only two seniors on the Mavericks this season and Kwikkel is the only who has been playing at MSU since 2005. The major-ity of her teammates were still competing in high school when Kwikkel put on her purple Mavericks jersey for the first time.

Kwikkel came to MSU as a promising freshman from Wa-verly, Iowa four years ago. She quickly began developing into a reliable player on the court, receiving playing time in 69

matches and finishing fifth on the team in kills. She continued her strong play into her sopho-more year. Kwikkel played in 84 matches and started to show she was valuable on defense as well. She finished the season fifth in blocks, as continuing to increase her kill total.

Her junior year was a differ-ent story. After playing strong in her first 11 matches, Kwik-kel suffered a season-ending knee injury. The injury may have ended her season, but Kwikkel showed determina-tion to come back the next year and put up career numbers in nearly all categories.

That brought her into 2009 where she has grown to become a team-leader and well respected among every-one on the team. Mavericks head coach Dennis Amundson came to MSU the same year as Kwikkel and cannot say enough good things about the player she has become.

“Ally is a no-nonsense kid,” Amundson said. “If we feel we need to correct something we can sit down with her and figure out what we need to do. She makes my job a whole lot easier.”

Kwikkel has embraced her role this season and the results have been showing on the court. She is second on the team in blocks with 77 and third on the team in kills with 270. She also has a .314 hitting percentage, good for ninth in

the conference. It’s Kwikkel’s ability to be a

leader this year that may have become her strongest attribute. She admits she isn’t always the most verbal but has worked hard on adding that to her game this season. It’s her abil-ity to lead through example, though, that has most benefited the team.

Now going into her last week of the regular season, Kwikkel will continue to look to do her best to help this team make a strong postseason run. As much as the team wants to win, Kwikkel does a great job of keeping everything in perspective.

“It would be amazing to fin-ish the season with a national championship, or just a really strong playoff run,” Kwik-kel said. “But if we just go out there and play as hard as we are capable of, then we will have no regrets when it’s finished.”

When it is all finished, one can bet Maverick volleyball will appreciate what Ally Kwikkel has brought to the program.

After losing to the South-west Minnesota State Mus-tangs in three sets, the Mav-ericks will look to bounce back tonight against MSU-Moorhead at 7 p.m. in Bresnan arena.

• Reporter Sports Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The MSU women’s hockey team provided their fans an anxiety-filled first home series of the young season last weekend against Bemidji State. Unfortu-nately for the home team, they only came away with one point to show for their efforts.

The Mavericks fell short in their home opener on Fri-day night when they finished regulation tied 2-2 and then had a stand-off with the Beavers to determine which team would gain the extra point. After a nail-biting shootout in which both teams could taste a victory on numerous occasions, the Beavers came out on top when their standout goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova turned away Mav-erick blue-liner Jackie Otto’s equalizing attempt in round 13 of the shootout. Otto was the last of 26 players to put a shot on net in the wild shootout. The game featured two goaltenders who were locked in, with Maverick

sophomore Alli Altmann match-ing Tomcikova save for save for the majority of the contest.

“We played strong and cleaned up our defensive zone,” said senior forward Ashley Young. “We outworked and out-played them, but the game didn’t turn out how we wanted it to.”

The Mavericks jumped out to the early lead when freshman forward Lauren Zrust notched her first career goal on a one-timer thanks to a pair of assists from Young and sophomore forward Jenna Peterson. The Beavers evened the score 1-1 early in the third period, but the Mavericks quickly answered on the power play when senior forward Christina Lee squeaked a shot past Tomcikova to re-capture the lead for the home team. Young picked up her sec-ond assist of the game on Lee’s go-ahead goal, with sophomore Ariel Mackley also assisting.

The Beavers pulled Tom-cikova for the extra skater in the final minutes and created a flurry of activity in front of Altmann, with the Mavericks unable to clear the puck in the waning seconds. The Beavers finally

broke through with one second left, sending the Mavericks to a heart-breaking tie. Although they battled in the shootout period, the Mavericks failed to pick up two points that appeared to be theirs.

“We were not lacking in op-portunities to extend our lead,” said head coach Eric Means. “We made some bad decisions down the stretch that cost us.”

The disappointment carried into Saturday as the Mavericks fell 3-1 to the Beavers in the series finale. Junior goaltender Paige Thunder shut out the

Beavers for the first two periods, but allowed two goals in the final period. The third Beaver goal was an empty-netter when the Mavericks were trying to even the score late. The Mav-erick offense failed to support Thunder for the second weekend in a row, with Young scoring the team’s lone goal on assists from Mackley and freshman Lauren Smith.

“We just couldn’t score when it mattered most,” said Means. “Their goaltender played really well all weekend.”

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MONDAY NIGHTS!“Buck Night”

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MSU lets one slip away against BeaversThe Mavericks couldn’t get past BSU goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova

LEE HANDELstaff writer

BSU 2MSU 2

BSU 1MSU 3

dan moen • msu reporterSenior captain Kristina Lee (10) was one of few players to get past Tom-cikova this weekend, as she scored a goal in Friday night’s 2-2 tie.

FOOTBALL continued from 19

yard.Despite the negatives that

come with losing this game. The Mavericks have plenty to be happy about during the regular season.

In addition to earning the NSIC-South Division Cham-pionship the Mavericks will be playing in their first playoff game at Blakeslee Stadium in school history against No. 20 Hillside.

The Mavericks dropped to No. 8 in the national rankings.

There were also 24 Maver-icks that were honored by the NSIC, including head coach Todd Hoffner being named Coach of the Year.

First Team All-NSIC South selections were Aberg, offen-sive tackles Adrian Battles and Jeremy Clark, offensive guard Andy Schoonover, defensive tackles Randy Earl and Junior Aumavae, defensive backs, Jesse Hamilton and Kelvin Rodgers, linebacker Kevin Klug, defensive end Bryan Schmid and punter Gerard DeWet.

The Mavericks play Hill-side this Saturday at noon at Blakeslee Stadium.

Classifiedswww.msureporter.com Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (507) 389-1776

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PT Direct Support ProfessionalLivingLinks is looking for a part-time Direct Support Professional to work with individuals with developmental disabilities in their homes, and in the community. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record; openings include mornings/afternoons/evenings and some overnights. Every other weekend and holiday is required. Hourly rate is $8.48-9.50 per hour based on education and experience. The position involves helping individuals with daily cares, programs, community activities, and household duties. Attention to detail and excellent writing skills are required.

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November 10, 2009

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