The Exponent (12-8-10)

December 8, 2010

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Volume 109, Issue 5

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The voice of NSU students, by NSU students

NSU’s Speech and Debate Team takes competitive strides towards nationals.

“Scott Pilrim vs. the World” movie review by Dan Dreher.

See page 2.

See page 7.

Photo courtesy of Steven Brunner.

Courtesy photo.

NSU Exponent Graham Hall 105 NSU Box 602 stupub@northern.edu

NSU men’s basketball wins overtime thriller Jen Mellette Staff Writer

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orthern State University men's basketball team had a killer thriller on Friday, Dec. 3rd, in its conference opener against Concordia University. With expectations high and the crowd support loaded, the Wolves took to the court and battled with the Golden Bears.

The game was level, the score and lead never going too high for either side to catch back up.

Determination and skilled playing from both teams pushed the game into overtime, where the Wolves came out triumphant, 96-94.

This game was clearly an example of what is known as a Barn Burner by many basketball fanatics and was exciting to see from the stands of Wachs Arena. A notable

Wolf of the game was Collin Pryor, a sophomore forward from St. Charles, Ill. Pryor's constant attack and run of the floor set the pace and energy for the other Wolves and created opportunities for the team to be successful, even helping send the game into overtime to come up with the win. His stat line for the evening's contest was a gamenecessary double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Wolves men's basketball team stands at 5-1 at home with a heart breaker loss to St. Cloud on Saturday, Dec. 4th.

They are 0-3 on the road but only time will tell on future outings for the Wolves.If the Wolves continue to play as hard as they did against Concordia, it is anticipated that the team will see nothing but smooth sailing the rest of the season.

Photo courtesy of NSU Athletics.

“#1 t hrea t to Ame rica”

U S N : s e i b m o . Z s v s n a Hum

r e t p Cha

Photos courtesy of Bethany Ellefson.

How did it get here?

Want to know who won? Find out more about the recent outbreak of zombies on campus by checking out The Exponent’s Facebook page (NSU Student Publications) or humansvszombies.org for general info.

In This Issue: — Student Assoc. update, pg. 3 — Finals Survival Guide, pg. 4 — NSU Jazz Party a success, 6th Avenure Gallery review, pg. 5 — “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” columnist debate, pg. 6 — Sports updates, pgs. 8-9 — Top Ten things to do this winter break, pg. 12

News

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Speech and Debate Team overcomes obstacles, prepares for nationals Rachel Schipper Editor-in-Chief

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ne of the several challenges of attending a small university is an obvious one: overcoming the small numbers. Lacking a large body of students can mean not having the talent pool and numbers needed to make a competitive team in any discipline. Occasionally, though, a group of dedicated students rises above this challenge and achieves success at exceptionally competitive events. As Northern State University’s Speech and Debate Team’s accomplishments over the semester can attest, this kind of success is difficult but not impossible.

“The students have been very successful this year. They have put in significant amounts of work,” commented the Speech and Debate team’s advisor and mentor Steven Brunner, NSU Instructor of Speech Communications. It can be said that the small team of forensics students has made great strides in

its performances, with individuals consistently placing in the top 20 (and often top 10) rankings of students in highly competitive contests around the country. The team has competed throughout the semester in numerous competitions, ranging from South Dakota State University’s annual Jackrabbit Jousts speech tournament to Moorhead Minnesota’s Valley Forensics League (VFL) tournaments.

Through the busy and often strenuous schedules of tournaments, competitions and events, several of the team’s members were able to qualify for the National Forensics Association Tournament of Champions. For any students, let alone students from a small university, this is an exceptional accomplishment. But NSU’s Speech and Debate Team doesn’t stop there.

Speech and Debate competitors have set their sights on an even more incredible feat – qualifying for and competing at the American Forensics Association National

Individual Events Tournament. the National Forensics Association Overcoming the status quo of the “The students are still motivated Tournament of Champions include small university has been no small and want to continue qualifying senior Michaela Fisher, Bismarck, feat for the NSU Speech and Debate [for] more events for nationals. N.D., junior Matt Maass, Clear Team, but it can be expected that [This competition] is one of the Lake, junior Anne Tingley, much more is yet to be seen from most prestigious national Ellsworth Airforce Base, and this talented and accomplished tournaments a student can qualify sophomore Ben Kraft, Mobridge. group of students. for,” related Brunner. “[Only] approximately 5 percent of forensics competitors nationwide qualify for this tournament; therefore, qualifying for it would be a great accomplishment for NSU students.”

This semester’s achievements have “motivated the students to be prepared for Nationals in the spring,” stated Brunner. “We have a very busy schedule in the spring semester. We plan on attending tournaments in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to conclude our regular Brunner, NSU Instructor of Speech Communications, junior Matt Maass, Clear Lake, season.”

Currently, Steven senior Michaela Fisher, Bismarck, N.D., and junior Anne Tingley, Ellsworth Airforce Base, on competitors qualified for the road for one of the team’s many competitions. Photo courtesy of Steven Brunner.

NSU hosts “A Night with Don Meyer”, a discussion and book signing Liz Zappa Assistant Editor

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n the early twilight hours of Monday, Nov. 8, hundreds of people filed into the Johnson Fine Arts Center of Northern State University. They came for A Night with Don Meyer and Buster Olney, the kick-off event for Olney’s new book, “How Lucky You Can Be; The Story of Coach Don Meyer.”

Even though the event did not officially start until 7 p.m., the doors opened an hour early and the auditorium was soon filled with people looking to purchase copies of the book, receiving free Don Meyer bobble heads and get good seats for the discussion.

People of all backgrounds showed up, from friends and family of Meyer to community

members and Northern students.

Video clips from press conferences and awards ceremonies played on a large screen hanging over the main stage, retelling Meyer’s struggles and achievements.

A standing ovation welcomed Don Meyer, the record holder for most career coaching wins in NCAA men’s basketball history, and Buster Olney, senior writer at ESPN and an analyst for ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight,” onto the stage.

NSU’s president, Dr. James Smith, who was to be the moderator for the candid discussion, joined them.

Olney spoke about his decision to continue to follow Meyer’s career, particularly after the accident. He pointed out that there are many layers to Meyer’s story beyond his coaching record.

Olney’s book is a reflection of this

fact. While the book does discuss Meyer’s coaching career, it also discusses Meyer’s family, faith and dedication, among other things. It talks about the accident that led to the discovery of cancer and amputation of half of Meyer’s left leg, and how this changed Meyer’s life and the lives of the people around him. Though about a basketball coach, it is not just about basketball and can be appreciated by audiences outside of the sports world.

When Olney approached Meyer about writing the book, Meyer said that he trusted Olney to do a good job and to tell the truth, even if it didn’t reflect well on certain people or situations.

Meyer’s hope is that people who read the book will learn from its message of faith, family and friends.

Olney, a New York Times bestselling author, said that at times he was “obsessed” with working on the book; gathering info, piecing things together, figuring out chapters. At times he felt burdensome to people involved and struggled with how to present possibly touchy subjects with respect and tact. In the end, though, he knew it would be worth it to be able to present the story of such an incredible man.

The possibility of a movie was mentioned at one point during the night. While still in the rumorstage, there is already one producer who has shown interest.

Speculation was made as to which actors would play various roles.

Olney said that he’d like to see Ed Harris play Meyer, and Meyer pointed out that someone would have to play Nate Thompson,

NSU’s No. 1 fan.

The discussion concluded and the audience was directed out into the main corridor of JFAC, where a table had been set up for booksignings by Olney and Meyer.

A long line of people waited patiently to get their books autographed with either simple signatures or personalized messages.

A few weeks and couple hundred books later, when asked if he was tired of signing his name yet, Meyer said, “Maybe a little bit, but no, not yet.” He gestured to a stack of eight books sitting on his desk, waiting for his John Hancock.

“Maybe after I sign these,” he joked, “but no, not quite yet.”

Olney’s book, “How Lucky You Can Be; The Story of Coach Don Meyer” is available at the University Bookstore for $21.20.

Exponent •

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A letter to the student body Exponent

OF NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Fellow Wolves:

The Northern State University Student Association would like to wish all NSU students the best of luck as you prepare for the ending of the semester. Finals, projects, tests and papers might have your head spinning in frenzy, but bear with it; winter vacation is just around the corner!

As we look back on the semester, we would like to share with you a few of the items of business we have been involved with. We are proud to have dedicated students representing your voice on this campus.

We feel that it is an important task to make sure that we are listening to your concerns and that we are making the lives of students and their experience here at Northern everything that they would want it to be.

There are big things happening in the near future for NSU. We have approved more than 60 student organizations. There should be something for everyone’s interest, so let us know if there isn’t and we will be more than willing to help.

We have received approval from the Board of Regents after a year and a half of discussions, group meetings and talking to you for the approval of our Student Center renovation project, which will begin at the end

of April.

The Student Association is now on Facebook! Add us, “Northern State Wolves (Stu Gov).”

We are also updating our Web site, where you will be able to find the minutes from our meetings so that you know exactly what is going on. Meetings are open to the public as well.

And of course, there is always email, which is checked daily, stassoc@wolves.northern.edu.

One thing you should look forward to in the spring is our “Student Discount Club.” We will be able to streamline local business deals to our student body, which will save you money. There are many businesses that offer specials for NSU students, however many of these specials go unreported.

We would like to increase the awareness of what is being offered to our students, in addition to increasing the number of

NSU Student Association President, Vice President, advisor and Senators. For more information about NSU’s student government check out their Facebook page under “Northern State Wolves (Stu Gov) or send them an email at stassoc@wolves.northern.edu. Courtesy Photo.

businesses participating.

Another great opportunity for students is the “Wolfgrant.” We want to let students spend money from their student fees on activities and events they want to see.

In developing this program we want to hear from you. A group of students can be eligible for a grant (up to $500) to spend on an idea that promotes either school spirit or student involvement. Please contact us for more information.

Those are just to name a few of the exciting things happening with your Student Association. We are constantly trying to develop ideas that will leave a sense of tradition and pride flowing through our veins… maroon and gold, all day, everyday!

Let us know how we can better serve you. We have been elected by you and want to lead with the support of the student body. We appreciate you and thank you for the opportunity that we have been given as your student leaders.

So as we close out 2010 and remember all the great memories that have occurred, let us look forward to 2011 with excitement, a clean slate and let this be the year that we take pride in being students of Northern State University!

Go Wolves, DJ Mounga President

Congratulations, Fall 2010 Graduates GRADUATE STUDIES MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION Nicholas Becker (Teaching and Learning: Health, Physical Education and Coaching) Timothy L. Douglas (Counseling: Agency) Dale LeePaul Dunlap (Leadership and Administration: Secondary) Patrick Hart (Counseling: Agency) Jill A. Hermansen (Leadership and Administration: Secondary) Jennifer Lynn Olson (Teaching and Learning: Educational Studies) Kristi M. Spitzer (Counseling: School) Amy Veenhof (Teaching and Learning: Health, Physical Education and Coaching) James Weaver (Leadership and Administration: Secondary) COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HONORIBUS ***Kayla N. Ysteboe (Biology) BACHELOR OF ARTS ** Heather L. Avery (Spanish) Rebecca M. Bartels (Spanish) Steven J. Boll (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Gwen R. Braun (Sociology: Criminal Justice, Human Services) Ofa K. Enesa (Sociology: Human Services) Holly Lenora Jean Gonzalez (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Britney Anne Jencks (English: Literature) Wesley M. Jennings (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Christopher S. Kaiser (English: Writing) Ruijing Li (Sociology: Human Services) Nicole M. Mayer (Sociology: Criminal Justice) *Lennea M. Mueller (Sociology: Criminal Justice; Political Science) Christopher Olinger (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Renee J. Ryan (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Brooke A. Solaas (Sociology: Criminal Justice, Human Services) Tonya S. Spangler (Sociology: Criminal Justice) *Cherice B. Swain (Spanish) Wesley Havea Uepi (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Emily J. Vilhauer (Sociology: Criminal Justice) Brittney J. West (Sociology: Criminal Justice) BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES Amanda M. Druckemiller (General Studies) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ** Mitch E. Boeck (Chemistry) Adam Michael Isack (Biology) Tamara M. Kohnen (Biology) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION Adam J. Kuehl (Social Science; History) ASSOCIATE OF ARTS Brittany K. Gamber (General Studies) Lesleann E. Palmer (General Studies) Alan Joseph Petersen (General Studies) Clinton R. Rux (General Studies)

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Cody Lee Gustafson (Desktop Publishing) SCHOOL OF BUSINESS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN HONORIBUS *Alex J. Hart (Management Information Systems

Winter Commencement 10:30 a.m., Dec. 11, 2010 Johnson Fine Arts Center **Kacie K. Richard (Banking and Financial Services) BACHELOR OF ARTS William Kuol Deng (International Business Studies) Helio M. Oliveira (International Business Studies) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Thomas Edwin Allerdings (Banking and Financial Services) Kellie A. Althoff (Banking and Financial Services) **Heather L. Avery (Management; Marketing) **Jen Berndt (Banking and Financial Services) Joe Berreth (Management) Michael Biegler (Management) Alesa Renee Burgard (Professional Accountancy) Rebecca J. Burke (Banking and Financial Services) ***Angela Dickhaut (Professional Accountancy) Phillip R. Downs (Management) ***Toni A. Fritz (Management Information Systems) Brittany Jo Jacobson (Professional Accountancy) Mina Jung (Business Administration) Jerry F. Kuhn (Accounting) Victor Lauifi (Management) Vince Lauifi (Management) Nicole Ann Lodu (Banking and Financial Services) Misty L. Martin (Management Information Systems) Alisha M. Martinez (Business Administration) Zachias William Morris (Management) Kate C. Richards (Professional Accountancy) Karissa B. Salwei (Professional Accountancy) Lindsay A. Scott (Economics) Craig E. Settje (Banking and Financial

Services) Travis D. Sickler (Business Administration) Wonjin Son (Accounting) Robert Emlyn Kapono Thomas (Finance) *Brian David Trapp (Banking and Financial Services) Leigha G. Veurink (Marketing; Management) Kyle J. Weisbeck (Management Information Systems) ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Ann M. Buckmiller (Banking and Financial Services) Beth Leidholt (Business Administration) Kristin M. Tabbert (Business Administration) SCHOOL OF EDUCATION BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Sarah J. Curley (Sport Marketing and Administration) Tom Giesen (Human Performance and Fitness: Personal Training/Strength and Conditioning) Ben Graf (Sport Marketing and Administration) *Megan R. Kusler (Sport Marketing and Administration) James Marx (Sport Marketing and Administration) Jillaine R. Pfeifle (Psychology) *Amber Leigh Staab (Human Performance and Fitness: Personal Training/Strength and Conditioning) BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION Amanda K. Chipman (Special Education) *Lisa M. Forrest (Elementary Education; Special Education) Megan L. Gilbertson (Special Education) * Dave Graf (Special Education) **Janessa L. Hayenga (Elementary Education; Special Education) ***Kaylee N. Jahraus (Elementary Education) Marshall E. Osloond (Physical Education) Rachel A. Sieh (Elementary Education; Special Education) ***Allison J. Sourile (Elementary Education) * Kathy A. Wendt (Elementary Education) SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS BACHELOR OF ARTS Nikolas Anton Aberle (Art: Multimedia Design) Robert C. Brown (Art: Multimedia Design) *Victoria Jo Fisher (Art: Advertising Design) Wayne G. Lepp (Art: Advertising Design) alerie R. Shook (Art: Advertising Design) BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION ***Travis Netzer (Music: Instrumental) ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE Angela Aman (Commercial Art) ***Candidate for Summa Cum Laude ** Candidate for Magna Cum Laude * Candidate for Cum Laude (Major: Specialization)

Rachel Schipper Editor-in-Chief Liz Zappa Assistant Editor Victoria Lusk Advertising Manager Ashley Vincent Office Manager

EDITORIAL BOARD Opinion Dan Dreher Kelli Gill Rosa Jundt Ben Kraft Jen Mellette Bryce Mills Nathan Thomas

OPINION Comics/Feature Jon Bakken (comics) Michael A. Kandalaft (comics) Jen Mellette Michelle TwoHearts

NEWS

Zachary Anderson Jason Baker Kelli Gill Jen Mellette Anne Tingley Michelle TwoHearts

STAFF Victoria Lusk Rachel Schipper

LAYOUT/ DESIGN Casey Luedke Jen Mellette Hope Stappler Carl Wobig

COPY EDITORS Bethany Ellefson Anne Tingley Liz Zappa

PHOTOGRAPHERS ADVISING Tracy Russman

DISCLOSURES Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the author’s signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and home-town if a NSU student. Faculty and staff must identify their various positions.

Guest Columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. The writer must be willing to be photographed for the column to run.

All letters and guest columns should be submitted to The Exponent newsroom, 101 Administration Building. The Exponent reserves the right to edit, cut to length or reject all submissions.

POLICIES The Exponent stands behind the university policies regarding the illegal use of alcohol and the following disclosure is policy as defined by the officials of Northern State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents: Alcohol use by those under the age of 21 is illegal under South Dakota State Law. NSU and these advertisers neither encourage nor condone the illegal use of alcoholic beverages.

Neither Northern State University nor Student Publications either condones or condemns any paid advertisement.

Editorial content and opinions expressed in The Exponent are not a direct reflection of the views of the officials of Northern State University.

The Exponent is a division of Student Publications of NSU and is a student- managed newspaper, funded with revenue gathered from the NSU General Activity Fee and is provided to the campus community at no circulation cost.

CONTACT US Newsroom 605-626-2534 Ad. Staff: adstupub@northern.edu Fax: 605-626-2559 Box 602 1200 S. Jay St. Aberdeen, SD 57401 stupub@northern.edu

Exponent •

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Finals week survival tips Exponent Staff

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f you’re reading this, then you’re one of the lucky ones. Somehow you have thus far avoided an almost inevitable meltdown from the frenzied stress attack that always seems to happen this time of the semester.

It would seem congratulations are in order, right? Wrong!

Chances are you’ve been seriously abusing your health, and according to Dave Schultis, owner of Aberdeen’s Herbal Health and Therapies and Exponentproclaimed health guru, your body and mind are suffering from the consequences.

Late night paper research, fast food runs, cramming for that next final, not taking time to chill out, consuming too much caffeine: All are common college student Finals Week activities and all are common abuses of your good health. Most students write this

mistreatment off with excuses such as “I only need to get this paper in, then I’ll get the rest I need” and “I know fast food is unhealthy, but I just need something cheap and convenient.”

Schultis argues that taking good care of your mind and body will yield better results under times of stress, such as finals week. “We abuse ourselves quite a bit,” commented Schultis. “We need to learn to relax when it’s time to relax and work when it’s time to work,” otherwise we become stressed and don’t work as efficiently as we could.

Even short times of depending on caffeine, foregoing sleep, not eating well, etc., take a toll on the body, which is why the Exponent and Schultis devised a list of helpful health tips to help you survive “The Week from Hell” and perhaps give you an advantage for next semester.

1. Get enough sleep. Regular rest helps the body and mind rejuvenate, which will make your

class and study times more effective!

2. Especially for breakfast, stock up on proteins and healthy carbohydrates, both of which give you strength, energy and endurance. Foods like green vegetables, eggs, whole grain bread and oatmeal are great Finals Week foods.

3. Lay off the caffeine and sugar!

Both may be tempting last-minute fixes, but they do more damage than good. The “yo-yo effect” of these substances may haunt you just when you need it least— during a final!

4. Get extra amounts of vitamins B-12 and C. Vitamin B-12 will help with your overall energy levels (no crash included) and C will help support your immune system (Who wants a cold during finals week?).

5. Drink extra water. The cold weather and physical stress of the season drains the body of its water, and it needs constant replenishing. Water helps muscle

2010 NSU 2nd Annual Wacipi Michelle Two Hearts Staff Reporter

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amilies gathered for a day of union and cultural remembrance on Saturday, Nov. 13. Northern State University’s Native American Student Association sponsored the pow wow and Tiffany Baker, Peni Mounga, Katrina Uhmanah, and the NASA students were there to oversee the pow wow.

There was registration opening at 11 a.m, when dancers were supposed to be registered. Total, there were about 40 registered dancers, mostly tiny tot dancers.

Finally, the grand entry at 1:00 p.m. began the pow wow.

During the day, there were special dances presented by some clubs at NSU. Around 5 p.m., the meal, which was sponsored by NASA, was served.

The second grand entry occurred at 7:00 p.m., where the flags were presented again and the dancers crowded around.

There were five drum groups, and many colors and nations were

represented. The drum groups were there to make the music, their songs either passed down generation to generation, or contemporary selections concerning issues in the world.

During the second grand entry there was a Potato Dance Contest.

Tiffany Baker and Nate Brown, NASA students, also brought their children, whom the oldest, Aceanna Brown said in one word her opinion about the Potato Dance Contest: “fun.”

There was also a Kahomni Contest, a dance in which one couple competes in a dance agains other couples. Dances during the pow wow were grass dancers, traditional dancers, jingle dress dancers, and fancy shawl dancers.

Each dance has a history, especially the fancy shawl, which was developed in the 1970s. The original women’s fancy shawl dance originated in the plains, and was modified through inspiration of the men’s dance.

The jingle dress is a dance which originated through the Ojibwa people and was a dance of healing. A dance of nature, the

grass dance signifies wind through the prairie, due to the strings on the regalia.

Tiny tot dancing has been a direct way to include the younger generation to get in touch with their culture; a dance style for the children to just dance and skip along to the beat.

Throughout the day, about 400 people attended the pow wow.

(Baker expressed that she would like to bring in more activities for the dancers such as specials or kids activities like cake walks, she would also like to have more NSU groups performing like the Polynesian Club and NANTA did this year.

She feels that everything ran a lot smoother this year and it was easier to do, and that they did very well considering that there were several other pow wows going on at the same time).

When asked about the overall pow wow results, Baker said, “This pow wow brought Native American culture to the people of Aberdeen, but also shared other cultures by having the Polynesian Club and NANTA performances.”

and organ functions, so drink up!

6. Avoid consuming empty calories. Cheeseburgers and leftover pizza may fill you up, but both come with the cost of robbing the body of vital minerals and nutrients. When you eat something, make it count. Fruits and vegetables are just as convenient as fast food, and many times more beneficial.

7. Practice good hygiene.

College students live, work and study in commonly used areas, so be careful of sharing germs and viruses. The last thing anyone needs is another flu freak out on campus.

8. Work light exercise into your

study sessions. Going for short walks, stretching, or a spending some time in a few yoga poses can help your mind function more effectively (which means you can write that paper all the faster!).

9. Take time to relax! Watching the game, reading a book you love, getting a massage, etc., will help you refocus and let you distress from working to meet all those deadlines.

10. Set up an appointment with Herbal Health and Therapy to work out a personalized nutrient health plan just for you!

Good luck with the rest of finals week and have a relaxing, healthy Winter Break!

Campus Calendar Wednesday, Dec. 8 — Lorie Line in Concert, JC Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 9 — Concerto/Aria Concert, JC 107, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 11 — Merry Tuba Christmas, JC 122, 9 a.m.

— Winter Commencement, Johnson Fine Arts Center, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 12 — Holiday Extravaganza, JC Theatre, 3 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 13 — Pancake Feed — Textbook Buyback — Final Exams — End-of-Semester Pizza Party, 6 - 7 p.m.

— Simmons Winter Concert, JC Theatre, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 14 — Textbook Buyback — Final Exams Wednesday, Dec. 15 — Textbook Buyback — Final Exams Thursday, Dec. 16 — Textbook Buyback — Final Exams Friday, Dec. 17 — Textbook Buyback — Final Exams

Saturday, Dec. 18 – Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 — Semester Break Monday, Jan. 3 — Complete "Registration Confirmation" on WebAdvisor, thru Jan. 12 Wednesday, Jan. 12 — Spring 2011 Fee Payment — Spring 2011 classes begin at 4 p.m.

— Bookstore Open, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

— New Student Orientation, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

— Orientation Seminar for First Session Student Teachers, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 13 — Textbook Buyback, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

— The Fringe Benefit, art rock band, Isaac Lincoln Gallery, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 14 — SERVE's Alternative Summer Break Trip Online Applications Open Monday, Jan. 17 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day: No Classes, Offices Closed Tuesday, Jan. 18

A&E

Arts 5 We d n e s d a y, D e c e m b e r 8 , 2 0 1 0 Exponent

NSU Jazz Party packs Ward Hotel, entertains crowd Anne Tingley Staff Reporter

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ven with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1, the Fall 2010 NSU Jazz Party packed the ballroom at the Ward Hotel on Nov. 19. The Northern State University Music Department hosts two swing dances every year, each dance drawing hundreds of students, alumni and faculty members, along with members of the Aberdeen community.

The two NSU Jazz Ensembles directed by Grant Manhart and Terry Beckler and Vocal Jazz directed by Timothy Woods had

people dancing for hours. The Fall Swing Dance featured many spectacular soloists, including

senior music major Michelle Monroe of Pierre and junior Tyler Pridey of Sioux Falls on alto saxophone.

“The swing dance is great because it gives students and the public an opportunity to experience what music was all about in the 1920s and early 1930s,“ said Pridey. “It’s awesome for me to be able to have the chance to perform that type of music to a large crowd with a band that truly gives an impressive and notable performance. It gave me the chance to kind of go back in time as if I were part of a big band,

Sixth Avenue Gallery: “nights of creativity and melodic madness” Nathan Thomas Student Culture Columnist

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eekends come and go, but a consistent source of enjoyable attractions is seemingly unprecedented in Aberdeen.

Luckily, I was able to frequent the Sixth Avenue Gallery two Friday nights in a row. The first Friday I convinced myself that something so appealing could not be a weekly event.

However, upon my second trip the following Friday, reality sank in and I danced carefree knowing my experience could be replicated in the many shows to come.

“The Party,” as Friday night at The Gallery is referred to, primarily entails electronic music and features more than one DJ with an array of light shows displayed throughout the night from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

One DJ, who repeatedly makes the show worthwhile, is named Rad Jackson. DJ Rad holds a passion for music that is persistently conveyed through his shows. Rad’s mix of intense beats, accompanied by fascinating illumination, creates an ambience within the room that leaves many mesmerized.

This combination of raw and intense sound plays accurately off the lights, making anybody with the ability to have fun a victim of enjoyment.

Upon my arrival I noticed Rad Jackson setting the pace for a night of creativity and electric melodic madness. I am very receptive to the effect of flashing lights in conjunction with upbeat music and soon found myself dancing amongst the crowd as well.

Friday night shows at the Sixth Avenue Gallery truly represent an appeal to the senses and my senses were no exception. Music, lights,

dancing, and the crowd of people in attendance all contribute to the five hours of fulfilling fun that takes place at “The Party.”

Art displays within the building also captivated my sense of sight for the brief period of time I found myself distracted from the show.

Paintings, sculptures and other works from various artists adorn the walls within the gallery and act as a synonymous reflection of the artistic expression being perpetuated on stage. Perhaps one of the most significant aspects of the show involves the fact that no alcohol is being served.

Anybody age 18 or older is encouraged to attend and those who are 21 and over may bring their own beverages. So whether you are 18 or 80, treat yourself to a little sensory stimulation and check out the Sixth Avenue Gallery, DJ Rad Jackson and others for “The Party” on Friday nights.

especially when I was soloing.

People were crazy about attending these kinds of venues and its great to be able to see all of your friends and family who don’t know much about the music who get to be part of it by dancing and hanging out.”

There will be another swing dance during the Spring 2011 semester. For a fun night in the near future, join Kramer Hall and the Campus Activities Board for

NSU Date Night on Dec. 9th at 9 p.m. in Thunder’s Lair. Get all “dolled up” to dance and experience the hilarity of comedian Pete Lee. Pictured is Chris Massa, sophomore, Rapid City, and Northern State alum Reagan Remmers dancing along to the jazz music that filled the Crystal Ballroom at the Ward Hotel. Photo

by Anne Tingley.

The Aberdeen Downtown Association

is looking for actors for their Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre production of “Who Murdered My Sweetheart?” to be held on Feb. 11 and 12 at the Ward Plaza.

There will be only one rehearsal prior to the show on Thursday, Feb. 10.

Hosts and hostesses are also needed for the event to greet and seat guests.

If you are interested in participating in this event, contact Georgia Smith, Events Coordinator, at 226-3441 or by email at events@aberdeendowntown.org.

A dv er tise with us!

adstupub@northern.edu

OFrom pintheioleft... n Don't Ask, Don't Tell” is a military

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policy with at least a fair bit of name recognition among those of the nonmilitary population. For those who don't know, “Don't Ask, Don't tell” (DADT), is the military's policy towards its homosexual members. It states, in essence, that a homosexual member of the military should keep his or her sexual orientation private, as well as stating that all members of the military should refrain from asking questions about sexual orientation. This has been hotly debated since its introduction in 1993. Equality advocates have argued that DADT is an infringement of service members’ rights of free speech, while supporters state that the current policy is more inclusive than the former total ban on homosexuals in the military, as well as stating that it protects unit readiness and cohesion.

The question arises, then, are the supporters of DADT correct? Is this policy protecting military readiness, or is it merely an attempt to marginalize homosexuals in the military? This columnist would have to say that the policy seems to be more along the lines of the latter. This policy was introduced under the assumption that heterosexual soldiers would not be able to accept openly homosexual soldiers into their ranks. This is an assumption that is patently untrue. The military, as well as American society, has gone through several periods of integration throughout its history.

Minorities and women have been integrated into the military successfully. Why not homosexuals? There would be some discomfort in the integration of open homosexuals into units; however, these growing pains may be far less than expected.

Homosexuality is not something outright visible and when an individual chooses to

...to the right Not any of government’s business

DADT? Good riddance.

Ben Kraft Opinion Columnist

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come out to members of their unit is entirely up to them. Individuals already accepted into their units will have an easier time coming out to their fellow soldiers and should face less opposition.

These individuals already in the military, under DADT regulations, would be discharged if evidence were to come forward that they were gay. This means that “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” also does not make the military more ready, and that the policy, in fact, harms military readiness. Enforcement of DADT has discharged soldiers that are in every way fit for military service. Service members trained to do jobs essential to the military have been discharged under the policy. Translators are a glaring example of this problem. The military has had a shortage of Arabic and Farsi translators, yet it has continued to discharge translators under DADT. The military had put thousands of dollars into training and equipping these service members, and, by discharging them, has essentially thrown away that money. This all seems to be counteractive to military readiness.

“Don't Ask, Don't Tell” has a negative effect on military readiness, but it also infringes on the rights of the individual service members. When service members join they swear to defend the constitution; however, their own constitutional rights are being infringed by “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.” A court ruling on Sept. 9, 2010, stated that DADT violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of service members. The very people who are supposed to be defending our freedom of speech are not allowed to exercise it. This seems to me to be a grave injustice. A later court ruling would demand the military suspend and discontinue all investigations, discharges and rulings involved in “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.” This ruling seems to signal the beginning of the end for this policy, and to that, I say, “good riddance.”

Kelli Gill Opinion Columnist

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he current Administration and Congress is in an uproar about repealing Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy in President Obama’s lame-duck session – a prospect that is beginning to look more difficult with the coming party change in Congress. Much of the Republican leadership believes that the military focus should be on the war, not on changing internal military structures.

Personally, I think that the military should be looking at recruiting the best and the brightest men and women ready and willing to serve their country – superfluous details like sexual orientation, race, gender, etc., shouldn’t make a difference. Widening the pool of willing recruits can only make for better candidates for our military. Besides, asking people to lie to their country in order to serve is definitely not a good reflection of American values.

In a step toward repealing the Clinton’s 1993 policy, the Senate Military Arms Committee is scheduled for two days of hearings on how the military could end their “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy after the Pentagon receives its feedback report. The Pentagon sent out more than 400,000 surveys to military personnel and 150,000 surveys to military spouses inquiring about their input on and opinions about DADT. Marines are currently the most reluctant to change the old policy. Seventy percent of the surveys recorded said that changing DADT

would be positive, mixed, or have no effect at all. Of the 30 percent opposed, Marines were most likely to argue that having an openly gay member in their unit would be a distraction, or even dangerous in wartime.

In a possible reflection of concern coming from his Marines, General James Amos has expressed opposition to lifting DADT. “This is not a social thing,” Amos said in a meeting. “This is combat effectiveness.

That's what the country pays its Marines to do.”

The Senate plans to hear in detail all military concerns for and against the repeal.

In the first day of hearings, the Senate will hear from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Defense Department General Jeh Johnson and Army General Carter Ham. The second day is to be focused on the top brass of the military, with testimonies from Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. James E. Cartwright, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Naval Chief of Operations Adm. Gary Roughhead, Marine Commandant Gen. James F. Amos and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz.

The reality of the situation is that despite all of the heated talk and fierce politics, and despite any and all strong feelings for and against DADT, in the end it is the men and women fighting for our country who will have to live, fight and die with the choices made. This decision should be made for the military and by the military, with no ulterior motives. They know their situations best, and they should be the ones to decide.

Disagree? Tell us about it!

Letters should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words.

Submissions must include the author’s signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and home-town if a NSU student.

Faculty and staff must identify their various positions.

Email to stupub@northern.edu or mail to NSU 602.

Super Senior: enjoy the break!

by Super Senior

The holidays are upon us and that means just one thing: Christmas break. For veterans such as myself, we know exactly what to expect of the glorious time that is Christmas break, but a few of you who are new to college life may have mixed ideas on what to expect. I may be able to give you a few pointers on this most awaited time of the year.

I’m sure by now that many of you have grown used to the college life, with no curfew, no rules, and being able to do whatever you like, whenever you like. If you are going to your parents’ house over break, they may still expect you to behave like you did when you lived with them in high school, by being home at certain times, not doing certain things, and just overall repression from all fun. You are probably going to feel a bit stifled by this lack of ultimate freedom, but basically you just have to get your parents broken in to your

new lifestyle. To make the transition smoothly, you first have to sit down and have a discussion with your parents about certain freedoms. When you do this, you must make sure that you do so tactfully and respectfully. This will ensure your parents that you have become a responsible adult while away at college and they will be more likely to trust you to do what you want. Secondly, try to respect your parents’ rules somewhat. If you will be staying out late catching up with old friends, call your parents before their bedtime and let them know that you will be staying out late. Try not to call them at two in the morning; they won’t appreciate this. By calling, it will help the parents worry less about your whereabouts. Over time, your parents will realize that you are no longer a kid but a responsible adult, and they will be less inclined to frantically worry about you. Then you will be able to

live the college lifestyle while you are at home.

One of the great things about break is seeing your high school friends you parted with when you went to different schools. The Christmas break reunion was one of my favorite times because you really got to catch up and see what each other have been up to for the past five months. However, the one thing to remember about seeing your old friends is that even during just one semester, your absolute best bud from high school may be a completely different person than you used to know, or the opposite – you could be completely different.

At college, you’re exposed to so many different viewpoints and lifestyles, you could no longer have anything in common with the old friends. I think the best way to deal with this situation is to go easy with the reunion. Talk about the good old days and put feelers out

to see if they have changed or if you have changed. If neither of you has, feel free to act the same way

together as you used to. If one or both of you have changed, don’t

try to force the friendship to be what it once was, but appreciate what you have now and try to develop the friendship on new terms.

While trying to adjust to Christmas break and how things might have changed is very important advice for the long holiday break, the best advice to give you is to appreciate the time away from classes.

Almost a month of not having to do math homework or write papers and essays is one of the most glorious things to happen to a college student, only to be exceeded by summer break. So make sure to enjoy Christmas, New Years, and sleeping in, because eventually classes will start again!

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Scott Pilgrim: entertaining but predictable Dan Dreher Movie Critic

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n the last 10 years, film director Edgar Wright was brought into the mainstream and showed the world that even comedy films could be visually appealing like other genres in film. He is responsible for films such as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” which are considered classics and are often quoted in real-life. When it was announced that Wright was attached to a film project that was based off of a graphic novel, many of his loyal fans was ecstatic. The graphic novel in question was Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Scott Pilgrim,” which is a six-volume series.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is about a 22-year old named Scott Pilgrim (go figure) who plays in a band called Sex Bob-omb. In the beginning, he starts dating Knives Chau, a high-school girl who is five years younger than he is. He is also still recovering from being dumped by his former girlfriend, who is now a success with her own band. When Scott begins to fall for a girl named Ramona Flowers, he has trouble breaking up with Knives and tries to romance Ramona. As if juggling two women wasn't enough, Ramona comes with her own baggage, which includes seven exlovers, with each of whom Scott must battle to the death in order to win Ramona once and for all.

As you can tell by the synopsis, the story is “out there” compared to other romantic comedies. Since the film is adapting from approximately 1,200 pages worth of material, the story moves really fast, even with its 112 minute runtime. Since the pace of the story is fairly quick, it doesn’t really give much time for the audience to immerse into the characters and comprehend their motivations and

goals. The story itself is moderately entertaining, but at the core of the story it plays out the same structure of any other romantic comedy in the past decade.

What makes this film truly enjoyable is the visual and sound effects from beginning to end. The simplest way to describe the effects is that “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” plays out like a video game with a hint of comic book sprinkled on top. For example, when a door bell rings it will physically say “ding dong” just like it would in a comic book. Also there are heath bars and point bonuses during the fight scenes in the film. The sound effects are highly influenced from pop culture during the 1980-1990s, which range from old Nintendo video games to music from “Seinfeld.” It’s quite fun to watch when the two aspects come together, but sometimes it tends to go overboard and become cluttered, especially during the third act.

The acting in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is well-

diverse and for the most part enjoyable. Michael Cera who plays Scott Pilgrim is once again testing the boundaries of his acting abilities by playing an awkward person who is trying to get the girl of his dreams (sounds really familiar).

In this film in particular, his performance came off stale and played out. The character may call for Cera’s signature style, but it’s important for the actor’s career to change it up and not play the same role over and over again.

However, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s performance as Ramona Flowers is terrific. She has the certain charm that the character requires and also is able to depict the mysterious side of Ramona. For the secondary characters, they individually bring a unique performance to their respectable roles. I also would like to point out that some of the secondary characters may have been chosen due to their past work in comic book film adaptations (and keeping to the film’s theme) like Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), and Chris Evans (Fantastic Four).

The soundtrack for “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is nothing short of spectacular. Many professional musicians like Beck, Beachwood Sparks, and Holy F*ck contributed to the avant-garde rock soundtrack.

With their contributions, it really gives weight to the fictional local bands that are in the film.

Overall, the film tries to create something unique and original; however, some of what was trying to be accomplished fails miserable.

Some may feel that the film has the proper ingredients to become a future cult classic. If you’re willing to keep an open-mind and have nothing better to do, I would at least give it a chance and rent it solely because of the visual and audio effects. Personally, I felt that it underperformed, but you may say otherwise.

Christmas shopping: love it or hate it?

W I Rosa Jundt Opinion Columnist

ith the crisp scent of snow filling the air, wreaths of holly adorning doors, sales tags boasting great deals, and the sweet sound of carolers wishing men peace and joy filling the speakers, it only means that one thing is upon us once again: the glorious event that is Christmas shopping. Many people will claim that they hate shopping during the holidays due to throngs of people crowding stores and their inability to find gifts for friends and family, and believe that online shopping is much more convenient. Personally, I cannot think of anything that I like better than going to the mall and local stores to buy Christmas presents.

Every year, I look forward to every aspect of Christmas shopping. As a woman, I like shopping in general, but during this time, shopping takes on a whole new level of enjoyment. I’m not sure if it’s the cute displays decked out in festive colors, or the sounds of holiday tunes caressing my ears through the store speakers, or the great sales on special items and gift sets. It could just be that everything even smells better during Christmas time, like cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar cookies.

With the ambiance of the stores putting me in the mood for shopping, I have two major goals for finding the perfect gift for my loved ones. The first goal is, of course, to find the perfect gift that the person will absolutely love. My second goal, which is really what makes holiday shopping exciting for me, is to find that perfect gift at a great price. In fact, the better the sale on the great item, the more fun I end up having while shopping.

I know that some people (and by some

people I mean my mother) have a system that they seldom stray from when they are Christmas shopping. Their system includes pre-picking every gift for each individual before they even go to the store according to a specific price range.

Often times, they will find an item that is age appropriate and will buy it in bulk, distributing the same thing to every friend and family member. They get in, grab their pre-picked gifts, and get out without looking at anything else. I think that this system takes all the fun out of the joy of gift buying and is ultimately very

She

said...

Bryce Mills Opinion Columnist

forget which holiday Christmas is. Is that the one where people all gather together, hit papier-mâché animals with large sticks and then give me lots of presents? I’m fond of that one, but it only happens every year on the anniversary of my birth.

I’m told Christmas is kind of like that, except without all the fun party games and I am expected to give other people presents, or something dumb like that. I have my doubts that there would be some kind of national celebration in which everyone is giving stuff away, but I’m going to suspend my disbelief and give some helpful tips on how to handle this clearly fictional holiday.

So I guess if you are going to perform this insane ritual of gift giving, you will need to acquire some items that can later be handed to people and

He

said...

unsatisfying.

While I do usually have a price range for the gifts I buy people (after all, I am in college and on a budget), I try to stay away from that system of shopping for Christmas gifts. I like to browse and pick the perfect gift for each individual personality while enjoying the sights and sounds of the stores. The browsing becomes half the experience as I get to see the festive displays and watch other people also find the perfect gift for their loved ones. When the cash register rings and I get to take my gift home to wrap, I feel the success of a good day of shopping that only comes at this one very special time of the year.

make them happy or something.

Really? Is this really a holiday? I mean, I get the 4th of July because you get to blow stuff up; and Halloween means you get to dress up and scare people and get candy as a reward. I’m even willing to accept Thanksgiving since I’ve developed this strange love for delicious foods. These are all things centered around making me a very happy man. I’m really don’t understand how giving away stuff benefits me.

Can I at least give them the stuff I don’t want anymore? I’ve got a broken toaster I’m really not using. No? Ok. Fine.

So you are going to the store to buy things so you can give them to your loved ones and you pass all the other crazy Christmas shoppers and Santa Claus. Wait… Santa Claus! That dude has all kinds of presents. I’m not sure how he carries them all. I’m starting to suspect all the world’s toys wouldn’t fit into his sack. Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually seen a reindeer fly. Are we sure this guy is for real? I mean, every time I see him, he looks a little different and he always gives me a weird look when I stand in line with the 5year-olds and tell him what I want for Christmas.

He still hasn’t gotten me that Big Wheel I asked for and that was three years ago! How the heck am I supposed to pick up hot college girls if Santa isn’t going to get me the Big Wheel I need to impress them? I think I’m going to have a serious talk with this Claus fellow about the way he does business.

Speaking of business, you are in the store, you’ve already talked to Santa about the finer points of delivering Big Wheels, and you are finally ready to do some serious shopping.

Suddenly, this horrid noise plays over the store’s speakers and you fall to your knees in pain. You ask what torture this is, only to be informed it is called Christmas music. You quickly flee the store before your head explodes, but now have no presents for the Christmas thing.

You make a quick call to your friends and family, ask them what they want for Christmas, go home, order it online, and then press the wrap it button. Suddenly your Christmas shopping is done and you can go back to pretending that giving away awesome stuff is really a smart move.

I mean, seriously, are we really going to call Christmas a real thing? Forget it. Is it Easter yet? I need to have a talk with the bunny about leaving my candy in a nice little basket where I can find it; none of this hiding it stuff. You don’t want to end up like the Tooth Fairy when she tried to keep me from my candy.

Sports

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Soccer athletes receive honors Swimming Wolves hold November winning streak Zach Anderson Sports Reporter

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he Northern State University Wolves soccer team would end their season by playing the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. The Wolves got off to a rather bad start, letting UM score in the 12th minute. This gave them a 1-0 lead, which was all UM would need for the first half. The Wolves were not able to get a shot past the defender and stayed at that 1-0 deficit until UM got another one past NSU in the 79th minute and a third in the

89th minute, giving UM the 3-0 win.

This loss put the Wolves at a season record of 6-8-4 over all and 4-6-3 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Northern had five shots on goal, but simply could not seem to punch one in.

Ending the season, the Wolves had three team members make AllNSIC squads: Senior mid-fielder Maggie Fedor, Monticello, Minn., Second team, junior midfielder Lexi Jares, Aberdeen, third team, and senior defense Kendra Titze, Aberdeen, honorable mention.

Kelli Gill Sports Reporter

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he Wolves dominated their Nov. 6-7 doubledual against MinnesotaMorris and Morningside College with a 241-89 victory over Morris and a 209-123 defeat of Morningside. Junior Christine Retzlaff, Wahpeton, N.D., led the Wolves with three individual event wins and leading the 200, 400, and 800-yard freestyle relays. Freshman Sarah Peterson, Sioux Falls, added individual victories in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle events, as well as racing as part of the winning relay teams. Freshman Mikaela Waiflein, Aberdeen, finished second in the mile with 19:20.65, making the

race her second NSU school record of the year.

In their Nov. 12 meet, the Wolves again swam a victory against Minnesota-Morris, beating the Cougars by 93 points. Waiflein beat her previous mile record, improving her time by 18 seconds with 19:02.56. Retzlaff won the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly. Freshman Kari Engelkes, Rushmore, Minn., swam a personal best when she placed 1st in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.07. Junior Brooke Larson, McLaughlin, won the 200 free with a time of 2:05.92 and Peterson won the 100 free with 2:07.60.

The Wolves had a challenge in their Nov. 12th meet against the University of Nebraska-Kearny

Lopers, taking a victory with a close score of 114-107. The Wolves won the last race of the meet, the 200-yard free, by .03 seconds to take the dual, with the final time of 1:49.89 to Kearny’s 1:49.92. The Wolves also won 10 individual events and both relays. Waiflein was the only double-event winner for the Wolves, taking the 400-yard IM and 500-yard freestyle events.

The Wolves returned to the pool for a double-dual on Dec. 3-4 in the annual Falcon invite at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.

Results were unavailable as of press time. Next for the NSU swimmers is a meet against Concordia-Moorhead on Dec. 10, at 6 p.m.

had 13 kills and Aiono had 18 kills to help the Wolves’ defense.

Shaffer, sophomore defensive specialist Ella Campbell, Aberdeen, and Morsching came close in digs with 12.

With another game in Aberdeen, the Wolves would face Minnesota State University. The Wolves proved they would not go down easy after the first set of 2516 by following with a close loss of 25-22 and then taking the third set 25-15. However, they could not keep the steam rolling, as they fell 25-21 in set four and took their 12th loss on the season. Senior outside hitter Kayla Ysteboe, Grand Forks, N.D., led the Wolves with 11 kills and Shaffer followed with 10. Campbell led in the digs column with 14 and Aiono right behind with 13.

With the Wolves playing their fourth game in a row in Aberdeen, Southwest Minnesota traveled down to play in this NCIS showdown. The Wolves did not

seem like they could get their groove as they fell in three sets, 2519, 25-20, and 25-19. Shaffer led again with 12 kills and 14 digs, but Campbell would show one better dig with 15 and a close defender, Aiono, had 13.

Leaving Aberdeen, the Wolves left for St. Paul, Minn., to face Concordia-St. Paul. Showing that NSU would not just roll over, they brought a close 20-25 loss and followed with a loss of 26-24 and then dropped 25-17, with a set loss of 3-0.

Schaffer and junior outside hitter Konefesi Vaisigano, Salt Lake City, Utah, led the team with 11 kills apiece. Vaisigano and Aiono tied for digs with eight in the game.

The Wolves ended their season on a low note, losing their last game in St. Cloud in three sets, 2125, 23-25, 23-25. This brings the Wolves’ total season record to1415 overall and 6-14 in conference play.

GOOD LUCK Volleyball ends season with a loss WOLVES! T Kelli Gill Sports Reporter

Wrestling season commences Jason Baker Sports Reporter

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he Northern State University wrestling team opened its season on Nov. 6, at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open in Brookings. The Wolves were led by two fifth place finishers and a second place showing from returning All-American sophomore Matt Meuleners.

Mueleners, who earned his AllAmerican status as a redshirt freshman at 197 pounds last season, finished second in the heavyweight bracket on Saturday.

The Young America, Minn., native earned his first two victories by decision, then bested NebraskaOmaha’s Taylor Escamilla in the second sudden victory period to earn a spot in the championship match. Meuleners fell 3-2 to Tucker Lane of the University of Nebraska.

Seniors Corbin Surat and Donnie Bowden, Gettysburg, claimed the Wolves’ fifth place finishes at 125

and 165 pounds, respectively. Surat picked up a bye in the first round and then moved through a pair of easy decisions before running into eventual champion Trent Sprenkle of North Dakota State, losing by a 21-9 major decision.

A second loss to a Division I opponent in the wrestlebacks sent the Aberdeen native to the fifth place match, where he pinned Josh Heinzer just 41 seconds into the second period.

Bowden ran into a similar situation at 165 pounds, wrestling his way to a meeting with eventual bracket winner Tyler Johnson of NDSU. A 19-6 major decision set-back sent Bowden down into the wrestlebacks, where he fell 4-0 to Augustana’s Gavin Nelson, who earned third place honors. Bowden defeated Jacob Bennett by a 4-0 decision in the fifth place bout.

The NSU Wolves will wrestle seven more times before their home opener on Thursday, Jan. 20, against Augustana College at 7 p.m.

Men’s and Women’s Basketball (Women at 6 p.m., Men at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted) Dec. 10 — Wayne State at Wayne, Neb. Dec. 11— Augustana at Sioux Falls, (Women at 4 p.m., Men at 6 p.m.)

Dec.17 — Bemidji State Dec.18 – Minnesota, Duluth Jan.1 — Upper Iowa at Fayette, Iowa Jan. 2 — Winona State at Winona, Minn., (Women at 5 p.m., Men at 7 p.m.)

Jan. 7 — Minnesota, Crookston at Crookston, Minn.

Jan. 8 — MSU Moorhead at Moorhead, Minn.

Jan.14 — Minnesota State, Mankato Jan.15 — Southwest Minnesota State Wrestling Dec.12 — South Dakota State University at Brookings, TBA Dec.12 — Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at Brookings, TBA Dec.18 -19 — Midwest Classic at Indianapolis, Ind., 9 a.m.

Jan.12 — University of Sioux Falls at Sioux Falls, 4 p.m.

Jan.12 — Northwestern College at Sioux Falls, 4 p.m.

Jan.15 — Minnesota State University at Mankato, Minn., 4 p.m.

Jan.16 — Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa, 2 p.m.

Swimming Dec.10 — Concordia College, Moorhead Dual at Moorhead, Minn., 6 p.m.

Indoor Track and Field Dec.10 — NSU Intrasquad Meet Jan.17 — NDSU Bison Invite at Fargo, N.D.

o conclude the season, the Northern State University volleyball team would face six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes, starting with the University of Minnesota, Duluth Bulldogs. The Bulldogs proved strong as the Wolves were unable to take a single set, falling 25-19, 25-18, and 25-19. Junior middle back Kaili Aiono, Salt Lake City, Utah, led the team in digs with nine and senior outside hitter Katy Oelke, Chaska, Minn., led the team in kills with nine. Senior middle back Whitney Morsching, Aberdeen, was close with eight kills.

Staying in Aberdeen, the Wolves faced Bemidji State. After the harsh loss to Duluth, the Wolves took the only three sets against Bemidji State, 25-21, 2520, and 25-21. Senior outside hitter Jordan Schaffer, Redfield,

Cross Country ends season, Keroack receives first Team All-NSIC honors Liz Zappa Sports Editor

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he Northern State University cross country teams finished up their season by competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Cross Country Championships in Wayne, Neb. and wrapped things up at the North Central Region NCAA Championships, also in Wayne, Neb. At the NSIC Championships the Wolves competed again nine other schools in the conference. The NSU women finished in seventh place and the NSU men finished ninth.

The NSU women ended the meet with 214 points, ten points ahead of Minnesota State, Moorhead.

Augustana College won the championship with 39 points.

Ninety-five women competed in the 6,000-meter race.

Sophomore Krystal Hughes, Spokane, Wash., led the Wolves with a 31st place time of 23:57.48.

Junior Michelle Monroe, Pierre, finished 44th with a time of 24:33.26, while sophomore Brittney Olfert, Madison, finished

49th with 24:44.51 and senior Kari Linneman, Volga, followed in 53rd place with 24:56.26. Freshman Brittany Arment, Aberdeen, was the last of the Wolves to cross the finish line, coming in at 59th place with a time of 25:07.61.

The NSU men ended their meet with 228 points, 24 points ahead of Concordia University. Augusta again proved victorious, dominating all other teams with a 19 points. Eighty-five men competed in the 8,000-meter race.

Junior Richard Keroack, Milwood, Wash., finished in tenth place with a time of 26:19.16. This earned him First Team All-NSIC honors.

Sophomore Brock Rose, Newcastle, Wyo., finished 43rd with a time of 28:06.46. Three freshmen rounded off the NSU men’s performance. Brandon Krein, Estelline, finished 66th with 29:28.41, followed by Mark Gilkerson, Blaine, Minn., in 70th with 29:55.36 and Jacob Hemenway, Sioux Falls, in 74th with 30:20.01.

Next for the Wolves was the North Central Region NCAA Championships two weeks later.

The NSU women competed against 20 other schools, coming in 15th place with 420 points. The champion was Adams State of Alamosa, Colo., with 45 points.

There were 141 women competing in the 6,000-meter race.

Hughes led the NSU women, finishing in 54th place with a time of 23:37. Monroe finished in 64th place with 24:05 and Olfert finished in 88th with 24:51. Arment finished 105th with a time of 25:23 and Linneman had a time of 25:34, placing 110th. Rounding out the team were a few freshmen. Makayla Perryman, Dakota Dunes, finished 127th and Hilary Gorder, Estelline, finished 135th.

The NSU men competed against 127 other runners from 19 schools in the 10,000-meter course.

Keroack finished on top once more, coming in 41st with a time of 33:00. Gilkerson finished 109th with a time of 36:13 and Krein came in 110th place with a time of 36:19.

With cross country for the fall now wrapped up, many of the Wolves look to competing in the indoor track and field season, beginning Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Barnett Center.

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Lady Wolves head to Wayne State Zach Anderson Sports Reporter

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he Northern State University women’s basketball team started their season on November 15th against Presentation College. Clearly having the upperhand, the Wolves walked away victorious with a 86-55 victory. Senior center Krista Rabenberg, Mobridge, was the leader in points with 14, followed closely by freshman guard Jacqee Jasinski, Rapid City, with 12. Senior forward Jodi Reinschmidt, St. Michael, Minn., led the team in rebounds with eight. The Wolves shot 34-61 from the floor and had a team total of 40 rebounds.

After that game, the Wolves headed to Lakewood, Colo., to take part in the Colorado Christian tournament. The first team the

Wolves faced was Colorado Mines. The Wolves would fight hard and keep in the game with a couple lead changes early in the half, but the Orediggers seemed a worthy opponent, as they were able to take a 40-30 lead over the Wolves going into halftime.

Staying in the game, the Wolves would try to make small gains towards the lead, but could not get close enough to take over the lead and would eventually fall 76-62.

Junior Forward Mikayla Barondeau, Frederick, was the leader for the Wolves with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Rabenberg came behind with 11points of her own. As a team, the Wolves shot 21-60 and ended with 44 total rebounds.

Next for the Wolves in the tournament were the Colorado Christian Cougars. Taking the lead early, the Wolves never gave it up as

Men’s basketball starts season with drive for success Zach Anderson Sports Reporter

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he Northern State University men’s basketball season started with a new coach and a new drive for success. The first three games that the Wolves played were exhibition games. The first of these games was played in Norman, Okla., against the Oklahoma University Sooners, an NCAA Division I school.

Oklahoma started out well, but the Wolves kept tight. After eight and a half minutes, they were both still going back and forth for the lead. Showing that the Wolves could keep up with the Sooners, going into the break the score was Wolves 33, Sooners 29. Both teams had the lead at four different times, with the Wolves having 17 points off the bench. After the break, the Wolves kept their lead all the way up until there was only 8:46 left in the game, when the Sooners tied the game at 51. Keeping in front for a little longer, the Wolves led until there was just over five minutes left in the game. From here the Sooners grabbed a 58-57 lead and took the game from there. The final score of the game was 75-64 in favor of the Sooners.

Northern was just outplayed in the second half with less points in the paint, bench points, and fast break points. Senior forward Tom Parks, Cheyenne, Wyo., was the leading scorer for the Wolves, going 4-8 with both free throws completed. Sophomore forward Collin Pryor, St. Charles, Ill., and junior guard Alex Thomas, Independence, Minn., were the rebound leaders with six apiece. As a team, the Wolves went 21-53 with 32 rebounds.

Game number two for the Wolves was against the Creighton Blue Jays in Omaha, Neb. The game started out well for the Wolves as they were able to keep up with Creighton, never letting them get a doubledigit lead. As they went into the half, the score was 33-24. Going into half the wolves were shooting 36 percent, as they were 9 of 25.

Coming out from the half, the Blue Jays would not let up, taking the lead to as many as 13 points at one point. Fighting hard, the Wolves would never let it get above the 13point spread, but simply could not come away with the win, falling 79-67.

Pryor lead the team with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Derek Hoellein, Eureka, was close on his tail with 11 points of his own. With this loss, the Wolves would fall to 0-2 in exhibition play.

Next for the Wolves was the inaugural Don Meyer Classic in Nashville, Tenn., against Division I Belmont University. After a messy performance in the first half, the Wolves came back strong in the second, narrowing the lead to single digits. This would not be enough to save the game, though, and the Wolves fell to Belmont, 6479. This put the Wolves at 0-3 in exhibition play.

The first home game of the season for the Wolves was against the Presentation College Saints. The Wolves started the game with the lead and through the first half would slowly stretch it to where the Wolves were leading 57-30 with their highest lead being of 28.

Going into the second half, the Wolves

would not let up as they continued to take down the Saints, ending the game with a final score of 108-63.

Sophomore forward Dustin Tetzlaff, Watertown, led the Wolves with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Behind Tetzlaff, Pryor and Thomas had 14 and Pryor continued to have double-digit rebounds with 13. The wolves shot 54 percent from the floor and had a total of 60 rebounds.

The Wolves remained at home to face the Mount Marty Lancers. Northern would keep the game close with one lead change for both teams and Northern unable to get above a 10-point spread. Going into the half, the Wolves were only up by two with a 31-29 lead. The second half would remain close, with six lead changes, but the Wolves took the last lead change with just under five minutes gone in the half and never looked back, taking the Lancers 70-62.

Junior guard David Lane, Akron, Ohio, was the points leader with 20 for the Wolves.

Parks and redshirt freshman guard Tydan Storrusten, Pelican Rapids, Minn., had 11 points apiece. Pryor led in rebounds with seven. Northern shot well at 42 percent and had a total of 38 rebounds.

Staying here in Aberdeen, the Wolves faced the Jamestown College Jimmies.

Getting out on the right foot, the Wolves took the lead and never gave it back in the first half, as they were able to stretch to a nine-point lead at halftime.

Second half was another story for the Wolves, as they had to fight hard as Jamestown was able to take a small lead with just under two minutes into the second half.

The Wolves and Jimmies would go back and forth, but with 5:17 left in the game, the Wolves would take the final lead change and keep it until they won the game 86-80.

The Wolves showed great offense as they shot just below 50 percent with 29-60 shots going in. Pryor led with another doubledouble of 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Storrusten came in second in scoring with 12 of his own.

For their fourth home game in a row, the Wolves faced Mayville State.

Northern would fall behind quickly, as with 7:28 left in the half the Wolves were down by 17. Slowly making their way back up, the Wolves went into halftime with a hard road ahead, being down 14 with a score of 35-21.

Coming out of the half, the Wolves would slowly dwindle Mayville State’s lead to the point where NSU was able to take the lead midway though the half.

Mayville would tie the score a few more times, but the Wolves never dropped that lead and went on to win the game 74-68.

Pryor was again the leader in scores and rebounds, gathering his fourth doubledouble on the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Storrusten came in second in scoring again with 13 points. As a whole, the Wolves faired well, shooting 50 percent with 27 of the 54 shots going in. As a team, the Wolves out-rebounded Mayville as well, 35-29.

Next for the Wolves is an away game against Wayne State. Their next home game is Friday, Dec. 17, against Bemidji State, at 8 p.m.

they spread the lead to 12 at one point and took a 29-18 lead into halftime. Staying on that streak, the Wolves would advance on to a 22-point spread at one point and get their second win with a victory of 59-42.

Barondeau was the point and rebound leader again with 20 and 13 respectively.

Reinschmidt was close in points with 12 and rebounds with nine of her own. Shooting 1950 and getting 48 rebounds, the wolves left Lakewood 1-1.

Northern got a chance to get win number three as they headed to Chadron, Neb., to take on the Chadron State Eagles.

NSU was the first to score and had one tie before taking off, getting the lead to 15 at one point and going into halftime with a ninepoint lead of 28-19. The second half would look no different for the Eagles, as the Wolves

were able to stretch their lead to 16 at one point and finish the game 63-53.

Reinschmidt led the team in points again with 20. Barondeau and junior forward Brittany Euerle, Litchfield, Minn., tied in rebounds with nine, helping the team to a total of 47 rebounds.

The 63 points that the Wolves had came from the 21-54 shooting they had from the floor.

With this win, the Wolves advanced to 3-1 overall. The Wolves faced Concordia-St. Paul on December 3 and then St. Cloud State on the 4th, but information was unavailable as of press time.

Next for the Wolves is an away game against Wayne State on December 10, and their next home game is on Friday, Dec. 17, against Bemidji State at 6 p.m.

Football wraps up season Jason Baker Sports Reporter

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ith just two wins under its belt, the Northern State University football team concluded its season looking to grow and improve for next year.

The Wolves played the Bemidji State University Beavers on Oct. 30, and were able to score the final touchdown of each half.

They held BSU to just two second-half TD drives, but couldn’t overcome the early fourtouchdown deficit, falling 41-13 to the Beavers.

The Beavers raced out to a quick 27-0 lead, capitalizing on an NSU interception in the process. NSU answered with a touchdown of its own just before the end of the first half.

Junior Nick Wanner, Sacramento, Calif., was able to find redshirt freshman wide-out Trevor Mau, Karalu’u, Hawaii, with 36 seconds left on the clock to end the half, 277.

The drive, officially a six-play, 84-yard drive, was aided by two Bemidji State personal foul penalties, including a roughing-the-passer infraction on 2nd-and15 from the BSU 25-yard line.

The Beavers added another two TDs in the second half before the Wolves scored again. The Wolves answered late in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard run by junior running back Chad Morrison, Hartford.

Senior Thomas Parrott, Tampa, Fla., added the extra point to make it a 41-13 final score.

NSU’s Morrison ran for 44 yards on six carries and a TD while Mau hauled in five catches for 33 yards and the second score.

Defensively, junior Matt Racowschi, San Pedro, Calif., notched 10 tackles in his return to the field after missing the previous two games with an injury.

The Wolves played their final home game of the season against Minnesota State University, Moorhead, on Nov. 6. MSUM scored the first points of the day on a firstquarter touchdown, but the Wolves answered with 16 unanswered points and sealed their second victory of the season with a late fourth-quarter interception return to down the visiting Dragons, 16-7.

NSU did not answer the early Dragon score until late in the second period. After a missed field goal attempt from MSUM, the Wolves took over at their own 20-yard line and went to work.

Eight plays into the drive, however, the Wolves were looking at fourth-and-six from the Dragon 44 and appeared stalled out just inside Dragon territory.

The Wolves sent the punting unit onto the field, but at the last minute handed the ball

off to sophomore Mark Hanley, Chester, who carried the end-around fake down to the 25-yard line and kept the drive alive.

Two plays later, senior quarterback Joei Fiegler, Alcoa, Tenn., found Mau in the far corner of the end zone for a 25-yard score.

Parrott’s point-after-touchdown attempt, however, ricocheted off the left upright and back into the end zone, leaving the score 7-6 in favor of the Dragons.

Sophomore free safety Marquis Mulkey, Tampa, Fla., turned a third quarter MSU pass attempt into the Wolves’ first pick-six of the season, returning the interception 48 yards to the end zone to give the Wolves a 13-7 lead with 3:28 left in the period.

Parrott added a 22-yard field goal midway through the fourth to cap the day’s scoring for both teams.

Junior Greg Henderson, Las Vegas, Nev., and redshirt freshman Mike Tuch, Hartford, then ended the Dragons’ next two possessions with interceptions to keep the Wolves in control of the ball.

Tuch returned his pick-off, which came inside the 2:00 mark of the fourth quarter, all the way to the Dragon 2-yard line before being run out of bounds, allowing the Wolves to line up in victory formation and run out the clock The Wolves showcased a balanced offensive effort, as their leading rusher, Morrison, notched 43 yards on the ground and their leading receiver, Mau, hauled in four catches for 55 yards.

Defensively, junior Mike Bogdanovich, Windsor, Calif., notched eight tackles to lead the way, while a slew of teammates had six each.

The Northern State Wolves played their final game of the season on Nov. 13, against the University of Mary. U-Mary raced to a140 lead and never looked back en route to a 48-3 victory over the Wolves.

Parrott booted a 23-yard field goal at the 14:45 mark of the second quarter to put Northern State on the board. U-Mary would then respond with 34 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.

The Wolves were led offensively by freshman running back Matt Anderson, Dawson, Minn., who turned 14 carries into 59 yards. Wanner completed 7-of-15 passes for 50 yards in the loss while senior wideout Trent DesLauriers, Clark, caught two passes for a team-high 20 yards.

Defensively, redshirt freshman defensive back Logan Dosch, Aberdeen, led the team with eight tackles and a pass break-up.

Coach Tom Dosch and the NSU football team concluded their 2010 season with a 2-9 record, including a 2-8 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

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Mash Da Mic, Black Student Union, have positive impact Jen Mellette Staff Writer

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ince my first year here at Northern I was told there is one can’t miss event each school year. Mash Da Mic hosted by the Black Student Union features many great musical acts that entertain and uplift the crowd to the point of uproar. From dance routines to serenades, the students involved bring out the best in NSU talent. This one-night-only showcase gives everyone who wants to perform and show their talent a great platform to do so. The acts are beyond stellar and are highly enjoyable. “The acts were pretty good. A lot of original songs that I wish I knew the words to so I could sing along.” According to Kyle Mergens, sophomore, Cottage Grove, Minn.

Along with the original music, there are always a few crowd favorites from Jack Johnson to The Band Perry. Another outstanding act was Paradise Entertainment’s Maeli Enesa, who has a new CD coming out soon. He sang his new single, “Be your Love.” Enesa, junior from California, helped set the grooving tone for the rest of the evening and for sophomore Hanipale Seuga, Wilmington, Calif. who sang a soulful song called “I Wanna Be Loved.” that had the ladies swooning. Michelle Two Hearts sang a crowd favorite that stirred the audience into cheers. Another crowd favorite was the Human Beatbox, otherwise known as the guy in the red hat. All in all, every act that performed was amazing and entertained everyone in attendance beyond belief. Being held so close to Halloween, there were many in

attendance who dressed in costumes to add to the atmosphere, including Thor and The Incredible Hulk, who made a smashing guest appearance at Mash Da Mic. For those of you wondering how such a great event is put together, simply ask the friendly and inviting members of the Black Student Union. These inspiring young leaders on campus worked hard to make sure that everything went off as smoothly as possible and made sure everyone was comfortable at Mash Da Mic. From welcoming people at the door to even being the hostesses of the evening, two stand out freshmen, Julia Westley, Hopkins, Minn. BSU Secretary, and Kellrhema Hinton, Ellendale, N.D., a super member of the BSU, took charge and led the way through the evening’s show. When asked about BSU and Mash Da Mic, both say they had a great time working hard to bring the most exciting night on campus to life, keeping the crowd up and excited, and want others to come out and join with them.

They had much respect for the elder statesmen of the BSU such as (Kanova Williams, Augustus Capers, and Calvin McGruder) who welcomed them into the group and showed them the ropes of survival, not only in the BSU but in college life here at Northern as well. They created an environment that helped them thrive in their first few days here at the U. They encourage others to not be scared and come join up with the BSU, stating that they may look mean but really they are all nice and they all want to get to know you and work with you. This is a fitting attitude for a great group on campus and their event. Mash Da Mic, being the success that it is leads to some

speculation and hopes for a Mash Da Mic 2 during spring semester here at Northern.

Having been privy to witness four Mash Da Mic events as an NSU Wolf, I see an enormous amount of growth in not only the acts but the attendance as well. While talking with Augustus Capers, Senior, Bradenton, Fl, the praise for Mash Da Mic and all the event staff was well sounded. The idea of maybe allowing Mash Da Mic to be held at JFAC in the future as it continues to grow and maintain its status amongst the campus events as the premier event of the year was tossed out there for consideration. This event is beyond deserving of that

consideration, not only for what it does for the NSU campus life but what it does for the Aberdeen Community as a whole. “Tonight was a great night, it always is and that is something we enjoy bringing back every year to the community and the university. Being able to see the growth of past events, it would be amazing to see Mash Da Mic take place in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. That act by the university lets the students know that our hard work and participation in this event is noticed by the university as well,” said Capers.

Echoing the other BSU members interviewed, the call is out to all those who are interested in belonging to a

family environment on campus to come and join the BSU. They cannot stress enough how important family is in a successful career at NSU and open their groups collective arms out to all who want to take part of something big and something great on campus.

An event and group like this deserves to continue to thrive on campus and serve as an outlet for our many talented students and for those who just enjoy being in the crowd watching.

All are welcomed and wanted.

With this outlook in mind, the Black Student Union is on the rise and with the continued success of Mash Da Mic, it looks to stay that way.

Inaugural Don Meyer Classic held in Nashville Liz Zappa Assistant Editor

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he Inaugural Don Meyer Classic was played on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Nashville, Tenn. Northern State University’s men’s basketball team was pitted against Belmont University, an NCAA Division I school. Belmont University and its men’s basketball coach, Rick Byrd, had been Don Meyer’s top rival many years ago when Meyer coached at Lipscomb University. Meyer and Byrd coached against each other a total of 37 times, with Meyer winning 25 games over Byrd’s 12 wins.

Meyer, who has the most career coaching wins in NCAA men’s basketball history with 923 total wins, retired from coaching this past February due to health issues stemming from a car accident last

September, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg just below the knee and the discover of carcinoid cancer in his liver and small intestine. He is a recipient of the ESPN Jimmy V. Perseverance Award and the “Legends of the Hardwood Award.”

As was announced at halftime of the NSU-Belmont game, Meyer is also to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in February 2011. It was said that Meyer has, “achieved so much on and off the court, but his greatest story is about what he did after the accident.”

The Wolves, under new head coach Paul Sather, fell to Belmont, 64-79, despite a strong second-half comeback. They put up a strong fight against the Division I school and Coach Byrd, who has been coaching for 29 years and has more than 580 wins to his name.

Meyer said that it wasn’t that difficult watching his old team play and not being able to coach them. He knows that he no longer has the physical or mental stamina to coach affectively, and for that reason it is not so tough to be sitting in the bleachers instead of standing on the sidelines. At the Classic, he said he was so busy juggling interviews and discussions with the announcers that he hardy even had time to watch the game.

One thing he has learned to appreciate by watching home games from the fans’ point-of-view is why basketball is such a big deal at NSU. The games are not just about cheering for the home team; for the fans, it is an opportunity to spend a night out with friends and family. It is about having a good time and showing some school and community pride, regardless of the wins or losses.

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Mash Da Mic, Black Student Union, have positive impact Jen Mellette Staff Writer

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ince my first year here at Northern I was told there is one can’t miss event each school year. Mash Da Mic hosted by the Black Student Union features many great musical acts that entertain and uplift the crowd to the point of uproar. From dance routines to serenades, the students involved bring out the best in NSU talent. This one-night-only showcase gives everyone who wants to perform and show their talent a great platform to do so. The acts are beyond stellar and are highly enjoyable. “The acts were pretty good. A lot of original songs that I wish I knew the words to so I could sing along.” According to Kyle Mergens, sophomore, Cottage Grove, Minn.

Along with the original music, there are always a few crowd favorites from Jack Johnson to The Band Perry. Another outstanding act was Paradise Entertainment’s Maeli Enesa, who has a new CD coming out soon. He sang his new single, “Be your Love.” Enesa, junior from California, helped set the grooving tone for the rest of the evening and for sophomore Hanipale Seuga, Wilmington, Calif. who sang a soulful song called “I Wanna Be Loved.” that had the ladies swooning. Michelle Two Hearts sang a crowd favorite that stirred the audience into cheers. Another crowd favorite was the Human Beatbox, otherwise known as the guy in the red hat. All in all, every act that performed was amazing and entertained everyone in attendance beyond belief. Being held so close to Halloween, there were many in

attendance who dressed in costumes to add to the atmosphere, including Thor and The Incredible Hulk, who made a smashing guest appearance at Mash Da Mic. For those of you wondering how such a great event is put together, simply ask the friendly and inviting members of the Black Student Union. These inspiring young leaders on campus worked hard to make sure that everything went off as smoothly as possible and made sure everyone was comfortable at Mash Da Mic. From welcoming people at the door to even being the hostesses of the evening, two stand out freshmen, Julia Westley, Hopkins, Minn. BSU Secretary, and Kellrhema Hinton, Ellendale, N.D., a super member of the BSU, took charge and led the way through the evening’s show. When asked about BSU and Mash Da Mic, both say they had a great time working hard to bring the most exciting night on campus to life, keeping the crowd up and excited, and want others to come out and join with them.

They had much respect for the elder statesmen of the BSU such as (Kanova Williams, Augustus Capers, and Calvin McGruder) who welcomed them into the group and showed them the ropes of survival, not only in the BSU but in college life here at Northern as well. They created an environment that helped them thrive in their first few days here at the U. They encourage others to not be scared and come join up with the BSU, stating that they may look mean but really they are all nice and they all want to get to know you and work with you. This is a fitting attitude for a great group on campus and their event. Mash Da Mic, being the success that it is leads to some

speculation and hopes for a Mash Da Mic 2 during spring semester here at Northern.

Having been privy to witness four Mash Da Mic events as an NSU Wolf, I see an enormous amount of growth in not only the acts but the attendance as well. While talking with Augustus Capers, Senior, Bradenton, Fl, the praise for Mash Da Mic and all the event staff was well sounded. The idea of maybe allowing Mash Da Mic to be held at JFAC in the future as it continues to grow and maintain its status amongst the campus events as the premier event of the year was tossed out there for consideration. This event is beyond deserving of that

consideration, not only for what it does for the NSU campus life but what it does for the Aberdeen Community as a whole. “Tonight was a great night, it always is and that is something we enjoy bringing back every year to the community and the university. Being able to see the growth of past events, it would be amazing to see Mash Da Mic take place in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. That act by the university lets the students know that our hard work and participation in this event is noticed by the university as well,” said Capers.

Echoing the other BSU members interviewed, the call is out to all those who are interested in belonging to a

family environment on campus to come and join the BSU. They cannot stress enough how important family is in a successful career at NSU and open their groups collective arms out to all who want to take part of something big and something great on campus.

An event and group like this deserves to continue to thrive on campus and serve as an outlet for our many talented students and for those who just enjoy being in the crowd watching.

All are welcomed and wanted.

With this outlook in mind, the Black Student Union is on the rise and with the continued success of Mash Da Mic, it looks to stay that way.

Inaugural Don Meyer Classic held in Nashville Liz Zappa Assistant Editor

T

he Inaugural Don Meyer Classic was played on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Nashville, Tenn. Northern State University’s men’s basketball team was pitted against Belmont University, an NCAA Division I school. Belmont University and its men’s basketball coach, Rick Byrd, had been Don Meyer’s top rival many years ago when Meyer coached at Lipscomb University. Meyer and Byrd coached against each other a total of 37 times, with Meyer winning 25 games over Byrd’s 12 wins.

Meyer, who has the most career coaching wins in NCAA men’s basketball history with 923 total wins, retired from coaching this past February due to health issues stemming from a car accident last

September, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg just below the knee and the discover of carcinoid cancer in his liver and small intestine. He is a recipient of the ESPN Jimmy V. Perseverance Award and the “Legends of the Hardwood Award.”

As was announced at halftime of the NSU-Belmont game, Meyer is also to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in February 2011. It was said that Meyer has, “achieved so much on and off the court, but his greatest story is about what he did after the accident.”

The Wolves, under new head coach Paul Sather, fell to Belmont, 64-79, despite a strong second-half comeback. They put up a strong fight against the Division I school and Coach Byrd, who has been coaching for 29 years and has more than 580 wins to his name.

Meyer said that it wasn’t that difficult watching his old team play and not being able to coach them. He knows that he no longer has the physical or mental stamina to coach affectively, and for that reason it is not so tough to be sitting in the bleachers instead of standing on the sidelines. At the Classic, he said he was so busy juggling interviews and discussions with the announcers that he hardy even had time to watch the game.

One thing he has learned to appreciate by watching home games from the fans’ point-of-view is why basketball is such a big deal at NSU. The games are not just about cheering for the home team; for the fans, it is an opportunity to spend a night out with friends and family. It is about having a good time and showing some school and community pride, regardless of the wins or losses.

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Top ten activities to participate in over winter break Anne Tingley Staff Writer

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esides the obvious choices of returning home, working to pay for next semester’s tuition, and distressing from the fall semester. . .

There’s a wide variety of fun and exciting things to do over this Christmas Break! Here’s a list of things both local and international students can participate in!

1. Read books from the Top 100 List ModernLibrary.com has compiled a list of the 100 books you should read in your lifetime, ranging from classics like The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, to more modern novels such as IT by Steven King and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. What’s better than curling up next to a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a great book?

2. Have a snowball fight!

This past February, hundreds of people in Washington DC came together for Snowpocalypse ‘10, a snowball fight of epic proportions.

The fight lasted for over 3 hours

and garnered national news coverage. If you’re suck at home during a blizzard… make the most of it! Get some friends together and have your own Snowpocalypse showdown!

3. Volunteer at local rescue missions As we all know, ‘tis the season to be jolly, but many of the people right here in the Aberdeen Community are unable to provide food (let alone gifts) for their families. To aid these families in need, think about donating your old, gently worn winter clothes, hats, and coats to the Salvation Army, volunteer to help serve Christmas Dinner at the local rescue mission in your home town, or donate a toy to the Toys for Tots foundation. Take the time to help out and you’ll make the season a little brighter for someone in need.

4. Participate in winter sports!

Everyone knows there’s skiing, snowboarding, and tubing fun to be had on the slopes this Christmas Break, but have you ever tried a Polar Plunge?! A Polar Plunge is where people willingly chose to go swimming in a frozen lake or river!

If you’re in the area on January 15th, head down to Huron to participate in the Special Olympics of South Dakota fundraiser! Raise $100 on your own or with a team, dress up in crazy costumes, and take the plunge! You’re benefiting a great cause and you’ll have fun doing it!

5. Travel!

See what the area has to offer!

Have you visited the giant pheasant statue in Huron? Or the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota?! There’s so much to see in the Mid-west and in the United States and Mexico!

Many of the foreign exchange students will be experiencing some of the largest cities in America, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami! Senior Ari Kim, an exchange student from Seoul, South Korea is participating in a volunteer program in Mexico over break!

Take a road trip (weather permitting) or get on a plane and SEE THE WORLD! You won’t regret it.

6. Go home!

For the international students here on campus, if you can afford it, go home! Everyone gets a little homesick and a short break at home with family and friends may be just what you need to start the spring semester of on the right foot!

If you are unable to go home here’s another option…

7. Go home with an American student!

Immersing yourself within another culture is one of the best experiences you can have! By spending the holidays with your American roommate or friend, you can witness their traditions firsthand!

8. Try a new tradition on for size!

We all have certain traditions that we participate in during the holidays: making lefse with your grandmother, lighting the menorah, eating a big meal with family, and some people even open their presents on Christmas Eve!

Whatever your traditions, host a party for New Year’s Eve that incorporates parts of your culture plus a few traditions from another!

This is an especially great idea for those American students who brought their international students home with them for the holidays.

9. Bake cookies!

One of the best holiday traditions is baking cookies, brownies, and other various desserts. Instead of just making a couple batches of cookies, why not break a word record! In 2006, Roger Pelcher of Minneapolis, Minnesota built the largest gingerbread house on record: it covered 1,496 square feet, was over 67 feet tall, and it took 9 days to complete! Get your family together and see how many cookies you can make… or even attempt to build your own giant gingerbread house! Who knows? You could be the next record holder!

10. Sleep This one’s a no-brainer.

You know you didn’t get enough of this during the semester…so catch up on it now!

During Christmas break, there are no classes to (accidentally) sleep through and no late night “study sessions” to attend.

So sleep! It was a rough fall semester for everyone… and you need the beauty rest!