MSU Reporter

On a calm Thursday, the Multicultural Center was filled with connection as it hosted an “Ease Your Mind” event. Students were invited to relax, meet peers and participate in stress-relieving activities, including a hands-on slime-making session. Geanella Ochoaveloz, a representative from the Multicultural Center, said the idea for the event came from conversations between the Latino Wellness team and the Counseling Center.

On any regular day, Minnesota State students would be hitting the books. But on Tuesday, students hit the donation chairs instead. The American Red Cross Club hosted its second campus blood drive in the CSU North Ballroom, collecting life-saving blood from students, staff and community members. Founded by sophomore Macy Anderson, a biomedical science, cellular biology, and biochemistry student, the club aimed to give students a chance to make a real impact.

Students interested in writing and the arts should dig into The River Whale Review. The River Whale Review is an online journal that publishes both writing and art, and applications are currently open for students who want to share their creative work with a wider audience. More than just a website, River Whale Review represents a space where undergraduate voices are recognized, celebrated and taken seriously.

On an empty stage, the spotlight shines. A masked entity enters, applause fills the theater. A microphone rises. A song plays. The annual event, “The Masked Mavericks” is set to return next March 20 in Ostrander Auditorium. It was brought back last year after a COVID-19 hiatus and is inspired by the TV show of the same name. Judges will watch to place performers in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, but this competition also includes a category for audience members to vote for a fan favorite after the show.

The Maverick Entrepreneurship Club (MEC) welcomed media entrepreneur Wesley Otto to campus this week, giving students an inside look at the realities of building businesses, navigating failure, and using networks to grow professional opportunities.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) is in the final stages of selecting a new Dean. After recent major program cuts and retrenchments — 3 of the 7 retrenched faculty belong to HSS departments — it is vital that the new Dean be selected carefully. HSS students need a dean who will advocate for their education and futures by prioritizing their classes and professors. The three finalists are Dr. Anne Stevens, Dr. Aeleah Soine and Dr. Stephen Croucher, who visited campus this week.

Mavs in Action at Minnesota State is currently spearheading its annual March Book Drive. This initiative aims to collect hundreds of books to support local youth literacy. The drive is strategically timed to align with National Reading Month, a national celebration encouraging people of all ages to read daily. The drive’s primary goal is to provide Mankato children with greater access to high-quality reading materials. Mavs in Action is a student-led service organization.

For most of America’s 249 years as an independent nation, millions of Americans have been pushed to the margins of mainstream society. Stories have been ignored. On Feb. 7 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson decided that should no longer be the case. He started what was then known as “Negro History Week.” He chose the second week of the month specifically to align with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays.

There were times this season where winning the NSIC Tournament seemed inevitable. In fact, after beginning the season 27-0, it appeared defeating the Mavericks was unattainable. Fast-forward to their final regular-season contest and Concordia-St. Paul, shockingly, drew blood. The Golden Bears handed them their maiden loss, marking a blemish on the Mavericks’ perfect season and creating an eerie trace entering post-season play.

Shari Dickerman has been a part of Maverick hockey for many years. Starting as a goalie in 2000-2004, and then later as assistant coach in 2009. Dickerman was named head coach in spring of 2024, and has continued to make an impact not only in Mankato, but also around the nation. Her coaching experience is deep. Dickerman has coached Team USA for three seasons, making her first appearance at the Winter Olympics in Milan last month. “It was my first.