Vol82issue19 by The Maneater Student Newspaper

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Vol. 82, Issue 19

February 10, 2016

STudent housing

Housing complex awaits building permit Dubbed “Rise Apartments,” the complex would be dedicated primarily to student housing with parking and retail spaces. ALLY SHERWIN Staff Writer

and gender studies professor Joan Hermsen led three Diversity@Mizzou sessions in mid-January. All incoming undergraduate students for this spring semester, including transfer students, had to attend at least one two-hour session. Last semester, multiple student organizations, including Concerned Student 1950 and the Legion of Black Collegians, voiced concerns about the lack of diversity education and training at the university. These concerns led to campuswide protests over institutional racism in the UM System and the resignation of system President Tim Wolfe. Shonekan and Hermsen were approached late last semester by Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Chuck Henson, interim vice chancellor for diversity, inclusion and equity, to attempt to draft a plan for some kind of diversity training for new students that would be starting at MU in the spring 2016 semester. “Stephanie and I were of this perspective that we should try and focus on what it is that students come to school for, and that’s an education and to focus, then, on what are the ways that diversity issues might come up in a classroom,” Hermsen said.

A 10-story student housing project was proposed in Columbia despite a dip in student applications for the fall 2016 semester. The housing complex would be erected on Ninth and Locust streets and take over the property of Quinton’s Bar and Deli and Britches clothing store along with the empty space where restaurant Mackenzie’s Prime used to be located. MU saw a decrease of 941 applications for the upcoming fall 2016 semester, prompting the Department of Residential Life to make housing changes that include closing Tiger Reserve and creating more on-campus housing options for upperclassmen, according to Jan. 31 Maneater reporting. Still, Fields Holdings LLC wants to go through with this large-scale development proposal, Rise Apartments. The complex would be primarily student living, although Development Services Manager Patrick Zenner said the first floor would include retail spaces and on-site parking. Zenner said no architectural or building plans have been submitted for consideration, and in order for the complex to be constructed, a zoning review would have to be performed. He also said a building permit has not yet been issued. “Associated with the issuance of a building permit there may be additional permits required for activities such as demolition of existing structures, temporary closure of sidewalks/ streets, and/or vacation/relocation of public utilities,” Zenner said in an email. “These actions required participation by multiple city departments and in the instance of temporary closures or vacation requests the City Council.” This plan is one of several student housing complexes proposed by developers to be built in downtown Columbia, despite a brief lapse of submitted plans in 2015. In 2012, St. Louis development firm Collegiate Housing Partners proposed to demolish the Niedermeyer apartment buildings, one of the oldest buildings in Columbia, according to previous Maneater reporting. The firm planned on demolishing the

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JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

Interim Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Chuck Henson is honored with other colleagues during halftime at the Missouri basketball game against Mississippi State University Jan. 30 in Mizzou Arena.

EDUCATION

New diversity requirement is subject to change Professor Joan Hermsen: “We want to see students engaging with the material and bringing their personal life experiences to the kinds of questions that are raised in courses.” LILY CUSACK Senior Staff Writer Obstacles still stand in the way of a permanent diversity course requirement at MU, but the university has held diversity training sessions for new students and implemented required trainings for administrators. Former Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced last semester that diversity and inclusion training would become mandatory for students, faculty and staff in January 2016. All admitted students would have to go through a diversity training session before they register for classes. However, since Loftin’s resignation in November, there has been little news concerning these proposed diversity requirements. These all-encompassing diversity initiatives made headway at the beginning of this semester. Black studies professor Stephanie Shonekan and women’s

Reaching for Rio The Olympics are six months away, and 13 Missouri athletes have their eye on the prize. They worked for awhile to have this opportunity. Read what it takes to reach sport’s highest stage. | Page 7

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FEJUPST!UIFNBOFBUFS DPN XXX UIFNBOFBUFS DPN The Maneater is the official student publication of the University of Missouri and operates independently of the university, student government, the School of Journalism and any other campus entity. All text, photos, graphics and other content are property of The Maneater and may not be reproduced without permission. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the University of Missouri or the MU Student Publications Board. The first copy of The Maneater is free, each additional copy is 25Â˘. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a farmer. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a model with a goat.

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MU, city and state news for students

NEWS

JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

An MU Police Department officer pulls over a student driving through the parking lot of the Student Center Feb. 2.

MUPD

Officer-student ratio prompts MUPD growth MU has the smallest campus police force in the SEC and the Big 12, MUPD Maj. Brian Weimer said. MADISON PLASTER Staff Writer MU Police Department will increase its officers by 25 percent and its dispatchers by 50 percent over the next three years. Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced the change Jan. 27 in his State of the University address. The reason for this change comes from

a gradual increase in MU’s population without a matching environment, MUPD Maj. Brian Weimer said. According to MU News Bureau, from August 2013 to August 2015, total enrollment has increased 2.8 percent, from 34,111 students to 35,050 students. However, MU has seen a decline in enrollment for the 2016-17 school year. Foley and Weimer said they saw MU needed more police compared to other universities of similar size. MU has the smallest campus police force in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 Conference, Weimer said. The deciding statistic was “officers per thousand,” a measurement often used to

gauge police staffing in Columbia. Foley cited “tired” officers as another reason for needing the increase in police. According to a report issued by the National Center for Campus Public Safety, there is no defined student-toofficer ratio, although many universities set their own accepted ratio. “There is no general correlation between student numbers and Campus Public Safety Departments staffing levels, other than a general average increase in both overall CPSD staffing levels and officer numbers as student population increases,” the report read. The money necessary to fund such a change will come from a wide variety of

departments and will not hit any single entity, Foley said. “We are recycling money,” Foley said. While Weimer said there has been no increase in crime at MU, Foley said he hopes the increase of MUPD will ease the worries of parents concerned about the safety of their children. “It’s been well-said that the university is committed to safety and will show how dedicated the university is to programming and investing,” Weimer said. Edited by Hailey Stolze |hstolze@ themaneater.com

BRIEF

Five things you missed at last week’s Board of Curators meeting The curators discussed campus diversity and the upcoming search for the next UM System president. TAYLOR BLATCHFORD University News Editor The UM System Board of Curators met last Thursday and Friday at MU to discuss the future of the UM System. Presidential search update The curators approved the composition of the presidential search committee, which will include

board members, two students (one of whom will be the board’s student representative), two faculty members and two staff members. The board plans to select the committee and choose the search firm by the end of February. Middleton addresses board Interim UM System President Mike Middleton spoke to the curators about the future of the UM System and acknowledged that improving relations with state legislators will take time. “Patience is a virtue in situations like this,” he said. “Just as these problems didn’t evolve overnight, your solutions will not come quickly.”

Student diversity panel

Room and board updates

Four MU students discussed diversity and improving campus climate in a panel with the board. They spoke about their own experiences with discrimination on campus, the proposed diversity course requirement and communication between students and the board. “Perhaps it’s time to change your job description and go above and beyond what you’ve always done,” doctoral student Timothy Love said. “If there are still no policies in place after all these months, then we have the right to be angry.”

The curators approved a $380 increase for MU’s room and board rates for the 2016-17 school year. The increase also includes a proposed laundry fee from the Department of Residential Life, which would replace charges for individual loads of laundry. Campus renovations The curators also approved renovations to Stewart and McKee halls that will create more STEM learning spaces for students, as well as a new “applied learning center” for the Trulaske College of Business.

THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

COURSE

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They settled on three sessions that would introduce the types of diverse courses at the university. Different faculty members showcased how diversity is interconnected between all fields of studies while encouraging conversation between students and with faculty. “We want to see students engaging with the material and bringing their personal life experiences to the kinds of questions that are raised in courses,” Hermsen said. “When we talk about diversity … we’re not just talking about race, so we’re doing the whole spectrum to encourage students to think more broadly about the student body at MU and the diverse kinds of background that people have.” A first step

“I hope we can give a way for new students to converse on new ideas so that they go away curious and inquisitive about what is possible in the intellectual space that is the University of Missouri,” Shonekan said. The university is also attempting to implement a diversity course requirement, which would be different from diversity training for incoming students. The MU Faculty Council Diversity Enhancement Committee released an update on the diversity course requirement Nov. 20, 2015. The committee is looking to enforce a three-credit-hour course requirement that would count toward the 45 hours of general education credit hours for undergraduate students. The courses that would fall under this diversity course requirement would come from all departments and colleges. If it is needed, the university would consider establishing more courses to fit this description. “To be accepted into the list of cultural competency courses, courses must address one dimension of

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marginalization deeply, with a clearly specified approach as well as how the deeply studied perspective intersects with other marginalized groups,” according to the MU Transparency website. A standing committee made up of faculty from across the university is set to be formed to decide which existing courses already meet the requirements and what courses need to be implemented.

The UM System Board of Curators has also proposed diversity and education training for administration that will be required for the board, system president and administrative leadership. UM System spokesman John Fougere said in an email this initiative is close to being finalized, but it is dependent on two factors the board is still working on. The first component is the appointment of a Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the UM System. The search has been narrowed down to three finalists, who will be speaking in public forums during the next week.

“The person that fills this role will be responsible for helping develop and leading the system training, while campus diversity, equity and inclusion officers will customize their own training program for leadership on their respective UM System campus,” Fougere said. The training initiative is set to be announced when the funding for the program, the second factor, is finalized as well. Fougere said the numbers will be confirmed soon. T hroug h the new requirements for faculty and students, MU hopes to bring different perspectives concerning diversity to light. “I don’t think you can expect someone who comes in with a preconception about a certain group of people to change in three hours, but I do think somebody with a certain preconception can start thinking about the fact that he or she has a preconception and maybe that there are other preconceptions out there,” Shonekan said. Edited by Taylor Blatchford | tblatchford@themaneater.com

construct a large-scale luxury student housing complex near Highway 63 and Stadium Boulevard, according to KBIA. Second Ward Councilman Mike Trapp said the developer’s plan reaching fruition is a possibility because it meets zoning requirements. “Council would have little to no say needing only to approve street or sidewalk closures) for construction and/ or demolition,” Trapp said in an email. “The developer met with some council members and discussed the proposal verbally

including myself.” Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser said the project would be out of city council jurisdiction. “With the exception of approving a replat of the property as the building site consists of several individual lots and they will need to be combined into one,” Nauser said in an email. “This is an administrative action so the council does not have much, if any, discretion.” Edited by Hailey Stolze | hstolze@themaneater.com

Training for administrators

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Before the sessions began, Shonekan and Hermsen met with various student organizations on campus to discuss the events of last

semester. The professors went over what concepts they wanted to discuss for these first three sessions to make sure the content and approach was not problematic for students. “We wanted to help … our campus move in a positive direction, so we decided that it was important for us to put the concept in front of a number of people,” Shonekan said. The sessions might change in following semesters as the kinks are worked out of the program, Shonekan and Hermsen said. Henson and Scroggs could even decide to go in a completely different direction depending on what they think is best for incoming students. Shonekan and Hermsen presented their sessions for a couple hundred students this semester, but there are thousands of incoming freshman that will have to complete the training this fall. The decisions on how to move forward will be made when final evaluations submitted by students in attendance are reviewed. However, early evaluations suggest that students appreciated the experience, Shonekan and Hermsen said.

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structure in favor of building the tallest building in Columbia. The proposed 15-story student housing structure would be the first project of that kind undertaken by the company. However, the Niedermeyer apartment building’s fate was secured after a private buyer purchased the building in 2013. In May 2015, city council rejected a firm’s proposal to

Session runs March 9th - May 7th (Spring Break week off) 2:00-4:30 or 4:30-6:30p.m.

THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

UM System deals with criticism at state capitol Interim UM System President Mike Middleton: “A lot of people in groups blaming other people in groups for what our beloved university is facing. I can tell you it’s downright exhausting.” KATHERINE KNOTT Managing Editor Interim President Mike Middleton didn’t sugarcoat the outlook for the UM System last Friday when he spoke to the Board of Curators. “I’ve walked the halls of the state capitol numerous times already in the first month of this legislative session, and I can tell you it’s not pretty down there,” Middleton said. Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly have been vocal in their frustrations with the UM System, from threatening budget cuts to additional oversight. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard has also said the Senate won’t confirm any more curators until a new governor is sworn in, which would be in January 2017. The board currently has three vacant seats after the resignation of curators David Steward and Yvonne Sparks. “We’re not in a hurry to do anything for the University of Missouri,” Richard told the Associated Press. Middleton said he feels that he is

softening the legislators’ concerns. A task force has been established to look at teaching waivers, and recommendations are due in April. He said the MU Athletics Department is planning to implement several initiatives to “better equip our student athletes to understand how to confront issues in a manner to evoke positive change to help the university move forward.” Middleton has been in the interim position for almost three months. During that time, he said he has spent time doing a lot of listening. “What have I gathered, in fact most of what I have heard, is blame,” he said. “A lot of people in groups blaming other people in groups for what our beloved university is facing. I can tell you it’s downright exhausting. It can literally sap your strength. But this institution and my deep love for it makes it all worthwhile.” Middleton admitted that bettering relations in Jefferson City is going to take time. “Patience is a virtue in situations like this,” Middleton said. “Just as these problems didn’t evolve overnight, your solutions will not come quickly.” The curators announced a series of diversity initiatives Nov. 9, 2015, and Middleton said progress has been made. The search for a UM System Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Officer has concluded, and public forums are scheduled next week with the three candidates. The four campuses in the system also have individual diversity officers. Provost Garnett Stokes appointed Chuck Henson

JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

Interim UM System President Mike Middleton gives a speech during the Board of Curators meeting on Feb. 5 in Reynolds Alumni Center.

the interim vice chancellor for diversity, inclusion and equity. Henson reports directly to interim Chancellor Hank Foley. “My door is open all the time to (Henson) and believe me, he uses it,” Foley said in his update to the curators on MU’s strategic plan. Middleton also said UM System staff are currently looking for a firm to conduct an audit of all diversity, inclusion and equity activities on all four campuses and at the system. On Feb. 3, the UM System announced $921,000 in one-time funding for inclusion efforts on the individual campuses. Middleton’s second address echoed the tone of his first address as he urged the community to look ahead to the future. “We must stop trying to fix blame

and focus on fixing problems,” he said. “It’s time to stop looking in the rearview mirror and start looking at the road ahead of us. It’s time to move forward.” Middleton had a message to those who wonder who is in charge of MU a question he has fielded in Jefferson City and heard around campus. “I’ve heard references to inmates running the asylum and animals running the zoo,” he said. “We are neither an asylum or a zoo. We are a university … Our students are neither inmates or animals. They are young adults we are grooming to lead us through the 21st century … This is our university and we are running it.” Edited by Taylor Blatchford | tblatchford@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

COURTESY OF TIM CASEY

Sam Tierney swims breaststroke while representing the Missouri Tigers.

Reaching for Rio The Maneater looks into 13 Missouri Tigers with a chance to make the Olympics and the process to get there. PETER BAUGH Features Projects Editor Dom Bradley is back where his wrestling journey began: Blue Springs, Missouri. The 26-year-old lifts, runs and practices under his high school wrestling coach. Bradley likes the sense of familiarity. He likes working with a coach he trusts.

Qualifying U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be the first full marathon Max Storms ever runs. He’s found that the longer distances he runs, the better he gets. Storms hopes this continues in his marathon debut Feb. 13 in Los Angeles. The top three finishers at the meet qualify for Rio. Storms, a 2013 Missouri graduate, does not expect to make the team this year, but he hopes to gain experience. Storms’ path to Olympic Trials reflects the different ways of qualifying in various sports. For the marathon, athletes qualify by running under a set time in either the full or half marathon. Storms posted a time of 64:28.10 at the 2013 Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon, just under the qualifying time of 65 minutes. He is also the Missouri record-holder in the 10,000meter run. “Not very many people get to qualify for the Olympic Trials,” he said. “I just want to go out there and have a positive result.” While Storms knows making the 2016 Olympics is unlikely, Molly Kreklow has her

But Bradley’s dream ranges far beyond the walls of Blue Springs High School. The dream pushes him through grueling workouts. It keeps him focused on small improvements. It goes beyond state lines and national borders. Rio. In August, the home of over 6 million Brazilians will play host to the world’s largest sporting event: the Olympic Games. Bradley is one of a small number of Missouri

students or graduates who have a chance to make the Olympics this summer. The journey to Rio has been years in the making. The athletes have taken different paths to this defining moment in their lives. Some have come close to qualifying in the past while others are taking their shot for the first time. These athletes play different sports and have traveled the world training and competing. Rio could be the highest stage they ever reach.

sights set on a roster spot. Kreklow, 23, is a 2014 graduate and one of the top volleyball players in Missouri history. Three setters, including Kreklow, are currently members of Team USA. The U.S. will take two setters to Rio. “Every time you have the opportunity to perform or play, you’re being evaluated all the time,” she said. “Practice, training, just anything that you’re doing — there’s always some kind of evaluation going on.” Kreklow, who is currently playing in Turkey, must continue to perform at a high level to make the team. The U.S. will announce the volleyball team rosters in early July. Missouri will also have a number of current and former swimmers competing at U.S. Olympic Trials. The meet will take place in Omaha, Nebraska, starting June 26. Like marathon running, athletes qualify for swimming trials by achieving a time standard. Michael Chadwick is a junior and one of the captains of the Missouri team. After a breakout year in 2015, he hopes to qualify for the Olympics in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. “It’s going to be weird going into my first

Olympic Trials knowing that I have a chance of making it,” Chadwick said. “I’ve just got to be careful because I’ve got to make sure I don’t get overwhelmed with nerves or whatever. I’ve just got to make sure I’m 100 percent prepared for everything.” The U.S. takes the top two swimmers in each individual event to the Olympics. The U.S. also gets to bring four extra swimmers in both the 100- and 200-meter freestyle as relay alternates. In wrestling, only the top individual finisher in each weight class makes the U.S. Olympic team. Wrestlers qualify for Olympic Trials by winning or placing in different tournaments. Bradley and fellow graduates Nick Marable and Alan Waters have already earned a spot at Trials, which begin April 9 at the University of Iowa. If junior and 2014 national champion J’den Cox can win either the NCAA Championship or the Last Chance Trials Qualifier meet, he will also be able to compete at Olympic Trials. But Cox said he is currently paying attention to the Missouri team, which finished fourth at the 2015 NCAA Championships. “It’s just mostly been focusing on where I’m at right now,” he said.

THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016 Like swimming and marathon running, athletes in track and field events qualify for Olympic Trials with a certain time or distance standard. In diving, athletes qualify by making a specific score at a sanctioned meet. Consistency is important for all athletes trying to make it to Rio. They must perform on a high-pressure stage, be it at an Olympic trial or tryout. “When I hit my dives … they’re just as good, if not better, than any girl in our country,” diver Lauren Reedy said. “But for me, the question mark has always been consistency.” For athletes like Reedy, one mistake can be the difference between missing the Olympics and marching in the Parade of Nations. When it seemed possible When Reedy was in high school, her diving coach said that, if she went to a strong college program and played her cards right, she would have a chance at making a U.S. Olympic Team. Reedy laughed out loud. It was the first time she had heard something like that. It wasn’t until her sophomore year of college that she realized her coach might have been right. Now, Reedy has bought in. She decided to take a redshirt season to prepare for Olympic Trials. She will compete in the 3-meter springboard event and might contest 3-meter synchronized diving. Reedy has felt constant improvement this season. At Winter Nationals, she finished in 13th place. It was not the result she wanted, but she said a bad dive at the meet prevented her from placing higher. As she improves, Reedy is excited for the prospect of making the Olympic team. “I can see consistency building like crazy, which is so cool,” she said.

Coming off a strong senior swimming season, Sam Tierney felt he would kick himself if he did not at least try to make the 2016 Olympics. While at Missouri, the Plano, Texas, native was a three-time All-American in the 100-yard breaststroke. In November, Tierney won the 100-meter breaststroke at the Minneapolis grand prix over a number of top American breaststrokers. Then, on Dec. 4, the Missouri graduate had a breakout swim at U.S. Nationals. Tierney won the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:00.15, which would have made the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Now, Tierney’s dream of making the Olympics is “getting more and more realistic every day.” “(Nationals) was emotional because it gave me a lot of reassurance of my potential, and it just showed that all the hard work that we’ve been doing in training is translating into the racing part of our sport,” he said. The Olympics started to seem possible for Kreklow after she graduated from college in 2014. That May, she began to train with the U.S. team and has earned an increased role over time. Kreklow started at setter for Team USA this summer at the World Grand Prix, helping America to a first-place finish. She was also on the national team for the World Cup in late August and early September. She did not start but did get playing time. The team finished third. With the Rio games on the horizon, Kreklow’s experience last summer helped her realize she could actually make the Olympic team. “I know that I can do it if I put the time and work in if I bring my best everyday,” she said. “The challenge is more, ‘Can I be my best every single day at such a high level?’ Because I know I can reach that level. I’ve done it before.”

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Nick Marable wrestles in 2010 while representing the Missouri Tigers.

Current training Kreklow’s volleyball career has led her halfway around the world. Since there is no professional volleyball in the U.S., she is playing on an Istanbul-based team in the Turkish Women’s Volleyball League. It is hard for Kreklow to be so far away from the U.S. She misses her home country. She misses her friends and family. Still, the Minnesota native enjoys learning about a new culture and training with top-notch players from all over the world. She will rejoin the U.S. team in April or early May in California, where the team will practice until the final roster is announced in early July. For now, Kreklow tries not to think too much about the Olympic roster. She focuses on her training and improving as a player. “I’m comfortable in the fact that I’m improving and getting better every day, and I think I’m doing all that I can to make that roster,” Kreklow said. “If, in the end, I can help the team by going, then great.” While Kreklow is nearly 6,000 miles away from her alma mater, many Olympic hopefuls are still training in Columbia. Tierney and three other graduates — Dani Barbiea and Canadians Dominique Bouchard and Mack Darragh — train with the Missouri swimming team in the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. During practice, Tierney often trains with Fabian Schwingenschlogl, a junior who hopes to represent Germany in Rio. Schwingenschlogl broke Tierney’s 100-yard breaststroke school record this past fall. “Fabian and I go back and forth in different sets,” Tierney said. “Sometimes he’s beating me, sometimes I’m beating him. It’s good for both of us to have a partner that’s right there with the other person to push each other.”

THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Kearsten Peoples practices throwing shot put in 2012 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.

After graduating in 2015, Jill Rushin remained in Columbia to train. Rushin, a shot-putter, has already reached the qualifying standard for Olympic Trials. Rushin said the psychological side of the sport is important to her. She keeps an athletic journal and writes detailed reports of her practices before she goes to bed every night. At the end of each entry she adds, “I am an Olympian,” and “I am a national champion.” She jots down a short prayer before ending with “Rio de Janeiro 2016.” “Thinking right is one of the biggest things that you can do as an athlete, or really in any career that I can think of,” Rushin said. “You look at your goal and what you want, and then you tell yourself that you’re going to do it.” Rushin trains with fellow graduate Kearsten Peoples, who also does shot put. One adjustment that both athletes had to make was getting bigger for their sport. “We live in a society where small and thin are what’s expected and what’s the norm,” Rushin said. “And so that’s really hard for a female athlete to be told to gain weight.” Rushin and Peoples have both embraced putting on muscle as part of their training. “When I got to college and I realized that I was bigger than the whole entire campus, I was just like: ‘I can’t spend all my time thinking about this,’” Peoples said. “‘All these people who might be doing other things besides athletics and lifting and stuff, they weren’t at the Olympic Trials.’” Since graduating from MU in 2010, 28-yearold Nick Marable has continued his wrestling career. He now trains at West Virginia University, where he has also coached since 2014. For Marable, one of the biggest parts of his training is staying in the moment. He said it helps his training sessions go smoothly. “During practice, I don’t even think about 30 minutes later,” Marable said. “I just think about what I’m doing at the time. Ever since I’ve been

doing that, I get through practices like they’re pretty easy now.” From Columbia all the way to Turkey, these athletes are gearing up their training to make the Olympics. Heading into Olympic Trials, Tierney has noticed fellow swimmers focusing on small improvements. “It can be pretty subtle, but you can definitely tell people are much more dedicated to what they need to be doing,” he said. “You can see that more in the little things, too. Swimmers are always working hard, but it’s easy to not focus on the little things that can give you an edge.” Going forward Since he was in eighth grade, Nick Marable’s dream has been wrestling in the Olympics. Now, after years of hard work, it could actually happen. “You sit there and have a goal for … 15 years, and now you really get the chance to do it,” he said. Marable said that, if he stays disciplined, he feels he has a good shot at making it to Rio. Dom Bradley is focusing entirely on Olympic Trials. He is working to make small wrestling improvements on a daily basis. “Right now, my goals are just to get 1 percent better every day,” Bradley said. “If it’s mentally, physically, in the weight room, running, some stuff I hate, that’s my goal.” Peoples often wonders what keeps athletes motivated through grueling practices. In college, she threw shot put, hammer and discus. Now that she is only working on shot put, she wants to prove how good she can be. “I know how much potential I have for this one event, and just focusing all my time and energy on this one thing is what’s pushing me,” Peoples said. “I’ve been mediocre, I feel ... and just being able to absolutely show myself how good I can be in this event is what’s pushing me.” Peoples said making the Olympic team would

mean “everything” to her. She also hopes to earn sponsorships and become a professional shotput thrower. J’den Cox has never represented his country. The Columbia native said it would “mean the world” to him to be on the U.S. Olympic team. “There would be the utmost pride, and it would be the utmost honor to be able to do that,” Cox said. “That would be amazing. It would be mindblowing. I’d love the opportunity to do so.” Like Cox, Kreklow has a hard time wrapping her head around her goal. “For me to be there and represent USA and help the team hopefully win a gold medal would be unreal,” Kreklow said. “I don’t think there’s any words for it.” Sam Tierney does not know if he will continue his swimming career after this summer. If he feels satisfied with his accomplishments in the sport, he will stop. If he wants to keep going, he will. After Tierney ended his college career last spring, the chance at the Olympics kept him in the sport. For him, it would be the ultimate achievement. “Making any kind of U.S. team is a huge accomplishment, but especially making the U.S. Olympic team,” he said. “It’s pretty much the pinnacle of the sport … being able to do that, that would mean everything to me.” If a Canadian athlete makes the Olympics, they receive a ring. It is a representation of years of dedication. It shows what athletes made it to their sports’ biggest platform. Though Bouchard does not wear jewelry, she said she would make an exception if she were to make the Rio Games. She sees them on the fingers of her Canadian national teammates. She said that it is her life goal. As she finishes each lap of swimming, the girl from “middle of nowhere Canada” stretches her arm toward the wall. She is reaching for something that is 5,322 miles away. She is reaching for her dream.

10 Professor recognized for new approach to cancer treatment THE MANEATER | NEWS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Katti and his team successfully treated prostate cancer in dogs, which Katti said is specifically is promising because this type of cancer acts similarly in humans. KYRA HAAS Reporter As a fifth grader in the Indian state of Karnataka, radiology and physics professor Kattesh Katti borrowed chemicals from school and conducted his own experiments, such as testing the acidity of sulfuric fumes with litmus paper. “I had an innate desire to do science,” Katti said. Since then, Katti’s application of his lifelong curiosity in the field has repeatedly earned him recognition around the globe, from Singapore to Brazil. Most recently, Vijayavani, a publication in Karnataka with a readership base of about 75 million people, named him 2016 “Person of the Year for Science.” This award recognizes Katti’s advances in curing disease with green nanotechnology. Katti came to MU in 1990 for a faculty position that focused on using a knowledge of metals in medicine. He had previously conducted extensive research with various metals while he was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the University of Göttingen and later at the University of Alberta, Edmonton in Canada. “I was looking for that because there have been some sad cases of people in my family dying from cancer,” Katti said. “My mother right now, she has an inoperable cancer.” So Katti dedicated the “Person of the Year” award to his mother. He said his parents and maternal grandfather were major influences in his pursuit of science. He sees his grandfather, who earned two doctorates while the British still ruled India in the early 1900s, as “similar in stature, similar in thinking to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.” “He lived 50 years ahead of his times,” Katti said. While in high school, Katti would edit his grandfather’s work during school vacations. His grandfather wrote more

than 150 books in history, Indology and Vedic literatures in English, Sanskrit and Kannada. “So for me, he is my hero,” Katti said. “And my second hero is my mother because, through him, through her, he used to relay all these messages.” This recognition follows numerous international recognitions and prizes, including the highly coveted Hevesy International Medal, which the International Jury awarded him in 2015 for his lifetime achievements in nuclear sciences and their applications in medicine. Katti’s research Katti’s work advances universally accepted scientific foundations for the traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine through discoveries in green nanotechnology. Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old holistic medicine practice in which a concoction of metal and herbs is given to human patients. Nanotechnology often focuses on manipulating nanoparticles — particles less than 100 nanometers. Radioactive gold nanoparticles can be used to detect and treat disease, but the production of such particles often requires the use of harmful chemicals. “Everybody in the world produces nanoparticles using toxic chemicals,” Katti said. “Why? Because those are the kind of chemical reactions that are very effective when your objective is to produce nanoparticles.” Katti, however, believed that since the nanoparticles were eventually going to be applied to humans, the process by which they were produced should either use minimal toxic chemicals or eliminate them completely. “That sounded like a fairytale to lots of people, but I had a plan in mind,” Katti said. Katti’s breakthrough came when he discovered that the phytochemicals in tea, soy, cinnamon, fruits and common herbs could be combined with a gold salt solution to create gold nanoparticles. If the same process is repeated using radioactive gold salt produced in a nuclear reactor, the resulting radiation from the nanoparticles can be used to detect or treat disease as well as or better than the nanoparticles created with toxic chemicals. “Modern medicine, cancer medicine in

particular, is toxic,” Katti said. “It kills human patients. Patients don’t necessarily die of disease. When it is in the body, it doesn’t discriminate between a good cell or a bad cell. It kills everything. Holistic medicine, even if it’s ineffective, does not kill the human patient. My green nanotechnology approach to Ayurvedic medicine is both nontoxic and highly effective in treating various forms of cancers.” Katti’s research team has effectively treated disease in test tubes, mice and larger animals. The successful treatment of prostate cancer in dogs specifically is promising because this type of cancer acts similarly in humans. “We have also recently decoded the secrets of Ayurvedic herbal-metal cocktails using scientifically proven green nanotechnology approaches,” Katti said. “Therefore, we can now produce what I call them as ‘Nano-Ayurvedic Medicines’ in reproducible forms and on large scales to help humanity across the globe.” Traditional Indian Ayurvedic physician Dr. C.M. Joshi, who is collaborating with Katti on his research, is currently going through the Indian equivalent of the FDA to get approval to move to a human trial phase. Katti expects those trials to begin within this year. Because the sources of the phytochemicals for the experiments are common foods, the experiments are not expensive. A lifetime of work While his accomplishment is receiving wider recognition now, Katti’s work with phytochemicals and nanotechnology dates back years. “Almost 15 years ago, I had recognized the tremendous scientific potential of Katti,” Indian Parliament member Anantkumar Hegde said in an email. “I am not surprised that he has won (and continues to win) awards of scientific excellence from almost every nation on this planet.” After Katti’s initial discovery in the mid-2000s, Norman Borlaug—one of seven people to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal—recognized this achievement and hailed Katti as the “Father of Green Nanotechnology” during a speech at an agricultural conference. Despite having some success in treating diseases that do not technically have a cure, a lack of scientific specificity in

Ayurvedic medicine limits its reach to only about 1 percent of the global population, Dr. Joshi said in an email. “Katti’s ingenious approach of Green Nanotechnology provides universally acceptable scientific rationale to Ayurvedic Medicine—thus presents realistic prospects for its utility for treating various debilitating diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases,” Dr. Joshi said. Ravi Shukla, of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, reiterated that sentiment, saying Katti’s “green nanotechnology discoveries have laid a scientifically acceptable foundation to connect the Indian holistic medicine: the Ayurveda modality with nanomedicine.” He attributes his success to not only his hard work, but that of many others. “Such recognitions are a culmination of a large body of work and knowledge base that has been made possible by my superbly intelligent scores of undergraduate/graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists and interdisciplinary collaborators over the years,” Katti said in an email. “I thank my loving wife, Kavita, who has been a great collaborator and partner in our scientific research and has supported me over the years giving me perpetual energy and drive in those numerous times of frustrations. I thank my father, our children, my sisters and brothers-in-laws, my maternal uncle, Professor V. R. Panchamukhi, who has been a great inspirer and scores of close relatives for their support over the years. Finally, I would like to thank the readers of Vijayavani for bestowing me with this huge honor.” Because Katti figured out how to create nanoparticles with herbs and metals, he feels his work is “serendipitously connected” with Ayurvedic practices. The holistic aspect of Ayurveda is an especially important aspect of this approach to treating various debilitating diseases. “If I get recognized, I feel myself to be lucky,” Katti said. “If I don’t get recognized, I don’t feel disappointed. There is always a greater satisfaction if my work can help save human lives across the globe. Our job as scientists is to help humanity. That’s what I’ve been doing; that’s what I will do.” Edited by Taylor Blatchford | tblatchford@ themaneater.com

MOVE

The key to your entertainment

JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

Hotdoggers Diggity Dog Donald (Knoelke) and Lucky Dog Liz (Skretkowicz) pose for a photo in front of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile on Feb. 9.

wienermobile

A peek inside the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Liz Skretkowicz: “The three words we hear the most are ‘I remember when.’ We’re trying to create more of those ‘I remember whens.’” WAVERLY COLVILLE Student Organizations Editor A 27-foot-long hot dog on wheels rolled onto MU’s campus decked out in a ketchup and mustard-themed interior, a blue sky-decorated ceiling, two Oscar Mayer brand ambassadors known as “Hotdoggers” and a vegetarian (me). No, it’s not the beginning of some convoluted joke. I, Waverly Colville, rode around MU’s campus in the notorious Oscar Mayer Wienermobile with Hotdoggers “Lucky Dog Liz” Skretkowicz and “Diggity Dog Donald” Knoelke, who gave MOVE Magazine the inside scoop on life inside the ‘dog.

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Each Wienermobile has two Hotdoggers, six ketchup and mustard-colored seats, a floor design splattered like spilled condiments and plenty of names filled with hot dog puns. When one enters the car, a seatbelt becomes a “meatbelt” and the glove box is the “bun box,” aptly shaped like a hot dog. I sat “shotbun.” Skretkowicz and Knoelke have been driving one of six Wienermobiles across the country since last June. The one-year Hotdogger program is for recent college graduates interested in communications, public relations and advertising. Each week, the Wienermobiles move to a different city, promoting the Oscar Mayer brand with it’s eye-catching ride at events, communicating with local media, or simply by just parking on the street. After all, it’s hard to miss. “It’s hard to commit to a location as well as a specific type of job,” Skretkowicz says. “With this job, you don’t have to because you’re doing a wide variety of things and a wide variety of places.” They stopped in Columbia to recruit for next year’s class of Hotdoggers with advertisements, information

sessions and free Weenie whistles. Skretkowicz and Knoelke are the 28th class of Hotdoggers that graduated from Hot Dog High, the training program in Madison, Wisconsin, where Hotdoggers learn to be spokespeople for the company and how to drive the massive vehicle. The 12 Hotdoggers nationwide receive a stipend for meals, a hotel room in each city and gas to power the Wienermobile all paid for by Oscar Mayer. They also get a free day to explore each city. On top of having almost no expenses, they also get paid. “You can’t really major in (being a hotdogger),” Knoelke says. “At first, people are like, ‘wait, that’s a job?’ Once they understand that you’re right out of college getting paid to travel the country, they’re incredibly jealous.” The Wienermobile circled around Greektown and looped around Stadium Boulevard, drawing eyes and cellphones from pedestrians and drivers alike. Each day’s worth of reactions bring a fresh batch of stories.

dog | Page 12

MUSIC

The Penguin piano bar takes on new owners What can we expect from CoMo’s ever-changing bar scene? AMANDA BATTMER Reporter Late last year, one of CoMo’s favorite bars, The Penguin piano bar, faced a change in ownership. Piano is known around town for its live, dueling piano shows and special drink offers. Roxy’s co-owner Jesse Garcia now runs the place, hoping to improve the bar’s overall efficiency and add some new traditions while aiming to keep the spirit of the place alive. MOVE got to sit down with Garcia’s wife and co-owner of Lips and Curls salon and The Social Room, Heather Garcia, to get the inside scoop. “We’ve taken over The Penguin, but we made sure to keep it what it is,” Heather says. “We are going to add

live music sometimes, just for fun, just on off-nights to bring people in. But for the most part, we want to keep that the same.” According to Piano’s website, the Garcias are planning to make a few small changes to the bar’s daily operations, such as increasing seating and rearranging tables for a better view of the room. The bar also plans to bring in more musicians and host more special events. As far as the menu goes, Jesse plans to experiment for a while and expand on the drink selection. “I went the Friday after my 21st birthday, and it was very, very crowded,” senior and Piano customer Shelby Mann says. “They’ll play a lot of oldies but goodies … I know a lot of people who really like it. It’s not like going to a wine bar, it’s not like going to the Beer Cellar, but it’s also not like a Harpo’s Greek-Life-

BAR | Page 12

DOG

Continued from page 11

“Once you leave the hotel in the Wienermobile, there’s really no telling what will happen,” Knoelke says. There is one consistent guarantee: people will stare and hopefully, end up with a smile when they hear the Oscar Mayer jingle projected from the speakers. “Just going to get gas has the ability to make someone’s day,” Knoelke says. “There aren’t a lot of jobs where people are this happy to see you.” The Wienermobile carries the memories of generations. The first Wienermobile hit the roads in 1936. Adults, or “big

BAR

Continued from page 11

kids,” as Knoelke calls them, stop by the Wienermobile to share their childhood memories that the hot dog revives. “The three words we hear the most are ‘I remember when,’” Skretkowicz says. “We’re trying to create more of those ‘I remember whens.’” After their Hotdogger lifestyles expire in June, the two plan to find jobs in the advertising industry using lessons like independence and self-awareness that they gained from “something as simple as a giant hot dog on wheels,” as Skretkowicz puts it. “If you can’t smile about the Wienermobile, then what can you smile about?” Skretkowicz says. Edited by Katie Rosso | krosso@themaneater.com that are really similar to each other, and I appreciate the fact that we kind of stand out a little bit from that. We still get college students, but we also get young professionals and graduate students and people that are over 40. I’d like to say that we kind of just add to what was already there, which has always been good. Columbia is just a really cool city all around. Tons of good bars, tons of good bar owners and lots of people having fun.” Heather describes The Social Room as the “chill” one of the three, while Roxy’s serves as a “beast of a nightclub.” Piano is

JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Hotdogger Diggity Dog Donald (Knoelke) shares his experiences of driving all across America in a 27-foot hot dog.

home to a completely different vibe, and Heather thinks it will further grow into that identity in years to come. “There are people on these stages doing kind of karaoke stuff, a bunch of drunk people just like, belting their hearts out,” Mann says. “Piano is kind of in the middle between Greek and a house party.” The Social Room opened in May of last year, and one of its coolest components has been its connection to Heather’s salon, Lips and Curls. Heather refers to the salon and The Social Room as “one and the same,” and even comes into the

bar two nights a month to do hair and show customers what the place is all about. “(Jesse and I) always kind of had the idea to do like a ‘onestop shop,’ we called it when we were first dating, and so it kind of just surfaced when I wanted to get my own place to do hair,” she says. “So he built the bar in the back. A lot of the reason was so that I wouldn’t have to worry about making a lot of money right away, so I could kind of just take my time with it. It’s something we’ve always kind of thought would be cool and we just finally got to a place that we could do it.”

Lips and Curls is a vintage beauty parlor, offering everything from pedicures to vintage hair and makeup tutorials. The unlikely combo has proved to work well together, considering both have an old-fashioned feel (be sure to check out Retrorama, a throwback dance party every week at The Social Room). Drinks served in mason jars, colorful couches and old-timey wall art are all found in the mix. Edited by Katie Rosso | krosso@themaneater.com

only (atmosphere). It’s a nice medium.” The Garcia dream team has successfully contributed to Columbia’s bar scene for years now, and aims to create a new atmosphere with each new location. According to Heather, each bar has its own unique vibe. “I think (the three different bars) just add different facets to (Columbia’s bar scene),” she says. “There are a lot of bars

THE MANEATER | MOVE | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

OPINION

A PLACE FOR FREE EXPRESSION We want to hear your voice. Submit letters to the editor at: www.themaneater.com/letter-to-the-editor FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION EDITORIALS REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD

The big-eyed believer

Nihilism is worth a second look HUNTER BASSLER We all experience certain feelings in our lives. Love, happiness, sadness and terror are universal human emotions. But there is one universal feeling that is talked about less. A feeling of deep anxiety or dread. A feeling that usually appears during 2 a.m. discussions about the universe, ethics, God, the state of the world, or the human condition. The feeling I am describing is called angst. While most everyone knows this emotion, few know of the philosopher who made it “cool,” and even fewer know of his uneasy school of thought. Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher who developed nihilism, a doctrine which states that all values and beliefs are unfounded and existence is meaningless. Where existentialism states we must create our own meaning in the universe, nihilism takes the idea a step further by stating there is no meaning at all. To demonstrate this, Nietzsche once stated, “Every belief, every considering something-true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” Basically, Nietzsche is saying that since truth is different from every perspective, there is no point in even trying to make your own moral code. Nietzsche was also a big advocate of selfempowerment. He believed the epitome of human struggle is when a person becomes the Übermensch (literally superman) by rising above the world’s circumstances and embracing whatever life throws at them. Nietzsche believed that people shouldn’t rely on preached morals or cosmic deities as guides to live their lives. His most famous and controversial quote — “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.” — demonstrates his view perfectly. The death of God, Nietzsche believes, means human beings can in no way believe in such a deity since they can no longer recognize it; there can be no God if there is no moral order. The biggest and most famous proponent of nihilism is the Joker. He, in his own twisted way, has become the Übermensch. The Joker decides the course of his own life and is in no way influenced by anything other than himself. Nihilism may not be popular, but the Joker sure is. The scary thing some people don’t want to admit to the public, or to themselves, is that deep down, they believe in what he says — at least partly. While the Joker also demonstrates psychopathic tendencies, the part of him that wants to abandon all rules due to their relativism is something most people find some validity in. This part of them wishes that they could fully agree with him and actually start rooting for him, exploding hospitals and cut jugulars included. Nihilistic thought is only one of the reactions a person can have when faced with existential thought. When one believes that nothing means anything, nihilism is often the first, and easiest, school of thought to turn to. Stating you’re a nihilist and nothing matters is a common defense mechanism for people who just want to do whatever they want. Though I am not myself a nihilist, I believe the notion to reject all other moral beliefs and live based only on animal instinct is both horrifying and fascinating and deserves to be studied. All I can ask of you is that when you stare into the void of existentialism and feel that inevitable angst rising up, you do not reject it and become sad, gothic Nietzsche. Rather, I urge you to accept it and live your life to the fullest, but that’s a conversation for next week.

Curator appointments can’t wait The UM System Board of Curators has seen three members resign in three months. Now, we find ourselves with three empty seats in a racially homogenous Board of Curators and a state legislature that refuses to confirm new appointments until next year. It should go without saying that it’s essential these seats be filled as soon as possible. The curators are beginning the search process for the next UM System president, a process that can take a year or more to complete. The Board of Curators serves as part of the search committee, and it will function best with full membership and best represent Missouri’s eight congressional districts. Members of the Board of Curators are appointed by the governor, who works with the state Senate. Gov. Jay Nixon sees the urgency in this situation and is ready to make these appointments, he said in a press event last Thursday. Unfortunately for Nixon and every other Missourian, conservatives in the Missouri state legislature are ready to stand in his way. Several Republican leaders, namely Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, have said they have no interest in filling the empty seats on the board until after Nixon leaves office in January. Conservatives are hoping the next governor will be a Republican, giving the party further control of the appointments. Apart from the obvious partisan motive, this refusal on the part of GOP leadership to perform a basic function of their jobs stems from a systemic disdain for higher education in general evidenced by their consistent resistance to increases in funding. To many of them, MU and the UM System are simply tarnishing the state’s reputation. The GOP agenda regarding MU isn’t about improving the university, nor is it about fixing the problems that caused last semester’s controversies. Instead, they want to make the negative attention vanish while simultaneously punishing the system through extensive budget cuts. But it doesn’t even stop there. Not only would they prefer to hinder us rather than come to our aid, but they also want to step in and be in charge of the university themselves. Yes, that sounds speculative, but you can’t make this up. "It's apparent to me that no one is in charge,” Richard said last Thursday during a press event at the governor’s mansion. “So we'll be in charge.” So, in addition to leaving students from congressional districts one and four without a curator representing their

interests, Richard is completely willing to step over numerous checks and balances and command unreasonable influence over Missouri’s higher education system. But this isn’t anything new. Unfortunately, we’ve come to expect this type of deplorable behavior from Jefferson City. We saw it this summer when MU had to defend itself from a whirlwind of criticism and accusations from Sen. Kurt Schaefer’s Sanctity of Life committee regarding the school's ties to a local Planned Parenthood clinic. So they dragged then-Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin down to Jefferson City to answer a slew of questions, all the while distracting him from his duties in Columbia. Both then and now, the reasoning of Republican legislators was that no public money ought to go toward funding abortions. But the motives in this fiasco weren’t as simple as that. This was a political witch hunt against abortion alongside a chance to hold essential state funding over our chancellor’s head — all over a medical practice that has been legal for decades. Schaefer’s reach extends beyond that committee. He’s the chair of the appropriations committee, which decides the system’s funding. Richard also sits on that committee. But the controversy surrounding MU and Planned Parenthood was just one battle in Schaefer and Richards perpetual war against higher education funding. Time and time again, these GOP leaders make every effort to vote against funding increases and even strive to make substantial cuts. This is a defining moment in the UM System’s relationship with the state legislature. We need lawmakers who are willing to work with, not against us. That relationship is not made better by the negative rhetoric of Richard and other GOP leaders toward MU, nor is it improved by conservative zealots who only want to see the UM System reflect their political ideals. We’ve suffered through budget cuts, we severed ties with Planned Parenthood, and Mike Middleton is down in Jefferson City urging the legislature not to make further cuts. The UM System has done its part. Legislators, we urge you not to let politics stand in the way of these necessary appointments. We need nine curators, as soon as possible, who are ready to find a new system president and work toward restoring the UM System’s reputation. This cannot wait until the politics work in your favor. Do not let your state’s flagship university suffer because of petty party politics.

sweet scrutnity

Interims can create change ELANE EDWARDS Having so many interim leaders attempting to fulfill the immediate needs of MU may make it seem like MU is falling apart, but in reality, it is building itself back up. MU is currently home to 15 interim administrators as well as an interim Missouri Students Association president and vice president. The public’s reaction to the number of interims at MU has been mostly negative, as people see it as a failure. It’s as if when people hear the word “interim,” they hear the word “weakness.” Although several of these temporary administrators took their place as a result of the downfall of the several former leaders, MU should not be embarrassed by these new interims. Interim leaders show the power of growth, change and flexibility; all qualities MU should be proud to exercise during moments of difficulty. One of the reasons interims could contribute to positive change is their unique ability to make sizable changes without the pressure of losing their jobs. Since the people who are temporarily stepping into these positions are aware of their impermanence, they have an opportunity to make bold statements and decisions. This ability to be courageous in MU politics could help this campus make progress professionally and socially, which has been a need that many MU students have made clear is not meeting their standards.

Another way interims could help MU prosper is through their ambition. A person with the drive to accept a leadership position at essentially a moment’s notice is, most of the time, a person who already has the skills that are essential for creating change. For instance, according to previous Maneater reporting, Chancellor Emeritus Brady Deaton described the interim role in an email as dependent on “personal commitment, understanding of issues and respect from others.” It is easy to focus on the insufficiency of prior leadership, consequently influencing the opinion of what an interim could provide. The strength and power of an interim should not be questioned because of their status as a “replacement.” Instead, the judgment of an interim should be done the same as any permanent leader. Although these people are temporary, they are essentially given the same amount of power and duties as someone who would be working the position permanently. A campus searching for positive transition should not allow itself to have tunnel vision when it comes to the idea of the word “interim.” Rather, it should be about imagining a bigger picture, which is what interim position holders are able to do. They have an unmatched ability to see the long term for MU, rather than for themselves. Interims are here to be a funnel for student voices, and that is the journey that most interims expect to embark on when they accept their position. Give them a chance to push this campus to its next step in its ever-growing success.

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Barry Odom holds up the jersey Athletics Director Mack Rhoades gave him when he was announced as Missouri’s new head coach Dec. 4 in Mizzou Arena.

Football

Coaches have hope in new football recruits

New running back Natereace Strong looks to make quick impact in his first year at the Zou. TYLER KRAFT Assistant Sports Editor To the eyes of the outside world, Missouri’s most recent recruiting class was fairly unappealing. Despite what many rank as the worst recruiting class in the Southeastern Conference this year, the new Missouri staff is optimistic, describing its recruits as “explosive,” “athletic” and “physical.” Take a look at what the class of 2016

will bring to the table when they set foot on campus. Quickest Impact: Running back Natereace Strong — Strong was recruited by Missouri as a part of the class of 2015 but was not admitted to Missouri for academic reasons. As a result, Strong spent this past year at Hinds Community College working to become eligible to play Division I football. He once again committed to Mizzou and will be eligible for the 2016 season as a sophomore. Strong ran for 1,612 yards during his senior year at East St. Louis High School, where he played alongside freshman defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. and Missouri commit Greg Taylor.The 6-foot, 210-pound back is characterized

as a powerful, downhill runner and was also recruited by the likes of Ohio State. Strong should provide a physical presence in the backfield that Missouri desperately needed in the 2015 season. He should be the Tigers’ every-down back in 2016 and take some of the offensive load off sophomore quarterback Drew Lock’s shoulders.

years of playing time. He played in six games during the 2015 season before undergoing season ending ankle surgery. Black will look to become the face of a Missouri receiving core that struggled throughout the 2015 season. If he can perform well out of his coveted slot position, Black will dramatically elevate an offense that finished last in the SEC.

Pressure to Perform: Chris Black— Black came out of high school ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver in the class of 2012 and No. 22 on the ESPN 150. He chose to commit to Alabama along with a wide receiver by the name of Amari Cooper. Black saw his playing time limited throughout his career with the Crimson Tide, only catching 25 passes in three

Most Potential: Brendan Scales — Scales is another Missouri signee who originally saw himself playing for the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-4 tight end switched his commitment from Alabama to Missouri just before National Signing Day. While Scales may not start as

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Women’s BASKETBALL

Stock watch: Missouri basketball upperclassmen step up Women’s team continues to struggle with turnover-steal ratio while underclassmen take a backseat on offensive end. ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor The Missouri women’s basketball team (18-6, 5-6 SEC) looks to rebound from two straight conference losses, most recently Sunday’s loss to No. 11 Mississippi State (21-4, 8-3 SEC). In a bracket projection released by ESPN on Tuesday, Mizzou looked to be a 7-seed. To uphold that projection, the

Tigers will need to return to the winning column against Alabama (14-10, 3-8 SEC) on Thursday at Mizzou Arena. Here is the stock watch ahead of this week’s games: Stock Up Sophie Cunningham shooting: The talk of the Tigers for much of the year, freshman guard Sophie Cunningham leads Missouri in points per game, averaging 13.3. Cunningham poured in 13 and 17 points against Mississippi State and Georgia, respectively. And with the struggles of her teammates on the offensive end, it’s been Cunningham’s ability at times that’s kept Missouri in games.

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JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

In the midst of the a physical first half against No. 22 Florida Jan. 24, coach Robin Pingeton sternly instructs the Missouri women’s basketball players about their positions on the court.

THE MANEATER | SPORTS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Tigers win and lose on the three-pointer Missouri’s hot 3-point shooting must stay consistent to make up for its SEC-worst turnover margin. ZACH STONER Staff Writer It’s hard to win games when you’re constantly giving the other team the ball. There’s a word for that: turnovers. In most sports and across many leagues, turnovers are a primary ingredient for a losing team. Mathematics, analytics and even common sense will tell anyone watching that if you give the ball away, it’s hard to win. Unfortunately, as it stands, the Missouri women’s basketball team — despite starting this season with the best record in program history and even achieving a top-25 ranking — has a turnover problem. Let’s start with the numbers. In the last seven games, the Tigers have averaged 18 turnovers per game. They have 435 turnovers on the season and have a turnover margin of -2.13, which ties for 269th nationally and ranks last in the Southeastern Conference, well behind 13th-place Arkansas (0.52). Another factor is the rebounding battle. When outrebounded, the Tigers are 1-5 against their opponents. In Sunday night’s 52-42 loss against the No. 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Tigers allowed a season-high 27 turnovers. So, how does a team that was billed two weeks ago as a Southeastern Conference title contender, that started 13-0 and now owns an 18-6 record, have such a turnover problem? It’s the way the Tigers play. When watching Missouri, there’s never a boring moment. Their ability to hit from long range is surgical in precision at times. Their brutal physicality on the boards is matched with a distinctive will to win, and they possess two of the brightest young freshmen in

JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR

In the midst of the a physical first half against No. 22 Florida Jan. 24, coach Robin Pingeton sternly instructs the Missouri women’s basketball players about their positions on the court.

college basketball. While these characteristics may sell seats and win shootouts, it also reinforces the notion that the teams who win by the three also lose by the three. Again, this can be supported with numbers. Mizzou has been known to shoot early and often, and when that shooting is accurate, it usually means victory. The Tigers are ranked in the top 50 nationally with 3-pointers per game and have over 500 3-point attempts on the season. That’s over 100 more attempts on the season than their opponents. “You have to get up on them because of how great of 3-point shooters they are,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. “You’d rather give up the two than the three and you really worry about their three-point shooting.”

This style of play isn't necessarily bad. In Missouri’s case, it often seems appropriate. The Tigers have eight players shooting over 30 percent from beyond the arc. Then there’s the “heating up” factor. The spark of a perfectly timed 3-point shot, as many Missouri games have shown, can turn the tide of any contest. Game in and game out, this has come to play more in the Tigers’ favor than anything else. Still, with high peaks come low valleys, and that is being seen on the court of late. The recent inability to hit threes has led to consistent turnovers and seems to be the reason behind the Tigers’ dip in performance. “All we can do is watch tape and help our kids understand the importance of each possession,” Missouri coach Robin Pingeton said about the turnover problem. “We will go back to the drawing board to do that."

Shane Ray wins Super Bowl in rookie season

Ray has traveled the long road from inner city Kansas City to that Super Bowl podium. From the marijuana citation in April to an MCL injury in the sixth week of his rookie season, Ray has faced adversity.

once in three years of college — along with four tackles and three sacks. With his play, Ealy became the first player in Super Bowl history with multiple sacks and an interception, and he tied the Super Bowl single-game record for sacks. Although he was trumped statistically by Ealy on Sunday night, Ray emerged on the winning end. “Like I said when I got drafted, the Broncos have given me a great opportunity to be a part of an awesome organization, and now we’re playing for a Super Bowl,” Ray said after Denver’s AFC Championship Game win against the New England Patriots. “And I can’t say just how blessed I am to be in this situation.” Ray joins the list of Missouri players to win a Super Bowl: Henry Stuckey (Miami Dolphins, 1973), Andy Russell (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1975 and 1976), John Matuszak (Oakland Raiders, 1977 and 1981), Phil Pettey (Washington Redskins, 1988), Eric Wright (San Francisco 49ers, 1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990), Tony Galbreath and Jerome Sally (New York Giants, 1987), Byron Chamberlain (Denver Broncos, 1999), Mike Jones (St. Louis Rams, 2000) and Otis Smith (New England Patriots, 2002). Sebrina Johnson, Ray’s mother, was

ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor Nine months after being picked 23rd in the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, former Missouri defensive lineman Shane Ray won the Super Bowl. On Sunday, Ray became the 11th Missouri Tiger to hold the Lombardi Trophy, and during the Broncos victory, Ray recorded two tackles and added a forced fumble. Although Ray’s impact was felt on football’s biggest stage, so was that of another former Missouri defensive lineman. Kony Ealy, who was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, was one of the stars of Super Bowl 50. Wearing No. 94, Ealy recorded an interception — something he did just

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Junior defensive end Shane Ray (56) tracks down UCF quarterback Justin Holman against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 13, at Memorial Stadium. Ray’s performance in the game earned him the distinction of SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. Before the game, she said to the Kansas City Star: “I’m just really proud of who he’s become as a man. The football deal just happened. I’m proud he stayed dedicated. He picked something he wanted to do for his career, and it’s all coming to fruition.” Ray has traveled the long road from the inner city of Kansas City to that

Super Bowl podium. From the marijuana citation April 27 that hurt his draft stock to sustaining an MCL injury in week six of his rookie season, he’s faced adversity. And with the win on Sunday, for Johnson and Ray, his dream came to fruition.

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soon as he walks on campus, as both redshirt junior Sean Culkin and sophomore Jason Reese are returning, he has the perfect build to become a dominant receiver. The Enigma: Tyler Howell— Howell comes to Missouri for his senior season looking to fill in the gaps left in the offensive line by Evan Boehm and Connor McGovern. He also is trying to strengthen an offensive line that struggled mightily to protect Lock and block for Missouri’s running backs. Howell is listed as a 6-foot9-inch, 302-pound offensive

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In the next few games, Cunningham must continue her successful shooting stint as the Tigers will certainly need it going forward. Rebounding remains solid: A team not known for their rebounding, the Missouri women’s basketball team outrebounded Mississippi State on Sunday — one of the only highlights. Jordan Frericks, the 6-foot-1 junior, remains a key contributor in this realm of play. Frericks is leading the Tigers in rebounding with an average of 8 per game, and she grabbed 10 boards against the Bulldogs on Sunday. It’s amazing to see someone of her height excel so well in such a critical area of the game, and to get back on the winning track, she’ll need to continue to do this. Stock Down Three-point shooting: A team that began the year 13-0, the women’s basketball team has become known for

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THE MANEATER | SPORTS | FEBRUARY 10, 2016

tackle from Butler Community College. He garnered offers from the likes of Arkansas, Penn State and Georgia. While he was very successful during his time at Butler, Howell will be entering a completely different realm when he goes up against SEC defensive lines. Howell’s fellow lineman will not be able to offer him much help as they will have big enough problems with their own assignments. If Howell can lock down his position, he will be the most important addition to Missouri’s offense in 2016. If he doesn’t, Missouri fans might again become accustomed to seeing Lock on his back. their performance from the perimeter. Unfortunately, in the previous two games, the Tigers have struggled mightily from downtown. Facing teams like Mississippi State and Georgia, Mizzou must’ve known their success from the outside would be keyed on. And it was. Mizzou has shot a combined 8-32 from 3-point range in their most recent losses. Missouri has shot 32 percent in total this year, and to pick up wins, their current numbers need to creep back to that number. Cierra Porter has struggled: Along with Cunningham, Cierra Porter’s contributions as a freshman have been pivotal to Missouri’s success. But in the previous two games, the 6-foot-4 forward has struggled. Against the two Bulldogs, Porter shot 2-12 from the field, a number that falls vastly under her 51 percent from the field average. Porter has rebounded well in both games, and if that can continue and her scoring can creep back up, Missouri should be in good shape.