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MIZZOU IN REVIEW
2015–16: One for the record books
MIZZOU
In our annual Mizzou in Review section, we look back at this historic year.
IN REVIEW ^
How will you tell your friends and family about this past school year? Will you call it chaotic, stressful, shocking, drastic, typical or upsetting? When we look back on the year, one word comes to our mind: historic. This school year won’t — and shouldn’t — blend into the others. The ramifications of this year, from the low enrollment to the administrative changes, will be felt by generations of students. Factor in the graduate student protests, coach Gary Pinkel’s retirement, the Melissa Click saga, the Missouri Students Association drama and progress on campus diversity initiatives, and we had ourselves one hell of a year. This year means something different to each of us. We’ll all remember and describe it differently. But the key is to remember that we lived through history. Each year we, as an Editorial Board, vote on and compile this section to pause and reflect on the year. We know that there are moments during this past year that will be told and retold. The most influential students were selected because without them, those moments wouldn’t have happened. Sometimes we get it wrong. Two years ago, we called former Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin’s hiring the best university achievement. We know how that turned out, but hey, hindsight is 20/20. So take a moment to look up from your textbook and reflect with us. This is how we as The Maneater will remember the year.
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Thanks for reading,
ABBY BREDA & CHRISTY PRUST
The Maneater Staff
TOP 5 NANCY COLEMAN AND GEORGE ROBERSON of The Maneater Staff
Concerned This was the year of the protest. Activists calling themselves “Concerned Student 1950” and their advocates and allies protested MU and UM System administrations’ response to instances of racism on campus, overt or otherwise. Students were (and are still) concerned that the university’s attitude and racial climate had not come far since MU began allowing black students to enroll in 1950.
MIZZOU IN REVIEW COVER DESIGN BY:
words that capture the year at mu
Calling for “muscle” sparked a national debate over the First Amendment, labeling graduate student workers as “kids” voting in a “mock election” infuriated unionization activists, and adding “because you don’t believe that you have the equal opportunity for success” to a definition of systematic oppression unraveled an administration. In a year of major upheaval at MU, these were the five words that stood out the most.
systemic/ systematic Systemic and systematic racism were big topics this year, especially when former UM System President Tim Wolfe failed to give a satisfying definition of systematic oppression to protesters. Systematic is defined by Merriam-Webster as “using a careful system or method.” Systemic means “of or relating to an entire system.” Systemic racism is a set of ingrained disadvantages to a race in a society or system. Systematic refers to something more deliberate and planned.
interim
MUSCLE
employee
There were a lot of popular trends this year: Pocket Points, unnecessarily running for president, shooting things into trash cans and yelling “Curry!” But MU has embraced the trend of the interim administrator. MU started the spring semester with 15 administrators in an interim role, including interim Chancellor Hank Foley and four deans. Even the Missouri Students Association adopted the trend, with interim leaders Payton Head and Bill Vega stepping in after Haden Gomez and Chris Hanner resigned over controversies surrounding their campaign for office.
When Melissa Click called for “muscle” to remove a student from the Concerned Student 1950 campsite, she likely didn’t know how big of a deal that word would become. The former assistant communication professor who clashed with photojournalist Mark Schierbecker would be charged with third-degree assault, lose her job and become the temporary public face of the university because of it.
Graduate rights activists have spent the entire year fighting for their rights as workers. They call themselves employees of the university. Administration prefers to call them students, “scholars” or “kids.” The difference is a big one: Employees can collectively bargain for health care, child care options and affordable housing. And that’s what graduate workers intend to do now that they voted to unionize in April.
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TOP 4
BEST OF THE YEAR
Step forward: diversity initiatives ALYSSA BESSASPARIS
After making national news for campus protests and resignations, the university took steps to improve campus diversity.
Staff Writer
ELIZABETH LOUTFI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Members of Concerned Student 1950 join hands at a press conference at Traditions Plaza on Nov. 9. The 11 original members of the student movement gave new demands, which must be met “in totality.”
After former UM System President Tim Wolfe resigned on Nov. 9 following student protests, the UM System realized changes had to be made. The system has created a variety of new positions and programs to improve campus climate, and while these initiatives aren’t a full solution, they’re significant steps. The university created a new vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity position and appointed Chuck Henson, a professor and associate dean in the School of Law, as one of MU’s many interim administrators. His new position includes increasing faculty diversity and addressing student, staff and faculty complaints about MU’s racial climate. The university’s efforts to increase diversity and tackle racism have extended to the entire UM System. In March, interim UM System President Mike Middleton named Kevin McDonald, currently the vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion at Rochester Institute of Technology, as the UM System’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, effective July 1. Henson announced “The African American Experience in Missouri” lecture series in December. Diane Mutti-Burke, associate professor of history at UM-Kansas City, gave the series’ inaugural speech Feb. 3, addressing the history of slavery
in mid-Missouri. The three-semester, 12-speaker lecture series, presented by MU and the State Historical Society of Missouri, continues to bring awareness to Missouri’s history of turbulent race relations and the lives of black Missourians. Although the Faculty Council Committee on Race Relations began meeting last spring in response to students’ December 2014 call for action, it has become even more necessary after last semester’s protests for diversity and inclusion. The committee of 12 students, faculty and staff has met for two hours each week since last May to consider one another’s viewpoints in regard to on-campus racial issues and possible solutions. This June, the committee plans to release videos on what they have learned. The College of Arts and Science also approved a diversity course requirement that students have been asking for since 1990, which will require students to take three hours of diversity-intensive courses. MU has taken steps this year to improve campus climate and become a national leader in the conversation about tackling racism on college campuses. However, these steps are just steps, and MU still has many more to take to make campus inclusive for all students.
student achievement: Ousting the presidents TESS VRBIN Staff Writer Students at MU managed to get rid of not one but two presidents — a testament to what can happen when students unite for a cause. Before former UM System President Tim Wolfe’s resignation in November and former Missouri Students Association Presidentelect Haden Gomez’s in January, it was evident that many students did not want them in office. Wolfe had not openly addressed institutional racism, and Gomez broke campaign rules, which some say helped him get elected. To remove Wolfe, Concerned Student 1950 protested several times before graduate student Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike, the activist group started camping out on Carnahan Quad, and the football team boycotted. Former MSA presidential candidate Syed Ejaz, who participated in the open Senate forum that led Gomez to resign, said it wasn’t easy to go against Gomez after his dishonesty came to light. “I think no matter how difficult it is, though, you should do the right thing,” he said. “If the rules that govern us fail to uphold the values that we have, at least in the
case of MSA, it should certainly be OK to go outside of them.” Former MSA Senate Speaker Kevin Carr said Gomez’s removal set an example for the student body, but it probably will not last. “With students being here for three, four or five years, that sort of issue remains in a collective memory, an oral history if you will, only for so long,” Carr said. To fix this problem, Carr created the position of MSA historian during his speakership. This position keeps written records of MSA issues and proceedings for future students to learn from. Ejaz agreed with Carr that the ejection of Gomez was an example of student power. “For the most part, our student body cares about a lot of things but oftentimes just doesn’t do much,” he said. “(In) those moments when push comes to shove, I think that in general, a lot of people will come together.” Ejaz said that while the ousting of Gomez was one example of students rallying around a salient campus issue, a better example was Wolfe’s removal. The MSA fiasco pertained only to MU, but Concerned Student 1950 highlighted institutional racism, an issue that resonated internationally. Schools across the world stood in solidarity with MU in the days following Wolfe’s
resignation. Graduate student Maxwell Little, a founding member of Concerned Student 1950, said it was not new or surprising information that a united group of students could have such power. Concerned Student 1950 followed in the footsteps of other student movements against racism, such as #TheIrateEight at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and #RhodesMustFall at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, both of which happened in 2015. Both resignations led to several interim leaders running the university and MSA. In March, students elected new MSA leadership focused on reforming the broken system. MU’s permanent leadership is still to be determined, but Little said interim administration has become more attentive to race relations. Students are involved in the selection process for Wolfe’s permanent successor, and interim Vice Chancellor Chuck Henson’s Working Group was more productive since Concerned Student 1950’s protest in March, Little said. “Students (are) having their voices heard that historically have been marginalized and silenced,” Little said.
TIM TAI | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Then-UM System President Tim Wolfe speaks at the annoucement of R. Bowen Loftin on Dec. 5, 2013.
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men’s team: swimming and diving The Tigers finished eighth in the country at NCAA Championships.
PETER BAUGH Features Projects Editor Michael Chadwick turned to Fabian Schwingenschlogl on the evening of March 24. “Tomorrow night, you could be a national champion,” the junior North Carolina native said. “I know,” Schwingenschlogl replied.
“It’s pretty crazy.” Less than 24 hours later, the German native’s hopes came to fruition. The junior touched first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 51.29, twotenths of a second ahead of Tennessee’s Peter Stevens. His win was the first NCAA title in Missouri Swimming and Diving history. “It’s so big to have your first nationaC
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
The Missouri men's swim and dive team (second from the right) competes in the 200-yard freestyle relay on Feb. 17 in the Mizzou Aquatic Center during the SEC championships. Junior Fabian Schwingenschlogl won the program’s first NCAA national title in March.
champion as a team,” Chadwick said. “When you are recruiting, you want to show that you’re a team that produces one thing, and that’s national champions.” Led by Schwingenschlogl and Chadwick, the Tigers finished eighth at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. The team scored 184 points, and 11 athletes earned AllAmerica honors. “We thought we had a chance of being top 10,” coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said. “We knew it was going to be hard. And it was, and they did great. And we celebrated.” The Tigers’ 400-yard medley relay placed fourth at the meet — the highest finish of any Southeastern Conference team. Chadwick, a team captain, was proud of the relay’s showing. “When we finished that, we were just so ecstatic,” he said. The team consisted of juniors Carter Griffin, Schwingenschlogl, Andrew Sansoucie and Chadwick. The diving portion of the team was led by captain Clark Thomas. The senior finished fifth at NCAAs in the 3-meter competition. Freshman diver Kyle Goodwin also picked up points for the team, earning honorable mention AllAmerica honors in platform diving. One highlight of the team’s season was
the SEC Championships in Columbia. The Tiger men finished fifth at the meet, and every Missouri swimmer and diver scored points. Chadwick medaled in three events in front of the hometown crowd, and Schwingenschlogl placed in the top three in two races. Missouri was helped by strong seasons from two Aruban National Team members: sophomore Jordy Groters and freshman Mikel Schreuders. Groters earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 13th place finish at NCAAs. “Jordy took a big jump this year, but we could see that coming,” Rhodenbaugh said. “But it was great to see him do it.” Schreuders, who has an Olympic qualifying time in the 200-meter freestyle, was a member of the Tigers’ 400- and 800-yard relay teams. The 17-year-old also qualified for the meet in the 200-yard freestyle. Looking ahead, Missouri appears to be built for the future. The team is returning 10 of the 13 swimmers who qualified for NCAA Championships, and they are gaining the strongest recruiting class in school history. After a historic 2016, Chadwick is excited for next season. “I think we’re just starting to get going,” he said.
women’s team: BASKETBALL
The team recorded more than 20 wins and an NCAA tournament victory for the first time in over a decade. LEXI CHURCHILL Assistant Sports Editor The team began the season the same way it ended: breaking records. Before the first tip-off, exhibition match or even practice, the players knew their potential was greater than ever. Missouri had an extensive repertoire of experience and bench players who could go off on any given night — not to mention someone special was coming: freshman Sophie Cunningham, the program's first ever McDonald's All-American. The stage was set for a successful season, and the team certainly did not disappoint. The team began perfect, running through its nonconference schedule with a 13–0 record. After matching the program’s longest win streak, the run fell short in their first Southeastern Conference matchup against No. 12 Tennessee. From then on, the Tigers were inconsistent in the challenging SEC, but they were constantly working toward a higher goal. By the end of the season, they had racked up 20 wins, a milestone the program hadn’t seen since 2006. “You factor in that it's a 20-win season, the first time in 10 years, only the third time in 25 years,” coach Robin Pingeton said after the team’s 20th win over Arkansas on Feb. 14. “That's really, really exciting for the growth of our program … At the end of the season, you want to be playing your best basketball, and we hit a speed bump about a week and a half ago that wasn't very fun for any of us, but the way the girls have responded and came back to practice, and their execution — give them all of the credit." After losing the last few games of the season, including senior day, the team fell into a downward spiral that they couldn’t escape in time for the SEC tournament.
The Tigers lost 47–45 to Auburn, a team they defeated decisively earlier in the season, in the first round. Although the Tigers were fairly certain they’d made the cut for the NCAA tournament, it took a week for the team to find out. Once that question was answered, one more remained. Would they be able to compete? Well, not only did they compete, but they conquered. No. 10-seed Missouri beat No. 7-seed BYU by 11 points March
19, their first NCAA tournament win in 15 years. Although the players would go on to fall to No. 2-seed Texas, their statement was made. They’d solidified their place as a force in the country for years to come. The 2015–16 season was the first significant step in an extended building process for the Missouri women’s basketball program. With almost every key player returning and talented freshmen taking the places of veterans, the team’s
abilities or capability to return to the tournament will not be in question next season. “Every year, it's going to be our goal to get here,” junior Jordan Frericks said in a press conference after the Texas loss. “It was just an awesome opportunity to be able to get here and really showed our hard work that went into this season. We're looking forward to another year that's going to get us right back to where we are now.”
ALEXZANDRIA CHURCHILL | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Coach Robin Pingeton talks to her team before the starters are announced for the Jan. 24 basketball game against the Florida Gators. The team went on to win in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.
MIZZOU IN REVIEW
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TOP 5
Biggest disappointment:
administrative response last fall CLAIRE MITZEL Staff Writer To call the 2015–16 school year the year of the student activist would be an understatement. But while students have been communicative about their concerns, administrators have not. Throughout the fall, administrative response was severely lacking. For every racial slur that made the news and misstep for graduate students’ rights, administrators almost always lacked a response. On Aug. 14, graduate students’ health
insurance was cut and students were notified by email on very short notice. After multiple protests and walkouts, the administration still seemed apathetic. Starting in September, a series of racist incidents occurred on campus. A few weeks later, former UM System President Tim Wolfe’s car was famously blocked by Concerned Student 1950 protesters demanding a response. The students wrote that “after years of constant emailing, letter writing and social media outreach, (Wolfe) had still not responded to the issues of racial injustice on the largest campus in the
worst OF THE YEAR
state.” But it wasn’t until five days after graduate student Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike demanding Wolfe’s resignation that Wolfe addressed the incident. “I was caught off guard in that moment,” Wolfe said in an apology statement. But does one moment equate to waiting three weeks to respond? Hours later, Wolfe was caught on camera seeming to blame black students for being oppressed after being asked to define systematic oppression. On Nov. 9, following another racist incident on campus and the football team going on strike, Wolfe resigned. Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin resigned later in the day, facing increasing pressure from faculty. But the lack of communication wasn’t over after the two top administrators resigned.
The culminating moment in lack of response was the poor communication on the night after Wolfe and Loftin resigned, when Yik Yak threats created fear. Many students feared for their safety, and while none of the threats were ultimately deemed credible, students were left to fear the worst due to a lack of communication. Throughout the fall semester, administrators continuously dropped the ball. Had there been better immediate responses in reaction to the many events that occurred on campus, it’s possible that change could have occurred sooner. Instead, the administration swept students’ concerns under the rug until they had no choice but to address them out of growing national scrutiny. Take note, administration: In the future, it might be better to have the hard conversations immediately instead of waiting and losing two top-level administrators.
Biggest frustration: Missouri legislature From dubiously motivated witch hunts to politically influenced legislation, Missouri lawmakers frustrated us this year. AMOS CHEN Staff Writer Ronald Reagan once said; “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.” Through their frustrating actions over the past year, the Missouri legislature has more than proven Reagan’s famous words true. In August, former Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin was called to testify before the Senate by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, about the relationship between University Hospital and
Planned Parenthood. All this, despite the Missouri Attorney General’s Office later finding no evidence of wrongdoing. Schaefer was back at it again in January, when an email from former UM System President Tim Wolfe surfaced where he claimed Schaefer pressured him to deny then-MU associate law professor Josh Hawley’s request for a leave of absence to run for Attorney General. In a revelation that surprised absolutely nobody, Schaefer also happens to be running for that position. That’s before getting to the “piece de resistance” of the entire affair — Missouri lawmakers response to the Concerned Student 1950 protests
against racial discrimination, and former assistant communication professor Melissa Click’s call for “muscle” making national headlines. In March, the House Budget Committee became the latest to jump on the “let’s screw over MU” bandwagon, passing a budget slashing $1 million in funds for MU. The budgetary hearing produced gems such as an amendment by Rep. Rocky Miller, R-Lake Ozark, reducing state funding for MU from $169,305,944 to $1 (not a typo). The amendment was later withdrawn, not because Miller thought it wouldn’t pass, but because he was afraid it would. I would write a joke about this, but
nothing I think of could possibly match the absurdity of this piece of political theater. The Senate later came to its senses and restored the cuts, but it retained a $1 million decrease to administration to make sure the university knew who the real boss around these parts is. The final draft cut the UM System’s budget by $3.8 million. From dubiously motivated witch hunts to politically inf luenced legislation, the actions of the Missouri legislature over the past year rightfully earns these legislators the title of Biggest Frustration.
Biggest buzzkill: effects of low enrollment MU’s struggle to attract freshmen has led to budget shortages and closed residence halls. LILY CUSACK Senior Staff Writer When word spread in March about MU’s budget crisis, the prognosis was grim. How would the university make up a $32 million deficit? Answer: Cutting 5 percent from all departments and instituting a hiring freeze. In the past three months, the outlook hasn’t improved. Since interim Chancellor Hank Foley’s announcement, the MU community has had a steady stream of bad news on the budget front. The budget issues stemmed from a low enrollment. Officials are expecting the incoming class to be down by 1,500 students, a decrease of 24 percent from the previous year. Foley told Faculty Council at a recent meeting that applications might be down and “retention may take a hit as well.” The low enrollment has hit the Department of Residential Life particularly hard. Four residence halls will most likely stand empty next
year, which leaves the student staff in those buildings scrambling for jobs and housing. The department has already decided to close Laws and Lathrop halls for the 2016–17 school year, with Laws Hall being permanently closed earlier than expected before its 2017 planned demolition. Excellence and Respect halls will also not be opened if enrollment stays at its projected rate. These closures will save the department an estimated $200,000, a substantial amount when losing more than 1,000 paying residents. The full effect of the budget cuts won’t be known until around the end of May. Yet some departments have announced their solutions early. MU Operations will be lowering its levels of service, not cleaning up Saturday football game trash until Mondays and requiring faculty to empty their own trash from their offices The Student Health Center will no longer be offering students free flu shots and the Stressbusters program, which provides free back rubs to students, will be eliminated, the Columbia Missourian
reported. MU Libraries, already hurting from the failure of the library student fee, is reducing its staff, collections and hours. Several departments are either laying people off or not filing positions.
MU is already fighting an uphill battle trying to fund new diversity initiatives to improve the campus climate. With a large deficit in funds and low enrollment, making changes to campus is only going to be more challenging.
EMIL LIPPE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Laws and Lathrop halls stand on Tiger Avenue on March 15. The halls will not house any residents next year in the wake of decreasing enrollment. They were the cheapest options for housing through the Department of Residential Life.
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biggest letdown: Mizzou football and basketball Both the football and men’s basketball teams finished with losing records.
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
Missouri Tigers Wes Clark (15), Kevin Puryear (24), and Russell Woods (25) surround NC State Wolf Anthony Barber (12) during the basketball game on Dec. 19 at the Mizzou Arena.
TYLER KRAFT Assistant Sports Editor You can buy a lot with $228. You can buy a 40-inch TV, tickets for you and your 14 closest friends to the Cubs-Cardinals game May 23 or a flight down to Dallas to watch the Alabama-USC game next September at AT&T Stadium. Mizzou student ticket holders could have spent their money on something worthwhile. Instead, they chose to spend it on six games featuring the second-worst football team in the Southeastern Conference and seven games featuring the worst basketball team in the SEC. In all, the Missouri football and men’s basketball teams won only 35 percent of their combined games in the 2015–16 season, their worst performance since joining the SEC in 2012. The men’s basketball team deserves a little bit of slack. They did improve upon their previous performance, winning an amazing 10 games instead of a measly nine. Still, the Tigers continued their downward spiral in other ways than losing more than two-thirds of their games. In somewhat of a cruel joke, Mizzou imposed a postseason ban on itself, despite probably knowing that they had no chance to make the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the coach who caused the sanctions, Frank Haith, took Tulsa to the big dance. While most saw the basketball slump coming, few predicted the
complete disaster that was the Missouri football team. The Tigers had a quarterback who couldn’t shake disciplinary issues, an offensive coordinator who refused to run a successful play and an offensive attack allergic to touchdowns. Missouri was the worst offensive team in the SEC in every major statistical category. Fear not, however, as the Tigers did top the rest of the SEC in one offensive statistical category: Over a span of 33 days, three games and 47 drives, Missouri did not set foot in the endzone. During that time, they were outscored 40–12. Like the basketball team, the football team’s 5–7 record was not good enough for the postseason. Teams that did make bowl games included North Carolina A&T, Alcorn State and Tulsa, who spent a combined $39,415,009 on athletics this year. Missouri spends $86,859,158, the majority of which goes to its football and men’s basketball programs. Mizzou, which ranks 30th in total revenue, is the one of three schools inside the top 50 (Rutgers and South Carolina) that did not have either its men’s basketball or football team qualify for the post season. You can buy a lot with $86,859,158. In fact, you could purchase 380,961 student ticket combos. The actual number of student ticket combos bought is far fewer than that number, which means it would be relatively easy to refund everybody. That would be a much more effective use of the money, and one that would satisfy the student body more than watching the Tigers lose.
biggest embarrassment:
Missouri students association MSA attempted three impeachments this year; one was successful. EMILY GALLION Assistant News Editor Many leaders of the Missouri Students Association have struggled to meet basic standards of integrity or, in many cases, remain in office. The organization’s main purpose is to represent and
advocate for the undergraduate students of the university, but members have been more preoccupied with addressing scandals than serving students. In short, MSA has been downright embarrassing this year. The two most important members of the judicial
branch have narrowly avoided impeachment. Senators drew up impeachment proceedings against Board of Elections Commissioners Chairwoman Emma Henderson, who submitted the BEC Handbook later than promised and, according to some senators, failed to preside over the
ALEXZANDRIA | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
MSA senate speaker Kevin Carr takes a hand vote during the senate meeting Jan. 27 in Leadership Auditorium.
presidential election. Henderson, at least, convinced Senate to discontinue proceedings in a speech to the body. Chief Justice Whitney Barr has been interning in Washington, D.C., for the entire spring semester, and according to Operations Chairman Josh Tennison, the only reason she has not been removed is because she is not present to be impeached. “ You can’t hold an impeachment trial for somebody who’s not here,” he said in an interview at the time. As for the legislative branch, five senators told The Maneater they ended up on the ballot without signing up to run. Four of them were later elected. Nobody knows who signed them up, but their addition has not helped dwindling Senate membership: There are currently 14 open seats in the association, and the body has struggled to reach quorum. The worst embarrassment of all came from the executive branch. Former President-elect Haden Gomez and running mate Chris Hanner, who ran on a platform of transparency, were forced to resign after screenshots from their campaign GroupMe emerged
that revealed the campaign had paid the Pocket Points app to send out an endorsement, which broke the BEC’s mass email policy. The night Gomez and Hanner were scheduled to assume office, Senate held meetings to try to determine a way to bar them from inauguration. Concerned Student 1950 even made an appearance to criticize the duo. Gomez maintained that he would not resign until senators decided to allow him to assume office and be inaugurated. Then, in a tearful speech, he resigned, and Hanner soon followed. Gomez was silent for weeks, but eventually retaliated by sending a timeline of his perspective of the events leading up to his resignation. He claimed members of MSA conspired in favor of the Ejaz/ Parrie slate and compromised the senior officer neutrality clause of the bylaws, among other things. When asked for proof, Gomez declined comment. “The facts of the timeline do not need verification from you,” he told The Maneater in an email. “They are facts, which by definition doesn’t lend you leverage of their accuracy.”
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THIS YEAR’S TOP TOP BUSINESSES AMANDA BATTMER Staff Writer The 2015–16 school year was one for the books (er, newspapers?) for new shops and restaurants opening in Columbia. Grilled cheese out of a truck, crystals that heal and even more great pizza are just a few aspects of the many new businesses giving Columbians greater options for a trip through town. We’ve picked out a few that deserve to be in the limelight. Without further ado, here are MOVE’s picks for this year’s best new businesses:
Breakout CoMo This real-life escape gaming center is set to open on Eighth Street this month. Players will have the chance to solve various puzzles in one of four escape rooms. In the Y2K room, you have 60 minutes to stop a deadly computer virus from wiping out all of mankind. Do you have what it takes to save the world? The maximum number of participants varies by room, though the minimum number is four. Participants may join other groups or reserve a room for things like birthday parties or corporate events. Each game costs $28 per person for a one-hour session.
The Big Cheeze This deliciously cheesy food truck opened last fall, and its name sports a “z” in honor of Mizzou. The truck’s location changes daily and is usually open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The eatery also serves the late-night crowd at times. The menu is enough to melt any cheese-lover’s heart. A couple drool-worthy options are the Pig Mac (a grilled swiss and pepperjack sandwich topped with hickory smoked pork and caramelized onions) and The Smore (freshly baked bread grilled with Nutella, marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumbs). The fun doesn’t stop there; each sandwich is served with a side of chips and a pickle. The Big Cheeze uses fresh bread from Uprise Bakery every morning.
44 Canteen New to The District as of late last summer, 44 Canteen is the sassy little sister of 44 Stone, a fancy-pants (and delicious) Britishinspired restaurant in south Columbia. This casual eatery has a style similar to that of a Spanish cantina, though the menu offers everything from Mediterranean to Asian to American cuisine. The menu’s house favorite is the Cali Steak Torta: a carne asadamarinated sirloin with salsa fresca, chihuahua cheese, avocado and lime aioli sauce. The Sunday brunch, worldly burgers and signature drinks are enough to make this new restaurant a Ninth Street staple.
Heart, Body, & Soul Sitting in the middle of West Worley Street, this metaphysical store offers more than the products on their shelves. At Heart, Body, & Soul, customers can partake in a wide variety of classes and events, ranging from Tarot readings to classes on Tai Chi, yoga and essential oils. In the main part of the store, customers can find a large collection of crystals and other products centered on spiritual journeys. This spiritual store welcomes diversity and conversation, offering an outlet for those discovering their own beliefs and curious about others.
West Main Pizza2 The glory of CoMo lies in its pizza. West Main Pizza2, downtown’s newest pizza restaurant, opened in early March at 923 E. Broadway. Hailing from Jefferson City, West Main brings casual vibes and good, cheap food to its second location. The kitchen centers on a craft-your-own menu, and all pizzas and salads are $9 (no matter how many toppings you order). The shop is known for their homemade crust, a family recipe made in-house. So, there you have it. From snacks to stuff to more snacks, the streets of CoMo have gotten more rave-worthy by the day. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Columbia.
WTF Moments TAYLOR BLATCHFORD University News Editor This school year has been full of resignations, protests and other general administrative chaos. Stepping back and thinking about all that’s happened, there were some moments that just made us ask, “WTF, Mizzou?”
Administrative resignations A historic fall semester hit its peak Nov. 9, when UM System President Tim Wolfe resigned following race-based student protests. But one national headline apparently wasn’t enough for the day, because less than six hours later, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin also stepped down. Loftin later told The Maneater that Wolfe’s resignation was a complete surprise to him, even though the two had previously met to plan Loftin’s “transition.”
Melissa Click Nov. 9 brought more news than just two highlevel resignations, as assistant communication professor Melissa Click unintentionally began a national First Amendment debate when videos showed her calling for “muscle” to remove a student journalist from a circle of protesters on Carnahan Quad. The ensuing situation, including Click’s paid suspension, an investigation and firing by the UM System Board of Curators, Click’s appeal of her firing and an AAUP investigation, has been an ongoing mess for all involved.
Graduate student health insurance The most overshadowed movement of the school year belonged to the graduate student workers, who formed advocacy groups after administrators informed them via email that their health insurance was being cut 13 hours before it expired. After Loftin resigned and interim Chancellor Hank Foley was passed the ball, he too dropped it, calling graduate students “kids” and flatly opposing their vote to unionize.
Wolfe’s letter Just when we thought Wolfe was out of the news, a letter he wrote to UM System donors was made public in January. Wolfe aired all his dirty laundry in this “confidential” letter, managing to throw significant shade at Loftin, the Board of Curators, interim UM System President Mike Middleton, former football coach Gary Pinkel and state Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, in a mere four pages.
Curators’ closed meetings, resignations and lack of diversity The Board of Curators called 2015 the “year of the student” but gave students and the rest of the MU community no transparency in a series of closed meetings throughout the fall (that we now realize were probably regarding Loftin’s looming resignation). Three curators also resigned, leaving a board of five white men and one white woman — all lawyers — to oversee a system in a diversity crisis. Makes sense, right?
speakers sports moments technology ALYSSA BESSASPARIS
ALEC LEWIS
Staff Writer
Sports Editor
1. Tim Gunn speaks on his fashion career Project Runway’s 14-season co-host Tim Gunn is one of few people who dislike the “leggings as pants” trend, but he may be the only one who receives laughter for expressing such an opinion. Gunn graced the Jesse Auditorium stage Sept. 24 to share the trials and triumphs of his 30-year fashion career. He spoke on overcoming his fear of public speaking, the value of taking the high road in stressful situations and of course, his fashion pet-peeves. Through humor about the fashion industry, Gunn tackled life lessons that students can take into any career.
2. Diane Nash talks about nonviolent activism Civil rights activist Diane Nash spoke Jan. 20 at the Missouri Theatre in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day four days prior. She spoke on the form of nonviolent activism she coins “agapic energy,” which she said is “the power produced by love of humankind.” In regard to fall’s protests over racism and lack of diversity at MU, Nash encouraged students to take action for what they believe in, but to do so in a manner that they could be proud of.
3. Soledad O’Brien shares personal experience with racism Biracial Cuban-American Journalist Soledad O’Brien stood in front of a crowded Jesse Auditorium audience Dec. 3 to share her experiences with marginalization. O’Brien, who is biracial and Cuban-American, is known most prominently for her work with NBC, CNN and her documentaries about marginalized races, religions and sexualities in America. O’Brien spoke on the importance of standing up for overlooked identities.
4. Black Lives Matter founders speak on conquering racism Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, two of the three founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, spoke Feb. 18 in Jesse Auditorium about black people's continual experience with brutality and disenfranchisement in education and the workforce. They expressed their appreciation for MU students standing up for diversity and minorities’ rights and spoke on the importance of being in-tune with one another in order to prevent division among people.
5. Bryan Stevenson speaks on prejudice in U.S. justice system One of Time’s Most Influential People of 2015, Bryan Stevenson visited campus March 20 to speak about his Equal Justice Initiative, which addresses unfair sentencing. Stevenson spoke on racial prejudice in the justice system and shared anecdotes about providing legal representation for several people, including minors on death row.
fails
Through hundreds of games, championships and stories, it’s nearly impossible to recap each and every moment that took place in the world of Missouri athletics this year. So, we give you five. These are the five best sports moments of the year:
5. Fabian Schwingenschlogl wins swimming national title As difficult as swimming the 100-yard breaststroke in 51.29 seconds must be, it rivals the difficulty of spelling Fabian Schwingenschlogl’s last name. The German junior does the latter daily, but he did the former on March 25, becoming the first Mizzou swimmer to win a national title. After transferring from Western Kentucky over the summer, a school that was suspended amid hazing allegations, Schwingenschlogl (and no, I didn’t type the name for the third time — I copied and pasted) found a home at Missouri. Mizzou’s swimming team as a whole excelled the entire year, but this title cemented the program’s successes in 2015–16.
4. Mizzou women’s basketball makes NCAA Tournament We knew prior to the season tipping off that the Missouri women’s basketball team was special. How? Because Mizzou had Sophie Cunningham, a freshman from Rock Bridge High School who was a McDonald’s All-American. Mizzou also had Cierra Porter, a 6-foot-4 forward also from Rock Bridge. Add them to the returning roster led by coach Robin Pingeton, and it was bound to be a special year. Ultimately, the Tigers made the tournament for the first time in 10 years and beat BYU to make it to the second round. The best part about this moment, too, isn’t what was accomplished. It was the potential of what could be accomplished in the future.
3. J’den Cox qualifies for Olympics Everyone knew J’den Cox was a star talent, but this talented? In a story earlier this year after the junior wrestler won his second NCAA championship, Cox had gotten back to “having fun,” as his mom, Cathy, said. Fast forward a month later and her son was still having fun — this time while qualifying for the Olympics. Cox went to an Olympic Qualifier in Mongolia and won, earning a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, one of the great Mizzou accomplishments in recent memory.
2. Mizzou beats Tennessee in Rally for Rhyan basketball game You couldn’t have scripted it better. Mizzou, who came in on a nine-game losing skid, beat Tennessee. But more importantly than the rare win, they did it in front of the largest crowd in the 2015–16 season, which was there on that Saturday in February to support assistant basketball coach Brad Loos’ daughter, Rhyan Loos, underwent treatment for bone cancer. After the game, Rhyan was given the game ball in one of the more iconic Mizzou moments of the year.
1. Mizzou beats BYU, Gary Pinkel has emotional press conference What a week, a game and a finish. The football team boycotted practice in support of Concerned Student 1950, and then coach Gary Pinkel announced his retirement, but the Tigers still had a game to play against BYU. Football had struggled all year, but that night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City was different. The Tigers pulled out the win. Sitting in the press conference afterward, Pinkel began to get tearyeyed. His team and his school had endured so much, and they came out on top that night. It was a game to remember forever.
HAILEY STOLZE Outlook Editor
5 MSA Moments WAVERLY COLVILLE Student Organizations Editor
1. Yik Yak threats
1. Election Round 1
After the resignations on Nov. 9, MU made national news thanks to Yik Yak. Several threats against MU appeared on the app, resulting in widespread panic. At some point, misinformation about the Ku Klux Klan being on campus spread and was only heightened by then-Missouri Students Association President Payton Head confirming the false rumor in a Facebook post. Lesson learned: Police can track your IP address. Also, you probably shouldn’t post that the KKK is nearby unless you’re 500 percent certain. And then check again.
The annual Missouri Students Association election is no stranger to scandal, but this year’s discombobulation takes the cake. The Board of Elections Commissioners — the people who make the rules — didn’t even start making them on time, causing Senate to suspend their rules to pass the election handbook so that the race could begin. This lack of responsiveness continued throughout the whole mess of an election. Cue two months worth of late-night Operations Committee meetings to try to impeach BEC chairwoman Emma Henderson amid bribery accusations and to annul the entire election or just the Gomez/Hanner slate when new evidence surfaced. Just a reminder: MSA is not “House of Cards,” in case you forgot.
2. The vulgar email Sophomore Edward Lowther sent a rather disturbing email to members of his fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho, after finding out their Greek Week pairing. Lowther’s message told his brothers they’d get to “stick our arrows straight up their tight little asses.” Lowther apologized after screenshots of the email circulated on social media. Lesson learned: You don’t need me to tell you.
3. Mauk video A night out contributed to the end of former quarterback Maty Mauk’s football career. After two suspensions, a video of a man who appeared to be Mauk snorting cocaine went viral on Twitter. He was dismissed a few days later for failing to live up to program expectations. Lesson learned: If you’re going to do drugs, make sure no one’s filming.
4. MSA GroupMe messages The campaign infractions of MSA President-elect Haden Gomez and running mate Chris Hanner came to light just three days before for their inauguration. The two were exposed by their campaign manager via screenshots of GroupMe messages. Lesson learned: If you’re going to cheat in a campaign, make sure to delete any electronic records.
5. Wolfe's letter In a leaked “confidential” email, former UM System President Tim Wolfe gave the most frank (and whiny) description of MU thus far. In the five-page email, Wolfe called out former Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin for, as Wolfe claims, shifting the attention of the protesters to him, and Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, for politically pressuring administration. Oh, and he finally admits he made a mistake! The mistake? Hiring Loftin and trusting the Board of Curators. Tell us how you really feel, Wolfe. Lesson learned: Just because you say something’s “confidential” doesn’t mean people will listen.
2. Haden Gomez’s foul play You know what they say: The proof is in the GroupMe screenshots. Though the BEC issued a major infraction over the endorsement sent out over a Pocket Points notification, there was little to no evidence this was coordinated. Despite the public knowledge of the infraction, Gomez and running mate Chris Hanner won the election. However, the day before they were set to take office, GroupMe messages revealed that Gomez and his team arranged the Pocket Points endorsement and sent mass text messages — both illegal actions according to the BEC election handbook. Better late than never, right?
3. Senate Open Forum Full Senate actually didn’t have trouble meeting quorum for once on Jan. 27. The normally sparse room was overflowing with MSA members, social justice advocates and personal opponents to Gomez who, to put it nicely, aired their concerns about the newly elected president for over two hours. The night resulted in Gomez resigning, Hanner taking office for 10 minutes, Hanner appointing Payton Head as his VP, then Head taking over again once Hanner stepped down.
4. Special Election Let’s try this again. After Gomez was booted out, MSA senators acted like Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith when Regina George fell from grace — clueless on who to follow or what to do. Senators debated whether to appoint runnersup Syed Ejaz and Heather Parrie, but they gave the decision of who to lead the government back to the students. Luckily, the new slates in the shortened special election learned from their predecessors and were pretty well behaved, minus a few minor incidents.
5. Sean Earl and Tori Schafer’s victory Finally the kingdom is at ease. Sean Earl and Tori Schafer won the special election. As the slate with the most MSA experience, they have the institutional knowledge and connections that voters hope will give MSA the makeover it desperately needs.
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CONNOR LEWIS & ERIC SCOTT STUDENTS The co-chairmen of the Coalition of Graduate Workers have led the campuswide drive to unionize graduate student workers.
ALEXZANDRIA CHURCHILL | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Connor Lewis shouts at a graduate rights rally in fall 2015.
KYRA HAAS Staff Writer Graduate students Eric Scott and Connor Lewis met at the first meeting of the Forum on Graduate Rights, just days after graduate workers were informed 13 hours before their health coverage period ended that it would not be renewed. Now, Scott says he’s probably spent more time with Lewis than any other person this year. That time has been dedicated to organizing an effective way for graduate student workers to participate in conversations with administration about stipends, insurance and other key aspects of their working experience. The two were elected co-chairmen of the Coalition of Graduate Workers in August. Once a branch of FGR, CGW is now its own organization set on becoming graduate workers’ collective bargaining agent. “We hope that CGW goes down as being one of the most influential moments in the history of graduate education at the University of Missouri,” Scott said. “It’s not about any particular individual, it’s about everyone in this community coming together and standing up for themselves.” Lewis described their working style as “fluid,” with tasks breaking up naturally based on which chairman’s skills best cater to them. “We have not just a great working
relationship, but a great friendship that I think has made it really easy for us to work together,” Lewis said. Scott, who helped organize the first FGR meeting, said they didn’t go into it with plans to unionize — the idea came from the crowd. Beginning in early September, FGR and CGW collected union election cards, gauging how many in this crowd really wanted to move forward. They reached a plurality by the end of the fall semester. In mid-April, CGW held an election in which 84 percent of graduate workers who voted favored unionization. Lewis believes the health insurance scare united graduate workers across departments and gave them a sense of common purpose they didn’t have before. “There wasn’t really a sense of that much community outside of our own departments, and I think that’s something that really changed in August,” Lewis said. “I think it’s something that changed for the better.” Throughout the year, CGW has met with UM System and MU administration to discuss their plans and potential solutions to graduate workers’ concerns. However, administrators have questioned whether graduate workers are employees with the right to unionize because the Missouri Constitution does not say definitively either way. Interim Chancellor Hank Foley has said
EMIL LIPPE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Graduate rights activist Eric Scott poses for a portrait in front of Jesse Hall.
graduate workers are not employees and that MU will not recognize the election’s results. In an interview with the Columbia Daily Tribune, he called the election a “mock election” and said he wanted to find other ways to work with graduate students than a union. Still, Scott and Lewis remain hopeful that the university and UM System will recognize the results of the election and begin mending its relationship with graduate workers. Otherwise, they’re prepared to file a suit against the UM
System and have the courts clarify graduate workers’ employee status. The two hope to leave CGW as a lasting organization that gives graduate workers a collective voice and chance to advocate for themselves. Scott and Lewis plan to continue their involvement with the group until graduation, which both estimate will be in about two years. “Long story short, if the union wants me, then the union has me for as long as they need,” Scott said.
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PAYTON & KANDICE HEAD: The dynamic duo leaves a lasting legacy at Mizzou.
COURTESY OF PAYTON HEAD'S FACEBOOK
WAVERLY COLVILLE Student Organizations Editor It’s hard to look around campus and not see Payton and Kandice Head. Between the two of them, they represent the university and its students in an extensive list of organizations. To name just a few: Missouri Students Association, Alumni Association Student Board, Tour Team, Summer Welcome and Mizzou After Dark. The twins came to MU from Chicago much different people than the ones leaving. Payton was just beginning to learn about social justice issues and never dreamed he’d be MSA president or receive national attention for standing up against social injustices. Kandice, now the vice president of the MU chapter of National Association of Black Journalists and a mentor to many underclassmen, used to be a quiet girl who wrote poetry in the back of the classroom. Many students look up to these two in their respective roles, but Kandice’s mentorship is something her brother is especially proud of. “There are so many people that look up to Kandice on a daily basis,” Payton said. “So many people around her say ‘I want to be like her.’ You can have a fancy resume, but if you haven’t inspired someone else to be better, then what does it really mean? She’s been able to do that very well on this campus.” People look up to Payton, too. He made national news several times for speaking out against racism and social injustices, turning the most powerful student position on campus into a microphone that sparked a national movement. Payton leaves behind a legacy of “see something, say something.” He urged students to do so in his viral Facebook post about campus discrimination.
“Throughout everything last fall, people said, ‘If Mizzou is such a bad place, go someplace else,’ and they completely missed the point of me speaking out,” Payton said. “It’s not because I hate this place. It’s because I love it.” Payton and Kandice grew up with a mother who fostered their passion for servitude and “would give the shirt off her back if it was the last and only thing she has,” Kandice said. “She wanted to give us everything that she didn’t have,” Kandice said. “We’re very involved because we don’t know what it’s like not to be involved. There was a time when we were homeless but we still fed people through our church because our mom said ‘there’s always someone who’s worse off than you.’” Now, they leave MU decorated with several awards for their contributions to campus. Kandice won the Mizzou Black Women Rock Award and the Karen Bass Prospective Congressional Award, and she was the 2016 Student Auxiliary Services student employee of the year. Payton won several awards for his work with the MSA Social Justice committee, the Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Emerging Leadership, and the NAACP Image Award, among others. But beyond those awards and their jam-packed resumes, the two are most proud of who the other is as a person. And looking back, they wouldn’t do anything differently. “Looking at the past and having regrets keeps you from moving forward, so I take everything that happens to me good or bad as a life lesson,” Payton said. “I wouldn’t do anything differently because everything that has gone on has helped me get to where I am today.”
“Looking at the past and having regrets keeps you from moving forward, so I take everything that happens to me good or bad as a life lesson.” - Payton Head
COURTESY OF PAYTON HEAD'S FACEBOOK
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JONATHAN BUTLER:
Butler’s hunger strike fueled protests that led to the resignation of UM System President Tim Wolfe.
ALEXZANDRIA CHURCHILL | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Student activist Jonathan Butler participates in a graduate rights rally Aug. 17, 2015, to protest the university's decision to cut graduate worker health care.
THOMAS OIDE Staff Writer Jonathan Butler doesn’t see himself as a leader. “I view myself as an engaged community citizen who has a specific lived experience,” Butler said. “I don’t think I’m anybody special, I don’t think I’m a celebrity. That’s not me. I don’t do it for those reasons.” Butler, a graduate student, was one of the 11 founding members of the Concerned Student 1950 movement, and his hunger strike generated national media attention at MU last fall. Butler also led graduate worker protests in August and was involved with the MU4MikeBrown movement last school year. Coming from a religious background, Butler was taught from a young age to give back to his community. However, it was the Ferguson protests that transformed his view of activism. “Ferguson is what truly radicalized my idea of what it meant to be free, to fight for justice, to fight for equality, to fight for what’s right,” Butler said. “Seeing what happened in Ferguson, and seeing that those people were giving everything that they have — why shouldn’t I be able to do the same?” Butler has spoken at universities, communities and youth groups across
the country since November. He said it has been a great experience. “It has been a blessing to be in these different settings and spread that education that you do have a voice, you are strong, your life matters,” Butler said. “It’s great to spread that message and learn from the people that I’m sharing with.” Berkley Hudson is the chairman of the Faculty Council Committee on Race Relations and has worked with Butler, a committee member, since the group was formed in May 2015. In one of the meetings leading up to the hunger strike, Hudson remembers Butler saying that he was not angry but optimistic. “I will always be angry at injustice,” Butler said. “I will always be angry at things going wrong in society. I never want to be complacent with the issues going on in our world. Although I may be protesting with a megaphone or am giving speeches or getting people to sign a petition, and it may seem like I’m pessimistic about life, I’m really not. I love Mizzou, I love my community, and I love this world enough to advocate for equality. The reason why I’m doing all these things is because I’m optimistic that change can happen.” Butler said that he has not yet taken the time to step back and process what happened last November, but he may have that opportunity when he graduates this May.
THOMAS OIDE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jonathan Butler leads a "We're Not Afraid" march as part of an organized response to Yik Yak shooting threats in November 2015.
Butler does not care about the legacy he leaves at MU; it isn’t important to him. What Butler does care about is the narrative from last semester. He doesn’t want it to disappear. “It is my hope and my prayer that
it is not just a whitewashed narrative, but a narrative showing the multiplicity of identities,” Butler said. “Until the history books recognized the community of people who were involved, I don’t think the story will really be told.”
MIZZOU IN REVIEW
HADEN GOMEZ:
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The man who unintentionally changed MSA for the better.
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
Haden Gomez speaks about one of his cabinet members before he gets questioned for confirmation on Jan. 26 in the Student Center.
WAVERLY COLVILLE Student Organizations Editor The Missouri Students Association was a sleeping dragon; it looked strong, intimidating and powerful, but in reality, it was dormant. It stayed silent on pertinent issues, and its members proudly boasted an extra but hollow line on their resumes. But what does it take to wake the beast from its complacent slumber? Haden Gomez: the man so many love to hate. He’s Pocket Points’ best advertiser and the poster child for the dangers of GroupMe. Now, he can add Missouri Students Association reformist to his resume, whether or not he intended to. It’s easy to point fingers at the bad things Gomez and his team did. But really, MSA should be writing Gomez and the “Josh is in a frat” crew a thankyou note. Their dishonesty highlighted the flaws in MSA and the Board of
Elections Commissioners, causing both to go through some much-needed reform. New leaders in MSA’s executive offices and in Senate have said they are focused on bringing more transparency and voices to an organization that has been criticized for lacking both. Gomez won the November 2015 MSA presidential election but resigned before he took office. A shady deal with Pocket Points and plan for sending out mass text messages, both illegal according to the BEC, landed him, running mate Chris Hanner and his campaign team in hot water. “(We saw) how much a group of individuals could tarnish an entire association that represents over 27,000 students,” MSA President Sean Earl said in a previous Maneater article. “We wanted to get back to what we came into when we first started in MSA, and that was the true spirit of service, advocacy and representing our fellow Tigers.”
Earl and Vice President Tori Schafer want to grow the Department of Student Communications to an entire committee to share MSA’s many services it can provide for students. They also want to create monthly town hall meetings where students can speak with their representatives informally. Although Senate welcomes any student to speak, Earl believes that this can be too intimidating for those unfamiliar with MSA. Senate Speaker Mark McDaniel wants to rebuild trust for MSA among the student body by creating a Senate communications team. He wants students to use MSA as an advocacy tool to enhance diverse opinions, which he believes didn’t happen last fall. He wants Senate to hear all voices by recruiting students with differing views. “A number of students (felt silenced) and at the same time, a number of people felt ridiculed, and that’s not what you need in public discourse,” McDaniel
said in a previous Maneater article. “Every opinion, every voice should be heard, and MSA is the best place to start that.” It’s hard to imagine what the next year would have brought for MSA were Gomez inaugurated. Perhaps MSA would’ve progressed as it always had: inch by inch. But Gomez’s decisions and the revolt against him moved MSA a mile. MSA could no longer get away with indifference or muddied transparency. All eyes are on MSA now, just like they should be. A revolution is underway. “(What happened last November) just seemed very messy, and it’s not what MSA is about,” Earl said in a previous Maneater article. “I think a lot of those individuals, just off of new leadership have left. (The) last election was the last phase of transitioning the group out that is focused on the titles and ambition.”
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
MSA senators fill Leadership Auditorium on Jan. 27 for the full Senate meeting at which Haden Gomez resigned.
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
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TIM TAI:
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Associate journalism professor Clyde Bentley: “There were many others who would have gotten into a knock-down, drag-out fight, but he was much like a diplomat.”
EMIL LIPPE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tim Tai poses for a photo on May 3, 2016.
ANNABEL AMES Senior Staff Writer When senior Tim Tai decided to major in journalism as a freshman, the last thing he expected was to become the face of press freedom on MU’s campus. Tai, a photojournalism student, drew national media attention during the Concerned Student 1950 protests in November. When UM System President Tim Wolfe resigned Nov. 9 Tai was attempting to photograph protesters’ celebrations by entering the inner circle of the tent enclosure they’d formed on Carnahan Quad. At the time, thenassistant communication professor Melissa Click was trying to shield the group from journalists and called for “muscle” to prevent reporters from getting into the inner circle. Tai said his Twitter timeline, email inbox and phone were quickly flooded with requests from national media outlet reporters who wanted to discuss the incident. “I honestly didn’t think anything of it after the fact until I started realizing
“Nothing I did allow me to get significantly more impactful or powerful pictures, but on the other head, it definitely sparked some important discussions about journalists’ relationships with certain groups of people, trust in the media and how journalists are covering events.”
- tim tai how many people were tweeting me,” Tai said. “I tend to take things in stride, but it was definitely unexpected, and it kind of overwhelmed my life for a few days afterward.” Associate journalism professor Clyde Bentley volunteered to be Tai’s mentor during his freshman year through the Honors College Discovery Fellows Program. “Tim is wicked smart, but he is one of
the most unassuming people I have ever met, which is why the attention from the protests was probably as much of an embarrassment to him as anything,” Bentley said. Bentley said he was proud of Tai for the way he handled the dispute with Click. “He didn’t argue, he didn’t get in her face, he was polite, he stated what his concern was and then when he had to
leave, he left,” Bentley said. “There were many others who would have gotten into a knock-down, drag-out fight, but he was much like a diplomat.” Much to the disappointment of his passionate defenders on social media, Tai said that if he could turn back time, he wouldn’t have pressed the issue as much with Click. He said it drew media attention away from the protestors and to himself. “Nothing I did allowed me to get significantly more impactful or powerful pictures, but on the other hand, it definitely sparked some important discussions about journalists’ access, journalists’ relationships with certain groups of people, trust in the media and how journalists are covering events,” Tai said. This year, Tai received ninth place in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program’s Multimedia One/Features Competition for a documentary about a church’s efforts to increase diversity, according to the School of Journalism’s website. He will spend this summer interning for The Boston Globe.
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Missouri football: A boycott on Nov. 7 sent a story into the national spotlight.
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
Missouri redshirt freshman Walter Brady is held back by the Mizzou football coaching staff moments before running onto the field for the game against the Florida Gators on Oct. 10, 2015, at Faurot Field.
ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor Boycotting football activities on a game week in the Southeastern Conference sounds blasphemous, but that didn’t concern the Missouri football team on a weekend in November. To Anthony Sherrils, to J’Mon Moore and to every member of the program on the night of Nov. 7, football took a backseat as they met with Jonathan Butler and members of Concerned Student 1950. Butler was on a hunger strike in hopes of forcing UM System President Tim Wolfe out of a job, and he needed the team’s support. That night, Sherrils sent out a tweet saying: “We’re black. Black is powerful. Our struggle may look different, but we are all
#ConcernedStudent1950.” The following day the whole team elected to boycott, ultimately sending a swarm of media to Columbia and sending the situation into the national spotlight in a way that arguably nothing else could. Two days later, Wolfe resigned. Reuben Faloughi, a former Georgia football player and current MU graduate student, was influential in sparking the meeting. With his background, he was able to bridge the gap and connect with many of the players. “You’re in a bubble,” Faloughi said in December, speaking about the differences between student-athletes and regular students. Most live together, eat together and practice together on a daily basis. Do they go to class? Of course. Do they participate in activities across campus
like regular students? Sometimes. Even then, though, Faloughi said there’s a difference. “(It) comes with certain privileges, but that also comes with certain demands that a lot of students don’t understand,” Faloughi said. “And a lot of students don’t understand what it’s like to be a superstar on Saturdays but then when Sunday hits, all the responsibilities of a student are there.” On that Sunday, Nov. 8, a day after Sherrils’ tweet, the entire Mizzou football team — including coach Gary Pinkel — shared their support. Here was a football program set to play against BYU the following weekend, foregoing practice and workouts to save a life. To Kain Colter, the former Northwestern quarterback whose efforts to create a union for student-athletes ultimately failed, that was impressive.
THOMAS OIDE | PHOTOGRAPHER
Missouri Tigers football players gathered to release a statement on Tim Wolfe’s resignation as UM System president and the conclusion of their boycott Nov. 9, 2015, at Mel Carnahan Quad.
“At the end of the day, it takes a lot of courage for college athletes to boycott or even threaten boycotting the game and sport that they love because I know they all want to be out there on the field,” Colter said in December. On the Monday that followed, the players were on a field — Carnahan Quad. Their support assisted in forcing the resignation of Wolfe and solidifying their voice as students across campus. “They decided to do this for issues that they thought were bigger than football and it’s something that should be celebrated,” Colter said. “I think for two weeks this wasn’t a story that was getting picked up at these big media outlets. Once these players joined in (the hunger strike), it got thrown in the national headlight, so players need to realize how big of a microphone they have.”
JORDAN KODNER | PHOTO EDITOR
Missouri defensive back Anthony Sherrils speaks to press on Nov. 9, 2015.
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