Vol84issue07

THE MANEATER

OCTOBER 4, 2017 • THEMANEATER.COM

A performance at the Centennial Kick-Off Concert celebrating the MU School of Music’s 100th anniversary. PHOTO BY PHU NGUYEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

School of Music begins centennial celebration with concert A book compiling personal, historical accounts related to the School of Music will be released later this year.

MORGAN SMITH

Reporter

Over 50 MU student and faculty musicians performed “Happy Birthday” as the audience joined in

to celebrate the 100-year-old School of Music at the Missouri Theatre on Sept. 25.

The Centennial Kick-Off Concert featured the brass choir, saxophone ensemble, graduate student string quartet, percussion ensemble, cello choir and several vocalists. The performance was the first of many events the school will host this year to celebrate the anniversary of the first academic year in which music classes could officially be written on the transcripts of MU students.

“It’s really interesting to see how far we’ve come with the quality of the new music that we create here, to see how many music teachers we’ve turned out that are across the state of Missouri and across the country and even in other countries as a result of our music education program,” Music Education Director Wendy Sims said.

Sims has been with the school since 1985 and MU remains the only university she has taught at. Sims said she chose the university for the opportunity to work with a wide

DACA

Asian American Association, Association of Latin@ American Students educate students on immigration Undocumented Asian immigrants have become the fastest growing group of undocumented migrants in the United States.

age range of different students on a beautiful campus.

“It’s pretty amazing to think that I’ve been here for almost a third of the history of the School of Music,” Sims said. “It’s great to see how we’ve progressed.”

Michael Budds, the curators’ teaching professor of musicology, has been with the school for 35 years and for the last two years

MUSIC | Page 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

UM System Board of Curators discuss changes in culture of the board and university branding page 4

TRISTEN ROUSE

Staff Writer

The Asian American Association and the Association of Latin@ American Students collaborated for an event Thursday night, working to educate MU students about immigration and DACA policy.

The presentation was led by AAA advocacy chair Isuru Gamlath and ALAS secretary Emily Fowler and featured information on U.S. immigration policies, paths to citizenship, benefits of a strong immigrant population and the current politics surrounding the discontinuation of DACA. “Educating people on what DACA

Members of the Asian American Association (left to right) Linda Quach, Alice Yu, Isuru Gamlath, Kelilah Liu, Elaine Chen and Matt Walz hosted Thursday’s DACA informational session. PHOTO

BY TRISTEN ROUSE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

is is a very important thing,” ALAS President Gilberto Perez said. “Once you inform the public, they’re more likely to support DACA because DACA is such an important part of … a lot of people’s lives and a lot of people’s futures. They want to

do something with the American dream.”

While immigration is often portrayed from a Latino perspective, immigration from Asia, including

DACA| Page 4

PHOTO BY EMMALEE REED | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Roots N Blues N BBQ recap pages 8-9

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | O CT. 4, 2017

MU office restructuring to create efficiency between departments, improve student experience Students can expect to see changes in Greek Life, Residential Life and student engagement.

LAUREN BISHOP

Reporter

MU restructured many administrative offices over the summer to inefficiencies and promote synergy.

The Department of Student Life consisted of 18 offices that reported to Dean of Students Jeff Zeilenga when he was assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs.

Many of these offices, such as student organizations and Mizzou Alternative Breaks, now fall under the umbrella of the Office of Student Engagement, which then reports to Zeilenga.

There are now only three main offices under the Department of Student Life: the Office of Student Engagement, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Office of Student Accountability and Support.

Zeilenga said he previously noted a lack of collaboration between similar offices and wanted to create a better system. “We have had departments that had different leadership,� Zeilenga said. “As a result, collaboration [was] more difficult. We have eliminated a lot of the structural layers. We now have staff that are sitting next to each other talking about how they can collaborate.�

Zeilenga said one of his main goals was to create a sense of belonging on campus. The 2016 Campus Climate Survey results released in September showed that 66 percent of the respondents feel comfortable on campus. Zeilenga said this number suggests that change should be made to help more students have a greater sense of belonging on campus. “We do not want students to come here and not feel connected or feel lost,� Zeilenga said. “It is our responsibility to provide as many opportunities as we can for students to have meaningful engagement. That goes directly

back to the Campus Climate with it. We want to show others Survey.� how it can be done successfully.�

Another purpose for the Zeilenga said he hopes to see restructuring was financial changes in the culture of the reasons.

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Greek communities on campus overseeing the changes cite and for students to have a sense lowering the cost of attendance of belonging overall. for students as a goal for the “We will continue to change restructuring, Zeilenga said. the organization,� Zeilenga said. “One of the primary reasons “I do not think you ever stop for the restructure was to find changing an organization. Any cost savings for the institution good enterprise never settles; that could continue to either be they are always thinking about reallocated toward other priorities how they are going to improve.� or invested to strengthen the M U s t u d e n t administration “ONE OF THE experience is wor k ing on campus,�

PRIMARY with Keeling Zeilenga said. & Associates REASONS FOR THE J u l i e to look at the D r u r y , RESTRUCTURE best practices director of and ideals for WAS TO FIND COST the Office Student Affairs. of Student SAVINGS FOR THE Zeilenga said Accountability they will note INSTITUTION THAT and Support, the efficiency COULD CONTINUE is in the of the changes process of TO EITHER BE and possibly internally propose further REALLOCATED restructuring alterations. the former TOWARD OTHER “We will Office of take those PRIORITIES OR S t u d e n t recommendations Conduct.

INVESTED TO and look at Drury said STRENGTHEN them in tandem a n o t h e r with changes goal of the THE STUDENT that we have restructuring EXPERIENCE ON been making to was to see if there are CAMPUS.� i n c r e a s e further ways s t u d e n t -DEAN OF STUDENTS to improve our achievement organizational JEFF ZEILENGA on and off efficiencies and campus. “We want them to be successful the programs that we deliver to while they are here and when our students,� Zeilenga said.

With the restructuring, Zeilenga they leave [and] to be able to be here, find some outlets to become said students will undoubtedly who they are as a Mizzou student see changes on campus. “I think you're going to see and then to graduate and go on to a higher quality and higher be successful,� Drury said.

Drury said the administration caliber of programming. We has been looking at other will have more strategic goals,� institutions to find examples Zeilenga said. “Most of what of effective office models for we're working on right now is focused on improving the student successful students. “What we have been doing over experience and providing better the last two months is figuring out services to our students. We are what the best practices across the trying to find greater academic country are and how to make it collaborations at a level that we the best for our Mizzou students,� have never tried to attain before.�

Drury said. “Higher education is Edited by Olivia Garrett changing and we have to change ogarrett@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER The Student Voice of MU since 1955

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NEWS

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Online this week: College of Human Environmental Sciences launches Faculty Scholars program, Safety Walk report and more at themaneater.com.

SCIENCE ON WHEELS

Graduate project to teach science in rural Missouri Graduate student Arianna Soldati will lead Science on Wheels, a program that focuses on teaching rural Missouri communities about different MU research projects.

STEPHI SMITH

Staff Writer

Graduate student Arianna Soldati recently launched a program called Science on Wheels, which intends to bring science closer to rural Missouri communities.

Science on Wheels, created

by Soldati last summer, will involve multiple MU geology graduate students sharing short speeches on a wide range of topics with crowds in areas surrounding Boone County.

Soldati said she wants

Science on Wheels to break the barrier between the average person and scientists who do research.

“I want to bring the science to the people where they are,” she said.

Along with that, Soldati wants to encourage more middle and high school students to consider careers in science. She said she wants to break the stereotype of a scientist being an “elderly white man in a lab coat.”

Alan Whittington, chair of geological sciences and Soldati’s advisor, said that middle school is where most students are “turned off” by science. Due to that, Soldati has worked on other programs aimed specifically at that age group.

Additionally, being a woman in the field of science has motivated Soldati to show people that “anyone can be a scientist.”

It’s important for people in rural communities, especially young women, to

Graduate student Ariana Soldati is the creator of Science on Wheels, an outreach project aimed at making science accessible for all in Missouri. PHOTO BY EMMALEE REED | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

have a role model, and a lack of representation in science may discourage others from pursuing a career, she said.

“You are a minority all of

the time,” Soldati said.

However, at MU, Soldati said she’s felt “very lucky” because she hasn’t noticed her colleagues treating her

SERVICE IN HOUSTON

differently

based

on

her

gender. Most of the graduate

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LEGISLATION

MU students aid Houston hurricane survivors MSA plans to more strictly enforce smoking policy

The Hope Project Founder Anthony Ruffner: “I think it was really cool to show the people of Houston that as students, we aren’t out of touch with what’s happening.”

Once MSA members gauge students’ feelings toward on-campus smoking, changes may be made.

CAITLYN ROSEN

SKYLER ROSSI

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

While many MU students spent this year’s Family Weekend with their parents at Memorial Stadium, some decided to skip the weekend’s festivities to help others in need.

Nearly 40 MU students joined The Hope Project’s trip on Sept.

15 to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.

The Hope Project is a new, student-run service organization at MU that aims to match students with volunteer programs based on their personal strengths.

The Hope Project partnered with Eight Days of Hope, a nonprofit organization that works specifically with hurricane relief.

Members of both organizations went out to specific sites each day to rip out drywall, carpets and cabinets from water-damaged homes.

MU volunteers witnessed the wreckage from the hurricane firsthand and felt its effects. The

Anthony Ruffner said another important part of the trip was to reach out to victims on behalf of all college students.

“I think it was really cool to show the people of Houston that as students, we aren’t out of touch with what’s happening,” Ruffner said. “We’re able to show that we care about situations where people are struggling and hurting.

Just because we are portrayed as college students who are partying or just about our degrees or whatever, there is still a lot of love in this community, and I think it was really cool to show them that they aren’t alone in it and people

A grant presented to the Sinclair School of Nursing by the American Cancer Society prompted the Missouri Students Association to recommend stricter enforcement of the university smoking policy.

An ad hoc committee was created to outline stricter enforcement of current policy and uses for the grant. This committee consists of MSA students, members of MUPD, faculty and staff.

While the current smoking policy establishes MU as “smoke-free,” the policy isn’t strictly enforced.

“There are signs on every single building that say no smoking,” MSA Student Affairs Chair Ryan Alsop said.

“It's just the fact that there was no authority behind the original policy; it was more focused on students asking other students to quit smoking, and I've asked students to and I've been told 'no.'

So now, the community is focusing in a different area of how to do this.”

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The Hope Project brought nearly 40 volunteers to Houston, Texas, to aid with hurricane relief. COURTESY OF THE HOPE PROJECT

Hope Project member Lauren Walsh said the destruction was worse than she or the people of Houston could have imagined.

“It was super sad to see how badly people have been hit,” Walsh said. “One of the houses that I worked on had been hit way worse than they thought they were going to. They didn’t prepare for it at all because they were pretty far inland. Their house flooded like four feet up, so they lost absolutely everything that they owned.”

MU student volunteers helped clean out the family’s house by clearing out the entire kitchen, which had been renovated just seven months prior to the hurricane.

The Hope Project Founder

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | OCT. 4, 2017

MUSIC continued from page 1

has been working on a compilation of the school’s history to be published sometime before Christmas of this year.

The work compiles alumni, faculty and student memories along with photographs and factual information that is featured in a centennial timeline.

“A lot of people think that the only kind of history that should be written

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undocumented immigration, has grown rapidly in recent years, becoming the fastest-growing undocumented migrant population in the United States. Currently, it is estimated that 1.45 million undocumented Asian immigrants live in the U.S. Despite these growing figures, Asian immigrants have some of the lowest numbers of DACA applications. While 77 percent of eligible immigrants from

addresses great men, great events and world-changing episodes,” Budds said.

“Everything has history. We must concern ourselves with local history as well grand-scale subjects. This project is my small contribution.”

The book will also list all of the theses and dissertations that have ever been accepted by MU’s School of Music as well as all of the books, publications and recordings made by both faculty and students. However, the book’s main focus is personal accounts and anecdotes.

“There’s all kinds of wonderful little stories,” Budds said. “Here’s someone’s

memory that says, ‘I played trombone in 1946 up until my horn was stolen from the music room above the boiler house.’”

Senior Paige Wakefield is working toward a bachelor’s degree in music with a focus in voice performance and chose the school for both its size and faculty.

“I don’t think many people know this, but our professors are amazing,” Wakefield said. “They’ve worked and have gotten their education from some of the best music schools in the country and they’re bringing that to the Midwest.”

The school will host its official

celebration the weekend of April 7-9, 2018, and will discuss more events and aspects of the centennial celebration in its weekly segment on KMUC 90.5 FM on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s exciting,” Wakefield said. “These past four years have been filled with a lot of memories for me, and it’s cool to think about all the other memories that have happened over these past hundred years to lead the School of Music to where it is now.”

Edited by Olivia Garrett ogarrett@themaneater.com

Latin America applied for DACA, only 21 percent of eligible Asian immigrants applied. A further breakdown of application by country can be found from the Migration Policy Institute. “[Immigration and DACA] is very much an issue that affects our racial category,” said Kelilah Liu, external vice president for AAA. “It’s a really big issue for [ALAS], but it’s also a big issue for us. That’s why we’re collaborating.”

One of the largest concerns surrounding the end of DACA is that applicants’ information may be sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the division of U.S. Department of

Homeland Security that oversees immigration, including removal operations. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has stated that DACA applicants’ information will not be sent to ICE but noted that the policy can be changed at any time and without warning.

When President Donald Trump announced the end of DACA, he gave Congress six months to legalize a replacement. Two current options for the legalization of DACA recipients are the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act and the recently introduced Solution for Undocumented

Children through Careers, Employment, Education and Defending our Nation Act. Both acts would create a path to citizenship for those currently protected

by DACA. That’s what Perez wants to see happen. “[I want DACA] to be legalized and stay a part for future generations so that people can apply to it, get work permits, go to school, be able to go to college and follow their dreams, their future without the fear of being deported,” Perez said.

Edited by Sarah Hallam shallam@themaneater.com

BOARD OF CURATORS

Curators tackle governance and finances at September meeting UNEWS EDITOR OLIVIA GARRETT, STAFF WRITERS AND REPORTERS The UM System Board of Curators met Thursday and Friday at UM-Kansas City to discuss the role of the board, finances and issues facing the UM System.

This is the first time that every position on the Board of Curators has been filled for a meeting in months. During the meeting, the board reviewed the university’s performance and discussed the future, making several large changes to the UM System Collected Rules and Recollections and how the UM System plans capital projects.

New curators Julia Brncic and Jon Sundvold and student representative Courtney Lauer took oaths of office.

Revising Rules

The curators discussed a comprehensive review of the UM System Collected Rules and Regulations in order to modernize governance. They discussed a need for updated rules regarding faculty governance and firings, fundraising and facilities.

“We’ve done over the last couple of years a fair amount of updating and revision of our Collected Rules,” Board Chairman Maurice Graham said. “There’s still a lot of work left to do.”

Graham also mentioned the importance of involving constituents such as faculty and administration early on in the process. Because of the nature of the task, the board does not yet have a timeline for the project.

“I think we’re all preaching to the choir,” Graham said. “We’ve all said for months we need to continue the process. We’ve agreed with the legislature we would do this and so it’s important.”

It is unclear when an overhaul of the Collected Rules was last

completed, if it has ever been done.

Audit

Four internal audits have been completed since the last curators meeting, focusing on the College of Human and Environmental Services, College of Arts and Science, Campus Stores Physical Inventory Count and MU Health Care Device Encryption.

Of the four audits, the College of Arts and Science received the highest risk rating. The college received a medium risk label, indicating “substantial risk related to fiscal oversight and internal controls surrounding fiscal processes,” according to the Internal Audit Quarterly Report.

“We identified in this audit inconsistencies in policy related to faculty award programs between the system policy, the campus and the college,” interim Chief Audit Executive Michelle Piranio said.

The College of Arts and Science audit also found that the Geographic Resources Center and the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service have “operated independently with little oversight and financial accountability to the College,” according to the report. The audit report also includes a summary of the management action, which focuses on improving policies and increasing accountability.

Capital Projects and Finances

The Board of Curators unanimously passed a motion Thursday that will give the board increased responsibility for the university’s funding, investments and infrastructure projects.

“We’re gonna discuss and we’re gonna show our investments and our facilities really have not been adequate in the last 15 years, and they could also be prioritized better than they have been, and I think this new process is critical to changing that,” Chief Financial Officer Ryan Rapp said.

Currently, the Board of Curators has little involvement in project and

capital plan recommendations, and plans are crafted on an annual basis.

Officially beginning in 2019, the board will annually review projects from a financial standpoint to ensure balance between funding new projects and maintaining the university as it is.

This represents a change to a prioritized rolling five-year capital plan that increased board involvement in project recommendations, capital plan approval and the review of projects after they are approved.

The long-term plan will also focus on academic excellence, revenue growth opportunities, resource allocation and utilization of administrative scale, efficiency and collaboration.

“In my view, what we’re doing here is a significant change in the culture of the board, and it is a change [in culture] that I hope goes on far after I leave where it’s the board asserting that it will no longer be reactive, will no longer be rubber stamps, that it will be proactive and that it will assert its role in making strategic decisions,” Curator David Steelman said.

Despite increasing debt, with postemployment benefits adding $275 million to liabilities and decreasing academic revenue, the UM System continues to have health care revenue grow along with that from grants and contracts.

Drops in enrollment and budget cuts from the Missouri Legislature led the UM System to announce a series of budget cuts, including program discontinuance and layoffs, earlier this year. Future cuts will continue to be made to increase faculty pay, and reallocation within the budget is expected.

Additionally, the board reviewed construction plans for the MU School of Music. The $24-million project is expected to be completed by August 2019. Loeb Hall and the Fine Arts Annex will be demolished, eliminating $5.5 million in facilities costs.

MU Health Care

The board heard a report on

MU Health Care by CEO and Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Curtright.

MU Health Care has been investing in staff, particularly nursing staff, and is currently working to create accelerated nursing programs to get more nurses into the workforce and programs to get nurses working on weekends and in the evenings, Curtwright said.

Facility investments, such as the Ashland family medicine clinic that opened last month, have also been priorities. MU Health Care has also invested in the university, with a one-time support of $3 million to MU, $16.3 million to the School of Medicine, $1.1 million to School of Health Professions and $500,000 to Sinclair School of Nursing.

Strategic initiatives for 2017 and 2018 include the expansion of MU Health Care as a statewide resource and the growth of select service lines.

Current struggle and rebranding

On Friday, the board heard from UM System President Mun Choi, MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright and representatives from branding company 160over90.

In May, university leaders signed a three-year, $1.27-million contract with the company to improve the university’s brand. The agency began work on campus two weeks ago.

In his report to the board, Choi explained the results of the 2016 Campus Climate Survey.

“The results also indicate that we have some work to do,” Choi said. “For example, 18 percent of the respondents have experienced exclusionary conduct within the last year. And while this result appears high, it is within the range that Rankin & Associates found at other universities.”

The board will meet next from Dec. 7 -8 at UM-St. Louis.

Edited by Sarah Hallam shallam@themaneater.com

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RURAL

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students who signed up to speak for Science on Wheels have been women, she said.

The 11 speakers that have signed up so far were trained by Graduate Studies Instructor Milbre Burch, who walked through how to best engage and capture an audience. Burch teaches the group of speakers how to best structure their speeches, what language to use and how to adjust their presentations to different audiences.

Burch also offers one-on-one coaching where she listens to their full presentations. Because Burch had coached Soldati in the past, Soldati reached out to her this summer to help lead her team of speakers.

Since the speakers have only about five to six minutes for their presentations, Burch said it is important to be able to learn how to keep the interest of the audience. Using a narrative arc is important, along with having props to engage those in the crowd.

During his five-minute presentation, graduate student Levi Storks demonstrates how lizards adjust their behavior in ways that allow them to cope with harsher conditions in different environments by bringing out his own pet lizards.

Soldati said this was a great way to teach people who might not normally be interested in the habits of lizards and

HOPE

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were willing to drive 14 hours to help out, even if we don’t know them.”

The idea for the trip started with one of Ruffner’s friends wanting to go to Houston over Labor Day weekend with a small group of people. It didn’t work out due to scheduling reasons.

“It turned into running it through The Hope Project and marketing through that,” Ruffner said.

After spreading the word around campus and pulling together some lastminute details, The Hope Project was

MSA

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Enforcing the policy is relatively difficult because MUPD technically is not required to reprimand students since it is funded by the federal government rather than the university.

“This is a policy,” MU spokesman Christian Basi said. “It is not, and never has been, any type of law. The police will enforce laws and criminal acts; we have to work as a community to enforce our policies.”

Based off of recommendations made by the American College Health Association, MSA is moving to make MU a completely tobacco-free campus. In terms of enforcement and implementation, it hopes to utilize a program similar to what the University of Illinois and the University of Arkansas have.

“As an example — not saying this is where we're going with it — provide a sanction under some administration like the dean of students and to say that if

direct their attention to his research.

In addition, Burch said finding ways to relate their research topics to something that may affect the everyday lives of those living in rural Missouri is just as important.

Graduate student Erica Majumder works with bacteria in soil and how it interacts with toxic materials. Her goal is to make the bacteria safer for humans or easier to remove. Specifically, she is studying how these soil bacteria transform uranium into a less toxic state at nuclear waste sites.

Burch pointed out that a lot of the rural communities that Science on Wheels will visit rely on power plants for employment. This requires Majumder to ensure that she acknowledges the importance of the power plants and what they provide for the communities, Burch said.

When Soldati first came up with Science on Wheels, she said a lot of MU students and staff were helpful with getting the project off the ground.

“It’s been beautiful for me because everybody came together and started offering me help,” she said. “This was still in the very initial phases and I had some people I had met and some that I have never even met before that reached out to me. It’s been a really positive experience. I’ve really felt like part of the Mizzou community.”

In the months since she first proposed her idea, Soldati has dedicated a substantial amount of time to organizing a functioning program.

“It was almost not enough time to put something together for the end of

September,” she said. “I think now we are a bit more caught up.”

Organizing Science on Wheels has required Soldati to become detailoriented, she said. For example, the events need to be “family friendly” and available for children as well as adults. This is because people might be discouraged from attending if they have to hire a babysitter for their children.

Science on Wheel’s first stop was in Fulton, Missouri, on Sept. 21, which Soldati called a “beta test.” She also said it was a learning experience for both the speakers and herself, as they were able to see firsthand how the community responded to the event.

Along with Science on Wheels, Soldati has been involved with a number of other outreach programs such as a middle school STEM Expo held at Rock Bridge High School and Geology Youth Night run by the Mizzou Geology Club.

“This is a lot compared to what most grad students do,” Whittington said.

Whittington defined outreach as explaining science, either in general or specific topics, to non-scientists. The audience typically includes middle and high schools but can also be aimed at broader communities.

Soldati noticed that, while the geology department has a lot of outreach programs, they were mostly located within Columbia. She wanted to reach out to greater Missouri and meet with and teach audiences that didn’t have the opportunity to come to town for the sole purpose of learning about science.

“For people who live nearby, there’s a ton of opportunities, but if you’re living

even an hour away, after your work day you’re not going to want to drive to listen to a talk,” she said. “So I thought we could be most helpful within these communities. After all, we are a land grant university, so our mission is to serve all of the citizens of the state.”

Whittington said he has no doubt that Science on Wheels will go well, especially with the work Soldati has put in.

Whittington encourages all of his students to find projects such as the one Soldati has created. Most get the opportunity to do so, he said, and his major goal is to help students form their own projects and seek funding.

“I always think graduate students doing research always do best when they’re doing a project they helped to design,” Whittington said. “They’re very personally invested in it and it’s usually exactly what they want to be doing.”

Science on Wheel’s next stop will be in Tipton on Oct. 12, followed by Jefferson City on Nov. 9 and Fayette on Nov. 30. Soldati said she plans to reach out to more counties surrounding Columbia and will be able to schedule more events next semester.

After Soldati’s graduation this spring, Burch said she hopes the program will be able to continue without Soldati.

“I’d love to see [Science on Wheels] get such solid footing that it can go on because she’s going to finish up and we don’t want to start over,” Burch said.

“We don’t want to have to start from the ground up again.”

Edited by Olivia Garrett ogarrett@themaneater.com

able to run the trip for free thanks to Eight Days of Hope, which provided the group with food and lodging at the Grace Community Church.

“The plans were kind of iffy at first because we didn’t have a set ride or a place to stay or anything,” Walsh said.

“But once they figured that all out, it was really cool that we got to stay and do this trip free of charge.”

The Hope Project was started last year by Ruffner and a few of his friends. They were inspired to create a service organization that didn’t restrict volunteers to one set of skills.

“Too often organizations around campuses, as well as the community, limit students to who they can be and

what they can do, but at The Hope Project, we reject this,” the organization’s website says. “We believe that each individual is simply that, an individual, with their own skill set, beliefs, desires, and purpose to change the world we live in.”

The Hope Project works with six different organizations such as the Humane Society of Missouri, the Blind Vietnamese Children Center, Be The Change and the Help Portrait. “[The Hope Project] is really intentional about loving people from a volunteer’s aspect but also about empowering the volunteers who are involved to use their strengths to make a difference, opposed to putting them in

an organization and forcing them to do a lot of stuff,” Ruffner said. “We really wanted it to be about giving them an opportunity to use their strengths to make a difference in the community so they really fell in love with service and enjoyed it.”

While The Hope Project doesn’t normally run trips, it’s not out of the question for the future.

“We aren’t really trip-focused, but if something comes up, we really believe in just being responsive and whimsical in nature and just going to serve,” Ruffner said. “So, nothing on the radar for right now, but maybe in the future.”

Edited by Sarah Hallam shallam@themaneater.com

you violate the policy and you are caught, after a warning, what will happen is you'll either have the option to pay a fine or do community service, something along the lines of picking up cigarette butts,” MSA Academic Affairs senator Haydn Elsey said. “What this will allow is if you don't want to do either of those, you'll also have the ability to go through a free cessation program. By completing that program, your fine or community service will be dropped from your record.”

According to information from the 2017 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors, 16 percent of MU students are smokers. Of that 16 percent, about 6.8 percent are daily smokers. About half of those students want to quit but don’t know where to find resources to do so. While the Wellness Resource Center offers free cessation programs, they are relatively unadvertised on campus.

“I'd like to have something along the lines of having the cessation programs outlined and explained to students in Summer Welcome or even to have it plainly visible around school,” Elsey said.

Much of the policy making is still underway, and MSA still isn’t sure that

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JACKSON KINKEAD | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

students want a stricter enforcement of the current smoking policy. The organization plans to administer multiple polls to gauge student opinion prior to enacting any policy change.

“Whether their opinion is for or

against it, no matter what, my job is to represent the students,” Alsop said. “I can't effectively do my job unless I know what the students think.”

Edited by Sarah Hallam shallam@themaneater.com

6

CONCERT REVIEW

Sylvan Esso’s show made for an unforgettable night Alongside its musical talent and unique pop sound, the duo exuded incredible stage presence that engaged the whole room.

JANE MATHER-GLASS

Reporter

The indie-pop duo Sylvan Esso dazzled its audience at The Blue Note on Sept. 25 during a sold-out show with bright lights, pounding bass and killer dance moves.

Sylvan Esso is made up of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn. The North Carolina duo released its first self-titled album in 2014. Sylvan Esso’s sophomore album, What Now, came out in April.

Of the 20 songs in their discography, they played 17 at the show, which made for a well-rounded performance.

Some of Sylvan Esso’s biggest hits, including “Coffee,” “Hey Mami,” “Radio” and “H.S.K.T.” got the crowd dancing alongside Meath and Sanborn. These high-energy hits contrasted with more mellow songs like “Rewind” and “Uncatena.” Even during the slower songs, the audience just as passionately sang along.

While the stage wasn’t huge and the set was relatively simple, the show never had a dull moment.

Meath and Sanborn’s interactions were cheerful, comfortable and fun to witness. Meath’s voice was especially strong when heard live and Sanborn’s beats were engaging and powerful.

Meath even gave the audience a taste of her incredible dance moves during the instrumental break of “H.S.K.T.” When the two performed live, it was abundantly clear how passionate they both are about their music.

When this type of genuine passion and excitement comes through, it’s shared with the audience as well, which made for a fantastic evening.

“The Glow,” one of the songs from What Now, was a highlight of the show.

“I wrote this song about all the people I had crushes on in high school, and since the record came out they’ve all come crawling out of the woodwork,” Meath said. “So start a band, and you get to hang out with cool people from high school.”

It’s with these intimate details

What Now PHOTO COURTESY OF SYLVAN ESSO

that Meath comes from a place of authenticity. This was apparent in the duo’s live rendition of “Uncatena.” It displayed Meath’s impressive voice as she belted out the bridge and the last lines, “All I want from you’s a letter and to be your distant lover, that is all that I can offer at this time.” In this song and in so many

others, the authenticity is so strong that it’s impossible to fabricate.

The first song of the show’s encore was “Rewind.” Meath has previously mentioned the song’s message of learning about life through TV to understand how people communicate and move. The duo ended with “Play it Right,” which was lively and loud

–– the perfect way to end the show.

The show was intimate, fun and something different from Columbia’s music scene. If Sylvan Esso is ever back in town and you’re looking for an evening that’s outstandingly fun, don’t miss out on the chance to go.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | O CT. 4, 2017

7

FEATURE

From undergraduate to grad student, Jeff Perkins uses his voice at the LGBTQ Resource Center Jeff Perkins advocates for the LGBTQ community as graduate assistant at the LGBTQ Resource Center.

SIENA DEBOLT

Reporter

Working his second year as the graduate assistant at the LGBTQ Resource Center and finishing up his time as a grad student, Jeff Perkins uses his voice to help students who share his struggles from years ago.

Perkins realized the need for LGBTQ and marginalized identity representation on campus after seeing the lack of representation for queer and black students in the literature and assignments he was given as an undergraduate at MU. During that time, he spent time at the LGBTQ Resource Center and with other organizations that strive to make students feel welcome, such as the United Ambassador Student Recruitment Team, where Perkins was co-chair.

“We talked to prospective students of color that were considering Mizzou and we talked about what life is like as a person of color here, where do you find resources and community,” Perkins said.

As a young boy, Perkins grew up with the support of a single-parent household. While he went to public school every day in Kansas City, his mom returned to college to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“Growing up in Kansas City but also growing up being black and queer and in a low-income, predominantly black community, I saw the sacrifices my mom had to make to ensure that I had what I needed,” Perkins said.

“I remember going to class with my mom in the evenings when she had to go to class.”

Following in his mother’s footsteps, Perkins has invested his time in a career that focuses on helping other

queer and trans students find their niche in a college community, a place that’s often daunting to those navigating identity.

“My childhood was one where my mom encouraged me not only to take an investment in my education, but also take an investment in being supportive and being a helpful person to others,” he said. “I think that really influenced my beliefs and values.”

However, with a bachelor’s degree in English, it wasn’t always Perkins’ dream to become a college advisor.

After working for College Access in a program called Missouri College Advising Corps, Perkins found his calling.

“That’s when I realized that I really liked working with students; I really like doing this,” he said. “I work in a space that was so dear to me as an undergrad but I’m on the other side now.”

Mark Boyd, a fifth-year undergraduate student at MU and president of the Triangle Coalition, believes that because of Jeff’s influence on his character, he has become a better student and a stronger advocate for the LGBTQ community.

“Honestly, he has helped me get really organized, and it goes beyond just me finding out about my sexual orientation and my gender identity and expression,” Boyd said. “Last year when I first met him, I had zero confidence in myself, so I didn’t really know what I was doing. It took him to really make a path for me to really understand that.”

Throughout his undergraduate career, Perkins became familiar with the people who he went to for support.

Now, he is working alongside some of the people he called his mentors when he first stepped foot on campus in 2009.

“I try to foster a sense of belonging for students, especially queer and trans students of color attending predominantly white institutions

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because that’s something that I struggled to find,” he said. “The people who were my mentors are now my colleagues in the field, and that’s amazing that it’s come full circle.”

One of those mentors is LGBTQ Resource Center coordinator Sean Olmstead, who hired Perkins. “[Perkins] understands what it’s like to be a member of the LGBTQ community at Mizzou, so to be someone who serves the LGBTQ community, he’s well equipped because he understands what it’s like,” Olmstead said. “That knowledge really gives him the ability to better understand how we serve students.”

Perkins hopes to use his position to make changes before he leaves. With the preexisting Safe Space Training Program, where the Resource Center teaches other organizations how to be more welcoming toward LGBTQ and minority students, Perkins currently demonstrates the idea of representation of the LGBTQ community and marginalized identities that is needed in the classroom during these training sessions.

“I think that I’ve realized that there can be a collective frustration for marginalized students within higher education that is felt nationwide,” he said. “I think, given the recent history of Mizzou, people think that a lot of the problems are only isolated here, when it’s actually an overarching higher education issue that needs to be addressed.”

With his position as the graduate assistant, Perkins can use his voice as an outlet for his and other students’ identities through the Safe Space Training Program.

“I definitely make it a point to highlight the importance of understanding that thinking about LGBTQ inclusion is thinking about intersectionality, is thinking about how people’s identities influence their experience,” Perkins said.

“Everybody who is LGBTQ is not

Jeff Perkins PHOTO COURTESY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS

living the same. I make a point to talk about language and how you refer to the community.”

Although he may be ending his time as the graduate assistant for the LGBTQ Resource Center and saying goodbye to the University of Missouri, his work as an undergraduate and graduate student will not be forgotten. Perkins has learned things from working with the students that visit the LGBTQ Resource Center.

“I know that the things I struggled with as an undergrad and even as a grad student, knowing that other people are experiencing that is super important because not only does it help me understand and be able to help other people navigate the challenges, it also helps us find a collective solution, too,” Perkins said. “It also helps us to find that stronger sense of community through that.”

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

8 BOTTLE ROCKETS

Bottle Rockets talk music streaming, the simplicity of life Frontman Brian Henneman: “Give it up kids, you have no future!”

CLARE ROTH

Staff Writer

Crowd members raise their hands during a performance at the 2017 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. PHOTO BY EMMALEE REED | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

little guy,’” Henneman said.

“So I just pretty much wrote it about my dog and just the refrain of ‘Sometimes life is just this simple. It’s a bad

day, so what?’”

Sometimes it’s just that simple.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

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Enroll now for an 8-week course!

Classes start Oct. 23

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Programs offered online, at the Forum Shopping Center, & at Parkade Plaza

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day, and then I saw him sitting there, you know, squeaking his little toy, and I just realized ‘Shit, this ain’t bad. I mean, look at that

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“Give it up, kids, you have no future!” Henneman said when asked for any stories or words of wisdom about finding success as college students.

The Bottle Rockets have described themselves as “reporters of the Midwest,” hailing from Festus, Missouri.

However, the band is likely talented enough to have made it outside the Midwest. Guitarist John Horton was awarded “Best Electric Guitarist” in the Best of St. Louis feature of the Riverfront Times in 1998 and “Best Guitarist” in 2013.

But the band stayed and told the stories of the common man. “Indianapolis,” their most popular song, begins, “Got a tow from a guy named Joe / Cost sixty dollars hope I don't run out of dough / Told me ‘bout a sex offense put him three days in jail / Stuck in Indianapolis, hope I live to tell the tale.” These lyrics could only really make sense in the context of the Midwest and all of its oddities.

One of the first songs the Bottle Rockets played Saturday was “Dog.” Coming from their most recent album, South Broadway Athletic Club, the song is quite simple.

“I love my dog,” Henneman sings. “He’s my dog / If you don’t love my dog / That’s okay / I don’t want you to.”

Henneman said there’s no deeper metaphorical meaning to the song.

“I was just seemingly thinking I was having a bad

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Brian Henneman has been listening to Marshall Crenshaw since “back in the ‘80s when MTV sucked so hard, he was the only thing I liked.” This past Saturday, he performed with him at the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival.

Henneman is the frontman, songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the Bottle Rockets, a longtime alt-country fixture of the St. Louis music scene. After a few of their own songs, the Bottle Rockets welcomed Crenshaw, the man of the 1982 Top-40 hit “Someday, Someway” to the stage.

The Bottle Rockets, established in 1992, came to fame throughout the Midwest with similar bands Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and Sun Volt.

All had a similar alt-country rock sound and led a new movement defined essentially by songs about the workingclass, small-town man of the Midwest.

The Bottle Rockets describe themselves in their online bio as “too punk for country audiences, too genuine for the smug irony of the hipster scene, and too smart for the outdoor one-hitter rock festival crowd.”

Henneman said what keeps them going at this point is the fact that there’s nothing else to do.

“Too late to do anything different,” he said.

A bittersweet statement, maybe, because as Henneman went on, “You’ve gotta do what you can to stay in the music business these days.”

There was a time, he said, when you could make a living as a musician off record sales. The Bottle Rockets took a mid-career hit with the proliferation of music streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud and Pandora.

“When we started out you could buy this stuff, but somewhere around midflight all of a sudden the stuff that people used to buy, they didn’t have to buy anymore and just got it for free,” Henneman said.

He said he has some side gigs now to make it work. He works in a guitar shop and has a country cover band in St. Louis.

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T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | O CT. 4, 2017

Contact us at 660-248-6651 or enrollcges@centralmethodist.edu

www.centralmethodist.edu

9

T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | O CT. 4, 2017 BAND OF HORSES

Band of Horses left audience nostalgic and entertained Performing new music alongside songs from 2006 and 2007 made an audience member remember why they began listening to the band in the first place.

LIV JACKSON

Staff Writer

A household name in the world of indie-rock music, Band of Horses made its Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival debut Saturday.

With widely popular songs such as “The Funeral” and “No One’s Gonna Love You,” many people in the crowd were waiting in great anticipation for the show.

“I feel like Band of Horses was a big thing for me when I was 15,” festivalgoer Sam Hargett said. “It was like 2009 and I was hyped on them. In the last probably month and a half they’ve been coming up as a thing people are talking about.”

Columbia native Lingley Bennett is a regular at Roots N Blues.

She has been attending the festival since it began in 2006, before it was held at Stephens Lake Park, and she has been excited to watch it flourish into the large event it is today.

“It started when I was 13 and now I’m 23,” Bennett said. “It’s this thing you grew up thinking was cool.

Then you get older and you realize the significance, that this is in my

Band of Horses performs at the 2017 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. PHOTO BY FIONA MURPHY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

hometown and these big names, like Band of Horses, come to play these shows.”

Lead singer Ben Bridwell demonstrated that he understood the importance of Columbia to the Roots N Blues crowd.

“I come from a town called Columbia, South Carolina,” Bridwell said before beginning his set. “It’s

probably not as cool as Columbia, Missouri.”

Band of Horses delivered a performance that combined a balanced mix of its newer music and its older tracks that filled the audience with nostalgia from the beginning of the band’s career.

Demonstrated by the impressive turnout at the show, it is clear that

bringing well-known acts such as Band of Horses to a local festival like Roots N Blues encourages a large crowd to attend. The band had no trouble living up to the hype surrounding its set, and the reactions of the people in attendance proved that.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

THE MAVERICKS

The Mavericks add Latin sound to classic country at Roots N Blues Frontman Raul Malo’s unwavering vocals rocked Stephens Lake Park on Saturday.

ANNA SIRIANNI

News Copy Chief

If you’ve never watched a fully grown man rock out in the front row of a concert while wearing a Gateway Arch-themed balloon hat with two more balloon animals stacked on top, you probably are in the majority of the population.

If you have, however, you were likely at The Mavericks set at the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival on Saturday at Stephens Lake Park.

The Miami-born, Nashville-raised group played the second-to-last set on the Missouri Lottery Stage on Saturday night, drawing what appeared to be one of the largest audiences of the festival, peppered with tie-dye T-shirts and cowboy boots.

The Mavericks abstained from any grand entrances to start their performance and instead let the music do the talking with the pulsing beat of “Rolling Along.” One by one, nine band members sauntered onto the stage, effortlessly blasting their Cuban-inspired rhythms, along with two go-go dancers. Frontman Raul Malo finally emerged and took center stage as the audience was already dancing wildly.

The Mavericks preform at the 2017 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival on Saturday, Sept. 30. PHOTO

BY KATE SEAMAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Fans kept gyrating as The Mavericks started “Back In Your Arms Again” from their first album since 2004, In Time. The song’s thrilling liveliness paired with Malo’s steady, baritonefunk vocals made for an effortless, multi-thousand-person dance party.

Catchiness was key throughout the next song, “Dance in the Moonlight,” as the audience caught on to Malo’s repeated “Oohs” and “Ahhs” to sing along. Accordionist Michael Guerra served just enough cowbell, and two trumpeters perfectly balanced trills with powerhouse blasts.

This jam hooked the audience, allowing The Mavericks to slow it down.

“It’s a beautiful night for a waltz, isn’t it?” Malo said as he sat behind a keyboard to strike the opening chords of “Goodnight Waltz.”

Drummer Paul Deakin thrummed along with percussion brushes as Guerra mirrored Malo’s piano melody on accordion. “Goodnight Waltz” was mashed up with country music pioneer Ernest Tubb’s 1965 song “Waltz Across Texas.”

“When you look at me with those

stars in your eyes, I could waltz across Texas with you,” Malo sang.

The Mavericks didn’t stop adding their Americana-Western flair to classics there. Later in the set, they covered David Bowie’s “Heroes” and Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell.”

Berry’s song has been recorded by both Emmylou Harris and John Prine, who performed at this year’s Roots N Blues as well.

The party kept going with “As Long as There’s Lovin’ Tonight.” Two band members repeatedly high-fived with tambourines to add a metallic beat to the groove. The song made way for an instrumental portion starting with keyboardist Jeremy Dale McFadden, clad in a kelly green suit. McFadden rocked with his leg up in air while beating the keyboard like the world’s angriest masseur, followed by a battle of the brass, with two trumpeters and a saxophonist blasting. When Malo returned to the main microphone, a sea of audience hands shot in the air and were painted with strobe lights.

The Mavericks ended the set with hit “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” complete with a ‘60s-style dance battle between McFadden and Columbia-native go-go dancers “Sparkarella” and “Cherry Bopper.”

The audience chanted “One more!” to no avail once The Mavericks left the stage.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

OPINION

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

We want to hear your voice.

Submit a letter to the editor by emailing letters@themaneater.com.

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THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THE MANEATER COLUMNISTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD.

COLUMN

After what happened in Vegas, we need to talk about gun control The rate of people killed by guns in the U.S. is 19.5 times higher than that of similar high-income countries around the world. On Monday, a lone gunman killed over 50 people in the worst mass shooting by a single gunman in modern American history. It’s time to talk about gun control.

MADI BAUGHMAN

Opinion Columnist

Madi Baughman is a freshman journalism and political science major who writes about political and civil rights issues for The Maneater.

I went to bed on Sunday night, and everything was normal. I woke up Monday morning and found that the world had turned upside down again.

That morning, we all woke up to the news of an American tragedy in Las Vegas: the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history by a single gunman. With more than

50 people dead and hundreds more injured, we are left in heartbreak and shock, as we have been all too many times after witnessing horrors like this one.

Higher firearm ownership rates, made possible by lax gun sales regulations and gun control laws, are directly correlated with more shooting deaths. The rate of people killed by guns in the U.S. is 19.5 times higher than in similar high-income countries around the world, and we have the highest number of school shootings in the world, as well. Federal laws require background checks on all commercial gun sales — however, approximately 40 percent of all gun sales in the U.S. are made by unlicensed sellers. This leaves a lot of room for dangerous, unmonitored activity, such the “gun show loophole,” when private sellers do not have to get a license to sell, such as at a gun show or other events. There’s also the possibility of “straw purchases,” where people who cannot legally obtain guns get them through people who can.

So why does this affect Missouri?

While Missouri isn’t as dangerous as some other states in terms of the number of mass shootings conducted, our firearm death rate is well above the national average.

2013’s national firearm death rate in the U.S. was 10.64 per 100,000 people. Missouri’s was 14.56, and

this number will only continue to grow as long as the government relaxes regulations.

Tightening background check

LANE BURDETTE | VISUALS DIRECTOR

regulations and making it harder for people with a history of offenses to get guns wouldn’t do

anything but help people, and yet our representatives keep blocking gun control regulations. For years, Missouri had one of the nation’s strongest measures to regulate gun usage: a requirement that all handgun buyers had to get a gun permit by undergoing a background check at a sheriff’s office — but this was repealed in 2007. Unsurprisingly, the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research found that in the first six years after Missouri repealed this requirement, the gun homicide rate was 16 percent higher than it was before.

There will always be the argument that people who “really want guns” will get them no matter what, but taking important steps in prevention would significantly lower that number, and why wouldn’t you want to work toward the possibility of saving as many lives as possible, even if there will always be outliers? That’s like saying a robber who really wants to break into your house will get in no matter what; we still lock our doors at night.

After tragic situations like what happened in Vegas, the U.S. cannot afford to take chances when it comes to endangering innocent lives. Concerts should be places where people can go and enjoy themselves, not where they have to fear for their lives.

COLUMN

NFL players decide to kneel during national anthem, receive mixed reactions Many have been met with backlash since the beginning of national anthem protests.

ANNIE JENNEMANN

Opinion Columnist

Annie Jennemann is a freshman journalism and English major who writes about politics for The Maneater.

The debate amongst Americans about protesting the national anthem has gotten louder in the past week.

People are responding in many ways to NFL players from many teams kneeling or locking arms during the national anthem before games, some believing it’s a protest of the national anthem itself. However, it’s important to note that the reason behind the protest has nothing to do with the anthem, but racial inequality in America. The whole idea of kneeling came from the 2016 preseason, when former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick sat during the

national anthem to protest police brutality.

Eric Reid of the 49ers soon approached Kaepernick to get involved in the peaceful protest.

The two discussed how to use their platform as NFL players to provide a voice for and make a positive impact on the social justice movement.

After discussion and meeting with U.S. Army Green Beret Nate Boyer, Kaepernick and Reid decided to kneel instead of stand. According to Reid, kneeling is a “respectful gesture.”

The protests carried into the 2017 NFL season, and now players, coaches and even owners are participating by not only kneeling, but also locking arms. For example, the Dallas Cowboys, alongside owner Jerry Jones, locked arms and kneeled before the national anthem and stood with locked arms before their game

against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 25.

The response to the protests on social media has been huge, including a nationwide trending hashtag #takeaknee.

President Donald Trump has also joined in by tweeting responses to different teams kneeling or locking arms. As a response to the Dallas Cowboys, he said, “The booing at the NFL football game last night, when the entire Dallas team dropped to its knees, was loudest I have ever heard. Great anger.” Although the Cowboys did drop to their knees, they stood up for the singing of the national anthem, showing how they are not protesting the flag or the anthem; they are protesting police brutality.

Many Americans remain in support of the NFL players’ decision to take a knee before a game starts, but the

NFL and players participating are also receiving a lot of backlash. Some argue that kneeling is disrespectful to military veterans and the country as a whole. Others believe it’s just inappropriate for football players to protest in such a manner.

With all of the responses from people all over America, it is still important that the reason remains clear behind the protests during the national anthem, to protest racial inequality and discrimination in America. NFL players aren’t kneeling or locking arms to disrespect the United States or out of hatred for the troops that fight for this country.

They are kneeling for the many black victims of police brutality. They are kneeling, and will continue to kneel, for the discrimination that a great percentage of the United States faces every day.

SPORTS

Online this week: Coach Cuonzo Martin holds first press conference of men’s basketball season, golfer Julia Bower transitions to collegiate competition and more at themaneater.com

11

VOLLEYBALL

CROSS-COUNTRY

Munlyn and Caffey lead Mizzou volleyball’s elite blocking team

Hindman brings Olympic aspirations to cross-country Hindman has his sights set on Tokyo 2020 after competing in two straight Junior World Championships.

ANDERSON KIMBALL

Staff Writer

Missouri Tigers middle Alyssa Munlyn tips the ball during a game against the Winthrop Eagles at Hearnes Center. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Mizzou leads the SEC and is third in the NCAA in total blocks.

LIAD LERNER

Staff Writer

With Southeastern Conference play underway, the Missouri volleyball team is still growing into the 2017 season. Ranked No. 19 in the nation in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Top 25 poll, the defending

SEC champions have struggled thus far, earning just 10 wins in 17 games. With new faces receiving playing time, many aspects of the team are still developing. However, there is one area in which the Tigers have excelled.

Mizzou’s 204.5 total blocks this season currently lead the SEC and rank the Tigers third in the nation.

An average 3.01 blocks per set has the Tigers second in the SEC and 12th in the nation.

The strong numbers up front have come primarily from middle blockers Alyssa Munlyn and Kayla Caffey, who lived up to their position titles as they recorded a combined total of 167 blocks and average 2.47 blocks per set together this year.

Although personal glory is not the pair’s ultimate goal this season, their performances and accomplishments leave much to celebrate.

Team | Page 15

FOOTBALL

Dimetrios Mason dismissed from Missouri football team The sophomore wide receiver was dismissed for disciplinary reasons.

GARRETT JONES

Staff Writer

Even on a bye week, Missouri football’s 2017 struggles have continued.

PowerMizzou.com first reported Saturday morning that sophomore wide receiver Dimetrios Mason was dismissed from the team, citing disciplinary reasons.

Mason’s journey to Missouri was

an inspiring one. He received few collegiate football scholarship offers in 2016 before current secondary coach Ryan Walters made a lastminute pitch on signing day.

The receiver from Loganville, Georgia, made an immediate impact with the team, recording 47 catches for 587 yards in his freshman year, both of which were team records for receptions and receiving yards by a true freshman in a single season.

Through four games this season, Mason had been less of a factor, recording 13 receptions for just 119 yards. Nonetheless, the loss of his speed and playmaking abilities leaves

the fledgling Tigers offense with another hole to fill.

Junior wideout Emanuel Hall, who Mason had been sharing playing time with in 2017, will receive more playing time as a result of Mason’s dismissal.

Hall has recorded five receptions for 104 yards this season.

In their three-game losing streak, the Tigers have averaged a measly 10 points per game. Missouri will have an opportunity to improve that number in the team’s next game on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Kentucky.

Edited by Eli Lederman elederman@themaneater.com

Hindman wakes up for the long day ahead at 5:20 a.m. As a world champion triathlete and member of the Missouri men’s cross-country team, he doesn’t have a minute to waste.

He heads to cross-country practice in the morning, endures classes and homework, then finishes up the day with workouts either in the pool or on the bike. Hindman goes through the day with one goal in mind: Tokyo 2020.

After winning the junior ITU World Triathlon in 2016 and finishing 29th in this year’s championship on Sept.

16, Hindman hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympics as a triathlete.

A record-breaking athlete at Lafayette High School, Hindman took the next step toward an Olympic berth: finding a school that would allow him to compete in track and cross-country while also letting him pursue his dream as a triathlete.

That’s where Mizzou came in. A main reason why Hindman chose the Tigers was coach Marc Burns and the Missouri coaching staff’s willingness to let him focus on triathlon during parts of the cross-country and track seasons. “[Mizzou] is a fantastic school academically,” Hindman said. “I love everything about it. I love the team.

I have a good relationship with the team and with the coaches. I got on campus for my official visit and I felt like, ‘This is the school.’

Coaches were supportive of me doing triathlon.”

Burns wants to help Hindman reach his goal of being an Olympic triathlete while at Mizzou.

“We talked about [competing in triathlon during the cross-country season] during the recruiting process,” Burns said. “His mission is to be an Olympian as a triathlete and to win medals. He knows he needs to be one of the top 10K runners in the world in the triathlon to be able to be at the top of the podium at the Olympic games in the future.”

By allowing Hindman’s triathlon aspirations to coexist with his running career, the Tigers were able to welcome one of the most decorated freshman runners in Missouri track history.

Hindman is a seven-time individual

Run | Page 15

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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | OCT. 4, 2017

WRESTLING

HOW BRIAN SMITH MADE MIZZOU WRESTLING INTO A LOCAL MARKETING GIANT

A

s the ground level fills in, incoming fans are redirected to the balcony of one of the University of Missouri’s most iconic assembly halls. Among the goldand-black clad patrons already seated inside, a buzz of anticipation lingers in the air. Suddenly, the lights go down in Jesse Auditorium.

The show is about to begin.

The performers in this show aren’t actors though; nor are they musicians, dancers or speakers.

These entertainers are wrestlers.

Dual meets at historic Jesse Hall have been one of several marketing tactics employed over the years by Missouri wrestling to attract crowds and earn the program attention.

Despite compiling a 59-8 record over the last four seasons, the team, perhaps Mizzou’s strongest, has to deal with the challenges of being a non-revenue sport, often having to find unique ways to gain a following.

To meet those challenges, the program has embraced creative strategies and an innovative, albeit unusual, mentality.

“We're really trying to make it more than just a sporting event,” head coach Brian Smith said. “If we have to do some crazy things … that’s kind of what I have to do to bring attention to our sport, even though we do win often. We’re not the mainstream sport, so I'm gonna throw it in your face sometimes.”

Along with building the program

MANEATER FILE PHOTO

The Tigers will open the season with a meet at Mizzou Softball Stadium, continuing a tradition of events at unusual venues.

Story by Bennett Durando - Staff Writer into a national powerhouse over the last 19 years, Smith has proven to be a marketing mastermind behind many of his promotional events in recent seasons. His approach has produced results, with recorded crowds as large as 2,128 during his tenure, according to mutigers.com.

“I’m always scheming, always scheming,” Smith said with a grin.

“There’s always something going on.”

His core idea — selling wrestling as a grand entertainment spectacle — has taken many forms, ranging from alumni events to promotional giveaways to special ticket deals.

The most prevalent, however, has been holding meets and practices in atypical locations around campus.

Two seasons ago, while pregame festivities for an Oct. 10 MizzouFlorida football clash were in full swing, Smith brought his Tigers outside to the front lawn of Hearnes Center near Faurot Field so the public could see the team’s first practice of the season.

“Thousands of people walked by, but they would stop and they would watch practice,” Smith said.

“So there were a lot of people who maybe had not watched wrestling before, and they got to see us practice and see the intensity of the practice. That just drew a lot of attention to our program.”

The plan was to do the same thing the next year, but the idea evolved to an even bigger and better stage. After some deliberation and

planning, Smith was able to bring practice to the first floor of the Student Center.

“It was crazy, but it made it fun,” Smith said. “For our guys it

A lot of times we’re hidden over here in the fourth floor of Hearnes Center, and people don't see us.

And so it brings us to the people.

They’d say, ‘I didn't know we were

“WE’RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE THAN JUST A SPORTING EVENT. IF WE HAVE TO DO SOME CRAZY THINGS … THAT’S KIND OF WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO BRING ATTENTION TO OUR SPORT, EVEN THOUGH WE DO WIN OFTEN. WE’RE NOT THE MAINSTREAM SPORT, SO I’M GONNA THROW IT IN YOUR FACE SOMETIMES.” - HEAD COACH BRIAN SMITH was fun, and I know for a lot of students, it was an interesting thing to say, ‘Well, where’s my regular table? Right now there are two guys wrestling where I usually sit and eat lunch.’”

With tables pushed out of the way and replaced with wrestling mats, and even a big screen pulled down for the occasion, over a thousand people came throughout the day to see the Tigers wrestle.

“That was neat because professors and students were coming up and talking with me,” Smith said. “It got us in touch with the campus.

that good; I'll come watch a match.’

We’re just trying to draw some attention to our sport.”

Smith is currently working with Alan Petersen, the manager of many Campus Dining Services locations, to set a date for another such event this season. Petersen was Smith’s contact at the Student Center when planning last year’s event, too.

“Earlier this fall, Coach Smith was in the building and saw me, and we discussed about doing it again this year,” Petersen said. “I sent it for approval, which we have, and the wrestling staff is working

17

13

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | OCT. 4, 2017 on potential dates for this year’s practice. It’s a great event and I hope we can do it every year.”

And then there’s the Jesse Hall meets. The historic MU structure has played host to three of Mizzou’s duals in the last four years, offering an atmosphere unlike any other in collegiate sports.

The tradition began in 2013, when the Tigers were having trouble finding a location for their dual against Ohio; with a nationally ranked volleyball team laying claim to Hearnes in early December and basketball being played in Mizzou Arena, it looked like the wrestlers would have to resort to a local high school gym.

“Then all of a sudden somebody came up with the idea of the stage, so we ran over to the stage the next day and measured it,” Smith said.

“We knew it was gonna be tight, but we thought, ‘Okay, let’s have it at Jesse Auditorium.’”

Since then, Mizzou has also hosted Cornell and Virginia Tech on the stage. The Tigers are 3-0 at the unique venue, a record that includes one of the great moments in recent memory for Tiger Style wrestling.

In an instant classic against No. 14 Cornell, then-junior J’den Cox, who had just been bumped up a weight class, catapulted Mizzou from behind 17-10 to a dramatic 18-17 win with one of his signature moments as a Tiger, a walk-off technical fall in the dual’s final heavyweight match.

“The people were actually running up to the side of the stage and low-fiving him because he was up higher on the stage,” Smith said.

“So it was pretty cool, the ending with the crowd going crazy.”

Attendance at the Jesse Hall meets, which started at around 800 for the Ohio dual in 2013, has almost doubled over the last three years. Nearly 1,500 fans packed

into the 1,732-seat auditorium for last year’s clash with Virginia Tech.

Smith appreciates the atmosphere of these duals more than anything.

“It’s like watching a show, but it’s a show that you don’t know the outcome of,” Smith said. “Like when you go to a drama, you know how it’s gonna end; you’ve known it before. If you go to a concert, you know the songs that they’re gonna sing. For the staff there and the people that come to the match … you’re sitting in an auditorium that’s hosted some amazing events, but now they have a real NCAA competition there that you don't know the outcome of.”

The program’s promotional tactics are often focused on giving the fans a show. The “Beauty and the Beast” event, combining a Mizzou wrestling dual with a gymnastics meet, has resulted in turnouts with up to 7,000 spectators in the past, Smith said. There is no such event scheduled for this season, but Smith says it’s a priority to secure another Beauty and the Beast for next year.

“It’s kind of a three-ring circus atmosphere, where there’s always something going on,” Smith said. “There’s maybe a floor routine going on, and then also a wrestling match going on, and so it’s craziness. It is a crazy atmosphere to coach in because in the middle of the match, a guy will be getting a takedown and then all of a sudden this music starts playing and there's a girl dancing.”

The Tigers also utilize their successful alumni base to appeal to long-time followers of the program. A “Tigers with Titles” promotion last season provided fans with autographed posters of Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Michael Chandler, all former Tiger Style wrestlers who have won MMA

titles.

Every year, the team holds an alumni homecoming at one of its duals to further celebrate the program’s past. The occasion usually brings out 70-80 former wrestlers, Smith said. Some alumni even competed against 2014’s thencurrent 24-0 team in a promotional scrimmage — and won.

“WE’RE GONNA HAVE IT PACKED LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN PACKED BEFORE, BECAUSE WE CAN PUT PEOPLE ON THE INFIELD. OUR MATSIDE SEATS ARE GONNA BE ON THE INFIELD, AND THE MAT WILL BE OVER HOME PLATE.” - BRIAN SMITH “The older guys don’t let me forget that,” Smith said with a laugh.

Then there are the recent stars of the program, none more decorated than Cox. While the Olympic bronze medalist’s sheer presence often drew large crowds, marketing his image proved to be one of the most ingenious tactics in years for attracting fans. At a dual last season, attendants received a free Cox bobblehead.

“The lines were scary; we actually had to hire extra security,” Smith said. “My wife was out there saying you will not believe the lines that are out here, like an hour before the match. We ordered 500 at one

Head coach Brian Smith celebrates from the side of the mat during a home meet against Oklahoma State. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

point, and then I remember going, ‘This is J’den Cox. We’re going to have to buy more.’ We definitely hit the jackpot on that one.”

With a new season one month away, the team is still finding new ways to get the community’s attention. Jesse won’t host a dual this season, but the Tigers will open their 2017-18 campaign against Illinois at Mizzou Softball Stadium on Nov. 4, before the football team hosts Florida.

“Everybody’s out there tailgating, and you can just walk into the softball stadium,” Smith said. “We’re gonna have it packed like it's never been packed before, because we can put people on the infield. Our matside seats are gonna be on the infield, and the mat will be over home plate.”

Why is Smith so confident they will come? Part of the appeal, he says, is the knowledge that the team is always willing to think outside the box.

“I know that Mizzou fans, with my crazy things, they're starting to know me and think, ‘Let’s go check this out; coach Smith’s doing another looney bird thing,’” he said.

At the center of it all is a process: Grab people’s attention with stunts to reel them in, then give them a positive experience at meets that will motivate them to return — and bring friends.

To provide that experience, the program is even working to add to the viewing opportunities at Hearnes. After recently instituting matside seating, the team is now arranging a lounge area for fans with matside tickets. The lounge will sell alcoholic beverages, as well as Mizzou wrestling-themed food items such as Ben Askren curly fries (due to his curly hair) and the J’den Cox slice of pizza (based on Cox sneaking off to get a piece of pizza before competing in the NCAA finals, Smith says).

“There will be a story behind all the foods and we’ll have fun with it, and make it so people can socialize,” Smith said. “We want it to be an event where people enjoy coming and bringing their family.”

The program’s stunts appeal to all audiences, with promotions such as youth clinics, pre-dual amateur meets and military groups with Marine-led practices.

Since Smith took over the program in 1998, it’s been all about elevating Mizzou wrestling to a new level, both on the mat and in the seats.

“When I first got here, I knew everybody by their first name in the stands,” Smith said. “We were wrestling on the track. It was kind of almost oppressive that we couldn’t even get into the facilities, but we did things to promote. Now we have a solid fanbase. I just think that we have a really good product, and I'm going to find ways to get people to watch it.”

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com

14

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | O CT. 4, 2 0 1 7

SWIMMING

Senior swimmer Hannah Stevens poised for best season yet Stevens looks to build upon a successful summer overseas.

ALEX GELABERT

Staff Writer

Qualifying for the FINA World Championships, earning three medals at the World University Games and being named to the swimming 201718 USA National Team, Missouri senior Hannah Stevens had a pretty memorable summer. But if you ask her about it, you won’t hear much about the hardware.

“I think this summer I learned a lot,” Stevens said. “Going into the World Championships in Budapest, I was kind of wide eyed, not really knowing what to expect … It helps me realize what other things I can do to start preparing [better].”

Stevens credits her recent success to years of hard work and family influences.

“My dad swam a little bit in college … and he got us into the sport,” Stevens said. “I saw my [older] brother and sister, grew up seeing [them swim] and kind of just fell right into it.”

Going into her freshman year of high school, Stevens began swimming the 100-yard backstroke, an event in which she would find great success throughout high school. Stevens finished her high school career with four individual state titles, two of

these in the 100-yard backstroke, and the Ohio state record time of 53.87 in the same event.

When it came to making a college decision, Stevens chose Missouri over others because of the chemistry among coaches on the swim and dive team and the campus.

“The coaches — I’m very biased, but I don’t think you could find a better coaching staff in the country that meshes as well as they do,” Stevens said. “And there’s the campus.

I think the campus is actually one of the most beautiful campuses in the country; I just fell in love with it.”

Stevens’ first three years at Mizzou saw her improve upon her times in multiple events, shaving over a second off of her 100- and 200-meter backstroke times. Additionally, Stevens swam season-best times in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke her junior year.

Looking ahead to the regular season, Stevens believes Mizzou can compete with the best programs in the country.

“I think we’re looking great,” Stevens said. “We’re hoping for some pretty big things this year: top-three SEC. We want to definitely try as hard as we can. We’ve always been so close to top 10 at NCAAs.” As for herself, Stevens has high hopes for her senior year, with the first regular season meet against South Carolina and Arkansas just 11 days away.

Missouri Tigers swimmer Hannah Stevens does the backstroke during a swim meet at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Her performance placed her as the second fastest American in 2015.

COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS

“Individually, I just want to see how far I can go,” Stevens said.

“Coming into college, I never would have guessed I’d be in the position I am now. It’s kind of exciting going in to see what will happen.”

Mizzou swim and dive head coach Greg Rhodenbaugh hopes Stevens further improves her skills and technique in the upcoming season. “[She has] been a great, great swimmer for us, one of the fastest swimmers in multiple events,” Rhodenbaugh said. “I would hope

that her senior year is just one more step. She’s doing a great job already but just taking a step forward like seniors do.”

After a successful summer overseas, Stevens has stepped firmly into the spotlight, ready to kick-start her senior campaign. “[Stevens is] a great swimmer, but she’s got more she can do,” Rhodenbaugh said. “I think she knows that.”

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com

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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | OCT. 4, 2017

TEAM

Continued from page 11

“I don’t really think about stats too much,” Munlyn said. “But I have worked so hard, and I take pride in that. Stopping someone from doing what they want to do is the best feeling for me.”

Blocking is one of the most important aspects of volleyball, according to Munlyn. When a blocker “roofs” an opponent (blocking the ball straight down for a kill), it can get the team and the crowd even more excited than a powerful spike. “[Blocking is] the most momentum-changing thing you can do [on the court],” Munlyn said.

But being a blocker

RUN

Continued from page 11 state champion and was the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year for boys cross-country in Missouri as a senior.

Hindman said running crosscountry and track has been a big help to his triathlon performance.

“The biggest thing for me is cross-country taught me how to finish a race strong, something I struggled with at the beginning of high school,” Hindman said.

Hindman’s ability to finish strong was a major reason why he won the world championships in 2016.

Hindman was in 20th place going into the 5K run, the final leg of the triathlon.

He managed to pick off everyone in the lead pack and run away with the world championship.

Another example of Hindman’s finishing ability came when he ran at the

involves much more than just the highlight-reel, explosive plays that everyone remembers.

It’s also important for blockers to have their hands up during every single hit in order to limit the angles and the amount of space open to the opposing hitter.

“It slows down the game,” Caffey said. “If you’re getting touches, everything is like a free ball so it just makes everyone else’s job easier.”

Munlyn, a junior, is continuing to build on an already established blocking career for Mizzou in 2017; she finished each of her first two seasons as a Tiger ranked in the top 40 in the NCAA in total blocks. In her freshman and sophomore seasons, Munlyn averaged an impressive 1.16 and 1.25

blocks per set, respectively, and she has seen a significant increase in production this year.

Munlyn’s 108 total blocks this season leads the SEC and is second best in the NCAA, while her 1.59 blocks per set ranks second best in the SEC and sixth best in the NCAA. She credits this improvement in her performance to the work she puts into blocking during practices.

“We have been working on discipline,” Munlyn said.

“It’s just learning where to put our arms, and timing and stuff like that. Just doing all those little things really produces a good outcome.”

Unlike Munlyn, however, redshirt freshman Caffey did not start this season with a strong blocking legacy.

Arcadia Invitational in Los Angeles as a senior. Hindman finished second of 33 in a field featuring 18 state champions from across the country and was propelled by a 58-second final lap.

Hindman’s high school coach, Sean O’Connor, recalled watching the race in disbelief.

“It was crazy,” O’Connor said. “He hit a whole ‘nother gear and he just started going faster and faster. He was in 10th and then he moved to eighth, sixth, third, and then all of a sudden he finished second. It was incredible.”

While Hindman was running in high school in Saint Louis, O’Connor was impressed at how quickly Hindman improved over his four years and also sees a lot of improvement ahead for Hindman.

“He improved year after year,” O’Connor said. “For him, who knows? He’s so good, nothing surprises you.

I could believe him doing anything.”

A hallmark for Hindman

is his mental toughness.

Jenny Weber, head coach of Z3 Triathlon Team and Hindman’s triathlon coach, has been working with Hindman on triathlon skills in St. Louis as well as coaching Hindman at summer triathlon camps in Des Moines, Iowa.

Webber noticed that Hindman was extremely disciplined and had an unteachable desire to compete.

“I recognized in Austin something that is difficult to coach: It’s this ability and desire and want to win,” Webber said. “He is genetically gifted and he has a champion mentality.

I’ve seen it with a lot of the Olympians and great athletes I’ve coached and it’s something they all have.”

Burns has been impressed with Hindman’s work ethic and believes that it will help inspire his teammates. Burns also said he thinks Hindman can be an immediate contributor who will help the team as it makes its postseason push.

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“I didn’t think of myself as a strong blocker when I came to play here,” Caffey said.

“That’s where Alyssa and I were different; I thought of myself as more of an offensive middle and Alyssa was more well-rounded, but especially defensive. But I think that I am growing in that area because we hammer good blocking technique in practices.”

Caffey has focused primarily on watching the ball come out of the opposing setter’s hands and staying mentally attentive. The results have been a steady improvement in the weakest aspect of her game. Her 59 total blocks and .87 blocks per set are ranked sixth and 19th in the SEC, respectively.

During the season, Caffey and Munlyn spend a lot of

time helping each other get better. In the locker room before matches, the two can be found game-planning and exchanging tips. Off the volleyball court, the two middles are best friends, which makes for a high level of chemistry on the court.

“We’re just genuinely happy for each other,” Caffey said. “Playing with her is so much fun when we are as close as we are.”

With Munlyn and Caffey each playing at the top of their games, the defense they provide will continue to be an intimidating force for Missouri and to opposing hitters. For the rest of the Tigers, the stability up at net will bring the team comfort.

Edited by Eli Lederman elederman@themaneater.com

Austin Hindman COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS

“He’s not a talker; he’s a doer,” Burns said. “He’s a leader by example. His work ethic inspires everybody.

He’s a workhorse; the guy is a beast. We expect him to be in our front group right away and to work hard.”

Hindman’s biggest goal once he begins competing for Mizzou is to be an immediate contributor who will add depth to the top of the men’s team. “[I want to] try to score points now for the team,”

Hindman said. “I want to do whatever I can to help the team and be running my best.”

Burns said the plan for Hindman is to transition him back to the team slowly and to have him back for the Southeastern

Conference

Championship on Oct. 27.

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com