THE MANEATER NOVEMBER 1, 2017 • THEMANEATER.COM
PHOTO BY LANE BURDETTE | VISUALS DIRECTOR
SAFETY
MUPD opens substation in Student Center The station will allow officers to be more visible and available for students, Dean of Students Jeff Zeilenga said. STEPHI SMITH
Staff Writer
The MU Police Department has set up a substation on the first floor of the MU Student Center, located along
the wall by the Information Center. The station was first set up on Oct. 9, according to MUPD’s Twitter account. Dean of Students Jeff Zeilenga assisted in funding and setting up the station. MUPD Major Brian Weimer said the police chief officially sent in a request to the Student Center this past summer, but Zeilenga said there’s been discussion for a substation since the Student Center first opened in 2010. There is no set schedule for when
an officer will be available at the station, although the department wants someone there as much as possible, Weimer said. Staffing depends on how busy the officers are and when they have time to sit and speak with students, he said. Zeilenga said the substation “allows [MUPD] officers to be more visible and accessible to students.” Sophomores Rebekah Green and Kayla Young said they have seen officers sitting at the substation before. However, they’re not entirely
COMMUNICATIONS STUDY
MU study proposes method for coping with miscarriage Assistant professor Haley Horstman: “Opening the channels of communication is really important so that you can provide perspective and that you can provide support for your partner.” LAUREN CLERC
Staff Writer
A study by an MU professor delved into how heterosexual couples cope with the trauma of miscarriage as well as examining how men handle their partners’ grief along with their own. Haley Horstman, assistant professor of interpersonal and family communication, and Amanda Holman, assistant professor in the communication studies department at Creighton University, found that of the methods tested, “communicated perspective-taking” is the most effective way for couples to understand each other after loss.
Haley Horstman, assistant professor of interpersonal and family communication. PHOTO COURTESY OF MU DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION
According to the American Pregnancy Association, one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage. While miscarriage does cause physical pain for the mother, it is not limited to a health concern. It also puts a mutual strain on both parents emotionally. Horstman said couples who suffer a miscarriage experience intense grief, yet they may not receive a
lot of social support. Due to this, couples may feel unable to share their experiences, giving a miscarriage the title of an invisible loss. “Opening the channels of communication is really important so that you can provide perspective and that you can provide support for your partner,” Horstman said. The study defines communicated perspective-taking as similar to empathy in the way that it requires understanding. The distinction lies in trying to understand thoughts rather than emotions. This method requires listening to a significant other, validating their ideas and asking questions about their experience. The research found that practicing this in conversation has been linked to benefits in personal and relational well-being. For example, individuals who experienced increased CPT with their partners reported greater satisfaction in the relationship overall. CPT allowed couples to positively reframe the circumstances of a negative event, benefiting them
STUDY | Page 4
sure of its purpose. Green and Young haven’t seen the officers do much other than computer work and speak with one another, they said. However, Young said she did see one student approach the desk to inquire about parking. Green also said that because there are no set shifts for when an officer will be posted, she doesn’t think it serves its original intent for students.
MUPD | Page 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Drew Lock wins the Manning Award Star page 14
PHOTO BY LIA WALDRUM | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Citizen Jane Film Festival reviews pages 8-9