THE MANEATER
FEBRUARY 14, 2018 • THEMANEATER.COM
MSA
PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
Joseph Sell named new BEC chair The confirmation followed the resignation of former chair Jessica Dennis over winter break. CAITLYN ROSEN
Staff Writer
Joseph Sell was confirmed as the new chair of the Missouri Students Association Board of Elections Commissioners in full senate on Feb. 7. His confirmation comes after former chair
Jessica Dennis resigned due to personal reasons over winter break. The resignation of former MSA speaker Hunter Windholz slowed down the process of appointing a replacement for Dennis. “I had a request from members in the senate to come in and fill the seat after the BEC chair had left,” Sell said. “I said sure because I had experience as the BEC vice chair, and I felt I could do a fair job in the rushed situation that we are in.” Berry Brooks was selected to be vice BEC chair but will not be confirmed until the next senate meeting on Feb. 21 due to absence. Sell
hopes to appoint a second vice chair as well. Despite appointing a new chair in the middle of a term, MSA members said they anticipate a smooth transition. “I don’t think having a new chair will make all that big of a difference,” said Mathew Swan, Senate Operations Committee chair. “The fall and spring elections are so different. senate elections are hardly contentious, and presidential elections in the past have been.” The new BEC elections handbook, bill 57-28,
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ENROLLMENT
Increase in applications has university officials optimistic MU’s increase in applications this year has led to a better outlook for the university.
made MU more attractive to some
the 2015 protests could have had
a lot of work to overcome those perceptions.” As for the effects of the application increase, Basi said this will most likely lead to an increase in enrollment this coming fall. While the size of this increase is still uncertain, the university will be working until the end of May to boost the percentage of accepted students who enroll at MU by keeping in touch with students and offering more help in the matriculation process. In response to the likelihood of higher enrollment, MU announced in a UM System Board of Curators meeting that next year it will reopen six of the seven residence halls that were offline this academic year. Some of these closed residence halls were rented by fans during football games, and next year the university plans to rent out the remaining hall, Responsibility, to MU Health Care as an administrative building.
Basi said it was hard to tell if
that “we certainly feel we’ve done
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JACOB HORTON
Reporter
Freshman applications at MU have risen 16.8 percent in comparison with last year’s numbers at this time, according to an MU News Bureau press release. Christian Basi, director of the MU News Bureau, said increased recruitment and new affordability initiatives could have played a role in encouraging more students to apply. MU has sent representatives to more high schools in Missouri and has tried to maintain greater contact with prospective students this year. The university’s new affordability initiatives, such as lower housing costs and scholarships for low-income and out-of-state students, have also
students, Basi said.
an impact on applications, but
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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 14, 2018
STUDENT-RUN BUSINESS
Students’ business turns video games into tool for youth development
The Student Voice of MU since 1955
The program plans to put on six weeks of summer camps and a live eSports event.
Vol. 84, Issue 19 G210 Student Center • Columbia, MO 65211 573.882.5500 (phone) • 573.882.5550 (fax) editors@themaneater.com www.themaneater.com
GALEN BACHARIER
Twitter: @themaneater Instagram: @themaneater Snapchat: @the.maneater facebook.com/themaneaterMU
Staff Writer
Most students’ video game experiences take place in their dorm rooms or apartments with close friends. Juniors Ben Brooks and Joe Chee have something different in mind with their business, Ukatsu: a youth development program for gamers. Ukatsu, which uses the Japanese word “katsu” to create the play on words “you win,” describes its mission as “to encourage the positive problem solving and social interaction that comes from being a part of the gaming community.” It was created as a successor to a previous video game-centered program in the summer that Brooks and Chee both worked at as camp counselors. After the original program ended, the two decided to start their own year-round program. “We couldn’t bear the thought of leaving those kids without any kind of infrastructure,” Brooks said. The business has a variety of programming, the most prominent being its summer camps, where participants compete and cooperate in various video game titles to build important skills. This coming summer, Ukatsu plans to put on six weeks of camps, up from the four weeks last summer in the business’s first year of operation, with each camp taking 30 participants, Brooks said. This year, the camps will run out of the company’s new location on Grindstone rather than out of the Columbia Career Center, where they were held last year. Brooks said the camps, along with the rest of the business’s programming, serve children and teenagers ages 8 to 18. “Obviously, we have to interact with them differently and with different kinds of curriculum … We segment our summer camps based on those ages,” Brooks said. Besides the summer camps, Ukatsu has also hosted various gaming communities around Columbia, such as the Mizzou Smash and League of Legends clubs. Brooks said the organization’s main project at the moment, however, is an upcoming eSports event for the game League of Legends, partnering with
THE MANEATER
The Maneater is the official student publication of the University of Missouri and operates independently of the university, student government, the School of Journalism and any other campus entity. All text, photos, graphics and other content are property of The Maneater and may not be reproduced without permission. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the University of Missouri or the MU Student Publications Board. “Imagine the things a werewolf would do to your butthole.”
Reporters for The Maneater are required to offer verification of all quotes for each source. If you notice an inaccuracy in one of our stories, please contact us via phone or email. Editor-in-Chief Victoria Cheyne Production Coordinator Cassie Allen Copy Chiefs Sam Nelson David Reynolds Anna Sirianni MU junior Ben Brooks discusses his youth development program for gamers. PHOTO BY PAIGE SAILORS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Columbia and Jefferson City public schools. Much of Ukatsu’s p rogramm i ng f oc us e s around competitive titles such as League of Legends and Overwatch, and for good reason. Besides their immense popularity and easy access, they help build developmental skills, Brooks and Chee said. “These competitive titles allow a lot of kids to be in a social environment where they can interact with each other in a team perspective,” Brooks said. However, during summer camps, games such as Mario Kart are available for younger and less competitive gamers. As the company continues to grow, expanding its programming and even gaining its own location to host camps in Columbia, Chee and Brooks, roommates and business partners, remain at the center of it all, providing much of its direction. “My role and Ben's role are similar,” Chee said. “We do it all, really. A specialty I bring, however, is the media production. As a former photographer and videographer, I produce most of the media content that comes from the company.” Ukatsu has also earned support from local Columbia business resources and already-established gaming communities.
“All the support we’ve had is community support, some of our parents and kids have been the most supportive in telling other parents to get our name out there,” Brooks said. “We’ve also had help from the [Missouri Innovation Center] and the [Small Business and Technology Development Center] downtown. There’s a lot of resources in Columbia that are designed to help emerging small businesses, and those have been huge.” Chee and Brooks said they have no doubt there’s success in store for the company in the future and believe they will have a hand in defining the role of video games in youth and family development. “We will one day be the community for young gamers and their parents to thrive in,” Chee said. “Whether it's a tournament, personal training, ‘life-coaching,’ it's going to make an impact through positive influence.” According to Brooks, that positive influence will remain focused on one word that keeps appearing: balance. “That’s what it’s all about, is teaching balance through video games,” Brooks said. “They’re not going to go away, so we help connect parents to kids by turning games into a positive tool for growth.” Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com
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NEWS
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Online this week: Student volunteers offer free tax preparation services to fellow students, faculty and community members through MU Extension. Read about this and more at themaneater.com.
RELIEF
New MU Relief for Africa chapter to build latrines in Ethiopia this summer Nisha Patel, MU Relief for Africa president: “We want to go into a particular community in Ethiopia, and we want to build these latrines because Ethiopia faces open defecation as one of its major concerns.” ALLISON CHO
Staff Writer
MU’s newly formed Relief for Africa chapter is aiming to send its members to Adama, Ethiopia, this summer. The organization hopes to build latrines there that will improve public health conditions as well as educate the community on environmental pollution and personal hygiene. RFA is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that seeks to improve education, healthcare and living conditions for underprivileged communities in Africa. Many of its chapters
are also in Michigan, which makes the MU chapter unique in its location and mission. “The MU chapter is different because we focus on sustainability,” said Nisha Patel, president of the RFA chapter at MU. “Our goal is very, very clear: We want to go into a particular community in Ethiopia, and we want to build these latrines because Ethiopia faces open defecation as one of its major concerns. We saw the issue, and we want to fix it.” However, funding is not easy for the new organization. It is having a Valentine’s Day bake sale Feb. 13-14 and collect cans on Thursday and Friday nights, Patel said. It also hopes to organize a 5K run in the near future. “We’re taking every avenue possible, but we are also talking to our local businesses and in contact with the Rotary Club in Columbia,” Patel said. Stephen Jeanetta, RFA’s faculty advisor, touched on the possibility of reaching out to more groups in Columbia. “[RFA’s] funding is a little nebulous at this point,” Jeanetta said. “There’s a
GRAPHIC BY // SARA MARQUARDT Facts from Borgen Project and Relief for Africa-Mizzou Chapter
number of groups in town they could approach that can support that kind of project as long as they feel like it’s pretty well-developed and going to make an impact. Jeanetta is an associate professor at MU Extension whose work focuses on community development. According to Patel, Jeanetta’s experience in developing sustainable projects with students made him a great fit for RFA’s faculty advising
VOTE
position. “I think it’s a neat group [that] has a lot of potential,” Jeanetta said. “I’ll do whatever I can to see them get some success out of it.” The MU chapter of RFA’s long-term goal is to develop a strong connection with Adama while making an impact over time, Patel said. Locally, she talked about engaging citizens and students with the project, including reaching out to
other student organizations. “Since our organization particularly targets Ethiopia, we want to get different African organizations involved because a lot of them have a lot of great resources,” Patel said. “We don’t want to just go in and immediately think we can change the world. We want to understand the culture and the people.” For Patel, RFA means more
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PROVOST
GSA and GPC vote on resolutions Provost search committee hosts forum for undergraduate students to modify merger proposal The search committee, consisting of 21 students, staff and faculty members, is projected to identify final candidates by May.
Members of both organizations are now revising specific resolutions in preparation for the proposal’s implementation.
STEPHI SMITH
University News Editor
MAWA IQBAL
Staff Writer
The Graduate Professional Council discussed and voted Feb. 6 on specific resolutions to a proposal that would dissolve the Graduate Student Association into GPC during its General Assembly meeting Feb. 6. As part of the resolution, the executive boards of
The 2017 GPC executive board. PHOTO COURTESY OF MU GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL
both organizations must present the proposal “in tandem to the representative bodies of each organization at their regularly scheduled meetings of January 30, 2018 and February 6, 2018, respectively.”
voted to adopt certain resolutions to the proposal with respect to GPC bylaws. GPC President Alex Howe explained resolutions 1718-04, 1718-05 and 1718-06, which dealt with the functions of
At the meeting, the General Assembly
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The search committee for MU’s next provost held a search forum Wednesday for undergraduate students to share their thoughts and ideal qualities for a potential candidate. Tim McIntosh, UM System director of executive initiatives, and Missouri Students Association President Nathan Willett facilitated the forum at the MU Student Center, prompting students to provide their opinions on the search process and qualities of candidates. MU has set up a search committee consisting of 21 students, deans, faculty and staff
members. The committee will choose candidates, according to a statement made by Chancellor Alexander Cartwright on Dec. 20. Willett said he was there as a student representative and that he wanted to hear from other students about how the student body perceives the role of the provost. “I want what’s best for this campus and what’s best for the students,” Willett said. Junior Jennifer Sutterer said she would like to see more interaction between undergraduate and graduate students because she hasn’t seen much in her time at MU. She said it could be beneficial for the university because it would direct undergraduates to MU’s graduate program, as opposed others. Willett also said his role in MSA involves a lot of working with the provost regarding potential policy changes or introductions. For example, in 2012, MSA
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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 14, 2018
“[SELL’S] LITERACY OF THE BYLAWS AND THE BEC HANDBOOK IN ADDITION TO HIS ABILITY TO STAY OBJECTIVE IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS WILL LEAD THE STUDENT BODY THROUGH THE HISTORICALLY TUMULTUOUS ELECTION SEASON.” — SPEAKER TAYLOR TUTIN
was passed in senate on Wednesday. The handbook proposed an amendment capping campaign spending at $1,000. The Senate, however, later voted to remove it. “There were some big changes from the handbook that was sent out in the Monday report and the one we were expected to vote on during full senate,” senator Abigail Shaw said. “Some of the changes caused a lot of disagreement. Personally, I think it would have been fine had we gotten didn’t get it on time.” the full handbook on Monday, but due The handbook also set the MSA to the new BEC chair appointment election for later in March. The and a few other small issues, we election was previously held the first
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The possible increase in enrollment would have a positive impact on MU’s current budget woes, but challenges unrelated to low enrollment, such as Gov. Eric Greitens’ proposed cuts in state funding to the UM System, are expected to persist, Basi said. These cuts are part of Greitens’ budget proposal, and while this proposal
is by no means destined to be law, the governor would like to cut $43 million from the UM System’s funding for the 2019 fiscal year. Students on campus are excited about the likelihood of increased enrollment, but they have their hesitations, most of which revolve around access to classes. Freshman Molly Stawinoga is worried because of the difficulty she already has trying to enroll in certain classes. While she is happy about the positives of a higher enrollment, she wanted to know whether MU could
week of March. “The election was moved to accommodate the time that was required to appoint a new BEC chair
accommodate such an increase. During a UM System Board of Curators meeting on Feb. 2, university officials discussed the issue of waitlists for classes. Although not in the context of the increase in applications, one possible solution given to this issue was greater access to online classes, which could allow more flexibility in the schedules of students and professors. While many of the effects look promising, at this point officials of the Enrollment Management &
following the unexpected resignation of the last,” senate speaker Taylor Tutin said. Despite the changes in the handbook, senate members are confident in the abilities of Sell to carry out all necessary duties of BEC chair. “Joe is an incredibly qualified candidate because of his previous experience with MSA and MSA elections,” Tutin said. “His literacy of the bylaws and the BEC handbook in addition to his ability to stay objective in stressful situations will lead the student body through the historically tumultuous election season.” Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com
Strategic
Development
advisory
council said it’s too early to be certain about the causes and effects of this increase in applications. The council is holding off on drawing conclusions
until
it
has
more
information about the situation, said Chrissy Kintner, assistant to the vice provost of EMS Development. Edited by Stephi Smith ssmith@themaneater.com
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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 14, 2018
AFRICA
continued from page 3
than a summer trip and community development. She sees it as an
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a new assistant director position, transition privileges for the outgoing GSA president and the new budget, respectively. All three resolutions were adopted by a majority vote. The proposal as a whole outlines the process by which GSA and its functions will be dissolved into GPC, as well as specific details on transition provisions, board positions, funding, recognitional awards and failsafe clauses. The changes listed in the blueprint will be effective at the beginning of the next fiscal year, July 1. The general assemblies of GPC and GSA voted to pass the merger proposal last December. A similar
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worked with the president to incorporate the MU Religious Observance Policy. The policy states that “faculty is encouraged to excuse students who have a conflict with a class period, test or activity because of these obligations.” The provost is expected to work directly with students in a variety of ways, such as traveling office hours, McIntosh said. He referenced 2014 discussion sessions held by former Provost Garnett Stokes that were open for faculty, staff and students “to talk with the provost about any topic of interest,” according to the Office of the Provost website. Willett said he hopes to work with the next provost more directly on student issues such as course evaluations. He said last fall, he didn’t fill out evaluations because he didn’t see where his opinions would be taken and who would review them. “I think that with the upcoming [provost], we’ll be seeing that and things like that take more priority,” Willett said. McIntosh also explained how the search committee chooses and narrows down candidates. First, the committee hosts listening sessions, including public forums, to hear from students and staff on who they want representing and working with their campus. From there, it’s a lot of “interrupting people’s lives,” McIntosh said. The committee will email current provosts working at other schools,
organization that “really defines you as an individual and leader.” “It really instills that student leadership, not just in me, but in every member in RFA,” Patel said. “The fact that I’m seeing such amazing individuals come to me with
these ideas and the belief that we can make our project work this summer are things I already appreciate from our organization.” Individuals who are interested in getting involved can email the organization at rfamizzou@gmail.
com or attend one of its biweekly
proposal was presented to the executive boards of GPC and GSA in 2011 but was voted against by GSA. GSA President Sarah Senff, who was at the General Assembly meeting Tuesday, cited the agreement during the resolution discussion as a positive indicator of how the proposal’s implementation will be received. “The margin by which all of our resolutions and changes to governing documents passed in both groups was nearly unanimous,” Senff said. “I think graduate students see this as way to eliminate the confusion that came between the organizations.” One of Senff’s hopes with this merger is that any confusion about which organization to contact when programming and planning events will be eliminated. She also foresees this consolidation as fostering a good sense of teamwork. “I think we’re moving into a place of good camaraderie and good
collaboration,” Senff said. “I do think that we have more planning to do, but we’re prepared to do that.” After some concerns from members last year about the proposal being made behind closed doors, Senff is pushing for more visibility of the process moving forward. “We’re trying to be very transparent with our plans,” Senff said. “Everything we do will be reported back to our general assemblies. It’s an effort that we’re trying to hear every opinion on the matter.” Katherine Perry, who was president of GSA during the 2016-17 academic year, spent her presidency trying to rebrand GSA as a separate body from GPC. She and the GSA executive board at the time were trying to “redevelop it as something that was very clearly for professional development or grad students.” Perry said she believes she left the organization in a positive, forward
direction. Because of this, Perry was especially upset that Senff, who became president after Perry, would choose to dissolve the organization. “We were pretty excited about the future and leaving it in the hands of people who we thought would grow [GSA],” Perry said. “We were surprised at just how adamant the new GSA board seemed to be with being on board with this.” Despite this, Perry said she hopes only for the best with this unification. She maintains that the ultimate goal, no matter which organization, is to serve graduate workers. “It is important to give GPC leadership the opportunity to demonstrate that [merging] was best for graduate students,” Perry said. “They now have the [responsibility] to do right by graduate students.” Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com
as well as other people holding prominent academic positions, such as deans and chancellors, to ask if they would consider applying or know someone who might want to. McIntosh said the university will contact between 400 and 500 people, most of whom will decline the offer. About two or three dozen people will apply and the search committee will then narrow down those applications to eight to 12 people, he said. “We need a team who will be able to take wide-angle lens on a group of candidates and be able to choose the best,” McIntosh said. Chancellor Alexander Cartwright will look at the committee’s choices and narrow that down to three or four final candidates. At this point in the search process, McIntosh said the search committee will also do what is called candidate vetting, in which they will call references and other people the candidates have worked with to gauge how they work with other people. The final candidates will then present to MU students and staff on potential acts they would plan to carry out if hired. Cartwright and a few select others from the search committee will then decide who is hired, McIntosh said. McIntosh said the final candidates should be announced by spring Reading Day. The person hired as provost would then be hired for the 2018-19 academic year. Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com
Tuesday meetings at Tucker Hall from 7-8 p.m. in room 8. Edited by Stephi Smith ssmith@themaneater.com
MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright shakes hands with attendees before the reception following his announcement on May 24, 2017. PHOTO BY VICTORIA CHEYNE | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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PLAYLISTS
Flying solo or in love: Valentine’s Day 2018 playlists Here are 20 songs for all the feelings on Valentine’s Day. LEO ROCHA
Reporter
Valentine’s Day can mean a lot of different things depending on who you ask. It may either be all about celebrating your loved one, or it could represent the commercialization of human emotions. Take your pick by listening to the playlist of your choice. Solo: “Sleep to Dream” by Fiona Apple There’s no heartbreak that Apple can’t cure. She’s at her finest in this song, singing her heart out in anger toward the man who treated her terribly. If you’re getting over a breakup, this is the perfect song to listen to. “Boy” by Willow Smith Dealing with some unrequited feelings? We’ve all been there, and that’s okay. Smith’s angelic voice will help you get some tears out and leave you wondering why humans even bother falling in love. “Luv Luv Luv” by Pansy Division This song is for all of the cynicists at heart. Pansy Division makes a critique of modern society’s depiction of romance, insisting that we’re always unsatisfied because of unrealistic expectations forced upon relationships. “Potential Breakup Song” by Aly & AJ You may remember screaming this song at the top of your lungs as a 9-year-old, but now it’s finally relatable. Both catchy and upbeat, this classic will have you feeling like there’s nobody out there who can stop you. “How To Be A Heartbreaker” by Marina and the Diamonds Sometimes you don’t want to be tied down to anyone; you just want to have some fun. “How To Be A Heartbreaker” embodies the carefree spirit of our generation and reminds us not to take things too seriously. “Drew Barrymore” by SZA Love isn’t always picture-perfect, and SZA perfectly captures the questions that arise when seeking a relationship — am I good enough? Does this person really like me? “Writer In the Dark” by Lorde Lorde’s lyricism in this song is beautiful and her
stripped-down, piano-accompanied voice reflects the pain felt after an intense breakup. “Writer In the Dark” is a tearjerker for sure. “Boy Problems” by Carly Rae Jepsen Jepsen is known for her love songs. “Boy Problems” puts a spin on the breakup genre by creating an upbeat pop anthem. If you broke up with someone, listen to this song to feel carefree. “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens Written for the critically acclaimed film Call Me by Your Name, Stevens weaves a tale of heartbreak with “Mystery of Love.” His essential message is, if we know love must end at some point, why do we put ourselves through it? “Listen” by Beyoncé Written for the 2006 adaptation of Dreamgirls, this Beyoncé song will make you feel empowered. You can (and will) achieve your heart’s desire with or without anyone by your side. Love: “At Last” by Etta James “At Last” is a classic love song focused on finally getting together with someone you’ve loved for a long time. It’s withstood the test of time and has been used in films, television shows and commercials again and again to represent the idea of love. “What I Like” by Charli XCX Charli XCX pokes fun at hookup culture with “What I Like,” turning a fun dance song into a critique of what we define as relationships.
“Sleepover” by Hayley Kiyoko In the same vein as Charli XCX’s “What I Like,” “Sleepover” is another fun, upbeat pop song about hookup culture and having a crush. Hayley Kiyoko presents the idea that just the thought of being with someone could be just as refreshing as actually being with them in person. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka In this love ballad, Anka sings about the more physical aspects of being in a relationship while still remaining wholesome and romantic. Much like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” this song is reminiscent of simpler times. “Only Angel” by Harry Styles While Harry Styles is known for his time as a member of the pop boy band One Direction, he successfully takes on the rock genre with this song that’s focused on a girl he can’t get out of his head. “A 1000 Times” by Hamilton Leithauser+Rostam This indie hit was featured on the “13 Reasons Why” soundtrack and is about being so deeply in love with someone to the point where they start appearing in your dreams. Rostam, a former member of Vampire Weekend, provides backing vocals. “I Would Die 4 U” by Prince An ‘80s gem, Prince bares his soul with this track as he sings about being so in love with someone that he’s willing to sacrifice his life for them. Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri Famous for being in the closing scenes of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, the song’s lyrics focus on the intense level of devotion you can feel toward someone. “Take Me” by Aly & AJ “Take Me” is Aly & AJ’s comeback song, where they debut their new sound after an eight-year hiatus. Featuring ‘80s-inspired synth-pop, the song is about wanting that special someone to just ask you out already. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley Another beautifully written classic, this song is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes and remind you what love feels like. Elvis’s vocals and guitar transport you to a ‘60s romantic paradise.
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T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | F E B. 1 4, 2 0 1 8 NEW HALL
New Hall to be named after journalist Lucile Bluford Bluford was a Kansas City journalist who spent her life fighting for civil rights and put the Kansas City Call on the map among African-American newspapers. LAUREN WILCOX
Beat Writer
Earlier this month, the UM System Board of Curators decided unanimously to rename New Hall after influential Kansas City journalist Lucile Bluford. Bluford earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1932. She went on to work for Atlanta’s Daily World and then the Kansas City American
and the Kansas City Call. In 1939, at the age of 27, she applied to the Missouri School of Journalism’s graduate program. She was initially accepted, but upon arrival to Columbia, she was denied because she was African American. With the NAACP, Bluford filed several lawsuits against the university, and after two years of trial, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in her favor. Before she had the chance to attend, MU shut its graduate doors in 1942 because of a lack of students and professors during the second World War. Bluford spent her life fighting to expose racism and became a leading figure in the civil rights movement, especially in Kansas City. There, she helped the Kansas City Call become one of the most prominent and influential black newspapers
New Hall was renamed Lucile Bluford Hall on Feb. 1, 2018. MANEATER FILE PHOTO
in the country. Bluford was always an advocate for higher education and tirelessly fought for racial equality in the school system, according to the State Historical Society of Missouri. MU recognized her achievements with the school of journalism’s highest honor, the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, in 1984. And in 1989, Bluford received an honorary doctoral degree from university officials. Upon accepting the degree, she said, “[I accept] not only for myself, but for thousands of black students [discriminated against by the university over
the years].” The Residence Halls Association proposed that the hall be named after Bluford in late 2016. New Hall opened in August 2017 and was approved to be renamed Lucile Bluford Residence Hall in a Board of Curators meeting on Feb. 1. Freshman Peyton Jones, a New Hall resident, is excited to see the name change. “I think it’s really cool that MU is honoring such an inspiring woman, and it’s going to be nice that they aren’t going to just call it New Hall,” Jones said. Freshman Elena Conaty, who also lives in New Hall,
said the name change may be hard for students to adjust to, but she is happy with the board’s decision. “I liked the name ‘New Hall,’” Contay said. “However, it will be a hard transition for everyone who already lived here this year because we’ve grown into the name of just ‘New Hall.’ I like what the new name of ‘Bluford’ stands for because she was a powerful woman who left her mark on the Mizzou community.” Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com
COLUMN
Film review: Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water’ Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, the latest fantasy from the director of “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” is now playing at Columbia’s Ragtag Cinema. JESSE BAALMAN
Reporter
In the midst of the Cold War in 1962, before John F. Kennedy’s death and Vietnam disillusionment kicked in, America still dreamed of the future. It was a time of invention, modernization and, of course, the space race. This era may come to mind when recalling a great moment in the United States’ history. It is during this time that The Shape of Water is set. Colonel Strickland (Michael Shannon) is in charge of a secret government laboratory in Baltimore. He drives a Cadillac home after work to a suburban neighborhood, where he is greeted by his wife, two children and a plate of Jell-O. A superior
general has tasked him with the vivisection of a creature that has been called an Amazonian river god. There is also a Soviet spy (Michael Stuhlbarg) disguised as a scientist with moral conflicts concerning the creature’s treatment. This story could have been a government operative thriller; it could have been a heist involving Russian spies, too. Both would make good movies, but it focuses instead on the romance of a mute cleaning lady who falls in love with the beast. At work, Elisa (Sally Hawkins) mops floors with her African-American coworker and friend, Zelda (Octavia Spencer), who doubles as her interpreter. She returns to an apartment above a movie theatre, where she watches classical musicals with her gay neighbor, Giles (Richard Jenkins), a struggling illustrator. Life is not as great for these characters as suggested by the neon colors in a pie shop around the corner, but they demonstrate how love transcends color and sexuality. To be clear, Elisa is not a mousy janitor with an awkward crush on a lizard. She has a full-fledged sexual
identity from the very beginning scenes of director Guillermo Del Toro’s fairy tale tapestry. The film is somewhere at the corner of Creature from the Black Lagoon and Beauty and the Beast. Hawkins has a charming screen presence to match the strong-willed yet silent intricacies she has imbued in Elisa. She and Doug Jones as the human-like amphibian build a believable romance that defies language. A black and white dream sequence featuring a musical number and sweeping camera movement is the highlight of the affair, while the rest of the film is given a watercolor look of tinted greens and blues. Del Toro got the most utility out of his production budget by using his own lighting techniques to mimic the effects of underwater filmmaking. With a sonic representation of water provided by Alexandre Desplat and cinematography by Dan Laustsen, the level of craft on display is unmatched by nearly any movie from 2017 down to the production design, costumes and editing. When the characters find themselves going to extreme lengths to safeguard the majestic asset’s fate, The Shape
Guillermo del Toro, the movie’s director. PHOTO COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIPEDIA
of Water becomes a metaphor for the facelessness of love. It is about powerful men who try and fail to apply a limiting definition to that love by bargaining with gods more complex than they could ever imagine. It is about people whose devotion to each other inspires them to take a risk
for the common good no
matter how troubling their circumstances. Water has no
shape, like love, and that is what makes this film a mythical antidote for modern times. Edited by Claire Colby
ccolby@themaneater.com
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FASHION
Trends from Spring/Summer 2018 runways to wear on campus fashion shows, it’s easy to predict this spring’s fashion trends. Since brands typically look to the runway for inspiration, we can expect to see those trends coming soon. Here are the major trends you will see everywhere come spring: Lavender/violet hues Millennial pink was all the rage last year. It could be found on anything from tops to shoes, or even bags and coats. This year, the new “it” color has been upgraded to purple, especially lavender. The hue was seen all over the S/S ‘18 runways from brands like Michael Kors and Tom Ford. WhoWhatWear has even considered it the prettiest trend of the year. The trend can easily be worn as a sweater with jeans or as an accessory like a crossbody bag or socks. If your style is more daring, opt for an ultra violet, which Pantone named color of the year.
The runways from Spring/ Summer 2018 provided inspiration for the next major trends. BROOKE KNAPPENBERGER
Columnist
Unfortunately,
the
groundhog
predicted another six weeks of winter, which means another six weeks of trudging around campus in parkas and Ugg boots. However, now would be a great time to update your warmweather wardrobe. It may be difficult to anticipate what will be in style in a couple of months, but luckily for us, fashion works six months ahead. Looking at the Spring/Summer 2018
Western-inspired pieces Western-inspired fashion may seem a bit out there, but the trend is more simple than it seems. Think of Western button-ups, cowboy boots, suede and fringe. Calvin Klein dedicated a portion of its show to the trend, with outfits of satin buttonups and pants paired with pointed cowboy boots. Test the trend out with a Western-style blouse and your favorite vintage jeans. Instead of your go-to black booties, choose ankle-length cowboy boots.
Plastic and patent leather With rain showers always in the forecast during the spring, it’s no surprise materials like plastic and patent leather made an appearance on the S/S ‘18 runways. Every look at the Chanel show featured some plastic piece in the form of tall boots or as hats and gloves. Similar to the plastic look, patent leather adds definite edge to any outfit, especially in bold colors. While you can’t practically wear Chanel’s thighhigh plastic boots, you can choose pieces like coats to look chic in the rain. Patent-leather skirts or boots are a perfect addition to a night-out look. Plaid While plaid blazers could be seen all over Instagram last season, the print is here to stay for the upcoming spring. Not just made for blazers, the print was on the runway in a slew of coats, pencil skirts and mini dresses. Brands like Fendi and Prabal Gurung reworked the print in unique ways to make chic new pieces. Plaid in neutral colors, especially black and white, can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe because it goes with almost anything. Pair plaid pants or a skirt with a solid color top or vice versa. To be extra bold, you can try mixing prints; just make sure the colors are complimentary. Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com
TITLE IX
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos sued for weakening Title IX policies In order for victims to prove an individual committed sexual assault, they no longer need a “preponderance of evidence” but instead “clear and convincing evidence.” MELINA PSIHOUNTAS
Columnist
Title IX of the United States Department of Labor’s Education Amendments states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” This amendment requires that in order for schools to be federally funded, they must provide certain protections against discrimination for students of any gender identity. This applies to schools from kindergarten all the way through college. One of the most important things this amendment covers is cases of sexual violence on college campuses. Schools are prohibited from retaliating against the student filing the complaint and are required to take certain protective actions to keep those involved safe and further
away from their alleged attackers. Additionally, schools cannot use a sexual assault case as a means to discourage or suspend a victim’s education. Much of Title IX’s expansion and clarification occurred in 2011, under the administration of Barack Obama, who called on schools to increase their Title IX work at risk of being defunded. At MU, the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX is dedicated to the protection of these rights and handles reports of discrimination based on sex and race on campus. The Obama-era setup of Title IX is important to the University of Missouri because according to a survey conducted in 2017, 52 percent of MU students had experienced sexual harassment, mostly coming from other students. The same survey found that one in four MU women had fallen victim to sexual assault. In 2017, after being inaugurated as president, Donald Trump appointed Betsy DeVos as the new secretary of education. Last September, Devos chastised Obama’s Title IX plans as unfair and began pushing policy that would work to protect those accused of sexual assaults. By enabling colleges to have more freedom in evaluating cases of sexual assault, Obama’s gains in making schools provide more support for victims of sexual assault were reversed. Now, in order for victims to prove an individual committed assault, they no longer need a “preponderance
of evidence” but instead “clear and convincing evidence,” which makes it more difficult to prosecute the accused. Two weeks ago, SurvJustice, Equal Rights Advocates and the Victim Rights Law Center announced they are joining to file a suit against DeVos for her Title IX policy. These groups feel DeVos’ ideas are discriminatory and are causing schools to lose effectiveness in dealing with cases of sexual assault. In a claim, SurvJustice stated that “As an organization that provides direct assistance and referral services to survivors of sexual violence, SurvJustice’s core mission and daily operations have been and will continue to be impeded by the chilling effect that the 2017 Title IX policy has had and continues to have on the reporting of sexual violence.” MU’s Office for Civil Rights & Title IX’s website states, “These policies were updated in February 2017 and the new processes went into effect March 1, 2017. Reports or complaints filed on or after March 1, 2017 will be resolved under the new, revised processes.” Thus far, MU’s Title IX office has not commented on DeVos’ policy changes, hopefully indicating that the campus is continuing to evaluate sexual assault cases in the same way as before. With a significant number of assaults occurring at colleges across the nation, it’s imperative that the legislation schools must follow in dealing with these cases
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 23, 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL VADON VIA FLICKR
is upheld and that victims are able to get support and assistance in filing a claim against their assaulter without having to provide “clear and convincing evidence.” What is “clear and convincing,” though, is DeVos’ lack of attention to the statistics on assault on college campuses and how the agenda should be reducing these numbers as opposed to making it easier for perpetrators of these crimes to get away unscathed. Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com
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T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | F E B. 1 4, 2 0 1 8 MEDITATION
Learn to practice meditation as a beginner Meditation can be difficult, so here are a few tips to help you get started. MEGAN OOSTHUIZEN
Columnist
Before I tried meditation, I assumed it was reserved for granola moms and hippies who lived in communes. I couldn’t see the benefit of just sitting still and letting out the occasional “om” like in the movies. After I tried it, I realized how beneficial meditation could be for my anxiety. When I first tried meditation, it was far from comfortable. I sat there expecting to achieve divine enlightenment but instead grew frustrated that I couldn’t clear my mind. That’s where I first went wrong; it leads me to my most important rule: Meditation shouldn’t feel forced. Though I’m no zen master, here’s what I believe every beginner should know about meditation. Start slow Think of meditation like working out. When you begin to exercise, you start out slow. You might start with the lightest set of weights or even take a class or two. The same goes for meditation. Don’t force yourself to sit in uncomfortable silence for
20 minutes — try out 2-5 minutes when you first start meditating. Guided meditation is another great way to figure out what you like without having to memorize a bunch of confusing steps. Remove yourself I mean this both literally and figuratively. If you want the most out of your meditation experience, you need to remove yourself from distractions in person and in your head. This means putting your phone on silent and trying to forget about everything else that’s going on in your life. Focus on breathing In my opinion, the easiest and most effective way to reach a relaxed state is to focus on your breathing. I like to count my breaths. When I inhale, I count one, and when I exhale, I count two. I repeat this pattern until I feel like both my mind and body are at ease. This way, distracting thoughts simply disappear into the back of my mind rather than take away from my session. Just do it When I started meditating, I found myself overwhelmed by all the rules I thought I had to follow. I wasted so much time setting up a zen meditation space, complete with candles and
The Wellness Resource Center promotes self-care and wellness through resources and education at the center and at different locations on campus. PHOTO BY HUNTER PENDLETON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
essential oils, before realizing none of that really matters. Meditation is ultimately about finding peace within yourself. It’s about what you
do, not how you do it. Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com
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VALENTINE’S DAY
Columbia hot spots offer Valentine’s Day specials Valentine’s Day specials are being offered at restaurants, bars and even grocery stores in and around Columbia. CHARLY BUCHANAN
Reporter
Whether you’re looking for a nice spot to take your significant other on Valentine’s Day or just a place to treat yourself, check out this list of eight local stops that’ll make your day special. 1. Flat Branch Pub & Brewing Located on South Fifth Street, Flat Branch has a wide variety of both food and hand-crafted beers. As a Valentine’s Day special, its drink menu will include a strawberry ale and a milk chocolate porter in addition to a likely option for a steak or fish dinner, as it’s offered in previous years. Flat Branch is open from 11 a.m. to midnight, and though it will not be taking reservations for Valentine’s Day, the wait typically doesn’t exceed 30 minutes. 2. Barred Owl Butcher & Table With farm-to-table food
Truffles’ chocolate-covered strawberries will also be sold Easter weekend (March 29-31, 2018) and Mother’s Day weekend (May 10-12, 2018). PHOTOS BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
and a diverse selection of meats, Barred Owl is a great spot to take your date the night of Valentine’s Day. Reservations will be accepted, and in addition to oysters on the half shell, it will be serving steak dry-aged in house for 4-5 months. Barred Owl is located on East Broadway and is open from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. 3. Room 38 Restaurant and Lounge For a night of upscale dining and extravagant food selections, Room 38 is the best choice. After buying a $59 ticket for the Valentine’s Day special, guests will receive a five-course meal
including an entree of filet oscar, lump crab, hollandaise and grilled asparagus. Each course will be accompanied by a glass of champagne. The $59 covers both tax and gratuity so guests can enjoy their time worry-free and full of food. Room 38 is located on North Eighth Street in downtown Columbia and will be open from 5-11 p.m. 4. Top Ten Wines If your ideal Valentine’s Day includes fine wine and dessert, this might be the place for you. Top Ten Wines, located on South Ninth Street, is serving chocolatecovered strawberries and featuring specialty cocktails such as Brandy Alexanders and Cherry Royales. It will be open from 5-10 p.m. and will not be taking reservations. 5. Harpo’s and 10 Below If your Valentine’s Day plans include having fun and looking for love, Harpo’s and 10 Below might be the places for you. As a Valentine’s Day special, Harpo’s will be serving $3 bombs, $2 shots and $1 double wells when its doors open at 7 p.m. Both locations are located on South 10th Street and will close at midnight.
6. Eastside Tavern If you’re ready for some excitement but your pockets are feeling a little too empty to spend extra cash, check out Eastside Tavern for free pizza on Valentine’s Day. Doors open at 8 p.m. and pizza is served around 10 p.m. Eastside Tavern has an eclectic interior and is located on East Broadway. 7. Hy-Vee If the Valentine’s Day crowds sound less than appealing and your couch is calling your name, Hy-Vee’s Date Night In is the perfect choice. With two options for pick-up and cook-athome meal packages, the Sweetheart Dinner and the Couple’s Cuisine Dinner for $20 and $45, respectively, Hy-Vee will make home feel like fine dining. 8. The Restaurants at Southwest Truffles, a dessert shop inside MU’s Southwest dining hall, will be selling chocolatecovered strawberries from Feb. 12-14. For half a pound, or four to five strawberries, the price is $16. Meal swipes are accepted. Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com
MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE MOVE MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE MOVE MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE MOVE MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE MOVE MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE MOVE
SPORTS
Online this week: Track and field competed at the Tyson Invitational, women’s basketball took down Arkansas and more at themaneater.com.
11
RALLY FOR RHYAN
Rally for Rhyan breaks own fundraising record in third year
Rhyan Loos at last year’s Rally for Rhyan game on Feb. 4, 2017. MANEATER FILE PHOTO
The fundraiser for pediatric cancer research raised $72,000 at the basketball game versus Mississippi State on Feb. 10. JOE NOSER ANDY KIMBALL
Sports Editor Staff Writer While
Missouri’s
win
against
Mississippi State on Feb. 10 may have gone a long way toward improving its NCAA Tournament chances, the impact the game made off the court is even more impressive. The contest was the team’s third annual Rally for Rhyan game, a fundraiser for pediatric cancer research. The event is named for Rhyan Loos, the 7-year-old daughter of former Missouri assistant basketball coach Brad Loos, who had cancer. The event broke its own fundraising record, bringing in over $72,000. Loos said he was blown away
by the support from the Missouri community for the event. “I thought this was the year we'd finally take a dip,” Loos said after the game. “Every year, this fanbase comes back stronger and stronger. They keep buying into the cause. It's overwhelming and incredibly humbling." This year’s event featured a fundraising effort through MU’s Greek system that raised $12,394 in just a week of fundraising. Over the past three years the event has raised over $164,000.
Meanwhile, Rhyan has become cancer free. Loos said the game was in part a celebration for Rhyan, but said there is still a lot of work to be done for pediatric cancer. “This was more of a celebration than anything else,” Loos said. “That’s kinda how we treated it; this is celebrating Rhyan but still realizing that there is work to do for others. This had more of a joyous feel than years before but there’s still a
MBB | Page 13
TENNIS
Five facts about the near-undefeated tennis team The team is off to an 8-1 start. AIDAN CARLSEN
Staff Writer
One month into the tennis season, Tiger fans have plenty to be happy about with the team’s play. Here are five things fans have learned about the tennis team so far. They take advantage of home court The Tigers use the crowd behind
them. The team doesn’t just win at home; it dominates. Over the span of four matches, Missouri has outscored opponents 20-2. The Tigers will have plenty more chances to keep improving that record, too, as their next eight matches will be in Columbia. They are shutout pros The Tigers have played a total of nine matches this year. Out of those nine, the team has swept opponents
FIVE | Page 13
Freshman Marta Oliveira, left, and senior Amina Ismail high-five after a doubles match on Feb. 10, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
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SOFTBALL
Missouri softball’s tournament in Arizona causes offensive drought GAVIN WHITE AND HANNAH HOFFMEISTER
Staff Writers
The Missouri softball team started off hot but then dropped three straight in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona, this past weekend. The Tigers’ play started out impressive, turned worrisome and got even uglier as the three days of play went on. The team is now 2-3 on the season. In the team’s first game of the season against the University of Texas at El Paso, pitching showed resilience in a 3-0 shutout. Sophomore Eli Daniel got the win with three perfect innings and five strikeouts, while redshirt junior Madi Norman got the save, posting four innings of two hits against her and registering six strikeouts. Both pitchers stole the show Friday, giving up just two hits between the two of them. The Tigers’ hitting dominated against California State University, Northridge, putting up 19 runs over CSUN’s 10. Junior Regan Nash was the team’s best hitter, going 2 for 3 with a run, home run and an RBI against the Matadors. Amanda Sanchez made a strong comeback after the redshirt junior missed most of 2017 with an elbow injury. Sanchez, the Tigers’ third baseman, had three hits in both games Friday, including two doubles and a home run.
The Tigers struggled in Saturday morning’s first game against No. 3 Oregon. The Ducks dominated, beating Missouri 14-2 in just five innings. The duo of Daniel and Norman that dominated the Tigers’ first game against UTEP gave up a combined 14 runs on 14 hits. “Anytime you lose you will learn things about your team,” interim head coach Gina Fogue said in a press release after Saturday’s games. “We figured out things we need to work on to get better today.” Saturday night is when the slump really hit. The Tigers played their second ranked opponent of the season, No. 21 Oklahoma State, losing 6-3 after failing to score until the seventh inning. A three-run rally in the seventh inning started by sophomore outfielder Cayla Kessinger’s leadoff single provided a spark of offense that had been missing all day. “They don’t throw in the towel and will play hard until the end of each game,” Fogue said in the press release. “We’re shifting our focus on tomorrow’s game and hope to build on what we learned today.” The offense that showed up late Saturday night did not resurface Sunday morning in the team’s final tournament game. A 3-1 loss to Oregon State ended the weekend quietly; the gamr was tied at one apiece until the fifth inning, when Oregon State scored 2 after an error
by Sanchez. Kessinger’s hitting streak ended at 14 games, tied for seventh in the program’s history. “We had some chances on offense, but just needed a little better timely hitting,” Fogue said Sunday in a press release. “We will have three good practices this week and address the adjustments we need to make.” Norman started the game but did not make it through the third inning, letting up three walks. Freshman pitcher Lauren Rice pitched the remaining 4.2 innings and only let up four hits. In three appearances this weekend, Rice struck out nine batters in 11 innings. “We had a better outing from our pitchers today and I was glad to see that,” Fogue said in the press release. A deeper pitching roster this season is important; last season, the team relied heavily on Norman, Cheyenne Baxter, who’s since graduated, and junior Danielle Baumgartner. The 2018 rotation features five right-handed pitchers, three of whom are underclassmen. It remains to be seen whether a total lack of left-handed pitching will affect the team. The Tigers play six more games this weekend, starting Friday against South Florida in the Michele Smith Pediatric Cancer Invitational in Clearwater, Florida. Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com
Outfielder Regan Nash prepares for a pitch during the Black and Gold Game on Feb. 3, 2018. PHOTO BY ELLEN DIAO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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MBB Continued from page 11
ton of work to do.” Another step in the future will be raising money for children like Lizzy Wompler. Wompler, a 10-yearold with osteosarcoma, watched the game from Memphis, Tennessee, and
was mentioned by Loos after the game. “I’ve gotten to know [Wompler’s] family fairly well over the last few months,” Loos said. “Getting to know them was a huge blessing but it was also hard. She’s battling her butt off, and she’s doing a great job, but they’re going through some tough times right now. I’m definitely concerned for her, and we’re pulling for her as best we can.”
Loos switched from working as an assistant coach to a role with Mizzou Athletics, but there was never any thought of cancelling the Rally for Rhyan game after the change. Loos has been happy with the athletic department for keeping the game alive and said it reflects the goodness of the department and the state of Missouri. “It just says a lot about our administration and our leadership,”
Loos said. “Jim Sterk and Brian White, the whole crew there, they never even blinked. There was never even a question whether we were going to do it or not. It’s a great thing for pediatric cancer research, but it shows how big this department’s heart is and how big this state’s heart is.” Edited by Bennett Durando bdurando@themaneater.com
FIVE
Continued from page 11 in five games, two of which were at home. Players like sophomore Mackenzy Middlebrooks, freshman Ellie Wright and freshman Taylor Gruber have all contributed greatly to those wins. Missouri has been heating up recently; the Tigers have four shutouts in their past six games. Doubles are strong One of the strongest parts of the team is its doubles play. This past weekend, the Tigers showed they have some truly formidable pairs. Sophomore Serena Nash and senior Clare Raley are on a six-match win streak and hold a season record of 9-2. Middlebrooks and Wright are right behind them with an overall record of 8-2 and have won three straight matches. Singles play has been tremendous too Of the nine players on this year’s team, six have winning records. Middlebrooks is on a 12-match win streak, Wright is 11-6 this season and Raley is 5-2 through her last seven matches. Whether the Tigers can keep up this hot start remains to be seen, but so far, so good. The second half of the season will be very different The team plays 27 games this season, excluding the SEC Tournament. The first 14 matches are against nonconference teams, while the final 13 games will consist of all SEC teams. That will be a very important part of the season because every game will be a conference game and wins will be huge for the standings, since the top four seeds of the SEC tournament will get a first-round bye. Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com
Freshman Marta Oliveira returns a serve in a singles match on Feb. 10, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | F E B. 1 4, 2 0 1 8 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Tigers hold on against No. 21 Texas A&M, 62-58 The win was the Tigers’ fifth straight in conference play and third against a ranked opponent this season. JOE NOSER
Sports Editor
The Missouri Tigers received votes in this week’s AP Poll for the second time this year, but on Tuesday night, the team showed it may be on its way to being more than just a footnote in the rankings of college basketball’s best. The Tigers defeated a ranked opponent for the third time this year on Tuesday, knocking off the No. 21 Texas A&M Aggies 62-58 at Mizzou Arena. The win was the Tigers’ fifth straight in Southeastern Conference play and snapped the Aggies’ fourgame win streak. Missouri (18-8, 8-5 SEC) got a lot of help from freshman Jeremiah Tilmon. The East St. Louis, Illinois, native was exceptional in the first half, posting 8 points while playing excellent defense and not committing a foul. He finished with 14 points and three rebounds, along with an assist and two blocks. He was active on the defensive end all night, contributing to a team effort that limited Texas A&M to 39 percent shooting from the field. Aggies head coach Billy Kennedy said the Tigers impressed him on the defensive end. “I thought [their] doubling in the post and their pace of the game was very strong,” Kennedy said. “Their defense was much better than some of the teams we’ve played recently.” Missouri came very close to a meltdown similar to the one the team suffered Saturday afternoon against Mississippi State. The Tigers led 57-48 with 5:24 remaining, but two horrific possessions on both ends of the floor saw the Aggies drain two straight 3s and cut the Tigers’ lead to 3 with 4:21 to go. After the Tigers failed to score out of their timeout, the teams traded possessions without a basket before a layup by Aggies forward Robert Williams brought the Aggies within 1. Then, seemingly just in time, Kassius Robertson went to work. Robertson, Missouri’s leading scorer, was not
interested in playing another overtime game. He led the team with 16 points on Tuesday, but none of them were bigger than the layup he hit with 1:46 remaining. With his team on the verge of another collapse, Robertson drove into the lane and made a layup that he placed perfectly on the right side of the glass to give the Tigers a 3-point lead they would not relinquish. Head coach Cuonzo Martin said Robertson “made the right play” on the layup and praised the graduate transfer for his poise. “I think it’s safe to say he’s our leader,” Martin said. “He wears that very well because he says the right things in the locker room and he doesn’t do it with cockiness or arrogance. He has a humility to him.” After Robertson’s layup, Missouri still found a way to make it interesting. The team forced an Aggies shot clock violation when junior Jordan Geist threw off freshman guard TJ Starks’ timing with 19.6 seconds left, seemingly locking up the game. But a poor inbounds pass from Geist to Robertson was intercepted by Aggies guard Admon Gilder, giving Texas A&M one last possession and a point-blank layup attempt from Williams that rimmed out. Missouri forward Jontay Porter came down with the rebound, was fouled and made both of his free throw attempts, and the Tigers held on. Robertson was not pleased with the high-level drama that transpired late in the game. “We can’t inbound the ball late game for some reason,” Robertson said. “That’s our problem. We’ve got that on the [practice] board to try and fix that.” Tilmon also acknowledged that his team has some work to do late in games but said he was happy to get the win. “It’s fun because [we’re] winning,” Tilmon said. “What else can you ask for besides winning?” The Tigers will have a chance at a sixth straight win when they travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on the LSU Tigers on Saturday. The game will tip off at 1 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2. Edited by Bennett Durando bdurando@themaneater.com
Kassius Robertson drives past a Mississippi State defender on Feb. 10, 2018. PHOTO BY COURTNEY VILLMER | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
OPINION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
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15
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THE MANEATER COLUMNISTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD.
COLUMN
Holding sexual predators accountable is important The recent action taken against prominent figures after years of abuse is important and the trend needs to continue in order to set the new norm. 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. In the past year or so, we’ve heard a lot of talk about sexual predators being held accountable for their crimes and action being taken against said predators. Fortunately, this movement doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. On Feb. 6, a bill passed in the House of Representatives that would require members of Congress to pay out of their own pockets for sexual harassment settlements and to help victims navigate the complaint process. This bill is aimed at overhauling the
secretive, complicated system that has been in place for decades in hopes of changing the workplace in Capitol Hill for the better. These changes to our government can at least partially be attributed to cultural factors that have become prominent in society. The #MeToo movement, which gained popularity in 2017, has had a significant impact on popular culture and led to the surge of holding prominent figures in society accountable for their actions. It has most noticeably affected the entertainment industry, where people such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have finally faced the consequences of their actions over the course of several years. Many other important cases have come up as well. For example, Larry Nassar, one of the most recent sexual predators to be prosecuted, received a 40-125 year sentence from a Michigan judge as a result of his third hearing. This will run concurrently with his 40-175 year sentence from a separate case, which he will serve after a 60-year federal prison sentence for child pornography. This means he is guaranteed to spend at least 100 years in prison — and this is exactly what we need to see more of from our justice system. This bill to overhaul the current congressional system isn’t going to fix
A mural of Kevin Spacey by Akse P19, a Manchester-based street artist. PHOTO COURTESY OF DUNCAN HILL VIA FLICKR
everything, but it’s a place to start, and it’s a model to build off of. We need to keep up this trend of holding people accountable for their actions so that it becomes the new norm. If Congress can
put aside party affiliation and come together to keep making legislation like this, it will be the beginning of a better, safer America.
COLUMN
President Trump’s sh-thole comments go against American values Trump’s disregard for other countries will forever change how the U.S. is perceived by the rest of the world. TATYANA MONNAY
Opinion Columnist
Tatyana Monnay is a freshman journalism major who writes about politics for The Maneater. In a meeting about immigration policies, President Trump reportedly said this about immigrants from Haiti and African countries: “Why are we having all these people from sh-thole countries come here?” President Trump’s word vomit and lack of care has gone on long enough. The fact that a president has shown such blatant disrespect for other countries is unacceptable. I am a child of two Haitian immigrants. I have friends whose parents were born in Russia, Pakistan, Mexico, Jamaica and Trinidad. Comments such as this one make immigrants and children of immigrants angry. Not only does it make me angry, but it breaks my heart to hear a U.S.
Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally in Prescott Valley, Arizona. PHOTO COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
president speak so hatefully about a country my whole family is from, a country that is part of my identity. It makes me wonder: If my president thinks this of a country I identify with, then what does he think of my family and me? This repulsive comment has made me dispassionate about American politics and for a while killed my spirit. Overall, I just feel tired. I am tired of reacting to every outlandish and unpresidential thing Trump does.
I am tired of watching the same pundits on CNN or MSNBC argue about Trump’s intentions. And most of all, I am tired of feeling less than because of my heritage. Trump’s sh-thole comment is even more embarrassing when you consider America’s own history. We are a country built by immigrants. So why are immigrants looked down upon now? There are those who argue we should look at what Trump means
rather than what he said. Trump denies that he called Haiti and African countries sh-tholes, but he does not deny that he made harsh comments regarding the immigration of people from these nations. Trump and many people argue the influx of immigrants from less privledged countries has created more problems for the United States and its economy. These are valid arguments. However, they can be made without disrespecting people and their country. But I think it is time we hold people accountable for their words and actions. If Trump thinks less of African and Haitian migrants compared to immigrants from Norway, then future immigration policies will surely reflect it. The Trump administration has already begun rolling back Temporary Protected Status for countries like Haiti, El Salvador and South Sudan. Trump needs to realize how these comments can change what other countries think of America and how Americans perceive their own country. Trump and his supporters should be deeply ashamed of themselves. His comments may seem fleeting to his base, but the citizens of the countries he has vilified will remember his words forever.