Vol84issue21

Feb. 28, 2018

Special Edition

TRUE/FALSE FILM FEST

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True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

FESTIVAL

Diversity increases at True/False Film Fest Receiving roughly 1,300 submissions for the 2018 festival, the True/False programming team watched each one all the way through, selecting the most diverse lineup of films yet.

EMMY LUCAS

Reporter

Tens of thousands of film fans file into Columbia, Missouri, theaters each year for True/False Film Fest. This year’s film lineup is the most diverse yet, with films from all over the world.

Beginning in 2004, True/False has curated films to be shown around downtown Columbia in a weekend festival of fun. This year, True/ False will take place from March 1-4. From the Blue Note to Ragtag Cinema, theaters are filled with festivalgoers.

“I am still every year blown away by the way in which the city of Columbia and the people of Columbia really take on this festival and make it their own,” True/False co-conspirator David Wilson said.

In its 15th year, True/False has grown in size from a few thousand attendees to tens of thousands.

“The festival has definitely grown,” Wilson said.

“The number of films shown has not grown as much, but when you think of the festival having 4,400 attendees versus 52,000 attendees now, it is nowhere near the same.”

In addition to this expansion of size, the diversity within True/False has also expanded.

According to Wilson, this year’s film lineup is the most internationally diverse yet.

With more directors from different countries, more and more nations are represented in the festival. This year’s international films were produced in Uruguay, Slovenia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bhutan and many more.

“We’ve always talked about bringing the world to Columbia and giving Columbians a broader sense of the world,” Wilson said.

In selecting the lineup, the True/False programming team consists of co-conspirators Wilson and Paul Sturtz, as well as programmers Abby Sun and Chris Boeckmann. Wilson said the team has always been aware of diversity but has increased it in the festival over time.

“We do not set quotas,” Wilson said. “That’s not how we think about programming, but it is definitely something we are proud of that we have been able to expand our vision of the films at True/False.”

Of the 39 featured films, 46 percent are directed or co-directed by women and 30 to 40 percent are directed by people of color, Wilson said.

According to Sun, diversity is an aspect that ensures there are different stories being told to widen perspectives. The programming team aims to find new stories and new voices to show more about the world.

“We have so many people that come out to True/ False that it seems like a waste of an opportunity if we continued to look inward instead of outwards,” Sun said.

Instead of looking inward at local films, the programming team scouts films and receives submissions from around the globe, looking outward to find diverse voices.

“I think all of us this year were really interested in bringing in more about the world rather than just places everybody is maybe familiar with,” Sun said.

According to Wilson, this increase in diversity was an idea in the back of the programming team’s

GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH USTINOV

mind when selecting the lineup.

“For me, what this shows is that our programming team has taken on the challenge of really casting a wide net of looking beyond the kind of usual spots to find the best new films,” Wilson said.

From attending other film festivals in places such as Spain, Japan, Korea and around the U.S., to reaching out to filmmakers, True/False programming pulls films from a diverse spectrum.

The festival also takes blind submissions and selects films from that submission pool. This year, True/False received roughly 1,300 film submissions. The general public submissions opened in August and closed in November 2017.

Films are selected based on a wide range of criteria, including directorial vision.

“We can tell when there is a confident and creative artistic vision behind a film that informs all of the decisions the director makes in editing, music, graphics,” Wilson said. “And we are really looking for that fully realized vision.”

The process of selecting films consists of a screening committee, a group of volunteers who watch the films first through and give the films a rating. According to submissions coordinator Jordan Inman, if that rating meets a certain level, it will be watched through again.

“We make sure every film is watched fully,” Inman said. “And a film will get then more watches if someone indicates that there is something special about it.”

Ensuring that every film is watched in the selection process is an aspect Inman said sets True/False apart from other film festivals. The programmers and screening committee watch the films, write coverage and then discuss a film’s potential for True/False.

“We discuss not only of the film’s own merits but also how it fits in with our larger, whole lineup of films,” Wilson said.

Overall, the selection process is tedious and done by the entire team.

“It’s a pretty tricky process,” Wilson said. “These are pretty subjective opinions and programmers with strong opinions. We argue about films. We debate films.”

Together, True/False creates a lineup from diverse submissions and from filmmakers around the world.

“At the end of the day, we are all inventing an idea not because we think it helps us or our own world view, but it is the best thing for the festival,” Wilson said.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

STAFF Angles Editor Claire Colby Culture Editor Brooke Collier Assistant Culture Editor Alex Sharp Culture Staff Charly Buchanan Siena DeBolt Sarah Haselhorst Mariana Labbate Sadie Lea Emmy Lucas Jane Mather-Glass Hannah McFadden Leo Rocha Emma Veidt Lauren Wilcox Columnists Jesse Baalman Jay Encina Katie Harff Olivia Jackson Brooke Knappenberger Megan Oosthuizen Eva Walker

move.themaneater.com

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True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018 SUSTAINABILITY

Go green at True/False with six easy steps

Recycling art, food compost and straw shortages are some ways to reduce your environmental footprint at the festival.

ALEXANDRA SHARP

MOVE Assistant Editor

As thousands of film lovers flock to the True/False Film Fest from March 1-4, Columbia’s environmental footprint grows overnight.

This year’s Green Mission encourages everyone to make their True/False experience more environmentally friendly with a few small steps.

“The mission is basically to be conscious of future generations and also be respectful of the environment that we’re in, both locally and globally,” sustainability coordinator Patricia Weisenfelder said.

1. Three bins are better than two New this year, a layer of waste management with a three-bin setup is being added.

Now, moviegoers can throw away trash, recyclables and food waste. Local restaurants are also participating in the food waste compost system

in their kitchens for the weekend’s festivities. Bins can be found throughout the downtown area, and seven local restaurants are partnering with True/False in this initiative: Glenn’s Cafe, Broadway Brewery, Tellers Gallery & Bar, Sycamore, Uprise Bakery, Cafe Berlin and Main Squeeze.

2. Stop the straws Hoping to reduce plastic use, some local restaurants and bars are not serving drinks with straws the weekend of True/False. This new Green Mission step is to decrease the amount of plastic used.

Moviegoers can also aid in this mission by requesting not to be served a straw or bringing reusable water bottles. The list of restaurants and bars participating is to be determined.

3. Travel together As venues are relatively near one another, the Green Mission encourages all who can to use green transportation like walking or biking. COMO Connect, a free public transportation service, is also being offered along special routes during the festival. If you have to drive, the Green Mission encourages carpooling or using ride-sharing services.

4. Repurpose recyclable The old can be made new

as the Green Mission takes old recyclables and transforms them into art pieces and True/False displays. These pieces can be bought at True/ False merchandise stores. In addition, local artisans are encouraged to submit their own recyclable pieces to True/ False to help reduce waste.

True/False connects any willing artists to businesses and organizations that have extra waste that can be made into art rather than being thrown away.

5. Education initiatives A festival booklet will be given to each ticket holder educating them on how best to act in an environmentally friendly way. Along with information on the True/ False website under “Mission,” there are many avenues in which moviegoers can learn more about the festival’s environmental footprint like its local urban agriculture projects and its reusable plates and napkins initiative.

6. Lend A Hand Opportunities to work with the Green Mission are still available. Volunteer applications are available on the True/False website.

Individuals can be a part of waste sorting or kitchen supervision. You can also be eco-friendly as a regular

Seven local restaurants are working with True/False this weekend by adding food waste bins next to their trash and recycling. Main Squeeze, one of these “green advocates,” already composts its food waste. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR

moviegoer by following the above steps and checking out the Green Mission on True/

False’s website.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

HOW TO

The do’s and don’ts of attending True/False With the festival coming this weekend, it’s time to start preparing to have the best experience.

BROOKE KNAPPENBERGER

Columnist

The True/False Film Fest transforms downtown Columbia into a sort of fantasy land with hundreds of filmmakers, artists, musicians and participants coming in from across the world. Whether you’re a True/False veteran or a firsttimer, it’s a good idea to be prepared. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your True/False experience: Do: Check out the schedule beforehandw The festival includes about

50 films, not including shorts, over the course of four days, so pore over the schedule available on the festival’s website. The schedule is a great resource to see all the events going on each day at every location. You can even personalize the schedule by filtering through the event types. Choose the events you want, whether it be only films or concerts, and print out the schedule to keep handy while you’re downtown.

Don’t: Stick to just films While documentary films may be the focus of the festival, there are many other events going on to check out.

Art lovers can view a range of pieces throughout the festival; sculptures, paintings, video art installations and models are among the many artworks that will be on display. There will also be more than 40 musical acts performing at the festival in genres ranging from hip-hop

to classical. With films, art and music, the festival has something exciting to see for everyone.

Do: Buy tickets in advance and arrive early to films To make sure you get into the films you want to see, buy tickets in advance at the Box Office at 1025 E. Walnut St. Tickets are available to purchase up to 30 minutes before each screening. If you plan on seeing many films, you can also buy a pass and reserve tickets online. The festival also has passes for concerts and a new pass available for a full day of screenings on Sunday, which is available starting March 1 at the box office.

Don’t: Stay at one location It may be tempting to stick to one or two familiar theaters, but the festival has events all over downtown.

Walking from venue to venue is a great way to explore Columbia, and you never know who or what you might run into along the way.

With artwork and musicians scattered throughout downtown, there’s a good chance you will run into something unexpected that may prove to be an exciting experience.

Do: Make new friends Attending the festival is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. Try striking up a conversation with a fellow film attendee if you love or hate a film. It’s also a good opportunity for networking; you can ask a filmmaker what their filming experience was like or an artist what their inspiration was. Either way, True/False will bring thousands of new people from across the country to talk to.

Whether this will be your first or fifth time attending,

The box office will be located at 1025 E. Walnut St., home to a local gallery featuring upcoming artists.

PHOTO BY LIA WALDRUM | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

True/False is something everyone in Columbia should experience. Just make sure you are prepared to make the most of it.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

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True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

FEATURE

Cathy Gunther discusses five years of work for True/False Film Fest Left: Cathy Gunther, volunteer co-coordinator for True/False Film Fest.

Right: Cathy Gunther, volunteer co-coordinator for True/False Film Fest, adjusts a sign.

The Nest, a vacant office space, was rented out by True/ False and acts as the volunteer headquarters for the festival.

PHOTOS BY EMMALEE REED | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

SIENA DEBOLT

Staff Writer

Cathy Gunther is one of the two volunteer coordinators for Columbia’s annual True/ False Film Fest. As a professor at MU and an advocate for community involvement, Gunther discusses her role as the volunteer coordinator and the work that goes into making the festival a fun event for both volunteers and festivalgoers.

When did you start getting involved with True/False?

Gunther: I started working with volunteers during the 2014 fest. I was brought on as an assistant volunteer coordinator [that year].

Did you apply for that position, or was it a promotion?

Gunther: Actually, I’ve never volunteered. I have close friends who worked with the fest for years and always enjoyed it. Also, a fest organizer saw me setting up a local park cleanup and asked if I knew someone who might be interested in working with fest volunteers, and I said I was.

How many hours do you work on volunteer coordination per week?

Gunther: It depends on the season. Based on what we estimate we’ll need for the fest, we make changes to the application in the fall before it opens Nov. 1. When

applicants first begin to sign up, then I may commit, I don’t know, maybe three to four hours per week. It then ramps up quickly over the holidays, and in January, we usually have at least 300 volunteers in the system and we start scheduling them. At that point, my time answering emails increases dramatically with volunteers that require schedule changes and have various questions. One of my busiest times is just before orientation and training, which was last Saturday the 17th. Also, we’re planning what to offer volunteers at our headquarters, The Nest, and trying to convert an empty office into a comfy and relaxing venue for volunteers. Right now, I’m probably spending five to six hours per day on fest business, and I’m going to be full-time starting Wednesday night. With the fest coming up, we’re still scheduling people.

So the process is you and your partner getting the volunteers together, and then once they get into their designated teams, the leaders take charge of those people?

Gunther: My partner Heather Gillich and I look through the volunteer applications first; we see everyone.

Probably 25 percent of our volunteers are people that have either worked in a position before or have been asked to come in and work this position. We place the volunteers, but we

don’t make a decision. For all the volunteers that don’t know what they want to do and haven’t volunteered before, we have to figure out what to do with them. Onethird of all of our volunteers work in the theaters. Another quarter or so work in set-up and break-down. Those two positions are primarily my focus. The teams vary from 300 to three. We give people three preferences when they apply, and then we try to fit them in their preferences.

From there, we schedule all the theaters, all the events and put the volunteers where they need to go.

Other than knowing people here, why did you want to get involved?

Gunther: I’m an academic.

I work at MU as a science teacher. I wanted to get to know more people in town that weren’t in academics and worked in community events. It was a nice way for me to get off campus. I teach these giant biology classes, so the idea of coordinating a large number of people is not foreign to me. There’s lots of emails, lots of communicating different issues. It’s kind of a parallel job, really. I love T/F, love to attend, but I don’t like to watch the movies.

I was intrigued about how this thing was run from the inside, so I really got to know every group and what they’re looking for. I’ve never done any of those things, but I’m getting the hang of it after five years.

What kind of organizational skills does it take to get everything together for the festival?

Gunther: You have to be able to kind of plan on a large scale but also deal with details. You have to check with every volunteer and make sure that they’re going to come to their shifts, that you’ve sent all of the right messages to all of the right people. It’s important to have the ability to listen to people and have patience if they’re frustrated. You have to be friendly and make people feel valued because these are things that you would expect when you’re volunteering.

They’re giving us their time, so we’re trying to show them a good time.

Is being a volunteer coordinator rewarding?

If so, why?

Gunther: For sure. I feel proud when it’s all said and done and everyone’s happy.

When the festival starts, all of a sudden I’m in there with everybody else and all the stuff is going on, so it has a good balance for me. Every year, you look at things and think about how you can make them better.

This is my fifth year working and Heather and I added The Nest, which didn’t exist three years ago. We keep pulling for more volunteer benefits. One of the reasons this is a signature event in Columbia is because of the volunteer engagement and the community engagement.

I feel really proud that that’s kind of my part. I’m not a film expert or know how to arrange a cultural festival, but I can certainly schedule volunteers.

What is your favorite event at True/False?

Gunther: My favorite event is the parade on the Friday afternoon of the festival. The parade is kind of the opening of the event for the public, and it ends at an event called “Reality Bites,” which is food samples from all different restaurants. I like it because it involves everyone and it’s outside, it’s not in a dark movie theatre.

It’s very spontaneous. There’s not a lot of planning to it.

I think that’s what I like about this festival and about documentary films: There’s something in there for everyone.

Are you still looking for volunteers?

Gunther: Yes, very much so. Our shortages right now are Thursday during the day, Friday during the day, Sunday at night and Monday during the day. The difficult times are those weekdays when everyone is at work and we need people to help us set up and break down.

Those can often be the most challenging shifts to fill when it comes down to it.

This interview was edited for clarity.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

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True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018 FILM RECOMMENDATIONS

Fact and fiction collide at True/False Film Fest The 15th edition of the documentary film festival will take place from March 1-4 in downtown Columbia.

JESSE BAALMAN

Columnist

This year’s True/False Film Fest will debut several documentaries and welcome new artists from around the world. With over 40 films on the lineup, it also marks the return of filmmakers who have shown their work previously. The diverse lineup features a mixture of innovative and experimental approaches to documentary filmmaking. As the lines between fiction and nonfiction blur, attendees will be encouraged to rethink reality.

Bisbee ‘17 Robert Greene (Kate Plays Christine) appears at the festival for the fifth time with his historical documentary about an Arizona town built around tragedy. The film uses current residents to reenact an event known as the Bisbee Deportation, where Eastern European and Mexican immigrant miners were abandoned by their community in 1917. It is a haunting mosaic depiction of a 100-year-old ethnic cleanse that resonates a century later with immigration disputes in America.

Shakedown Leilah Weinraub chronicles the ups and downs of a black lesbian strip club in Los Angeles by documenting explicit performances from 200215. As a former member of the Shakedown Angels, the director spotlights a counterculture of hiphop and strobe lights that became a vital space for queer women of color. This is an unmissable LGBT celebration fresh off its run at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this month.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) returns to Columbia with his portrait of Mister Rogers, an American cultural touchstone whose idealism and civility have been missing from television sets since his death in 2003. The film will be a deeply personal account of the man whose career was spent digesting thorny issues for a kid’s program.

Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. Popstar Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, or M.I.A., gets a

stripped-down profile of her career and upbringing by her best friend from art school, director Steven Loveridge. It will feature video diaries made by Maya herself over six years that detail her musical beginnings as well as her family’s connection to a militant rebel group.

The Rider Chloé Zhao’s last feature was a story about Native-American siblings living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Her latest docudrama studies an injured rodeo cowboy whom she met there and has earned raves at Cannes, Telluride, Toronto and Sundance.

Brady Jandreau and a cast of nonactors play versions of themselves in this American comeback story that truly walks the line between fiction and nonfiction.

American Animals Bart Layton portrays an ambitious art heist by two Kentucky suburbans (rising stars Barry Keoghan and Evan Peters) who steal rare books from the Transylvania University library in a thriller that underscores a moral dilemma of privilege and entitlement like Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring. The film had strong reactions at Sundance where its U.S. distribution rights were purchased in a historic deal by The Orchard and an exhibitionist ticket service, MoviePass.

Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Lorna Tucker directs her love letter to British fashion designer-turnedenvironmental activist, Vivienne Westwood. The film explores how a legend of the catwalk changed youth culture and built her anti-capitalist message. Along the way, Tucker chips away at her subject’s ruminating expansion plans and enters a deeper reservoir of passion behind the woman who was appointed a dame

by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.

Shirkers In the summer of 1992, Singaporean youngster Sandi Tan and her friends worked with a middle-aged man named Georges to create the perfect indie riff on Heathers. Only Georges stole the film, which sent Tan (now an L.A. novelist) on a new journey while working with the same project.

Shirkers is a movie within a movie that flows like a record of past and present attempts to break down the distinction between the story of life and life itself.

Flight of a Bullet Beata Bubenec films a one-take

Vivienne Westwood, the subject of Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist, at the Life Ball in 2011. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

documentary about being a female camera operator in the dangerous Donbass region of Ukraine. Her footage becomes an exhilarating depiction of war’s trivial annihilation as well as the harrowing reality that comes along with it.

Of Fathers and Sons Talal Derki, posing as an Al Qaeda-affiliated filmmaker, made a shocking new movie that traces the life of Abu Osama and his son. He is a sensitive boy who is being trained alongside his seven brothers to fight as a jihadi. Over the course of two years, the film takes a closer look into the family as well as civil war tribulations and radical Islam.

Three Identical Strangers In a stranger-than-fiction story that makes great implications on nature versus nurture, Robert, Edward and David reunite after being separated at birth and growing up in circumstances that were drastically unalike. Director Tim Wardle keeps things light for the most part in his retelling of a bizarre phenomenon that turned a set of triplets into media stars in 1980.

Playing Men Matjaž Ivanišin uses a mix of several documentary forms to deconstruct the meaning of the word “play” in terms of masculinity when it comes to anything from sports to musicals. The film will be a personal and social study set in both local and

global cultural contexts.

Our New President Maxim Pozdorovkin compiles Russian media and political programming in an effort to expose the fake news empire that became the wind beneath Donald Trump’s wings during the 2016 election. It tracks his rise to presidency while serving as a perilous documentation of modern propaganda.

Six films will make their world premieres at the 2018 True/False Film Fest. Erick Stoll and Chase Whiteside tell a Mexican three musketeer story about entertaining performers who care for their grandmother in América. Khalik Allah returns with Black Mother, a compassionate look at ancestral influences from his mother’s home country, Jamaica. The Task takes an honest look at its subjects through a group discussion between strangers about prejudices, stereotypes and backstories. In Voices of the Sea, director Kim Hopkins sheds light on the push-pull relationship between a loyal Cuban fisherman and his wife who dreams of a life in America just 90 miles north of shore. Combat Obscura is Miles Lagoze’s war movie made up of actual footage collected during his time in Afghanistan.

Finally, Lovers of the Night retraces the philosophical lives of Irish monks and will play alongside a short called Baby Brother.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

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True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

TRUE LIFE FUND

True/False names ‘Primas’ 2018 True Life Fund film The fund grants money to the main subjects of the film.

LAUREN WILCOX

Beat Writer

Female voices have been persistent and strong in the early months of this year, and they’ll continue through True/False Film Fest’s screening of Primas. The film is the recipient of the 2018 True/False True Life Fund, which is sponsored by The Crossing.

The True Life Fund is given to one film each year and was created to assist filmmakers and subjects who are willing to share their stories on screen with the world. This grant recognizes that documentaries are successful because of those who often have limited means, so True/ False and The Crossing repay these subjects who have given viewers the gift of knowledge. The organizations work attentively with the filmmakers to find the specific needs of the subject(s) so the money given will be efficiently and thoughtfully employed.

The documentary, directed by Laura Bari, an Argentinian-born Canadian, follows the life of her two nieces Rocío Álvarez and Aldana Bari Gonzalez making the transition into adulthood as they move to Montreal from their torn homes in Argentina.

The two teens use the advice and wisdom of their aunt to escape their lives of traumatic childhoods filled with sexual abuse and violence. Once in Canada, they use the arts of dance, theater and visuals as creative therapy to demonstrate their determination of life and imagination.

“Primas has so many layers to it,” said Dave Cover, co-lead pastor at The Crossing, to NewsOK. “My staff described it as peeling back the layers of an onion as the story of these two girls continues to unfold throughout the film, making it more powerful.”

How the recipient of the True Life Fund uses the money is unrestricted, so the $35,000 given to Primas will most likely help fund Rocío and Aldana’s education.

Cover and David Wilson, co-conspirator of the festival, who created the True Life Fund,

A still from Primas, this year’s True Life Fund film. PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

have another project involving both organizations, The Alethea Project. The project’s intent is to show documentaries in churches throughout the Midwest and West to start discussions on heavy and difficult topics such as immigration, race in America and climate change, to name a few.

Primas shows at these times: Friday, March 2, at 11 a.m. in the Missouri Theatre Saturday, March 3, at 12:30 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium Sunday, March 4, at 3:15 p.m. in the Missouri Theatre Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

MUSIC

Don’t miss the musicians at True/False this weekend Take a break from documentaries and pay these bands a visit.

JANE MATHER-GLASS

Staff Writer

True/False Film Fest will feature dozens of musicians across four days.

Here are some of the sets to look out for.

Ohmme This weekend, the Chicago-based indie-rock trio Ohmme will come to Columbia for the third time. The band came for True/False last year and made an appearance again at Cafe Berlin in September. Singers Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart are captivating to watch, always in sync and bringing high energy. Songs like “Furniture” and “Fingerprints” have a radical and compelling sound, unlike anything in their genre.

When and where: Cafe Berlin, Friday, March 2. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9.

Lomelda Hannah Read of Lomelda has been making waves the past few months. Her lo-fi alternative rock is intimate and detailed. Lomelda is making its return to Columbia after a show at Cafe Berlin in January. The Texas-based songwriter has toured with bands like Pinegrove, Frankie Cosmos, Snail Mail and Florist, the last two of which have also played at Cafe Berlin. Its newest album, Thx, has received rave reviews and lots of

praise. Lomelda is an up-and-coming force in indie rock and shouldn’t be missed.

When and where: Cafe Berlin, Thursday, March 1. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9.

Sissy Paycheck For a more pop-rock feel, check out Sissy Paycheck. One of the many local bands to be featured at True/ False, Sissy Paycheck has been creating music for years. Its first album was released in 2008, and it’s been heading upward steadily.

In the past few years, it’s played at venues throughout Columbia with other local bands and will play at Eastside Tavern for the Eastside Kickoff Concert.

When and where: Eastside Tavern, Wednesday, Feb. 28. Doors at 8:30 p.m., show at 9. pinkcaravan!

St. Louis rapper pinkcaravan! has an intoxicating sound. Her music is bright, bubbly and incredibly unique. She possesses a subtlety that she displays throughout her songs, making them compelling and fun.

She’s been compared to rappers like Noname and creates songs that mix emotions. Her music is unpredictable, which will make for a fantastic show.

When and where: Cafe Berlin, Saturday, March 3. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8.

Nnamdi Ogbonnaya Ogobonnaya’s set at True/False will be unlike anything else all weekend.

His music is highly experimental and

Ohmme singers Macie Stewart, left, and Sima Cunningham will perform Friday at Cafe Berlin during True/False Film Fest. PHOTO COURTESY OF OHMME

commanding. He mixes hip-hop and rock in a unique way that makes his sound distinctly his own. A talented instrumentalist and self-described weirdo, he creates complex and individualistic layered music. His use of traditional instruments with electronic sounds creates a vastly different soundscape that will make for an incredible set this weekend.

When and where: Cafe Berlin, Friday, March 2. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9.

It’s Me: Ross Don’t miss a chance to see It’s Me: Ross. The Columbia-based rock

band always delivers exciting, highenergy shows. In the past year, it’s opened for Snail Mail and Kansas City-based band Momma’s Boy, as well as having countless other shows in the area. Its rock is similar to that of bands like Post Animal and is sure to take the group far in the coming years. The band is well loved by Columbia concertgoers, and for good reason.

When and where: Eastside Tavern, Wednesday, Feb. 28. Doors at 8:30 p.m., show at 9.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

THE MANEATER

FEBRUARY 28, 2018 • THEMANEATER.COM

MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright addresses a full auditorium at the Chancellor’s Address on Feb. 27, 2018. PHOTO BY HUNTER PENDLETON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS

Chancellor Cartwright announces plans to expand research opportunities and funding Cartwright introduced a five-year plan to gain the attention of national research centers in the hopes of doubling MU’s funding.

REGAN MERTZ

Reporter

Chancellor Alexander Cartwright spoke about research, creative activities and economic development at his address in Monsanto Auditorium on Tuesday.

Cartwright introduced many new programs to grow research at MU. These programs include the Academy of Curators Professors, Artist in Residence Program, Mizzou Innovates Program, National

Research Centers, Office of Research Advancement and Double NIH and Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials Funding.

One of the new programs, the Academy of Curators Professors, will help the Curators’ Professors act as a resource for the entire university while providing mentorship to students and junior faculty, according to an MU News

Bureau press release.

“I believe that one of the most powerful ways we can thrive as an institution and increase our external recognition is by bringing people together,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright said the process of MU students learning from faculty

PLAN | Page 10

LEGISLATION

ASUM testifies against bill proposing campus concealed carry Rep. Jered Taylor’s bill aims to reduce the number of gunfree zones in the state, eliminating college campuses, businesses, churches and the state Capitol from the list of banned places.

NATASHA VYHOVSKY

Staff Writer

The Missouri House of Representatives discussed House Bill 1936 Monday, which would expand concealed gun carry laws to include public college campuses.

In addition to removing private property like

churches, businesses and the state Capitol from the gun-free zone statute, the bill proposal would once again attempt to permit concealed carry for public higher education campuses. Like businesses, private colleges would be able to choose their own gun policies; public colleges would not.

HB 1936 is sponsored

by Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa), who sponsored a similar version of the bill last year that made it through committee but failed on the floor.

“We see time and time again that these shooters, these criminals, go into locations where they know they’re not going to be stopped within a reasonable amount of time, and they’re able

BILL | Page 10

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 28, 2018

DREAMERS

Columbia resident organizes rally in support of DACA recipients Local residents and students came together in solidarity with the immigrant community.

Mawa Iqbal ~ Staff Writer

THE MANEATER The Student Voice of MU since 1955

Vol. 84, Issue 21 G210 Student Center • Columbia, MO 65211 573.882.5500 (phone) • 573.882.5550 (fax) editors@themaneater.com www.themaneater.com

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“Do you want to expose yourself as a foot fetishist?”

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Editor-in-Chief Victoria Cheyne Production Coordinator Cassie Allen Copy Chiefs Sam Nelson David Reynolds Anna Sirianni

ABOVE: Rally attendees raise their fists in the air in solidarity with DACA recipients whose statuses are currently in jeopardy.

RIGHT: A protester finishes making a sign before the Rally for Dreamers Columbia/MidMO Sunday.

PHOTOS BY KATE SEAMAN | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Columbia resident Devin Grayson hosted the Rally for Dreamers Columbia/MidMO at the Boone County Courthouse Plaza on Feb. 25.

More than 150 people came together to support the rights of DACA recipients. The rally featured four speakers, including Democratic candidate for Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District Renee Hoagenson and DACA recipient Ana Garcia. Each speaker wove personal narratives into their speeches on why DACA should not be rescinded. The rally comes in a response to President Donald Trump’s decision to allow DACA to expire by March 6, 2018, unless Congress passes legislation to save it.

Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com

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ABOVE: A reverend from the Unitarian Universal Church of Columbia speaks at the Rally for Dreamers. “There will always be those who stand up to say no to the powerful and greedy,” she said during her speech, “and we are among them.”

RIGHT: DACA recipient Ana Garcia speaks on coming to America and building a life in the U.S. “I hold my traditions, culture and native language close to my heart,” she said. “I am an American in every possible way.”

PHOTOS BY KATE SEAMAN | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

NEWS

Online this week: The Columba City Council passes a bill implementing community policing, the College of Veterinary Medicine gets a new dean and more at themaneater.com.

9

SYMPOSIUM

Office of Student Engagement, social justice centers hold annual Social Justice Symposium Students learned about issues such as sexuality, women’s rights, inclusion and diversity through workshops and a keynote speaker.

SKYLER ROSSI

Student Politics Editor About 70 students from different aspects of MU campus life came together to participate in the annual Social Justice Symposium on Feb. 24.

The Social Justice Symposium works each year to foster skills of activism, advocacy and awareness through workshops and a keynote speaker.

W ork shop s f ocus ed on various topics such as inclusion, bisexuality, birth control and systematic oppression. Participants were able to attend four of the 12 workshops offered.

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Christina Carney, an MU assistant professor in women’s and gender studies and black studies. She researches and writes about the history of queer black

women.

In her speech, Carney spoke about issues such as intersectionality, ableism and how arming teachers would affect black students. She emphasized the importance of having a conversation about social justice issues.

“We don’t talk about disadvantaged populations, especially in this current historical moment,” Carney said. “We don’t talk about those people because they are seen as disposable in our society.”

The event was organized by the Department of Residential Life, the Office of Student Engagement, the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, the LGBTQ Resource Center, the Multicultural Center, the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center and the Women’s Center.

This year, the organizers of the event focused more on the breakout sessions and the keynote speaker rather than small groups as in previous years.

Jayme Gardner, coordinator of leadership development in the Office of Student Engagement, said the organizers really tried to hone in on what made the event successful last year.

The Social Justice Symposium was held in the MU Student Center on Feb. 24. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR

The organizers hope to expand the symposium by instituting a student committee next year.

Gardner believes the symposium should push students out of their comfort zones by presenting them with new ideas.

“I hope [students] know a little more about something that they don’t personally experience,” Gardner said.

“I think that’s the ultimate goal: to allow students who don’t hold certain identities to interact with people that do or to learn more about

INVESTMENT

that and learn more about being better leaders.”

She feels that learning about social justice issues is essential for being an active leader.

“I teach leadership

TALK | Page 11

MSA

MU acquires Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment MSA votes to remove large portion to research consumers and financial risk Created in 1999, the free assessment determines a person’s willingness to take financial risks based on a 13-question survey.

of DSA from budget

investment risk tolerance scores HIGH TOLERANCE FOR RISK 33-47 ABOVE-AVERAGE TOLERANCE FOR RISK

LAUREN BISHOP

Staff Writer

MU recently acquired an Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment from Rutgers University, which allows individuals to test their willingness to take financial risks.

On Jan. 8, the MU personal financial planning department put the assessment on its website and the faculty began collecting data.

The test was created by John Grable, professor of family and consumer sciences at the University of Georgia, and Ruth Lytton, professor of financial planning at Virginia Tech, in 1999. This test was one of the first of its kind and is free for all users.

29-32 AVERAGE/MODERATE TOLERANCE FOR RISK 23-28 BELOW AVERAGE TOLERANCE FOR RISK

LAUREN BISHOP

Staff Writer

19-22

transfer after Rutgers was no longer interested in housing it, according to Abed Rabbani, assistant professor of personal financial planning at MU.

Members of the Missouri Students Association unanimously voted on Feb. 21 to move a majority of the Department of Student Activities outside of MSA jurisdiction.

DSA resides in the executive branch of MSA. According to its website, DSA is responsible for “creating, managing and marketing exciting activities” for MU students. DSA includes committees on black and international programming, college music, films and

RISK | Page 11

CUTS | Page 11

LOW TOLERANCE FOR RISK GRAPHIC BY COREY HADFIELD

The Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment was acquired by Rutgers after its creation, where researchers have been able to use the data to understand different financial demographics. MU gained the assessment via an institutional

DSA is the largest department within MSA and received $424,341 of MSA’s budget of approximately $1.4 million during the 2015-16 school year.

0-18

10

PLAN continued from page 7

who also use the university to conduct research expands education and innovation in Missouri, the U.S. and even the world.

MU is ranked as a doctoral university with the “highest research activity,” according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

“After a little more than 200 days here, I want to focus on some of the ways Mizzou makes a positive impact on the state, the nation and the world,” Cartwright said.

He also introduced a fiveyear plan to double MU’s federal funding.

This funding will come from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, in addition to other industries

BILL

continued from page 7 to carry out their attack,” Taylor said. “The way to stop them is with force.”

He also cited high rates of sexual assault among collegeage people as a reason to allow campus carry.

“Why aren’t we giving these individuals the ability to protect themselves?”

Taylor said. “We are making them victims by not allowing them to protect themselves on college campuses.”

In light of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School two weeks ago that killed 17, Taylor believes this bill would allow victims of an attack to potentially stop the shooter.

“Let’s just say one of those coaches that was killed

T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 28, 2018 and foundations, according to an MU News Bureau press release.

Cartwright said philanthropic support also helps drive MU’s excellence.

A large portion of these funds come from MU alumni who donate $93.7 million every year, Cartwright said.

“Our impact is amplified by the support of our tremendous supporters, many of them are our alums,” Cartwright said. “Our donors support our signature centers of excellence that enable our internationally recognized scholars to impact the world.”

Cartwright said these centers include the Reynolds Journalism Institute, the Thompson Center, the Novac Leader Institute and the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, among others.

Over $200 million in outside funding is brought in by MU researchers every year, according to

an MU News Bureau press release. This means that MU has a significant impact on Missouri’s economy.

Cartwright said he hopes to attract three to five national

research centers in the next five years.

The funds given to MU by the research centers will help create new innovation spaces at Ellis Library and

new facilities at the School of Music.

Cartwright said these are “new and ambitious goals” and to accomplish this, an office for research advancement will be established.

“It’s our people that make Mizzou exceptional,” Cartwright said as he closed his address.

Alek Willsey, a research assistant in the philosophy department and treasurer of the Graduate Professional Council, introduced Cartwright at the address.

He spoke of his journey in the field of philosophy at the graduate level.

“I am grateful to Mizzou that there is so much opportunity on campus that we would never expect,” Willsey said.

Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com

protecting those students… was able to carry a firearm,” Taylor said. “We could be talking about a different situation. He could have stopped the attack at that moment.”

He added that mental health also needs to be considered in gun legislation to make it harder for those with mental illnesses to purchase firearms.

Christopher Dade, president of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri at MU, said he believes firearms do not belong on college campuses.

He worries it could threaten the ability for students to feel safe expressing ideas or thoughts that could be potentially offensive. As an MU tour guide, he has seen firsthand the comfort of prospective students knowing MU is a gun-free school.

Growing up in a small town

in Missouri, Dade recognizes that MU is comprised of students who grew up in towns like his who are comfortable around guns and feel safer with them — as well as students who feel safe explicitly because guns aren’t allowed. This kind of debate is hard because both sides are valid, Dade said.

He and ASUM, whose members were present at Monday’s hearing to testify against the bill, believe keeping public Missouri colleges gun-free is still the best option for everyone.

“On balance, there’s a greater need to protect public health, public safety and the sort of academic freedom of a university,” Dade said.

Dade said the active shooter alert on campus this past October reaffirmed his belief that MUPD should be solely responsible for handling guns

and responding to attacks.

“Seeing how students in my classes reacted to parts that they heard or partial truths that they knew...I know that if they had had a weapon, they would have tried to be the hero, take matters into their own hands,” Dade said. “I am convinced that someone who was innocent would have gotten hurt. MUPD [had] the situation under control.”

He said adding more armed people into the mix, whether they are concealed carry permit holders or trained university staff, would also make it harder for MUPD. “It just makes the people that we pay to keep campus safe...it makes their job harder and it makes them less effective when we have people that aren’t with MUPD — that aren’t professionals — that may or may not also

have guns,” Dade said.

Brian Weimer, University of Missouri Police Department major, said MUPD will continue to enforce laws the legislators set forth.

Generally, anywhere where concealed carry is allowed, he said police would face the problem where they would have to take caution identifying the target.

“I think the concern is, just as it would be not just on campuses but anywhere if other people [were] carrying firearms, is just making sure that a person who may be there trying to intervene to do things right is not shot by someone else because they don’t know who’s the bad guy [or] who’s the good guy,” Weimer said.

MUPD did not comment on the pending legislation.

Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com

Cartwright addressed an auditorium full of students, faculty, staff, reporters and members of the community on Feb. 27, 2018. PHOTO BY HUNTER PENDLETON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

5

Session runs March 7th - May 5th (Spring Break week off)

Friday

Volunteers needed Wed 3-5 pm or 5-7 pm, Thurs 1:30-4:15 pm or 4:30-6:30 pm

Proud Philanthropy of Kappa Kappa Gamma

11

T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | FEB. 28, 2018

TALK Continued from page 9

development, and I think that you can’t really call yourself a leader on campus, or in the world, without understanding the tenants of social justice,” Gardner said.

Carney believes the symposium acts as a resource for discussion that you can’t necessarily have other places.

“I think this symposium illuminates a lot of marginalized issues for folks

RISK Continued from page 9

A person’s investment risk tolerance is determined by their preference for taking risks, their perception of risk and what that person has done financially in the past, according to Grable. The assessment includes multiple choice questions about how a friend might describe the test-taker, their preferred gambling odds and how one would invest their money.

Rabbani was part of the group that expressed

who already have an interest in these these topics, but don’t really have a community,” Carney said. “The good thing about this symposium is that you actually have people you can rely on as allies, teachers, listeners – instead of thinking about these issues without any support and feedback.”

Many students attended to learn more about social justice and apply it to their jobs or lives in specific ways.

Junior M.C. Cross heard about the symposium through their work as a peer educator at the RVSP Center. “[I hope to learn] better

ways that we can help our community, a college campus with these particular issues, and maybe onward, as we graduate, how we can help whatever community that we go into with these issues,” Cross said.

Freshman Nathaniel Hartman works for the LGBTQ Resource Center and said he participated to learn skills to improve his community work at his job.

Several members of the Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative, including freshman Brian Amaonye, went to the symposium as well.

“[I wanted to learn] more about social justice and build a better relationship with my brothers in MBMI,” Amaonye said.

Freshman Molly Stawinoga said she attended the symposium to find out more about what community organizations’ viewpoints were and to feel empowered.

“I really just want to learn about other ways of life and perspectives,” Stawinoga said. “I’m informed on issues but maybe not different emotional views of the issues because I’m just seeing from my viewpoint.”

interest in acquiring the risk assessment in the summer of 2017. Rabbani said the test is “immensely popular” in the financial planning and advising businesses.

The risk tolerance assessment originally included 100 questions, which have been gradually cut to 13 since 1999. Rabbani said the test will continue to be a work in progress.

Since MU’s acquisition of the test, there have been over 11,000 assessments completed, as of Feb. 22.

Overall, the assessment has accrued over 200,000 hits since its creation.

Researchers from MU, Rutgers University and the University of Georgia are currently evaluating data gathered by the risk assessment tool from 201217. Rabbani said the group plans to give the findings to MU Extension programs, which will disseminate the information to other financial planners and consumers.

“We are working together to increase our audience,” Rabbani said. “We are approaching Extension educators to make them aware that there is a tool that they can utilize when they speak with their Extension

clients.”

Because MU is a landgrant university, it holds a “federally mandated mission to carry the benefits of university research” outside of campus, according to MU Extension’s website. The research from the assessment data will be given to the financial sectors within 69 MU Extension program locations.

Grable said the investment test can be used by consumers to identify how they may handle risk in different situations in relation to other people when presented with the same financial choices.

All of the attendees had

one thing in common: They

were excited to be there and eager to delve into social justice issues.

“I feel very passionately

about many issues that affect different segments of the

population,” Stawinoga said.

“I really believe in equality and

justice,

and

I

want

everyone to have the same opportunities in life.”

Edited by Stephi Smith

ssmith@themaneater.com “Hopefully

Financial

Risk

what

[the

Tolerance

Assessment] helps somebody

do is at least get an idea of where they fall on a

continuum from being really

risk averse to being a risk seeker,” Grable said. “The

hope is that if you’re ever

presented with an investment recommendation, assessment]

helps

[the

people

gauge where they are in comparison to others.”

Edited by Morgan Smith

mosmith@themaneater.com

CUTS

Continued from page 9

speakers.

During the full senate session of MSA on Feb. 21, 21 members of MSA voted unanimously to pass Resolution 57-38, “A Resolution to Support the Move of DSA.” The bill states that “DSA’s move will allow for MSA to free itself from its repetitive budget allocations” and “DSA can better operate under the new student programming board.”

The resolution was authored

by Budget Committee Chair Jake Eovaldi and Tyler Parton, director of student activities in DSA. DSA will not dissolve.

Instead, a conglomeration of event planning boards is currently in the works.

Mizzou After Dark, Student Unions Programming Board, Tiger’s Lair and Zou Crew will all be brought together as one event-planning organization. The logistics, including structure and funding, for the new board are being configured.

A section of DSA will remain part of MSA but will mostly be used to plan events for MSA inaugurations.

Funding for DSA events must go through MSA Senate for approval. Parton said it will be beneficial for an independent programming group to make budget decisions for events rather

The MSA/GPC Box Office may be removed from MSA’s budget in the coming months. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR

than MSA, as MSA is more focused on academics and student government.

For the 2015-16 school year, DSA received $424,341 of MSA’s approximate budget of $1.4 million. Funding for the new programming board will be decided through MSA’s allocation of student tuition fees, which is still being discussed.

DSA is the largest department within MSA. Parton said separating MSA and DSA will allow for both groups to work toward their main goals. “[DSA] doesn’t really correlate with the missions

and goals that [MSA is] doing every year,” Parton said. “I think having the two separate is going to be able to have them focus on more student government things and have us focus on more event planning things.”

Parton said MSA has considered removing DSA from its list of departments in the past, but the current leadership of MSA will allow for a smooth transition.

“The idea has been bouncing around for a while,” Parton said. “With the other changes in MSA, it seems like the best time to make the move.”

Tickets for local concerts and many MU events are sold at the MSA/GPC Box Office, which may become an independently funded organization after the final MSA Senate vote on April 11. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR

MSA is also currently working on legislation to remove five auxiliaries from its budget: Student Legal Services, MSA/GPC Box Office, MSA/GPC Tech, KCOU and MUTV. The hope

is that other organizations within MU will pick up the funding for these programs.

The final vote in MSA Senate is scheduled for April 11.

Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com

SPORTS

Online this week: Softball wins four in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, swim and dive breaks records in NCAA qualifier and more at themaneater.com.

12

WRESTLING

With just the MAC championship remaining before the NCAA championship, Mizzou wrestling seeks domination

Redshirt junior Grant Leeth stares down an opponent during a wrestling match. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS

Brian Smith’s team is set to head into the conference championship after going undefeated for the second time in program history.

BLAKE HECKEL

Staff Writer

The Missouri wrestling team will look to send as many wrestlers from all 10 weight classes to the NCAA championships as possible after the MAC championships

in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

With a 7-0 conference record and 19-0 overall record, the Tigers captured the MAC regular-season conference title, going undefeated in the regular season for the second time in school history. This week,

the Tigers look to extend an impressive streak of consecutive conference titles to seven, a streak that dates back to the Big 12 era.

Head coach Brian Smith said during Tuesday’s media availability that his team is ready.

“I know we’re prepared,” Smith said. “We’re healthy.”

This year, the NCAA has allocated 25 spots to the MAC for wrestlers to compete in the NCAA championships.

According to the MAC

mac | Page 14

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Women’s basketball looks to bounce back in Nashville The Tigers will go to Tennessee after an 82-63 loss to Texas A&M. ANDY KIMBALL

Staff Writer

Coming into the regular -season finale on Sunday, Missouri was riding high.

After winning six straight, Missouri was in a two-way tie for third in the Southeastern Conference standings going into the season’s final day.

Then an ice-cold shooting performance led to an 82-63 rout at the hands of Texas A&M, while LSU prevailed in overtime in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, dropping Missouri to a four-way tie for fourth in the conference standings to end the season.

The game was a bump in the road for the Tigers, but junior Sophie Cunningham believes Missouri can bounce back in the conference tournament.

“That was terrible,” Cunningham said. “But our team always bounces back in

tough situations like that, so it couldn’t happen to us at a better time, honestly. I think it kinda put everything back in perspective for us.”

Missouri will need to get back on track with its shooting to succeed in Nashville, Tennessee. After scorching the nets during their six-game win streak, the Tiger offense was silenced in its loss on Sunday.

Missouri shot 38.3 percent from the field in its loss to the Aggies, the team’s second-lowest shooting percentage of the season.

The Tigers’ lowest total was against Georgia, when they shot 28 percent in a 62-50 loss in Athens on Jan. 25.

Head coach Robin Pingeton said she didn’t like the way the Tigers defended in the loss to the Aggies.

“I didn’t like the intensity of our defense; we tried a triangle and two,” Pingeton said. “We didn’t feel like out man was a good match for us. We had a really good understanding of the game plan, but we didn’t come out with the intensity we needed to execute it.”

After the beatdown in College Station, Texas, Missouri will head to Nashville for the SEC Tournament.

Despite the loss, Missouri is already a lock to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers will travel to Nashville looking to secure a spot as a host for the first two rounds of the Big Dance.

The top four seeds in each of the four regions, or the top 16 overall seeds, host the first two rounds in the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers were ranked 14th in Monday’s AP poll and are a host in most bracket predictions. The Tigers are a 3-seed in the Spokane region in Charlie Creme’s most recent bracket prediction for ESPN. The Tigers are one of the top teams in the conference, but they will have to buck the trend of recent SEC Tournament misfortunes to make a deep run; they have yet to win a game in the conference tournament since they joined the SEC in 2012.

Pingeton isn’t worried about the recent history in

the SEC Tournament and is also not concerned with how the next couple of days will affect NCAA Tournament seeding.

“This is a team that has done a lot of things for the first time,” Pingeton said.

“We’re not going to go into this tournament thinking that we haven’t won a game or what this looks like for seeding. We just want to really focus on being the best team we can be.”

A run to the semifinals would most likely secure a spot for the Tigers as a host.

Missouri will start by playing on Thursday night against the winner of Mississippi and Florida.

Missouri will be heavily favored against either team, as Mississippi and Florida combined for just four conference wins this season.

The Tigers beat Mississippi 67-48 in Oxford on Jan. 18 and held on late to beat Florida 66-64 at home in early February.

Florida could be a tough matchup for Missouri.

The Gators shoot a high percentage of outside looks,

and Missouri is a team that can struggle to defend from outside.

In each of Missouri’s last three games, opponents have shot better than 45 percent from behind the arc. Florida attempted 33 triples in its matchup with Missouri in Columbia, and if its looks from outside fall, they are an extremely dangerous team that could upset the Tigers.

Pingeton is wary of Missouri’s first opponent.

She praised the depth of the conference and pointed to how games are competitive night in and night out.

“Tournament time, anything can happen,” Pingeton said. “Some of our teams are ranked in the top 25, and those are really good teams. Those teams that aren’t ranked in the top 25, on any given night anything can happen. It’s not like we have two or three teams that are being blown out by 20 or 30 points every night.”

If Missouri takes care of business, it would move on

ncaa | Page 14

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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | F E B. 2 8, 2 0 1 8 TRACK AND FIELD

Schweizer, Cunningham lead Missouri to three event wins at SEC championships Karissa Schweizer and Ja’Mari Ward will be Missouri’s lone representatives at the NCAA championships in March.

OWEN KRUCOFF

Staff Writer

By the time Karissa Schweizer received the baton from redshirt freshman Karina Liz, viewers could have been forgiven for thinking that Missouri had no chance to win the women’s distance medley relay.

Mizzou entered Schweizer’s onemile anchor leg in ninth place, roughly 11 seconds behind the leading Vanderbilt Commodores. But the Tiger senior demonstrated just how dominant she can be at her craft, finishing her mile in 4:25.56 and emerging six seconds ahead of the second-place team.

Had the split been counted as its own separate mile race, it would have been the fastest indoor mile in NCAA history and the second collegiate record broken by Schweizer this season.

The race was Missouri’s last event of the weekend-long Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas. The women’s DMR was one of the Tigers’ three first-place finishes in the meet, joining Schweizer’s successful defense of her 2017 title in the 3,000-meter run on Saturday and redshirt senior Megan Cunningham’s 5,000-meter victory on Sunday.

Outside of the three conference titles, however, Missouri’s weekend results were much less exceptional.

In the overall team standings for the meet, the women finished ninth out of 14 teams, while the men took last place out of 13 for the second straight year.

The Tigers also failed to add any names to their list of NCAA championship qualifiers, leaving Schweizer and sophomore jumper Ja’Mari Ward as the only Mizzou athletes set to return to College Station in two weeks to compete on the national stage. The top 16 athletes or top 12 relay teams from each event are invited to the championship based on the best regular-season performances.

Missouri started slow on Saturday afternoon, with none of its athletes qualifying for the meet finals in the men’s weight throw, women’s 60-meter dash or men’s 400-meter dash.

After running the 60-meter dash in 7.36 seconds, 0.05 seconds short of the school record and 32nd best nationally at the time at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge on Feb. 16, junior Maya Cody had her sights set on the school record and NCAA qualification. Instead, her time increased to 7.46 seconds, placing her fifth in the preliminary heat and bringing an end to her indoor season.

In the men’s long jump, Ward, who

Senior distance runner Karissa Schweizer is honored at a Missouri basketball game on Nov. 28, 2016, for winning the NCAA cross-country championship. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

set a school record of his own by jumping 7.97 meters at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge, stumbled to a fifth-place finish with 7.75 meters.

He will still qualify for the NCAA championships by virtue of his 7.97meter mark, which remains tied for the country’s fifth best in 2017-18.

After freshman Arielle Mack and junior Landon Cuskelly failed to record scores in the women’s long jump and men’s high jump, respectively, redshirt junior Gabi Jacobs finished eighth in the women’s shot put with 15.06 meters.

However, both she and sophomore Emily Stauffer, who finished 12th with 14.08 meters, performed well below their season highs of 15.54 and 15.53 meters, respectively.

After Missouri failed to crack the top eight in the men’s 800-meter run, women’s 200-meter dash and men’s 3,000-meter run, Schweizer brought an end to Missouri’s Saturday action by setting a meet record in the women’s 3,000, finishing in 9:00.56, about 11 seconds ahead of second place. The time was actually about 20 seconds slower than the NCAA record Schweizer set in the event in New York City on Feb. 3.

“It’s an extraordinary [meet] record for Karissa,” head coach Brett Halter said in a press release Saturday. “The way she did it was absolutely remarkable. It was quite an impressive competitive effort.”

On Sunday, junior CeCe Johnson finished ninth in the women’s weight throw with 18.04 meters, an underperformance compared to her season high of 18.88 meters.

Junior Valeria Kostiuk recorded

a 1.83-meter jump at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge, putting her in a tie for the Tigers’ program record as well as a tie for 16th in the country at the time, meaning she entered the weekend squarely on the NCAA qualification bubble. With that score unlikely to hold its ranking through a weekend full of conference championship meets around the country, she would almost certainly have to improve to reach nationals.

Instead, Kostiuk finished tied for fourth with 1.80 meters, and by the end of the day, 1.84 meters was the new benchmark score for NCAA qualification. Kostiuk’s three failed attempts from 1.84 meters at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge now loom larger than before, as success on any one of them would have extended her indoor season as well as broken the school record.

Senior Rauno Liitmae and freshman Jason Edwards finished fourth and seventh, respectively, in the heptathlon. Liitmae’s score of 5,573 points moved him into fifth place in Missouri’s program history in the event.

After no top-10 finishes in the men’s shot put or 5000-meter run, the Tigers’ attention turned to the women’s 5,000, where Cunningham captured the title in 15:56.76 by a dominant 24-second margin.

In July 2015, Cunningham spent a week in the hospital after a car crash left her unable to perform any physical activity. Sunday’s achievement was the culmination of a long recovery in which she essentially had to relearn the sport of distance running. She dedicated the

victory to her father, who suffered permanent paralysis in all four limbs as a result of the crash.

“I was crying as soon as I crossed the finish line,” Cunningham told ESPN’s John Anderson after the race.

“I’m just so happy… everything I’ve done to come back is for [my dad].”

Cunningham’s time left her about 10 seconds shy of NCAA qualification.

Schweizer would have been the favorite to win the 5,000-meter race had she competed, but she was held out in anticipation of her rematch with New Mexico sophomore Ednah Kurgat at the NCAA championships.

Schweizer edged out Kurgat for first place in the 5,000 at a meet in Boston in December, and their times have stood all season as the top two in the country by far.

After a seventh-place finish in the men’s DMR, Missouri finished its weekend with the women’s race.

Redshirt senior Valeska Halamicek, Cody, Liz and Schweizer’s blazing anchor leg led the Tigers to their third SEC title of the meet. The team’s time of 11:08.18 left them about seven seconds short of NCAA qualification.

The qualifiers for the NCAA championships will be announced in a press release Tuesday night.

Schweizer is expected to qualify in the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, while Ward will contest the long jump. The rest of the team will be back in action when the outdoor season begins at the Arkansas Spring Invitational from March 23-24.

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com

14

MAC

Continued from page 12

website, the MAC will be the fifth most represented conference in the national championships.

While Missouri has a history of winning, especially in the MAC, this team seems to be head and shoulders above the competition this year. The Tigers are just one of two teams in the MAC in the top 25, with Central Michigan at the 20th slot.

NCAA

Continued from page 12

to play 3-seed Georgia on Friday night. Missouri only had one matchup with the 19th-ranked Bulldogs, losing 62-50 on Jan. 25.

Getting a win over Georgia would likely secure Missouri a spot as a top-3 seed in the NCAAs. With a loss, Missouri would be on edge waiting to see if it would be a tournament host.

The Tigers will need to cut down on turnovers to beat Georgia. Missouri has had at least 15 turnovers in each of its last four games. In the loss in late January, the Bulldogs turned 18 Missouri turnovers into 16 points.

Georgia is a balanced team led by 6-foot-2 senior

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | F E B. 2 8, 2 0 1 8 Missouri has the highest ranked wrestler in every weight class besides the 125-pound and heavyweight classes.

In those two weight classes where Mizzou isn’t the top dog, it will be a tough journey to the NCAA championships, as both No. 33 125-pounder Barlow McGhee and unranked heavyweight Wyatt Koelling struggled in MAC duals, combining for a record of 7-13 in conference wrestling.

However, Smith believes the two underdogs can capture a qualifying spot.

“Barlow is ready; I know

Barlow is ready,” Smith said.

“We put Koelling in a tough situation where he was a backup at 184, and now he’s going up to heavyweight... but he’s going to go out there and battle.”

As for the wrestlers who are heavily favored to win in their respective weight classes, John Erneste, Jaydin Eierman, Grant Leeth, Joey Lavallee, Daniel Lewis and Willie Miklus are all looking to get one more dress rehearsal before the NCAA championships.

Wrestlers such as Eierman, Lavalle and Leath have been

huge for the Tigers this season, and Smith will be the first to say it.

“It’s consistency; that’s a big deal,” Smith said. “They are really consistent in the practice room, too. They are just doing what they do best.”

The six wrestlers have combined for 132 wins and just nine losses on the season.

Twenty-six of those wins have come from 174-pounder Daniel Lewis, who went undefeated on the season.

If Missouri succeeds in taking home the team championship, Smith will

have a strong case for his sixth consecutive MAC Coach of the Year award. The 20-year head coach could also repeat as the NWCA Coach of the Year.

After this weekend, the Tigers, who qualify for the NCAA championships, will get a 10-day break before they try to wrestle their way through the gauntlet that is the 33-man national championship brackets.

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com

forward Mackenzie Engram and 6-foot-3 junior forward Caliya Robinson. There are five players on the Bulldogs who average more than 7 points per game. Engram is more of a perimeter player who can stretch the floor, shooting 39.7 percent from 3, while Robinson is an intimidating presence inside on both ends of the floor, averaging 7.8 rebounds and three blocks per game.

The tournament would get really interesting for the Tigers if they were able to knock off the Bulldogs.

Missouri would likely play second-seeded South Carolina in the semifinals on Saturday, adding a third matchup to complete a dramatic trilogy between the two teams.

The Tigers and the eighthranked Gamecocks have been a part of a budding rivalry

over the last couple of years.

Last February, Missouri was the last team to beat South Carolina before the Gamecocks went on to win the national championship in April.

This season, Missouri upset then-No. 4 South Carolina at home on Jan. 7 before the Gamecocks exacted revenge on the Tigers, beating them 64-54 in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 28.

However, the two biggest storylines between the teams have developed off the court. After the loss to South Carolina, Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk told KTGR radio that Missouri players were spit on and called by racial slurs. Sterk also said South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley “promoted that kind of atmosphere, and it’s unfortunate that she felt she had to do that.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey fined Sterk $25,000 for the comments, and Staley responded by suing Sterk for $75,000 for defamation and slander.

The rematch between the two teams in late January was also very physical.

An altercation after a tieup between redshirt senior Kayla Michael and South Carolina’s Alexis Jennings led to a scuffle between the two teams, including a shoving match with junior Sophie Cunningham and a group of Gamecocks.

Cunningham relishes another matchup with the Gamecocks and thinks it would be an entertaining game.

“I think it would be awesome,” Cunningham said.

“I think it would be a lot of fun, and I think a lot of people would be watching

that game, but we gotta get there.”

If Missouri was able to upset South Carolina, undefeated No. 2 Mississippi State would likely be awaiting the Tigers in the finals. On Feb. 1, a Victoria Vivians runner with four seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 57-53 win at Mizzou Arena.

Wins against top programs like Mississippi State and South Carolina would give the Tigers significant momentum going into the NCAA Tournament, where Missouri will look to make a deep run after reaching the second round of the tournament the past two years.

Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com

The Missouri women’s basketball team huddles up before a game on Feb. 1, 2018. PHOTO BY COURTNEY VILLMER | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

15

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Tarana Burke inspires community as MU’s Black History Month keynote speaker Burke encouraged change surrounding sexual harassment and assault on campus.

SIENA DEBOLT

Staff Writer

Tarana Burke, founder of the “me too.” movement, spoke on Feb. 20 to an audience in Tate Hall as MU’s Black History Month keynote speaker.

She discussed the development of the movement and how to incite change in communities.

Burke started advocating for change when she was a 14-year-old living in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. She realized that she wanted to be an organizer for social change when the Daily

News wrote a story about her and other protesters advocating for justice for the Central Park Five, the five teenage boys who were wrongfully convicted of the assault, sodomy and rape of Trisha Meili.

Telling multiple stories of girls coming to her with assault and harassment cases when she worked at a youth camp as a counselor in her 20s, Burke explained that she knew she had to do something to help these girls.

“I thought about starting all-girls programs to help differentiate self-esteem from self-worth,” Burke said. “I didn’t want to release them into a world that said the opposite; I wanted to build a foundation for them.”

After years of working in Selma, Alabama, to build a space for girls who needed

empathy and healing after abuse, she decided to call the program “me too.” because she wanted to give girls language to say that what was happening to them was wrong.

“I wanted to cultivate spaces for joy as a way of healing,” Burke said. “You cannot thrive in the spaces where you were harmed.

That’s why community healing is important. You deserve healing and you deserve safety.”

As the #MeToo movement started to gain global attention following the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Burke admitted she felt like her movement was in jeopardy and that people were forgetting where it had originated.

“I was afraid that I would be erased as a black woman,

as we have seen in many other cases,” Burke said.

“Later, I read a long story from one woman and I felt convicted; I had spent the entire day trying to protect my work, when this was my work.”

Burke has a clear idea of what her movement reinforces.

“I expect that you believe that survivors should be at the forefront of the movement, that you understand that there is a spectrum of sexual violence and this movement addresses the entire spectrum,” Burke said in an email. “That the most marginalized voices have to be amplified in whatever work is done in the name of ‘me too.’”

She explained that she speaks to colleges now because of the lack of

change surrounding sexual harassment and assault despite the creation of programs like Title IX. “Be committed to changing a culture in the school — it’s not just about the posters on the wall,” Burke said. “You can’t just check off a box on Title IX. Will we stand up against gender-based violence on this campus? Are you prepared to do that?”

Honest and humble, Burke left the crowd at Tate Hall with a desire to make change and a reminder that we still have a long way to go.

“This was just one idea,” Burke said. “We need more ideas. I’m asking you to join me: Let’s heal together.

Let’s heal our communities together.”

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

ACTIVIST

Janet Mock takes the stage to talk social issues and her future Led by MU professor Christina Carney, Mock discussed representation and community.

JANE MATHER-GLASS

Staff Writer

Janet Mock, an author, TV host and transgender activist, shared her wisdom with Columbia last Wednesday.

She shared messages about gender, race, the value of community and her future plans.

In a discussion led by MU professor Christina Carney, Mock provided thoughtprovoking talking points

and talked about her path to where she is now. Mock has been highly successful in the past few years, having published two memoirs and hosted TV shows. Now, she’s working on the production of a new TV series and has countless goals — in fact, one of them is to “do too much.”

Mock is an activist in high demand, working with people like Laverne Cox and even appearing in one of JayZ’s recent music videos. But that wasn’t always her story.

Mock told the audience about her time in college when she felt isolated living in New York City. A community she felt like she could belong to was nearby (she was just

blocks away from where the Stonewall riots took place), yet she never reached out.

“I was like that girl in [America’s Next] Top Model who’s like, ‘I’m not here to make friends,’” she said.

Mock’s advice was to be proactive about finding a community because having a strong group of people who stand beside you is incredibly valuable and can create a sense of belonging. Before Mock found a community, she felt very disconnected.

“A community is made up of people that don’t really expect anything of me,” Mock said. “I can show up completely empty, and that’s more than enough.”

While Mock had much

to share, she knows that many other people in her community do as well.

Recently, she’s been trying to say “no” sometimes because she knows that her voice has been heard by many.

Instead, she wants to elevate the voices of other black trans women, who have their own unique stories and perspectives to share.

As for her future, she wants to continue to tell stories of underrepresented communities on different platforms. She’s currently working on an upcoming show, Pose, which is set to air on FX later this year.

The show features five trans women of color as series regulars, something virtually

unseen in today’s media.

Through this, she aims to challenge depictions of transgender womanhood and create more representation.

“I’ve told enough of my own stories,” Mock said.

“Real representation means providing mirrors for young people to be able to see themselves.”

With more figures like Janet Mock on the rise, the future looks brighter and more diverse. Soon enough, the stories we hear will span a variety of backgrounds.

“I want to tell stories that matter,” Mock said. “I’ve wanted to do that since I was a kid.”

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

16

T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | F E B. 2 8, 2 0 1 8

Q&A

Mira Costa sings, plays guitar and the keyboard for The Sea The Sea, an indie-folk band based out of upstate New York.

The group played at Rose Music Hall on Sunday night.

Indie-folk band The Sea The Sea played at Rose Music Hall on Feb. 18. The band is helmed by couple Chuck and Mira Costa (center) and joined by Cara May Gorman (far left) and Steven Struss (right) on drums. PHOTOS BY TRISTEN ROUSE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Q&A sit-down with The Sea The Sea The band from upstate New York delivered a magical performance at Rose Music Hall last week.

LEO ROCHA

Reporter

Indie folk-pop band The Sea The Sea performed to an intimate crowd at the Rose Music Hall on Feb. 18.

Husband and wife duo Chuck and Mira Costa lead the band as the main vocalists and guitarists.

Cara May Gorman provides backup vocals and plays the synthesizer, and Steve Struss plays drums. They came to Columbia on tour to promote their sophomore album From the Light, which is set to be released on June 1.

Chuck and Mira Costa sat down with MOVE Magazine before the show for an exclusive Q&A. For more of the interview, check out MOVE’s website.

How did you all meet?

Mira: So, Chuck and I met at a music festival in West Virginia. We were playing as a duo for four or five years.

And then we were caretaking a house in upstate New York, and we started putting our stuff there when we weren’t on the road. We met Cara because we were singing backup vocals with another musician named Sean Rowe, and we just really loved performing together. And then we were looking to

expand the duo and we met Steve, so now for the last year and a half or so, we’ve been performing as a fourpiece.

What's the meaning behind your band name?

Mira: It’s a cry of joy from an ancient Greek story. There are these soldiers who are fighting a battle inland, and a lot of them didn’t make it, but those who did had to fight their way back to the coast where they were from. They crossed over a mountain and saw the ocean and knew they were safe, so someone cried “The sea! The sea!� So that felt appropriate and sort of felt the way it felt when we started making music together.

Chuck: We came out of tumultuous points of our lives when we started the band, so it felt really appropriate.

Mira: It was a cry of joy for sure.

What was your inspiration behind From the Light?

Mira: Interestingly, we got married, and we took a couple of months off to write new music. It was right around the time of the [2016 presidential] election, so we were processing a lot and feeling the divisions that were more pronounced than normal. We were feeling inspired to find these common threads of humanity and the things that connect us. We were also living out in the countryside, and there’s something about the light when you’re out in the

country that is a constant presence and metaphor. So [the album] has a lot of stuff about that duality and the ups and the downs of trying to process things honestly.

What does your songwriting process look like?

Mira: We don’t really have a single songwriting process.

Chuck: We usually will start separately, and sometimes it’ll be full songs where we’ll write separately or sometimes it’ll be little pieces. And we’ll bring things to each other, and we’ve found a really cool way to collaborate. It’s hard to co-write songs. I was never able to do it until I met Mira.

We have a really safe space where we can critique each other and workshop stuff.

Mira: And say ideas that can be weird.

Chuck: Yeah, and so that’s kind of how we bring something to the other person, and then we’ll have this raw song. And now that we have the band, we already had songs that we had previously worked through that we brought to them. Now we have a few newer ones where they were really fresh, like in From the Light, where [May Gorman and Struss] were able to collaborate on the arrangements and flesh them out together as a band.

Mira: And we always feel like the best songs are when you can take a snapshot of one of the best conversations, so that’s what we try to do when we’re writing — just have an idea that we can

really talk about and distill.

What are your plans once the tour is done?

Mira: We’ll take a week off and then we’ll do it again.

Chuck: We’re doing perpetual touring this year, where we have little breaks and then go back on the road.

The Sea The Sea started the show with its new single, “Everybody.� The song has a dreamy, ethereal quality to it. Throughout the show, the band members locked eyes with each other and smiled as they sung; they are all clearly close and their music benefits from it as a result. All three vocalists work well with each other. Gorman and Mira's harmonies are transcending and angelic, while Chuck and Mira’s voices melt together and blend into one unified voice.

The band played a mix of songs from its debut album and its upcoming album. It also performed a wonderful cover of Bob Dylan’s “I’ll

Keep It with Mine,� visibly letting the music overtake them and rocking out on stage as if they were in their bedrooms and no one was watching.

The highlight of the night was when a fan asked The Sea The Sea to perform an acoustic piece. The band gladly agreed and brought its equipment out onto the floor.

The audience got up close and surrounded the band as it performed a cover of “Keep It There� by The Weepies. They explained that they learned the song after someone stole their phones and wallets. It was a great conclusion to a marvelous night of music and a testament to The Sea The Sea’s kindness.

The Sea The Sea’s latest single “Good for Something� is out on Spotify now. The band plans to release a new single each month until June to promote its album.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

OPINION

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

We want to hear your voice.

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

17

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

COLUMN

Parkland shooting survivors are changing the way we react to tragedy The March For Our Lives and Never Again movement are powerful tools to change the way Americans react to school shootings.

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.

At the normally calm, quiet Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, nobody ever expected for tragedy to strike — but when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a student who had been expelled from the high school, killed 17 people on Feb. 14, everything changed.

Looking into the shooter’s past, there were many warning signs that this was something he could have been planning for a while.

Five months before the shooting, the FBI was warned about Cruz’s comment on a YouTube video, claiming that he was going to be

“a professional school shooter,” but there’s uncertainty about how the FBI could have stopped this. There were also signs that he was not mentally stable — proof of him cutting his arms, suffering from depression and putting hate symbols and racial slurs on his backpack all emerged, but he was still legally allowed to obtain 10 firearms.

However, the survivors of the shooting aren’t going to let this one go so easily. In the midst of their grief, they’ve been active in speaking out, talking to their representatives and even organizing a movement to ensure this never happens again. The Never Again movement was born out of tragedy in the hopes of ensuring that Stoneman Douglas would be, in the survivors’ words, “the last school shooting.” They are doing everything in their power to make sure that no student ever has to go through this in the future.

The movement’s main policy goal is to call for stricter background checks for gun buyers, a common cause that stretches across both parties. In fact, states that already have more extensive background checks have been linked to lower crime rates. It has also organized the March For Our Lives on March 24, where thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Washington, as well

A protest in response to the Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida, shooting. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

as many sister marches across the country to protest the lack of action being taken about gun violence in America. They are taking it upon themselves to create action where the adults often fail, and this is what is going to turn the tide.

These students have shown remarkable resolve and determination to bring justice to their fallen friends, and they’re not backing down, even though the odds seem to be

against them. These kids are the real deal; they’re the future. They are reminding America that the tragedy that happened to them wasn’t an accident, wasn’t a natural disaster; it’s something that could have been prevented. I truly believe that the actions they’re taking will have an impact on American politics for the better.

COLUMN

War with North Korea is a disaster America must avoid Attacking North Korea would only increase tension.

JON NIEMUTH

Opinion Columnist

Jon Niemuth is a freshman economics major at MU. He is an opinions columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater.

Before any serious discussion about North Korea can be had, it is essential to get a few things straight.

Most importantly, under no circumstances is a so-called preventive war in the best interests of the United States, South Korea, Japan or China.

Such a struggle would wreak devastation upon the region not seen in nearly seven decades, inflicting an unimaginable human and economic cost.

Secondly, Kim Jong-un, crazy as he may be, is not suicidal, nor an undeterrable Hitlerian mad man. He is eager to acquire nukes to maintain his regime’s security — at least according to Dave Mosher of Business Insider — not to launch sudden and unprovoked attacks on his neighbors.

And finally, it is necessary for the Trump administration to understand these truths, rather than fill in its

own “alternative facts” for jingoistic purposes.

Just 15 short years ago, the U.S. sleep walked into Iraq touting the same flawed arguments being postulated today. Back then, the likes of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were certain Saddam Hussein had nefarious plans for the future, and the result was a disastrous and protracted conflict still yet to be fully resolved.

Now America is ready to fail again. After Iraq, the U.S. claimed to recognize the holes in the Neoconservatives’ logic, but if recent developments are a sign, we may have already forgotten our lesson.

According to a September Gallup poll, 58 percent of Americans — and 82 percent of Republicans — favor military action against North Korea if the U.S. is unable to accomplish its goals diplomatically, a number that’s shocking given the nightmares that have been Washington’s modern interventions overseas. Further worsening matters, the hawkishness goes right to the top, with National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster and President Trump himself reportedly open to the idea of hitting Pyongyang first.

The reasons both men offer don’t hold up to scrutiny. McMaster is under the impression Kim intends to use his long range ICBMs to blackmail

Vice President Pence, President Trump and National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster have lunch with service members on July 18, 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

the U.S. into handing over South Korea — ignoring the reality that Seoul has its own capable army and wouldn’t simply surrender without a fight. As for Trump, a fan of flexing American muscle, he’s rumored to be considering a “bloody nose” strike on the dictatorship, despite the likelihood such a move would drastically escalate the situation.

This is, frankly, disturbing, and risks setting off events that could kill millions. Any bombing of North Korea would immediately lead to a greater struggle, including an artillery

barrage from across the demilitarized zone and quite possibly an invasion by either side.

This is not a defense of Kim or his predecessors; clearly North Korea is an awful place. But it is a plea to those responsible for American foreign policy to not repeat the wrongs of the past. The outbreak of a new Korean war would be regretted almost immediately, and should the United States be the one to start it, it has the potential to leave a permanent stain on our country’s identity.

18

T H E M A N E AT E R | O P I N I O N | F E B. 2 8, 2 0 1 8

COLUMN

Even with Russian influence, 2015 protests are still legitimate The 2015 protests came about because students wanted change, not because Russia wanted Trump in the White House.

TATYANA MONNAY

Opinon Columnist

Tatyana Monnay is a freshman journalism major at MU. She is an opinions columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater.

Before working its way up to meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Russia made some practice shots in the 2015 MU protests, which eventually resulted in the resignation of former UM System President Tim Wolfe.

After Wolfe’s resignation, many feared the potential violent backlash from the white community in Columbia. This was due to the real threat from then-Missouri University of Science and Technology student Hunter Park, who stated on Yik Yak that he would “shoot every black person” he saw.

Fear was amplified by a post from a now-suspended Twitter account that read, “The cops are marching with the KKK! They beat up my little brother! Watch out!” The tweet included a photo of a black child with a bruised face and the hashtag #PrayForMizzou.

The crazy thing about the KKK scare is that I remember it quite

Protesters during the #ConcernedStudent1950 demonstration. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

clearly. This false claim reached its way across social media platforms and made its way onto Tumblr. I remember hearing about the protests on CNN, discussing it with my parents and then going on my Tumblr to hear more about what was happening. I remember reading that the KKK was actually on campus. I completely believed it — and I know I was not the only one.

Russian trolls’ ultimate goals are to increase tensions and division within American communities, hoping it will eventually spread across the nation. They take the focus away

from the actual issue and resolution to paint a picture that is much more chaotic in order to cause panic. The Russian trolls also claimed some of the protesters were violent, which was not true, as the protest in its entirety was peaceful.

Now that it’s clear Russia was somehow involved in the protests, I don’t want people to dismiss the protests or view them as being less legitimate in any way. Russia’s involvement was rooted in the desire to damage the perceptions of the leaders of the protests by making them seem less credible in the fact

that they believed the false KKK accusation. The purpose and goals behind the student protest group, Concerned Student 1950, were valid and true, and this movement does not deserve any skepticism from anyone.

The 2015 protests were about the racial discrimination and harassment students of color experienced on campus, which often went unnoticed and ignored by the MU administration, even when these instances were reported.

The scariest thing about the Russian involvement is that it was so believable, and it spread like wildfire. At the time of the protests, as a sophomore in high school, I was completely convinced that as a black student, I would not be safe on the MU campus.

After visiting MU and talking to students about what actually happened, however, I realized the protests were peaceful and the KKK did not come to campus. However, not all students were able to visit MU and hear the true story. If I thought that, imagine how many other students of color felt discouraged from applying to MU. Shame on Russia for trying to capitalize off of students’ pain just for the purpose of creating more chaos and leaving lasting effects for students of color at MU and in Missouri. We should not allow the Russian interference to overshadow what the protests were really about: creating a safe space for students of color and a conducive environment for diversity.

COLUMN

Missouri’s 97th District swings to the left The Democratic win in the Missouri House of Representatives’ special election points to a leftist wave ahead of the midterm elections.

MADDIE NIBLETT

Opinion Columnist

Maddie Niblett is a freshman journalism major at MU. She is an opinions columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater.

I’ll come right out and say it — so far, 2018 sucks. Tide Pod memes aside, it seems like stupidity is unavoidable, even at what’s supposed to be the most professional level. Just over the past weeks or so, Donald Trump has ordered an unnecessarily vulgar display of America’s military, claimed that he was “victimized” by the Obama administration, and supported a member of his staff who was accused of domestic abuse by not one, not two, but three former

wives/girlfriends, photographic evidence included. Things do indeed look bleak, but this week I’ve decided to start focusing on the more positive things in life.

For example, in a state House of Representatives special election Missouri’s 97th District elected Democrat Mike Revis over Republican David Linton in a 52-48 win. But wait, here’s the best part: This same district voted for Trump in 2016 by a 28-point majority. This marks the second special election in 2018 where a bright blood-red Republican seat was overtaken by a true blue Democrat.

Republicans are writing off this small victory, saying that it is only because of the media attention that Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ has received after the publication of an affair and allegations of blackmail to go along with it. While that may be part of the reason behind such a dramatic swing to the left, the overall trend in special elections so far has been overwhelmingly on the Democrats’ side.

The party has gained an average of 14 percentage points in each state and district where a special election has been held during this cycle, with some districts gaining more than

30 percentage points of Democratic support. Trends in special elections are typically good indicators of what bigger elections are going to look like, in this case the midterm elections. This is the beginning of substantial proof that Democrats may actually have a chance at winning a majority in one (or both) of the houses of Congress.

Yes, things do look pretty bleak.

Our current president is a Twitteraddicted man-child, our government

has already shut down twice this year and our public leaders are being accused of sexual misconduct and/or blackmail left and right (looking at you, Gov. Greitens). If the Democratic Party can keep this grassroots momentum going and encourage enough people to vote in the midterms, even if only in opposition to Trump, 2018 may not turn out to be so bad after all.

19

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018 FESTIVAL GUIDE

How to make the most of the True/False Film Fest experience Preparing for the weekend will ensure it goes off without a hitch.

OLIVIA JACKSON

Columnist

Starting March 1, the streets of downtown Columbia will be filled with music, dancing and art as people flock to experience all that True/False Film Fest has to offer. With so much to do and see, it’s important to get organized.

The first order of business is planning which films you want to see. You should make sure the showings do not overlap by checking out the schedule on True/False’s website and be sure to know how to get to each venue.

You can purchase tickets at the box office located at 1025 E. Walnut St. Next, you need to be familiar with the Q system used by True/False. For the more popular films, it is not uncommon for all of the tickets to be sold. However, when this happens, you

T/F

Essentials

1

T/F Map

2

Snacks & Water

3

Portabler Charger

4

Sunblock

GRAPHIC BY TESSA MCGARTLAND | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

should show up to the venue an hour early, and you will be given a numbered ticket.

When they begin seating, you’ll be able to enter based on your number.

You have to be sure to spend time walking around downtown Columbia so as not to miss all the unique art exhibits scattered throughout

the streets. The art is an interesting addition to the weekend that creates an intense sense of community.

Some things you should try to keep on you are snacks and water just in case hunger strikes while waiting in the Q line. If you’re planning on attending many films in succession, you may want to

consider bringing a portable charger for your phone.

Also, this weekend’s forecast shows a lot of sun, so be sure to keep sunblock on hand.

Most importantly, remember to be respectful during the presentations of films. Recording video and audio is prohibited at True/ False. Also, being polite and

quiet is respectful etiquette to maintain throughout the showing.

More information about the festival can be found at truefalse.org. Being prepared and educated ahead of the festival will ensure the best True/False experience.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

CHAUTAUQUA

Live Chautauqua performances paired with films add to True/False experience Provocations speakers at the True/False Film Fest enhance the festival with Chautauqua performance.

HANNAH MCFADDEN

Reporter

True/False Film Fest goers can enhance their filmviewing experience with Chautauqua performance, an educational and entertaining power that Theodore Roosevelt once called “the most American thing in America.”

Chautauqua is a type of solo performance. It’s an age-old American tradition that relies on entertaining lectures in the performer’s area of expertise. The Chautauqua movement began in the 1870s on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in New York. It brought a gathering of experts, from musicians and performers to lecturers and scientists. They would present short speeches and performances about their area of expertise to the public.

Chautauqua performances served as an educational and

Paul Bloom, one of this year’s five True/False provocateurs, speaks in Brazil in 2014. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

social assembly intended to enrich cultural experiences and build community from 1874 until the 1920s.

Chautauqua performance was introduced to True/ False three years ago as a part of its Provocations, or presentations before feature films. Each Provocation functions as its own Chautauqua, and there will be a showcase of all the Provocation Chautauquas on Sunday.

“We thought it’d be

interesting to find people with incredibly provocative ideas; ideas that, in the words of our former programmer, rearrange your molecules,” David Wilson, co-founder and co-conspirator of True/ False, said in an email.

Provocations presents new and intriguing ideas before the showing of select films in the festival. There are five Provocateurs at this year’s festival from across the world, and their speeches will cover a range of topics.

Provocateur Aja Romano is an internet culture writer for Vox. Miko Revereza will present on being undocumented in America and struggles with citizenship. Nicole He will speak about art, technology and human interaction with computers. Psychologist Paul Bloom will make his case against empathy. Danny Giles is the first Provocateur originally from Columbia. He now lives in Chicago and will present on power dynamics.

Each performer is paired with a different film and will perform a brief original piece before each showing of that film.

Although the movie and performance are different in content and concept, the pairing of each performance and film is intentional.

“It’s a curatorial gesture,” Wilson said in the email. “We think about the content of the movie, we think about which of our chosen provocateurs would be a good fit. We like the idea that these very different ideas bounce off each other somehow and that it sets you up to enjoy the movie maybe in a different way than you would have otherwise.”

In addition to performing before the showings of their respective films, the Provocateurs will also perform together at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at the Rhynsburger Theatre in a stand-alone Chautauqua showcase. This showcase will feature three other speakers as well as a musician and a host, Wilson said.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

20

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

COMEDY SHOW

Gimme Truth! brings comedy toTrue/False CHARLY BUCHANAN

Reporter

True/False Film Fest incorporates comedy into its lineup of events with Gimme Truth!, an interactive documentary game show held at The Blue Note.

Gimme Truth! provides contestants who are nonprofessional filmmakers an opportunity to show a short two-minute documentary that is either entirely true or false. The show is hosted by Brian Babylon, a comedian and frequent guest on the NPR news quiz show “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me.” Gimme Truth! has an easygoing atmosphere with comedy-centered short films that give audience members an opportunity to participate.

The show also features three celebrity judges, all experienced filmmakers, who are each allowed to ask the creators of the films one question. This year’s judges are Sierra Pettengill, director

of Graven Image, Sandi Tan, director of Shirkers and Chase Whiteside, director of América. After a filmmaker tries their best to fool them, the judges make their decision as to whether the film is true or false. In previous years, this has proven a tricky feat, as contestants have found some unbelievable stories to tell.

The winner is chosen based on what film is most convincing but also most entertaining. Last year’s winners were MU students Lily FitzGibbon, Rachel Tiedemann and Jacob Smith. FitzGibbon conceived the idea and directed the film, while Tiedemann and Smith acted in it and helped produce it. Together, they created a short film based on an entirely false scenario where Smith and Tiedemann played roommates turned improvisational musicians.

“Basically, we were these two kind of pretentious musicians who would take like pots and pans and bang

Host Jonathan Gotsick introduces himself and Gimme Truth!’s judges at the beginning of the annual game show in 2008. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

them together making the worst noise,” Smith said.

“We would be like, ‘Oh, it produces such an amazing sound.’”

Tiedemann, who is in the documentary journalism program at MU, was involved with the production of two films in last year’s Gimme Truth! and one this year. She predicts the competition will be even harder this year due to an increase in submissions.

“I think it’s just going to be more high-quality stuff because they had to cut down

on it a lot,” Tiedemann said.

The peak of Tiedemann’s experience came when finding out her group’s film had won.

“It was crazy because when we talked about making the film we were like, ‘This is not going to win,’ and we were just doing it for ourselves basically and for Lily’s project,” Tiedemann said. “Then we like made it into our own creative process and stuff and we were like, ‘This would be hilarious if it won.’”

Tiedemann also predicts a high level of excitement at this year’s show from both audience members and contestants. She described last year’s show as “rowdy and crazy.”

Gimme Truth! will be held March 3 from 10-11:30 p.m.

All the reserve tickets for passholders for this event have sold out, but nonpassholders can purchase a ticket at the door with cash if they arrive early enough.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

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21

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018 MERCH

Wear and share it: True/False merchandise impresses again With documentaries taking center stage, take a short look at another type of art True/False offers: merchandise.

EVA WALKER

Columnist

Positioned in the heart of downtown Columbia, True/False Film Fest gives a fresh vibe and new energy to the area. It brings local color to an already eclectic and engaging community.

However, you should not limit yourself to merely going to a film festival, but rather completely indulge in the experience. To get the full effect, don True/False apparel and use the countless other tools and gadgets sold during the festival.

From knit caps to wine glasses, the allinclusive, creatively driven extravaganza that is True/ False offers the festivalgoer ample opportunities to take the experience home. The intriguing poster designs reimagined each year depict

an artistic interpretation of each year’s theme. This year’s theme, Whether/ Weather, has depictions of beautifully dark storms and rambling hills with lightning.

The energy of the unknown is a focus of the theme, and the T-shirts and hoodies display intriguing and ominous art that reflects this, along with intricate designs and friendly images.

Who creates this art?

“We see art submissions ranging from high school students to professional artists; you could even be an elementary kid,” True/False merchandise coordinator Christina Kelley. “It is open to anyone and everyone.”

The team’s lead graphic designer does the poster design, but outside designers provide work for clothes and other products. The work is eclectic and aesthetic and seen throughout the merchandise selection. Poster designs, however, are not limited to posters. The onethousand-piece puzzles with a variety of poster designs printed on them are available for when there are breaks in the action.

True/False Film Fest takes quaint and friendly downtown Columbia and transforms it into a cinematic destination while staying true to the core values its locals know and love. Each year, new products make their way onto the scene. Past innovations have included a True/False scarf made of recycled True/False T-shirts.

“It’s fun to see what interesting merchandise we can come up with,” Kelley said.

The care and devotion to originality is apparent throughout the festival and especially prominent when it comes to the design of the merchandise. The uniqueness of the films and the energy they create is seamlessly transferred to every aspect of the four-day event, including the selection of apparel.

Thirteen new T-shirts display images ranging from a bumble bee to intricate and ornate ships, all beautifully done. This year, as with years past, there is no shortage of selection and authenticity.

True/False has been a spectacular cinematic collaboration for years now.

True/False merchandise will be sold at the Sager Braudis Gallery until Monday at 5 p.m. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR

To take a trip down memory lane and see past designs, the sculpture yard near the Missouri Theatre will host the Art Ramble, a free and public tour of True/False art installations as well as a True/False vintage merch sale. This allows visitors to see and purchase vintage merchandise from past years.

You can take home the history of the festival and experience this year’s work.

For future film fest enthusiasts, there are

adorable and unforgettable onesies. With designs brought to you from creative minds behind the festival, little ones can be just as involved in the shared love of documentaries as any other festivalgoer.

Whether you’re going for the energy, food or simply the incredible documentaries, the True/False Film Fest is an experience unlike any other.

Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com

UKULELE

True/False: the art of street performing MU sophomore Ian Teoh is preparing to play his ukulele for True/False Film Fest.

LEO ROCHA

Reporter

He was standing on the corner of Broadway and 10th Street, ukulele in hand, when the man approached him. Ian Teoh had no idea who the man was or what he wanted.

Earlier in the day, Teoh and his friend were at his house, recording a cover video for YouTube. His friend brought up the idea of going downtown to busk, or street perform. With no songs prepared, they headed to downtown Columbia and ended up with a street performing gig for one of the town’s most famous events.

“The True/False office is right around the corner of where I was performing,” Teoh said. “The director of the festival, Paul Sturtz, heard us sing, so he came down and asked us to play for them.”

Teoh has been playing the ukulele for seven years. His parents signed him up for

piano lessons as a 4-year-old, but he didn’t grow to love music until he was 12, which is when he decided to learn the ukulele.

Determined to pick something up, Teoh ordered a ukulele off the internet and spent three hours a day for two months teaching himself how to play it.

“You can’t really carry the piano around, so ukulele was a good start,” Teoh said. “It’s a very happy instrument.”

For most of his life, Teoh has lived in Singapore. He moved to the U.S. in August 2016 to attend the Missouri School of Journalism.

“Singapore is an Englishspeaking country, so that smoothed over a lot of the transitions,” Teoh said.

“Small talk was a huge change because people don’t talk to each other. If someone came up to you in the street and started talking to you, you’d think they’re crazy or they’re trying to sell you something.”

In Singapore, Teoh was a contestant on the reality show The Final 1. The show was a singing competition similar to American Idol. Teoh submitted an audition tape online and was one of the 60 chosen out

The album art for Happy, Ian Teoh’s acoustic EP. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN TEOH VIA BANDCAMP

of 3,000 to be on the show.

He was eliminated after the first round, but he didn’t let it discourage him.

Now, Teoh mainly focuses on performing at private events, busking and writing original songs. He released an EP, Happy, on his Bandcamp page last year.

“I wrote the best song on the EP, ‘All On My Own,’ while I was living in Mark Twain [Residence Hall],” Teoh said. “I was sitting in The Mark and something just came over me. I went upstairs

and knocked it out in 20 minutes.”

In regards to his future in music, Teoh doesn’t have anything specific planned. He is constantly working on new music while keeping up with his schoolwork.

“I’d really like to be able to pursue music, but it’s just very hard nowadays,” Teoh said. “I really don’t want to be 40 and washed up at a bar at 4 a.m., singing ‘Piano Man.’ I love music, and I have a passion for it, but we’ll see where the wind takes me.”

Teoh will be taking to the

streets this weekend to busk for True/False, performing a

mix of his original songs and covers.

“I’ll try and play as much as

I can if the weather permits,” Teoh said. “The nice thing about busking is that there’s no one telling you when to go

or when to stop. You can do it spontaneously.”

Edited by Brooke Collier

bcollier@themaneater.com

22

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

VENUES

True/False venues prepare for thousands of festivalgoers The venues, as diverse as they are, are ready for the weekend ahead.

MARIANA LABBATE

Reporter

Like many film festivals, True/ False Film Fest doesn’t have one single location. Instead, screenings will be held in eight different venues, plus one box office.

Among these venues, you’ll find actual movie theaters like Ragtag and the Missouri Theatre but also some unusual places, like church annexes named The Picturehouse and The Globe for the festival; The Blue Note, which is normally home for music events; and even on-campus locations.

The Tiger Ballroom at the Tiger Hotel will become a theater as well, named the Forrest Theatre after the musician and journalist Forrest Rose. “[True/False coordinators] rent out the space from Monday to Monday and take care of mostly everything,” said Nadia Ryakhmyatullov, general manager of the Tiger Hotel. “They know what they’re working with and do a really good job.”

The Missouri United Methodist

Church has been the home of The Picturehouse for six years now. Events coordinator Johanna Lee’s favorite part of the festival is the people and volunteers.

“It’s so energizing to have so many people that would not ever come here to be able to come and see our facility,” Lee said. “My desk is right here by the door, and we get to talk to everyone. We very much enjoy having people here.”

She said it is a lot of work, especially since the volunteers managing the venue are there up to 12 hours a day, from the previous Sunday until the end of the festival.

“We try to be open,” Lee said.

“We are just so blessed to be able to partner with the community in a lot of different ways, and True/ False is probably the biggest. The most chaotic, the most fun, the most amount of work. As a church, one of our values is to be open and to be engaged with the community.”

However, True/False doesn’t carry only films in its program; it also features a lot of art, from a neon sculpture on Alley A with Ninth Street to a virtual reality experience at the Columbia Art League. To make sure no artwork is left unseen (or unfelt), festivalgoers

Located at 23 S. Eighth St., The Tiger Hotel is best known for its bright red TIGER sign. PHOTO

BY LIA WALDRUM | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

can stop by the box office, grab a map and enjoy the “Camino de Trueno,” something between a scavenger hunt and a puzzle created by artist Duncan Bindbeutel that guides you through many of the pieces available on the streets of Columbia.

And that’s not all. The festival will also showcase music at Cafe Berlin, the Eastside Tavern, Rose Music Hall and even in the Landmark Bank courtyard and Hitt Records, not to mention the

buskers on the streets and at theater venues between screenings.

Any doubts about accessibility, concerts, screenings or anything True/False related can be taken to the festival’s headquarters: the Box Office, located at 1025 E. Walnut St., where festivalgoers can buy tickets and passes, find maps or just use it as a meeting place for friends.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

23

EDUCATIONAL

Camp True/False and Media Literacy Initiative create next generation of filmmakers Les Trois Coups prepares for its turn at Buskers Last Stand, the final event of True/False, in 2012. This was its first performance in the U.S. MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Educational outreach programs give students and teachers a behindthe-scenes experience of True/False Film Fest.

EMMA VEIDT

Reporter

When Frederick Douglass High School Principal Dr. Eryca Neville asked math department chair Austin Miller to lead a partnership between True/False Film Fest, Ragtag Cinema and DHS four years ago, Miller was hooked from the start.

Miller became a teacher advocate for True/False through his school’s connection to different educational outreach programs like Camp True/ False and the Media Literacy Initiative.

Camp True/False is a program that allows high school students to experience the festival on a deeper level. Campers learn about the history, ethics and different elements used in documentary films. Students who are interested in Camp True/False apply for the camp in the fall. Those who are selected attend meetings throughout December, January and February until the festival. During these sessions, students watch documentaries, talk with film professionals and prepare for the festival.

“Our students learn to talk about, understand, appreciate and analyze media from different perspectives while also growing with each other through exposure to new content and activities centered around film,” Miller said.

Students in Camp True/ False select either the

journalism, storytelling, visual art, film or music track (film and music are typically the most popular tracks) to foster discussions in the meetings before the festival.

However, campers of all tracks have similar schedules during the festival in order to discuss shared experiences.

Camp True/False does not end at the closing credits of the final documentary; some former campers still keep in contact with their groups and watch films together outside of school.

“They aren’t official film clubs,” Miller said.

“But it shows that genuine connections are made with students that extend past the festival.”

Miller has expanded the programs to students and teachers outside of Columbia city limits. This year, Camp True/False has roughly 30 students from Columbia public schools and 40 students from schools across the United States, Miller said.

“Camp True/False has been providing opportunities for our high school generations to meet, discuss and learn about the world around themselves through film,” Miller said.

“It’s an amazing experience that I wish all students could enjoy, but Camp True/False keeps expanding to include more and more outreach for our future generations.”

In order to prepare for Camp True/False, Columbia Public Schools, Ragtag Film Society and the Columbia Public Schools Foundation collaborated in 2016 to train teachers how to discuss media literacy in schools through the Media Literacy Initiative.

Teachers who apply start in August and meet every month.

The initiative provides film suggestions that correlate with CPS curriculum along with potential Skype interviews

with the filmmakers and trips to Ragtag Cinema and True/ False Film Fest.

“We focus on film, but we also discuss elements of radio, podcasts, photography and social media, among others,” Miller said. “These sessions tend to be centered around discussing these forms with students and how to view,

analyze, create and explore different forms within our own content areas.”

Both Camp True/False and the Media Literacy Initiative reinforce the festival’s mission “to champion independent film and media art and to serve film communities both locally and globally,” according to the festival’s

website.

Applications for Camp True/False are online and distributed in Columbia public high schools in early fall, and applications for the Media Literacy Initiative are due in August.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com

24

True/False Film Fest Feb. 28, 2018

TRAFFIC

Parking and foot traffic tips for an easy True/False Film Fest

In 2015, True/ False Film Fest reached 45,000 in attendance. Read this list to prepare for the large crowds and traffic.

SIENA DEBOLT

Staff Writer

It’s important to prepare to face the large crowd of people who come to Columbia for the annual True/False Film Fest, where attendance reached more than 45,000 in 2015.

Get to know parking and traffic information to make your festival experience run smoothly.

Par kin g: MU campus parking ha s so me meter ed s po ts a vaila ble , bu t s ome hav e 30-minute limits. MU pa rki ng i s al s o free after 5 p .m. on weekdays an d free S atu rd ay/Sun day all day. Downtown street pa rki ng me ter s ar e fr om 9 a . m. to 7 p.m. Mo nday to Saturday and cost 60 ce nts pe r hou r. City garage parking costs 50 ce nts p er hou r fr om 8 a.m. to 6 p.m from Monda y to F r iday bu t is free o n w ee ken ds . Av oid reserved/permit spaces in ga rage s. B ike parkin g is available throughout dow ntown a s wel l.

Foot and car traffic downtown: Ninth Street between Elm and Locust will be closed off for foot traffic. Avoid intersections like Cherry and Eighth and Broadway and Hitt when driving because of the multiple venues located there and heavy foot traffic.

There will be lots of foot traffic throughout Ninth Street.

Bus hours: The city bus is free during the festival. On March 1, the True/False route runs from 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. From March 2-4, the hours are from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

The True/False shuttle route bus comes every 15 minutes, and the downtown route bus comes every 30 minutes.

The True/False shuttle will be available at stops near all venues and will take festivalgoers directly to their next venue. The downtown route will hit the major parking garages. Bus stops have been labeled with True/ False signs to distinguish the loops from each other.

Both routes are completely free during the festival to all passholders and volunteers, starting March 1.

General tips: Some venues are far away from each other, so wear

comfortable shoes. Uprise Bakery is the closest coffee shop to Ragtag Cinema, Kaldi’s and Lakota are the closest to the Missouri Theatre, Shortwave Coffee is the closest to Alley A and Starbucks Memorial Union is the closest to Jesse Hall. If you’re looking for coffee, do not expect to receive service immediately — there will be long lines. Most meters have an hourly limit. There will be taxis parked at taxi stands throughout downtown, which are marked on the True/False map. All venues have wheelchair-accessible entrances, exits and bathrooms.

Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com