M THE MANEATER The student voice of MU since 1955
www.themaneater.com
Vol. 84, Issue 28
April 25, 2018
TAP DAY
Tap Day tradition welcomes over 80 new honor society members MU’s six secret societies welcomed 65 student members and 17 honor taps. CHRISTINA LONG
Reporter
One of the few times a year the Switzler Hall bell tolls is to signal the a2rrival of Tap Day, when dozens of MU students in hooded robes gather in Jesse Auditorium, their identities hidden until their hoods are removed onstage, revealing them as members of one of six secret societies. LSV, Mortar Board, Mystical Seven, Omicron Delta Kappa, QEBH and the Rollins Society uncovered the identities of their new initiates at the 91st annual Tap Day on Friday. Each year, a select group of students are chosen by peers to be inducted into one of the six societies based on achievement in leadership, involvement, academics and service. Formerly known as “Senior Day,” Tap Day was started by Dr. Albert K. Heckel in the early 20th century. Since then, it has grown to include six societies, each of which
Inductees to the Mystical Seven line the stage during Tap Day on April 20, 2018. PHOTO BY JACOB MOSCOVITCH | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
works behind the scenes and in secret to better campus and the community. The purpose and operation of each society are known only to their members, with some even keeping the meaning of their acronyms a secret. In his opening remarks at his first Tap Day as chancellor, Alexander Cartwright spoke of the importance of MU’s secret societies.
“The six honorary societies have played a significant role in our university’s culture for well over a century,” Cartwright said. “They honor academic success, leadership, service and a commitment to Mizzou.” Being “tapped” into a society is considered an honor, in large part because of the long-standing tradition of the event. For Omicron Delta
Kappa tap Mackinlee Rogers, Tap Day runs in the family. “It’s a tradition, and obviously we love tradition here,” Rogers said. “One of my family members was in a secret society, and it was kind of a tradition my family passed down.” Some of the societies, including the all-female LSV, reveal the identities of their members after they have
performed a year of service, while others, like Mystical Seven, initiate members ahead of their service work. “I’m really excited for the year to come and what all we’ll be able to do as a community and independently with each other’s support,” Mystical Seven tap Mikaela O’Barr said. For O’Barr, membership in Mystical Seven is about more than recognizing her achievements. “I think it’s a family that I needed but didn’t know how to find at Mizzou, and that’s really what I found in the past couple of weeks leading up to Tap Day,” she said. In her opening statement ahead of the reveal of Mystical Seven’s initiates, speaker Simona Gupta expressed her society’s desire to help MU grow and hold administrators accountable for enacting change. “Tap Day is a day to reflect on where we are, where we need to be and the students and faculty who can get us there,” she said. In addition to tapping students, each society also names “honor taps,” faculty and staff members who
TAP | Page 4
LITERATURE WORKSHOP
Children’s literature workshop furthers discussion on diversity “Picture books are art,” Angie Zapata, an assistant professor with the College of Education, said. STEPHI SMITH
University News Editor Angie Zapata, an assistant professor who teaches and researches literacy education at the College of Education, hosted a children’s literature workshop Tuesday in Townsend Hall. The workshop, titled “Decolonizing Your Children’s Literature Bookshelf,” focused on books from marginalized writers and illustrators and had themes of equality and empowerment. “I hope you leave with new
authors, new illustrators, new book titles for you to integrate into your lives, whether you are a future educator and are thinking about diversifying your collection of books or whether you are a nursing student and thinking about opening up new spaces in your own life for the rich diversity that’s in our world today,” Zapata said at the workshop. Zapata said that one of the first steps in ensuring that children feel open and comfortable in their environment is having literature including characters and written by people who look and act like them. She said that incorporating both a physical and cultural similarity is beneficial to children. “Issues of representation and the depictions of loving
and looking and talking continues to be an issue in children’s literature today,” Zapata said. “Our bookshelves need to look like the future.” Junior Mya White, an elementary education major, read from “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers. She said that she enjoyed the simplistic background design paired with the detailed illustration of the characters. White said she also appreciated the representation featured in the book. “I was reading it and I related to it because I felt like she looks like me,” she said, pointing to the main character, a brown-skinned girl. “Like, exactly like me.” Zapata said that to understand what it means to have diversity in bookshelves, an educator must first understand diversity as a
Tuesday’s children’s literature workshop focused on equality and empowerment, both through the content of the books and the authors themselves. PHOTO BY STEPHI SMITH | UNIVERSITY NEWS EDITOR
whole, beyond literature. “So what does it mean to reshape the literacy landscape in your home, in your classroom?” she asked the room. “Where our youngest children can begin to see themselves as
those potential authors and illustrators where they write their own story, the stories that are missing as well.” Zapata also highlighted the work of Junot Díaz and
BOOK | Page 4
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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | APRIL 25, 2018
MSA ELECTIONS
The Briefing: Wopata and McAteer voted MSA president and VP
THE MANEATER The Student Voice of MU since 1955
Vol. 84, Issue 28 G210 Student Center • Columbia, MO 65211 573.882.5500 (phone) • 573.882.5550 (fax) editors@themaneater.com www.themaneater.com
Twitter: @themaneater Instagram: @themaneater Snapchat: @the.maneater facebook.com/themaneaterMU The Maneater is the official student publication of the University of Missouri and operates independently of the university, student government, the School of Journalism and any other campus entity. All text, photos, graphics and other content are property of The Maneater and may not be reproduced without permission. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the University of Missouri or the MU Student Publications Board. “Commas are not important.”
Reporters for The Maneater are required to offer verification of all quotes for each source. If you notice an inaccuracy in one of our stories, please contact us via phone or email. Then-vice presidential candidate Connor McAteer, left, and then-presidential candidate Julia Wopata speak during the first executive debate on April 9, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
Julia Wopata and Connor McAteer won with a vote of 1,333 to 170.
Production Coordinator Cassie Allen Copy Chiefs Sam Nelson David Reynolds Anna Sirianni
CAITLYN ROSEN
Assistant Student Politics Editor Julia Wopata and Connor McAteer of the “More to Roar” slate won the Missouri Students Association presidential election on April 18 with a vote of 1,333 to 170. They ran against Robert Schmidt and Alp Kahveci of the “Mizzou for You” slate. Voter turnout for this presidential election was lower than that of previous years. Compared to last year, 7,045 fewer people voted. “I met with Julia and Connor to begin the transition process and discuss their vision for MU,” current MSA President Nathan Willett said in a press release. “It is clear to me that the students of the University of Missouri are in great hands. They are two of the most competent leaders I have met throughout my time in college and will take our university to great new heights.” Wopata and McAteer’s swearing-in ceremony is set for Wednesday in full senate. The inauguration will be held May 1 in the Student Center at 6 p.m. This will also be Wopata and McAteer’s first time addressing the student body. Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com
Editor-in-Chief Victoria Cheyne
Online Development Editor Michael Smith Jr. News Editors Skyler Rossi Morgan Smith Stephi Smith Sports Editor Joe Noser
Opinion Editor Hunter Gilbert MOVE Editors Claire Colby Brooke Collier Visuals Director Madi Winfield Designers Allie Greenspun Corey Hadfield Hannah Kirchwehm Sara Marquardt Elizabeth Ustinov Sports Social Media Manager Adam Cole Adviser Becky Diehl
Want to work with us? themaneater.com/workforus
Julia Wopata responds to a question during the second presidential debate on April 12, 2018. PHOTO BY PAIGE SAILORS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Connor McAteer, then-vice presidential candidate for MSA, speaks during the first executive debate on April 9, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
NEWS
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Online this week: RSVP Center hosts a sexual violence panel, Life Sciences Week hosts speakers and more at themaneater.com.
BOLD AND BRASH
Senior art exhibit displays students’ final artwork before graduation The gallery’s name, “Bold and Brash,” references a SpongeBob episode and is linked to the senior seminar capstone course for art majors. STEPHI SMITH
University News Editor Art students in the senior seminar capstone course are hosting their final project, an art gallery, until May 4 in the George Caleb Bingham Gallery. The art gallery is titled “Bold and Brash” in reference to a painting of the same name in a “SpongeBob SquarePants” episode. The exhibit is mostly student-run, Bingham Gallery director Catherine Armbrust said. Students were put into committees and helped set up and prepare for the exhibit. Senior art major Erica Martin was part of the install committee and helped set up the artwork and place it in the gallery the weekend before the opening on April 23. “I thought [being on the install committee] was really fun, actually,” Martin said. “Probably because it was a hands-on thing, and since I’m an artist, I like hands-on things. Putting all your hard work of one semester
Johanna Grothoff created this ceramic as part of the Bold and Brash senior exhibition. She is one of 23 artists featured in the gallery. PHOTO BY JACOB MOSCOVITCH | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
into one moment of putting it up onto the wall was pretty satisfying, actually.” Armbrust said the amount of time students worked on their pieces varied, but most took about a week
to finish. Artwork included oil paintings, photographs, CMYK prints, steel sculptures and even a ceiling tile removed and placed on the floor. Two pieces by senior art major
Andrew
Kramer
are
displayed:
“Carter the Hutt” and “Jake the Snake” featuring St. Louis Blues
Bold | Page 5
MSA BUDGET
MSA ELECTIONS
MSA budget passes in full senate
Voter turnout for MSA elections significantly lower than last year 7,045 fewer people voted this year compared to last year. CAITLYN ROSEN
Assistant Student Politics Editor GRAPHIC BY HANNAH KIRCHWEHM | DESIGNER
The 2019 budget totaled $1,123,190, $347,670 less than the 2018 budget. CAITLYN ROSEN
Assistant Student Politics Editor The Missouri Students Association passed the fiscal year 2019 budget in full senate on March 21. Compared to last year’s budget of $1,470,860, the 2019 budget totals $1,123,190. The change in the budget is due, in part, to the April 11 removal of several auxiliaries. These five auxiliaries are KCOU, MUTV, MSA/GPC Box Office, MSA/ GPC Tech and Student Legal Services. The auxiliary removal saved $60,000 from the MSA budget, budget chair Jake Eovaldi said. Another large change in the budget is the decrease in estimated revenue in student activity fees from $1,004,800 in the 2018 budget to $910,733 in the 2019 budget.
The decline in student fees reflects the moving of money out of MSA to other student organizations, Eovaldi said. Each student will pay approximately the same as last year. “I think the budget changes will have a positive impact on students,” senate speaker Jacob Addington said in an email. “By transferring the Department of Student Activities, it will allow MSA to spend more time focussing on auxiliaries like Tiger Pantry, Truman’s Closet, and STRIPES which give much needed services to students every week.” The budget was written by Eovaldi and Vice President Payton Englert. However, all of MSA senate is involved in writing the budget in some capacity. The information for the budget is collected over the course of the year through various meetings with auxiliaries, departments and branches of the government. After collecting this information, the budget is made during
Budget | Page 5
In this year’s Missouri Students Association presidential election, 1,503 people voted. One-hundred seventy voted for the “Mizzou for You” slate and 1,333 voted for “More to Roar.” Robert Schmidt and Alp Kahveci were the candidates for the “Mizzou for You” campaign and Julia Wopata and Connor McAteer ran under the “More to Roar” campaign. “Mizzou for You” focused on increasing student input on MSA’s budget, while “More to Roar” focused on advocating for mental health. The presidential election last year had the largest turnout in MSA history, with over 8,000 votes. The 7,045-vote difference is due in part to the fact that this year’s election was a special election, senate speaker Jacob Addington said. “Turnout was significantly lower this year because the campaigning was over a
shorter time frame relative to last year, and the election likely looked like there was only one choice,” Board of Elections Commissioners chair Joseph Sell said. “Last year, Tori and Riley v. Nathan and Payton looked to be a much more contentious election with two slates who were widely connected and involved.” The special election was called for after the suspension of the previous election after controversial tweets from each of the respective slates were uncovered. MSA presidential elections aren’t the only ones experiencing low voter turnout. In the MSA spring senatorial elections, only around 90 students voted. This is compared to almost 600 in the fall, though this is due in part to more seats being open. Also, only 66 students voted in this year’s Residence Halls Association elections compared to around 600 students last year. “Given that we only had one slate this year, we unfortunately didn't have the publicity of a campaign race, and most residents only received voting
Low | Page 5
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TAP
continued from page 1 have made significant contributions to MU. This year, the six honors societies tapped a total of 17 faculty members. QEBH, MU’s oldest society, tapped Assistant Athletic Director for Major Gifts Brad Loos, whose daughter, Rhyan, became the face of Rally for Rhyan, a fundraising effort for pediatric cancer. Missouri Students Association president Nathan Willett closed the event with remarks on the impact that students honored on Tap Day have on the university. “Here at Mizzou, just like any other place in this world, there are examples of members of our community that do not live up to our values,” Willett said. “Thankfully, we have beacons of hope that stand up for others and shine light where it is dark.” The following is a list of those tapped on Friday. Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com
BOOK continued from page 1
his new children’s book, Islandborn. Graduate student Sarah Demarchena read from the book and connected with the experiences of the main character, who moves
T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | A P R I L 2 5, 2 0 1 8 NEW SOCIETY MEMBERS QEBH Allison Holmes Joseph Kimerle Gretchen Metzger Matthew Swing Anne Tenkhoff Kimberly Woods Amy Knopps (Honor Tap) Brad Loos (Honor Tap) Kevin McDonald (Honor Tap) Mystical Seven Marshall Allen Ashley Hollis Emma Lohman Mikaela O’Barr Abas Pauti Alexa St. Julien Kaelyn Sturgell Donald Gilliam (Honor Tap) Jeffery Perkins (Honor Tap) Tojan Rahhal (Honor Tap) Christopher Walters (Honor Tap) LSV Randi Anderlik Casey Edwards Kayla Myers Emily Tarby from the Dominican Republic to the United States as a baby and struggles to remember her homeland. Demarchena said she’s had a similar experience in that her parents moved to New Jersey from the Dominican Republic before she was born, but she knows the island through them. “And then it brings up how do we exist through the experiences of our family members when we weren’t
Tessa Weinberg Jennifer Brown (Honor Tap) Robyn Swink (Honor Tap) Mortar Board James Ball Amanda Blythe David Emily Alexander Galvin Erin Hediger Marlaina Kaine Jane Kielhofner Brittney Marshall Bryan Mink Jacey Schank Faramola Shonekan Allie Starks Ellie Stitzer Nola Tran Kelsie Wilkins Amber Cheek (Honor Tap) Carli Conklin (Honor Tap) Bret Ulery (Honor Tap) Omicron Delta Kappa Megan Bartolac Christian Cmehil-Warn Christopher Dade Jordyn Eskijian Ashley Fessler Alexandra Greenspun Cassidy Herring Tyler Hoffmann
Anna Thérèse Jaoudi Alexander Johar Cady Lowery Mercedes Mackay Bree Minger Armaan Painter Abigail Peoples Delaney Pummill Rachel Quist Mackinlee Rogers Brooke Saharovici Sarah Senff Michaela Thomson Greer Wetherington Alexis Winter Jordan Young Bryan Maurer (Honor Tap) Bill Turpin (Honor Tap) Rollins Society Sarah Cramer Alex Howe Veronica Newton Oscar Rojas Perez Sarah Senff Hallie Thompson Leslie Touzeau Tiffanesha Williams Michelle Teti (Honor Tap) Na’Tashua Davis (Honor Tap) Barton Wechsler (Honor Tap)
kind of there to know what it was like ourselves, and so I feel like I struggle with that a lot and I have struggled with that when I was a kid,” she said. Demarchena said she also liked the color used in the illustrations because it reminded her of her heritage and culture. Zapata said this emphasizes not only the power of literature, but also the power of picture books.
“A picture book is a conversation between a written narrative and an illustrative narrative and together, they’re art,” Zapata said. “Picture books are art. Picture books are art to respond to and we can think of art as shaping our cultural memory, so the narratives and even the single story we each have talked about.” Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com
South Canyon View Duplexes
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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | APRIL 25, 2018
BOLD continued from page 3
hockey players Carter Hutton and Jake Allen. “Carter the Hutt” is a screen print on paper while “Jake the Snake” is on a lightbox created using mylar. “These prints are designed to capture the excitement and action of the sport of hockey with use of vivid color,” according to Kramer’s personal artist statement. Senior art major Megan HarmonWhite also displays two pieces. Both are sculptures of ocean life; one is a turtle and the other is a fish. They are both made from steel, which she described as “one of the strongest elements that we build and make things with.” Harmon-White said using steel to
BUDGET continued from page 3
a monthlong process where each organization under MSA requests a certain amount of money to be allocated to them. The budget
create ocean animals is symbolic of the way humans treat aquatic life, making them appear resilient. “These creatures are still really fragile, and we still don’t put enough preservation and care into them,” she said. “So I’m kind of making fun of the process of conserving our oceans and what that actually means to me and to us.” Pieces were also put up for sale. Copies of Kramer’s print are being sold for $100, and his original light box is priced at $450 because it’s one of a kind. Kramer said he doesn’t typically have his work set up in galleries because it doesn’t have the same market that some other work in the gallery might have. Kramer said he’s featured hockey players in his work before, so his audience differs from people who would buy a more traditional art piece. Instead, he sells
his art on his own. “I kind of have a limited market I guess in the art world, but when it comes to more mass-media stuff, more people are drawn to this type of work to buy for their, like, man caves or whatever,” Kramer said. Harmon-White is selling her turtle sculpture for $100, and another piece is no longer for sale since her grandmother bought it from her before it was on display. Having sold and exhibited her artwork before, Harmon-White said it’s typical to have it claimed before it’s even finished. Her series of miniature bronze bottom-dwelling sculptures tend to sell quickly, she said. Most students have had their work exhibited in galleries before, but Martin said a school-sanctioned gallery is a good way for students to practice having their art displayed
for those who have not yet had this opportunity. She said students may defer from submitting their art to other professional galleries due to time commitments or the fear they won’t get in, but student galleries allow students to have their work shown regardless. “I think that it’s important because some students, they don’t really get into shows or they don’t think to apply because they’re busy with school or work, and this kind of gives you a default to get into a show and to experience that, and we have committees,” Martin said. A reception featuring all the artists will be held May 4 from 4-6 p.m. in the George Caleb Bingham Gallery. Edited by Skyler Rossi srossi@themaneater.com
committee works with organizations to finalize an amount. The proposed budget is then presented to MSA senate three times, during which students and senators can voice their concerns. Then it is voted on and presented to administration for finalization. Dean of Students Jeffrey Zeilenga
and Vice Chancellor for Operations Gary Ward make the final decision on the budget. “I think students should have a say in all decisions that are made that affect them, especially when it comes to how their money is being spent,” Addington said in the email. “Since the budget is written by students, it
shows administrators that these are
[the] areas that we see as a priority and these are the areas that we feel
should be supported by the money we pay to the University.”
Edited by Skyler Rossi
srossi@themaneater.com
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PHOTO BY PAIGE SAILORS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Then-MSA presidential candidates Julia Wopata and Robert Schmidt answer questions during the second and final executive debate on April 12, 2018.
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info through their housing coordinators,” former RHA Chief Justice Noah McCarty said in an email. “Our numbers reflect that pretty heavily.” Sell said that many students have a negative view of MSA, and that has also had an impact on voter turnout. “There is a general feeling around Mizzou, that has been increasing over my time here, that MSA doesn't do anything for the students except take [their] money and spend it on things that don't make Mizzou better,” Sell said in an email. “MSA has began to feel less like students advocating to make Mizzou better, but instead feels like students looking for a resume builder. It doesn't help that MSA looks like an elitist organization comprised of mostly students who can invest time into this org instead of classes or working actual jobs.” Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com
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OPINION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
We want to hear your voice.
Submit a letter to the editor by emailing letters@themaneater.com.
EDITORIALS REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD.
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THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY THE MANEATER COLUMNISTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD.
The Maneater joins the #SaveStudentNewsrooms movement with other college publications to raise awareness of the importance of student journalism. PHOTO BY HANNAH KIRCHWEHM | DESIGNER
EDITORIAL
Editorial: The Maneater joins the call to #SaveStudentNewsrooms Our editorial board has decided to stand for student journalism along with dozens of collegiate, student-run publications. Journalism as an industry has struggled financially the past decade, and student journalism is no different. At The Maneater, we know this all too well. We have struggled with financial constraints and debt, just as other student-run collegiate papers and Mizzou Student Media groups have. While this is a difficult time for journalism, with facts being labeled as fake news, student-run newspapers are coming together to express the importance of student journalism. This is in response to the decision made by Southern Methodist University’s independent, studentrun publication, The Daily Campus,
to dissolve and reaffiliate with the university due to lack of funds. Student journalism is essential to keep powers in check that are at times left unaccounted for by larger media outlets. A newspaper owned and operated by a university would more than likely face pressures to not be overly critical of the university and its interests. Student journalists at independent papers do not face these pressures. A wealth of information would be lost without a student newspaper. Student politics, clubs and smallerscale sports programs would lose coverage. At MU, The Maneater covers several MU sports that are often overlooked by larger papers. We provide continuous coverage of the Missouri Students Association, something other local publications tend not to cover. And lastly, our coverage of the 2015 protests was incredibly thorough, so much so that The Maneater’s interactive timeline
was linked in coverage by outlets such as The New York Times. Student journalism also plays an important role in fostering future journalists. Where else would future journalists hone their skills outside of classes or internships? Not all students can pursue internships, many of which are unpaid, due to financial constraints. This leaves student publications as the sole outlet for growth for many student journalists. While student newspapers are far from perfect, they allow writers, reporters and editors to learn and make mistakes before applying to work at major publications. The Maneater prides itself with being a teaching, student-run publication that is not exclusive to journalism majors. The fact that a small group of mostly freshman and sophomore students can come together each week and produce a print product is a testament to our dedication to journalism. But it
is concerning that the student-run newspaper at a university with one of the top journalism schools in the country is struggling to operate. The future of our publication is unknown; we have more debt now than ever before in recent history. This is why we join other student publications across the country to ask for your support. The Maneater is more than a student publication. It is a place for passionate student journalists to find their niche at MU and make friends in a new environment. It is a place you can find friends who will collaborate with you, critique you and genuinely care about you outside of the newsroom. The Maneater is a publication that covers everything from local musicians to the UM System president. We have done so since 1955, and we hope to do so for years to come.
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Campus must work toward equality for LGBTQ students It may be 2018, and things have gotten better in the past few decades, but that doesn’t mean we’re anywhere close to achieving equality and acceptance for people in the LGBTQ community. 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. Picture this: You have a test today, and you’re worried because you think you didn’t study enough. You’re just trying to get to class, when suddenly you’re confronted by someone who you don’t even know who thinks they have the right to comment on your life. They throw many slurs at you and say some really disrespectful things before you can finally get past them, and suddenly, the test is the least of your worries. As horrible as this sounds, this is the reality some students on campus have faced just for presenting their gender or sexual orientation. People often try to discredit members of the LGBTQ community’s fears by saying things like “It’s 2018” or “Gay marriage is legal now. What else do you need?” In a world where transgender and nonbinary people can’t even go to the bathroom without being scared of repercussions, there is still such a long way to
go on the road to acceptance and equality. The already high rates of sexual assault and harassment are disproportionately higher within the LGBTQ community. Especially in the transgender community, the fear of sexual assault and harassment is uncomfortably high. In a 2017 report from GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and the Movement Advancement Project, “75 percent of transgender students reported feeling unsafe at school.” Imagine feeling like the place you’re supposed to call home and feel safe at becoming just another place where you have to worry about your wellbeing. Though college may have more opportunities and safe spaces, it can still be hard to feel like you belong. While Mizzou is trying to take action to protect and represent people in the LGBTQ community, having a safe space where people can fit in is not the same as being automatically accepted by society. Many people in the community live with a constant fear of backlash, even from people they know and consider friends. While it may not seem apparent just by looking, many LGBTQ students suffer from invisible problems, which can have a huge effect on their life as a whole. According to research done by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, LGBTQ students who face a hostile environment often experience “increased school absenteeism and academic difficulties, including slipping grades.” They are also more likely to face “alcohol and drug use and abuse and associated physical symptoms.” If you want to be an ally, the most important thing to remember is that not everybody’s experiences are the same and there’s something to be learned from everyone. You
Emporium Café houses one of MU’s many gender-neutral bathroom locations. PHOTO BY PAIGE SAILORS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
may have to go outside your comfort zone to defend people even when the situation does not necessarily pertain to you, but the people who you stand up for will be grateful for your help. It’s worth it to do some good, and you might even make some new friends while you’re at
it. Being an ally and boosting the voices of the LGBTQ community is so important to making things more equal as a whole. Equality on campus can happen, but it’s not something that can just happen passively — it’s going to take work on both ends.
COLUMN
15-year-olds have no business being married Child marriages are a safe haven for statutory rapists.
18 years old. However, in some of these states, a loophole exists allowing people to beat the system. As long as the parents or judge grants permission, the marriage is back on. TATYANA MONNAY Missouri is one of the easiest states Opinion Columnist in which minors can get married. In Tatyana Monnay is a Missouri, the law is too lax, making freshman journalism it a prime destination for underage marriages. major at MU. She is 14-, 13-, 12-year-olds or even young an opinion columnist children are able to get married with a who writes about judge’s approval and parent signature. politics for The From ages 15 to 17, it takes just the Maneater. signature of one parent, even if the other parent objects. Child marriage is a primitive and In an investigative series by the barbaric practice. In the United Kansas City Star, it was found that States, of all places, one might think several child brides were married that laws allowing children to be off to their rapists. In these cases, married off to adults would not exist. pregnant child brides are often However, the U.S. has let this fall manipulated by their rapists and through the cracks of its judicial neglectful parents. system, allowing the practice to This was the case for Brittany continue. Koerselman. In at least some capacity, child Koerselman married her rapist at marriage is legal in almost all 50 15 years old when her neighbor states in the U.S. Most states do not alerted the police that she was allow marriage of children under almost seven months pregnant by
her 21-year-old boyfriend. She did not want to get married, but she and her family knew that eventually her boyfriend, Jeremie, would be arrested for statutory rape. This is the typical story for pregnant child brides. Parents often want to protect the reputation of their family and not have a child out of wedlock, protect the adult boyfriend from rape charges or a combination of both. For many child brides, marriage almost always equals an abusive relationship. This is especially true for underage Missouri brides and husbands. According to Girls Not Brides, an anti-child marriage organization, 44 percent of 15- to 19-year-old girls believe a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife in certain circumstances. Married minors are not able to file for divorce without a parent signature. They are also too young to check themselves into an adult shelter, leaving them with no safe place to turn when their marriage inevitably goes wrong.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, child brides are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders. They are also more likely to drop out of high school, leaving them to struggle to get a GED and maintain a steady job with good pay. The real question: Why are we allowing children to marry adults? Why are we letting 15-year-olds take the plunge and say “I do” before they can even drive by themselves? The minimum age to get married should be 18 years old; this should be a law here and abroad. The U.S. has started initiatives to end child marriage globally, such as the United States Agency for International Development, an organization dedicated to assisting in the development of struggling nations. However, before we attempt to change the realities of young girls abroad, we need to fix our own child marriage problems.
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HOT BOX COOKIES
Hot Box Cookies sees sales increase on 4/20 Madelynn Westhoff, a freshman psychology major at MU, took MOVE Magazine for a delivery run on the stoners’ holiday. SIENA DEBOLT
Staff Writer
then we just prep all of them first. We go to the back and we map all of the orders. After we map them, we find out the best routes for our drivers to take, and then we just send people out on the road. For the most part, deliveries aren’t that hard. You just go in order of the ones that are down your little path and then you come back.
MOVE: Have you seen a spike in sales today compared to other days? Westhoff: Oh, yeah, yeah definitely. I really just got in about 20 minutes ago, but I can already tell that it’s going to be way more busy than it’s been before. We track the deliveries that we get. We’ve taken about 263 deliveries already, and usually, if I came in around this time, it would still be in the hundreds.
MOVE: And did you guys do this six chocolate chip cookies for $4.20 because you’ve seen an increase in sales on 4/20? Westhoff: I think we’ve done the promotional deal for a few years now. This is the first year we’ve done it where we include online orders. Usually before, it would’ve just been in store, but I guess in the past, in-store gets so flooded with people coming in on 4/20 that we just decided to make it easier and make in-store less hectic by doing deliveries so people will have more of an option. I think it’s honestly just going to make deliveries really hectic in comparison because I don’t think people are really going to want to leave their houses today. I think that the 4/20 deal has gotten really popular because of the fact that for the past week or two, we’ve been adding in promotional cards with our deliveries so then we’re not only promoting it with a giant poster on our window, but we’re making it really available for people to know.
MOVE: Could you tell me about how the delivery process works? Westhoff: So, when we first get our deliveries, they print out in the back and we go out and we prep all of the orders that we can. A lot of the time they don’t come in, like, a bunch at one time, but if they do,
MOVE: Do you think that this sale is kind of promoting people to smoke on 4/20, or do you see it more as just taking advantage of the holiday? Westhoff: I don’t know if the deal has convinced anyone to smoke more weed than they normally would’ve. I think it’s more along the lines of the
On 4/20, MOVE Magazine traveled with Hot Box Cookies delivery driver Madelynn Westhoff to see the holiday’s cannabis culture in action. As MU students prepared for 4/20, Columbia’s Hot Box prepared its shop by organizing boxes of six chocolate chip cookies, which it sells each year on 4/20 for $4.20. MOVE: How long have you been working at Hot Box? Westhoff: I have been working at Hot Box for, I guess, since October.
fact that we know people are already going to be smoking weed, and we’re just kind of capitalizing on that. There’s no real beating around the bush for it; it’s kind of obvious what we’re doing. With a name like Hot
Box, it’s just kind of obvious. I think if people want to smoke today, it’s just going to happen, and we’re just here to fill in that gap. Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com
Madelynn Westhoff packs her car to deliver Hot Box cookies. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR Madelynn Westhoff drives through downtown Columbia to deliver Hot Box cookies. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
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FASHION
MizzouThon debuts fashion show for Miracle Kids MizzouThon’s first fashion show had the theme “Strut Your Strength.” CHARLY BUCHANAN
Reporter
MizzouThon hosted its first-ever fashion show to showcase the strength of Miracle Kids, children who have spent time at the MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and the Columbia community on April 22 in Stotler Lounge. The show, which incorporated the theme “Strut Your Strength,” highlighted individuality and the way any experience can be transformed into something positive. Audience members included both MU students and family members, and the models themselves were a diverse range of students and Miracle Kids. The event began by showing a video of MizzouThon’s Main Event, a 13.1-hour dance marathon to raise money to contribute to a $1 million pledge to the MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Following this, models walked onstage wearing shirts made at the Main Event that each represented one of the 31
Miracle Kids. Nina Weatherly, special events director for MizzouThon, explained that the idea for this event was originally a gala. A fashion show was chosen instead, as the idea was more accessible, and the event came together to highlight the Columbia community. The Mizzou Store, Muse Clothing, Absolute Vintage and The Bridge all donated lines of clothing to the show. The Mizzou Store line was modeled by notable MU students such as Tori Schafer and Sean Earl. Schafer and Earl are active members of the MU community and were voted Homecoming queen and king this school year. The event displayed a unified sense of support for MizzouThon’s cause by bringing together these prominent figures and shops from the community. Two speakers took the stage at the event to show their support for MizzouThon and share stories. The first was Jordan Reeves, an 11-yearold girl with an energetic sense of humor whose left arm happens to stop just above the elbow. Reeves was joined by her mother on stage to discuss Born Just Right, an organization she founded to help kids with
Participants in and organizers of the MizzouThon fashion show pose onstage. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIZZOUTHON VIA FACEBOOK
disabilities by giving them a chance to “create their own solutions,” or “superpowers.” This organization works to provide kids with opportunities in design and STEM. Reeves used the show’s intermission as time to discuss her design: a prosthetic arm in the shape of a unicorn horn that shoots glitter. Reeves’ organization and design exemplify one of the core values of MizzouThon:
Every kid deserves the right to be a kid. Though Reeves has an extensive list of accomplishments, from showing her work on the Rachael Ray Show to TEDx, her organization is still housed locally in Columbia. The other speaker was Tyler Ingram, who spoke about the way he transformed his experience with an abusive relationship into a feeling of motivation. He created the clothing line
Explore Hamble, which was also featured on the runway. Explore Hamble donates 15 percent of its profits to True North, an organization that provides support for victims of domestic violence. MizzouThon plans to continue hosting this event each year and hopes to eventually expand it into a gala, Weatherly said. Edited by Alexandra Sharp asharp@themaneater.com
MOVIE
‘I Feel Pretty’ review: Amy Schumer to the rescue (almost) With a muddled storyline and mishandled themes, this movie needed a makeover from its top-billed actress, proving once again that she is a comedic force to be reckoned with. JESSE BAALMAN
Columnist This review contains spoilers. Following her role in the romantic comedy Trainwreck, Amy Schumer was a breakout success. She has since boarded two other starring vehicles. First there was Snatched, a Hawaiian misfire that welcomed the return of Goldie Hawn in a motherdaughter caper. The latest is I Feel Pretty, a high-concept fairytale with a body-positive message written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (How to be Single) in their directorial debut. The problem with both of these films is that they put all their weight on one woman’s shoulders as she tries to compensate for low-
A still from Amy Schumer’s newest movie, I Feel Pretty PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
quality scripts and direction. I Feel Pretty is better than Schumer’s previous outing, but it’s nowhere near the high-water mark of her debut. It isn’t too surprising considering she wrote that screenplay herself and convinced Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) to direct. On the other hand, coming from an oeuvre that includes He’s Just Not That Into You, this one doesn’t scream modern classic as much as it does 13 Going on 30 knockoff. An opening pop montage (the first of many) sets the tone for the rest of the film and ends with a woman
looking at her reflection in a full-length mirror. Her name is Renee, and she suffers from insecurity and low selfesteem. After an embarrassing fall at SoulCycle, Renee looks in a mirror again, but this time she believes she is suddenly beautiful. Her newfound confidence gives her the power to rise up in her career at a cosmetics company and pursue a romantic relationship with a man named Ethan (Rory Scovel). I don’t think it’s a spoiler to reveal that in the end she realizes her capability in life comes from feeling pretty instead of
looking that way. The movie is more or less a one-trick pony, but it’s more personal and topical than it leads on. This is Schumer’s territory; she’s built a brand of unapologetic humor that exposes and subverts societal standards for women. Her Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer, was full of sharp examinations about how women are gaslit into insecurity. Here, she thoughtfully tackles male insecurity, among others on the spectrum. It’s too bad the script grows increasingly incoherent as the performers struggle to make sense of it all. Speaking of those performers, here’s a rundown of some funny and familiar faces: Michelle Williams in a surprisingly great comedic role as Renee’s boss, Aidy Bryant and Busy Philipps trying hard to flesh out the little-seen best friends, Sasheer Zamata as an irritated SoulCycle employee and cameos from comedians like Rachel Feinstein, Nikki Glaser and Dave Attell. Emily Ratajkowski and Tom Hopper round out the cast of characters who rarely have the opportunity to go deeper than their cardboard cutouts. It’s a testament to Schumer’s
engaging screen presence that she can take a movie like this and nearly pull it off with her physicality, dramatic range and a neverending stream of one-liners. Despite its flaws, I Feel Pretty is a delightful distraction from reboots, remakes and any other movie with a Roman numeral at the end of its title. It’s definitely better than watching Dwayne Johnson beat his chest next to an albino gorilla for two hours. Unfortunately, as A Quiet Place won the weekend with $20.9 million, Rampage managed to beat out I Feel Pretty’s $16 million debut in its second weekend with $20 million. This is Schumer’s worst opening after Trainwreck ($30 million) and Snatched ($19.5 million). Schumer has been cast alongside Nicole Kidman and Steve Carell in She Came to Me, the latest project from an always reliable writerdirector Rebecca Miller. Here’s to hoping her next role is in service of a film that surrounds her with better material. She deserves it. Edited by Claire Colby ccolby@themaneater.com
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PERFORMING ARTS
‘Lady Parts’ discusses feminism over four nights The song cycle by Meg Phillis Crespy presented eight female performers with the opportunity to sing about subjects that go beyond their relationships with men. MARIANA LABBATE
Staff Writer
Lady Parts opened a discussion about feminism and the misrepresentation of women in the entertainment industry to an audience at the MU Student Center’s Leadership Auditorium on April 14 and April 19-21. The conversation started with the chorus of its opening number: “We need more lady parts. We’re more than our relationships, but you never know it from those scripts, and so tonight we’re gonna fight to break out of that mold.” Lady Parts is considered a song cycle, not a musical, for the fact that it doesn’t have a plot, a script or characters talking between the songs. The show was written by Meg
Phillips Crespy, a strategic communications associate for MU’s Joint Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing. She wrote the show after facing the lack of space and opportunities for women in today’s society as an actress. “I decided I was just gonna write it because I wanted something to do,” Crespy said. “As I was writing, I had a growing desire to offer that to more ladies, too, because I know that [it] is not just me who is frustrated with the lack of opportunity.” The premise of Lady Parts was giving women a chance to approach subjects that go beyond men. The actresses got the audience laughing with performances like “Universal Truth,” a song that has “everybody poops” as its chorus. The program also had songs about the beauty in the life of a housewife or lesbian relationships, like in the last one sung by performer Anna Ralls. “There aren’t many shows that heavily feature women,” Ralls said. “I think it’s important, especially here in the academic context, to give women the due that they deserve. Figure out how to pay tribute to these women that have done so
Meg Phillips Crespy, a strategic communications associate for MU, wrote the song cycle Lady Parts, which was performed in Leadership Auditorium on April 14 and 19-21, 2018. PHOTO BY HANNAH KIRCHWEHM | DESIGNER
much and often continue to run a household and bear children.” The performers also sang about sensitive topics like how women are treated differently after they reach a certain age, miscarriage and with mental disorders including autism and Alzheimer’s. “Some songs have a stance being taken on certain issues,” performer Leia
Brooks said. “Not everybody necessarily agrees with them, but they have appreciated that the conversation is open and that we’re not shying away from anything.” Most of the songs can be performed by women of any ethnicity or background, except for perhaps “The Secret Life of Black Mothers,” adapted from the poem by Natasha Ria.
Lady Parts presented the audience with the chance to talk about sensitive topics while still getting laughs and offering a light environment. The artists were available after the performance as well to keep the conversation going. Edited by Alexandra Sharp | asharp@themaneater.com
SPEAKER
Aly Raisman speaks about body positivity, personal obstacles SIENA DEBOLT
Staff Writer
Aly Raisman, the second most decorated American Olympic gymnast, sat down with MU professor Tina Bloom at the Missouri Theatre on April 18. Raisman answered the audience’s questions about her gymnastics career and her current work with the organization Darkness to Light to create a video to help people recognize the signs that a child is experiencing sexual abuse. To start the event, Raisman walked onstage alone to give a 15-minute introduction. She explained her focus on gymnastics growing up and how she learned to use her competitive side to ease her anxiety and boost her confidence. “People think that I was born with this talent, but I was actually the worst in my classes growing up,” Raisman said at the beginning of her speech. “I was always the last one to get a skill. I learned early on not to compare myself with other people since you’re always competing against someone in gymnastics.” Taking a year off after the 2012 Olympics, Raisman said the hardest part about coming back was regaining her confidence. “In the 2010 World Championships, I fell during the all-around final,” Raisman said. “In 2011, I fell in the all-around final. After 2012, I didn’t compete in the World Championships until 2015, the worst of my life.
Finally in Rio, I focused on myself and ended up getting my all-around medal, which was very exciting.” After her introduction, Raisman was joined onstage by Bloom, an associate professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing. Bloom introduced herself and started a Q&A by asking questions that students had submitted. The questions focused on Raisman’s time at the Olympics and her experience at the Larry Nassar trial earlier this year. While Raisman explained how she felt, she was unapologetic when talking about how USA Gymnastics knew about Nassar’s repeated abuse of young athletes yet continued to let him work as a gymnastics doctor. “It’s still a disaster the way our society handles abuse,” Raisman said. “I don’t think you ever get over [being abused], and I don’t think you should.” Raisman said victims of abuse should continue to insist that all of their questions regarding abuse are answered. “When you are a survivor of abuse, you have a hard time speaking up,” Raisman said. “We still don’t have all of the answers. There should’ve been an investigation years ago even if it was just one person [coming forward].” Now, Raisman uses her new book, Fierce, to communicate with fans about how they can feel more confident in themselves and to also confront the issue of child abuse. “I wanted it to be easy enough for a 6-year-old to read with their
The Jewish Student Organization poses with Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman on April 18, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF JSO MIZZOU (@JSOMIZZOU) VIA INSTAGRAM
parents,” Raisman said. “I spent a lot of time on the book because I wanted people to realize that life is a journey.” Raisman finished the Q&A by taking questions from the crowd, many focusing on how to confront their friends about their personal abuse experiences and how to help others when they speak up about past
abuses. She also emphasized that her work with Darkness to Light has helped her cope. “It’s an empowering feeling to know that you’re helping someone else,” Raisman said. “The more people that are supportive, the more that we can go forward.” Edited by Brooke Collier bcollier@themaneater.com
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Fashion industry participates in #MeToo and #TimesUp movements With a political climate that highlights diversity and women’s rights, the fashion industry is contributing with runway shows and fashion trends. BROOKE KNAPPENBERGER
Columnist
During Donald Trump’s presidency, there has been a noticeable shift in society that tackles inclusivity and women’s rights. In the post-Women’s March age, widespread movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp have taken over social media, and businesses have been attempting to take a political stance with their advertising. But how does the fashion industry compare in this political age? The fashion industry is the most inclusive it has ever been. Taking a look at fashion weeks from the last two seasons, models of many races, sizes, genders and sexual orientations walked down the runway. For example, brands like Christian Siriano and Chromat had the most plus-size representation on the fall ’18 runway, with 10 and nine plus-size models, respectively. Chromat also proved to be one of the most racially diverse shows of the season, with 72.7 percent models of color, according to The Fashion Spot. The Fashion Spot also reported a huge increase of transgender and non-binary models during fashion week. From fall ’17 to spring ’18, the number of transgender and non-binary castings has surged from 12 to 31, making progress toward a more inclusive industry. However, there’s still more progress to be made in the fashion industry. Fall ’18 New York Fashion Week only had 37.3 percent of models of color, leaving plenty of room for more inclusivity. There are similar findings off the runway as well. The Fashion Spot reported that 30.4 percent of nonwhite models were featured in fall 2017’s print ads, a 5.9-percent increase from the previous season. These increases in diverse casting on and off the runway are a great step forward for the industry, but there is always room for improvement. In addition to casting more diverse models, designers are showcasing inclusivity in their designs. Modest fashion seemed to be one of the major trends from the runways of
GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH USTINOV
New York, Paris and Milan from the fall ’18 season. Big names like Versace and Marc Jacobs incorporated head scarves throughout their shows, sending a message of inclusivity to women who choose to wear more modest clothing. Not only is the fashion industry embracing diversity and inclusivity; brands are participating in the feminism and women’s rights movements with their designs. Major trends like suits and ’80s-esque fashion were seen all over the runways and on street-style stars. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour explained the ‘80s “[was] the moment when women first emerged in a real way into the workforce and they dominated with their big shoulders and bright colors.” With bold shoulders, structured suits and flashy colors, these trends embody women’s empowerment, especially in the workplace. Other brands are choosing a more explicit approach to feminist fashion. For example, Christian Dior chose to cover the runway with protest signs, feminist slogans and magazine cutouts from the ‘60s. Prabal Gurung had a slew of feminist slogan T-shirts for his spring ’18 season and closed his fall ’18 show with models clutching white roses in support of the #MeToo movement. Feminist fashion has even gone commercial with fastfashion stores like Forever 21 and H&M incorporating feminist slogans onto T-shirts and jean jackets. In this political era, it’s refreshing to see designers and
retailers take part in political
products and advertisements.
have a big industry like fashion
how
movements. It’s uplifting to
take a political stance in its
It will be interesting to see the
fashion
industry
continues to approach political
movements in the upcoming season.
Edited by Claire Colby
ccolby@themaneater.com
SPORTS
Online this week: Schweizer breaks sixth school record at Tom Botts Invitational, baseball takes two of three against Vanderbilt and more at themaneater.com.
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SOFTBALL
Missouri softball swept on the road by South Carolina Missouri started strong early Friday but was swept after not being able to keep up with the Gamecock offense. GAVIN WHITE
Reporter
Missouri softball was swept this past weekend in a three-game series against the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks. The Tigers gave up a total of 20 runs while managing to score only eight over the three days in Columbia, South Carolina. This is the second time the Tigers have been swept in a Southeastern Conference series matchup this season. This comes after the Tigers won their first conference series of the season the weekend prior against Auburn, winning two games before the third was canceled. Tired and outmatched this past weekend, the Tigers were not able to get much of anything going pitching or scoring wise. After things were starting to look better for the Tigers, they are now 24-24 after being swept and are just 6-14 in conference play. The Tigers’ pitchers could not get anything going, with freshman Lauren Rice being the only pitcher to not give up any runs. Out of the 20 runs scored against them, six were home runs. Rice and redshirt junior Madi Norman both surrendered six runs in single games, the most of the series. Missouri’s offense couldn’t keep up with the Gamecocks either. The Tiger bats were inconsistent, despite getting on base frequently with 22 hits over three days and three homers in the series by a trio of Tigers. Redshirt junior Amanda Sanchez hit another home run, her 10th of the season. It is the second time in her Mizzou career that she has Infielder Amanda Sanchez during a game against Drake University on March 4, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Missouri signee Torrence Watson ready to fit into guard-heavy lineup Watson said playing for his AAU team alongside two fellow Missouri newcomers helped prepare him for a potential fourperimeter-man style. BENNETT DURANDO
Assistant Sports Editor
Torrence Watson’s impression of Missouri basketball changed for good at “Mizzou Madness.” The 2017 black and gold preseason scrimmage during October’s Homecoming Saturday at MU garnered
widespread attention for marking the beginning of a new era. Head coach Cuonzo Martin’s pyrotechnical masterpiece certainly didn’t disappoint Watson, a valuable local commodity who had committed to Missouri the previous month. “I was really impressed, just seeing that,” Watson said in a phone interview. “People were outside like an hour before. The lines were crazy to get in. There were more people at that than there were just at last year’s games in general.” He pointed out that too was the case at Missouri’s preseason scrimmage against Kansas, and at its season opener against Iowa State. And at most of the
following games. Watson was ecstatic to watch it all play out. And now, six months after that first impressionable spectacle, the final pieces of next season’s puzzle are falling into place for Missouri. Watson, a November signee, still likes what he sees. The No. 12 overall shooting guard prospect in the class of 2018 has high hopes for his own role as a freshman. “I’m definitely coming in hoping to make an impact right off the bat,” he said. “I’m working on my shooting, making sure my ball handling is right, and hopefully I’ll have an impact on the scoring end but also the defensive end. Coming in and being able to pass
the ball, score the ball, defend my position and do everything.” Martin shares that ambition, especially for Watson as a scorer. “When you score over 2,500 [high school career] points, that means you have the ability to put the ball in the basket,” Martin said. Watson averaged a metro area-high 32 points per game in his senior season at Whitfield, topping 50 three times. “The most points I scored in high school was 41,” Martin said. As for how quickly he expects that scoring impact to take shape, Martin said, “Hopefully from day one.”
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reached double-digit homers in a single season, the last being her
freshman year in 2015. “It was a tough weekend,” head coach Gina Fogue said in a press release. “We had a promising start for much of Friday’s series opener, but after some late struggles that
night South Carolina really took control the rest of the way … We need to re-focus quickly as we have a couple big mid-week doubleheaders coming up that will be pivotal towards our postseason aspirations.”
The Tigers have seven games left before the SEC Tournament, with their next matchup in Macomb, Illinois, for a two-game series against Western Illinois on April 25. Edited by Bennett Durando bdurando@themaneater.com
BALL
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The four-star recruit will play into what Martin hopes to be more backcourt fluidity next season. The Missouri helmsman referenced the effective use of four perimeter players by national champion Villanova and Illinois transfer Mark Smith’s ability to play point or shooting guard as examples of the national trend of interchangeable guard roles. He even called back to Villanova’s 2005-06 team when pointing to the trend’s origins. “I don’t know if that was a trend yet, but now you look at teams that have four perimeter guys making plays,” he said. “You look at that program and having multiple playmakers on the floor, decision-makers, guys who can make shots and get to the rim. If you can do those things and defend, you have a chance to be a successful program.” Watson said that style of play is perfect for him. He was well prepared for it by his AAU career for Ramey Jets United, where he played alongside an elite cast of guards. Coincidentally, those included fellow incoming Tigers, Smith and Javon Pickett, as well as Missouri target Courtney Ramey. “We didn’t really have many dominant big men, or many 5s, so going back to playing with my AAU team was mostly guards,” Watson said. “It would be four guards out there, one big. So I think that helps tremendously. I don’t think that’ll be much different because my AAU team.” The familiarity of playing with Pickett and Smith is something Watson thinks will help him adapt to the college game. He also said he is already close with rising seniors Kevin Puryear and Cullen VanLeer, rising sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon and rising junior Mitchell Smith. “Having a relationship with them is definitely going to be key,” Watson said. Martin said the biggest challenge for new guys is often transitioning to a new locker room — The ones who adjust quickly are the ones who are going to be successful — and optimizing that quick adjustment may be one of the benefits to Martin’s recent local recruiting success. As for Watson personally, there’s no goal for points per game in his freshman season. Instead, he said he’ll
Missouri basketball recruit Torrence Watson smiles with quarterback Drew Lock. PHOTO COURTESY OF TORRENCE WATSON (@TORRENCEWATSON) VIA TWITTER
use the offseason to put on weight and improve upon a skill set he showed growth in at the end of his high school career. “One jump I had junior to senior year was being able to take contact,” Watson said. “Going into college, I know it’s a whole different game,
bigger and stronger guys. I’ll be working on my body so I’m able to do stuff like I was able to do this year, and also being able to defend someone who’s bigger and stronger.” Martin said of the 6-foot-5 Watson, “He has a frame on him already.” “He takes pride in being part of
the Mizzou basketball family in the state of Missouri,” Martin said. “Giving him the confidence from day one to understand, do what you did in high school; just take it to the next level. I think he’ll be able to score the ball.” Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com
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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | A P R I L 2 5, 2 0 1 8
GOLF
Jessica Yuen finds early success at Missouri, continues to build golfing legacy “I put more pressure on myself, but my mental game has improved, and I can handle it,” Yuen said of her sophomore campaign for Missouri. AUSTIN WEBER
Staff Writer
Making a name for oneself and becoming the leader of a sports team, especially at the collegiate level, usually takes athletes time and experience to achieve. Women’s golfer Jessica Yuen, however, has managed to rise to her position in a short amount of time. Only a sophomore, Yuen has already become one of the more decorated golfers in recent Mizzou history. As a freshman, she not only set the freshman record for lowest stroke average, which happened to be the second-lowest for a season in school history, but she also made the Southeastern Conference AllFreshman team and competed at the NCAA Regionals as an individual. Despite her obvious gift for the game of golf, it wasn’t always Yuen’s first choice for a sport.
“I started playing when I was 6 years old,” Yuen said, “but then I stopped for a while and played basketball. I didn’t pick it up again until I was 12 or 13.” From then on, success is all that Yuen has known. In high school, she won two state titles while finishing second twice. “I felt like I could play at the next level during my junior year,” Yuen said. “I felt like I had the mentality.” Regardless of talent, Yuen said she still had to prove her worth. “When I came in, I still had to show the coaches I was good enough,” Yuen said. “I had to earn my spot in the lineup.” Yuen quickly established herself as one of the best on the team. She capped off her freshman year by going on to the NCAA Regionals, but she was more focused on going as a team her sophomore year. “It was lonely to go alone,” Yuen said, “but my team’s support meant a lot.” Coming off such a feat means the expectations for Yuen have been high. Everything she learned from her freshman season has helped prepare her for this. “There was more pressure this
Sophomore golfer Jessica Yuen takes a swing during the Bruzzy Challenge outside of Dallas on April 3, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS
year knowing that I’ve done well,” Yuen said. “I put more pressure on myself, but my mental game has improved, and I can handle it.” Even with the pressure she faces, Yuen is still focused on what the team can accomplish. But she expects more from herself. “I could’ve done better with a stronger mindset,” Yuen said. “The pressure made it harder on myself. One thing I still want to accomplish is winning a collegiate tournament.” High expectations aside, one
thing Yuen hasn’t forgotten is her enjoyment of the game. She hopes to carry this throughout her career. “My favorite part of my career so far has been being able to play on different courses around the country against different people from around the world,” Yuen said. “It’s something that I wouldn’t be able to do if I wasn’t playing.” Yuen and the Tigers will compete in the SEC championships from April 18-22. Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com
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T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | A P R I L 2 5, 2 0 1 8 BASEBALL
Trey Harris sparks Missouri bats to 8-2 win over nemesis Missouri State in flagship faceoff Harris, Missouri’s veteran outfielder, hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fifth to lead the Tigers to victory. BENNETT DURANDO
Assistant Sports Editor
In the fifth inning of a fight for the right to Missouri’s flagship baseball school title, the flags at Taylor Stadium weren’t beating as harshly as usual in right-center field. The warm weather had settled things down at a ballpark whose winds usually face inward. But for the moment, Trey Harris wasn’t thinking about that as he stepped into the batter’s box. Leadoff hitter and starting pitcher Brian Sharp stood on first base with one out. To the confusion of the announced crowd of 2,331 at Taylor Stadium, Missouri’s senior right fielder with a slugging percentage of .494 showed bunt early in the at-bat. He floated one backward but beyond the reach of Missouri State’s catcher for a harmless foul ball. Then he brought back his bat to swing away. “Sometimes it’s tougher when you’ve got to string three or four hits together,” he said later addressing the wind. “But it’s nice to know that sometimes you can just plop one over the fence.” Harris lifted a go-ahead two-run home run to rightcenter field and lifted the Tigers to an 8-2 win over the Bears on Tuesday night in front of the second largest Taylor Stadium crowd of the 2018 season. “Honestly it was just one of those things: Get on base because Zach [Hanna] was smacking the ball all night,” Harris said. “They were playing really far back because I’m not known to bunt. I felt like I was struggling a little bit at the plate. It evolved from trying to battle, then I got something that I got with the barrel.” With the win, Missouri (28-13) completed a twogame season sweep of its in-state rival after having lost six straight to the Bears entering 2018. Sharp was the winning pitcher, tossing five innings of two-run ball and accounting for the tying run on Harris’ fifth-inning homer that catapulted the Tigers ahead for good. “There are some recruiting battles as well,” head coach Steve Bieser said of the rivalry. “Missouri State, they’ve got an excellent
Trey Harris swings at a pitch against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on March 4, 2018. PHOTO BY MADI WINFIELD | VISUALS DIRECTOR
facility there, and they can recruit to that really well, and they’ve had a lot of success. “I believe it’s time for us to be the flagship university.” To get there, the Tigers would have to battle back after Sharp gave up a two-run shot of his own in the first inning to Ben Whetstone. It would’ve done more damage if not for some miscommunicated baserunning from Missouri State and an unusual 3-6-2 double play turned by the Tigers on the previous batter. With runners on second and third, Missouri didn’t bring its infield in, nonverbally sacrificing a run for an out. But on a deep bouncer to first, the lead runner stayed stationary while the one trailing took off for third. First baseman Brett Bond stepped on the bag for the out and fired to second too late to catch the retreating runner, but it prompted the lead break for the plate, where he was retired by another throw across the diamond. Sharp proceeded to settle in after the homer for four scoreless frames. The Tigers got a run back in the fourth on back-to-back doubles from freshmen Chad McDaniel and Cade Bormet. And after taking the lead an inning later, Missouri added insurance in the sixth when senior Alex Samples doubled into the right-center gap to drive in a run, stole third to draw the infield
in, then scored on a Matt Berler single through the left side. Berler drove in another insurance run in the eighth with a double. The Tigers’ eight doubles on the night were the most they’ve compiled in a single game since March 14, 2007, against St. Louis. But it was Harris who transformed lethargy to vivacity on an evening that seemed to be spiraling toward indolence for the Missouri offense early on. Harris hit his seventh home run of the season the opposite way, strutted around the bases, stomped on home plate and enlivened Taylor Stadium. “A couple weeks ago I said I was gonna do that,” Harris said, referring to his stomp at the plate. “Missouri State
finds a way to talk trash even when the game has nothing. We walk into there sometimes and they’re saying the nastiest things. It was just a big moment for me and the team.” He also nagged back at his nemeses in the eighth; he stole second and third base — drawing a throw that allowed a run to score — and scored himself on another double. “It’s always the fans, parents, students … the people trying to do the most,” Harris said. “If you stuck to the nine on the field, it would be a really clean game. We don’t go out there throwing our Friday night, but it’s cool. We won.” Prior to that surge, Missouri harbored a crowd
that had been inspired if not invigorated. It’s on Us brought out the MU community en masse, including numerous athletes from the school’s football, men’s and women’s basketball teams. It’s a cause that Bieser is always eager to promote. “I thought it was a big hit last year, and it grew this year and was even better this year,” he said. “We packed the stadium, and it was just a good night overall to have our student-athletes here.” Next up for Missouri is a three-game set against the No. 15 Kentucky Wildcats starting Friday in Lexington, Kentucky. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. Edited by Joe Noser jnoser@themaneater.com
Missouri swept the season series against Missouri State with an 8-2 victory on April 24, 2018. PHOTO BY BENNETT DURANDO | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR