Volume85Issue28

M THE MANEATER The student voice of MU since 1955

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Vol. 85, Issue 28

april 24, 2019

TAP DAY

AWARENESS

92nd annual Tap Day ceremony celebrates new members, highlights community issues

Second annual Autism Awareness Walk provides affected families with free autism-friendly activities

Professor George P. Smith was inducted into QEBH as an honor tap.

KYNDALL HUBBARD

Reporter

Hundreds of students, faculty and families gathered in the Jesse Auditorium Friday, April 19 for the 92nd annual Tap Day ceremony to discover which friends, colleagues and loved ones had been tapped to join one of the six secret societies on campus: QEBH, Mystical Seven, LSV, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and Rollins Society.

The event honored the achievements of the inductees, but also reflected on the history of the societies and celebrated the future.

“Together we share so many rich values and traditions, but few traditions have such an immense impact on an institution in the world as these honorary societies,” Chancellor Alexander Cartwright said in his opening remarks. “With each passing year and each new cohort, they strengthen our founding mission: our commitment to making a transformational impact on communities across the globe.”

In addition to the induction of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members were honored, including recent Nobel laureate George Smith, who was inducted into QEBH but was unable to attend

TAP |Page 4

The walk is sponsored

by MU’s Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

ELYSE LUECKE

Reporter

The Autism Speaks chapter at MU and the MU Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders have collaborated to raise awareness for autism and its complexities in honor of Autism Awareness Month.

The Thompson Center created a calendar for the month with an array of events submitted by various organizations to help spread the word.

Upcoming events include the Disability Dialogue Forum and Columbia’s Second Annual Autism Awareness Walk.

Nathan Hurst, a strategic communication consultant for the Thompson Center, said the purpose of the event is not necessarily to raise money but to raise awareness. He hopes they will partner with Autism Speaks again in the future when planning these

The Thompson Center staff celebrating World Autism Day on April 2, 2019. | COURTESY OF FACEBOOK VIA @THETHOMPSONCENTER

events.

“As big and as broad as autism awareness is, it is difficult to measure the awareness,” Hurst said. “Overall, we have seen an increase in awareness; what autism is and isn’t.”

The Thompson Center’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by autism. Through its clinic, it diagnoses and treats more than

SPEAKS |Page 4

AWARENESS

Mizzou Disability Coalition leads Student Accessibility Walk The coalition wants students to be aware of issues relating to students with disabilities.

WICKER PERLIS

Reporter

MU students were led throughout campus by members of the Mizzou Disability Coalition on Thursday as part of the first Student Accessibility Walk. Students were educated about issues facing disabled members of the MU community and encouraged to think about how their routes would be different if they were only able to use accessible entrances.

Students left from Memorial Student Union and went on a walk spanning most of MU’s campus. Leaders led the tour and pointed out issues relating to accessibility. One such leader was master’s of occupational therapy student and Disability Coalition leader Megan Stober.

“We’ve had an accessibility walk for only administrators for the last couple of years,” Stober said. “This is the first one we’ve done for students.”

| GRAPHIC BY MIZZOU DISABILITY COALITION

WALK |Page 4

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | APRIL 24, 2019

INSIDE THIS THE MANEATER The Student Voice of MU since 1955

Vol. 85, Issue 28 G210 Student Center • Columbia, MO 65211 573.882.5500 (phone) • 573.882.5550 (fax) editors@themaneater.com www.themaneater.com

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PAGE 13 Seven Mizzou football players have a chance at making NFL rosters this weekend.

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Editor-in-Chief Skyler Rossi

Opinion Editor Tatyana Monnay

Managing Editor Stephi Smith

MOVE Editors Janae McKenzie Joe Cross

Production Coordinator Corey Hadfield Copy Chiefs Kaitlyn Hoevelmann Anne Clinkenbeard News Editors Emily Wolf Ethan Brown Sports Editor Adam Cole Online Development Editor Joshua Thompson

Visuals Director Hannah Kirchwehm Designers Sara Marquardt Emily Mann Isaiah Valdivia Marisa Whitaker Social Media Editor

Leah Glasser Adviser Becky Diehl

Online this week: A protest urging MU to increase hospital and campus workers’ wages, a tech showcase, a bill concerning Plan B and more at the maneater.com

AWARDS

MU strategic communication professor Shelly Rodgers named nation’s most productive advertising scholar Rodgers received the 2019 SECU Faculty Achievement Award.

HANNAH NORTON

Reporter

Each year, the SECU awards one full-time professor at each of its 14 universities with the SEC Faculty Achievement Award. In order to win the award, nominees must “have achieved the rank of full professor; have a record of extraordinary teaching; and have a record of research that is recognized nationally and/or internationally,” according to a report on the SECU’s website.

Shelly Rodgers, strategic communication professor, was named Mizzou’s 2019 recipient, as announced by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey on March 27.

Each SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipient is given a $5,000 honorarium from the SEC and considered for the annual SEC Professor of the Year Award. The Professor of the Year was announced on April 10.

The SECU deemed Rodgers “the most productive internet advertising scholar in the nation.”

“This award symbolizes what I’ve devoted my whole career in health communications to: empowering the powerless and giving a voice to the voiceless,” Rodgers said in an email. “[It is] a further demonstration of Mizzou’s commitment to

MU journalism professor Shelly Rodgers received a 2019 SECU facility award. | COURTESY OF JOURNALISM.MISSOURI.EDU

RHA

excellence in research of all types.”

Rodgers’ research surrounds the idea of improving people’s lives in regards to their perception of themselves, their communities and health. A large part of her work also focuses on helping people better understand cancer.

“I have a personal connection to cancer since my mom died from colon cancer at the age of 45,” Rodgers said in an email. “I felt then, and still feel today, that if we can get the right information into the hands of people who need it most, we have a chance to prevent most forms of cancer (or catch it early enough), which increases the chance of survival.”

Rodgers said that she never expected to win an award like this.

“It was an incredible surprise [and] just being nominated was an honor,” Rodgers said in an email. “I want to acknowledge the tremendous work of my MU colleagues who were nominated for this award, as well as Dean Kurpius who nominated me; and the Provost, Provost’s Selection Committee and Chancellor [Alexander] Cartwright who made the selection.”

However, Dean of journalism David Kurpius feels that Rodgers was an obvious choice for the honor.

“We were happy to have her considered, and

SHELLY |Page 5

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Donovan and Johnson to revisit rejected bill The Briefing: MU’s 2020 fiscal year budget decision announced addressing retention issues within RHA The bill, which proposed a new RHA position in order to oversee and manage recruitment and retention was rejected in congress.

JASMINE LOPEZ

Reporter

Alexia Donovan and Cory Johnson will not be sworn into office as Residence Halls Association’s president and vice president until April 29, but that hasn’t stopped them from starting to address issues within RHA. The most pressing issue currently faced by RHA is the recruitment and retention of RHA representatives, according to Donovan and Johnson. This year, RHA experienced record turnover within the organization.

RHA started the 2018-19 school year with 70% of its positions filled. Currently, there are only 10 of the

45 total positions filled, according to RHA Speaker of Congress Blake Willoughby.

After a congress meeting Monday night, the bill Donovan and Johnson proposed to tackle low retention rates within RHA ultimately failed to pass by a majority of their congress.

“We proposed a new solution of creating a new position, director of recruitment,” Johnson said.

“Their main job would be to recruit and train the representatives and all of the hall governments as well as the hall coordinators.”

Donovan and Johnson, who were surprised the bill failed, had originally proposed the position as an executive position before it went through a committee, which amended the proposal to a position within the legislative branch.

“We talked for a while in congress and they voted to amend it back to being an executive position. And then it failed [to pass],” Johnson

said of Monday’s congress meeting.

He added that part of the reason the bill failed was potential confusion.

“There were a lot of voices in the room,” Johnson said.

“They suspended the house rules, so anyone could speak, not just the representatives.”

Moving forward, Donovan and Johnson are revising the bill for next week’s congress meeting in hopes that it will get approved.

“We all want a solution to [the retention issue], but it’s how we go about it that there’s disagreement on,” Johnson said.

He said that some of their representatives felt it would be best to entail the responsibility of recruitment and retention under the currently existing position of director of communications.

The director of communications will assume more responsibilities in the

RHA |Page 5

Approximately $25 million will be reallocated for scholarships, employee performance and promotions.

year, the cost of housing, dining and books went down for more than 80% of MU students and more money was invested in scholarships and other financial aids.

“Our strategies and priorities have to drive our budget in order to keep that momentum going,” ADELE DU Cartwright said in the news release. “For the upcoming Staff Writer year, we will continue to The fiscal year 2020 make changes to our budget budget was recently that focus on supporting our announced by MU Chancellor priorities of affordability, success and Alexander Cartwright and research Vice Chancellor for Finance employee recognition.”

Due to the tight budget of Rhonda Gibler. The budget will be in effect starting July fiscal year 2020, Cartwright 1, 2019 until June 30, 2020. said in his email that there In his email sent campus- will be a reallocation of wide on April 19, Cartwright around $25 million. The offices, reflected on the achievements administrative the university had in the past primarily the Office of the fiscal year, including the first Chancellor and the Office Nobel prize in the school of Advancement, will take history, grants, new facilities on the highest reductions and an increase in freshman of around 10%. On average the reductions to university enrollment.

According to a news release from MU News 2020 |Page 5 Bureau, in the 2019 fiscal

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SPEAKS

Continued from page 1

3,500 patients each year, Hurst said.

The center also has pediatricians, psychologists and researchers on hand, which leads to a better understanding of autism causes and possible treatments.

Since its inauguration in 2005 with a

TAP

Continued from page 1 due to travel. Rollins Society also paid tribute to former member Jordan Hoyt, who passed earlier this year.

Multiple societies revealed their new members while using the stage to bring awareness to and acknowledge systemic issues at Mizzou and in the overall country.

Before the presentation of the inductees, Vice President of LSV Randi Anderlik spoke in tribute to the Niúachi people, whose ancestral lands make up much of the state of Missouri, entreating the audience to recognize the legacy of colonization in America and its impact on indigenous people.

“Every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes and dreams and energy to making the history that led to this moment,” Anderlik said in her remarks. “Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage

WALK

Continued from page 1

Some of the key issues that were emphasized for the participants were related to event planning. Stober said it is very important to plan ahead in order to ensure that an event will be accessible to anyone who might wish to attend. It is important to ensure that accessible entrances are available and advertised, she said.

Additionally, presentations should include closed captioning, and any visuals should be large and should be described orally for those who cannot see them.

Another major part of the

gift from William and Nancy Thompson, it has expanded the research facility in fall 2017. This allowed more space for research, training and the treatment of patients.

Natalie Kukulka, a fourthyear medical student, can be credited with the creation of the most highlighted event on the calendar: Columbia’s Second Annual Autism Awareness Walk.

There will be tables with sensory-

friendly activities, music, educational tables from local organizations, a petting zoo and food trucks, according to the Thompson Center’s website.

Last year, Kukulka realized that there were walks for autism in St. Louis and Kansas City, but not Columbia. This motivated her to organize the inaugural walk in Columbia, and Kukulka described the process as difficult but rewarding.

When planning for the

event, there is a lot of work to be done with flyers, advertisements and permits, along with creating a guide to help future organizers of the walk once she graduates.

The money raised from the walks will be put toward sustaining the event for years to come.

“Hopefully it gives parents a break that they deserve because they work really hard and hopefully it gives kids a joyful moment outside of their homes as well,” Kukulka

said. “If you are interested and you really want to know what autism is like, then you will be able to participate in these events and learn more about it and become more knowledgeable. It takes everyone’s own initiative to do that.”

The walk will take place from 9 a.m to noon April 27 at Cosmo Park. It is free to the public.

Edited by Ethan Brown ebrown@themaneater.com

and difference. We begin this

a message calling for an

effort to acknowledge what

increase in the wages of MU

has been buried by honoring

employees.

flagship

institution to support this community,” Mystical Seven President Jacob Ruboneka said in his remarks. “Instead, more than 600 full-time service and maintenance staff make less than $15 an hour.”

Wearing matching shirts with the word “Equity” emblazoned in bold letters, the society underscored its call for higher pay specifically for those in the MU Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.

“Secondly, there are principles in place, but coordinators for the Gaines/ Oldham Black Culture Center, the LGBTQ Center, Multi cultural Ce nte r, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center and Women’s Center receive an hourly wage that does not accurately reflect the work, energy or impact that their actions have,” Ruboneka said in his remarks. “I would like to ask Mizzou where is the respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence in that?”

Vice Provost Jim Spain addressed the concerns expressed by the students, emphasizing the importance of their work in improving

the campus.

“It’s no surprise that a tradition that is this rich, this powerful, this deep is being celebrated today for the 92nd year,” Spain said in closing the ceremony. “This is what truly makes this place special. I also recognize that we don’t get it right, but we celebrate in many, many ways the many, many people that are contributing to getting right. This is why Tap Day is such a very, very special day for the University of Missouri.”

Newly inducted members of the societies expressed anticipation in serving the MU community.

“We’re going to get together and really think about what service we want to go into and what we want to do for the community here,” Mystical Seven inductee Dynasty Avila said.

“Everything is still new, but going forward we’re just trying to be as intentional as possible, trying to make sure that we stand up with the reputation and the change that the Mystical Seven has put in previously.”

Edited by Laura Evans levans@themaneater.com

see how they can become more accessible, Stober said.

However, there is still more that could be done.

“Right now, professors could be a little bit more accommodating with accommodations through the disability center,” Stober said. “Thinking about universal design when we build new buildings and renovate existing ones is important as well.”

Stober said that the Disability Coalition has spoken with Chancellor Alexander Cartwright about these issues.

“He has been really great about hearing our concerns and thinking about the future and how we can make [the future] more accessible,”

Stober said.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Freshman Sophia Martino uses a wheelchair and participated in the walk.

“Out of all the colleges I looked at, Mizzou was by far the most accessible,” Martino said. “There are certainly areas to improve, but as a whole it is accessible.”

Martino also stressed the importance of events like this as a way of students being able to empathize with their peers who are disabled.

“A lot of people do not realize that their routes are not very accessible and they would need a whole different route that might take much longer,” Martino said. “I feel like everyone should do a walk like this.”

At the end of the walk, the organizers encouraged participants to remain mindful of accessibility on campus especially when planning events. They also encouraged everyone to attend the Mizzou Disability Coalition’s meetings, which occur on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For any students seeking accommodations, the MU Disability Center is located on the bottom floor of Memorial Union South and can be contacted at disabilitycenter@missouri. edu.

Edited by Laura Evans levans@themaneater.com

Ryder Jiron getting tapped to Mystical Seven at the 92nd Annual Tap Day ceremony on April 19, 2019, at Jesse Auditorium. | PHOTO BY PHOTOGRAPHER MARCO STOREL

the truth.”

Mystical Seven also spread

walk was pointing out issues relating to accessibility and accessible routes around campus. MU has gone through many recent changes, Stober said, including changing the designs of accessible parking signs to be more empowering, adding more parking and increasing the use of talking elevators and intersections for those with visual impairments.

“A lot of different areas are improving right now,” Stober said.

One such area that she has been happy to see improvements in is the accessibility of Greek life.

This year was the first year that Greek Week Fling events used closed captioning, and many houses are working to

“Columbia residents put their

trust

in

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SHELLY continued from page 3

we’re proud of all that she’s accomplished,” Kurpius said. “[Her track record] is part of what won her this award — she’s got a body of work that is significant and impressive. We were ecstatic when she won, but not surprised.”

Kurpius described Rodgers as an incredibly genuine and focused person.

“She gives excellent direction to those she works with — they leave her office knowing exactly what they need to do, which problems they need to tackle and what they have to bring back,” Kurpius said. “With her, what you see is what you get and there are no ulterior motives, which I think helps her work with colleagues and students.”

Rodgers was also named a William Kemper Fellow for Teaching Excellence in 2018. She said that the fellowship has brought her a multitude of opportunities.

RHA continued from page 3

upcoming year, such as setting up a Google Drive for easier communication between hall coordinators and hall governments. They would also manage a website made accessible to students in order to increase transparency within RHA. Donovan and Johnson plan on consulting with their representatives to hear their ideas and input

“When Chancellor Cartwright called my name, the whole world went quiet, and I felt like I was going to faint,” Rodgers said in an email. “I couldn’t get my legs to move so I could walk to the front of the room.”

Before becoming a Kemper fellow, Rodgers had to teach and mentor at Mizzou for several decades, which she called the highlight of her career in strategic communication.

“I feel lucky because I get to teach students at all levels in the Journalism School — undergraduates, masters, online masters and doctoral,” Rodgers said in an email. “What’s really been amazing is that I’ve been able to take these same skills we teach our students in strategic communication to many other schools on campus including many of the STEM fields and the School of Public Health.”

Rodgers credits a major portion of her success to a combination of her publishing productivity and grit.

“I grew up on a farm, so it wasn’t unusual to start a school day at 4 a.m., and as a researcher, I’ve kept that ‘farm hours’ mentality,” Rodgers said in an email. “I typically started my day at 2

or 3 a.m. every morning — including weekends — the first 10 years of my career. It’s how I became a productive scholar and was still able to have [time] as a wife and mom.”

Kurpius stated that Rodgers has a unique research style.

“I think the thing that really sets her apart is the way she collaborates with others and her focus on getting to the kernel that she’s after in her research,” Kurpius said. “I think she’d be one of the first to say that you can’t do this alone — you need to have others around you that are working with you and sharing ideas.”

Rodgers feels that hard work alone is not enough and encourages students to pursue their true passions in the professional world.

“I’m now of the belief that without a clear direction or sense of purpose, even hard work and our best effort might not be enough,” Rodgers said in an email. “My advice for [students] is to dig deep and figure out what you value most.”

Edited by Laura Evans levans@themaneater.com

before revisiting the bill to make changes.

“This upcoming week we really have to buckle down and just relook at everything in a different view and talk to as many people as we can just to see what is the best option for everyone,” Donovan said. “Hopefully it will go better next congress.”

No current position in RHA resembles the responsibilities of the proposed director of recruitment and retention position, Donovan said.

“Everything is going to be a test run,” Donovan said. “If it doesn’t work out, we change it. As

of right now, we’re just trying to get something moving forward so that our representatives next year are better supported.”

Despite the rejection of their proposal, Donovan and Johnson are determined to serve the residents.

“That’s all we’re trying to do. We’re not making any power moves and we’re not trying to create another position so that we have more authority over someone else,” Johnson said.

Edited by Ethan Brown ebrown@themaneater.com

2020 continued from page 3

divisions will be less than 5%.

Additionally, there will be a 9.9% reduction on the Office of the Provost and a 7.6% reduction on the Office of Finance, according to MU News Bureau.

Out

of

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GRAPHIC BY DESIGNER EMILY MANN

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Edited by Laura Evans levans@themaneater.com

6 STUDENT LIFE

Empowerment Fest brings young voices to Cafe Berlin Planned Parenthood Advocates of Mizzou put together its second annual Empowerment Fest uniting different local artists at Cafe Berlin.

MARIANA LABBATE

Senior Staff Writer

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Mizzou held its second annual Empowerment Fest on Friday, April 20 at Cafe Berlin. The event gathered a number of artists to raise money and awareness for the organization and its goals.

The performances varied from the Delta Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s STEP Dance Team to a band of high schoolers called The Sweaters.

MU student artist Callie McCarthy was also at the fest selling her works and talked about her art.

“My art doesn’t really have a theme,” McCarthy said. “I have collages, paintings and ceramics. A general theme is movement and filling spaces.”

Besides artists, Empowerment Fest also had different raffle baskets assembled with the help of a number of local businesses. They included gift cards from Yellow Dog and Skylark bookshops.

The tables at Cafe Berlin also had signature lists for people to support the advocates’ main goal: to provide free Plan B pills for students on-campus.

“We started this last August,” Audrey Aton, president of PPAM, said. “We created a petition and so far we’ve gotten over 1,200 signatures from different community members, staff, faculty and students at Mizzou. We’re trying to get as much support as possible, and we’ve set a personal goal of 3,000.”

It’s been a busy week for PPAM. It had a meeting with the Missouri Students Association on April 16, where it got the organization’s support on the cause. Now, Aton and the other members of PPAM prepare for the next steps.

“Next up we have our meeting with the provost,” Aton said. “We’ve never done a campaign like this before so we don’t know what to expect, but if all goes well, we’ll start talking about finance.”

The advocates estimate that if the costs end up reflected in student fees, it’ll be an extra $3 to $7 a semester in every student’s tuition.

Aton also brought up that compared to other universities such as the University of Georgia, MU has relatively low health fees. While MU students pay $87.50, the fees at the University of Georgia

are $203 per semester (numbers refer to the spring 2019 semester.)

The fest collected signatures for the Plan B goal and also raised awareness about the organization’s mission in between performances. Colleen Lee was responsible for introducing the artists to the audience and was constantly bringing up subjects such as consent and safe contraceptive methods on stage.

“People keep asking me if I’m nervous, but I’m not,” Lee said. “All these performers are willing to be vulnerable and I’m just introducing them. I feel very honored to be able to do that.”

Empowerment Fest combined PPAM goals for the organization and an original idea of what empowerment looks like.

“We created it mainly as a fundraiser but we wanted to not only benefit our club and what our club does, but to bring in young people’s voices to empower them,” Lee said. “At first we were just gonna do music, and then we realized that music just doesn’t cover it, so we incorporated poets, STEP teams, spoken word. What empowers one person may not empower another.”

Edited by Janae McKenzie jmckenzie@themaneater.com

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7

UNBOUND

Unbound Book Festival celebrates black female writers through roundtable reads The “Unbound Reading: Women’s Voices” event provided undergraduate students with opportunities to read books written by black writers in a roundtable style.

NICKETA COOMBS

Reporter

The “Unbound Reading: Women’s Voices” event was held at 3 p.m. on April 17 in MU’s Tate Hall, where female undergraduate students read books written by black writers out loud. This event served as a precursor to the Unbound Book Festival, offering students a taste of the work done by writers involved in the festival and free tickets to the keynote address by George Saunders.

According to its website, the Unbound Book Festival is an annual event in Columbia, Missouri, which celebrates literature of all kinds.

Nationally-recognized and best-selling authors across many different genres come to mid-Missouri to discuss their work and participate in a variety of stimulating events and environments.

Alexandra Socarides, MU’s English Department chair, April Langley, Black Studies Department chair, along with Linda Reeder, Women’s and Gender Studies Department chair, collaborated to make this Unbound reading event happen.

“Four female students were asked by their professors to pick any book written by a woman of color,” Socarides said. “This is in an attempt to increase visibility of black writers and also women empowerment.”

Kelsey Meyerkord, a junior from the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, did the first reading and she chose the introductory section of “The South Side,” written by Natalie Moore.

“This book relates to so many cities across the U.S. explaining racial divide ... separate and unequal,” Meyerkord said.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Moore examines the myriad ways in which the lives of African Americans in the Chicago region are

“The Birds of Opulence,” written by Crystal Wilkinson. | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

limited, constrained, stifled and lessened by segregation.

Moore focuses on her home territory of the city’s South Side where she grew up, went to school and now lives, but her analysis fits the West Side as well. It’s also relevant for the other portions of the seven-county metropolitan area where blacks live concentrated together and set apart, particularly many near western and southern suburbs.

The second reader of the series, Madeline Hills, a junior women’s and gender studies student, read poetry from “You Darling Thing,” written by Monica Ferrell.

“I have always liked poetry, I think it’s healing,” Hills said. “I chose this specific anthology because I loved the way themes of gender, sexuality, age and race shaped the body of work in a very unique

and slightly dark tone.”

The Poetry Foundation’s website describes Ferrell as a poet and novelist whose allusive poems often seem to molt, revealing vulnerable, raw skin caught mid-transformation. Ferrell skillfully manipulates and revises form to explore the rapidly changing social and artistic landscape that she inhabits.

The third reader of the series, Lexi Wilkinson, a senior studying psychology and English, read “The Birds of Opulence,” written by Crystal Wilkinson.

“I chose this book because we share the name and I am also an aspiring writer,” Wilkinson said. “This novel is divided by years and follows two families that are related through marriage, exploring generational black southern life.”

Crystal Wilkinson is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Art and Sciences and was awarded the 2016 Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence for “The Birds of Opulence.”

Nominated for both the Orange Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Wilkinson has received recognition from The Kentucky Foundation for Women, The Kentucky Arts Council, The Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and is a recipient of the Chaffin Award for Appalachian Literature.

Olivia Flagg-Bourke, the fourth reader in the series, is an undergraduate student majoring in civil engineering with a minor in architecture. FlaggBourke chose to read “Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements.”

“This book is interesting. It highlights the narrative that new people coming to a city is not always the best for that city,” Flagg-Bourke said.

“Even the bonding over ruining people’s lives is such an interesting concept.”

Listeners at the event had follow-up questions for each reader and said that they enjoyed being read to and that the pieces chosen were very interesting.

Like the festival’s mission, this reading event was “innovative, different, stimulating and – above all – fun.”

Edited by Janae McKenzie jmckenzie@themaneater.com

UNBOUND

George Saunders delivers Unbound keynote address on his life, work The award-winning author spoke on his life, language and “Lincoln in the Bardo.”

BEN WICHE

Staff Writer

The 2019 Unbound Book Festival commenced with a book reading and discussion with George Saunders at the Missouri Theatre on April 20.

Saunders was interviewed by author Monica Ferrell and gave a reading of his recent novel “Lincoln in the Bardo.” The event was free and open to the public.

The Unbound Book Festival was found in 2016 by local authors such as Alex George. Unbound board member Stephanie Williams opened the event with a speech on the history of the festival.

“This festival was born five years ago when a small group of local writers, educators, librarians and publishing professionals gathered in

Alex George’s living room,” Williams said. “The growth of Unbound since then would not be possible without the engagement of you…We aim to be a festival for this community, we need to be a festival by this community.”

Dianne Lynch, the president of Stephens College, introduced the two authors.

Saunders started by giving a reading from his Booker Prizewinning first novel “Lincoln in the Bardo,” a work of historical fiction that follows Abe Lincoln comforting his dead son the night he is buried.

While it may sound simple, the book incorporates primary documents and is heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

“It’s complicated,” Saunders said.

“Explaining the book takes four hours and you can read it in three.”

After the reading, Saunders was interviewed on the ways his approach to writing has changed over the years.

“I thought art was, ‘I know so much. Shut up while I tell you,’”

Saunders said. “But what I knew from real life was that [art is] intimate conversation. ‘Dear Reader, I love you. I respect you. You’re smarter than me. Let me try and keep you on the line.’”

Saunders finds that dense prose loses the reader’s interest and respect.

“If you say to someone, ‘How do I get to the hospital?’ and they say ‘A place where various sick people are kept while getting better, well that’s interesting, there’s some roads you must take…’ you feel like, ‘You’re not respecting me,’” Saunders said. “That’s the whole process... cutting things down where you’re communicating the most respect.”

Originally, Saunders’ career didn’t begin in a writing program, but rather in engineering school.

After years of working various jobs in places like Sumatra, Indonesia, Saunders found the grind to help his writing.

“By the time [my wife and I] got married, we didn’t have any money and we were both just working,” Saunders said “A lot of my natural

grace was getting sapped out of me, so that of course became my subject matter.”

MU sophomore Maddy Creach enjoyed Saunders’ talk.

“I thought it was nice,” Creach said.

“I liked how he talked about when he writes, he tries to be respectful to his readers and not undermine them.”

After the conversation, Saunders fielded a few questions from the audience.

One student asked Saunders some tips on becoming a better writer.

“If you pay attention enough to anything, it’s interesting,” Saunders said. “Things are boring when you phone it in. There’s nothing boring about any life except we think we know what excitement is. If you say Frank was a jerk, that’s an easy dismissive thing. Then you say Frank is a jerk because he snapped at a young barista… Is Frank still a jerk?

Yeah, but he’s an interesting jerk.”

Edited by Janae McKenzie jmckenzie@themaneater.com

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TELEVISION

Top five ‘Broad City’ episodes As the iconic show draws to a close, a trip down memory lane is in order for anyone who has grown fond of Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson’s New York antics.

JESSE BAALMAN Staff Writer

before realizing her artwork is opening in a sandwich shop instead of a gallery.

Season 2 Episode 3 - “Wisdom Teeth” Another prime example of Ilana’s unwavering

love for Abbi is her wisdom teeth fiasco. Following

the operation, Ilana and her roommate, Jaimé,

plan to help Abbi recover and relax. This proves

to be quite the task as a drug cocktail sends Abbi

on a loopy odyssey to Whole Foods in Brooklyn

Season 4 Episode 6 - “Witches” This moment marked a shift in the core of

“Broad City.” The first season after Trump’s election and the first not to be set in the summer

signaled a change in the characters. For the first time, they come into their own, with the help of

witches, of course. As Ilana attends sex therapy

to help her start having orgasms again and Abbi grapples with the idea of botox, both come to

terms with themselves before attending a winter

Abbi Jacobson (left) and Ilana Glazer in “Broad City” season four episode six. | COURTESY OF IMDB

“Broad City” pushed the boundaries of comedy

by subverting in format and content the uninspired

trappings of popular television. Creators Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson’s five-season run ended

as an aggressively woke ode to the joys of millennial

while she believes a life-sized Bingo Bronson

solstice ceremony in Central Park.

finds Abbi’s location after her phone receives a

which Abbi and Ilana are animated throughout

Runner-up: Episode One, “In Heat,” in which

and deliver 100 macarons to Abbi’s boss (Wanda

toy is following her the whole time. Ilana finally notification about excessive spending.

youth, lasting friendships, sexual liberation and

Abbi and Ilana steal an air-conditioner from NYU

essence of their alter egos’ trailblazing dynamic

Seth Rogen and Kumail Nanjiani.

marijuana. These stand-out moments capture the duo.

freshmen on a hot summer day with guest stars

Runner-up: Episode Four, “Mushrooms,” in

much of the episode as they take mushrooms Sykes) before Abbi kills her cat and Ilana attempts a threesome.

Season 5 Episode 10 - “Broad City” Season 3 Episode 10 - “Jews on a Plane”

Season 1 Episode 1 - “What a Wonderful World” The pilot episode of “Broad City” saw Abbi

and Ilana trying by any means to scrape together

enough money to attend Lil Wayne’s pop-up concert. They start by ditching their responsibilities and selling office supplies from work, but scarce funds eventually lead them to an ad on Craigslist

for partially nude cleaning. If that weren’t creepy

and funny enough, Fred Armisen shows up in an

adult diaper refusing to pay. No money was made and no concerts were attended, but the women

did sit on a stoop drinking whiskey out the bottle, which was even better in the end.

Runner-up: Episode Four, “The Lockout,” in

which Abbi bug bombs her apartment, gets locked out of Ilana’s and is harassed by a creepy locksmith

The final episode of “Broad City” is a doozie

The show’s third season ends with a tampon

because it will make viewers simultaneously

the pair’s physical comic abilities while solidifying

but it’s still sad to see them go. They go out in

flying through the air. It’s an act that showcases the feminist elements of their work. As they make their birthright trip to Israel, they spend most of

the time trying to be seated next to each other,

even coming across a dead man at one point. It isn’t until their interrogation and deporting that

they finally discuss Jesus while being held in restraints at the back of the plane.

Runner-up: Episode Seven, “B&B-NYC,” in which

Abbi’s European crush from Airbnb ransacks her apartment and Ilana seduces NBA player Blake Griffin.

laugh and cry. Nothing is better than that feeling, a typically absurd fashion by pushing a luxury

toilet on a skateboard down the Brooklyn Bridge.

Abbi goes to Colorado for an art program, so Ilana

makes plans for them to meet in St. Louis for the

apocalypse. It’s this kind of die hard codependency right up until the very end that makes Abbi and

Ilana such a perfect representation of the bonds of friendship.

Runner-up: Episode Nine, “Along Came Molly,”

in which Abbi and Ilana finally get tickets to a Lil Wayne concert, but end up taking drugs and crawling around in the venue’s air ducts instead of actually going inside.

Edited by Joe Cross

jcross@themaneater.com

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9

MUSIC

Starbomb drops third, possibly final, studio album The band “completes their musical destiny” with new tracks and callbacks to old favorites.

JANAE MCKENZIE

The new tracks on the album continue the group’s pattern of parodying famous video games.

One of these includes “Filling in the Name Of,” a “Killing in the Name” parody about a long Tetris piece who begins to lament his place in life

this song as Wecht’s “magnum opus” and Wecht’s daughter appreciates the song as well.

“Audrey always wants to listen to the Donkey Kong song,” Wecht said in a YouTube video on the album’s release. “It has no swearing in it, so

MOVE Culture Editor

Musical-comedy group Starbomb dropped its third and possibly final studio album, “The TryForce,” on April 19.

The band, composed of musicalcomedy duo Ninja Sex Party (Dan Avidan and Brian Wecht) and internet personality Egoraptor (Arin Hanson), took four years to release this new album. In the opening track to the album, “Intro (Try),” Hanson explains this was due to the group being “really busy playing video games and eating stuff.” Hanson also mentions the ending of Starbomb, the first of four tracks to allude to finality.

“Hi, I’m Arin Hanson, and I’m back with my bros Danny and Brian to fulfill our promise to you and complete the three-album Tryforce with our third and probably final Starbomb recording,” Hanson said on the track. “And if this is the last Starbomb album, we’re gonna go out with a bang.”

The band went on a retreat for a week and a half and wrote the whole album together. Hanson felt that this third album had a more collaborative feel to it than the past two.

“I feel like my footprint on the first two albums wasn’t super huge,” Hanson said in a YouTube video.

“It was sort of like Ninja Sex Party does video game songs, featuring Egoraptor. Whereas the third Starbomb album really feels like we all wrote it together.”

To give this album a special edge, the group worked on the album with Tupper Ware Remix Party, the backup band of Ninja Sex Party, and Emmy-award winning producer Jim Roach.

Musical-comedy group Starbomb recently released its third album “The Tryforce.” | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

after being used constantly to finish Tetris puzzles. In yet another track, “Welcome to the Mario Party,” the famous Italian plumber throws away the concept of the family-friendly Mario Party in favor of a booze and alcohol-fueled rager.

The only full-length track on the album with no swearing is “Donkey Kong Joonyer,” in which Donkey Kong attempts to train his son to fight Mario but Donkey Kong Jr. isn’t very sharp. Hanson described

I’m not a bad parent.”

Outside of new songs, the album’s tracklist consists of callbacks to previous popular tracks about certain games. The track “A Boy and His Boat” completes the trilogy of “The Legend of Zelda” songs, with Egoraptor and Avidan listing off the excessive amount of items Link needs to complete his task. The track parodies the similar premise in “The Wind Waker” game. Items include a bow and arrow, a skeleton key,

a second place trophy from a local spelling bee and 46 copies of “The Jerk” on Betamax.

“A Wild Guitar Solo Appears!” completes the band’s trilogy of Pokémon-related songs. Following the events of “I Choose You To Die” and “The New Pokerap,” Pikachu and Ash Ketchum have repaired their relationship and are back to Pokémon battles together, but Pikachu now shreds on the guitar when he should be fighting.

One of the trio’s favorite series are “The Simple Plot of…” songs, which consist of a simple games talk show host trying to make sense of some of the most notoriously complicated plots in gaming. Previous albums brought us “The Simple Plot of Final Fantasy 7” and “The Simple Plot of Metal Gear Solid.” To bring things to a close, the band tackled the mother of all complicated plots: “Kingdom Hearts.” In “The Simple Plot of Kingdom Hearts,” protagonist Sora tries to explain his game, leading to the talk show getting canceled.

To wrap up the album, as well as the band’s legacy, the track “This Song Sucks” gathers Starbomb song concepts that never came to fruition.

These include a rap about butts called “Ass-Ass-in’s Creed,” a song about “Grand Theft Auto,” but you’re in a neverending traffic jam and a song where “Bomberman” goes through TSA and “you can guess the rest.” “[This song] encapsulates all of our rejected ideas that we never actually made a song about, so we made one super terrible song which turned out to be great,” Avidan said in a YouTube video about the album’s release.

“The TryForce” debuted on the iTunes Top 10 Overall Album charts, as well as number one on the iTunes comedy charts, sending off the group with a notable conclusion to its musical journey.

Edited by Joe Cross jcross@themaneater.com

MUSIC

Drugdealer’s ‘Raw Honey’ is vibrant, if somewhat unimaginative The album features rich instrumentals and catchy songwriting, but its far too obvious influences result in a somewhat derivative album.

JACOB LUEBBERT

Columnist

On its latest album “Raw Honey,” Drugdealer picks from a basket of nostalgic influences and creates a record with vibrant instrumentation and amusing melodies. Unfortunately, Drugdealer also eschews modern pop ideals for an imitative ‘60s sound that, while expertly crafted, feels a bit too familiar to fully enjoy.

Drugdealer is the brainchild of Los Angelesbased musician Michael Collins. His works have always had a certain vintage ambience to them.

For instance, Drugdealer’s debut album, “The End of Comedy,” was packed full of ‘60s and ‘70s era pop tunes with a modern lo-fi twist. In that sense, “Raw Honey” feels like a natural continuation of the ideas expressed on Drugdealer’s debut.

Ditching the more modern pop concepts and lo-fi production featured on “The End of Comedy,”

“Raw Honey” offers a near period-perfect glimpse of ‘60s pop tunes.

While influences certainly aren’t a bad thing (especially when those influences are artists like Brian Wilson and David Bowie), “Raw Honey” shoves its influences in your face and begs you to compare. The album sometimes avoids inspiration and instead shoots for pure imitation, resulting in unoriginal vintage pop replicas. The album’s fourth track “Lost In My Dream,” for example, sounds like a Beach Boys B-side with its twee vocal melodies and lavish — although somewhat uninteresting — instrumentation. “London Nightmare,” the album’s penultimate track, sounds like an unexciting attempt to craft something straight out of Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust days.

“Raw Honey” is at its best when it pays respect to the past while also carving out its own unique sound. The album’s second song, “Honey,” is a carefree country-rock jam with gorgeous guest vocals from Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering. While “Honey” alludes to classic bands like Fleetwood Mac, the twangy guitar melodies and beautiful outro make it distinct from its influences. The lead single “Fools” is a groovy, sax-filled tune that lends itself well to warm summer days with its soaring vocals and upbeat tempo.

While “Raw Honey” can be a bit ham-fisted

Drugdealer’s newest album “Raw Honey” features sounds of ‘60s and ‘70s pop music. | COURTESY OF GOOGLE PLAY MUSIC

in taking from the influences that inspired it, ultimately, Collins and his band have created a gratifying, fun-loving record. And really, what more could you ask from a band called Drugdealer?

Edited by Joe Cross jcross@themaneater.com

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TV

‘Game of Thrones’ characters experience one last night of peace With the Battle of Winterfell on the horizon, characters spend one last night together.

RACHEL PICKETT

Columnist

This review contains spoilers for season eight, episode two of “Game of Thrones.”

If last week’s episode of “Game of Thrones” consisted of laying the logistical groundwork for the Battle of Winterfell, then this week’s episode was all about laying the emotional groundwork.

Before we head into what is certainly going to be the most deadly battle in the show’s history, we need to be reminded of why we love these characters and what is really at stake.

This emotional journey starts with the trial of Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). While the majority of fans have long forgiven Jaime for his grave misdeeds, there are still plenty of people in the Seven Kingdoms who are out for his blood.

Mainly there is Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), who are both eager to get revenge on the man who killed their fathers. There is also Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) who could easily hold a grudge toward Jaime for pushing him out of a window.

Luckily for Jaime, and for “Thrones” fans, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), along with Jaime’s brother Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) vouch for Jaime’s honor. Their word is enough to convince Sansa and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) to save him from a swift death. Watching Brienne stand up for Jaime is only the first of many touching moments that happen this episode.

The rest of the episode is largely spent emotionally preparing for the upcoming Battle of Winterfell. And with that preparation comes the ultimate question: What would you want to do with your last guaranteed day in Westeros? For each character, the answer differs.

For Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) it means learning the feeling of intimacy with someone

Iain Glen (left), Conleth Hill and Emilia Clarke in “Game of Thrones” season eight episode two that aired on April 21, 2019. | COURTESY OF IMDB

else, and it just so happens that someone is her longtime friend Gendry (Joe Dempsie). While it may seem that the scene is at odds with Arya’s character arc, it is yet another example of the character taking charge of her own destiny and going after what she wants.

For others, the end of the world means one last time to drink, sing and be merry. Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) flirts heavily with Brienne and Tyrion reviews the group’s battle resume. And in an act of thanks and warm generosity, Jaime knights Brienne who becomes the first woman in the Seven Kingdoms to be knighted.

All of these warm, fuzzy scenes are not to say that there wasn’t some serious action occurring throughout the episode. Behind the sappy moments were the more typical “Thrones” scenes that included preparations for battle, some heavy politicking and the revelation of a big secret.

There was the attempted peace offering from Daenerys to Sansa that was first well-received but was then met with icy looks when the fate of The North was brought up. There was also the war preparation scene that gave the audience a glimpse of what’s to come in the next episode’s

battle.

But perhaps most importantly, right before the White Walkers arrive at Winterfell, Jon reveals to Daenerys that he is actually Aegon Targaryen which makes him the true heir to the Iron Throne.

This is a huge bombshell for Daenerys who has spent her whole life preparing to take back her family’s throne, and she does not take the news particularly well.

Before the bickering between aunt and nephew can commence, they are drawn back to reality by the warning alarms that signal that the Army of the Dead has finally arrived.

While most fans were probably hoping for the Battle of Winterfell to start, this episode was overall a great one for the show. Not only were there fantastic emotional moments between characters but there was also an overall sense of being reminded of what is actually at stake and what this fighting is really for.

Next episode is the Battle of Winterfell, and based on the episode preview, it is going to be a doozy.

Edited by Joe Cross jcross@themaneater.com

MOVIES

Some of the summer’s most intriguing movies remain a mystery With less than a month until the film’s release, the lack of promotion for “Ad Astra” is unheard of for a Disney movie.

JOE CROSS

MOVE Angles Editor Last week, the lineup for the annual Cannes Film Festival was announced, with two titles notably absent: Quentin Tarantino’s hotly-anticipated “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and James Gray’s space epic “Ad Astra.” The festival, which runs May 14 through May 25, features numerous films from around the world each year and is opening with Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy, “The Dead Don’t Die.” With Tarantino’s film, the reasoning is simple — the director is a devotee of filming in 35mm, which results in a longer editing process. However, beneath the absence of “Ad Astra” lies a stranger story. The film was originally scheduled for Jan. 11 of 2019, with some speculating that it would be put in limited release at the end of 2018 for an awards-qualifying run.

However, last October, it was pushed back to May 24, the same day as Disney’s “Aladdin” remake (Both films are being released by the same studio following the Disney-Fox Merger.) Director Gray confirmed the reason for the delays in an

interview with Indiewire last December – it just isn’t ready yet.

“You know usually when you see a sciencefiction movie there are a number of shots that don’t look very good,” Gray said of the film’s demanding post-production process. “I did not want to be up against a release date and have stuff looking really bad. I’m hoping we can make May.” That rigorous process, however, doesn’t explain the complete lack of promotional material for the film. Tarantino’s film, scheduled to release in July, already has a trailer and a few character posters, but beyond that there have been countless articles reporting on the film’s various controversies throughout its production process. There is almost nothing of the like to suggest “Ad Astra” actually exists.

With less than a month until its release, there’s still no trailer or even a poster for the film, and outside of a brief reported sneak preview at CineEurope last summer, seemingly no one has actually seen it.

In a February interview, Gray’s confidence in the film’s release was less than reassuring – regarding the release date, he said, “by the way, I don’t know anything about that, I’m just positing a guess. Who knows what will happen?”

All of this information would suggest that the film is due for yet another delay, but its studio doesn’t seem to think so. At CinemaCon earlier in April, Disney announced its full slate of films for 2019 and their release dates, doubling down on the May 24 release date for “Ad Astra.” Disney

also confirmed “The New Mutants” – a movie that’s been delayed and faced reshoots so many times that even its star has no idea when it will see the light of day – for an August release date.

Delays are seen all the time in the world of independent film, where limited releases result in films never showing in certain markets. Major studio products are no stranger to tumultuous productions – remember “Solo”? – but it’s almost unheard of for a movie, especially a Disney movie starring Brad Pitt, to completely fly under the radar like “Ad Astra” has.

The crowded May box office also provides another hazard. “Avengers: Endgame” is on pace to break box office records at the end of April, with likely smash hits “Detective Pikachu” and “John Wick: Chapter 3” following soon after in May. Between those almost certified box office draws and the fact that James Gray’s last film, 2017’s “The Lost City of Z” underperformed financially, it’s curious as to why Disney would stick to the summer release date.

Gray has compared the film’s premise – an astronaut goes on an interstellar voyage in search of his missing father – to that of “Apocalypse Now.” It’s a fitting comparison, both thematically and given the troubled production history of Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic. We’ll see whether the comparison is justified on May 24, or at an unspecified later date.

Edited by Janae McKenzie jmckenzie@themaneater.com

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

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

EDITORIALS REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE MANEATER EDITORIAL BOARD.

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

ROGER THAT

COLUMN: MU students may have voted the wrong way in MSA presidential election About a month later, it is still easy to see that All in Mizzou’s platform was better for MU, but that doesn’t mean that students can’t implement the ideas from the campaign.

ABIGAIL RUHMAN Abigail Ruhman is a freshman journalism and political science major at MU. She is an opinion columnist who writes about student life, politics and social issues for The Maneater.

the policies that matter most.

Davis and Dinwiddie hoped to expand student sick day coverage by advocating to give students one mental health day for each class during the semester. In some cases, this can be considered a low amount, but this starts a conversation that helps take away the stigma surrounding mental health days.

While one out of three college students struggle with mental illness, according to CNBC, the stress of juggling the aspects of college life can leave students feeling mentally fried. In some cases, teachers can have a strict attendance policy that makes taking a day to focus on mental health difficult for students.

In addition, their platform on making college more affordable makes a lot of sense for the MU student population. Their first affordable

All in Mizzou also pointed out ways to make campus operations more environmentally conscious. Their focus was on Campus Dining Services. The concept was to limit the amount of plastic used at dining facilities and team up with Just Goods, Inc. to provide sustainable water bottles as a way to reduce plastic water bottles.

In addition, the partnership with Just Goods, Inc. could offer student education on sustainable packaging and ethically production practices.

While Show Your Stripes focused on working with companies for transportation fixes that impact each student individually, All in Mizzou wanted to focus on fixing the public transportation in a way that could have helped all students. From working to better Tigerline to using electric golf carts as a rapid transportation system, All in Mizzou was focused on having concepts that could be acted on.

MSA 2019 presidential slate Solomon Davis (right) and Briana Dinwiddie. | COURTESY OF TWITTER VIA @ALLINMIZZOU

During the 2019 MSA presidential election, “All in Mizzou,” Solomon Davis and Bri Dinwiddie’s slate in the election, lost by 120 votes. MU was 120 votes away from policies that would have made a positive impact on student life and health.

Davis and Dinwiddie had a platform that MU’s student population needed. While the will of the people is important, MU students may have lost a slate that had actual policy proposals on mental health and academic transparency that would have benefited all students.

“Show Your Stripes,” despite being the winners, had a platform based more on discussion than on action. All in Mizzou, in contrast, had policies that promoted student action for the betterment of MU’s campus.

The good news is that even though All in Mizzou lost by a slim margin, their policies can still exist.

Students, both in and out of MSA, can still fight for

education concept was to build a syllabus bank to help students choose classes that actually interest them and have a workload that they can handle.

This would allow students to choose classes that they are less likely to perform poorly in and less likely to drop, ultimately preventing students from spending money on a course that doesn’t benefit them.

The second affordable education concept All in Mizzou promoted was the standardization of education technology. With products like iClicker and Top Hat coexisting on campus, students may end up spending more money on products that are similar in purpose. They also hoped to encourage free alternatives to these products, such as Canvas.

The concept makes sense. Students shouldn’t have to pay more money for products that do similar things. By standardizing these technologies, MU students save money on the supplemental materials needed for their courses.

While Show Your Stripes won by 120 votes, MU may have made the wrong choice. All in Mizzou had actual plans that could have changed the campus for the better. While students can’t go back in time to change their vote or to actually vote, students can try their best to take these ideas and implement them on campus.

These ideas could revolutionize current and future student’s college experience, and it’s up to the student body to fight for the policies. Whether that is through MSA, Residence Halls Association or old-fashioned, one-on-one contact with campus leaders, students need to get involved in order to inspire real and effective change.

Davis and Dinwiddie may not represent students as the president and vice president, but their spirit of going all in should inspire every student to change MU for the better. This isn’t about a lost election, this is about making MU the best that it can be.

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T H E M A N E AT E R | O P I N I O N | A P R I L 2 4, 2 0 1 9 ROSHAE’S READS

Column: Make sure that you’re being intentional with your self-care as the end of the semester approaches Although the end of the semester can be stressful and overwhelming, make sure that you’re doing things that help keep your head above water.

ROSHAE HEMMINGS Roshae Hemmings is a first year journalism major at MU. She is an opinion columnist who writes about civil rights.

With the end of the semester fast approaching, it can be really easy to get caught up in everything that the last month of the school year has in store. From group projects to the last few tests before finals to negotiating final grades with professors, this time of the semester can be insanely overwhelming and fast-paced.

In the past, a high-pressure time like this would result in me being the absolute worst to myself.

I wouldn’t be eating, I’d stay up all night to get work done, which meant no sleep, I’d isolate myself from friends and family and I wouldn’t take any time for myself. Nationally, 55% of college students said that their biggest stressor is academic in nature, with 53% of students claiming to be so stressed that they didn’t want to hang out with family or friends on multiple occasions, according to LiveWellNYU. With this being said, I promised that I would be kinder to myself in 2019 and because of this, here are some things that I’ve been doing to keep my head above water during stressful times.

One: Make lists Making lists has made a huge difference in my productivity. I find that when I think of all of the things that I have to do, whether it’s due in two days or two weeks, I get super overwhelmed and try to do it all at once. However, making lists has shown to be beneficial. They can help with

organization, memory, productivity and they serve as a motivational tool, according to Toodledo.

When I make lists, I categorize them into three sections: first priority (very urgent, due this week), second priority (urgent, due in one week) and third priority (no rush, due in two or more weeks). I love this system because it organizes the work that I have to do in a way that is manageable and effective. It’s also rewarding to see all of the tasks on the list being completed throughout the week.

Two: Make it a point to do the little, mundane thing This includes eating, showering, making your bed, eating, doing laundry, etc. These things, especially the personal hygiene practices, seem like things that one would know to do every day or every week. However, when life’s pace starts to pick up and things become busier, it’s easier to neglect these simple tasks. While it seems easier to not make your bed or skip out on lunch in the interest of gaining more study time, forgoing these tasks has detrimental effects. Depriving the brain of the glucose derived from carb-rich foods can leave you feeling sluggish and unable to focus, according to SELF. A messy space can also contribute to stress.

Clutter can disturb sleep and prevent productivity in life, according to feng shui. Keeping your space unkempt can also be an unpleasant reminder of all the things that you need to get done. In stressful times, make a conscious effort to do the little things. And even though accomplishing these tasks don’t count for a grade, I’ve found that getting them done still helps me to feel accomplished and productive.

Three: Spend time with friends and call family In busy times, I find that I isolate myself from my friends and family, under the guise of “I don’t have time” to hang out with or talk to them. At the end of the day, college is hectic and even when you think you have a break, there’s probably something that you should be doing.

Despite this, human connection in stressful

situations can be therapeutic, according to The Pip. When I know that I have a busy week coming up, I make it a point to reach out to my friends and plan a movie night, game night, lunch or some type of hangout. I also make it a point to talk to my family. Even if I’m on my way to class and make a quick call to my mom, I find that that can help me to relax.

Four: Chill out with the all nighters Even though staying up until 3 a.m. seems necessary for you to ace your upcoming exam, I promise that sleep is more important. Not only is it integral to your basic health and maintaining your mood, it also helps you to retain and utilize information more effectively.

Sleep is an important factor in the process of memory consolidation. This two-step process is how memories are encoded in the brain, according to Tonic. So even if you think you don’t need sleep and can stay up studying for your big test, chances are that all of that studying will go to waste if you don’t have the sleep to help you retain that information.

Five: Carve out time for yourself This will look differently for everyone, but make sure that each day you’re doing something that makes you happy. Whether it’s for 10minutes or two hours, making time to forget about the stress of school is valuable. Personally, I’ve recently gotten into skin care. My routine takes about 20-30 minutes and I love it. Not only is it a great way for me to unwind before I go to bed, but I’m also doing something good for myself and seeing results in the process. Whether you choose to read a book or watch a couple of episodes of your favorite show, having a time in the day that’s just for you is rewarding.

The last few weeks of school are rough, there’s no denying that. But in stressful situations, when times are a little bit harder, make sure that you’re treating yourself with kindness and care. Also, don’t forget to breathe. We’re almost done and soon, we’ll have a whole two months off before we have to do it all over again.

BRYCE’S BLATHER

COLUMN: Raising the fuel tax can help Missouri’s road infrastructure from falling into disrepair Despite its large size, Missouri’s highway system relies on one of the lowest gas taxes in the country.

BRYCE KOLK Bryce Kolk is a freshman journalism major at MU. He is an opinion columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater.

We take our infrastructure for granted. From bridges to railways to sewer systems, infrastructure makes a modern society.

If we don’t maintain these systems, however, we risk losing them.

Missouri’s infrastructure grade sits at a C-, according to it’s score from the American Society of Civil Engineers. While slightly better than the nationwide grade of D+, it’s hardly worth gloating about.

In November 2018, Missouri voters shot down Proposition D, which would have raised the gas tax from 17 cents to 27 cents. The funds would have gone to the Missouri Highway Patrol to help cover some of our high priority infrastructure needs.

This funding gap stands at $825 million, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Proposition D also included a provision aimed at exempting Special Olympic, Paralympic and

Olympic prizes from state income tax.

So what does a proposal for funding routine infrastructure maintenance have to do with olympic medals? Absolutely nothing, as noted by Missouri Rep. Mike Moon in a lawsuit against the proposal.

Proposition D failed, unsurprisingly, and left lawmakers scrambling to find funding.

In January, Gov. Mike Parsons proposed borrowing $351 million in order to fund bridge repairs and replacements throughout the state.

In the months since, many have criticised the proposal, calling for other methods of raising the funds. Some propose reallocating general revenue, while others favor an introduction of another gas tax proposal.

We have a very expensive problem.

Missouri lawmakers can borrow as much money as they want, but we will have to pay it back.

It is not a long-term solution, and paying for infrastructure funding now will be cheaper than taking on unnecessary debt.

Our gas tax is woefully insufficient in addressing our increasingly fragile infrastructure. There are more than 4,800 bridges in need of attention, requiring $4.2 billion in funding, according to the ASCE. Missouri ranks 48th in revenue per mile, according to the MoDOT. Missouri’s highway system is the largest among neighboring states and the seventh largest nationwide. Despite this, we have the lowest gas tax among our neighbors and

GRAPHIC BY DESIGNER EMILY MANN

the second lowest in the country.

This is too important, and too mundane, for the political games that Proposition D encouraged.

Missouri lags behind in infrastructure funding, largely because of its desperate need for a higher gas tax.

Some responsibility falls on MoDOT as well to market a new proposal to voters. To ensure it won’t fail, it is critical for voters to understand the implications of a “no” vote.

It’s time for Missouri’s drivers to pony up some cash for the roads and bridges many use and rely on every day.

Online this week: NFL Draft results, mid-week baseball and more at themaneater.com FOOTBALL

Preview: Six MU players await NFL Draft fate Drew Lock will be one of 23 prospects to attend the draft, while Emanuel Hall is projected to go in the fourth round.

EMILY LEIKER

Assistant Sports Editor The 2019 NFL Draft begins this Thursday, April 25 with the first round and concludes Saturday, April 27 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. This will be the second year that the draft is broadcast in its entirety on broadcast television. Last year, the draft attracted over 45 million viewers as 256 players were selected across the seven rounds.

This year, seven former Missouri Tigers will have the fate of their NFL dreams decided in the draft. Six received invites to the NFL Combine, the second-largest combine class Missouri has had — it sent seven in 2014. Missouri’s group of seven potential draftees includes quarterback Drew Lock, wideout Emanuel Hall, offensive lineman Paul Adams, defensive lineman Terry Beckner Jr., tight end Kendall Blanton, linebacker Terez Hall and running back Damarea Crockett.

Drew Lock NFL Draft analysts have Lock going anywhere from second to No. 32 pick overall in the draft.

The quarterback is one of 23 prospects traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the draft, as he is projected to go in the first round. The list also includes former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Kyler Murray, former Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa and Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

Lock posted a 4.69 second 40-yard dash at the combine, as well as a 31-inch vertical and 112-

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock throws warm-up passes underneath cellphone light as the Florida faithful sing Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" during Missouri's 38-17 win over No. 13 Florida on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. | PHOTO BY SPORTS EDITOR ADAM COLE

inch broad jump. His dash time ranked fifth among quarterbacks.

Since the combine, Lock has visited with the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos and Washington, among others.

Lock finished his career at MU with 12,193

passing yards, the second most in SEC history after four years starting at quarterback. He also threw for the third-most touchdowns at 99, which is also

Draft|Page 15

SOFTBALL

Kim Wert exemplifies blue-collar attitude expected in Missouri softball Wert followed coach Larissa Anderson to Missouri after playing under her at Hofstra, and together they’re working to change MU softball.

MAX BAKER

Staff Writer

As a 10-year-old, Kim Wert’s little league teammates were forced to duck when she threw the ball. That’s when her parents knew she had a gift.

Realizing she might need to play for a more competitive team, the Wert family found the 10U Delaware Storm travel softball team. Three days a week, they made the 2.5 hour drive from Accomack, Virginia, to Delaware, for her to practice with the Storm.

Later in the year, Storm coach Jerry Kirby asked Kim’s mother, Bobbie Jo Wert, if Kim would guest play in a tournament for his 18U

team.

So she did.

In the game, Kim stepped up to the plate with the score tied and recorded an RBI as a 10-year-old facing an 18U pitcher. Practicing with the 18U team, Kim fell in love with the game. She caught bullpen sessions and learned about change ups and drop balls.

It was this talent that then-Hofstra coach Larissa Anderson witnessed in Binghamton, New York, when she watched Kim as a high school underclassman. She recalls her making a Derek Jeter type play at shortstop.

“She planted off her right foot and threw across the diamond and as the ball left her hand, [she] kept running to the dugout because she knew the kid was out,” Anderson said. “Those things you can’t teach.”

When Anderson recruited Kim to Hofstra, Kim knew that Anderson was the type of coach she wanted to play for.

“You would find yourself admiring

the way [Anderson] talked about the culture, the history, the family,” Bobbie Jo said. “So right off the bat, Kimberly was impressed with her.

Honestly, she went to Hofstra for coach Anderson and she knew if she wanted to be better, coach Anderson was the person that was gonna push her to be better.”

During her senior year at Nandua High School, Kim tore her ACL and was in the process of rehabbing for much of her freshman year at Hofstra. She worked primarily as a pinch-hitter and batted .258 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 32 games.

“She wasn’t an everyday player, but when she had those opportunities she really capitalized on it,” Anderson said. “She’s physically in better position [now] than she was last year. Her body can handle the demand that it’s going through.”

At the end of her freshman year, Kim’s college softball career changed: Anderson was leaving Hofstra for MU, where she was named head coach on May 26, 2018.

“In that moment, Kimberly was like, ‘What am I going to do without coach?,’” Bobbie Jo said.

Ultimately, she knew she wanted to follow Anderson for a chance to play against some of the nation’s best in the SEC. “When I made the move here to Mizzou, she immediately said, ‘I’m following you to have the opportunity to play in the SEC,'” Anderson said.

“She’s a leader on the field and everyone looks to her because she is the only one who has the experience under me.”

At Mizzou, sophomore Brooke Wilmes began to see a culture change within the program when going through 5:30 a.m. workouts last fall.

Three days a week, the team would lift, run and participate in team bonding activities.

“They weren’t easy,” Wilmes said.

“We really had to work together and that was super demanding of us.

Working out together and struggling

wert|Page 15

14

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | A P R I L 2 4, 2 0 1 9

SOFTBALL

Missouri softball sweeps Texas A&M for 10th SEC victory of the season Madi Norman and Cassie Gasper combined for eight strikeouts.

CAROLINE STIEFBOLD Staff Writer Missouri (27-18, 10-8) finished off the weekend with its second-straight SEC shutout against Texas A&M (25-21, 3-15). The Tigers topped the Aggies 4-0 Saturday to sweep the series.

The Tigers’ offense got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in the first. Sophomore Hatti Moore hit a single to right field that drove in freshman Jazmyn Rollin on an error by the Aggies’ right fielder. Sophomore Kim Wert followed Moore up with a two-run shot to right, her 16th homer of the season.

Missouri added to its lead in the fifth with an RBI single from Rollin.

Redshirt senior Madi Norman pitched five shutout

innings. After walking the leadoff batter in the sixth, Norman was replaced with sophomore Cassie Gasper, who continued the shutout.

“She was able to work both zones,” coach Larissa Anderson said. “Kudos to Madi and how hard she has been working. When the batters see a pitcher over and over again they have the advantage. Madi counteracted to be able to throw different zones to keep them off balance.”

Norman, who is typically a groundout pitcher, came up big in the top of the fifth.

With runners on first and second, Norman struck out two to get out of the inning.

In her five innings, she struck out six and walked two.

“It was really great to get two strikeouts,” Norman said.

“Definitely not something I expected, I just wanted to get ground balls and get out of there, but it’s always nice to strike people out and not make the defense work.”

The Mizzou women’s softball team celebrating during the game against Texas A&M on April 20, 2019. | COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS

Missouri’s

sweep

over

Texas A&M is the Tigers’

second SEC sweep of the season.

Saturday’s

win

also marks the Tigers’ 10th conference win of the season,

the first time the team has

and sweep two SEC teams,”

2016.

and with our home fans, it’s

posted 10 SEC wins since

“Last year we didn’t have

a lot of success in the SEC and being able to come out

Norman said. “It’s unreal great.”

Edited by Emily Leiker

eleiker@themaneater.com

TRACK AND FIELD

Strong throwing performances guide Mizzou in Tom Botts Invitational Will Fife and Sophia Rivera

Fife picked up a first place finish in shot put, hurling the rock 18.77 meters. He also had a

were named most outstanding

strong showing in men’s discus, throwing 50.15

performers at the end of the

meters and finishing third.

weekend.

Freshman Mirieli Santos set an MU record in triple jump with a distance of 13.01 meters en

WILSON MOORE

route to a first place finish.

Staff Writer

On the track side, Mizzou had three first place finishes. Sophomore Nylo Clarke broke the tape in

Missouri track and field competed in the Tom

the men’s 100-meter dash, crossing the finish line

Botts Invitational this past weekend at Audrey

in 10.35 seconds. Freshman Jayson Ashford and

J. Walton Stadium. Taking on Missouri State,

junior Maya Cody won their respective 200-meter

Northern Iowa, Saint Louis, Western Illinois

dashes, with Ashford finishing in 21.15 seconds

and Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville,

and Cody in 24.03 seconds.

sophomore Sophia Rivera and senior Will Fife

As the final home meet of the season, 17

were named the Most Outstanding Performers of

MU seniors were honored at the end of the day

the weekend.

Sunday, including Gabi Jacobs, who got first place

Rivera took first place in both javelin and

in women’s shot put and Becky Keating, who

discus, throwing the javelin 51.54 meters and the

finished second in hammer throw.

discus 52.71 meters. She was one of four top-10 finishes in javelin; freshman Ava Curry, junior Allie Webb and freshman Blair Widmer got second, third and 10th respectively.

Missouri’s next meet is the Drake Relays, on Red shirt senior Gabi Jacobs prepares to throw the shot at the Tom Botts Invitational meet this past weekend. | PHOTO BY PHOTOGRAPHER MARCO STOREL

April 25, 26 and 27 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Edited by Emily Leiker eleiker@themaneater.com

15

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | A P R I L 2 4, 2 0 1 9

DRAFT Continued from page 13

the second-most in the SEC. He set several other school and SEC records during his time at Mizzou.

Emanuel Hall Hall posted a 5.81 prospect rating after the combine, classified as a “chance to become an NFL starter” on a scale of one to 10 according to NFL. com.

The wide receiver missed most of his senior season at MU with a groin injury, and also dealt with the death of his father, which kept him out of the Oct. 20 Homecoming game against Memphis.

Despite this, Hall recorded 828 receiving yards across eight games, his most of four seasons with the Tigers. He also scored six touchdowns.

Hall has met with the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and his home-state Tennessee Titans, with whom he missed a workout last week due to strep throat.

At the combine, Hall tied the record for secondlongest broad jump in NFL Combine history at 141 inches. He also ran a 4.39 second 40-yard dash, the fourth-fastest among wideouts.

Paul Adams Adams’ strengths as listed on NFLDraft. com includes “carries decent pop into initial contact” and “above-average pull quickness.” His weaknesses center around a lack of quickness and

balance.

He sat in the middle of the offensive line combine class, running a 5.18 second 40-yard dash, broad jumping 103 inches, benching 16 reps and recording a 27-inch vertical.

However, the lineman is still generating attention from teams, having visited with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks.

Sports Illustrated listed Adams No. 40 in a list of all 70 offensive line prospects.

Terry Beckner Jr. Beckner Jr. is projected as a Round 7-priority free agent with a 4.99 prospect rating.

Season-ending knee injuries in 2015 and 2016 are cited as weaknesses in his profile, with an undisclosed NFC team national scout who commented “he just can’t do what he used to be able to because of his knees.” He was also seen as out-of-shape this season.

Beckner Jr. benched 28 reps and ran a 5.18 40 at the combine.

The defensive lineman returned to Missouri for his senior season after a junior campaign that saw him record a career-high 38 tackles. Beckner Jr. also recorded a 49-yard pick-6 in the Tigers’ 2017 bowl-clinching win over Vanderbilt.

Kendall Blanton Blanton is listed at the same prospect rating as Beckner Jr., as he recorded one of the slowest 40-yard dash times among tight ends with a 4.95.

The Blue Springs, Missouri native appeared in 10 games this season. Blanton made just 22 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He

recorded 476 yards on 44 receptions across four years at Missouri.

Blanton has visited with the Seahawks and has been considered as a potential late pick for the New York Jets.

Terez Hall Despite sitting out most of the combine with a strained pectoral muscle, Hall has a 5.29 prospect rating, third highest of the Missouri group. He’s still projected as a Round 7-Priority Free Agent.

Hall is cited as admitting that he was a selfish player early in his career, having since grown out of that mentality. The linebacker started playing football later than most, focusing on basketball up until his junior year of high school.

In his senior season, Hall posted 46 solo tackles along with 28 assists. In his career, he recorded 111 solo tackles, 75 assists and six sacks for 35 yards, five of which came in his final season.

Damarea Crockett Crockett surprised MU fans by opting out of his senior season of eligibility to declare for the NFL Draft. The running back announced his decision via Twitter on Jan. 7, one week after Missouri ended its season with a loss to Oklahoma State in the Liberty Bowl.

Crockett did not receive an invite to the combine. However, he did participate in Missouri’s Pro Day on March 21, where some scouts had him at a 4.38 40-yard dash time.

Edited by Adam Cole acole@themaneater.com

WERT

Continued from page 13

together is what has helped us become the team we are today.”

The shift in the program culture can be attributed in part to Anderson’s desire to bring a blue-collar mindset to Missouri.

“I want them to hold each other accountable, be tough, to be passionate about what they do and to appreciate everything that they’re given,” Anderson said. “Sometimes, playing in this conference, you get a little spoiled and I want to bring them back down to reality and get them to understand that we have an obligation.”

Kim’s knowledge of what Anderson expects from the team defensively has helped her teammates adjust to the transition. So far this season, MU has allowed 102 fewer runs than all of last year. “[Kim] is a veteran in terms of my philosophy and my standards,” Anderson said. “The team looks to her as a whole because they know that she knows exactly where I’m coming from. That leadership does carry throughout the rest of the team.”

Anderson believes that the work put in off the field by her team is what sets them apart when they face off against SEC opponents.

“It’s an internal confidence,” Anderson said. “The preparation that when you step onto the field because you know that you have done more than your opponent. It’s the internal confidence of saying I’m better than you because I’ve done more this week.”

Anderson jokes that Missouri has had a Hofstra takeover. In addition to the head coach and Kim, Missouri added Sarah Michalowski-Marino as an assistant coach and Michaela Transue as a graduate assistant.

Michalowski-Marino coached with

Sophomore Kim Wert hits at the game vs. Semo on April 23, 2019. | COURTESY OF MIZZOU ATHLETICS

Anderson at Hofstra for two years and Transue played for Anderson at Hofstra.

In part because of this coaching change, many thought this would be a rebuilding year. The Tigers were picked last in the SEC preseason poll.

Missouri currently ranks ahead of the preseason pick Florida Gators.

“There’s not a game on our schedule that I’m not expecting to win,” Anderson said. “But I’m also looking at this program longterm. When I was hired, my first conversation with Jim Sterk was we want you to build a culture, we want you to build a program. I can do that.”

This year, Kim’s power numbers

have propelled the Tigers to sixth place in the SEC with a 10-8 conference record. She leads the Tigers in homers (17), RBIs (45) and has started every game of the season. Kim is three home runs away from tying the program record set by Amanda Renth in 2008. “[Anderson] has pushed me to be the best that I can be,” Kim said.

“She is very tough on me, but she knows that’s the kind of player that I am. I need to be pushed. I push myself, but having coach in [my] ear constantly is a big motivating factor for me.”

Back at home, young girls who are hoping to someday fulfill their softball dreams look up to Kim as an

inspiration.

“Her being out there is big for our community and the softball girls giving them hopes and dreams to aspire to be more than just this little tiny peninsula,” Bobbie Jo said. “So she's carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders, but she's doing the eastern shore proud.”

Bobbie Jo thinks her daughter may never return home from Missouri.

“She is literally living her best life, living her dream,” Bobbie Jo said. “Mizzou has been absolutely wonderful from the people in the community, just everyone. I don't think she'll ever come back home.”

Edited by Emily Leiker eleiker@themaneater.com

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