Volume85Issue15

Vol. 85 Issue 15

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Dec. 5, 2018

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themaneater.com

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | DECEMBER 5, 2018

INSIDE THIS

PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER CHRISTINA LONG

PAGE 4 PHOTO BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER TANNER BUBECK

PAGE 7

Winter Extravaganza held a free ice skating rink in the Student Center.

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Sixth-year Ph.D. student studies the unique relationship between orchids and fungi.

THE MANEATER The Student Voice of MU since 1955

Vol. 85, Issue 15 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.

“When I’m thirty and don’t care about being fat, I will become a surrogate and pop out so many babies.”

Reporters for The Maneater are required to offer verification of all quotes for each source. If you notice an inaccuracy in one of our stories, please contact us via phone or email.

Editor-in-Chief Skyler Rossi

Opinion Editor Tatyana Monnay

Managing Editor Stephi Smith

MOVE Editors Alexandra Sharp Siena DeBolt

Production Coordinator Corey Hadfield Copy Chiefs Kaitlyn Hoevelmann Anne Clinkenbeard News Editors Morgan Smith Caitlyn Rosen Sports Editor Bennett Durando Online Development Editor Joshua Thompson

Visuals Director Hannah Kirchwehm Designers Sara Marquardt Elizabeth Ustinov Emily Mann Isaiah Valdivia Marisa Whitaker Mia Scaturro Sara Stroup Social Media Editor

Madi Winfield Adviser Becky Diehl

Online this week:

MizzouThon’s new pledge, Campus Dining Service’s Get Well Soon program and more at themaneater.com

STUDENT LIFE

Reducing cost of living for MU students

More than 83 percent of students will pay less in 2019–2020 to live on campus, Gary Ward said.

NOAH KLEIN AND BEN SCOTT

Staff Writers

Housing rates for certain residence hall rooms are being reduced for 2019-2020.

Traditional doubles in “low cost” halls, such as Schurz or Hatch Residence Halls, will be lowered by $431, according to the approved proposal presented at the Board of Curators meeting on Nov. 16 and 17. Rates will be raised from current prices for double suites by $470, premium doubles by $90 and midrange doubles by $70.

The lowest price for a student to live and eat on campus will be $850 per month. This will include the smallest meal plan, Block 150, and a community-style room. This number is about $150 cheaper than the lowest-named price for the previous year.

Some MU residence halls, including Schurz Hall, will see a price deduction by the 2019-2020 academic year. | MANEATER FILE PHOTO

Along with reduced rates, MU will also provide housing for students

over breaks instead of closing halls to save money. This gives students

the option to stay in Columbia over breaks or come and go as they please throughout the break.

For a full five-month semester in the 2018-2019 school year, the lowest housing and dining plans total $4,985. For the 2019-2020 school year, this cost is reduced to $4,250.

In comparison, for a freshman living on campus at the University of Kansas for the 2018-2019 academic year, the cheapest room and dining option costs $4,213 per semester.

LSU charges $4,460 per semester for a 12-meal-per-week plan and fourperson community-style room, both being the cheapest option available.

At Ole Miss, the lowest a freshman would pay for housing and dining is $4,137, the meal plan giving one meal per day, plus 40 extra meals.

“I would put our halls up against any in the Midwest in terms of quality,” Nathan Dare, Residence Halls Association president, said in an interview with the MU News Bureau. “As the flagship university, it’s important that MU be affordable for all who wish to come here. If

cost |Page 5

AWARDS

GREEK LIFE

College of Arts and Science names winners of annual Chalk Awards

Greek life advisory board explains future reforms at open forum

An Arts and Science professor, adviser and teaching assistant were held in high regard by MU students TONY MADDEN

Reporter

MU College of Arts and Science announced recipients for the fall 2018 Chalk Awards on Monday, Nov. 26.

The Chalk Awards honor one exemplary professor, academic adviser and teaching assistant from the College of Arts and Science.

They are nominated by students and later chosen by the Arts and Science Student Council.

They also serve as some of the oldest forms of recognition for educators, advisers and teaching assistants at MU, according to the Arts and Science website.

The Purple Chalk Award for excellence in teaching was awarded to economics professor George Chikhladze,

who received his Ph.D. in economics from MU in 2009.

Chikhladze said he’s grateful for this award, which serves as an acknowledgement that his efforts to effectively teach about the role economics plays in the world are successful.

“I’m getting the message across, so this is a great feeling,” Chikhladze said.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I actually made a difference in a lot of students’ lives here at Mizzou.”

With new teaching methods and technologies on the rise, Chikhladze said this award motivates him improve even further as an educator.

“It motivates me to find better ways, more innovative ways of interacting with students, definitely,” he said. “The teaching methods, interacting with students changes over time because of new technology and new research.”

The Green Chalk Award for excellence in teaching assistantship was awarded to Kevin Hooshmand, a

histology teaching assistant and senior at MU. Hooshmand said he is humbled to be recognized for his efforts in the educational process.

“I feel so honored to be able to even have the opportunity to take part in the educational process, whether it be as a student or someone who’s helping to educatepeople,” Hooshmand said. “So I never take it for granted and I look forward to it every day.”

Hooshmand said that the driving force behind his efforts is his desire to ensure that all students understand content, but also feel understood themselves. He also pushes to be as available as possible to his students.

“Whenever I see someone struggling, or someone who just doesn’t seem to have a complete degree of comfort with the content, I really do try to push forward and make sure they understand and they feel free to ask questions,” he said. “I think it’s partly about making

chalk |Page 5

The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board addressed comments about upcoming changes to MU’s Greek life housing and recruitment system.

ETHAN BROWN

Assistant Student Politics Editor Members of MU’s Greek life advisory board addressed concerns at a Dec. 4 open forum about formal recruitment and housing reforms coming to the university.

The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board was established after a 2017 report by Dyad Strategies, which focused on areas for improvement within Greek life at MU. The Dyad report suggested

regulations on freshmen living in fraternity houses, a self-reporting program for hazing and a structured recruitment for fraternities.

Students and alumni at the open forum raised concerns about how housing and requirements changes might affect enrollment in Greek chapters.

Under the new changes, freshmen members could live in a chapter house if both the student and the chapter meet certain academic and social guidelines, such as a minimum GPA and substancefree environments.

Robin Wenneker, an alumna of Kappa Alpha Theta and a member of FSAB, said the board noticed students were more likely to succeed at MU if they moved into their chapter house after freshman year.

“We prefer them to be moving in sophomore year,”

greek |Page 5

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | DECEMBER 5, 2018

STUDENT PROFILE

Sixth-year Ph.D. student focuses on fungi Sarah Unruh studies the unique symbiotic relationship between orchids and fungi.

CHRISTINA LONG

Staff Writer

Sixth-year Ph.D. student Sarah Unruh’s research is as unique as the organisms she studies. She compared her research in Associate Dean Chris Pires’ lab to hacking her way through the jungle.

Unruh is forging her own path as she studies the relationship between orchids and fungi. She is the only one in the Pires lab studying the subject.

While orchids may sound simple, Unruh said they’re actually quite unique in the plant world, and not much is known about their connection to fungi.

“Orchids are really bizarre plants for almost any reason you can pick,” she said. “If you think about biting into an ear of corn, you get all of that starchy goodness, and that’s what lets that corn kernel grow up and become a plant. Orchid seeds don’t have anything to give their embryo food.

Instead, they rely on this fungus to come along and grow into the seed, and the fungus actually gives the seed what it needs to germinate.”

Sarah Unruh, a sixth-year Ph.D student poses for a portrait in the Pires Lab at the Bond Life Sciences Center on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. | PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER CHRISTINA LONG

When she came to MU as a freshman, Unruh initially wanted to be a teacher. As she worked toward a double-major in education and biology, however, she took an interest in plant science and research.

“I happened to take a class with Chris Pires,” she said. “I had no idea what plant systematics was.

I had never had anything about plants before, but I loved the lab component of the class and I loved

the information, so I started as a junior in this lab and I’ve stayed in it ever since.”

plant |Page 6

SAFETY

Winter Safety Fair promotes safe practices Groups, such as the Columbia Fire Department and the Student Health Center shared tips to deal with the transition into winter.

LAURA EVANS

Staff Writer

As winter comes to campus, the Campus Activities Programming Board brought in a variety of resources to help students stay safe through the season. The Winter Safety Fair was held on the first floor of the MU Student Center on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event featured eight different booths, including ones from the Student Health Center, Ameren, the MU Police Department, the Columbia Police Department, the Columbia Fire Department, Anytime Fitness, OffCampus Student Services and ABC 17 Weather Forecaster Emily Klaus.

After attendees spoke with at least four of the event’s presenters, they were able to receive cookies, hot chocolate, an ice scraper and other giveaways while supplies lasted.

Despite this four booth minimum, the Campus Activities Planning Board wanted students to visit all of the booths in order to learn as much safety information as possible, Madison O’Dell, junior hospitality

The Winter Safety Fair was held in the MU student center on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 and featured eight booths. | COURTESY OF TWITTER VIA @ STUFFTODOMU

management major and committee chair for the Safe Mizzou Coalition on the Campus Activities Programming Board, said.

As the committee chair, O’Dell organized many of the event’s logistical factors, such as securing presenters and helping them prepare, ordering the giveaways and staffing the event so that information about winter safety could be effectively

spread to students.

One presenter sharing this safety information was Shawn McGruder, the assistant Fire Marshal for the Columbia Fire Department.

McGruder distributed winter fire safety information, such as the importance of not keeping combustible items too close to heaters in one’s living spaces. He also said that students should be

careful about keeping items away from candles, plugging in extension cords and using heat safety.

The Student Health Center contributed to the fair with a booth that gave out cold air flu packs as well as self care packs to emphasize the importance of both physical and mental health during the winter. The

fair |Page 6

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

COST continued from page 3

you want to go to a university where affordability doesn’t diminish quality, Mizzou is the place for you.”

Gary Ward, interim vice chancellor of student affairs and vice chancellor of operations, told the MU News Bureau that he estimates that more than 83 percent of students who live on campus will pay less in 2019–2020.

The financial struggle of being a college student is something that Chancellor Alexander Cartwright remembers dealing with.

“As someone who worked my way through college, I understand the tremendous financial barriers that students and their families face.

We must always challenge ourselves to be an innovative institution in terms of what we can offer students,” Cartwright said in an interview with the MU News Bureau. “Our job is to serve students, and that’s why I have challenged my team to look for opportunities to enhance the value we provide, making the world-class education offered at Mizzou both accessible and affordable.”

The university has also offered a large amount of scholarships and grants to incentivize students who choose to attend MU. Scholarships like the “Black and Gold” and the “Border States Scholars award” help bring students to the university while also lowering the cost of what can be a financial burden for many.

With the price of college rising, the decrease in housing rates will possibly continue to keep students living in the dorms. The occupancy rate is

also incredibly important for a university that not too long ago had to close six dorms due to a drop in enrollment.

“It is great to see the university reducing rates for housing because college is already expensive enough,” MU freshman Allison Leven said. “Making something as necessary as a place to sleep cheaper would help out a lot of people.”

University spokeswoman Liz McCune said the rebound after the decrease in enrollment is due to customer service.

“Through an emphasis on customer service and strategic marketing, Residential Life attained a 94 percent occupancy rate this fall, with students living in all but one residence hall [Responsibility] previously leased by MU Health,” McCune said.

Edited by Caitlyn Rosen crosen@themaneater.com

CHALK continued from page 3

yourself available; just having understanding for another person. That’s the way I try to live my life.”

The Arts and Science Blue Chalk Award recognizes excellence in academic advising at the college of Arts and Science, and was awarded to Arts and Science Academic Adviser Alex Anderson this fall. Anderson said the Chalk Award is a nice token of appreciation, but fulfilling the duties of his job as an academic adviser is rewarding enough. It’s one of the only positions on campus, he said, that works with all students regardless of ability level.

“It’s rewarding that you’re helping them along that journey, from coming in as a freshman during orientation to graduation. Seeing that development over time, seeing how advanced their questions become,” Anderson said.

This is Anderson’s second Chalk Award in two years. He added that awards like these are particularly appreciated because academic advising is not an easy role to evaluate. Individual students often meet with their advisers just once or twice each year.

“Sometimes it’s hard to gauge how much your work is really affecting them, and so anytime you get an award like this, it’s just a nice token of

The College of Arts & Science chose three recipients at the fall 2018 Chalk Awards. Economics professor George Chikhladze, left, was awarded at the purple level. Kevin Hooshmand, a teaching assistant, was awarded at the green level. Lastly, academic adviser Alex Anderson was awarded at the blue level. | COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE

appreciation,” he said.

Science Week Banquet on Feb. 22 of next year.

Chikhladze, Hooshmand and Anderson will be

Edited by Emily Wolf

acknowledged for their awards at the Arts and

ewolf@themaneater.com

GREEK continued from page 3

Wenneker said. “We find a longer period of engagement if we let them do that.”

Many of the concerns about freshmen living in chapter houses also relate to the suggestion that fraternities establish a formal recruitment process for new members.

The new recommendations drafted by FSAB would move the Interfraternity Council’s recruitment process from the summer to the weekend before the start of each fall semester.

IFC President Jake Eovaldi said moving formal recruitment will create a more inclusive environment for new students who want to join Greek life.

“If you’re not super familiar with Greek life, you’re probably not going to make that leap of faith and just drive up to Columbia,” Eovaldi said.

“That’s a pretty big risk and it’s pretty scary.”

Wenneker also said a restructured recruitment process would accommodate out-of-state freshmen more than the current process.

“Bringing this closer to the school year increases the likelihood that freshmen from out-of-state actually will pledge or join a chapter their freshman year,” Wenneker said. “This actually should create a bigger diversity of membership for fraternities.”

The panel also addressed questions about a

Fraternity Zeta Beta Tau and Sorority Delta Gamma in MU Greektown. | PHOTO BY PRODUCTION COORDINATOR COREY HADFIEL

new policy that would institute a self-reporting

students.

chapters and individuals from punishment if they

community and we want to have a very strong

program for hazing. The policy would protect report a hazing incident they were not involved in.

Jeff Zeilenga, MU’s dean of students and a

member of FSAB, assured that the changes will create a safer Greek environment for incoming

“We want to have a very, very strong Greek

Greek experience,” Zeilenga said. “This is not intended to be punitive in any way.”

Edited by Caitlyn Rosen

crosen@themaneater.com

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T H E M A N E AT E R | N E W S | DECEMBER 5, 2018

PLANT Continued from page 4

Pires said Unruh was a dedicated student then and a self-motivated researcher now.

“I would say Sarah, when she took the class, she was always the student who would come up afterwards and say, ‘I want more papers to read about this. I want to learn more,’” Pires said. “She was really enthusiastic.”

Unruh said she settled on the symbiotic relationship between orchids and fungi as her area of interest “very serendipitously.” She had read about orchids and their unique characteristics, and decided to look into some of the unanswered

FAIR

evolutionary questions about orchids.

Along the way, however, she met Illinois College professor Larry Zettler. Zettler studies the fungi that orchids need to germinate.

She decided to shift her focus from the orchids to the fungi and the relationship between the two.

“If these plants rely on these fungi, we should probably know more about them so we know where to put them to rescue population,” Unruh said.

While she enjoys working with data and computer systems, Unruh said she faces difficulties when it comes to troubleshooting problems and waiting for orchids to grow.

“I can have a dish with orchid seeds on it and after a year, they still might not even have leaves on them,” she said. “This project’s really cool for lots of reasons, but those same reasons make it more difficult.”

only gas

suspect

leak,

a

they

should still call

booth was operated by Pam Roe, the communications director of the Student Health Center.

“Not only is winter weather coming,

people are getting colds, they’re

staying inside, they’re more closely in association with one another, so

more colds get spread,” Roe said.

“[Students] also have finals coming up, so everybody is stressed, and when you’re stressed, your immune goes down and then you get sick.”

Roe highlighted the importance of

students monitoring their needs such

as eating regularly, staying hydrated and taking breaks during the stress of finals season.

“People forget about simple things

when they’re stressed out for finals

and they’re thinking about packing

up all their stuff and going home for winter break,” Roe said.

The Student Health Center’s booth

Ameren Missouri,

Schatzer said. To

do this, students can call Ameren’s 24-hour gas leak line at 800-552-

7583 once they have

gotten

safely away from the leak.

Additionally,

Schatzer

and

Bennett tips

safe

for

water

shared being

around

heaters,

which are gas-run appliances.

“I

want

emphasize

to

that

we are having a discussion about water

heaters,

also offered simple tips and tricks to

because

water

candy can be substituted for a cough

prominent on the

combat colds, like the fact that hard

heaters

drop if one isn’t available.

college campus,”

from Ameren Missouri, a corporation

“We want to make

Columbia. Representing Ameren was

is putting anything

operations for Ameren’s Missouri Gas

heaters

damage

appliances require space around it

Another booth spread information provides

natural

gas

to

are

Schatzer

said.

sure that nobody

A student talks to a booth worker at the Winter Safety Fair on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 in the MU student center. | COURTESY OF TWITTER VIA @STUFFTODOMU

Dennis Bennett, supervisor of gas

around their water

Operations, and Ramona Schatzer,

gas appliances. Because many gas

awareness specialist for Ameren’s

for proper ventilation during the

prevention

concluded that this is actually a really good setup for a lifelong lab. You could study these things for decades.

There’s just not much known about this group of fungi in particular.”

Pires said this potential for future research is part of what makes Unruh’s research so interesting.

“As a grad student, hopefully you have a passion for orchids and fungi or whatever your thing is,” he said, “and now you have to translate that into, ‘How can I create a brand around a really good question that’s going to last me five, 10, 20 years?’

Sarah’s chosen a great project because we know so little about the relationship between plants and their underground ecosystem.”

Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com

is a gas leak and

Continued from page 4

that

After years of working with Unruh in the lab, Pires said he has seen her grow into an independent student.

Her individuality has been an asset to her as she explores a topic that not many others have examined.

“What I see is [a change from] somebody who really as a student needs a lot of help to somebody who’s running her own lab,” Pires said. “The first thing I would say in any letter of recommendation for Sarah is that she’s an independent investigator.”

After she earns her Ph.D., Unruh plans to pursue a career as a research professor. She said she’s not sure how far she’ll take her orchid research, but that it’s something she could always come back to.

“In our lab we have a history of taking on really ambitious projects,” she said. “More than once we’ve

and

public

Missouri Gas Operations.

The booth aimed to teach attendees

the smell of natural gas by means of

or

other

combustion process involved with burning natural gas.”

Another way students can be safe

a scratch and sniff brochure so that

regarding gas is to make sure they

the smell in the event of a leak. If

plunging tent stakes or sign posts

get away quickly and call Ameren

they would be able to recognize

don’t interfere with gas lines by

the smell is identified, one should Missouri so they can safely address

RIGHT to receive a locate ticket,

important because students from

which will help them safely hold

different parts of the country may

events, Schatzer said.

not be accustomed to dealing with

Amanda Werlein is a fourth-year

Missouri’s wintery conditions.

graduate student getting her Ph.D.

“It keeps people educated about

in chemistry who attended the event

things in cold weather, both your

after reading about the free ice

health and things about different

scrapers in an email.

weather conditions,” Werlein said.

“I like how it seems like everyone

“Mizzou attracts people from all

into the ground when they hold

is knowledgeable and also eager to

across the nation. A lot of those people

events.

talk,” Werlein said. “That’s always

do have cold weather experience, but

nice. When people seem uninterested,

a lot of them are from southern states

the leak, Bennett said.

As a precautionary measure to

protect these gas lines, students and

it’s hard to pay attention.”

and don’t have as much.”

with certainty that what they smell

Missouri One Call at 811 or 800-DIG-

information spread at the event was

Even if a students don’t know

faculty can call the free service of

Werlein

thought

that

the

Edited by Morgan Smith mosmith@themaneater.com

7 PHOTO BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER TANNER BUBECK

HOLIDAY EVENTS

Annual Winter Extravaganza offers free fun to all ages Winter Extravaganza celebrated the season with many holiday crafts, snacks and activities.

ABBY WERNER Staff Writer One of MU’s events leading up to finals season was the annual Winter Extravaganza held in the MU Student Center on Nov. 30. The event featured all sorts of winter-related activities and was open to both MU students and the public. Attendees were able to enjoy free food, hang out with friends and get in the holiday spirit.

A popular activity at the event was the fake ice skating rink. Because it wasn’t actual ice, people could just relax and let their imaginations take over. The rink was complete with a snow machine, so if students tried hard enough, they could almost pretend they were skating outside. Junior Isaac Sherman enjoyed watching others participate.

“Mizzou puts on some really great events, and they try really hard to get creative with it,”

Sherman said. “I love the community of it all and getting to do fun things like watch my friends act like idiots.”

Winter Extravaganza had a little bit of everything, whether it be a make-your-own s’mores bar, a popsicle stick snowflake craft or an area where you could play Mario Kart. There was also free Pickleman’s grilled cheese, Insomnia Cookies and a hot cocoa station. Sophomore Destany Ramirez, a volunteer for Mizzou After Dark, said one of her favorite things about volunteering at Winter Extravaganza is seeing all of the kids getting in on the fun.

“Watching these kids run around as they get on a sugar high makes me so happy,” Ramirez said.

“The activities we plan are fun for people of all ages, so it reminds me why we open up our events to the public.”

The main area of the student center was decorated with winter inflatables, wreaths and garlands. There was holiday music playing and the atmosphere made both attendees and volunteers in good spirits. Freshman Danielle Roberson, a

volunteer for Mizzou After Dark, said she liked that Winter Extravaganza wasn’t centered too much around a specific holiday.

“We try really hard to make these events appeal to as many students as possible,” Roberson said.

“That’s why I like that this event stayed pretty generic about the holiday season. That way, no matter what you celebrate, you can still have a good time.”

Ramirez said she enjoys volunteering at events like Winter Extravaganza because they allow a ton of MU students to come together.

“I love that Mizzou puts on large events like this at the student center because then all kinds of people can come out to enjoy them,” Ramirez said.

“You see a huge group of diverse students who just want to hang out with their people and have fun with free stuff.”

The next Mizzou After Dark event will be a showing of “Life Itself” on Dec. 5 in Jesse Wrench Auditorium.

Edited by Alexandra Sharp asharp@themaneater.com

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T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

HOLIDAY MOVIES

MOVE recommends atypical Christmas movies to get in holiday spirit Four MOVE columnists share their favorite nontraditional holiday films.

BON ADAMSON, MEGAN ALTSCHUL, ABBY MONTEIL, JOE CROSS MOVE Angles Columnists and MOVE Angles Assistant Editor

in a scene featuring children caroling as the man attacks another girl. “Black Christmas” is one of those lesser-known but incredibly notable films and is actually credited as one of the first slashers, a large influence on John Carpenter’s famous “Halloween.” If you’re someone who doesn’t hold the Christmas

This review contains spoilers for “Black Christmas,” “Rocky IV,” “Carol” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

spirit close to your heart, the horrifyingly ridiculous “Black Christmas” could easily be your new go-to Christmas film.

If Andy Williams is to be believed,

“Rocky IV”

then it is the most wonderful time

Bon Adamson

of the year. As such, all the classic holiday films are popping up on televisions across America, but what about the movies that aren’t all about Santa Claus and reindeer? Not to worry — four MOVE columnists have gathered films that your grandma might frown on this holiday season.

IV” is peak ‘80s cheese. The movie has everything — boxing, robots, Russian doping, a gutwrenching

death

and

what

might be the most egregious training montage of all-time.

The movie’s plot, put simply,

“Black Christmas”

consists

Megan Altschul

of

(Sylvester

Watching Bob Clark’s “A Christmas Story” is a Christmas tradition for countless families, including my own, but less is known about Clark’s first Christmas-related

feature,

Christmas.”

catastrophically

The

Released in 1985, “Rocky

“Black

dark 1974 film can be coincidentally relatable for some MU students since the main characters are all sorority sisters living together in their sorority’s house.

However, hopefully, that’s as far as the similarities lie. The sisters’ joyful holiday celebration is interrupted by a strange and obscene phone call from an unidentifiable man who shouts profanity and claims he’s going to kill them. The man is true to his word, horrifically killing one sister, Clare (Lynne Griffin), soon after the call.

Clare’s absence is shortly followed by

Rocky

Balboa

Stallone)

ending

the Cold War for Christmas. Rocky returned to screens in Stallone’s fourth outing with the character as both actor and writer and had to face his most vicious opponent yet — Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a towering Soviet boxer.

The stakes get higher and higher throughout the movie, leading up to their penultimate match on Christmas Day in the Soviet Union. This movie is bad — terrible, even. What it lacks in compelling plot, it makes up for in entertainment. It’s hard to describe why, but this movie is just plain fun to watch. If you want a mindless popcorn-flick this Christmas, then Rocky IV is the perfect pick. Plus, there’s no better time to watch this movie as its sequel, “Creed II,” just began showing in November.

GRAPHIC BY DESIGNER SARA MARQUARDT

Carol (Cate Blanchett) and a young, flighty aspiring photographer named Therese (Rooney Mara). After the pair meets in a gaudy department store where Therese sells Carol a gift for her daughter, their courtship progresses against a backdrop of Christmas trees and twinkling city streets.

Director Todd Haynes contrasts the film’s somber, elegant score and wintry starkness with the warm, intimate exchanges between the two leads (whose complicated personal stakes

make

their

own

holiday

experiences less characteristically inviting). In this way, “Carol” is able to play with the film’s seasonal atmosphere to craft an emotionally rewarding prestige love story.

Avoid the chill of winter winds as sharp as Cate Blanchett’s cheek bones, hang up your best faux fur

more, generating an aura of mystery

“Carol”

to flow throughout the entire film

coat and settle in for some yuletide

Abby Monteil

tension and across-the-room gazing

as the sisters try to discover the murderer’s identity.

Having

the

film

that will rival even the juiciest of The holiday season itself is a

set

during

obligatory holiday parties.

pseudo-character in “Carol,” which

the Christmas season is apparent

details

satire, which is especially present

romance between older divorcée

the

blossoming

1950s

Calling “The Royal Tenenbaums” a Christmas movie is a bit of a stretch, but it’s not too far off from the truth — after all, it is a movie about the awkwardness of reconnecting with your dysfunctional family and its constantly-changing dynamics. Its chilly December setting is one of the most beautifully rendered in any film and makes for perfect viewing for the beginning of winter when the prospect of snow is still exciting and not exhausting.

What stands out most is just how warm the cinematography and characters are despite this winter setting.

Wes

Anderson’s

recent

output (with the exception of the masterful “Grand Budapest Hotel”) hasn’t done much to challenge his reputation as a human diorama.

It’s nice to revisit a time when his witty dialogue and eccentric humor wasn’t just quirkiness for the sake of quirkiness and actually matched his compassion for his characters.

“The Royal Tenenbaums”

Edited by Siena DeBolt

Joe Cross

sdebolt@themaneater.com

T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

9

YOGA

New yoga events popping up around Columbia

Over the past couple of years, yoga classes have been popping up all over Columbia.

While yoga studios may seem like the best place to take classes, local businesses are beginning to offer their own yoga classes to any and all interested.

Because businesses are doing yoga classes, they have created a space for people to come try the spiritual practice in a less intimidating place than a yoga studio. Not only are the events unique, but they are a comfortable way for people to start learning yoga while also learning more about the business that is offering the class.

“I started teaching yoga at Cyclex Bike Shop and it was a cool experience to teach yoga in a space that wasn’t a studio,” Michaela Marshall Dungey, Yoga Sol instructor and Skylark Bookshop employee, said. “I think that it brought in a lot of students who might not feel comfortable going to a studio or to a gym for yoga.”

Skylark Bookshop opened its doors just four months ago and decided to make their mark on the yoga community through a bookshop yoga class. The class has been held in Skylark Bookshop

class.

“We are always looking for new ways to bring people into the CAL and to let them know about our organization,” Sarver said.

“So we thought accessing this kind of fitness and health community would be a great way for people to find a cross between their interests.”

Columbia businesses are choosing yoga over other Throughout the week Skylark Bookshop is a normal store, but on certain days it becomes a forms of fitness yoga studio providing a class to the public for a small fee. | PHOTO BY PHOTOGRAPHER for similar LILLY ANNA BRINSON reasons. Yoga Sol instructor the Student to 7 p.m., customers of all Megan Hall said yoga is including different than other forms Health Center, which holds ages and fitness levels are of fitness for its focus on yoga classes weekly at the welcome to practice yoga Practice surrounded by 20 cats. The breathfulness, alignment and Contemplative Center. Yoga sessions and session includes 60 minutes mindfulness.

“Some people come to all supplies are free for of yoga, 30 minutes of yoga classes because they students as covered under additional socialization with are stressed, depressed or their student health fee. the cats and a drip coffee all DrinKraft, a new local for $20. anxious. Some people come for the spiritual factor,” Hall kombucha business, has “I think bringing that said. “Yoga meets you where been offering biweekly yoga crossover [between yoga classes starting in November you are at.” and businesses] to different Hall also said that yoga and ending on Dec. 19. The organizations is a great way gives people many tools to classes are held at DrinKraft to get more people involved diffuse their stressors and it on Mondays and Wednesdays with those interests,” Sarver gives people space to figure from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The out how they feel and how cost of the yoga class is $10, said.

Yoga classes at local but the business is willing to they need to react. businesses are not only a “We suffer as humans negotiate a lower price if you way for the community to because we are not taught are unable to pay $10.

Papa’s Cat Cafe decided get involved, but yoga is a how to deal with our feelings.

Yoga creates a nice middle to stray from traditional way for people, especially yoga classes and added cats students, to lessen their ground,” Hall said.

There are many other to their sessions. Offered stress.

Edited by Janae McKenzie businesses holding yoga the first Thursday of every classes throughout Columbia month, usually from 5:30 jmckenzie@themaneater.com

Forming the next generation of leaders TODAY YOUR CAMPUS. YOUR STORY. YOUR ACCOUNT.

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Discover a powerful education.

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M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M

BRYNN MCCARTHY

Staff Writer

two times already, taught by Dungey. The third Bookshop Yoga will be held on Dec. 9 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The event costs $10 and is for all experience levels and all ages.

Dungey also teaches at Yoga Sol, a professional yoga studio downtown. Yoga Sol offers many types of classes including flow, iyengar, yin and prenatal yoga at all levels, gentle, intermediate and advanced levels. They do not offer classes for beginners but the business recommends doing private lessons to get more comfortable with the yoga practice.

“I get most excited about getting new students to try yoga and see if it is something that might actually improve their quality of life,” Dungey said. “I think it is exciting that there are a lot of new ways, forms and locations that are introducing yoga because it can make it more accessible for people. I think it is more about getting people on a mat regardless of where that is or what it looks like.”

Columbia Art League has been established for about 60 years and was the first business to offer a yoga class in Columbia, said Louise Sarver, CAL operations manager and former Mizzou student. Staying true to its roots, CAL decided to create an Art Yoga event where people of all ages can try their hand at yoga and different art projects.

The yoga session is taught

by Bini Sebastian, a fitness instructor at MizzouRec, and the event is $15, which includes the yoga session and all the art supplies in the art

M

Appealing to all ages and levels, yoga is a fun way to get involved in Columbia businesses while getting in a workout.

10

T H E M A N E AT E R | M OV E M AG A Z I N E | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

GAMING

New Super Smash Bros. game garners immense hype With the popularity and sales figures of the Nintendo Switch reaching 22.8 million as of September 2018, it's no surprise that the newest familyfriendly party brawler is reaching staggering numbers.

ALEX WILSON

Staff Writer

Once again, Nintendo has taken the internet by storm in the last few months with the release date of its fifth entry into the Super Smash Bros. series Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

On Dec. 7, the title will be released to the public.

Staggering numbers are shown for pre-orders, and hype for the game has been seen around the globe.

In previous years, the Super Smash Bros. series has seen large sales numbers, with the original Super Smash Bros. reaching 5.5 million copies sold. The second release in the series, Super Smash Bros. Melee, reached 7 million copies in its lifetime. The third title in the series, Super Smash Bros.

Brawl, reached the largest number of copies sold of all titles in the series, including the fourth installment, with 13.29 million copies sold in the Wii’s lifetime.

In regard to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s estimated sales numbers, Nintendo Versus tweeted a video and small statement on Nov. 23 telling readers just how well the game was projected to do.

“Super SmashBrosUltimate is punching its way into the record books!” according to the NintendoVS Twitter feed. “Thank you to all the amazing fans for your support in making this a fight for the ages!”

The video posted, along with the tweet, had something special to say about the new game. It boasted on the statistics the game had supposedly reached in regard to pre-sales.

“Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate is the best pre-selling Super Smash Bros. game,” according to a Nintendo hype trailer. “Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate is the best preselling Switch game.”

With the popularity and sales figures of the Nintendo Switch reaching 22.8 million as of September 2018, it's no surprise that the newest family-friendly party brawler is reaching staggering numbers on an otherwise popular platform.

Stores are jumping on the hype train along with fans offering special deals and even switches with decals and logos for the series put on them.

Aside from sales numbers, Super Smash Bros. as a series offers a vast variety of

gameplay styles, catering to gamers across the board from beginners to pros. The game dominates today's current esport culture, making it as much a family friendly game as it is a competitive fighter, according to Collegiate StarLeague.

The way that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is set up is in big part due to fan feedback.

The lead designer, Masahiro Sakurai, has gone on record with The Guardian about developing for pros versus beginners.

“If we were to lean towards one kind of player or the other…game development would be easier, but foregoing the pros, or foregoing the beginners, wouldn’t result in Smash as it is now, and that’s something I hold dear and important,” Sakurai said.

The newest Super Smash Bros. title was made with the intent to be the perfect blend of both of these concepts.

With over 74 characters plus DLC, 100 plus stages and more items and assist trophies than any other Super Smash Bros. in the series, Sakurai hopes to give every gamer a slice of the action.

In terms of pro-play, many early play testers have made comments regarding the new title’s feel. So far, the game is looking to continually compound on previous styles alongside listening to player feedback. The game was noted by play testers to have an overall faster pace and immersive experience,

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is Nintendo’s newest game set to release on Dec. 7, 2018. | COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

letting those who choose to play more competitively enjoy the same feel as Super Smash Bros. Brawl alongside the aesthetics and mechanics as Super Smash Bros. 4.

Most of the information on mechanics and play feel that's currently available is based off content seen at E3 and demo versions given to other video game-based news outlets. The game is expected to release to sold-out stores

and record breaking sales.

Sakurai is known for his attention to detail and outstanding record in game development, having directed the Kirby series, along with a handful of other works, and now Super Smash Bros.. He is known for treating each game like his own child and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate seems to be no different.

Edited by Alexandra Sharp asharp@themaneater.com

PERFORMANCE

Behind-the-scenes look at Mizzou Forte’s annual winter show Members of Mizzou Forte feel their first big show of the year resulted in success as seen by a positive response from audience members.

ALLISON SAWYER

Staff Writer

Mizzou Forte, one of MU’s acapella groups, held its annual winter concert in the Leadership Auditorium of MU Student Center on Nov. 30.

Members of the acapella group felt the performance received positive feedback from audience members.

Alex Haake, president of Mizzou Forte, said the performance went well based on the noise and energy coming from the crowd as well as on stage. He felt the audience enjoyed the show due to the smiles he observed and the people pulling out

The Mizzou Forte singing group from the 2017-18 year. | PHOTO BY SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER JACOB MOSCOVITCH

cameras to record.

A member of the soprano section, Elyse Schoenig, was also pleased with the performance. She felt the outcome of the show was ideal and made the show a success.

“We have been rehearsing nonstop since we formed the new group at the beginning of the semester,” Schoenig said. “The best part about the show was not only hearing the sound come together

but also how our group’s chemistry came together, and it really just made the whole show.”

Schoenig also believed the audience’s reaction indicated they were enjoying the performance. She felt audience members were amused by the MCs in Mizzou Forte who aimed to keep the audience engaged by using corny jokes as a transition between songs.

Haake said that while

Mizzou Forte has been around for awhile, the group is consistent in performing this show at the end of the fall semester each year.

However, he noted that the selected songs for the show changed up on a three semester basis. After three semesters have passed, the majority of the songs are discontinued.

Schoenig felt the songs that were strategically chosen by Mizzou Forte had the impact the group was hoping for regarding the audience’s response.

“A lot of the songs we sang were good classic songs and I feel like most people knew at least a few of the songs we were singing, which is always good because I think it’s harder for audiences to follow along when you sing a song nobody knows,” Schoenig said. “So that’s also why we try to pick songs that are appealing to the audience.”

Haake noted that the songs chosen are picked solely by members of Mizzou Forte

using a system that helps bring their performances together.

“Everybody presents a song and then everybody votes on the songs they want to do,” Haake said.

“And once a song is picked, then our arrangement chair arranges the music. So most of the songs showcased were arranged by the people in our group.”

Haake said the extended practices prior to the show were worthwhile because of its successful outcome.

“We spent a lot of time practicing and making sure that we knew all our stuff,” Haake said. “Just this week, we had extra rehearsals that we normally don’t have.

Overall, having our group come together to do a big show like this at the end of the semester is a great goal to achieve and it gives us something to look forward to and gives us something to get excited about.”

Edited by Alexandra Sharp asharp@themaneater.com

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

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BRYCE’S BLATHER

Football has no place at institutions of higher education As evidence highlights the major risks of brain injury, it’s time to abandon the game of football as we know it.

The

plays

longer

football,

for

serious

brain

damage.

However, there is

no evidence to suggest a

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

single

can

risk, the

concussion

increase

Alzheimer’s

Researchers CTE

is

suspect

likely

atmosphere of gameday lights and

Tiger tradition is truly intoxicating.

But beneath the allure hides a dark reality — and likely a troubled life joke.

In

just three years of major college

football between 2012 and 2015, 501 concussions were publicly reported,

according to data collected by Al Jazeera. Beyond that, in 2015, nearly

half of college football programs neglected

concussions.

to

publicly

report

Still, one-off concussions aren’t

the biggest health concern facing college football players.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy,

is a condition related to repeated blows to the head, according to

the Alzheimer’s Association. CTE has

been linked to other brain conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s

disease. Symptoms of CTE include memory

loss,

confusion,

erratic

behavior, depression and suicidal

thoughts, but the condition can only be diagnosed after death.

Tragically, numerous CTE sufferers

have taken their own lives.

The science is still relatively new,

but one study by Dr. Ann McKee

found that of 50 former college football players tested, 41 had CTE. In a similar study of 111 former NFL players, 110 had CTE, 99 percent.

to

occur after repeated

American college experience. The

no

to

A s s o c i a t i o n .

Football is an integral part of the

are

CTE

according

traumatic

Concussions

the

higher their potential

BRYCE KOLK

ahead for many of MU’s athletes.

one

brain

injuries, such as those

found day-in and dayout on the football field.

The

primary

drivers of CTE may not

even

individual

cause to

consciousness.

an

lose

While the number of

diagnosed concussions is

concerning,

GRAPHIC BY DESIGNER SARA MARQUARDT

the

undiagnosed damage

caused by smaller incidents is even

more alarming. For every diagnosed concussion of former college football

players, there were six suspected concussions and 21 smaller “dings” to the head, according to a study

by Harvard University and Boston

University. All told, 26 in 27 head injuries go undiagnosed.

It’s time to fully realize the

situation. Football is killing people.

It may seem like a fun day out to

watch a Tigers game at Faurot Field,

but football is violent. The stakes are high, and lives can be ruined. It may seem extreme, but the evidence is overwhelming.

If major, sweeping reforms cannot

The game of football is in direct

Women’s ice hockey is one of the

brain condition and mental functions

with a diagnosed concussion rate

contradiction to that ideal. Degrading at the expense of cheap entertainment

should be scorned by the academic

most dangerous sports one can play, higher than that of men’s football.

Concussions are different from

community.

longer lasting damage that causes

on anyone. While MU is intended

recover from mild concussions in

The irony should not be lost

to foster a culture of academic success and intellection, its implied championing of brain damage and

CTE is unacceptable. This goes for

any college or university fielding a football team.

It’s worth mentioning football

CTE, however. Most are able to fully

about seven to 10 days, according to

Healthline.

Still,

concussions

are serious injuries and should not be

downplayed.

Post-concussion

syndrome can haunt sufferers for years after the initial incident.

We still don’t know everything

isn’t the only sport with potential

about brain injuries due to the

including hockey, cheerleading and

is clear, however, that violent sports,

for brain damage. Many sports,

be made to the game, football should

boxing, have a history of concussion

Better helmet technology and rule

Women’s sports in particular seem

complex and long-lasting effects. It such as football, do not belong in an

not be played.

problems, as well.

would only be a Band-Aid solution.

to be plagued by concussions. Female

around it, but so did Roman gladiator

flag football could be the only way to

more likely to be diagnosed with

situation. Football must reform in

Universities are first and foremost

athletes, according to the American

Changing the rules to more resemble

athletes across different sports are

save the sport.

concussions when compared to male

institutions

of

higher

education.

Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

educational environment.

College football has a strong culture

fights. It’s time to fully realize the

major ways, or universities should

look at eliminating the programs altogether.

T H E M A N E AT E R | O P I N I O N | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

12

COREY’S CORNER

Column: Hot take: Bird scooters aren’t all that bad Birds are at the top of the pecking order for trends that may not die out.

COREY DAVIDSON Corey Davidson is a junior journalism major at MU. He is an opinion columnist who writes about student life and politics for The Maneater.

I cannot wait to sit down with my grandkids many years from now and tell them about the day a day that started like any other day, but would change the very landscape of my college campus. The day that was otherwise peaceful, until the invasion of the Bird scooters started.

At first, it seemed like some sort of hipster fad. It must have been the last week of August when I first noticed the insurgence of these electric scooters. Like many, my first reaction was one of awe and confusion. However, I would argue that despite their supposed risks, Bird scooters aren’t all that bad.

If you live under a rock, Bird is a relatively new company that provides electric scooter renting. By way of an app, one can walk up to a locked scooter and activate it for use.

The cost is $1 initially and 15 cents per minute of travel. This pay-asyou-go business model seems genius,

especially on a college campus.

In Columbia, there are roughly 450 Bird scooters, according to the Columbia Missourian. Their widespread availability and ease of access make them a great product for college students. While being a useful way to travel, they are also a very easy trend to hop onto.

Couple this with the fact that Birds also are providing a quick way to make some extra cash through their charging program, you have an unstoppable fad that’s easy to latch on.

I compare the Bird scooters’ cultural appeal to the Silly Bandz a few years ago. Anybody who was anybody had to have a Silly Band, as they were a telling sign of your social status. Birds serve a similar purpose: squadding up and riding around for a while becomes an event. Feel free to even post a Boomerang on your Instagram story, because they are incredibly trendy.

With every emerging trend, though, there will be haters. Many citizens have expressed concerns for street safety, as well as figuring out where to park the scooters. For example, should riders be using bike lanes? Are scooters too small and slow for car lanes? An agreement to answer these questions and more was decided on by the Columbia City Council with a 5-1 vote passing a one year contract. However, Bird is already facing potential backlash for poor compliance with their end of the deal.

Bird Scooters came to MU’s campus and many other places this fall. | PHOTO BY PHOTOGRAPHER LILLY ANNA BRINSON

Beyond legal concerns, Birds have been criticized for being uncool and a waste of money. It would be free to take a Tiger Line bus across campus instead of Bird-ing, and it would likely be faster. In the interest of free transportation, STRIPES would be much easier and safer than taking a scooter home on Thursday to Saturday nights.

Another concern is that these scooters are just too accessible, especially with Bird’s competitor, Lime, joining the fray in Columbia.

With so many scooters available, some people have even taken to “Bird dropping,” wherein scooters are taken and thrown off of bridges

or otherwise vandalized for fun.

As long as they don’t cause too much trouble, I think Birds will be sticking around. They accomplish their goal of providing affordable transportation and reducing traffic congestion. I find their mission to be honorable, especially since the scooters are all electric and don’t directly contribute to pollution.

The behavior of Bird users will be the most important factor in how the scooters are viewed. If people continue to drive recklessly in front of cars, travel two or three people per scooter or generally act foolish, we may be seeing sidewalks full of abandoned Birds in a few months.

MOVING WITH MO

COLUMN: To drive down Missouri’s recidivism rate, felons need the right to vote immediately upon their release from prison Convicted felons in Missouri are unable to vote even after being reintegrated into society.

MAUREEN DUNNE Maureen Dunne is a freshman journalism major at MU. She is an opinion columnist who writes about student life and politics for The Maneater.

Nearly 2 percent of the voting-age population of Missouri is ineligible to vote.

In Missouri, felons are disenfranchised until they have completed their time in the criminal justice system, including parole and probation. In 2016, 105,482 people were in the Missouri correctional system, and thereby ineligible to vote in the presidential election, according to the National Institute of Corrections.

Although 2 percent of the population of Missouri may not seem like a steep statistic, felony disenfranchisement to any degree is damaging to society and felons themselves. It has been linked to increased rates of recidivism, and in states with lifetime disenfranchisement, drives recidivism rates 10 percent higher than those with temporary disenfranchisement.

However, Missouri has the nation’s third highest recidivism rate despite enforcing only temporary disenfranchisement.

Voting as a felon in Missouri is still tricky even after one has completed his or her time in the criminal justice system. Felons are encouraged to re-register to vote regardless of how long they were incarcerated or on parole, as opposed to the general population only being required to update their voter registration after a change in name or address. This is little known advice, meaning many felons do not register to vote in time for elections. As a result, less than 20 percent of voting-eligible felons in Missouri turned out for the 2008 presidential election, according to a study conducted by Northwestern University professor Traci Burch.

By barring felons from voting, the government is making it more difficult for an already vulnerable demographic to have faith in government and re-assimilate into society.

Deliberately silencing the voices of voting-eligible citizens is voter suppression.

Convicted felons released from prison have repaid their debt to society and are on parole to ensure that they have the structure they need to successfully reintegrate into the outside world.

Barring them from their civic duty does nothing but further alienate them from their community members and the government.

Recently, some states have eased their felony disenfranchisement policies, specifically Florida. Until this past midterm election, Florida was one of three states in the U.S. which stripped convicted felons of their voting rights for life. On Nov. 7, Florida voters passed Amendment 4 which granted voting rights to over 1.4 million convicted felons across the state.

Amendment 4 was a monumental advancement for Florida and the U.S. as a whole. Just like Missouri’s recent Senate race, Florida had its own tight election this year. Republican Ron DeSantis was elected governor by merely 10,033 votes across the state after a nearly two week long manual ballot recount.

Florida is no stranger to tight elections. In 2000, George W. Bush secured the state’s 29 electoral votes (and as a result, the presidency) by merely 537 votes statewide. Winning Florida’s electoral votes has long been respected as a necessary step to winning the presidency. Roughly 1.4 million newly eligible voters for the 2020 elections could mean the end of Florida’s history of narrow elections and squash its reputation as

a perennial swing state.

Although not as strict as Florida’s previous lifetime felony disenfranchisement, Missouri’s policy is more restrictive than many neighboring states. Felons’ voting rights in Illinois and Indiana are automatically restored upon release from prison, regardless of parole or probation status. As a result, only half of a percent of the population of Illinois is disenfranchised compared to Missouri’s 2 percent.

Regardless of the potential for felons’ votes to be the difference in key elections, felons deserve the right to vote (and to be informed of it) immediately upon their release from prison. Missouri needs to take a hint from Illinois and follow Florida’s recent lead.

Illinois’ policy, allowing felons to vote on parole and probation and restoring them their civil rights immediately, reinforces the very purpose of parole: ensuring a successful reintegration into society.

Florida’s Amendment 4 instated automatic voter registration upon completion of parole or probation, providing felons a seamless way to resume their civic duties. Missouri needs a system in which felons are automatically registered to vote upon the completion of their sentence.

Online this week: Men's and women's basketball coverage, wrestling recaps and more at themaneater.com.

FOOTBALL

[

STRUCK GOLD

]

MU wins recruitment of prized transfer With Bryant's signing, Missouri landed Drew Lock's successor Tuesday night.

BENNETT DURANDO

Sports Editor

Missouri football’s gold standard in 2018 may have been even greater than its final 8-4 record, but future ceilings and floors remained unclear and dimensionless without an answer regarding one critical factor. On Tuesday night, the Tigers secured their 2019 quarterback.

Graduate transfer Kelly Bryant, once the starting quarterback for perennial powerhouse Clemson, committed to Missouri. He will be eligible to play one season at MU. Bryant announced Missouri as his transfer choice on Twitter at 6 p.m.

Tuesday over Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State and North Carolina.

MU and Auburn were considered the two frontrunners in the Bryant sweepstakes as his decision neared.

Sources with Missouri told The Maneater Tuesday morning they were confident in MU’s chances at landing Bryant.

Bryant took Clemson to the

gold |Page 15

Former Clemson quarterback and incoming Missouri graduate transfer Kelly Bryant visited MU for the Tigers' game against Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2018. Bryant announced Tuesday he would play for Missouri in his final year of eligibility. | PHOTO BY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ADAM COLE

FOOTBALL

Commentary: Landing Bryant a culmination and beginning for Odom Kelly Bryant comes to Missouri as a former 2000-yard passer and national champion.

ADAM COLE

Assistant Sports Editor Kelly Bryant could have chosen to go anywhere.

If he had the talent to play at Clemson – to lead Clemson to the College Football Playoff – he had the country in his hands. And he chose Missouri.

Bryant has made it official. The Clemson transfer is changing the color of his tiger stripes, announcing Tuesday he’ll don the black and gold and play for MU in his final season of eligibility.

He is Missouri’s biggest get since Barry Odom took over head coaching duties in 2015, and perhaps the biggest get by any MU sport since Michael Porter Jr. While the prospective Mizzou quarterback (yes, believe it, Mizzou quarterback) brings the physical tools and statistical history to be a successful quarterback in the SEC, he brings even more to the Missouri football program. Most noticeably, his signing solidifies Missouri’s place as a legitimate top-25 team. Or at least the appearance of

legitimacy.

Sure, the growth of the program has been apparent since Odom took over three years ago.

Five wins in year one have budded to an 8-4 regular season finish this season. But it’s been clear that a lot of Odom’s small successes have felt questionable within a wider scope. Things have felt on edge as recently as this season, when Odom’s job security was briefly questioned after blowing a win over ranked Kentucky team on the final play of the game. However, after that, Odom took his wins where he could get them, both metaphorically and literally.

He went on the road the next week and his unranked Missouri team beat No. 10 Florida 38-17. That kicked off a four-game win streak to end the season, with the cherry on top being a 38-0 win over Arkansas. And, for the first time in maybe his first three seasons, Odom did something in more ways than one that he’d yet to do: prove himself. First with the Florida win and then a new Missouri found itself at No. 24 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the CFB Playoff rankings to end the regular season. It marks the first time Missouri’s been ranked in the AP Poll, or ranked at all, since 2015.

Even if all that hasn’t proved to anyone and everyone that Odom is turning the tide, it’s clearly proved it enough for Bryant.

That brings up another legitimate question derived from Odom’s success: How much of it has come from the shoulders, rather arm, of Drew Lock?

Lock’s abnormally large statlines have led Odom’s teams to big wins and his deep bombs propelled targets like Emanuel Hall and Albert Okwuegbunam to significant success. Granted, both Hall and Albert O are talents at their respective positions, but one has to wonder just how rapidly they would have found success without Lock. The beautiful thing is that Bryant’s signing essentially throws that question out the window.

With Bryant, there’s no wondering and there’s no uncertainty at quarterback. He’s never going to be what Lock was for several reasons, but Bryant’s talent is substantially closer to Lock’s than that of the depth chart’s back end.

This is also the college equivalent of a flashy free agent signing; a splash that puts the spotlight

kelly Page 13

14

T H E M A N E AT E R | S P O RTS | D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 8

FOOTBALL

Missouri lands in Liberty Bowl against Oklahoma State The Tigers will play the Cowboys on New Year’s Eve in a rematch of the 2014 Cotton Bowl, which MU won.

BENNETT DURANDO

Sports Editor

A week’s worth of fruitless speculation is finally over for Missouri football: The Tigers are headed to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl to face Oklahoma State, the team confirmed Sunday afternoon.

The game will take place at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Dec. 31 at 2:45 CST. It will be televised on ESPN. Missouri (8-4, 4-4 SEC) spent its week at the center of a revolving series of SEC “Pool of Six” projections. College football pundits and prognosticators varied between the Liberty, Music City (Nashville, Tenn.) and Gator (Jacksonville, Fla.) bowls in their picks for Barry Odom’s team.

Contrary to most bowls selecting their competitors in a hierarchical order, the SEC places its own teams throughout the “Pool of Six,” which also includes the Outback, Belk and Texas bowls. Texas A&M has evidently been sent to the Gator Bowl over MU and Auburn was assigned to the Music City Bowl against Purdue, who Missouri already played this season. The Tigers played Texas in the Texas Bowl last season.

None of the six games are

technically regarded in higher esteem than the others, but the Liberty Bowl is generally considered the least prestigious option of the three potential MU landing spots.

Missouri won its last four games of the regular season after losing four of its five previous games. The Tigers cracked various rankings for the first time this season in the week leading up to their bowl placement.

They checked in at No. 23 in the College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday and debuted in the AP top 25 Sunday morning at No. 24. That makes Missouri the first ranked SEC team to ever go to the Liberty Bowl.

Missouri’s case for a high-profile bowl game included its hot finish and its intense schedule. They were the only team in the SEC to play both No. 1 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia, the two teams who played in the national championship last year and became the eventual SEC title game matchup this season. Odom stressed that while making his case for Missouri after a 38-0 win over Arkansas last week.

“If you look at our record of 8-4, at the time two losses were to No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country,” Odom said. “The other two losses were on the last play of the game. We’ve shown toughness and resiliency.

We’re playing as good a football as any team in the country. We’ve got a quarterback that I think is the best one. Defensively, [we’re] coming off a shutout. We’ve got a lot of pieces in place to go make a run and make a great showing wherever that bowl ends up.”

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock pumps his fist in response to cheers during Tiger Walk before Missouri’s eventual 38-0 win over Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 at Faurot Field. | PHOTO BY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ADAM COLE This is Missouri’s second straight season reaching a bowl game and its fourth in the last five years. Odom took the Tigers to their first bowl appearance under him in 2017 and lost 33-16 to Texas in the Texas Bowl.

Before Odom, Missouri had won its last three bowl games; against North Carolina in the 2011 Independence Bowl; Oklahoma State in the 2014 Cotton Bowl; and Minnesota in the 2015 Citrus Bowl.

This year’s Liberty Bowl will be a rematch of that memorable 2014 Cotton Bowl for the Tigers, who clinched a 31-21 win over Oklahoma

State when Michael Sam’s stripsack turned into a fumble return touchdown for Missouri.

The Texas Bowl defeat came after a similar surge to end the regular season. Missouri won its last six in 2017 to become bowl eligible after a 1-5 start. Building on its four-game win streak this time around is a goal for MU, especially its seniors.

“This year, again we have gone on another streak,” senior receiver Emanuel Hall said. “You have to finish it out strong.”

Edited by Adam Cole acole@themaneater.com

VOLLEYBALL

Missouri volleyball overpowered by Nebraska in second round to end season The Cornhuskers revealed Missouri’s lack of experience on the big stage, but the young Tigers have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

LIAD LERNER

Staff Writer

A season that was supposed to be designed as a rebuild for Missouri volleyball exceeded expectations and yielded a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament’s last 32.

But No. 24 Missouri’s 2018 season came to an end Saturday, as No. 7 Nebraska overpowered the Tigers 3-0 in a second round sweep in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Missouri came into the match with high hopes of pulling off the upset, having just swept No. 23 Arizona in the first round on Friday, and riding a two-year streak of making the Sweet 16. But the Cornhuskers quickly snuffed out the Tigers’ ambitions with a dominant first set victory.

After initially falling behind 3-0, Nebraska stormed back with an 8-1 run forcing coach Wayne Kreklow to take a time out. After the break Nebraska pushed even harder and

to the roster in the offseason, and finally fielded a starting lineup with only two upperclassmen. The 2018 campaign was supposed to be the year when the newlook Tigers grew together and gained valuable experience, if not results, while finding their feet again.

However, Missouri didn’t follow that script, and instead turned the 2018 season into a largely successful one — Missouri volleyball coach Wayne Kreklow has been at the helm of coaching the program for about two one where the Tigers decades, but his staff has always been a family affair, with his wife, Susan, coaching since he took over finished with a 24-8 the program and his niece, Molly Taylor, helping coach the program the last two seasons. | Photo by ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ADAM COLE record (13-5 SEC), were nationally ranked for six weeks Missouri made the second and won 25-14.

"Obviously we're disappointed third sets closer – losing 25-22 in the and even pulled off a statement with the outcome,” Kreklow said in a second and 25-18 in the third – but victory against No. 11 Florida.

It took a top-10 team to finally press release. “We felt going in that Nebraska exposed the harsh reality knock out a Missouri team of mostly it was going to be a tough match. that has sneakily followed the Tigers sophomores in the second round of Obviously it was as they're a good throughout the entirety of 2018.

This is still a team very much in the tournament, a potential testament team and they're here for a reason. to the program’s future endeavors I was really proud of our group and transition.

Missouri started the year off by with much of its roster returning. how they continued to battle. From a Edited by Bennett Durando coaching standpoint, that's all I can graduating five seniors from last ask from our players." season, then added seven new faces bdurando@themaneater.com

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GOLD

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Bryant took Clemson to the College Football Playoff last season as its starter. The Tigers lost to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, which also acted as a CFP semifinal. He played the first four games of the 2018 campaign then left the program after freshman Trevor Lawrence took over the starting quarterback job. Bryant graduated from Clemson and will be immediately eligible for Missouri as a graduate transfer.

Bryant is 16-2 in his career as a starter and played backup for Clemson’s national championship team in 2016-17. He will make for an experienced successor to current senior Drew Lock, who will enter the 2019 NFL Draft as one of its top quarterback prospects. After Lock, Missouri’s future at the position was murky – widely seen as a reflection of the prospective state of the program as a whole in the coming years.

Miss out on Bryant, and the Tigers would have

been left with Taylor Powell and Micah Wilson, neither of which has taken significant snaps or received much attention for their talent potential.

Land Bryant, some pundits said, and Barry Odom’s team could contend near the top of the SEC next year.

Missouri’s evident appeal to Bryant was its offensive style and efficiency this season. Firstyear offensive coordinator Derek Dooley put together a pro-style machine that utilized Lock’s arm and a trio of tailbacks to average 36.9 points per game against a schedule that included three teams in “New Year’s Six” bowls. The Tigers will return most of their offense in 2019.

Bryant visited MU and attended the Tigers’ 15-14 loss to Kentucky on Oct. 27, then received a visit from Odom in late November. Bryant took two visits to Auburn, including his final one the weekend before Tuesday’s announcement. Reports said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn made a lastsecond visit to Bryant’s home in South Carolina on Tuesday, the day of the announcement.

The turbulent state of Auburn’s coaching staff

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and poor offensive results in 2018 may have damaged Malzahn’s chances at landing college football’s most prized free agent. Reports surfaced Monday that play-caller Chip Lindsey was leaving Auburn, and he soon took the offensive coordinator job at Kansas. Rumors had circulated earlier questioning Malzahn’s job stability after Auburn finished with a 6-6 record, one season after winning the SEC West.

Bryant passed for 3,338 yards during his career at Clemson, including 2,802 his junior year. Now, he joins a line of quarterbacks at Missouri that have steadied the program throughout the years.

MU is lined with multi-year starters and has only used seven in the last 16 years, one of which was just a temporary injury fill-in. Lock followed the memorable likes of Maty Mauk, James Franklin, Blaine Gabbert, Chase Daniel and Brad Smith.

Kelly Bryant won’t be a multi-year starter for Missouri, but the scale of his recruitment figures him to be just as memorable.

Edited by Adam Cole acole@themaneater.com

KELLY Continued from page 13

on the program. Rather, it keeps the spotlight on a program that’s losing its face in the coming month, giving it a new one for the coming year.

In terms of transfers, Bryant is five-star recruit.

A five-star recruit with experience. After criticism for failing to recruit the St. Louis area, this is a milestone that, on paper at the very least, shows Odom is capable of grabbing a big name to play for him.

Even greater than that, it allows Odom to continue building his Missouri program without a hitch. Theoretically, having a senior quarterback of Bryant’s stature allows the Tigers – a team that was “a couple snaps away from being 10-2,” as athletic director Jim Sterk put it to media on Sunday – to continue ascending the ranks of college football and the SEC. Sterk told media on Sunday when he was in Atlanta last weekend, a Georgia fan approached him and told him frankly: “You know, if you were still in the Big 12, you’d be playing in a championship game today.”

Bryant might – might – bring the ability to make that dream a possibility in the SEC. If the Tigers can ring in the new year with a Liberty Bowl win, they’ll likely finish the season ranked and poised to push themselves into the middle tier of top-25 and upper tier of the SEC in 2019.

Aside from matchups with South Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia, Missouri doesn’t

Former Clemson quarterback and incoming Missouri graduate transfer Kelly Bryant looks into the stands of Memorial Stadium before the Tigers' game against Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2018. Bryant, who’s expected to be Drew Lock’s successor, compiled over 3,000 passing yards at Clemson. | PHOTO BY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ADAM COLE

look to have many unfavorable matchups until it plays Georgia in week nine. It’s hard to believe Missouri wouldn’t be, at its absolute worst, 5-3 heading into that game. It’s not unreasonable to imagine it could be 8-0 if it played its cards right; five consecutive home games can get teams off to

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a hot start.

The bar is set higher for Odom’s team now than ever, and it’s only more likely the bar will be reached with Bryant leading the offense.

Edited by Bennett Durando bdurando@themaneater.com

@maneatersports

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