February 14, 2017

THE STANDARD M I S S O U R I S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

VOLUME 110, ISSUE 20 | THE-STANDARD.ORG The Standard/The Standard Sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

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Reality reimagined Chloe Skaar Staff Reporter @chloeskaar As of the beginning of spring semester, Missouri State students can paint shooting stars in the galaxy, learn to engineer robots, fly over continents, ride a train through a city of lights and protect medieval castles from intruders – all free of charge.

These experiences are available to students and faculty without ever needing to leave Meyer Library, thanks to virtual reality gear that is now accessible upon reservation.

The world of virtual reality is accessed through a headset and two hand controllers that, once donned, transport the user to a digital dimension that is reflected onto a computer monitor. Users then have the option of where to travel, ranging from simpler programs like Tilt Brush, which turns all surroundings into a multitude of canvases for painting and 3-D design, to arcade video games and even a world that teaches the user how to repair robots with different damages.

The equipment is primarily used for entertainment and introductory purposes at this time; more programs focused on education are expected to be available soon once university professors establish a better idea of how to implement the technology into their courses.

“We are trying to get professors engaged

and to tell us how this could be useful to their departments,” Jir Shin Boey, who runs the music and media department of Meyer Library, said. “It is a unique way for students to experience their own lessons, creations and designs.”

Boey also said the technology can be utilized in a classroom setting to learn about dentistry, engineering, surgery, midwifing, graphic design — even for things like therapy and travel experiences.

“I come from a biology education background, so I was interested in the different programs that allow you to travel through the body and stop at different parts of focus,” Scott Fischer, supervisor for Meyer Library’s music and media department, said.

Fischer also said that the majority of those who come in to test out the equipment are professors who are interested in introducing their students to the world of virtual reality.

“It can be better for professors to come in and tell us what they are looking for,” Fischer said. “They know exactly what software their students are using and whatever subjects would be most relevant to their class.”

Students and staff must make reservations at least two days in advance in order to use the equipment, which is rented in two-hour increments. Reservations can be made online or in person at the media and music office on the second floor of Meyer Library.

MIRANDA ROLLER/THE STANDARD

The virtual reality equipment is available at Meyer Library.

SGA reaffirms commitment to international students Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark Members of the Association of International Students and Student Government Association clapped as Student Body President Adam Coffman handed Aline Gomes, president of AIS and senior global studies major, a copy of a resolution that reaffirmed SGA’s commitment to international students.

Coffman, a senior communications major, said he felt it was the right thing to do.

According to the document, they are aware

it is not SGA’s place to “wade into the political thicket of public discourse,” meaning SGA usually does not make political statements.

However, because Missouri State is “home to more than 1,000 international students” and “no student should have neither their academic freedom, nor their ability to travel to and from their home infringed upon,” SGA re-emphasized its support for students, according to the document.

Student Governor Tyree Davis, a senior management major, originally brought the idea to Student Body Vice President of the Student Body Brianna Duda. Duda, a senior commu-

nications major, then passed it on to Coffman.

The resolution was first introduced into SGA on Jan. 31. One senator attempted to introduce a change that could potentially allow the bill to be passed that day, but senators voted it down.

On Feb. 7, the same senator introduced an amendment to the resolution that would have called for administration to make MSU a “sanctuary campus.”

Coffman said he thought that failed because most senators believed it was important enough to be a separate resolution.

“I thought it was important because, I mean, SGA has no real power when it comes to ex-

ecutive orders from the president,” Coffman said. “But at the very least we could do is just reiterate our support for international students.

They’re Bears just as much as we are.”

Coffman used one of his powers as student body president to ask for legislation to be passed. He said he wrote the resolution with Duda. It was sponsored by SGA Director of Public Affairs Daezia Smith and SGA Director of Diversity and Inclusion Bree Moore, who read the resolution at the meetings.

Smith is a senior global studies major. Moore

u See SGA, page 9

Feeding Bears: Food pantry open to students “We are all students, and to think that there are people at Missouri State struggling is awful,” Warfield said. “The Student Food Pantry is important because it’s necessary to provide (for) and help our fellow Bears.”

Each individual is allowed to shop at the Student Food Pantry up to eight times per semester. Due to the lack of volunteers on campus over the summer, the pantry is not open during the summer months.

One of the major stigmas associated with the Student Food Pantry is that individuals will be judged for needing the assistance. Shopper Selma Beltran, a senior public health major at MSU, debunks that myth entirely. “The volunteers at the Student Food Pantry are always so helpful and are incredibly nice,” Beltran said.

“This has been rather helpful for me, and it’s nice because it helps with the basic necessities.”

Even though students like Beltran love the experience of shopping at the Student Food Pantry, Warfield said the pantry lacks students using the provided assistance.

“We don’t get a ton of people, but the ones we do get make this so worth it,” Warfield said.

MEGAN BURKE/THE STANDARD “It’s just about getting this information out and

Alec McChesney Staff Reporter @Alec_McChesney

The Well of Life Food Pantry on south Kimbrough Avenue provides Missouri State University students and community members facing food insecurity or hardship an opportunity to receive food assistance.

Well of Life helped create the Missouri State University Student Food Pantry, which dedicated a pick-up time specifically for students and faculty who may be going hungry, are not able to make ends meet, for are acing a delay in financial aid or other assistances, etc.

From 4-6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays the Student Food Pantry is open and available to all students and faculty at MSU — all you need is your BearPass.

Each person who uses the Student Food Pantry becomes a shopper, and they are given choices of certain meats, soups, cereals and toiletries. Every shopper automatically receives milk, butter, bread and a half-dozen eggs.

Katy Warfield, a junior socio-political communications major, has been volunteering at the Student Food Pantry since January 2015. The Well of Life Food Pantry hopes to end the stigma of needing assistance.

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sports

‘The Normal Heart’ sheds light on AIDS: Page 2

Alumni: Where are they now?: Page 4

Stiles immortalized: Page 6

u See FOOD, page 9

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Getting creative: Local group hosts portfolio review session Terry Chapman Staff Reporter @turreh

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Springfield Creatives gave students portfolio advice on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Springfield Creatives, a group dedicated to building a better community for creative professionals in Springfield, held a portfolio-reviewing event Saturday, Feb. 11, at the E-Factory in downtown Springfield.

The event aimed to help students in a multitude of majors get feedback and advice on the portfolios they were building or preparing to build.

This was the second year this event was held.

Originally, the event was only going to take place annually. However, with feedback

from graduating students, it was decided that the portfolio review would take place two times a year; one time each semester.

Jessica Spencer, president of Springfield Creatives, was excited about the event.

“A lot of our members are folks made up from the design program, photography, architecture, illustration and copywriters,” Spencer said. “We gather local community leaders in those areas and set up shop here. We invite students to come bring their work in, whatever form they’ve got, and we’ll give them constructive feedback on how they can make their portfolio better for prospective employers.”

There are different ways that students can present their work to the reviewers.

“We invite people to bring a traditional portfolio book or even their laptop, however they’ve got their work handy,” Spencer said, “They can bring it in and get feedback from local pros.”

The event is never short on local professionals looking to help out. Spencer said they had eight people reviewing the portfolios at the event.

Student feedback is very important when it comes to this event. The student committee for Springfield Creatives consists of students and

u See PORTFOLIO, page 9

‘The Normal Heart’ discusses AIDS, love Matt Campanelli Staff Reporter @THE_MattyCamp In 1989, Southwest Missouri State’s (now MSU) theater department produced Larry Kramer’s play, “The Normal Heart,” which faced local opposition and sparked protests that made national headlines. On Saturday, Feb. 11, the documentary “Remembering the Normal Heart Controversy in Springfield, Missouri”

was shown in the Plaster Student Union Theater.

Patricia Moore, MSU theater alum and executive producer of the documentary, said she wanted the documentary to help show theater students what they can do.

“Some of the things these kids went through … I imagine at that age what a life changing experience it would have been,” said Moore.

“I would like young people today to see what they did and realize that is the power they hold to be brave and stand up in the theatre.”

“What I really envisioned for this was that it would be used in classes at MSU,” said Moore. “I think theater students need to know about how courageous an actor can be.”

Moore wasn’t in Springfield at the time of the protests and was living in Palo Alto, California, working in documentary and education film production.

During the making of the documentary, Moore initially didn’t see herself in a hands-on role but said the process turned out to be easi-

er than expected.

“I learned a lesson and it’s when you’re the one who cares the most about a project, you need to be involved and you need to make your voice heard and help shape it,” Moore said.

Moore said during the making of the documentary she tried to balance the documentary so that both sides of the issue were fairly told.

“The Normal Heart” is set in New York City

u See HEART, page 9

GUTTING BACK IN COURT Murder case inches closer to pretrial

Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark The Missouri State instructor charged with first-degree murder of a peer is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Feb. 27.

Edward Gutting, 43, faces five felony charges.

On Feb. 10, his attorney, Dee Wampler, told judge Thomas Mountjoy that he expects to enter an amended not-guilty plea after he gets additional information from prosecuting attorney Todd Myers.

Wampler asked Myers for discovery, or documents used in the case, to be shared be-

tween them.

Myers said he would get the information to Wampler as soon as he has it and expects to have it within a few days.

Gutting is currently being held in Greene County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Weekly Crossword © 2017 King Features Syndicate

ACROSS 1 One of the kin 4 Genie’s home 8 Green or Rogen 12 Noshed 13 Bloodhound’s clue 14 Temptation 15 Cribbage scorer 16 Unescorted 17 Belligerent deity 18 Insignificant sum 21 Still 22 Last letter 23 Pollster’s find 26 Moment 27 Moo goo gai pan pan 30 Deception 31 Solidify 32 Marathon fraction 33 Mel of Cooperstown 34 “Family Guy” airer 35 Annie’s dog 36 Botheration 37 Erstwhile acorn 38 Universe explanation 45 Vicinity 46 Greek vowel 47 Court 48 Inmates 49 Watchful one 50 Drag along 51 Dandling site 52 Whodunit writer Paretsky 53 Vast expanse DOWN 1 Fools 2 Thing 3 Genesis maker 4 Hung lazily 5 Take as one’s own 6 Stereo forerunner 7 Tavern snack

8 Chalkboard 9 Continental coin 10 Almond or pecan 11 Pianist Dame Myra 19 Bobcat kin 20 Early nuclear org.

23 However, in verse 24 Deterioration 25 Dine on 26 Driver’s license datum 27 Triumph 28 Bygone 29 Crucial 31 Treasure seekers in a 1985 movie 32 Create 34 Rx watchdog grp.

35 About 30 percent of Africa 36 Lower in rank 37 Playful water

critter 38 Endorse 39 Press 40 Heredity unit 41 “The Third of May 1808” painter

42 They give a hoot 43 Libertine 44 Relaxing practice

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

Campus Chat: Q of the Week What is the weirdest date you have ever been on?

“When I was 14 this guy invited me with a group of his friends to go to the movies, but when I got there it was just him and his mom. His mom sat in between us, and at one point after he ate a hot dog, he leaned over his mom and kissed me. That was my first kiss.”

Dorothy Vance, sophomore socio-political communications major

“The first date I went on, I was 14 and extremely shy and awkward. I was so shy that I emailed my parents (asking) if they could take me and a girl to the movies. The date was just really awkward because my parents were there.”

Justin McMullen, sophomore computer information systems major

“I took a girl to Cheddar’s after a football game one time, and my ex-girlfriend was there and came up to talk to me. I apologized to the girl that she kept talking to me, since it was really awkward. When I got out to my car, there was Cheddar’s food thrown all over my car, quesadillas everywhere, queso all over my windshield. It was bad.”

Jacob Barra, junior history education major

“He took me to a casino and didn’t talk to me the entire night.

He blew $500 and then asked to borrow $50. After hours, I finally asked him to take me home, and he said ‘no.’”

Kyli Hightower, senior education major

“I went out with this guy, and I made a joke about Donald Trump.

He then started rambling on about how Trump is going to save the world and just talked about how great he was. We got in a huge political debate about it, and when he drove me home the car was completely silent, and we haven’t talked since.”

Ashton Morris, freshman modern and classical languages major

“At the end of the blind date, he said, ‘I have a gift for you.’

It was a letter that congratulated me on him wanting to be my boyfriend, also stating that I have to be OK with the fact that he is a an introvert, a professional cuddler, a great kisser and still in a relationship with his ex-girlfriend.”

Sydney Hinton, junior creative writing major

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Don’t settle for less: A letter to my future self Qiuyue Li Columnist @Holiday12058442 Dear, 30-year-old Qiuyue Li, Hey, how are you?

It’s that time of the year again. I know you are most likely celebrating Valentine’s Day alone. Have your parents set you up with blind dates?

I am writing to you on this special day to remind you to not settle for less.

I was browsing through Weibo (Chinese “Twitter”) when an interesting story from Xinhua News amazed me. A 21-year-old girl from Zhejiang University, one of the most prominent universities in China, was forced to attend eight blind dates within 10 days during the recent Chinese Lunar New Year holiday.

Her parents believe the older a woman gets, the less value she has, and the most important thing for a woman is to find a good husband instead of a good career. The miserable girl couldn’t stand matchmaking setups anymore, so she ran back to school to escape from her parents during the most wonderful holiday of the year.

It bothered me so much because I am afraid you might end up like her. You have spent the majority of your life focusing on studying and being a nerd, as your lovely parents have taught you that career is the No.1 priority for women.

You know being a single, strong, confident woman is the most amazing and empowering feeling.

But, when a woman reaches her late 20s and still remains uncoupled or unmarried, the Chinese society becomes extremely judgmental. They consider you as a problematic woman and label you as a “leftover lady”(unmarried

woman above the age of 27).

I know China, a fairly civilized society, is still very patriarchal in marriage, and women have to shoulder the responsibility of continuing the family’s bloodline.

I know you most likely have suffered from societal pressure and torture because your family relatives will not only mute your career achievements, but feel ashamed of you for being a 30-year-old “leftover lady.” They might think you are being selfish and disrespectful to them.

I want you to know that you, in no way, should be called a “leftover,” and don’t feel hard-pressed to find some random stranger and get married for the sake of it. You’ve worked so hard to become who you are today, and you should be proud of your successes and accomplishments. Learn to celebrate your life and always remember that self-worth and validation comes from within.

Although all your best friends think you are loud and competitive, which they say are qualities too much for a man to want, don’t ever downplay your natural character to surrender to the world.

Take your time to find someone who will love you and your family, who can be honest with you and can open up to you, who won’t give up on you and who makes you feel respected, loved and free to be yourself, who can love all your perfections and imperfections.

And you, wholeheartedly and unconditionally, are willing to do the same.

If you can’t find someone and need company, get a dog.

Hope you will find someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day with eventually.

Love you, 20-year-old Qiuyue Li

WHAT CAN AN ART DEGREE GET YOU? Ali Spies Columnist @alicethespy If you are a fine arts major, you have definitely heard the claim, “Your degree is a waste.

You need to just go out there and find work,” or something along those lines. The reality is that many people do not believe in degrees in artistic careers, especially performance and visual arts.

So, why do people bother going to school for the arts?

For performing arts, many people think if you are talented, you will automatically make it; if you do not have that much talent, then it is not worth it to even go to school.

While sometimes people can

make it this way just going out into the world, it is very rare.

What most people don’t know is that going to school for art can actually give you an amazing experience and opportunities. It gives you the opportunity to work on your craft and make it the best it can be. Many times, professors in these fields are former performers or artists, so they know what it is like out in the “real world.” This is an incredible thing because being in an arts program gives you the opportunity to learn from people who have been successful in the business.

Not only is the opportunity to learn from great people there, but going to college for the arts usually opens the door

to very influential people in the business to learn who you are. In the Missouri State Theatre and Dance Department, many of the students are given chances to meet and network with people already established in the professional theater and dance world.

Another plus is if there are notable alumni in the business, they could choose you over another person because you attended their alma mater. This is an amazing opportunity, especially at Missouri State, because we have quite a few alumni working in the arts world.

Another common myth about art education is that it is better to go to an actual art school rather than a public

university. I would have to disagree with this statement.

The difference between a Missouri State art education and an education from an art conservatory or art-only school is that Missouri State students are required to complete the general education courses offered.

Many argue that gen-ed courses are unnecessary, especially for going into an art field; yet I have to disagree again. Some of the most important things I’ve learned since coming to college have been in gen-ed classes. For instance, the ability to communicate thoughts in a professional and consistent manner.

The English classes I’ve taken have especially helped me

hone in on my writing ability which is a skill required for any.

Another thing I’ve learned is tolerance. In a few of my classes, we would talk about politics or other things going on in the world and our opinions on the matter. Even though I might have disagreed with someone, I was always tolerant of their opinion and willing to hear them out without starting a yelling match. I personally believe this is a skill everyone needs, especially in today’s world.

One of the more unknown benefits of an arts degree is that it translates to many other careers, more than just performing or making arts. An arts degree can help with oth-

er jobs like marketing, communications and leadership positions. Training in being creative and commanding a room is a skill that can translate into many other careers and lead to many more career paths.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with going out into the world and trying to make it in the arts world on your own, but there is also nothing wrong with going to college and getting a degree first. So, before you judge your artsy friends, maybe think about what they are actually doing and how much training a college experience can give them.

SABRINA MERRILL/THE STANDARD

Don’t worry, be happy this Valentine’s Day Ally Gaither Columnist Today is the day … If you’re in a relationship, today will be built on showing your significant other how much you love them. If you’re single, today will be a day spent thinking of all of the ways you could make the obnoxious couples “disappear.”

For the past five years of my life, I fell into the obnoxious-couple category with all of the roses and the chocolates and cute teddy bears, but those years are over. This will be my

first Valentine’s day as a single woman pretty much since I became a woman. Trust me when I tell you that I could not be more relieved.

People seem to have this need to have someone on Valentine’s Day or else, but why? As someone who has done the relationship thing for years, I should know that this holiday is completely overrated. It’s good in theory — a day spent showing each other how much you love one another. However, actual execution is far less romantic than one might think.

People put so much pressure on today

that if it doesn’t go perfectly, absolute chaos ensues and the relationship takes unnecessary leaps backward.

On Valentine’s Day, I will enjoy my single-ness. I will celebrate me, and if that doesn’t work, I plan to remind myself why my relationships ended so that I can feel relieved and know that I am better off without that person.

Relationships, just like this holiday, can be overrated. The point of them, to me, is to find someone to spend forever with. I don’t understand why people date just to date, without

the possibility of the relationship going anywhere. Perhaps that is why relationships are so hard; some people want “forever” while others just want “for now.”

Maybe I’ve had bad luck with relationships, but I feel like relationships are really hard. I honestly don’t know how anyone, myself included, can survive that amount of stress on top of the amount of stress that comes from life in general. If you love someone and you are happy, then the stress and the hard work is all worth it. If you are not happy, even if you love

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Do not put yourself through unnecessary pain or heartache just because they are supposedly “the one,” if you are not happy.

I stayed with multiple boyfriends for months and even years because I loved them, but I can count on my hands the amount of times that they actually made me happy. You only hurt yourself by choosing to only see the best in people.

Today is the day. If you’re not happy, then they’re not worth it.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

Where are they now?

Alumni share their successes after graduation

PRIDE BAND COLOR GUARD ALUMUS PERFORMS WITH LADY GAGA AT THE SUPER BOWL Sarah Teague Life Editor @SarahTeague96 For one Missouri State alumnus, his years of tossing flags and spinning rifles have been preparing him for teaching, professional performances and even a moment in the spotlight with Lady Gaga during the Super Bowl halftime show, though he didn’t know this when entering Wehr Band Hall and joining MSU’s color guard years ago.

But this is Luke Christisen’s journey, one that he said is shaped by his experiences on the field here at Missouri State.

“I’ve actually been doing color guard for 11 years … I was a former captain of the Missouri State University color guard, and I participated (in) that for five years,” Luke said. “It was a long haul (at MSU), and (after graduation) I got the job opportunity to teach color guard down in Houston, so I took (it), and now I’m a full-time color guard director.”

When he’s not directing, Luke is a member of Cypress Independent, a group of trained dancers and color guard professionals and “a home for area talent, where young performers (can) pursue the craft of dance and color guard in a stable, professional environment,” according to Cypress Independent’s website.

Being a member of this group allows Luke to have his own time performing when he’s not teaching.

“(Performing with Lady Gaga) was a oncein-a-lifetime experience,” Luke said. “From the moment (Cypress Independent) found out about (this) opportunity, we were totally over the moon.”

During halftime, and in particular during Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” song, the audience in the NRG stadium in Houston, and millions of viewers across the world, could see lights shimmering and spinning backfield as the stadium dimmed. A group of five dancers from Cypress Independent took the stage behind Gaga, tossing light-up rifles. Luke was one of these five.

Luke said he appreciated that color guard was shown professionally in such a large entertainment industry and in front of millions of people. He said he is “so thankful” that Cypress Independent had this opportunity.

“The reactions after our performance were life-changing,” he said. “Being able to see people in the color guard world, because it’s a relatively small world … compared to the world-at-large, to see so many people … view color guard in such a mainstream way, presented professionally and in a way that was entertaining and brought so (many) people happiness is something that I will take with me for the rest of my life.”

Luke’s roots can be found in Wehr Band Hall, where his former color guard instructor works, John Sullivan. Sullivan has been working with Missouri State’s color guard for 25

Courtesy of Luke Christisen

Luke, right, practices with members from Cypress Independent.

years. He choreographs field placement and Missouri State and his five years of dedication winter guard shows, designs guard costumes to the program. and helps to recruit those interested in performing. Sullivan remembered Luke’s time here at u See CHRISTISEN, page 10

Former Libertarian presidential SUPER BOWL BUSCHHHH candidate visits alma mater COMMERCIAL HAS MSU TIES

Mike Volding Staff Reporter @MiketheKid65

Former Libertarian presidential candidate and Missouri State alumus Austin Petersen was welcomed back to campus by the Missouri State’s Young Americans for Liberty on Thursday, Feb. 8.

According to the chapter president, sophomore history major Jaret Scharnhorst, Young Americans for Liberty is a nationwide organization that is focused on recruiting, training and educating students on the ideals of liberty and the Constitution.

Petersen opened his talk by throwing in a little humor as he talked about the ideals of the Libertarian Party.

“Here is being a Libertarian in a nutshell, ‘I just want gay married couples to be able to guard their marijuana fields with automatic rifles,’” Petersen said.

Petersen graduated from Missouri State in 2004, majoring in musical theatre. In 2016, Petersen ran for president of the United States with the Libertarian Party. He became the runner-up for the nomination to the governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson.

After graduating from MSU, he moved to New York to become an actor where he

Blaine Wheeler Staff Reporter @blainewheeler21

NINA TODEA/THE STANDARD

Austin Petersen was invited by the Young Americans for Liberty to speak on Feb. 8. noticed that the taxes were quite high. He said he noticed even with the little money that actors make, the government still took quite a bit out.

This is what sparked Petersen’s interest in politics.

Before he knew it, he was

working his way up the ladder in Washington D.C. About a year later, he said he saw that his preferred candidate for the Republican Party, Rand Paul, was probably u See PETERSEN, page 9

Missouri State alumnus Gerald “Gerry” Downey landed it big last month. You might know him as the Busch Beer guy, staring center stream in Busch Beer’s Super Bowl campaign.

Downey attended Missouri State from 1990-1994, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and has been in many roles for TV shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds” and movie roles such as “Live Free Die Hard” and “Evan Almighty” just to name a few. However, to him, MSU was where the magic started.

“Those were some good times,” Downey said. “I still talk to some of my friends when I was on campus living at Freddy. I kind of dove on anything and everything theater and made my home.”

The southwest Missouri native grew up just outside of Republic off of I-44 on a dairy farm, where the dream of being an actor started as young as five years old.

But it wasn’t in everyone’s knowledge that he wanted to pursue a path as a performer.

In high school, Gerry took classes and participated in

Photo from imdb.com

Gerald Downey anything theater but visited MSU with an interest in pursuing business, finance or engineering.

“I got a scholarship—like a grant—and thought I wanted to stay local, and I wanted to do it,” he said.

But that all changed in a summer welcome, a university visit, when Downey was sitting in the business room and it didn’t feel right. He raised his hand in the room and used the excuse that his mom filled out his register sheet wrong to leave and sneak to the theater room.

“I felt like such a rebel because I waited to tell my parents I wanted to major in theater,” Downey said.

“I came back with that first year’s schedule with all theater classes. They didn’t know what to do; they thought, ‘Who are you?’”

They lovingly tried talking Gerry out of it, but within the first year in the program, the uncertainty between the family dissolved as his parents saw him flourish at the end of the semester play he was part of.

“They’d never seen me in a play that big, and it was so much fun, and I think from that point on they were so supportive and they came to see all of my plays,” he said.

Former Missouri State theatre and dance professor Chyrel Miller raved about Gerry and his dedication to the program, claiming that he is very talented, but on top of all of that, he is a nice guy.

Something that Miller remembered about Gerry was the actor’s work ethic.

“I can remember, I said, ‘Gerry, you need to buff up a little bit more,’ and he actually spent the entire summer working at his farm in Republic, bailing hay so he could come back looking like the Gerry that he looks like tou See DOWNEY, page 10

Alumus uses art work to encourage conversation, understanding Casey Struble Staff Reporter @Casey_A_Struble In a library-like silence, the work of students and faculty decorates the refurbished walls of the antique Student Exhibition Center. Steven Heath, recent animation alumnus, recognized the work of his own and his peers as if looking at old family photos.

Heath looked back at his academic career with nostalgia as sanguine as his excitement for the future—both holding discovery in gender, community and creativity.

The animation major, a 2016 fall graduate, had two self-portraits on display at the Student Exhibition Center.

Heath talked about his back-

ground that lends itself to vulnerability in reference to one of his portraits, which is a nude.

Growing up just outside of St. Louis in Arnold, Heath had a supportive family. He enjoyed music and scouting.

As Heath discovered his femininity, he found that his passions were splitting him into a dichotomy of both male and female identity.

“In high school, I came out as gay, but when I got to college, I realized that it wasn’t that simple—that I was more grey,” Heath said.

Though preferring male pronouns, Heath described himself as gender fluid.

“Raised by video games” and Saturday morning cartoons, he developed a passion

MIRANDA ROLLER/THE STANDARD

Steven Heath poses next to his art in the Student Exhibition Center. for animation in entertainment.

Heath also has a diverse music background including singing and flute.

“Brick City taught me to appreciate (the arts), past just

the face value,” Heath said. He spent his latter college years designing 3D models and levels that could be used in video games and animations.

During his freshman year,

four years ago, Heath became involved in the community at Brick City, which at the time had just been acquired. Cole Closser and Vonda Yarberry were cited as his most influential professors in his artistic career.

“Vonda actually allowed me to get into the digital photography class (without the prerequisite classes),” Heath said.

“We don’t mind letting people into classes outside of their specific track. It shows they want the class for more than just to graduate,” said Cole Closser, design instructor at Brick City.

Closser, who has an energetic, enthusiastic approach to both his lectures and readings, appreciated Heath’s constant

work and improvement. Closser said that Heath gave his classes an energy that fostered conversation and fun.

“He works really hard, is incredibly creative. He was exhausted but still making his senior show work,” said Closser.

While he looked at his work on display, Heath said that art is “an effective way to explore things like gender.”

“This lets me open up a discussion on gender and what it means to everyone,” Heath said. “Campuses are a really good place for that discussion.

We’re the next generation, fresh out of high school. I think we’re more receptive to new ideas. u See HEATH, page 10

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

THE STANDARD

THE-STANDARD.ORG 5

MSU Spotlight: Sister professors take on MSU together Hanna Sumpter Staff Reporter @hannasumpter On the second floor of Strong Hall, two sisters sit in the lounge of the religious studies department. Pamphlets and books on religious topics are scattered across the coffee table in front of them as the sisters tell their story about how they found themselves teaching at Missouri State University.

Micki Pulleyking, senior instructor, and Kathy Pulley, professor, are sisters and both teach in the religious studies department. Their offices are next door to one another, and they have been working at MSU together for about 15 years.

Childhood Dream Jobs

Teaching was not what either of these sisters had in mind as they grew up, but their paths to MSU was certainly eventful.

“When I was little I wanted to be a shortstop for the New York Yankees,” Pulley, the older sister, said. “As I got a little older, I realized that was not going to happen.”

Pulley’s sister had equally interesting aspirations as a child.

“Somehow, by the time I was about five, I liked to pretend like I was the preacher at church,” Pulleyking said. “I would sit my parents down,

and I would stand on a little step stool, and I would get this little church magazine out … and I would pretend like I was reading to them … I would play preacher.”

“I was either going to be a preacher or I was going to be the first woman to land on the moon,” Pulleyking said.

Pulleyking was at one point a minister for a church, but otherwise their childhood dream jobs did remain exactly what they were—dreams.

Furthering Education

Even though the sisters weren’t able to be famous baseball players or astronauts, they were pushed by their parents to continue their educations. Their father finished out his education at the eighth grade, and their mother struggled while moving to another town just to graduate high school.

“Her great regret in life was not having gone to college,” Pulleyking said. “She spent all of (our childhood) years teaching her girls how important education was. It was really, really important to our mother to be educated.”

Both women went on to further their educations. Already growing up in Springfield, both continued their educations at MSU. It was in college that both sisters could pursue their interests in religion, which had

COLLIN HADLEY/THE STANDARD

Micki Pulleyking, left, and Kathy Pulley talk about their childhoods and travel adventures. been developing since their childhoods. Their family members were devoted church attendees, and both sisters said they began seeking answers to many religious and existential questions.

Pulley made a trade with her father, agreeing to pursue a degree in education to teach

high school students. She completed her bachelor’s degree at MSU but was still drawn to learning about religion, especially after taking religion courses. It was from then on that she pursued a master’s degree at Abilene Christian University. In 1989, she received a Ph.D. with a focus on

religion from Boston University.

Pulleyking attended MSU, seeking a bachelor’s degree in religious studies, at one point taking a religion course taught by her sister. She, like her sister, also went on to achieve a master’s degree and Ph.D. with focuses on religion. She grad-

uated from Harvard with her master’s degree and from Boston University in 2004 with her Ph.D. Among their achievements in the religious studies department at MSU, Pulleyking was the co-founder of the religious u See SISTERS, page 10

SPRING RECRUITMENT TAKES OVER MO STATE Chloe Skaar Staff Reporter @chloeskaar Greek life organizations on Missouri State’s campus are once again starting up the tradition of recruiting new members to build their chapters in size and in character.

Not all Greek chapters participate in a spring recruitment—the beginning of each fall semester is typically when the largest amount of students sign their bids to signify membership of their sorority or fraternity. However, hosting a recruitment process can prompt steep demands of the chapter’s members, regardless of season

or gender.

Jordan Cruzan, sophomore geography and geology major, spearheads recruitment for Theta Chi. He said a tough aspect of recruiting men for his fraternity is communicating with students who aren’t fully committed to the responsibility that comes with signing a membership bid.

“One of the most painstaking aspects of the recruitment process is ensuring that everyone who could be informed about participating in (recruitment) is actually informed and getting those who are skeptical of the value or purpose of Greek life to give it a go,” Cruzan said. “The most successful aspect is that people who aren’t

normally engaging in dialogue now have an opportunity to do so.”

Sarah Gerwel, senior studying management and the recruitment chair for Sigma Sigma Sigma, said the challenges for hosting a sorority’s recruitment are mainly participation and resources.

“Time and money. They are obstacles in everyday life and when recruiting,” Gerwel said. “It takes time and money from both parties in order for the recruitment process to work, but I do not think there has been an obvious aspect of the recruitment process that has caused a lot of problems for (Tri Sigma). I know that our chapter is most successful when we actu-

ally get to meet potential new members because it makes it more fun.”

The spring season for Greek recruitment tends to be a more casual process than in the fall due to a smaller number of students accepting bids and that each chapter’s participation is typically optional.

“I think the biggest differences can be seen in the fall when sororities are restricted to adhere by the rules of the Panhellenic Association,” Gerwel said. “Other than that, I honestly do not know much about fraternity u See RECRUITMENT, page 10

6

THE STANDARD

sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

2017 BASEBALL PREVIEW

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Burger, baseball wants to go one game further in 2017 Wyatt Wheeler Sports Editor @realYitWheeler Jake Burger’s first season at Missouri State ended in a 3-2 loss to Arkansas in the Super Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament.

One game short of the College World Series.

Burger’s second season at Missouri State started off with the best start in school history, but the season still ended in disappointment when the Bears lost on a wild pitch in extra innings in the Missouri Valley Championship game.

One game short of the NCAA Tournament.

This year, the junior third baseman wants to go one game further in most likely last season in a Bears uniform.

“It’s tons of motivation,” Burger said. “There’s a lot of guys who were on that 2015 team and they want to have those same feelings that we had that year and go one game further and see where that takes us.”

Even though the thought of getting back to where the Bears have been in the past is there for Burger, head coach Keith Guttin is focused on this season and this season only.

“We don’t talk about that,” Guttin said as he enters his 35th season as the Missouri

State skipper. “We’re anxious for Friday, Feb. 17th.

“Last year’s over; the year before’s over. You take lessons from every game, and it’s not something we rehash.”

For Burger, Guttin and the rest of the Bears, the first pitch of the 2017 season starts Friday in Lake Charles, Louisiana in a matchup with Rhode Island.

It is expected that this season will be Burger’s last season at Missouri State, as he is ranked as high as the No. 1 third-baseman going into the upcoming MLB Draft by a number of rankings.

MLB.com has Burger has the No. 1 third baseman and No. 30 prospect overall and

was selected to Baseball America’s preseason first-team All-American team.

“It’s always in the back of your head,” Burger said on his draft status. “There’s no way to get around it. It’s a real thing. It’s all jazz, so I’m not going to put too much emphasis on it.

“I’m more focused on beating Rhode Island in game one.”

Although the future is in the back of Burger’s head, Guttin said that you wouldn’t know it because it’s not a conversation going on in his clubhouse.

“We don’t talk about it, and he doesn’t talk about it,” Guttin said. “He knows none of that means anything unless he

MADDY CUSHMAN/FILE PHOTO

Burger is entering in perhaps his final year at MSU. goes out there this spring and performs, and he’s anxious to do that.”

Burger pointed out that the chemistry on the 2017 team matches the chemistry of the 2015 team which finished the season 49-12. He also acknowledged Meyer’s summer which saw him with a batting

average over .400.

For senior second baseman Aaron Meyer, it’s not a question of whether or not he’ll be returning to Missouri State in 2018. This will be his final season at Missouri State.

u See BASEBALL, page 8

Smart forms work group to reduce athletics budget MVC Track and Field Championships moved Wyatt Wheeler Sports Editor @realYitWheeler

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Jackie Stiles reacts to seeing her statue for the first time.

IMMORTALIZED Jackie Stiles ‘speechless’ after statue reveal

Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark Lady Bears assistant coach Jackie Stiles just became the first former student athlete to be immortalized on Missouri State’s campus.

But, since she scored 3,393 points during her college career at MSU and is a College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, it only makes sense.

“I don’t know how to show my gratitude, my appreciation for something like this,” Stiles said.

“A statue? It’s just a credit to so many incredible people that surrounded me throughout my career.”

She said she approved of the pose enacted by the bronze statue.

“I loved to penetrate the lane,” Stiles said. “It

kind of shows me driving the lane, I think.”

The statue was unveiled shortly after 1:15 p.m. on Sunday. Donors John and Sue Gibbs supported the statue and started a scholarship fund in Stiles’ name.

“I really wish I could put into words,” Stiles said. “I never in my wildest dreams imagined having something like this. And then to walk by it every day. Wow. At a university I love so much.

It’s … I don’t know… I’m speechless.”

Stiles earned 1,062 of the 3,393 points her senior year — a single-season record. Her senior year she was a first-team All-American pick by Kodak and the Women’s Basketball News Service Player of the Year by the Associated Press. u See STILES, page 8

Missouri State President Clif Smart announced last Tuesday morning the formation of a university work group who would work to determine ways to reduce athletics expenses by at least $750,000.

The announcement was made on the heels of Gov. Eric Greitens’ budget recommendations for fiscal year 2018.

In Smart’s ‘Clif’s Notes,’ released last Tuesday morning, he cited a $8.2 million cut to Missouri State’s core operating appropriations.

Smart announced a work group who would evaluate strategies to reduce expenses in athletics. Smart said that he asked the work group to reduce athletic expenses by at least $750,000.

The Athletics Budget Work Group will be chaired by Dr. Jim Hutter.

Two weeks ago, Missouri State’s Board of Governors approved guiding principles the university would use to develop its fiscal year 2018 budget, according to a press release.

“Now more than ever, our budget needs to be in line and fit with the changing financial landscape of Missouri State University,” Athletic Director Kyle Moats said in a press release. “We continue to be committed to the welfare of our student-athletes and compliance with Title IX. Those things are paramount to this process.

“The committee will have a difficult and unenviable task. Everything will be reviewed and studied closely, but ultimately, as revenue has decreased and expenses in intercollegiate athletics have increased, this is the right time to evaluate how our resources are allocated.”

According to Moats in the press release, the study group will begin its work immediately with the hopes of presenting its findings in the spring to the Board of Governors.

Since the announcement, Missouri State has withdrawn from hosting the 2017 Missouri Valley Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

In order to host the MVC Champion-

ships, MSU was going to have to build a javelin throwing facility, which university officials determined would cost around $270,000 for the MVC meet at Parkview High School, according to the press release.

MSU later learned that they would have to overhaul their current shot put, discus and hammer throwing area on-campus in order to host the event.

Proposals for constructing both facilities in time for the MVC Championships (starting on May 12) would have cost Missouri State nearly $600,000, according to a press release.

Missouri State notified the Missouri Valley Conference of its request on Monday. Wichita State accepted the MVC’s offer to host the meet instead of Missouri State.

Bears track and field student-athletes were notified of the decision at a team meeting Tuesday night.

“It’s still shocking,” head track and field coach Ron Boyce said. “Give it some time … but there is disappointment, obviously.”

Even after Smart’s announcement, Boyce said he didn’t think about the immediate effects that it might have on his team.

Boyce is also still hopeful that Missouri State will host the MVC Championships in the future.

“I’m a coach; I’m optimistic,” Boyce said. “I hope this will all settle down and we’ll figure it out. I plan to host, and I plan to do it the very next opportunity that we get.”

Boyce said that he didn’t get too much of an opportunity to talk to his team, but he’s confident that the team will figure things out.

“What I said to them was that we still have work to do,” Boyce said. “We’re not going to let this define our season …

We’re not going to do that.

“We have work to do. We’re going to figure it out and what we’re going to do next. But we’re going to keep working.”

Boyce said that he will sit down with his team and further discuss the situation.

Betty and Bobby Allison Stadium South will host the Missouri State Invitational on April 21.

Men’s hoops drops third straight Wyatt Wheeler Sports Editor @realYitWheeler Following a missed Northern Iowa 3-pointer and down three with 14 seconds left, Ryan Kreklow dribbled down the court with two timeouts in his pocket.

He had an open look; he didn’t take the shot.

“Krek should’ve shot the first one,” Bears head coach Paul Lusk said. “I didn’t want to call a timeout once we got the stop.”

Kreklow dribbled to his right and had another look at the basket. He didn’t shoot.

“When he passed on the second one, I was darn near coming on the floor (to take a timeout),” Lusk said.

Kreklow dribbled to his right, lost control of the ball and he didn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.

Bears lose their third straight for the first time this season.

Missouri State (15-12, 6-8) fell to Northern Iowa (13-12, 8-6) 55-52 with a date with Valley-leading Illinois State coming Wednesday night.

The Bears kept the Panthers off the scoreboard for stretches of 8:59 and 5:07, but the Bears weren’t able to take advantage of what their defense was giving them.

“It hurt a little bit, but we were still right there,” sophomore guard Jarred Dixon said. “We really hurt ourselves those first couple minutes with turnovers, but we still battled.

“It kind of hurt though; it probably could’ve been a different outcome if those things did happen.”

The slow start included five turnovers for the Bears in less than five minutes after

MEGAN BURKE/THE STANDARD

Chris Kendrix holds off a defender during loss. tipoff.

Missouri State would then go on a 16-0 run over 8:59 to take a 18-8 lead. Northern Iowa senior guard Jeremy Morgan scored his first basket of the game on a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 18-11.

Junior forward Chris Kendrix sunk a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in the half to give the Bears a seven point lead, but Morgan hit a pair of 3’s before the end of the half, including one at the buzzer, to give the Bears a one-point

lead going into the half instead of seven.

“We took a lot of momentum into halftime,” Morgan said. “We came out and kept it going in the second half.”

Morgan, the preseason Missouri Valley Player of the Year, scored 28 points in the first matchup with Missouri State on Dec. 28. Morgan was kept scoreless until he hit the shot to end the UNI 8:59 scoring drought and the two 3’s at the end of the half.

“Jeremy carried us down the stretch of that first half,” Northern Iowa head coach Ben Jacobson said. “He carried us down that last four minutes of the first half and then the few minutes of the second half. That 6-7 minutes was definitely the key to the basketball game.”

As for Missouri State, the starters struggled to get much going.

Missouri State’s starters only scored 21 of the team’s 55 points, and 12 of them came from senior guard Dequon Miller.

“I probably have to think of changing some things up,” Lusk said. “Guys need to earn their minutes but sometimes with the way the guys have played that there’s some dead minutes out there.

“I probably have to think about that. Guys are trying.”

The Bears will stay at home with a 8 p.m. tipoff with Missouri Valley leading Illinois State. The Bears lost to Illinois State in overtime on Jan. 4 in overtime.

“We’re going through a rough stretch,” Lusk said.

“Everyone knows we’re going through league play — that can happen.

“We’re going through one right now ... No one’s going to feel sorry for us.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

THE STANDARD

THE-STANDARD.ORG 7

Coach Harpers

A basketball love story Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Kellie and Jon Harper coach during the Lady Bears’ blowout win over Evansville.

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Kellie and Jon Harper before the game and after the game.

It’s a typical Saturday morning, and the Lady Bears’ head coach Kellie Harper is watching game film with her young son Jackson resting on top of her.

“It’s almost like my personal life and my professional life is all one thing,” Kellie Harper said. “It’s a checklist, you just go right down. Laundry is right next to film. You just have to get things done during the season.”

Her husband, assistant coach Jon Harper, might be watching game film with her. Or folding laundry. Or on a brief recruiting trip. They share responsibility, Kellie said.

Kellie and Jon married in 1999 and have been coaching the Lady Bears for four years.

“We could have a reality show,” Jon said. “It’s great; it’s different. We feed off each other, balance each other. We also know how to punch each other’s buttons.”

Because they’ve been married for 18 years, they’ve figured out what to cut out to keep each other happy: competition.

Unsurprisingly, the two are kindred competitive spirits. They figured out early on in their relationship that competition would cause problems. Jon said his wife would beat him in a shooting contest. But if it came to a one on one match, he thought he would win.

“We used to play a lot of intramural sports with each other,” Kellie said.

“We’re really competitive, so we’ve

toned that down a lot. It’s probably better for the health of our marriage that we don’t compete against or even with each other sometimes.”

Their son Jackson, born in 2013, travels with the team often and went with the Lady Bears to their NCAA tournament bid last year. You can find Jackson warming up with the team before home games. He helps bring them together, especially after a tough loss.

“He’s a new hobby for us,” Jon said.

“He understands the difference between winning and losing, but he doesn’t care.

He’s going to go play; he’s a kid. It’s not a big deal to him. So he’s helped us in that aspect. After a game, we’re going to do whatever Jackson does.”

But little Jackson can’t fix all of the problems. Sometimes the couple’s moods ebb and flow as the team’s does.

“I think the hardest part is our moods often fluctuate depending on our team,” Kellie said. “The highs and lows of winning and losing affect us personally and affect us at home.”

But winning doesn’t hurt.

“I think one of the best moments that we shared was winning the conference championship last year,” Kellie said.

“There was no doubt that both he and I were so happy for our team.”

Even though they spend much of their time together, the couple still finds time to enjoy their own hobbies, especially during the summer. Jon said he plays golf, and loves riding horses. Basketball brings them together.

“We really love what we’re doing, and we love that we’re doing it together,” Jon said.

Lady Bears have beary dominant weekend Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark The Lady Bears didn’t hold back in their decisive wins over Southern Illinois and Evansville over the weekend.

They toppled Southern Illinois 73-59 and crushed Evansville 68-43.

Junior guard Liza Fruendt scored an impressive 24 points Friday night over SIU. Head coach Kellie Harper said her performance was “solid.”

Three Lady Bears, including Fruendt, were in double figures Friday night in their 73-59 win over SIU. Senior guard Lexi Hughes had 14 points, and freshman guard Alexa Willard had 11.

“I think we got stops when we needed to, and we had a lot of people contribute at different times,” Fruendt said. “We just kind of gelled. We were in a good flow today.”

The Lady Bears ended the half up 3222 but were outrebounded by the Salukis 18-16.

“I thought we had some really good

NAMI Southwest Missouri and Christ Church Episcopal are accepting sleeping bags, blankets, etc., to hand out to homeless veterans during the 2016 Veterans event.

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COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Alexa Willard squares up for a shot during blowout win vs Evansville. moments of ball movement,” Harper said.

“I thought we had some really good moments of just pure attack.”

SIU cut the lead to eight with four minutes left to play, but Fruendt followed up with a critical basket to cut off the Salukis’ momentum.

Friday’s game was a pink-out in sup-

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

BAILEY VASSALLI/FILE PHOTO

Jake Burger takes a big swing against Mizzou during 2016 season.

BASEBALL Continued from page 6

“It is what it is,” Meyer said. “Being a senior and being a leader on the team is definitely cool. It’s definitely cool to see guys come to you on and off the field for help and I think that’s what this team is all about is helping each other.”

Younger guys who made an impact for the Bears last season will be stepping up in the absence of graduated outfielder Spencer Johnson, who was last playing for the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Houston Astros organization.

Johnson hit 24 home runs for the Bears last season in what Burger described as a ‘McGwire and Sosa’ homerun battle, where Burger finished with 21.

While Guttin doesn’t see any replacement

MIRANDA ROLLER/FILE PHOTO

Jeremy Eierman is hoping to take the next step after a solid freshman season.

in the lineup for a guy who hit 24 home runs, Burger said he expects to see other guys in the lineup to step up in Johnson’s place.

“I think Jeremy Eierman is one of those guys who can fill that role that (Johnson) had with the power numbers,” Burger said. “You also have Justin Paulsen and Blake Graham there as well.

“Losing (Johnson) is a huge hit for us, but I think there are guys who can step up for us there as well.”

Sophomore shortstop Jeremy Eierman caught on more and more as the season went on in 2016. He became a fixture in the middle part of the order as he hit nine home runs on his way to being named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the National College Baseball Writers Association.

“I’m a lot more comfortable going into the season,” Eierman said. “I have a lot more confidence going into the year, knowing my role and everything.”

Bucher out LADY BEARS as Ice Bears head coach

With Missouri State leaning more on their younger players from a season ago, they’ll also be leaning on additions to their pitching staff.

Reliever Sam Perez was drafted in the fifth round by the Miami Marlins, and he was the most consistent player coming out of the Bears’ bullpen.

Aside from Perez, the Bears pitching staff struggled in conference play. The Bears failed to keep opponents under a 3.50 ERA in all but one MVC series, and that one was to last place Illinois State. “(Pitching) is going to be the key,” Guttin said. “We really feel good about our bullpen.

I think the biggest thing really is to get three solid starts on a weekend.”

In weekend series last year, Missouri State won 7 of 13 series after a 5-0 series start to the season.

As important as it is for the pitching to step up going into the next season, Meyer sees

Continued from page 7

Alec McChesney Staff Reporter @Alec_McChesney Missouri State University Ice Bears’ head coach Bob Bucher has been relieved of his duties as head coach.

“MSU hockey and coach Bob Bucher have parted ways. We thank coach Bucher for this unwavering support throughout his time here and wish him the best moving forward,” a statement from the club said.

Bucher was hired before the start of the 2012-2013 season and has held the position for the past five seasons. During that time, he played a major role in moving the MSU hockey program from Division II to ACHA Men’s Division I League.

“Coach Bucher raised this organization’s competition level and brought it to new heights,” Ice Bears Player Board President Brendan McClew said in a press release.

“We hope the best for him in his future endeavors.”

During his tenure, Bucher led the Ice Bears to a 112-62-3 record. Additionally, he led the team to two ACHA Division II National Tournament appearances.

“Bob has done wonders for our organization. His commitment and love for the game of hockey is undeniable, as is the love he has shown for our organization,” Ice Bears General Manager Rhonda Ashlock said in a press release.

Prior to this move, Bucher led the Ice Bears to a 15-22 record in the 2016 season.

Since returning from Christmas Break, the Ice Bears have lost eight of their last 10 games.

Bucher declined to comment in regards to the move.

Assistant coach Ryan Armstrong will take over as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2016-2017 season. The club stated in the press release that Armstrong is a short-term option and that they are in search for an outsider to come in as the next head coach.

The Ice Bears have four games left on the schedule: Two on the road against the University of Arkansas and two at home against Lindenwood Belleville to finish the year.

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Liza Fruendt races a Evansville defender on a fast break. survived all sitting courtside watching us and just so proud and happy to be there to watch us play basketball. It’s phenomenal.”

Willard and Fruendt had double-doubles against Evansville on Sunday. Willard had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“I knew I was getting close to it because at halftime the girls told me,” Willard said. “I

STILES Continued from page 6

Stiles also earned the Missouri Valley conference Player of the Year award - three times.

That award is now named after her.

She went on to be a firstround draft pick for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Portland Fire where she won Rookie of the Year.

She’s been working as an assistant coach for a year now.

“It’s been a really neat weekend, just finding a lot of inspiration in a whole lot of different places,” Lady Bears head coach Kellie Harper said. “They enjoy

it important for everyone in the clubhouse to take that next step as well.

“Guys are pushing each other every single day,” Meyer said. “That’s what we love about this clubhouse; that’s what we love about this program.”

The Bears will start on the road in the McNeese State Lake Area Classic where they will take on Rhode Island (Athletic 10 favorites), Stony Brook (eliminated MSU from the NCAA Tournament in 2012) and McNeese State.

The road starts out difficult for the Bears, and it won’t get easier as they play teams like Minnesota, Oklahoma State and a tough Missouri Valley schedule, which challenged the Bears a season ago. The Bears finished 6-12 in conference play last season.

“Every season is a new season, regardless of what happened the year before,” Guttin said. “A team has to come together, and that usually takes some time.”

wasn’t trying to do it on purpose, but I was definitely aware of it and was trying to. I was definitely excited. Liza got one too. I’m pumped.”

Fruendt brought in 15 points and 10 rebounds.

“I think as a guard, it’s really important for us to go rebound because it takes a lot of pres-

all of the rides that we go on because of Jackie Stiles. They enjoy that. They enjoy being a part of her and celebrating her accomplishments with her.”

Junior guard Liza Fruendt said it was just an amazing day. “(It’s) amazing for her, amazing for our program,” Fruendt said. “It means so much and she means so much for our program.

The amount of work that she puts in for us just day in and day out. It’s a pure example of why there’s a statue of her outside.”

Now, Stiles just wants to give back to the university.

“And I know looking back that i was self focused on ‘I want to be the best player’ and that’s all I thought about every day,” Stiles said. “And now that’s given me a bigger platform to be

sure off the posts,” Fruendt said. “But I think that it’s something now that is a part of my game, and it’s a part of what I do.”

Four Lady Bears were in double digits, including Hughes with 16 points, sophomore guard Danielle Gitzen with 15 points, Willard and Fruendt. Hughes shot 4-5 from beyond the arc.

The Lady Bears out-rebounded Evansville 50-32 and had eight blocks.

“We wanted to really blast them defensively and make things hard for them,” Harper said.

“The players really bought into the defensive side of the game this weekend.”

Fruendt broke down Evansville defense again and drove to the basket for a lay-up. Then Hughes found senior forward Rachel Swartz wide open on the block, and she put up two more points for MSU. “We had a lot of points in the paint,” Harper said. “We wanted to try and get the ball inside.

I thought we shared the ball well enough — 14 assists and a lot of different people scoring.”

Gitzen and Hughes each shot about 62 percent overall and 100 percent from the free throw line.

“One thing that we wanted to do was make sure that we did not overlook either team because both teams have played well recently,” Harper said. “For us to come out and have the performances that we did, it just shows the focus that our players had and some growth and maturity.”

They will travel to Illinois to take on Bradley on Feb. 17 and Illinois State on Feb. 19.

COLLIN O’CONNELL/THE STANDARD

Stiles poses with the Lady Bears in front of her statue. able to give back to the game I time’s done at Missouri State, it love and a university that’s done will say that I made it a better so much for me. place.”

“I just hope that when my

Softball hot and cold to start season Mike Volding Staff Reporter @MiketheKid65 Missouri State softball takes to the field as they open the 2017 season on the road, by competing in the Louisiana Tech Invitational. The Bears faced five teams and finished with a 2-3 record.

Game 1: Arkansas-Pine Bluff For the first game of the 2017 season, the Missouri State bats shined as the Bears run-ruled Arkansas-Pine Bluff in an 8-0 five-inning shutout.

Bears’ junior pitcher Kaitlin Beason earned her first win of the season tossing a one-hit shutout. Five of the runs that the Bears scored in the bottom of the first came with two outs in the inning. In the bottom of the third, Bears’ sophomore first baseman

Darian Frost, drew a two-out walk.

The next batter to the plate was senior first baseman Mary Stephens who hit a double to left field, scoring Frost and her third RBI of the day. Senior third baseman Bethany Sullinger put the final nail in the coffin during the fourth by hitting an RBI single to center field. Beason finished the day with four strikeouts.

Game 2: Incarnate Word Later that same evening, Bears’ freshman pitcher Erin Griesbauer made her first appearance in a Bears uniform, by throwing a complete game against Incarnate Word. Griesbauer went six full innings allowing one run, as the Bears beat Incarnate Word 9-1. The bats came alive once again as the Bears score nine runs on 10 hits in six innings. Mary Stephens had a commanding game at the plate.

Bringing the Bears home, Stephens hit her second two-run home run in the sixth inning. Stephens finished the first day of the invitational with a perfect 1.000 batting average, four hits, two home runs and seven RBIs. Game 3: Samford To start the second day of competition, the Bears lost to the Samford Bulldogs 10-1. The Bears struggled right out of the gate. In the top of the first inning, Samford batters came out swinging. With just one out, Samford managed to load the bases. After a walked-in run, the Bulldogs launched a grand slam over the left field wall to gain an early 5-0 lead over the Bears. Heading into the next inning, the Bears rallied some offence as junior outfielder Hailee Vigneaux took a pitch off the leg. After an infield single and a wild pitch, senior Mary

Stephens hit a sacrifice fly to score Vigneaux. That would be the only run allowed by Samford pitching.

Game 4: Louisiana Tech The Bears and the Lady Techsters battled back-and-forth all afternoon, ultimately resulting in a 5-4 loss for the Bears. With two outs in the top of the first Stephens hit a single down the right field line, putting a runner in scoring position for the Bears. The next batter Beason hit a stand-up double to left center, scoring Stephens and giving the Bears an early 1-0 lead.

But the Lady Techsters would come back in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fourth, the Bears would regain the lead piecing together three hits and two runs. The Lady Techsters were able to regain the lead in the top of the fifth. The Bears were able to bolster one more run in the top of the

seventh, but that would not be enough to overcome the Lady Techsters.

Game 5: North Dakota Missouri State finished the last game of the invitational with a 5-4 loss to the University of North Dakota. The Bears started the game off with a two-run top of the first inning.

But North Dakota was able to bounce back and score four runs in the bottom of the first. The Fighting Hawks were able to extend their lead in the bottom of the second by launching a solo home run over the right field wall.

The Bears threatened late in the seventh inning, but fell short of North Dakota.

The Bears return to action next weekend at the Texas A&M Invitational on Feb. 17-19, in College Station, Texas.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

THE STANDARD

THE-STANDARD.ORG 9

Student sustainability fund grows new life Jenna deJong Staff Reporter @ima_JEN

File Photo By RYAN WELCH/THE STANDARD

The hydroponic growth system produces 600 pounds of food each month.

Heart Continued from page 2

during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic. At the time, being diagnosed with AIDS was viewed as a death sentence. There still isn’t a cure for AIDS. There were also many misconceptions about the disease, such as the belief that only gay men and drug users could contract the disease. The theater department wanted to use the play to help educate and bring awareness to students and the community about the disease.

The university received opposition from then-state Rep. Jean Dix and other local activists, which led to the formation of a group known as Citizens Demanding Standards. The group’s argument was that a publicly funded university shouldn’t use tax payers’ money to help fund a play the group saw as promoting a ‘gay’ lifestyle.

Despite demands to stop the play’s production, the university stood firm in its decision to allow the department to continue. Because of threats leading up to the play’s run, the university increased security at Craig Hall that included metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs and police officers for opening night.

Brad Evans, a student at SMSU at the time, lost his house in a suspicious fire that destroyed all his belongings and killed both of his cats.

Evans wasn’t a performer in the play, but was vocal in his support of his fellow students.

During the play’s run, the university encouraged students and any faculty involved in the play to stay with friends or stay in hotel rooms.

After an eventful opening night, the play finished its run without incident.

Emeritus professor Dr. Robert Bradley was the head of the theatre and dance department at SMSU in 1989 when the controversy occurred. He said that a doctor

Petersen Continued from page 4 not going to make it through the primary. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

“I thought to myself, ‘If he did not make it to the primary, then there would not be someone who embodied my beliefs,’” Petersen said, “So, I thought, ‘Well I’m turning 35 this year, (and) I am constitutionally eligible,’ so I decided to throw my hat into the ring.”

In his speech, Petersen talked

With the help of the Student Sustainability Fund, Missouri State’s Dine on Campus expanded their hydroponic plant growth system, producing roughly 600 pounds of food each month for dining halls and providing internship experience for students.

Last year, Senior Executive Chef Quintin Eason and Resident District Manager Tony Hein bought two structures containing 32 ZipGrow towers, a system that grows food vertically and without the use of soil.

Each tower contains a recycled plastic media that spurs root growth and strengthens plant life. With these systems, plants are expected to grow stronger and bigger than they would with traditional farming, according to gardening manufacturer Fullbloom Hydroponics.

“I wanted (this school) to be ground zero,” Eason said. “Missouri State has a great agricultural program, and I wanted to tie that in with our food service since we serve a ton of meals here on campus.”

After the success of the initial 32 towers, Eason and Hein were granted $22,000 by the Student Sustainability Fund to expand their project — this in-

was flown in from San Francisco to talk about AIDS. “You cannot be aware of the ignorance that existed in this area in 1989,” Bradley said.

The doctor spoke on the third floor of the PSU in the ballroom, and Bradley said the room was packed, while a crowd of people waiting outside.

“Every single seat they could find in this place was put up in that room. Every single seat was full, every place around the wall,” Bradley said.

“These were all students; these were all SMS students who now felt compelled that they needed to know something about this disease.”

Teaching students about the unknown disease was one of the motivations for the theatre department to do the play.

“When it was over, I walked out, and I walked down the steps. At that point I said, ‘It has all been worth it,’” Bradley said.

about Libertarian ideals and how they differ from those of Republicans and Democrats.

“You know with this past election having two not very popular candidates, people are looking to third parties now more than ever,” Petersen said.

Petersen also covered a wide array of controversial issues that surround this nation today, one of those being the War on Drugs.

“One of the first things that I would do would be to abolish the War on Drugs completely,” Petersen said. “The reason drugs are dangerous is because they are illegal. Doing drugs is a victimless crime. So, yes, I do believe

past students. The committee suggested offering professional headshots for students who haven’t had that opportunity in the past. This was able to come to life at the event this past weekend.

In addition to benefiting students, Spencer said she feels that this event also benefits the reviewers as well.

“It helps us to be a bit more introspective about current trends and helps us stay grounded towards the younger community,” Spencer said. “We want to let students know that there is a bigger creative community that we want these students to plug in to. This is a great first step for them. They’re able to get some face time with folks who may be their future em-

COLLIN HADLEY/THE STANDARD

that heroin should be legal, that way we are able to study it. If we do that, I’m sure that once people realize how bad it is for you, the usage of the drug will go way down.”

Scharnhorst said he believes that bringing in Petersen will do great things for the organization “You know bringing in a person of Austin’s caliber is a really big deal,” Scharnhorst said. “If you tell people that you have a presidential candidate, and MSU alum come and speak, that will really get people to come out to hear his message and our message as well.”

Justin Orf, senior political science major, was in the audience during Petersen’s speech, and had good things to say about Petersen.

“I really liked his speech, because it provides us with different viewpoints,” Orf said. “College Republicans and Libertarians have similar views on less government, so it is pretty cool to see that connection. But it also shows us how Libertarians diverge a bit from normal conservatism.”

As Petersen concluded his speech, he said the sole role of government should be to protect citizens’ liberties.

NINA TODEA/THE STANDARD

Continued from page 2

ers for the interns to observe.

The rest of the towers are scattered around campus, mostly in or near the dining halls.

“The goal is that we are going to grow (the plants) to full maturity here with artificial light source and in a controlled environment, and then we are going to transfer them to campus,” Eason said.

During the summer months and winter breaks, Hein said that the extraneous plants will still be used, even with students away.

“Part of the proposal is that when we have excess production during breaks, we will donate the food to Ozarks Food Harvest or some local food pantry,” Hein said.

With the addition of 64 towers, Eason said about 1,240 plants are currently growing and each tower holds a new plant.

As of now, plants such as purple shiso, lettuce leaf basil, a variety of chives, tarragon, cilantro and red Cherokee lettuce are already planted in the towers.

According to Hultgren, the eco-friendly aspects aren’t the only factors to benefit campus.

“These systems are helping to provide fresh produce to the dining services on campus as well as helping our campus take a step in becoming more sustainable,” Hultgren said.

‘The Normal Heart’ is a play that was also made into a documentary and film.

Austin Petersen poses for a photo with a student.

Portfolio

cluded adding 64 towers, three internship positions and a teaching lab for the interns to work in. Hein said that Dine on Campus funded the rest of the project, covering about $8,000 in expenses. It will also cover ongoing charges such as the internship wages and maintenance.

Hein said he expects yearly maintenance to cost a $2,000 a year and about $14,000 a year for the internship wages.

The space was officially ready to grow plants on Feb. 3.

As of now, there are two interns running the room, one of which being senior and environmental plant science major Ally Hultgren.

“I think it’s a good fit because it is a growing aspect in the plant science industry and gives me a chance to gain more knowledge within the field that I can apply to other aspects of my future career,” Hultgren said.

The same goes for senior and environmental plant science major Sam Sergent.

“For my future career, I would like to do research, so this could impact me because it will give me a basis on how hydroponics works,” Sergent said.

The teaching lab is located in the Kentwood dining hall kitchen and contains the 64 tow-

ployers.”

Steve Popp, founder and owner of Popp Brand Advertising, was one of the reviewers at the event. Popp was eager to be there and contribute.

“I had a lot of professional insight into my book when I first got into the business. I’ve always found that it’s better than anything you can get in any class or anything you can learn on your own” Popp said. “The more of these you can do as a student, the better you’re going to be, and the more you can do as an employer and a reviewer, the better get at it. We all have the same goal. We all want a better job if you’re the talent, and you want better talent if you’re the one hiring.”

Katie Canada, lead designer and co-founder of Departika, said she believed in the importance of communicating properly with prospective employers.

“I get a lot of resumes and really unprofessional emails from people looking for jobs. I

SGA

Continued from page 1 Public Affairs Daezia Smith and SGA Director of Diversity and Inclusion Bree Moore, who read the resolution at the meetings.

Smith is a senior global studies major, and Moore is a senior psychology major.

“Probably one of the highlights of my administration was actually delivering the resolution to the Association of International Students’ president, who I invited to come,” Coffman said. “It was kind of an ordeal, especially for something that said ‘we support you.’”

Director of International Services Patrick Parnell sent two representatives from his staff to the SGA meeting to provide information on what the vetting process

is like for international students.

“I am very excited about it and in support of it,” Parnell said. “The events of the past two weeks have been troubling to say the least, and confusing and panic-inciting. For the most part, my biggest concern is that it gives our international student population, and our entire student population, a perception that they’re not welcome here.”

He said that perception isn’t accurate.

He added that this resolution shows solidarity for the international students that comes from their peers.

“I can tell them everything’s OK, and the president of the university can tell them everything’s okay,” Parnell said.

“But they also want to feel like their peers and their community are embracing and supporting them, and I hope that’s what this does.”

Food

August of 2016.

“At the food pantry, you get to interact with students while talking and helping them with their needs, and I just love to Continued from page 1 volunteer here,” Fong said.

In addition to the Student Food Pantry, showing people that we are here to support students also have access to the following other students in our community.” pantries in Springfield: Well of Life, VicAlong with Warfield, Aki Fong, soph- tory Mission and Central Assembly. omore communications science and disorders major, volunteers both days at the pantry. Fong has been volunteering at the pantry since she arrived on campus in

wanted to help educate a little bit on how you should present yourself when you’re looking for a job. I feel like it is important as a student to know how to do that,” Canada said. “The design teachers always do a good job about educating students on this, but I want to give my opinion from the side that receives those resumes.”

Both Popp and Canada said they hope that this event will help these students procure jobs in the future.

“It’s a tough time to get a job right now,” Popp said, “It’s hard to find a better industry right now. Exciting, but I would think it’s pretty daunting. It’s grown a lot. Nobody used to know what a graphic designer was. They used to parody it on sitcoms. There was always a token designer,” Popp said with a grin. “I didn’t know what the industry was until my junior year in college.”

Many students who attended the event spoke to different reviewers for extended periods of

time, exchanging tips and past experiences Lane Nichols, junior advertising and promotion major, was happy to share her experiences with the process.

“The people I spoke to helped me to narrow down a position that I would be really good at,” Nichols said. “This is a great way to network and to meet new people.”

Bryan Elliott, junior graphic design major, said he was eager to talk to the reviewers, even sitting down with different critics to get new perspectives on his portfolio.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to get feedback from people who are actually in the industry,” Elliott said, “They were really helpful. They tell you what businesses look for in your portfolio. They want to help students get into their careers and learn about the community they’re in. Being able to hear it from somebody who has seen it all before is really good.”

10 THE-STANDARD.ORG

Christisen Continued from page 4

“We’ve had a lot of great students come through here … and he is definitely one of them,” Sullivan said. “He came in from the beginning having a drive for excellence and a love for the program. (He is) a very positive individual, and he was a positive force his entire time here. He went on to be the color guard captain and then went on to be on our junior staff as well.”

Luke has returned in past summers after his graduation in 2013 to work with students in the MSU program. He has helped choreograph and write guard shows alongside Sullivan.

“He is a great teacher, so the fact that he is going to help develop color guard (performers) is a wonderful step for him, and to me, (is something) he has already been involved (with),” Sullivan said.

For Luke’s future plans, he wants to help produce another generation of world-class performers, like those he performs alongside with, who are passionate about their work.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m about to reach the point where I’m ready

THE STANDARD

to start retiring from the performance side of things and focus more so on being an educator and developing the next generation of color guard performers,” he said. “(However,) having an experience like (the Super Bowl) takes you back to the reality of why you do it in the first place.”

Sullivan shared that he has seen this passion in Luke and sees that he carries it with him everywhere he goes. “(Luke) is someone that when he was here, he had a true passion for Missouri State, and he continues to have that. Every place he goes throughout the country, he is still (rooted) in Missouri Stat, and that’s awesome to see,” Sullivan said.

Luke shared advice for students at Missouri State, including those in the guard program that he has taught in the past.

“My biggest piece of advice would be to never talk yourself out of your potential,” he said. “So many (undergraduate students) are going through so much change (and are) learning so much about themselves—you start to get an idea of the different directions your life can go. I had so much anxiety moving to Texas, (but) it turned out to be the greatest decision I’ve made in my entire life. And the only thing that could have potentially held me back was myself.”

Photo by Luke Christisen

Cypress Independent poses before the Super Bowl halftime show.

Recruitment Continued from page 5 recruitment other than that it is very laid back.”

The Panhellenic Association did not respond for comment in time of publication.

Cruzan said that the level of formality is a major distinction between how men’s and women’s chapters recruit their new members.

“From my perspective, it seems that fraternity recruitment is less formal, while sorority recruitment is a bit more formal in its structure and tradition,” Cruzan said.

“I haven’t had any experiences of double

Sisters Continued from page 5

standards where one group of people is able to do something that another cannot, but if those double standards do exist, I think that they should be brought up for further scrutiny. Any solution for a problem such as this must be in the best interest of the most amount of people.”

Gerwel also said double standards within the Greek life community are regarded as a common stigma, but chapters on MSU campus have made a lot of recent efforts to improve these relations.

“I think in the past there were double standards, but our FSL community is striving to bridge the gap,” Gerwel said. “We all strive for excellence in academics, philanthropy, service, and leadership.”

the Strasbourg airport and we didn’t have a way to get back to our apartment,” Pulleyking said laughing with her sister intermittently. “So, we hitchhiked at, like, midnight in a snowstorm.

We got in the car with some random man.”

studies club as a student and she still sponsors Return to Missouri State University the club today. Pulley made an important Both sisters followed different paths, but achievement herself by becoming the first wom- found themselves back at MSU. an to be hired in the religious studies departPulley returned not long after completing ment. her bachelor’s degree.

For a portion of Pulley’s time as a faculty After Graduation member, she served as an assistant vice presiBetween graduating and later returning to dent in academic affairs. Part of her job was to MSU, both sisters pursued other goals and op- sit in at weekly roundtable meetings with the portunities such as traveling across the world then-president of the university, John Keiser, to France and England, among other places. and the handful of other decision makers.

Pulleyking received a Rotary Ambassador felIt was in one of these meetings that Pulley lowship to study in France at the same time became an influential contributor to an extremethat Pulley was studying in England. ly important symbol of the university. Keiser “We ended up doing a lot of traveling mentioned that a student brought in an idea for throughout western Europe and the Soviet a project for the university.

Union during that year,” Pulley said.

“His idea was that we need to have a student They both had fond memories of traveling, scholar,” Pulley said. “So, he brings in drawings mentioning their time witnessing the authori- of that to present to the entire central administarian regime in the Soviet Union and even one tration.” of their more humorous adventures.

Pulley said he brought in a nice model of a “When I was living in France, we were re- muscular man holding up the globe. ally cheap, and (Pulley) landed one night in “That’s all interesting, but at the end I said,

Downey Continued from page 4 day,” Miller said.

It didn’t come easy, though.

When Gerry committed to working for his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, he said there were about 50 students in the field, but at graduation, Downey said only about five were left.

“I think a lot of times as actors you can be lazy; you think, ‘Oh, I’m just going to watch movies and I’ll work on being good-looking and maybe I can be famous off of that,’ but that is so not how the business works, and it is about hard work,” Downey said.

In his college days, Gerry spent spring breaks in New York on trips with the university. But it wasn’t until after graduation when Gerry experienced a feeling of, “OK, you are either going to do this or you’re not,” when he moved to New York City after working his first job at the MGM Grand for eight months.

For Gerry, New York City was when he was thrown out to the sharks. New York meant a complete change of life from southwest Missouri, and he said for a while he was living month-to-month, not knowing if he could afford rent.

Gerry said he would sometimes start his day at 5 or 6 a.m. just to stand in line to get an audition. “I’d even go on my lunch break to audition. So those times really helped me figure it out,” he said.

In this hectic routine, Mill-

Heath Continued from page 4

a Heath thought the discussions were important because they might very well end at the edge of campus.

“When people don’t understand something, they can be violent. There have been times when I’ve dealt with that negativity,” said Heath.

Perhaps the most poignant part of Heath’s art curriculum was the critiques in classes held by Closser and others.

“My professors have been amazing,” Heath said. “In critiques, students have been very supportive of my ideas and themes. “ “The point of a critique

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017

er said Gerry still found time to pay all the help he got forward. Any student that Miller sent to New York City was helped by Gerry in finding part-time work and looking after them while they too searched for acting jobs.

“I owe him and so do lots of people for that favor,” Miller said.

After New York City, Gerry took his work to Hollywood where he has worked for the last 13 years as an actor.

Gerry described himself as one of the lucky ones, he has a good team working with him. He described that it takes as much on his management team’s end as it does on his to get an audition and acting job.

The audition Gerry got for the Busch commercial was with a cast director that he had seen many times. In commercial campaigns, like this one, when looking for auditions, they send out what is called a ‘break down.’ This describes the character they want to fit the role.

When giving advice to younger actors, Downey said, “You must learn to always be true to yourself. Especially in acting, you can always feel like you want to be a character or audition to try and be somebody else, but really you have to be you as that other character you are portraying.”

And that was exactly what he felt in the Busch Beer campaign. From there, Downey went through the process of auditioning and the stress of waiting to see if he got the job.

“I’ve had other Super Bowl commercials, and one of

which never got aired,” Downey said. “They can film the whole thing and just show it to, say, the people at Anheuser Busch or the focus group.

(These groups) could just say, ‘Nope, I don’t get it,’ or just say, ‘Yeah, how funny’ and scrap it. So, you could put a lot of work into something and it all get scrapped.”

All of the hard work came down to the weekend of the Super Bowl. Downey said he had a good feeling, but even the Friday before the big game, he didn’t know if it was going to get aired. When it did in the first quarter he felt like he had won the Super Bowl.

“I can’t explain how happy and proud I feel to represent Southwest Missouri,” he said.

“We are proud of Gerald and his success,” said Jeremy Chapman, interim department head of the MSU Theatre and Dance department. “We are glad to see this Bear recognized in an event as popular as the Super Bowl.”

Downey said he never thought something as big as this commercial would happen. To him, he didn’t realize the magnitude of the job. It’s something he is going to take with a grain of salt and keep enjoying it, he said.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to say, but I was at a Super Bowl party and I almost started crying because I feel like I have the whole town and the whole school behind me.”

Downey said. “I can’t tell you how proud it made me feel and how happy I feel. It was a lifetime moment that I had never felt before in my life.”

isn’t for the grade, but to finish a project,” said Closser, “It’s a midway point, where we look at what works better. Steven was one who actually went back and improved his work. That’s what’s going to matter when you get that job interview.”

Heath said he thought other, non-art students could also gain something from the art community. “(The class) Drawing I is so much more than just drawing,” Heath said. “It teaches you about perspective and craft. A common misconception is that you have to be talented to take art classes— you don’t. I read a Bob Ross quote that resonated with me that said, ‘talent is a pursued interest.’”

Aside from providing in-

troductory art courses, Brick City has planned faculty, student and featured artist exhibits. The free shows can be located in the Brick City Galleries.

Though appreciative of MSU, Heath has plans to move. California, with its tech and animation companies, is one of the more attractive locations.

“I’m willing to move with my job,” Heath said. “If I have to move to Texas, I move to Texas. If it’s New York (or) Korea, fine.”

The artist, though ready to enter the industry, wanted most to open more dialogue.

“Of course, I would love to live off of my art. But if not, that’s fine,” said Heath. For his art career, money isn’t the sole purpose.

‘What about if he were a woman?’” Pulley said. “Then there was this dead silence and the silence I was worried about, of course, was the president’s silence.”

Despite the initial silence, her input was taken into consideration. The conversation began to revolve around changing the scholar into a female. This then brought up the dilemma of what the woman would look like.

Over a few trials of mock ups and making changes, a statue was eventually decided on.

The design was completed by a professor in the art department at that time, Dr. James Hill.

This is the same design that is shown as the citizen scholar statue which stands outside Strong Hall today.

“I’m really proud of (Pulley) for her work in getting the citizen scholar (statue) out there as female,” Pulleyking said. “She was instrumental in that.”

Following Pulley’s time as a member of the administration in Carrington, Pulley moved to Strong Hall and returned to her role as a faculty member in the religious studies department.

Meanwhile, Pulleyking had an interesting beginning at MSU. She became a mother just shortly before starting her first semester as a senior instructor back in 1994.

“I gave birth on July 27 and started (at MSU)

on August 14,” Pulleyking said. “There was no family leave. So, it was one of those things I will never forget that first semester when I was full-time because I had just had this baby.

He was two weeks old.”

Not long after this, Pulley and Pulleyking began their time working with one another in the religious studies department. Both were quick to mention how much they value their students and that they have never lost interest in their topics of teaching. They also mentioned how great it was working so closely with each other.

“I have nothing but good memories of … the joy of knowing that you’re going to get to work and there’s going to be your good friend right next door,” Pulley said.

“I always know she’s there … whatever the need is,” Pulleyking said. She later added with another grin and a laugh, “It’s great. She brings me bread on my birthday.”

And so it goes—both sisters continue their work strengthening the knowledge of their students. Spending their time out of class working in their offices, next door to one another, deep in the interlacing hallways of the religious studies department on the second floor of Strong Hall.