March 29, 2016

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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

M I S S O U R I

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Volume 109, Issue 26 | the-standard.org The Standard/The Standard Sports

TheStandard_MSU

More than 100 years in print @TheStandard_MSU/@Standard_Sports

MSUStandard

Bears break winning streak

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Ryan Welch/THE  STANDARD

Senior pitcher Sam Perez gets ready to pitch against the University of Minnesota Gophers. Over the weekend, the Bears won one game and lost two in the series against the Gophers. Currently, the baseball team is 19-4, and the next home game is Thursday, March 31 against Central Michigan.

An MSU  acting troupe brings attention to different social issues

Graduate student describes life in Iraq

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Letter to the Editor: Preaching on Campus

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Introducing Ryan Devlin’s ‘This Bar Saves Lives’

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Giving Voice, a Missouri State University acting troupe, focuses on performing different scenarios that cause students and staff to ask difficult questions about social issues. Dr. Carol Maples, a professor of theatre and dance, started leading students in Giving Voice six years ago when she created the program. After attending a conference where she got the idea, Maples began doing heavy amounts of research to prepare. She was then approached by the university about her ideas to make a difference at a predominantly white institution. “I said, ‘Theatre is a powerful thing,’” Maples said. “It’s one thing to take a test or read about stuff or see pictures, but it’s another thing to interact with someone.” Six students and a graduate student were involved with Giving Voice the year it started. Since then, that number has more than tripled, bringing the total to about 20 students. These students play a variety of roles in the scenarios. One student, Ellie LeMer, a senior acting major, often plays either the teacher or teacher’s assistant during the American History scenario or a woman during Title XI scenarios. She says they all learn several roles because of a variety in schedules. “It’s a lot to learn, but it’s really worth it because each troupe member brings new light to a character each time they play it,” LeMer said. “So there’s a piece of each one of us in every character.” Giving Voice performs for students and faculty at Mis-

souri State as well as at universities across the country. The forums Giving Voice put on have three phases. During the first phase of the scenario, Giving Voice delivers the piece. According to Maples, the second phase utilizes audience involvement and allows the audience to ask questions like the actors, who stay in character, like, “Why did that make you upset?” The third phase wraps everything up, addressing any final questions. “They get to understand why race, sexual orientation, why some things can be hurtful,” Maples said. “You know, ‘Why did you say that?’” Students involved in Giving Voice know they are making a difference. “Giving Voice has taught me that almost everyone comes at a situation with a good heart,” Corey Todd, senior Maddy Cushman/THE  STANDARD musical theatre major said. “People Dr. Carol Maples created Giving Voice six years ago. Only seven students often don’t know if they’re saying or total were a part of the organization when it first began. The acting troupe doing something that can be really damaging to someone else, and people often has grown significantly since then, now having 20 students. just need to be made aware rather than pening in the world,” LeMer said. “I want to speak up for attacked.” Todd said he joined the organization in 2012 because those who do not feel they can speak up. I want to start he felt silenced, even marginalized because of his sexual conversations that can be difficult and controversial, but orientation. Giving Voice allows him to speak out in a way deeply necessary, so that we can understand one another.” Maples calls the students in the troupe the “Giving that also allows him to utilize his major. LeMer joined because she wanted to make a difference. “I want to be a part of the good changes that are hapu See VOICE, page 14

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By Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark

TS R O Baseball Bears 10-game winstreak snapped


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