April 19, 2016

THE

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

M I S S O U R I

S T A T E

U N I V E R S I T Y

Volume 109, Issue 29 | the-standard.org The Standard/The Standard Sports

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More than 100 years in print @TheStandard_MSU/@Standard_Sports

Several university offices, departments are hosting events in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Emily Joshu Staff Reporter @EmilyJoshu

April marks a month of stress and the countdown to summer for students. However, it is also nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Events for the month include information tables, screening of the film “Escalation,” a Sexual Assault Survivor Ted Talk and Panel as well as the Red Flag Campaign for mental health awareness. In addition, yearlong services from the Dean of Students office, Title IX office, Victim Center, counseling center and the Safety and Transportation Department are being highlighted.

One of the departments that provides services year-round is the Title IX Office, whose role is to provide support and investigation to students or faculty members who have been victims of sexual assault, as well as dating violence and stalking.

“A person could come to meet with us to discuss options without wanting to tell the names of the people involved or any details about what happened,” Jill Patterson, Title IX coordinator, said.

According to the Title IX Office, one in four women in the United States will be victims of attempted or completed sexual assault by the time they reach their mid-twenties, and one in 10 reports are made by men. However, both genders are underreported.

“This is not a problem that is unique to

MSU; it is a nationwide epidemic,” Patterson said.

One service that is soon to be implemented is Green Dot Program, a strategy for violence prevention that focuses on bystander intervention. Set to launch at Missouri State University during the fall 2016 semester, Green Dot is a national initiative established in Louisville, Kentucky, that offers training for students and faculty members.

“It is backed by research, so it is very compelling information, and it’s something that a lot of people can actually buy into,” said Jenay Lamy, Green Dot coordinator for MSU’s Springfield and West Plains campuses.

The goal is to currently train faculty and staff members about bystander intervention, then open up that training to students in fall 2016.

Lamy, who has been trained in Green Dot since May 2015, plans to fully launch the program with Green Dot Day of Action on Sep. 18.

“We are starting to see that dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, unfortunately happens pretty often on college campuses because this is the first time students are away from home,” Lamy said. “A lot of times there is no education about consent before students come to college.”

Once the program launches, Lamy plans on getting students involved through SOAR and classes, such as implementing Green Dot in class syllabi. She also has a goal for what students should learn from Green Dot. u See SEXUAL ASSAULT, page 13

issuu.com/TheStandard-MSU

1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college

42%

of campus assaults involve people who are acquainted with each other.

only 5%

of assaults are reported to police or campus security.

Fact source: dosomething.org

Illustration by Rebecca Biundo

The Northwest Project receives $1.3 million grant Missouri State University, Drury University are working to lower the poverty rate in Springfield

Stories of War: Abdullah Abdilazizha, page 2 & 14

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Wohlenhaus: Finish the semester strong, page 3

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The Foundation of the Community of the Ozarks is one nonprofit that seeks to address these issues. They are recipients of the Alumna Foundation Grant. According to Brian Fogle, president of the Foundation of the Community of the Ozarks, Alumna sent in a team last year to look at the Springfield community. “(They) made the comment: Springfield is program rich but systems poor,” Fogle said. “And that really resonated with me, that we have all these great programs but we have not put them together in a system that addresses poverty.”

With the new round of grant money, they started looking at ways to make the best use of their funds. Fogle said they were inspired by a program called “A Thousand in a Thousand” from Jacksonville, Florida. This program is designed to lift 1,000 families out of poverty in 1,000 days.

“They had already two pilots,” Fogle said. “So they had a lot of good

E IF Greek Week, pages 4-5

research behind it to say this is working.”

The Foundation of the Community of the Ozarks first contributed $500,000 to the project. Other foundations and funders added to that amount for a total of $1.3 million to address poverty.

The Northwest Project is led by a collaborative between Missouri State University, Drury University and the Drew Lewis Foundation. There are 16 other organizations involved who will add to the efforts, and that number is expected to grow.

“What they will do that’s key is case management,” Fogle said. “It’s very much based around the family.

There’s a case manager that works with each family and looks at what are the needs, what are the deficits in their nine pivotal assets.”

According to the founder of the Drew Lewis Foundation and MSU kinesiology professor, Amy Blansit, u See NORTHWEST, page 13

SP

By Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark

Over 17 percent of Springfield families live at or below the poverty level, according to a News-Leader article from last March. For a family of four, the federal poverty level is $24,300. These Springfield families have a per capita income of only $21,000.

The Northwest Project is here to fix that.

Two weeks ago, the Northwest Project received a $1.3 million grant to address poverty.

Most of these impoverished families live in the northwest corner of Springfield. In extreme cases, some families live on just $12,350 a year, according to the statistics provided by the US Census Bureau. The data Ryan Welch/The Standard shows most families living in this Brian Fogle hopes the Northwest Project will help decrease corner of Springfield live on funds in between $12,350 to $31,146. the over-17-percent poverty rate in Springfield.

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Softball defeats Drake in weekend series, page 6

2 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Sobriety checkpoint brings attention to impaired driving

By Sarah Teague Staff Reporter @SarahTeague96

On April 8 the Springfield Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted a sobriety checkpoint at Jefferson Avenue and Harrison Street.

A total of 590 motorists crossed the checkpoint in a four hour period.

According to a release on April 9 by the SPD, “Fifteen drivers were arrested for driving while intoxicated, five for driving while suspended, two for misdemeanor warrants, and six for misdemeanor drug offenses.”

The consequences of impaired driving are not merciful and affect both the victim and reckless individual. Lisa Cox, public affairs officer for the SPD, spoke about how these actions can affect a student’s life negatively.

“The most obvious and serious consequence of drunk or buzzed driving is death,” Cox said.

“Killing yourself or a passenger, or killing an innocent driver … or

even pedestrian who is sharing the roadway is the worst consequence of them all, and unfortunately it happens far too often.”

There are obviously other consequences besides death for drinking while impaired.

“Along those same lines, you may significantly injure yourself or others,” Cox said. “If drivers are arrested for impaired driving, they face possible consequences of jail time, loss of driving privileges, mandated use of ignition interlock systems, increased insurance rates, attorney fees and court costs.”

An impaired driver’s job may be affected as well. A conviction on your record, according to Cox, can limit career possibilities.

However, with modern technology comes new advances and ideas in preventing these situations. New phone apps are being invented, like Uber and SaferRide, to give users options other than getting in their vehicle after a night at the bar.

Uber will connect you with a driver through the app; Uber has been recruiting drivers in Spring-

field already.

SaferRide and similar programs are simple to use, with clean lines and bold colors, encouraging someone who has had too much to drink to click a red “Get Taxi” or “Call Friend” button.

The founders of these apps know if a user is not sober enough to drive, they also won’t be able to navigate a complex phone app, so this is the idea behind the simple interface.

“From a drunk driving prevention standpoint, I think these are great developments,” Cox said.

“Any effort to keep impaired people from getting behind the wheel has great benefit. We still encourage people to use common sense and reputable services and drivers so they don’t end up in a different kind of bad situation.”

Cox encourages students to plan ahead of time if they know they will need a ride and to already have numbers of friends or other transportation on speed dial. By adding these details into the planning process, students are more likely to get home safely.

of drivers were arrested during Springfield’s checkpoint last weekend. is the legal limit of blood alcohol content SaferRide and Uber are helpful to students looking for a sober ride home.

Illustration by Rebecca Biundo

“I know sometimes college stu- money aside to make sure you can dents are on very tight budgets,” safely get home. It’s so incredibly Cox said. “But, if you can spend important.” the money to go out for drinks, you really need to set some of the

No Bearline for Aspen Heights SGA denies Aspen Heights’ proposal to extend the blue route bearline

By Danisha Hogue Staff Reporter @Danisha_Queen

Missouri State University Student Government Association denied Aspen Heights apartments’ request to extend the blue line shuttle route to include a stop near Hammons Field.

Aspen Heights general manager Ericka Pasquale attended the SGA meeting March 29 bearing Insomnia Cookies and a request. The apartment complex located off National Avenue presented a proposal to extend the Missouri State shuttle blue route to include a stop between Aspen and Hammons Field.

Aspen Heights is a sponsor of MSU basketball, baseball and soccer. The potential spot would encourage students to go to baseball games, Pasquale said.

“We’re all full of pride for our bears, so I think supporting our athletes is a good thing,” said Danielle Carter, freshman early childhood development major.

The blue route runs from at 7 a. m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A map of the extended route shows that the route would go from Kentwood Hall to the potential Aspen stop and then to Sunvilla Tower. The extension would add five minutes to the route, which currently takes about 15 minutes to complete.

“I think a negative for the students was extending the route, (because) students don’t want to be on the bus longer,” Pasquale said.

Pasquale explained Aspen’s initial request was to add a stop to the blue and pink route on the corner of St. Louis Street and John Q. Hammons Parkway.

Aspen says they were willing to do the extended route and cover the cost, an estimated $35,000, according to Bradley White, senior organizational communications major and Aspen’s lead marketing associate.

“Administration brought the proposal to my attention and said they wanted to u See ASPEN HEIGHTS, page 14

Meet Abdulla Abdilazizha from Somalia

By Sarah Teague Staff Reporter @SarahTeague96

Imagine watching dreams vanish like your childhood home in your rearview mirror, dragging farther away with every roll of the tires and beat of a war drum. No longer does the neighbor have a career title. He is not an artist or a musician, or a respectable shop owner, or a schoolteacher –– he is a refugee.

Now, he is an immigrant and this is the label given to him. This is war.

Imagine escaping war twice. This is Abdulla Abdilazizha’s story.

Territorial disputes and a fight for power

Abdilazizha was born in Somalia. For centuries, Somalia has been controlled from many sides, under control from many contenders north of and surrounding the horn of Africa, such as Egypt’s occupation in the 19th century and European strongholds throughout the coast until independence in the 1950s and progress in the 1960s. Much of the early conflict stemmed from border and territorial disputes.

22 years under a socialist president pushed the Somali people to a breaking point.

Nina Todea/The Standard

To escape the war in Somalia, Abdulla Abdilazizha and his family moved to Yemen. The family was forced to leave and seek shelter in Malaysia due to the war in Yemen.

President Muhammad Siad Barre was driven out in 1991 and clans larger in size, such as Hawiye,

u See ABDILAZIZHA, page 14

Weekly Crossword © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

ACROSS 1 Frosty's "eyes" 5 Family member 8 Burden 12 Earthen pot 13 Alias abbr.

14 Crooner Jerry 15 Uncategorized (Abbr.)

16 Journey segment 17 Sicilian spouter 18 Bet collector 20 Of a heart chamber 22 Mag. staffers 23 Big bother 24 Channel marker 27 Re movement 32 Cleo's slayer 33 "Hail!"

34 Life time?

35 Sane 38 Trudge 39 Charged bit 40 Eco-friendly org.

42 Homes 45 Froot Loops spokesbird Sam 49 Hindu princess 50 Blond shade 52 Appellation 53 Country that's an anagram of 49-Across 54 Carnival city 55 Cornfield intruder 56 Skilled 57 B&B 58 Pianist Dame Myra DOWN 1 Barbershop item 2 A bit of every-

thing 3 Too 4 Menial servant 5 Willy Loman, e.g.

6 A Turner 7 Long story 8 Exaggerate 9 Countrywide 10 Arm bone 11 Close tightly 19 Freudian concept 21 Skater Babilonia 24 Prohibit 25 Oft-chanted initials 26 Not necessary 28 Eggs 29 On-air fundraiser 30 Way back when 31 Started 36 Cut remedy

Last Week’s Puzzle Answers

37 Indivisible 38 Beer belly, maybe 41 Italian river 42 Met melody 43 Zinger 44 Garment for

49-Across 46 Give a darn 47 Old Testament book 48 Information 51 Sermon subject

STANDARD

OPINION // 3

THE

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | the-standard.org

Owning media product still better than streaming

By Spencer Martin Columnist @Spencer_XC

It’s no secret that college students spend a significant amount of their week watching Netflix. Maybe you don’t use Netflix specifically; you might have Hulu, HBOGo or some other similar streaming service.

As mass consumers of these products, we regularly contribute to the revenue of a company that, at the end of the day, isn’t providing us with a physical product that we can hold and love and cherish forever.

Sure, Netflix and the like are extremely convenient, there’s no question about it. But does the marginal benefit of the streaming experience outweigh the cost of no physical product?

Unfortunately, there is no blanket answer for this question. Different people have different reasons for subscribing. Some people couldn’t care less — but not I. I submit to you, that in the grand scheme of things, owning a physical product will always be better than the streaming service.

Say what you want about its convenience, availability or the fact that it can be signifi-

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cantly cheaper at times, but that physical product can’t be outdone by something that requires an internet connection, monthly payments and isn’t physically owned by you.

Now, this isn’t to say that Netflix, Hulu, etc. aren’t completely awesome;, they definitely are. The fact that you have thousands of movies and TV shows at your fingertips for only a measly $10 to $15 permonth is incredible. Technology is incredible.

But streaming services are completely up to the ability of the provider to follow through with their products.

I can’t tell you how many times my Netflix viewing has been thwarted by poor internet connection. Or perhaps I’m out and about and I have no connection available with no desire to burn half my cellular data just for a TV show episode. When there’s a broken link

OF THE WEEK: If yOu cOulD INvENT AN OREO flAvOR wHAT wOulD IT bE?

in the volatile chain that is streaming, everything falls apart.

To make matters worse, what if one day Spotify or Netflix decided to up and turn off their services? Or what if they fail as a company? These two instances and many others could leave users distraught and without a way to set the aux cord on fire.

The same cannot be said for listeners and viewers with the physical product. Not only does the real deal consistently outperform in terms of quality, the control and ownership of the product lies with you, not a billion dollar corporation. You alone are the sole arbiter of its use and safekeeping.

It is that time of year again. Green returns to the trees and although it may rain often, the sweet smell of spring rises to our noses.

It is a time of rebirth, but to any college student you meet, they may say it is a time of death.

I cannot attest to the way things used to be years and years ago, but I do know that now students are caught in a personal mental warzone between clocking out for summer and finishing the hardest part of the semester strong.

Faced with research papers and finals, but also the prospects of summer travel and jobs, this mental split is actually taking a toll on people. There’s a term for seniors who are going through this: senioritis.

In high school, I did not feel senioritis. I knew the next step of my journey was as a broadcast journalism student at Missouri State University, and I would be living in Freudenberger 269.

Now I face uncertainty in a way I have never felt it before. The prospect of not knowing what is next is intimidating. I have applied for a lot of jobs and have not heard back from very many places,

@bartanders42 “Orange dreamsicle.” @NReneeRoberts “Double dark chocolate delight.” @EmMcT “Holy cannoli flavored.” @rebeccabiundo “Quadruple stuffed.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love my streaming services as much as the next person, but having that physical disc, vinyl, blu-ray or even a digital copy of your music puts you at a huge advantage compared to streamers.

There are those who might consider physical copies of music, movies and the like to be outdated or even uncool. Some might even try to convince you that they’re dying forms of media. My hope is that you would find the value in the physical or personally owned forms of media.

Streaming may be convenient, but physical is forever.

Stay strong through semester’s bitter end

By Eli Wohlenhaus Editor-in-Chief @eliwohlenhaus

@eliwohlenhaus “Raspberry salted caramel.”

Emily McTavish/THE STANDARD

and when I have, it has been an automated message telling me no.

It is discouraging, yes, but because I have been down about the lack of results, I was missing the big picture. I thought my life would start once I graduated and started down my career path in an introductory position.

But my life has really already begun. I have worked for The Standard for three years, each year earning more responsibilities. This was the real start to my career.

It’s hard to focus on taking the next step when school is at its hardest and the warmth is beckoning you away from the books. It is tough to get out of a rut when for the first time you may not know exactly what is next.

What has helped me may not help you. What you find to help you may not be the answer for me. What matters is that all of us who may be experiencing brain fatigue or senioritis need to address it.

Even though the next step may not be clear, that is OK. Our lives are not road-mapped and although I would say I have always believed that, for the first time I am actually dealing with it. And it is all going to be okay.

Missing free speech zones in light of recent hate speech I was accused of

I was accused of _______________

by Brother Jed

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The Standard

By Danisha Hogue Staff Reporter @Danisha_Queen

I don’t think this is anyone’s favorite topic, but it’s one we all can’t seem to ignore: Brother Jed and preachers like him.

A few weeks ago I had the honor of receiving my first direct comment from Brother Jed. I was sitting around the North Mall with a friend and the weather was nice. I was wearing a skirt and my friend, who happens to also be a woman, was wearing pants. He basically called us lesbians and told me to mind the company I keep.

Since I came to Missouri State, the preachers have been posted outside of PSU with microphones and speakers voicing their opinions about everyone

who walks by. I’ve been told that previously there were free-speech zones and preachers weren’t allowed to rant and judge students based on their appearance just anywhere on campus. If I were a student on campus back then, I would refer to them as “the good old days.”

Monitoring the comments on Overheard at MSU’s Facebook page, I have seen what students want in terms of what they want from responders. “Just walk away, if he doesn’t have a crowd he’ll go away.”

I personally don’t believe that is true.

Brother Jed himself has said so long as the people hear him, he will always return.

In last week’s Clif’s Notes, our wonderful university president addressed this specific issue. The university has an Expressive Activity Policy, which outlines how open forums work.

Brother Jed not only abuses his free-

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dom of speech by preaching hate, he is a distraction to students who are minding their own business and are attacked. Hate speech turns into hate crimes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says groups that preach hatred and intolerance plant the seeds of terrorism here in our country.

Now I realized that I jumped the gun here. No, I don’t think that MSU students will one day become terrorists because some hateful preacher called them a bad name. I just wish people who belittled others were not allowed to intrude on myself and my fellow students’ attempts to better ourselves in education.

Furthermore, if MSU is going to allow Brother Jed and others like him to become part of the Bear Traditions, I vote the bookstore sell “I was accused of ______

by Brother Jed” t-shirts. That is my suggestion to unify us all.

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4 // GREEK LIFE

FIJI ΣΤΓ ΛΧΑ ΔΣΦΔ ΑΔΠ Ρ Γ Ζ A

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | the-standard.org

ΣΝ ΣΣΣ Α Σ Α

ΣΦΕ ΠΚΦ ΑΓΣ

ΞΟΙ Α Χ Κ

ΓΦΒ

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Stop, collaborate and listen Justin Jones-Fosu of @JustinInspires speaks at Greek Week educational event

By Nicole Roberts News Editor @NReneeRoberts

Collaboration. We all have to collaborate on something at some point in our lives. It might be working together on a group assignment, job or event organization. Some students love it, while others hate it.

Fraternities and sororities are no exception to collaboration.

Justin Jones-Fosu spoke to hundreds of FSL members about collaboration on April 13 at the Ramada Plaza Springfield Hotel and Oasis Convention Center as part of Greek Week. He is an inspirational speaker who loves to use music, dancing, videos and humor to get his point across.

He explained the difference between competition and collaboration. While he said competition can be good, unhealthy competition can get in the way of healthy collaboration. He wanted FSL to recognize why MSU’s Greek Life might struggle with collaboration.

Majority of students agreed that judgement of entire chapters based on one to two people was the number one reason collaboration can be difficult at MSU. “They will look at one or two people from a chapter and assume that’s how everybody is,” JonesFosu said.

He thought the best way to break this barrier was to get better at understanding all of the chapters. A way that chapters can understand each other and learn how to collaborate is by going to social events, such as mixers, and talking to people outside of the chapter.

“We don’t take the time or create the space to really understand each other, to go beyond our friendly brothers and sisters, to go beyond the house that we normally work with or the chapter,” Jones-Fosu said. “If we really understood each other, we couldn’t make judgements of entire chapters.”

Collaboration isn’t something that chapters can use to have a “kumbaya moment,” though. JonesFosu had everyone grab their neighbors’ hands and hold them up, creating a link between everybody in the rows.

“Collaboration isn’t a handholding exercise,” he said. “It’s actually about us improving perception and getting better results.”

One way to learn about how the chapter is being perceived in the community is by doing a yearly climate study. The chapters could send out a survey to the different chapters, students who are not part of Greek Life, MSU faculty and businesses in the Springfield community. This survey would help the chapters identify what they are doing well at, what they need to work on and how they are being perceived in the community.

Collaboration can take on different forms. Fraternities and sororities might plan events together or do co-sponsorships. The biggest form, though, is having a common goal that is “bigger than just you and your organization.” This means having ideas that will take collaboration from multiple people and chapters, not just one.

“If just you or your chapter or council can do it, then you’re prob-

ably not thinking big enough,” Jones-Fosu said.

Along with collaborating with each chapter, he recommended encouragement and support of the chapters. Ways chapters can show support for each other is by going to each other’s events just to help and raise awareness, not to receive praise or attention.

He also recommended that sorority and fraternity members recognize negative people and run.

“But it’s awfully hard to run when you’re running and you have a mirror in your hand,” Jones-Fosu said. “It’s your own reflection.”

One way to get rid of this negative outlook is to think of situations as a win-win. He talked about how the wife of a friend was diagnosed with cancer. When the doctor told the woman that she had cancer, she said it was a win-win situation; either she would be healed or she would go to heaven.

This type of outlook is what made Jones-Fosu realize that there are people out there whose situations are worse than our own. He gave examples like children dying from starvation and dehydration, and people who would love to go to school but can’t afford it.

“There are people who would love to have your bad days,” he said.

Shelby Linneman, sophomore communication major and executive administrator of Greek Week 2016, said she thought this was extremely true, even though students might not realize it.

“We think we have bad days sometimes, but we are just so

Nina Todea/THE STANDARD

Justin Jones-Fosu says collaboration in Greek organizations is about improving perception and getting better results. blessed to be apart of the communiWhen it comes to fighting for ty that we are apart of,” she said. collaboration, students will have to “We should just take advantage of be determined. In an example, that to the best of our ability.”

Jones-Fosu pulled a student from Collaboration doesn’t just hap- the crowd and pretended to fight for pen. Chapters will have to fight to her love. He went as far as to serecollaborate. Fighting for collabora- nade her and dance to “No Air” by tion can be anything from standing Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown. He up for other chapters, communicat- said this type of determination is ing ideas clearly and not being what will help with collaboration. afraid to get uncomfortable. JonesThrough collaboration, JonesFosu explained that when students Fosu said students should be able to work with other chapters and peo- “live their letters proudly and prople, it will feel uncomfortable, but it foundly.” will be helpful.

Compiled by Emily McTavish, Photo Editor, @EmMct

“My favorite thing about being Greek is I always have people I can come to for anything.

The whole community is so inclusive to everybody.”

Liz Mayer, Xi Omicron Iota

“I’ve built friendships that I know are going to last a lifetime that I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t in a fraternity.”

Connor Hancock, Theta Chi (on the left)

“My favorite part about being Greek is always having somewhere to be and always having a purpose to keep pushing yourself further.”

Joe Zeman, Pi Kappa Alpha (on the right)

“It’s just a really great way to be involved and meet so many great people. You’re going to have friendships that last a lifetime because of it.”

Emily Frenzel, Delta Zeta

Tuesday, April 19,2016

The Standard

the-standard.org | 5

Gods and Goddesses Maddy Cushman/THE STANDARD

Left: Bri Gonzalzez of Sigma Sigma Sigma competes in the lip sync battle. Middle: Ricky Mehigh of Pi Kappa Phi performs a dance routine during the talent portion of the pageant. Right: Jacob Hampton of Lamda Chi Alpha dances to a 90s mashup for his talent.

Greek pageant excites Hammons Hall with lip sync battle and talent

By Sarah Teague Staff Reporter @SarahTeague96

Adventure Awaits: Greek Jam

The pitter-patter of footsteps down the concrete stairs, the swoosh of banners and cardboard signs carried throughout and the beat of the music were muted against the chanting voices of those attending Greek Gods and Goddesses Pageant during Missouri State University’s Greek Week. The event was held in the John Q. Hammons Student Center on Thursday, April 14.

The energy was electric from start to end, with all competing chapters filling the stadium and

cheering on their God or Goddess.

The competition started with a lip sync battle. By round two, the competition was down to 12 contestants.

Songs ranged from “Hello” by Adele to “House Party” by Sam Hunt. By the end, three contestants battled it out, leaving Andrew Minter from Alpha Kappa Lambda the winner. Minter is a junior studying electronic arts.

Next came the trivia portion.

Brandon Dick and Shelby Greninger, Homecoming King and Queen, along with Chandler Rogers and Alex Heislen, event chairs, and other members of Fraternity and Sorority Life asked the contestants questions pertaining to various

chapters on the campus, such as a chapter’s colors or symbol.

The last portion of the pageant included a talent section. The judges were asked to critique the contestants on creativity and performance. Some of the talent included: dancing, stand-up comedy, music-making and even Ricky Mehigh’s reenactment of the band OK Go’s music video “Here it Goes Again.”

While the talent portion judging was being tallied, Essence of Hip Hop entertained the audience. The group is a Missouri State organization, and performs for not only events on-campus, but also in the community.

When awards were announced, not only the pageant contestants were commended. Brianna Duda, senior and socio-political communication major was awarded the Living Your Values Award. Evan Grosch, sophomore and socio-political communication major won Outstanding Philanthropist. Nikki Buck, sophomore, animal science major and Seven May, junior and member of Phi Delta Theta won Outstanding Sorority and Fraternity Athlete awards.

For pageant winners, overall for the Gods Ricky Mehigh, senior from Pi Kappa Phi took home the win. For Goddesses, Brianna Gonzalez, junior from Sigma Sigma

Sigma won. For overall pageant winners for the week, Mehigh and Ashley Shields, senior from Alpha Delta Pi won.

“It’s crazy (to win),” Mehigh said. “It’s just so surreal. I’m so glad that everyone put this on. IFC, PHA, and Greek Week (Committee) worked so hard and it’s just so silly, but it’s so fun to come together with everyone and do something so stupid that we worked on. I bought treadmills off Craigslist (for my act.) It’s indescribable.” “(The win) feels like a dream,” Shields said. “Freshman year I didn’t even realize I’d ever be in this position and now it’s so surreal.”

Nina Todea/THE STANDARD

Above: Alpha Chi Omega performs their routine to the theme of “The Wizard of Oz.” Top left: Bailey Whitehead emcees the event alongside Christian Pittman. Bottom left: Team 5 performs a their dance with the theme, Awaken the Adventure.

Sydni Moore Staff Reporter @sydnimmoore

The screams were audible out the door of the Hammons Student Center and across the street in the parking lot. Hundreds of students had gathered inside to cheer on their fraternity brothers or sorority sisters participating in Greek Jam, the last and seemingly most anticipated event of Greek Week.

Eight different teams, made up of sorority and fraternity pairings, competed against each other last Saturday in a giant adventure-themed dance-off.

Each team had their own, unique theme given the overall theme: Adventure Awaits.

Among the performances were sailors and , and MSU graduates experiencing the real world.

“It’s cool to see the entire FSL community appreciating the other teams’ performances,” Courtney Nichols, external Greek Week director said. “Everyone cheers for everyone, which just makes the whole day more fun.”

Nichols is part of the Greek Week committee that makes such an enjoyable time for the Greek community possible.

“We have an amazing committee of 21 members who have disaffiliated from their chapters to help create a fun and competitive week for the FSL community,” Nichols said.

The coveted first place trophy for Greek Jam went to Team 1, made up of sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and fraternities: Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Pi and Phi Beta Sigma.

“Although Greek Jam is one of the biggest events the Greek Week community puts on every year, each event is challenging in its own way,” Nichols said of other events during the week.

Lastly, Nichols expressed her favorite part of Greek Jam. “My favorite thing about Greek Jam is seeing the excitement and success from each team after they have performed,” Nichols said. “Each team has worked so hard throughout the last few months to create such a unique production, and it's really cool to see the members celebrate with each other after.”

6 // SPORTS Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | the-standard.org

Emily McTavish/THE STANDARD

Sophomore outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer lays out for a catch during the Bears 2-1 loss against Tulsa on April 13 at Killian Stadium.

Softball hands Drake first two Valley losses

By Cortlynn Stark Staff Reporter @Cortlynn_Stark

In a tight finish, the Softball Bears (15-22) stole the weekend series from Missouri Valley Conference leaders Drake (24-15), handing the Bulldogs’ their first conference loss.

The Bears shut Drake out 2-0 with stellar pitching by junior Erin Struemph. Struemph threw nine strikeouts and only allowed three hits over the course of the second game of the series.

“She really made it pretty easy for us on defense all weekend,” said head coach Holly Hesse.

The Bears dominated offensively as well. Junior shortstop Elena Gambill hit a single in the second inning and redshirt junior Bethany Sullinger with a single in the third.

However, MSU couldn’t hit all the bases until the fourth inning. Drake committed the first of three errors to allow junior first baseman Mary Stephens on-base. Freshman catcher Darian battled at-bat to earn a walk. Drake then committed their second error to allow Frost to score.

In the seventh inning, Stephens fired a home run with two outs, scoring the final run of the game. Drake tried to come back but Struemph’s pitching kept them at bay.

In the final game of the series, the Bears beat Drake 21. Struemph led the Bears with another three strikeouts.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when MSU’s sophomore outfielder Erika Velasquez Zimmer singled, stole second and advanced to third. Senior shortstop Erin Duewel doubled to bring Velasquez Zimmer

with a solo home run but couldn’t overtake the Bears’ lead.

“It feels awesome. Just a really big series win against the number one team in the league,” said Hesse.

MSU lost the opening game of the series 6-1. Duewel hit a home run in the fourth inning to score the only run for the Bears and earned her 21st career home run. Duewel now holds second place for highest number of home runs.

The Bears loaded the bases in the fifth but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Drake held them from scoring for the rest of the game.

“It was a really good game through five innings,” Hesse said. “We did have a big error in the sixth that cost us a couple runs and it kind of got away from us at that point. But I thought we battled them hard and battled them well for the first five.”

Last Wednesday, the Bears took on Tulsa (28-11) at home and lost 2-1. Freshman outfielder Hannah Heinrichs scored for the Bears off her second solo home run of the year. Tulsa held the Bears from scoring for the rest of the game.

“Tulsa is a very good team,” Hesse said. “I was very pleased that we played them as close as we did. 2-1 is always a good game, especially when you’re playing a quality team like Tulsa.”

Emily McTavish/THE STANDARD MSU will take on Wichita State in a doubleheader on Wednesday at 3 p.m. This weekend they play the UniverJunior pitcher Erin Struemph unloads a pitch. sity of Northern Iowa in a three-game series.

“I feel like our team is really getting on track and ready home.

In the sixth inning, Duewel singled and Sullinger drove to play our best ball here at the end of the year, when it in Duewel with a double to left-center. Drake responded really matters,” Hesse said.

Track’s low finish is overcome by individual accomplishments

By Trevor Martin Staff Reporter @Trevorsaur

This past weekend the Missouri State Track and Field team went to Columbia, Missouri to take part in the Tom Botts Invitational where it was a tough weekend for the Bears.

They placed fifth overall out of six teams and struggled to compete against some other Missouri Valley teams that are going to be tough to beat in the conference tournament.

This is not to say, however, that the weekend was a loss. The team may have placed fifth but multiple athletes set school and personal records and the Bears also had a plethora of high finishers in track events.

To begin the weekend on Friday the 15th, the Bears competed in four events. In these four events, they would yield no top finish-

ers.Things were not so bleak for the Bears, as sophomore Brittany McPike and freshman Amanthi Silva would both achieve personal records in the hammer throw. Junior Melanie Raterman would be the team’s highest finisher in the event, placing eighth out of 18 competitors and achieving a throw of 50.48 meters.

Also on Friday, junior Savannah Beaver competed for the first time this season and set a personal record time of 4:47.16 in the 1500 meter run. Later that day, sophomore Jessica Allen would place fourth in the 5000 meter run, destroying her old personal record with a new time of 17:44.34.

On Saturday, the story of the day was junior sprinter Holly Pattie-Belleli. Pattie-Belleli placed second in the 100m hurdles by four-tenths of a second with a final time of 13.31 seconds. Her time in the event would

also break a 10-year-old school record, which was previously held by Tracy Partain, set in 2006.

Pattie-Belleli wasn’t a one-woman show on Saturday, however. Sophomore Marissa Kurtimah ran away with first place in the 100 meter dash, finishing with an official time of 11.47 seconds. The first place finish for Kurtimah moved her into first in the Missouri Valley Conference for the event as well as earning herself a personal record for the season.

In the shot put, Brittany McPike, freshman Adriane Pickering and Amanthi Silva would all set personal records with distances of 11.14, 10.87 and 8.39 meters respectively.

Senior Robiann Broomfield and sophomore Daijha Heron were dominant in the triple jump for the Bears. Heron would finish in third place with a distance of 12.22 meters,

which is also a personal record for the sophomore. In the end, however, Broomfield would take Heron under her bear paw to show her how it’s done.

Broomfield finished in second place in the event with a distance of 12.28m.

Although the Bears track and field team did not have a lot to show from the tournament as a whole, there were many diamonds to be found in the rough of last weekend.

Multiple personal records were set, and multiple top-finishes were achieved by a young and hungry Bears team that has yet to reach its peak.

The Bears’ next meet is this weekend, April 22, where the Bears finally get to host a meet at Betty and Bobby Allison Stadium. It is the first meet to be held at the new facility and the Bears are eager to prove what they can accomplish here at home.

Tennis win streak finally snapped Bears lose first match since February to red-hot Redbirds and Braves

By Parker Padgett Staff Reporter @PadgettParker

The women’s tennis team’s eight-match win streak came to a sudden stop when the Bears lost 6-1 against the Illinois State Redbirds on April 16.

This was the Bears’ (10-12, 2-3) first loss since Feb. 26.

The match started when the Redbirds (12-9, 3-2) of ISU took the initial point of the match sweeping duos of seniors Ema Turudija and Miranda Poile (6-0), sophomore Abbey

Belote and freshman Faty Khamissi (6-3), sophomore Anelisse Torrico and freshman Phoebe Boeschen, whose match went to a tiebreaker (7-6, 7-4).

In singles competition, it was very one-sided in the Redbirds favor.

In No. 5 singles, junior Ekaterina Donetskova, lost in straight sets (6-3, 6-0), while Poile, who saved the day last match for the Bears, was defeated in straight sets in No. 2 (6-2, 6-1).

Khamissi also dropped her singles match in straight sets (7-5, 6-1).

Torrico and Turudija both saw their matches go to thirdset tiebreaker. Torrico unfortunately lost a close bout (7-6, 86, 7-5), and last week’s MVC Tennis Athlete of the Week winner, Turudija, took the first set of her match 7-5, but dropped the second set 1-6 and lost her third-set tiebreaker 6-10.

The lone point for the Bears came from Boeschen, who won her match at No. 6 singles in straight sets (6-0, 6-3).

Less than 24 hours after the loss to Illinois State, the Bears returned to the courts to take on another conference opponent, Bradley.

The Braves (11-11, 2-3) won a close match, 4-3.

The Braves started the match by taking the doubles point to start the match, winning two out three matches. The duo of Torrico and Boeschen were the pair to prevent the sweep.

In singles competition, Torrico took her match in straight sets at the No. 3 slot (6-2, 6-0) to tie up the dual 1-1.

The Braves reclaimed the lead when Khamissi lost in No. 4 singles in straight sets (6-1, 6-2), and extended their lead when Donetskova also lost in straight sets (6-2, 6-4), and Bradley lead 3-1.

Turudija got the Bears back into the match when she got back on the winning track, winning her No. 1 singles match (6-4, 6-3), and the Bears trailed 3-2.

Unfortunately, the match was clinched and the win belonged to Bradley when Boeschen lost her No. 5 singles match in a third-set tiebreaker (6-2, 4-6, 6-3).

In the last singles match, Poile won in straight sets (7-6, 7-6), but it was fruitless and the lost point from doubles competition proved to be important as the Bears lost by one point, 4-3.

The Bears will finish out their regular season schedule with a two match weekend home stand starting April 22 against Evansville and April 24 against Southern Illinois.

Both matches will take place at Cooper Tennis Complex.

Reality Shock Tuesday, April 19,2016

After a 16-1 victory over Mizzou, the Bears drop 2 to Shockers

By Wyatt Wheeler Staff Reporter @realYitWheeler

Flying high after a big mid-week rivalry win, Missouri State was brought back down to Earth following a Missouri Valley series loss against a struggling Wichita State team.

No. 15 Missouri State (27-8, 2-3) blew out the Missouri Tigers (20-18, 4-11 SEC) during their mid-week contest at Hammons Field, 16-1. The win over the team from up north was the fourth straight-victory for MSU over Mizzou, but that Bears team didn’t make the trip to Wichita.

MSU is still searching for their first MVC series victory of the season after dropping game one and three to Wichita State (13-23, 3-3) over the weekend, including an 11-1 loss in seven innings during game three, which resulted in MSU’s first run-rule loss since April 2011.

The mid-week contest with Missouri featured an offensive explosion, along with a solid start from sophomore pitcher Austin Knight.

The Standard

The regular Sunday starter was bumped from his start from the previous Sunday due to a rainout at Bradley, and Knight was able to make the most out of his start when the lights shined the brightest.

The sophomore right-hander pitched five innings, only giving up five hits while striking out five and giving up no runs to earn himself his third win of the year.

Besides Knight’s solid outing, he had plenty of insurance to work with.

The Bears were led by a solid night from a pair of seniors.

Senior catcher Matt Fultz’s solid night while going 3-4 with 3 RBIs and scoring 3 runs of his own and senior outfielder Spencer Johnson had 4 RBIs. MSU carried an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth, where they went on to double their lead to 16-0.

Sophomore third baseman Jake Burger contributed to the eight run eighth by hitting his 14th home run of the season.

The Tigers’ lone run came unearned in the top-half of the ninth.

That Bears team didn’t travel to Wichita State for a three-game MVC weekend series for at least two of the three games.

MSU dropped the first game of the series, 9-2.

The Bears were able to put together 11 hits but went 2-9 with runners in scoring position.

Freshman shortstop Jeremy Eierman led MSU by going 3-4 with his third home run of the season and driving in the only two MSU runs.

In the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, junior first baseman Justin Paulsen carried the team to even up the series by tying a MSU single-game record by recording three doubles.

Strong pitching performances from freshman starting pitcher Dylan Coleman

the-standard.org | 7

Bailey Vassalli/THE STANDARD

Junior infielder Aaron Meyer talks to a coach during the Bears game on April 12. and redshirt sophomore pitcher Jake Fromson, in relief, shut down the Shockers by allowing only three hits while combining for 11 strikeouts. The Bears went on to win 6-1.

The rubber match turned out to be the low point of the season, while the Bears were on the losing side of a 10-run rule in the seventh inning.

Wichita State opened up with a five-run first inning and kept MSU off the bases

until Eierman’s lead-off walk in the sixth inning. The Bears would score one in the seventh, but the Shockers got the run back in the home half to end the game, 11-1.

MSU looks to rebound this week when they travel to Oral Roberts on Tuesday for a rematch in a game MSU won 5-0 on March 2. The Bears will also look for their first MVC series win of the season when they host Evansville for a three-game weekend series.

Last Week’s Sudoku Answers

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NAMI Southwest Missouri and Christ Church Episcopal are accepting sleeping bags, blankets, etc., to hand out to homeless veterans during the 2016 Veterans event. Donations can be dropped off at NAMI, 1443 N. Robberson #408, M-F 9:30am-5pm; or at Christ Church, 601 E. Walnut, M-F 8am-4:30pm or Sun 8-11:30am.

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The Zika virus is affecting MSU study away programs

8 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

By Hanna Sumpter Staff Reporter @hannasumpter

The Study Away Office at Missouri State is providing students with all of the most recent information on the Zika virus and how students can protect themselves while traveling to areas where the virus is common.

When students are working with the Study Away Office to work out their travel plans, the staff is careful to make students aware of the areas which currently have problems with the Zika virus and the mosquitoes that carry them.

“The first priority of Study Away Programs is the health and safety of Missouri State students,” said Elizabeth Strong, the director of the Study Away Office. “Study Away is concerned about the Zika virus disease.”

Strong said students are “strongly advised” to see a Taylor Health physician for a free travel consultation appointment in combination with the orientations the Study Away Office gives to students preparing to travel. The orientation contains traveler information from the Centers of Disease Control, as well as strategies to prevent mosquito bites.

“When health situations like this come up, we rely on the CDC,” Strong said.

The CDC has been releasing a lot of information about the virus and how the problem with infection has progressed.

According to the CDC website, the Zika virus is carried by mosquitoes of the Aedes species.

This species is common in the U.S., including Missouri, but no mosquitoes in the U.S. are currently carrying the virus.

Photo from the Centers of Disease Control website

As of April 13, the CDC has confirmed 42 countries and territories have active Zika virus transmission.

Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus are primarily found in countries all across South America, as well as many outlying island countries.

The virus is initially transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.

The CDC said that the virus can also be spread by men who became infected with the virus through sex.

However, if a pregnant mother is bitten and infected, her baby is at risk of being born with birth defects. The most common defect connected with the virus is microcephaly, a defect which causes a baby to be born with an abnormally small head and brain.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the virus include fever, joint pain, fever and red eyes, but some infected by the virus

experience no symptoms at all.

Hospitalization is “uncommon” for those infected with the virus.

Over spring break, 31 students went on Study Away trips to areas which have been known to infect people with the virus. Study Away has not received any reports of infection and has not placed any travel restrictions for students on areas where the virus is being transmitted.

Study Away plans to continue allowing students to travel. Strong said a total of 67 students will be traveling this summer to countries with Zika transmission and the staff, Strong said, is making sure students are aware of the risk, but the decision is ultimately up to the students.

Have you taken the exit exam yet, seniors?

The exit exam is not just another requirement for graduation

By Sydni Moore Staff Reporter @sydnimmoore

For many second semester seniors, the university exit exam is just another requirement on the road to receiving a college diploma, but for the university itself, it is a much needed tool.

“The university exit exam is really vital, and it’s one of the university’s key performance indicators,” Dr. Keri Franklin, director of the Office of Assessment said.

Franklin explained some results of the university exit exam are shared with external audiences, such as legislators. Results of the exit exam help people understand how well students are learning at Missouri State.

Every semester’s graduating class is assigned into two different groups for the two different versions of Missouri State University’s exit exam.

Picture the exam as a Venn diagram. In one circle is a group of students who complete the ETS Proficiency Profile. According to the website for ETS, “The ETS Proficiency Profile

assesses four core skill areas –– critical thinking, reading, writing and mathematics…”

In the other circle is the other half of students who give details regarding their learning experiences related to Missouri State’s public affairs mission. These students are asked to write three separate essays that discuss the three different pillars of MSU’s public affairs: Ethical Leadership, Cultural Competence and Community Engagement. The Office of Assessment strongly encourages at least 250 words per essay, however, Franklin encourages students to put a little more work into it.

“The more you write, the closer you get to your thinking,” Franklin said.

Finally, the place where the circles connect represents the entirety of the graduating class. Everyone takes a senior survey that records students’ plans after graduation.

As it turns out, the university exit exam isn’t just another silly requirement for whooping and hollering as you toss your graduation cap into the air. By taking the exit exam, you’re ensuring that future students will have just as great of an experience (or a

better one) at your soon-to-be alma mater.

“The exit exam gets reviewed,” Franklin said. “Revisions are made based on it.”

This year, the exit exam was moved to Blackboard. The Office of Assessment met with computer services and the Office of the Registrar to come up with how they could make the exit exam more convenient.

“It wasn’t like we just decided one day to move it over into Blackboard,” said Angela Young, assessment and learning outcomes consultant. “It was a lot of conversation and it was all based around how we can best collect student work.”

Previously, the exit exam had to be registered on students’ schedules as a class. It was accessed through an outside website. By bringing it to Blackboard, faculty hoped there would be less hassle and confusion for students and furthermore, less troubleshooting for them.

The public affairs portion of the exam is reviewed by the Office of Assessment’s Public Affairs Assessment Workshop. Teachers, faculty and even students sit down for three days in the Union Club on the fourth floor of

the PSU and review the submitted essays. A rubric guides the reviewers as they assess how well Missouri State tackled its public affairs mission according to graduates.

This year, the Public Affairs Assessment Workshop will have no more than 44 participants, students included, although Franklin encourages students to contact her or Young if they are interested in contributing to the workshop.

“The students who have come before have made such great connections with faculty and staff on campus. You really get to know your professors in a different way,” Franklin said.

“We’d like to get a student from each college.”

Franklin and Young like the idea that students are part of the assessing of the school.

“I think that we assess student learning a lot better than most universities,” Franklin said. “I think Missouri State is really on the cutting edge of that.”

If nothing more, soon-to-be graduates should look at the exit exam as a reflection of their time spent at Missouri State, not as an inconvenience.

Tuesday, April 19,2016

The Standard

the-standard.org | 9

Hey guys, the fountain was turned on and there was a party Traditions Council hosts event to celebrate the turning on of the fountain

By Jenna deJong Staff Reporter @Ima_Jen

For the second year in a row, the Traditions Council extended the celebration of turning on the John Q. Hammons fountain by putting together a festival complete with food, rides, crafts and giveaways on Friday, April 15.

Students took a break from their hustle to-and-from class to dip their toes in the water for the first time this year and participate in the $6,000 carnival put on by Traditions Council Spirits Chair, Ashley Thornton.

This time around, the festival required more effort due to the lack of success last year’s carnival had, Thornton said.

“The first time, it was raining and a lot of students didn’t want to stop by so it wasn’t really high in attendance,” Thornton said. “I tried to add a lot more things like the crafts and carnival rides and I tried to spread it all out (on the quad) behind the fountain to make it look like a party atmosphere.”

And according to Megan Bauer, sophomore logistics and supply chain management major, the hard work paid off.

“We really don’t see a lot of big events like this on campus that brings everyone together,” Bauer said. “Plus it makes our campus look really good when people are walking by on tours.”

Even Thornton said that although they had minor hiccups such as having few volunteers and running out of supplies for crafts and prizes, the festival was still popular among students.

“Attendance was really high and consistent throughout the day,” Thornton said. “It was a little slower when classes were going on but when they let out, there were a lot of people here.”

The festival was paid through the Bear Fee, a $50 payment per semester by students. Part of this annual total goes toward Traditions Council for activities around campus, including the fountain party. According to Tessa Campbell, freshman design and illustration double major, it was money well spent.

“I’m okay with them spending the money because it helps

everyone have fun, and it comes at a good time when everyone is stressing about finals,” Campbell said.

The event was partly sponsored by Chartwells and Papa Johns, who provided the food. As for the giveaways, members of Traditions Council handed out yellow tickets randomly; those who received the tickets would then sing the fight song or prove they completed at least two traditions of Missouri State before picking out their prize.

The craft station was run by the Advisor for Traditions Council Victoria Price; there, students could create a make-awish bottle where they choose a glass bottle, fill it with glitter, sand and a slip of paper with their personal wish on it.

Miranda Roller/THE STANDARD

“Once people fill their bottles, we pour authentic fountain water inside,” Price said. “The legend is that once your paper dissolves, your wish will come true, and that kind of symbolizes that Missouri State can help fulfill your dreams.”

As an attendee of the festival, freshman and hospitality major Rachel Liley said she enjoyed the festival and liked how it helped unite students.

“I remember when I toured campus, they really emphasized on the fountain and how it brings all of Missouri State together, and since it has been here for a long time, it’s just here to remind us how much it means to all of us,” Liley said.

Miranda Roller/THE STANDARD

10 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

The 2016 Show Me Gourd Festival showcases different gourd art

before the festival. There are different divisions: youth, novice, intermediate, advanced and masters.

The room is filled with tables covered in difThere are many different ways to create ferent pieces of artwork. On one table, there is a gourd art: woodburning, carving, molding, pink lamp painted with different colored butter- painting and others. The possibilities are just flies, decorated with feathers at the top and about endless. detailed with beads and other embellishments.

Publicity Chair Tonya Elmer said every time Another table has a detailed sculpture of a bird she sees a new technique, she gets excited. on it with a small fish in its long beak. On that “It’s kind of like seeing a sparkle,” Elmer same table, there are various instruments such as said. “I think, ‘Oh, I’ve got to try that.’” a banjo and a drum. All of this artwork is made The 2015-2016 Missouri Gourd Artist of the out of something you wouldn’t expect – gourds. Year Sophia DeLaat had her own booth at the The 2016 Show Me Gourd Festival was festival. Her table was covered in vases, bowls, April 9-10 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. The music boxes and other items she made out of the festival features gourd art where the artists com- pumpkin-like fruit. pete, showcase and sell their work. There are The winning gourd was the main focus of also workshops, free demonstrations, an auction DeLaat’s table. It was a large, colorful vase with to win baskets of art supplies, vendors selling the goddess of compassion painted on it. supplies, and more.

Beneath her is a lotus flower, and above her is The art is judged using ribbons the night the phoenix bird. The goddess is the main focus, but the whole vase is covered in detailed painting.

Wearing a shirt that says “Resurrection Gourds” with a gourd angel on it, Delaat explained that it meant that even though the gourds have to die to turn them into art, turning them into art brings them back to life.

“If you walk around, you’ll see how different everyone’s gourd art is,” DeLaat said. “Each gourd has such a personality. The variety is lovely … You just take a gourd and infuse it with imagination.”

Miranda Roller/The Standard DeLaat began creating gourd Sophia DeLaat’s artwork features carving into gourds. art about six years ago after she

By Layne Stracener Standard trainee

went to a gourd festival, and has competed in festivals around the country every year since.

Four years ago, DeLaat began hosting gourd retreats where people stay at her house for a weekend and share their different gourd art techniques. She also learned many techniques from gourd art teacher and artist Bill Decker.

Decker has been making gourd art for about ten years. He began competing in shows around the country, selling his art and teaching classes on how to create gourd art.

While DeLaat’s favorite technique is carving, Decker’s favorite technique is woodburning. He also draws free-hand designs on the gourds and uses dyes, acrylics and pen and ink to create the finished product. He said his projects have taken anywhere from 10 to 400 hours to complete.

Although he has an art degree and has always enjoyed making art, he said he never thought he would be doing something like this.

“I found some gourds, and the rest is history,” Decker said.

Decker taught workshops at the festival. One workshop had about 10 people who were new to the experience. Decker had a written tutorial for each of them to look at while he taught them how to woodburn to create a pinwheel like the one he made. The cost of the workshops ranges from $35 to $100.

There were also free demonstrations at the festival throughout the day where artists taught people various steps and techniques involved in the gourd-art-making process, such as faux beading and cleaning gourds.

DeLaat taught a demonstration involving puff paint. Everybody had the opportunity to have hands-on experience learning from a master gourd artist. They started out practicing on paper and then painted on a piece of a gourd. She

Miranda Roller/The Standard

Bill Decker shows people how he created his artwork.

showed everybody different techniques and designs and eagerly helped them through the process.

Gourds can be made into so many different things. Elmer and other artists said that this is why they enjoy gourd art.

“There’s so much versatility,” Elmer said.

“You’re only limited by your imagination.”

Visit showmegourdsociety.com for more information.

Blair-Shannon dining center numbers increase since summer renovation

By Brian Wright Staff Reporter

Missouri State students are making their voices and stomachs heard as they choose their favorite dining center.

Blair Shannon’s location, as well as the food, has students making lines longer in that dining center. Garst has the larger venue and students can usually rely on Garst being open when the cravings come calling.

Makayla Swope prefers Blair-Shannon over Garst because of the healthy food choices and its distance from classes.

“It’s really convenient for me, and I really like their salads,” Swope said. “They have a lot more gluten-free things out, and I don’t have to stress about asking people for stuff.”

Giorgio Cossich, director of operations of Chartwells for Dine at MSU, keeps statistics of meals served around MSU. “On an average week, Blair will serve 11,500 meals and Garst will serve 11,000,” Cossich said. “So they’re very close.”

It’s important to remember that BlairShannon serves late night, so that will account for more meals.

On April 11 at lunch time, available at Blair-Shannon was fried rice vegetables, noodles, vegetables and salad at Balanced U. The Kitchen offered spinach lasagna, zucchini parmesan, dijon roasted potatoes and garlic breadsticks.

Garst, on the other hand, served white bean and kale stew, California pasta, cashew chicken stir fry and fried rice at Balanced U. The Garst Kitchen had crispy fish tacos, spicy black beans, flour tortillas and creamy coleslaw.

In calorie comparison, the main dishes offered at the Kitchen at Blair-Shannon had fewer calories compared to the main dish at Garst. Spinach Lasagna was served in 4 oz portion for 160 calories. Crispy fish tacos, served in a portion of two tacos, was 660 calories. In fact at the recommended serving the Kitchen at Garst options totaled 1160 calories, while Blair-Shannon totaled 390.

Chris Mills doesn’t see a real difference in the food menu, but Blair- Shannon is simply closer in distance.

“I choose Blair because it’s more convenient for me,” Mills said. “I mean the food is basically the same but it’s just close. That’s why I go there usually.”

Not everyone is a fan of Blair-Shannon, though. Kristen Stacy prefers Garst.

“I think there’s more food options,” Stacy said. “The food tastes better, (and) I just like the amount of desserts too.”

According to Cossich’s research and statistics, students have been choosing BlairShannon and Garst at a consistent rate all year.

“There hasn’t been any spike of people going from one dining hall to the other,” Cossich said. “Those who live in Wells and Freddie prefer to go to Blair-Shannon, and those who live in Hammons and Hutchens prefer to go to Garst.”

According to Cossich, students follow the Missouri State dine-on campus app. For

instance, the most popular meal on campus is chicken strips, and the app tells students what dining center is serving that meal. Whether it’s Blair-Shannon, Garst or Kentwood Hall dining, attendance tends to rise.

“We know that some students follow the menu on the app,” Cossich said. “If they regularly eat at Blair, and the strips are being served at Garst, they will take that two and a half, three minute walk to Garst.”

Cossich and dine-on campus encouraged students to visit all three dining halls and to explore.

“We want them to experience the three dining halls,” Cossich said. “Obviously there are three different atmospheres. Kentwood is pretty reserved, very small scale and very intimate. Garst is our jewel; it’s state of the art. Blair was just renovated and the traffic flow is much better. The selections are better.”

Tuesday April 19,2016

The Standard

the-standard.org |11

Defy gravity: MSU Aerialists

Campus performance organization readies for spring event

Emily McTavish/THE STANDARD

The Aerialists practice at Phenomenon Studios in downtown Springfield. Left: Hali Codling practices poses on the lyra hoop. Middle: Layton Hahs works on splits on the aerialist silks. Right: Max Pfeifer and Hali Codling pose together on the lyra hoop.

By Emily Joshu Staff Reporter @EmilyJoshu

No matter the day, students can always find something new at the North Mall on campus. The North Mall is a hub of student organizations and activities. When the weather cooperates, students may look up from their phones to see their peers hanging from ribbons of silk, defying gravity through dance. Those students are the MSU Aerialists, a group of about 20 active members.

This is the third year that MSU Aerialists has been an official club on campus, and its goal is to train the student population in a sport that often goes unnoticed.

“Our main purpose is to teach aerial arts to people who want to learn, and with that, we like to perform, especially around the community,” said Max Pfeifer, sophomore French education major and president of MSU Aerialists.

For Pfeifer, his involvement with MSU Aerialists happened by chance. It all started on the walk back to Pfeifer’s residence hall one evening when he saw the group performing outside of the PSU. He had no previous experience with aerial arts.

“I am the clumsiest person,” Pfeifer said.

“It’s not something I ever would have done before college.”

For students like Pfeifer who initially lack experience, MSU Aerialists hosts a New Member Month at the beginning of each semester. This allows potential new members to learn the basics of aerial arts before paying dues.

“Everyone should come try it. We have a lot of people who come up and say, ‘Oh, that’s so cool,’ but they’re too scared to try it,” Pfeifer said. “It’s not as hard as it looks, you just have to try.”

Though the sport may seem daunting at first, Pfeifer said that no one has been injured while participating.

“We’ll take good care of you and make sure you don’t get hurt,” Pfeifer said.

The interest in MSU Aerialists has grown since the club first began, especially within the last year. Currently there are 20 active members, which is growth from seven active members last year. There are four club officers: president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.

“I learned how much work goes into running a club and going to school, so anyone who’s in a club, thank the people who run it,” Pfeifer said. “It’s exhausting, and I could not do it without the help of my other officers. It takes a lot of patience.”

They practice twice per week in a downtown studio or, if the weather is nice, on the North Mall. Practice includes warm-up exercises such as running in place and stretching, as well as practicing on the apparatuses. This is to gear up for a yearly showcase, as well as several smaller performances throughout the school year. MSU Aerialists has performed in

local elementary schools, middle schools, the International Banquet and Show and the Parents Weekend Showcase.

“It’s mostly just playtime for us,” Pfeifer said. “We’re all very supportive in helping each other learn.”

Pfeifer encourages students to show their support by attending performances throughout the school year.

“We’re all proud to be bears, so when we see other MSU students, it’s very cool for us,” Pfeifer said. “We get to show off for you guys, and we hope you like the show.”

Pfeifer emphasizes not only the club’s friendly environment, but also its uniqueness.

“It’s something that’s really beautiful and really cool and not that common,” Pfeifer said, “so you’re learning this interesting skill while also learning to do something powerful with your body.”

The next performance by the MSU Aerialists is May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pythian Castle. Tickets are $15.

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The Standard

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Revenge of the Nerf: A pirate’s life for all

By Wyatt Wheeler Human Reporter @realYitWheeler

The zombies were invading. The humans’ mission was to find the missing items around campus.

The humans joined together and talked strategy. One squad decided that they were going to go all in for the treasure chest. A daring mission, but the squad had plenty of Humans vs. Zombies experience on their side.

During a light jog around the campus, this experienced squad’s heads were on a swivel as they looked for those with the green armbands on. They could’ve been anywhere.

The humans turned the corner and in the Wells House courtyard was the treasure chest. They didn’t think it would be that easy, until the witch ran out and tried to chase them down.

“It was hiding somewhere we couldn’t see,” senior unified science education major Trent Fuller said. “That was pretty intense.”

The humans were still able to collect the treasure chest, despite the threat from the witch.

Even though they had the treasure chest, they were still on the lookout for zombies who would want to take it back. They were also on a mission to find other items, including a jar full of dirt.

While running from the zombies trying to reclaim what they thought was theirs, the experienced group of humans came back-to-back with the other group of humans as they were trying to fight off a pack of zombies as well.

The other group was led by Anthony Beauchamp, a former MSU student, who has seven years of experience with

Photo from Facebook/Jenean Richardson

Jenean Richardson poses with Wilson Fulton.

Humans vs. Zombies. Beauchamp was one of the original members of Humans vs. Zombies being a member of MSU’s Live Action Society.

“My experience has allowed me to memorize every play that we can do,” Beauchamp said. “It helps me lead the humans into the best tactical position.”

Beauchamp’s experience came in handy as the humans were able to overcome being surrounded by zombies between McDonald Arena and Duane G. Meyer Library. The humans were able to make it out with zero casualties, but it was still stressful for senior computer science major Mark Godsy.

“I had a blaster malfunction,” Godsy said. “It wasn’t firing, so I was a bit defenseless and that was pretty scary.”

A blaster malfunction was one of the main reasons that junior wildlife conservation management major Colby Jones was attacked and turned into a zombie while walking out of a class.

“One of the zombies walked by and was like “come at me, brah,” Jones said. “So as soon as I fired, I found out that my barrel was jammed and then another zombie got the drop on me.”

The groups once again split up, as they were still on the mission to find the other missing items. Still with the treasure chest at hand, the experienced group was to return it to the original starting point.

The experienced group had no luck in finding other items but was still victorious when it came to not losing any members to the zombies. The group also came away with one of the more difficult items to obtain.

“The win felt really good,” Fuller said. “That was one of the more fun missions that I’ve played in a long time.”

Student Activities Council hosts annual student film festival

By Ryan Chaney Standard trainee

Wyatt Wheeler/THE STANDARD

Tommy McFarland rallies the pirates before the humans set off on a mission last Wednesday, April 13.

For years at Missouri State University, there has been a tradition for students to come together, have some fun, and make a movie in the process. That event is known by students as the SAC Student Film Festival.

The Student Film Festival is put on every year by SAC and sponsored by the Missouri State Bookstore. The festival is put on for students to show of their cultural talents.

“It’s just something that we try to showcase the talents of the students here at Missouri State,” Brendan Brothers, the SAC Films Chair, said.

The film festival is open to all students who are interested in making a movie, not just MJF students.

“Typically the students who submit entries are MJF students, but we really hope to get every student involved, having a good time making a movie,” Brothers said.

This year’s subject for entries is Space.

Students do not have to follow the topic, but

are encouraged to do so. There are also prizes for the teams that place in the top four. Those prizes include: two Go-Pros, a $100 university bookstore gift card, and a $50 university gift card.

The prizes are bought from the bookstore who sponsors the festival for SAC and in return, SAC buys the products and gives the bookstore publicity so it is a partnership for the two organizations.

Students in years past have taken this festival seriously so they can showcase their talents as individuals.

“Since it is usually MJF students who submit, they take it seriously. But I do think it would be fun to get some knucklehead entries as long as they follow the guidelines and don’t use copyrighted music,” Brothers stated.

Last year only five teams submitted films to the festival, and this year Brothers hopes to up that number so that the tradition can keep moving forward.

The deadline to submit your film is Wednesday, April 20th.

13 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Sexual Assault

“It’s a two-fold situation with Green Dot,” Lamy said. “The first one is violence isn’t tolerated on our campus, and that must be conveyed. The second thing is that everyone must do their part in preventing violence.”

Though this dialogue is emphasized in April, it is essential for it to continue in the future. “(We are) encouraging the conversation surrounding sexual assault, for that conversation to continue occurring beyond the month of April,” Dr. Thomas Lane, dean of students, said.

Another program taking place this month is the #AllBearsCan campaign.

Implemented by the Residence Hall Association, #AllBearsCan involves the use of physical signs and social media posts to write encouraging notes to victims of sexual assault. This was first implemented in fall 2015 as a response to the increasing number of sexual assault cases being reported.

“After recognizing that the number wasn’t an indication of ‘more’ sexual assault but rather that more students were brave enough to bring their cases to authorities that they found trust in, we wanted to make a campaign that

“

encouraged that even further,” said Evan Pyle, RHA programming communications coordinator and sophomore literature major.

The signs will be posted outside of residence halls to start the conversation about sexual violence.

“This campaign wanted to celebrate the victory found within the bravery of the students who reported cases and to end the stigma around sexual assault that may be plaguing those currently afraid to come forward,” Pyle said.

Green Dot and #AllBearsCan aim not only to start the conversation, but to continue it into the following semester.

The first six weeks of the semester are when the amount of sexual assault violations increases, so early education is essential. Seven sexual assaults were reported during the fall 2015 semester.

“Sexual assault, sexual violence, that behavior is not acceptable on this campus,” Lane said. “We can’t just rely on one month for that conversation to occur.”

Lane encourages students to become aware of what the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities states in regards to consent and know-

Northwest ing what consent means. Students also need to become familiar with campus resources, such as the Title IX Office, to learn about proper reporting.

“We need to continue to work to create a culture of reporting,” Lane said, “so that if an incident of sexual assault occurs, sexual violence occurs, that students feel comfortable knowing where to report and knowing that they’re going to be listened to and that they’re going to be supported.”

In suspected cases of sexual assault, students have a responsibility to know how much influence they have.

“If you see something, say something,” Lane said. “Try to intervene.”

April is the month for beginning a dialogue about sexual assault, but that dialogue does not have to stop after the month has ended. That is the goal of the campaigns and programs.

“I would encourage us, as a campus community, to not just focus on this month,” Lane said. “This month highlights important aspects of the issue surrounding sexual assault. Let’s have the conversation extend beyond this month.”

This campaign wanted to celebrate the victory found within the bravery of the students who reported cases and to end the stigma around sexual assault that may be plaguing those currently afraid to come forward.

-Evan Pyle

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Continued from page 1

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Continued from page 1

they also added a 10th pivotal asset.

These assets include anything from job training to quality early childhood education to parenting skills and assistance completing tax returns.

“We have a lot of families that don’t even file taxes because they don’t know how; they don’t have the money,” Blansit said. “And there’s actually money that they could be getting back.”

The assets will all add up to the overall goal of the project.

“Our ultimate goal is to sustainably lift several hundred families out of poverty,” Fogle said.

However, not every impoverished family will be chosen to participate in the project. There are a few minimum requirements to be selected.

“We’re also selecting families that are in the upper end of poverty,” Blansit said. “They’ve got to have stable housing. We need some stability in order to move them forward.”

They also want to create neighborhood hubs. Within the next 18 months, one office will open to provide these services. It will be a “one stop shop,” according to Fogle.

In order to reach families in different areas, they will eventually set up more locations. Blansit said they hope to add one or two additional locations in other impoverished areas. Services will be available at one location on one day, then at another on the next day and the other location on another day so families can have equal access to help.

MSU students, along with Drury students, will have ample opportunities to get involved. The services that will be provided to selected families often have a lot in common with majors at the universities. For example, students majoring in social work would be able to volunteer with the project to get hands-on experience.

“You’re learning while you’re helping families,” Fogle said.

“And you can learn if that’s really what you like because you’re doing it for real.”

While their goal is not to help 1,000 people out of poverty, they look to reduce the high number of 17 percent of families in poverty in Springfield.

“It will be literally lifting people out of poverty,” Fogle said.

“And what better thing than to give people hope and promise and in a new direction of life.”

14 | the-standard.org

Aspen Heights

The Standard

Continued from page 2

know what students thought about extending the blue route,” Brandon McCoy, director of administrative services, said.

SGA cabinet members asked questions during the April 5 meeting about the time change and how the stop would benefit all students. Some students were concerned with using Missouri State services.

“Why don’t they provide their own shuttle?” asked Jahmia Luhan, junior sociology major.

On April 7, a petition asking students to sign if they were “in favor of safe transportation at no additional cost to students” was circulating on campus. The petition has roughly 300 signatures and has received a lot of positive responses from students, according to Pasquale.

Tuesday April 19, 2016

“We’re a sponsor of Missouri State baseball, and one of the biggest things they tell us all the time is help us get more students to the game,” Pasquale said. “Probably the easiest way to get more students to the game is a Bearline.”

Aspen also proposed the additional stop would free up parking spaces being used by Aspen residents and other students living in the area.

“I think there was a miscommunication at first, (but) offering this free service would draw more people (to baseball games),” Sofia Caito, senior public relations major, said.

Abdilazizha Continued from page 2

started to tear the country apart at the seams.

Missouri State junior and animation major Bushra Alandijnai interpreted Abdilazizha’s Arabic tongue for the interview.

“He lived in Somalia with his mom and dad and 11 siblings,” Alandijnai interpreted. “He had eight (brothers) and 3 (sisters.) His father had a store in Somalia. In Somalia, they have (clans), so when the war came, their (clan) is small, so (they) took everything from the (clan), even their houses.”

This angst among clans was prevalent in the government as well, before Barre was ousted. His own clan, Marehan, was dominating among the ranks of government positions, angering and excluding those from the Mijertyn and Isaq clans.

By the mid-1990s, hundreds of Somalis had died and United Nations Peacekeeping forces surrendered due to tension mounting into violence throughout the country and concentrated in the capital, Mogadishu. This violence caused many schools and public places to be affected, forcing families like Abdilazizha’s to not be able to attend school.

Moving to Yemen

Abdilazizha and his family moved to Yemen in an attempt to find peace. At first, they were living among other Somalis in refugee camps.

“In Somalia he didn’t learn anything, but when he immigrated to Yemen, they have these camps for immigrants … he just learned the basics (in these camps),” Alandijnai said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, “The main groups of concern to UNHCR in Yemen are refugees and asylumseekers from Ethiopia, Somalia and the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), as well as IDPs (internationally displaced people).

Somalis, who have fled the civil war which started in 1992, are granted prima facie status by the Government of Yemen.”

Abdilazizha moved around to a few different camps in Yemen but spent much of his time in Kharaz refugee camp before living in a larger city and working in a shop. His brothers and sisters lived in separate cities in this region, but not far from each other after their move from Somalia. He was about 21 years old when he owned his shop in Yemen.

“I cannot describe what I do, let me show you,” Abdilazizha said.

Abdilazizha brought out a binder of pictures taken inside the shop in Yemen, showing his electrical work with wires.

He was an electrician and lived in better conditions once leaving Kharaz. He also met his wife, Istahil Yusufnah, in Yemen, and had three children: Muna (19), Majjid (11), and Jeylani (6).

“It’s been 24 years since they married,” Alandijnai said. “(Yusufnuh) is Somali.”

Yusufnuh moved because of the war in Somalia as well.

“The kids didn’t go to school (in Yemen) because (Abdilazizha) tried to register Muna for school, but in Yemen … you can’t see any women in the street, it is very conservative,” Alandijnai said. “Muna never had to go to school.

Majjid was young, so he couldn’t go to school, (neither could Jeylani).”

Moving to Malaysia

In 2012, Abdilazizha left Yemen because of war and escaped to Malaysia with his wife and three children. This was the time of the Arab Spring uprisings throughout the Middle East, and violence was erupting as protesters took to the streets. This tension is still present in Yemen today. “(Working conditions) in Malaysia were really hard,” Alandijnai said.”He would carry 50 kilos (110 pounds) of rice … they would just carry stuff, that was his job. They couldn’t find (another) job, so he told me earlier they worked in the embassy, but it wasn’t an ‘official’ job, because it is against the rules to work in the embassy without … paperwork, so he used to do cleaning, anything (to make it). Immigrants are not allowed to (officially) work in Malaysia, so he was working against the rules.”

When asked if he applied for citizenship in Malaysia, the whole family threw back their heads and held their stomachs.

The thought of citizenship in a place so strict against immigrants’ rights is laughable.

“The U.S. government in Malaysia helped them immigrate here, so they are the reason they are here today,” Alandijnai said.

Transitioning to life in the States

Working with the International Institute of St. Louis Southwest Missouri Branch, the Springfield Welcome Home has started helping new families in Springfield, including Abdilazizha’s. Any money given to the families by the government and through IISMO are required to be paid back after 24 months, often putting a burden on a new family who does not know the language well and are struggling to find work.

“Springfield Welcome Home came up after IISMO, which is the placement agency,” Katie Webb, one of the founders of Springfield Welcome Home, said.

According to Webb, IISMO needs more people to help families just arriving in Missouri. She said they are wanting to create welcome baskets for the families, with food and slippers, but more needs to be done.

“As we got more and more involved with IISMO, we realized the need was so much bigger than that,” Webb said.

“They have to furnish the apartments that they put these people in, and they come with just their clothes and just their baggage. Every little bit that we can provide for free is less

they have to pay back (to the government).”

Webb described a problem brewing in the very corner of Southwest Missouri.

“What’s been happening with Somalis in particular is there is a Tyson plant in Noel, Missouri. Tyson is making these big promises to the Somali community,” she said.

“They started luring people to this tiny little town … (and now) they have all these refugees there that are just burdening their system, and the town has had to adapt.”

Webb said the town is sitting on the backs of those working in the factory, including the refugees, even though they were not always so widely accepted or appreciated.

According to “In a Small Missouri Town, Immigrants Turn to Schools for Help,” a NPR 2013 report, “For Somali newcomers, Noel has been particularly challenging. In a recent incident, tires on more than a dozen of their cars were recently slashed. Police didn’t have a suspect and have since dropped the investigation. Some Somalis say they also feel unwelcome at local establishments.”

Webb explained how IISMO is working to bring some of these refugees to Springfield, so that they may have more job opportunities and a healthier environment. “(Abdilazizha’s family) was placed down here, and it was said to the Somali community, ‘Listen, if we work really hard in Springfield to build a community for you … will you please come? There are more opportunities (than in Noel), we’ll … support you,” Webb said. “Abdulla’s success here and his family’s success here is really, really important to Springfield, of course, (but also) to the other refugees that are … being taken advantage of by Tyson.”

This is where the Springfield Welcome Home comes in.

Those volunteering have arranged a food program. They visit with the families every night for two weeks and make them a meal to ease their transition. They also provide the families with as much donated furniture as they can and a cell phone, something IISMO is not able to do.

“So we’re building up … we’ve only been around since December,” Webb said. “I think we’ve reached the tipping point now where (interest in refugees is) not going to die down. People aren’t going to lose interest anymore. With the internet and the way people can keep track of things now, it’s not going (to die).”

For Abdilazizha and his family, they will have a short time to find work and pay back what they owe to the American government. However with programs like the Springfield Welcome Home and other Springfield residents’ time and kindness, they could thrive in the States.