4.2.13

$1,163,237

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 | Volume 106, Issue 25 | the-standard.org

Briefs

MSU Public Affairs Conference to begin next week

The Public Affairs Conference will be held April 9-12 and is themed “Inclusive Excellence.”

Some panel discussions include, “Inclusiveness: Is that what made Apple great?,” “It’s more than what women want: It’s what society needs” and “Why does queer = fear?”

The conference is open to the public and free parking will be available in Lot 13 at National Avenue and Monroe Street.

A complete program is available at www.publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/conference.

Correction

In The Standard’s article “Which bathroom is ‘right’?,” published on March 25, a transgender child named Coy was identified as the son of a couple instead of their daughter.

Former bookstore director Mark Brixey admits to stealing from Missouri State for 10 years

By Megan Gates The Standard

Former Missouri State University bookstore director Mark Brixey pleaded guilty on Tuesday, March 26, to embezzling more than $1.16 million from the university over 10 years.

Brixey, 48, of Ozark, Mo., was charged in U.S. District Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded guilty to charges of theft, money laundering and filing a false income tax return. He waived his right to a trial and now awaits sentencing.

Following the plea and announcement, MSU released the 2012 internal audit of the University Bookstore which led to the discovery of the missing funds.

The investigation begins

On Aug. 20, President Clif Smart called a press conference to announce that through the course of a routine audit, Tami Reed, MSU senior internal auditor, had discovered $400,000 missing from the bookstore and $81,000 in cash in Brixey’s desk.

The audit of the bookstore’s physical inventory,

Photo courtesy of Missouri State Photo Services

The Brixey embezzlement saga began Aug. 2, when an audit revealed a missing check.

which began Aug. 2 according to Reed, was a routine measure conducted each year and something she had been doing since she started working at the university in 1993.

Reed was conducting her work as usual, when she noticed something odd. A specific inventory markdown that referenced a check from an outside vendor should have been received and accounted for by the university, but it hadn’t.

Reed said she contacted Brixey, who was on vacation at an unknown location, and asked him where the check was.

“He said it was in his desk drawer,” she said, adding that she decided to go into his office to retrieve the check because MSU has a policy that a check to the university must be deposited within one day of it being received.

When Reed opened Brixey’s desk, however, she found $81,669.10 in cash and $548.65 in coins, but not the check she was looking for.

After Reed’s discovery, Brixey was placed on administrative leave by his supervisor, Vice President for Student Affairs Earle Doman, and later

u See BRIXEY page 15

Calendar Tuesday, April 2

Fall 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Last day to submit an instructor drop for second block classes, all day

Refund Deadline — Second block classes at 50 percent credit/refund, all day

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day Master of Health Administration Information Session, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Glass Hall 350 Horticulture Club general meeting, 3:30-5 p.m., Karls Hall 230 Student Activities Council meeting, 4-5 p.m., PSU 313

Wednesday, April 3 Fall 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day American Red Cross Spring Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., PSU Ballroom Entertainment Management Association meeting, 5-6 p.m., Glass Hall 350

Phi Eta Sigma general assembly meeting, 9-9:45 p.m., PSU 313

Thursday, April 4

Fall 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

MSU, Mizzou libraries partner Meyer Library will house federal government documents in shared regional system

American Red Cross Spring Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., PSU Ballroom

Students for a Sustainable Future general meeting, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Temple Hall 105

Friday, April 5

Fall 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Saturday, April 6

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Sunday, April 7

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Monday, April 8

Fall 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day

Summer 2013 early registration — sequenced, all day Faculty and staff portrait day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., PSU 312

Asian American Pacific Islander Organization meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., PSU 312

Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD

Missouri State’s Meyer Library became part of a shared regional system in June 2012.

By Amber Duran The Standard

Missouri State University’s Meyer Library became part of a shared regional system with the University of Missouri’s Ellis Library in June of last year due to lack of space in Mizzou’s library.

According to Tammy Stewart, library assistant professor at Missouri

State, being part of this shared regional system means that Missouri State will share in the housing of federal government documents.

Missouri State will specifically house documents from the State Department, International Relations and federal hearings, according to Stewart.

“With our public affairs mission and strong programs in history, polit-

ical science and especially international relations, these collections will be of great benefit to our university community,” Stewart said.

Mizzou holds this partnership with two other university libraries in addition to Missouri State, Stewart said — Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Central u See LIBRARY page 2

SGA elections to be held April 3-5

By Nicolette Martin The Standard

Missouri State students will have the opportunity to vote on six issues in this year’s Student Government Elections from April 3 to April 5.

Riana Sears, SGA’s chief communications officer, said via email that the issues include those of student body president and vice president, senior class president, Wyrick proposals, a bus stop shelter and amendments to the SGA Constitution.

David Schneider, a senior nursing major, and Brittany Donnellan, a sophomore general business major, will be running for student body president and student body vice president. Students will have the option to vote for them, vote no confidence or abstain from voting on the issue.

For senior class president, students will have the option to vote for Ryan Graham, a senior communications major, or Suzanne Feakes, a senior administrative management major. Students can u See SGA page 10

2 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Debate students compete in national tournament

By Briana Simmons The Standard

Four members of the Missouri State Forensics Team qualified to compete in the 67th National Debate Tournament held March 29 through April 1. The tournament took place at Weber University in Ogden, Utah.

The four debate team members are each paired up with a partner. Jace Gilmore, senior political science major, is partnered with Samantha Nichols, sophomore religious studies major, and Jeff Bess, junior sociopolitical communication major, is paired up with Weston Rumbaugh, senior political science major.

The Missouri State Debate Team has had quite the success in the past few years, with seven consecutive appearances in the elimination rounds of the National Debate Tournament from 2006-2012.

“We have a long tradition of national success at the NDT and other major invitationals during the year, including a seven-year streak of appearances in the NDT elimination rounds,” Bess said.

Bess and Rumbaugh qualified for this year’s NDT at a district tournament in February.

“This year there were six rounds at districts and Wes and I won five of our six rounds,” Bess said.

Bess and Rumbaugh used many techniques to prepare for the tournament.

“In order to succeed at a tournament like the NDT, you have to log countless hours in the squad room doing research and planning out

Photo courtesy of Missouri State Forensics Team

Missouri State students (from left) Jace Gilmore, Samantha Nichols, Jeff Bess and Weston Rumbaugh competed in the 67th National Debate Tournament held March 29 in Ogden, Utah. strategies,” Bess said. “We try to grit and grind every single day and focus on the process; if you do that, success will take care of itself.”

This year’s debate topic is about increasing energy production, but no matter what the topic, there’s always

hard work that goes into preparing for a tournament.

The debaters have the help of a team of coaches to help them prepare for tournaments.

Eric Morris, communications assistant professor and debate team

coach, says the biggest thing the debaters do to prepare for a tournament is research.

“The process of reading articles, extracting quotes and organizing those quotes into arguments that you can build ideas on is the research process,”

Morris said. “Our top debaters put about 20 to 30 hours into that process.”

Among some of the schools competing in the NDT this year include Harvard, Cornell, Michigan State and Kansas State.

“You have an occasional regional or community college, but a vast majority of the competition are from public or private universities,” Morris said.

No matter the competition or debate topic the debaters attempted to remain encouraged.

“We’re just trying to keep our heads clear and our eyes on the prize,” Bess said.

If nothing else, Bess is grateful to a few people for his experiences on the debate team.

“I’ve really got to give it up to God for putting me in the position to compete on this team and for the national championship, and I really want to give a shout out to my mentor and Missouri State alum John Patten who has been instrumental in facilitating our success over the course of this year,” Bess said.

“This isn’t the strongest or weakest season of the last several, but (of the two teams) we’re really hoping that we get one of those,” Morris said.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Neither of the two teams from MSU made it to the elimination rounds. According to Morris, one placed in the 30s, and the other team ranked in the low 40s.

The NDT was the season-ending tournament, and members will begin discussing next year’s topics.

Former ELI student held without bond Library Fahad H. Maashi charged with firstand second-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, felonious restraint

By Taylor Burns The Standard

A former Missouri State English Language Institute student is being held without bond after allegedly attacking another international student.

Fahad H. Maashi was charged with first and second degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and felonious restraint after he allegedly held a girl at knifepoint in her apartment bathroom on

March 14.

Maashi is from Saudi Arabia and thought to be a flight risk, accordMaashi ing to the bond recommendation filed March 15 by Greene County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Wan. During a hearing on Friday, March 22, the state’s prosecution presented a motion for an expedited

preliminary hearing and submitted an application to preserve testimony of the victim in the case.

An expedited hearing would move the case to the soonest possible date. The application to preserve testimony would allow the prosecution to submit a recorded testimony from the victim in place of an inperson testimony.

The prosecution’s requests argue that the victim, who is in the United States on a student visa, may be planning to return to Taiwan to live with her parents, according to court documents.

Nancy Price, Maashi’s defense attorney, filed oppositions to both motions on March 28. According to

the opposition letters, the state has only given allegations and has not given any evidence suggesting use of recorded testimony is necessary.

Price’s opposition to the motion for an expedited preliminary hearing involved preparation for another, unrelated case, according to the written suggestion she submitted to the court.

Price declined to comment on the status of her client but said a future court date should be set once a judge decides on both motions.

According to a probable cause statement by Officer Aaron Cassity of the u See MAASHI page 12

Continued from page 1

Missouri in Warrensburg.

Marie Concannon, government document and data services librarian at Mizzou, said that this partnership gives Missouri State students a valuable on-campus tool.

“MSU will have its own local collection right on campus,” Concannon said. “Quick and easy to get to and it will bolster the mission of MSU’s library.”

Concannon said that space at Mizzou’s library was the main reason for reaching out to other Missouri universities.

“Instead of a single library having the responsibility of maintaining of all documents issued by the U.S. Government, various selective depository libraries have agreed to

take documents,” she said.

Mizzou’s library serves as regional federal depository library for the state of Missouri, according to the U.S. government printing office.

Concannon says that to save space, they are sharing this responsibility with Missouri State.

Concannon said that another benefit of this partnership is the interlibrary loan service, which allows students to have online access to materials otherwise not available at Missouri State.

“We don’t all have to have copies of the same materials,” Concannon said.

Stewart says that she is excited about the opportunity this partnership brings to Missouri State’s students.

“This will make more space and everything more easily accessible as a library,” Stewart said.

Tuesday

April 2, 2013

Perfect time to procrastinate

The home stretch. The long haul.

Whatever you want to call it, it’s about that time of year.

Spring break is over, spring holiday wasn’t far behind, and we now have to wait out the next month and a half of straight classes without any breaks.

First world problems.

I find that this is the hardest time of the year to feel motivated to continue getting my work done early.

The days are longer and the weather is nicer, and I’d much rather trade in schoolwork for being outside and trade in learning to watch cat videos or look at pictures of pancakes that look like hamburgers.

Just me?

For anyone who hasn’t come to enjoy the same Internet habits I have acquired throughout the years, let me introduce you to the best ways to put off all your homework just a little bit longer.

Although, I take no responsibility for the frenzy that occurs an hour before your assignment is due; you have been warned.

1. Buzzfeed

Perhaps my favorite way to kill time, when I’d rather look at quick lists in lieu of reading a few chapters of a book, is Buzzfeed.

For those who aren’t familiar with Buzzfeed, it’s a website that describes itself as “the leading social news organization, intensely focused on delivering high-quality original reporting, insight and viral content across a rapidly expanding array of subject areas.”

If that sounds just a little bit too scholastic for you, don’t be fooled.

While some of Buzzfeed’s articles are useful and a lot focus on issues facing our generation, some of the more procrastinator-friendly titles include: “36 Illustrated Truths About Cats,” “Con-

Nicolette Martin Columnist firmed: William Shatner Is A Ninja,” “The Importance Of Font Choice Work Shirt Edition” and “12 Hot Men And Their Feline Counterparts.”

Basically, if you enjoy seeing the uncanny resemblance between Bradley Cooper and a sloth, and enjoy the best goat video remixes, Buzzfeed will become your new best friend.

Sorry in advance to all the former best friends out there.

P.S. There’s even a Buzzfeed Rewind which has lists on lists on lists of things about the ‘90s and your childhood for those who will be forever stuck in the wrong decade.

2. Thought Catalog

Being a 21-year-old female college student, I sometimes enjoy the state of melancholy that comes with thinking about the past, thinking about the future and wondering why I’m perpetually single.

If you spend time drinking wine, taking bubble baths and constantly thinking about how “Girls” is pretty much the story of your entire life, Thought Catalog is probably the best place for you to delve into to feel like the people of the Internet really, really understand you.

Thought Catalog posts include titles like “I Like Being Sad,” “An Open Letter To Digital Grammar Nazis With The Grammar Corrected,” “15 Things I Don’t Understand About Myself” and “How To Be A Cool,

Trendy, Popular Person And Stuff.”

It’s basically the best place for a 20-something who’s really into the fact that they’re a 20-something to go and discuss all the things the 20-somethings are writing about over brunch … without feeling as pretentious as that sounds.

3. TED

My favorite way to procrastinate, and still feel like I’m kind of contributing to society in a weird way, is to watch TED Talks.

I’d like to thank Colby Jennings in the Media, Journalism and Film Department for introducing me to TED Talks in a class.

It’s the best way to kill time while still actually kind of learning something (but it’s not the something you were supposed to be learning, so it still counts as procrastinating).

I go to TED when I want to watch something different that makes me think. I once watched a presentation about “Distant time and the hint of a multiverse” (because I’m weirdly fascinated by things like that), and a video about the dance of the dung beetle.

They’re very useful in building up a wealth of knowledge that you will probably never need to use except in a game of Trivial Pursuit, but a lot of them are very insightful, create conversation and touch on issues that affect everyone.

School is important and everything — and don’t let your professors catch you on these sites while you’re supposed to be learning about real things — but if you find yourself in your dorm room or apartment wanting to put off your homework just a little bit longer, just take my advice to go into the abyss of the Internet.

I can’t promise you’ll want to come back out.

This is the opinion of The Standard’s Editorial Board

Bookstore needed some supervision

If you want to know how to steal money from an institution and increase your odds of not getting caught, we suggest you take a look at the internal audit of the University Bookstore that was released last Tuesday.

Inside, it has a list of almost everything someone in upper management of a business could do to take advantage of their employer.

And, if you’ve been living under a rock or left really early for spring holiday, that list is exactly what Mark Brixey did to steal $1.16 million from Missouri State over the course of 10 years.

Which begs the question, why wasn’t he caught earlier? Why was Brixey allowed his own personal policy of being able to cash checks at MSU’s Bursar’s Office that were made out to MSU? Why wasn’t someone keeping track of how many times he cashed checks, or double checking that internal financial controls were in place at the bookstore to prevent Brixey from taking advantage of the system? Why was Missouri State so naive?

These are all questions that we would like to know the answer to. And, to most people, including Tami Reed, the answer is “I don’t know.” And that is disappointing.

Yes, we live in the Midwest and people are nice here. We like to think the best of people and look out for our fellow man, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

But being kind and polite doesn’t mean we need to be naive, especially when it comes to money, because the temptation is too great.

MSU has taken steps to help ensure that a theft of this nature will never occur again at the bookstore and we commend the efforts that have been made. However, we hope that MSU will continue to be vigilant with keeping financial controls in place. This is the 21st century and we don’t have the luxury of being naive when millions of dollars are at stake.

Do you think there should be a law against using bathrooms for the opposite sex?

It’s not really an issue 57.1%

Cartoon by Rachel Brown

Agony, ecstasy of being a fan

I’m proud to declare that I am a Kansas Jayhawks fan.

Now, some of you may be asking yourselves why I’d dare choose to admit this right now, what with KU’s loss to Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament Friday?

You may be saying to yourself that this is a strange moment for me to admit my loyalty to the crimson and blue in light of the team giving up a 14-point lead with less than seven minutes left in the game before eventually losing in overtime. I, however, am not a fair-weather fan.

Yes, KU’s loss was cringe-inducingly hard to watch. But being a fan involves not only the high moments — the Jayhawk’s 2008 National Championship win against Memphis, made possible by Chalmers’ “the shot,” nine straight Big 12 Championships — but also the lows — the loss to Michigan, early exits from the tournament by teams including Belmont and the Missouri Valley Conference’s very

The Standard

Editorial Policy The Standard is the official student-run newspaper of Missouri State University. Student editors and staff members are responsible for all content. The content is not subject to the approval of university officials, and the views expressed do not represent those of the university.

Lindsey Howard Managing Editor own Northern Iowa, this year’s disappointing threegame losing streak (TCU, really?!).

Being a fan of a team means not only revelling in their best moments, but also accepting them when they are at their worst. Yes, it’s hard to be a fan when your team goes 11-22 in a season, as the MSU men’s basketball team did this season. #fanproblems, anyone?

However, when things are looking bleak and the future doesn’t look that bright, just take a moment to reflect back on the moments that made you fall in love with your team, and look forward to their futures.

I vividly remember the year I started caring about Letters and Guest Columns Letters to the Editor should not exceed 250 words and should include the author’s name, telephone number, address and class standing or position with the university. Anonymous letters will not be published. Guest column submissions are also welcome. The Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for punctuation, spelling, length and good taste. Letters should be mailed to The Stan-

the Jayhawks. It was the 2002-2003 season. Roy Williams was in what would soon become his final year as the head coach before departing to take the position at the University of North Carolina. The Jayhawks were led by Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison while a promising sophomore named Wayne Simien was starting to make his presence known in the college basketball landscape. The season ended with a loss to Syracuse in the national title game which was played three days before I turned 12.

The championship loss and subsequent departure of Williams, who will forever be branded a traitor by most KU fans — I prefer to think of him as he-who-must-notbe-named — broke my heart.

But, in that moment, I became a Jayhawk fan for life as a new era under current head coach Bill Self began. I’ve followed the team ever since, and my love for them only grew as my sisdard, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897 or e-mailed to Standard@Missouri State.edu.

ter started her collegiate career at the University of Kansas in 2007.

Now, as I sit with a broken heart once more after a roller coaster of a season, I’ve realized that, no matter what heartbreaks you have to endure, there truly is nothing better than being a fan. In addition to experiencing the highest of highs when your team excels, being a fan makes you a part of a community filled with people to celebrate with and people to support you after a tough loss.

As my favorite time of the year, March Madness, winds down to a close, baseball season is just beginning. A new sport brings about new chances to cheer on another one of your teams, revel in their glory and undoubtedly, as I’ve come to discover, suffer through another disappointing season.

On that note, let’s go Royals! Now, please give us fans something to be excited about. I can’t take anymore heartbreak this year.

al orientation or disability.

The Standard reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy at any time. The Standard encourages Advertising Policy responsibility and good taste in The Standard will not accept any advertising. Political advertisements advertising that is libelous, promust show clear endorsement, such motes academic dishonesty, vioas “Paid for by (Advertiser).” A samlates any federal, state or local laws, ple of all mail-order items must be or encourages discrimination submitted prior to the publication of against any individual or group on the advertisement. Advertising havthe basis of race, sex, age, color, ing the appearance of news must creed, religion, national origin, sexu- have the word “advertisement”

No, we need a supportive environment for everyone 42.9%

Tell us what you think.

Vote in this week’s poll at www.the-standard.org The Standard

Editor-in-Chief Megan Gates Megan9043@Live.MissouriState.edu

Physical address: Clay Hall 744 E. Cherry St. Springfield, Mo.

Managing Editor Lindsey Howard Howard13@Live.MissouriState.edu

News Editor Nicolette Martin Nicolette012@Live.MissouriState.edu

Postal address: 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897

Life Editor Kelsey Berry Kelsey432@Live.MissouriState.edu

Newsroom: 417-836-5272 Advertising: 417-836-5524 Fax: 417-836-6738 Standard@MissouriState.edu www.the-standard.org The Standard is published on Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters.

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Photo Editor Steph Anderson Anderson76@Live.MissouriState.edu Advertising Manager Sandy King SandyKing@MissouriState.edu Faculty Adviser Jack Dimond JackDimond@MissouriState.edu

Sports Reporters Tim Godfrey Sam Holzer John Robinson Mike Ursery Cartoonist Rachel Brown Movie Reviewer Karman Bowers Photographers Josh Campbell Evan Henningsen Sarah Hiatt

printed above. Such ads must be bordered. Clear sponsorship must be shown on each advertisement.

Position requests will be honored when possible but are not guaranteed.

In case of error or omission, The Standard’s liability, if any, will not exceed charge for the space occupied by the error. The Standard is not responsible for typographical errors that do not decrease the value of the advertisement. Liability for any error

News/Life Reporters Taylor Burns Amber Duran Katie Lamb Trevor Mitchell Kelsie Nalley Peyson Shields Briana Simmons Nicholas Simpson Video/Multimedia Sarah Smith Distributors Chad Grittman Gus Skibbe

is limited to the first insertion of the erroneous advertisement.

Newspaper Theft Each reader is permitted one copy of the paper per issue. Additional copies may be purchased from The Standard office for 25 cents each.

The Standard may waive this fee on a case-by-case basis if extra copies are available. Newspaper theft is a crime. Violators may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.

Tuesday

April 2, 2013

Calendar Wednesday, April 3

“Les Misérables” the film, 9 p.m., PSU Theater, free

Sheryl Crow, 7-10 p.m., O’Reilly Family Event Center, starting at $49 Open dancing, 8:30-10 p.m., Savoy Ballroom, free

Thursday, April 4

Moon City Jam, 7-9 p.m., Big Momma’s Coffee and Espresso Bar, free “A Chorus Line,” 7:30-10 p.m., Springfield Little Theatre, see website for cost

Public Affairs Jazz Concert, 7:309 p.m., Ellis Recital Hall, free “Pajama Game” the musical, 7:30-10 p.m., Craig Hall Coger Theatre, $16 advance purchase with MSU ID, $22, $24

SAC Cultural Affairs Presents: StL Taiko Drums, 9 p.m., PSU Ballroom, free

Friday, April 5

The Good Body, 2:30-5 p.m., Canvas Art Gallery, $10-$18

Big Read Iron Chef Cook-Off, 6-9 p.m., Park Central Branch Library, free FTBD: Real Encounters BMX Show, 6-10 p.m., First Baptist Church, free Courageous Love Gallery Opening, 6-8 p.m., Freedom Photography Studio, free

First Friday Art Walk, 6-10 p.m., various downtown venues, free

Edible Books Festival, 7-9 p.m., Park Central Branch Library, free “A Chorus Line,” 7:30-10 p.m., Springfield Little Theatre, see website for cost “Pajama Game” the musical, 7:30-10 p.m., Craig Hall Coger Theatre, $16 advance purchase with MSU ID, $22, $24

SAC Presents: Rock ‘N Bowl, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Plaster Student Union Level One Game Center, free 2013 Shrine Circus, 7:30-10:30 p.m., JQH Arena, $12-$37

“The Addams Family,” 8-10 p.m., Juanita K. Hammons Hall, $15-$52 Skinny Improv Mainstage, 8-10 p.m., 306 South Ave., $10-$12

Saturday, April 6

Ozarks Paracon, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Shrine Mosque, $35 “The Addams Family,” 2-4 p.m., Juanita K. Hammons Hall, $15-$52 SAC Comedy Presents: Jen Kober, 7-9 p.m., PSU Ballroom West, free “Pajama Game” the musical, 7:30-10 p.m., Craig Hall Coger Theatre, $16 advance purchase with MSU ID, $22, $24 “The Addams Family,” 8-10 p.m., Juanita K. Hammons Hall, $15-$52

Sunday, April 7

2013 Shrine Circus, all day, JQH Arena, $12-$37

Springfield Urban Warrior Challenge, 7-10 a.m., Plaster Sports Complex, open to the public “Pajama Game” the musical, 2:30-5 p.m., Craig Hall Coger Theatre, $16 advance purchase with MSU ID, $22, $24

Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD

Vice President for Student Affairs Earle Doman walks at Foster Recreation Center. He is the man to beat in this month’s challenge.

Can you beat Dr. D? Vice president challenges students to walk more

lenge must have registered

by March 28 and officially starts Monday, April 1. The Throughout the month of challenge will last until April, Taylor Health and April 28 and the top 8 parWellness Center is putting ticipants to beat Doman will on a challenge that is open receive a gift card to the to any Missouri State stu- Missouri State Bookstore, dent: Can you walk more varying in amounts. than Dr. Doman?

Jerilyn Reed is a wellEarle Doman, university ness educator at Taylor vice president for student Health and Wellness Center affairs, is the one to beat in and the one coordinating April’s challenge. The chal- April’s challenge. lenge is judged by a little “As of right now, I have device 63 peocalled a ple The first challenge pedomesigned students walked far ter. up for enough to get from our Clipped the stucampus in Springfield, on the dent waist of walking Mo., to our campus in your chalDalian, China. pants, the lenge,” Earle Doman pedomeshe said, Vice President for Student Affairs ter counts adding each step you take. Then, that this is the third time each of the participating they’ve done the competiwalkers will turn in their tion where Doman was the steps on a quest to beat main competitor. The first Doman. challenge was in April 2012 Participants of the chal- and the second was this past

By Peyson Shields The Standard

Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD

Doman, an avid walker, hopes to inspire students to be more active starting with his walking challenge that began April 1. fall in October.

“The first challenge students walked far enough to get from our campus in Springfield, Mo., to our campus in Dalian, China (the last challenge beat that total). The October challenge had 95 participants,” Doman said.

The question of the hour

might be, “How far do I need to walk each day to beat Dr. D?” Reed has the answer, “It all depends on how much and how busy Dr. Doman is on a specific day. Some days he walks three miles, others it’s over five.”

Doman said that this challenge’s purpose will

Briefs Sheryl Crow to perform at Drury

Poetry slam with teen performers scheduled for April

Teens and members of the Missouri Poetry Slam Springfield are scheduled to perform poems from recent workshops at the Park Central Branch Library on Thursday, April 11.

Performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. and teens will meet with the group at 6 p.m.

This event is free of charge.

u See DOMAN page 11

Newest ‘G.I. Joe’ installment is waste of theater time

Princess Tea & Fashion ShowGone Mad!, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., Creamery Arts Center, free

Sheryl Crow, a breast cancer survivor, will be returning to Springfield on Wednesday, April 3, with a concert to raise funds for Springfieldian Drew Lewis and his fight against colorectal cancer.

The concert is scheduled to be held at the O’Reilly Family Event Center with all proceeds to benefit Lewis who is a 45-year old real estate sales professional.

A live auction will also be held during the show with big ticket items available.

Tickets start at $49 and are available at the O’Reilly Center box office or by calling 417-8736389. Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.drury tickets.com.

“encourage people to be more active, have fun and to engage in a little healthy competition.”

Since he is a university vice president, he’s hoping that it will show people that Missouri State does care about their students and

Familiar franchise features new faces

Evan Henningsen/THE STANDARD

Young entrepreneurs at Missouri State University have the option to make their dreams a reality with Crowdit.

Local dreams come to life New business gives young entrepreneurs opportunities

By Nicholas Simpson The Standard

Talk of economic collapse and the construction of a new Walmart are enough to daunt the small business owner into despair, but with the signing of the Jumpstart Our Business Startup Act by President Barack Obama on April 5, 2012, strides are being made to help the young entrepreneur of

21st century America.

Jason Graf is one of many taking this concept by the horns and curious to see what the little man has to say in such a capitalist nation. His little project, known as Crowdit.com, has taken him from anonymous Springfieldian to national recognition.

“I’ve been an entrepreneurial spirit my whole life,” Graf said. “When I

was 15, I was buying those get rich quick schemes off TV and that’s how hungry I was, but capital always got in the way. I always had this dream, probably since my early 20s, of creating a company that helped other people start businesses and capital not be a problem.”

Crowdit’s concept is simple enough, if you have a business plan — or “dream” — you make it known. In a step-by-step process small business owners, independent film-

makers, musicians and more can lay out their business plan and offer incentives in exchange for monetary contributions to their plan.

“We’re seeing that people want to be involved in more ways than just giving money,” Graf said. “They want to feel like they’re a part of it, and you can see them through both the types of incentives that work — meaning for a creative work like a movie offeru See CROWDIT page 14

“G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” The Joes are back, but mercifully with mostly new Joes.

The Joes are a celebrated,

Karman Bowers Movie Reviewer

elite branch of the military and the evil organization Cobra is intent on bringing them down.

After Cobra infiltrates the U.S. Government, it sets up the Joes as traitors and exterminates them with extreme prejudice.

Only a few Joes remain. Led by Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson) and Snake Eyes (Ray Park), along with the original General Joe Colton (Bruce Willis), they must fight to save the world.

Blah, blah, blah. None of that u See JOE page 11

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Standard

the-standard.org | 5

Paranormal convention to meet

Springfield is in for an unearthly surprise

By Nicolette Martin The Standard

Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD

Christy Claybaker, one of the individuals who orchestrated The Queen City Beard & Moustache Federation, poses with her fake moustache. The federation does local charity work each month and has grown to 30 members since the spring of 2010.

Bring your game face, beard and all

Local bearded men and whiskerinas to compete

By Kelsie Nalley The Standard

The Queen City Beard and Moustache Federation, QCBMF, will be hosting its fourth Annual Beard and Moustache Competition this month to give facial hair growers a chance at glory.

The Queen City Beard and Moustache Federation got started when local beardsman Devin Cara met Curtis and Christy Claybaker in the spring of 2010. Before meeting the Claybakers, Cara had been competing internationally in Germany and Alaska with little to no local support.

After meeting, Cara and the Claybakers orchestrated a local competition. Fourteen contestants participated and there was more than $300 in cash prizes awarded.

The competition raised more than $600 with the help of local businesses and volunteers.

Now, with the help of several of the contestants from the local competition, QCBMF raises money for a local charity every year with its local beard and moustache competitions.

This year’s competition will

be held on Saturday, April 20, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Patton Alley Pub, located at 313 S. Patton Ave. All proceeds from the competition will go to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the Haven of the Ozarks NoKill Animal Shelter. They will be donating $1,600 to Haven of the Ozarks to help build a new covered pen for their shelter.

The rest of the proceeds will be donated to the local chapter of u See BEARD page 11

When there’s something strange in your neighborhood, you can either call Ghostbusters, or you can attend the first Ozarks Paranormal Convention.

Ozarks Paracon is a one-day paranormal conference from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, April 6, that is being held at the Shrine Mosque, according to Annette Munnich — the conference’s publicity specialist and graphics artist who also hosts “Python Radio,” a paranormal radio show Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on GCR Internet Radio.

According to Munnich, it took six months to put the event together. It was planned and organized by the Ozarks Paranormal Society and Infinity Paranormal members Dave Harkins and Bud Steed — both of whom appeared on “Legends of the Ozarks” on the Travel Channel, Munnich said in an email.

“This area (the Ozarks) is very rich in paranormal activity,” she said. “Not just ghosts and apparitions, but also UFO sightings and cryptozoological creatures like Momo. We thought it would be cool to have a big event here, as there wasn’t anything like this event in the area that we knew of.”

According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article from 2001, the Momo is a large, hairy creature with a nasty stench that some believe roamed Star Hill, about 80 miles north of St. Louis.

The event will include guest speakers, a raffle, vendors and an after-hours investigation of the Shrine Mosque.

Speakers

The conference will include many speakers from the paranormal community.

“The guest speakers are predominantly Missouri people at this conference, so it has a distinct, local flavor and appeals to people in this area,” Munnich said.

Keith Age hosts the “Booth Brothers” horror documentaries on the SYFY u See PARANORMAL page 14

Tuesday

April 2, 2013 Check out The Standard Sports on Facebook for the latest updates on MSU athletics.

www.facebook.com/ TheStandardSports

Scorebox

Baseball (18-6, 3-0 MVC) Wednesday, March 27 SEMO 040000000-4

Missouri State 5 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 x - 11

Friday, March 29 Indiana State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 Missouri State 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 x - 3 Saturday, March 30 Indiana State 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 Missouri State 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 x - 5 Sunday, March 31 Indiana State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 - 7 Missouri State 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 0 1 - 8 Softball (14-16, 5-3 MVC) Friday, March 29 Drake 1000010 - 2 Missouri State 0100002- 3 Drake Missouri State

1000010 - 2 231000x - 6

Saturday, March 30 Drake 0 1 0 6 1 5 - 13 Indiana State 010004 - 5 Men’s swimming & diving Thursday, March 28 NCAA Championships

Friday, March 29

Le, 45th of 61 200-yard IM

NCAA Championships Le, 33rd of 42 100-yard back

Saturday, March 30

NCAA Championships

Women’s golf Tuesday, March 26 UALR Classic

Le, 15th of 42 200-yard back

(tie) 7th of 15

Calendar

Tuesday, April 2

Men’s Golf, 8:30 a.m., ASU Red Wolves Classic in Jonesboro, Ark.

Baseball, 6:30 p.m. at Oral Roberts

Wednesday, April 3 Softball, 5 p.m. vs. Missouri Softball, 7 p.m. vs. Missouri

Friday, April 5

Women’s golf, TBA, SMU/Dallas Athletic Club Invitational in Dallas, Texas Lacrosse, 2 p.m. vs. Missouri Baptist in St. Louis, Mo.

Baseball, 6 p.m. at Illinois State

Saturday, April 6 Men’s soccer, TBA vs. TBA

Women’s golf, TBA, SMU/Dallas Athletics Club Invitational in Dallas, Texas

Women’s soccer, noon vs. Tulsa at Drury Softball, noon at Illinois State

Baseball, 2 p.m. at Illinois State Softball, 2 p.m. at Illinois State

Sunday, April 7

Women’s golf, TBA,SMU/Dallas Athletics Club Invitational in Dallas, Texas Softball, noon at Illinois State

Baseball, 1 p.m. at Illinois State

Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD

Missouri State swimmer Paul Le made history over the weekend by being the first Bear to ever compete at the men’s swimming NCAA Championships. Le placed 15th in the 200-yard backstroke, and also competed in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke.

Making history 15th

Missouri State swimmer competes in three events at NCAA Championships

Le’s participation in the consolation finals was also the first time in MSU history that a Bear scored points at the NCAA ChampiSophomore Paul Le made histo- onships. Missouri State finished in ry by becoming the first swimmer 39th place out of 53 teams with two at Missouri State to finish in the top points.

16 in an event at the NCAA Cham“I’ve always been a realistic pionships and earn NCAA All- person,” Le said. “I never thought American honorable mention hon- that I would make it this far.” ors Saturday.

Le also “I never competed in thought I would two other I’ve always been a reach this point. It events prior to realistic person. I never feels really good,” the 200-yard thought that I would make backstroke. He Le said. “This is it this far. awesome.” swam in the Paul Le 200-yard IndiLe placed 15th Missouri State swimmer overall (1:42.57) vidual Medley out of 42 competitors in the 200- on March 28. Le placed 45th yard backstroke on March 30 at the (1:46.64) and his time was just .88 Indiana University Natatorium in seconds off of the school record he Indianapolis. Le set the stage for set at the MAC Championships. his history-making performance by On March 29, Le competed in placing 12th (1:41.69) in the 200- the 100-yard backstroke and finyard backstroke preliminaries earlier in the day. u See LE page 7

By Mike Ursery The Standard

1:42.57

Le’s place at the NCAA Championships in the 200-yard backstroke

39th

Le’s 200-yard backstroke time

MSU’s place at the NCAA Championships

Monday, April 8

Men’s golf, 8:30 a.m., ULM/Wallace Jones Invitational in Monroe, La.

Briefs

Bears take Sycamores in series

By Mike Ursery The Standard

Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD

Howard Bell at “Battle for Bell.”

Former MSU baseball player, legendary high school coach dies

Howard Bell, 48, a former MSU shortstop under current Bears head coach Keith Guttin in the ‘80s, died Friday after a battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, which he. was diagnosed with in December 2011.

In October, the MSU and Drury baseball teams honored Bell in a historic first-ever meeting. The proceeds from the game, dubbed the “Battle for Bell,” went to the Help Coach Bell Strike Out ALS Fund.

In addition to playing for MSU, Bell became head coach of the Glendale High School baseball program in 2006, winning four conference titles in seven seasons.

Services were held yesterday.

Evan Henningsen/THE STANDARD

Missouri State junior pitcher Nick Petree started the series against Indiana State for the Bears. Petree gave up two hits in the first game on Friday, March 29.

The Missouri State Bears opened MVC play with a three-game sweep against the Indiana State Sycamores at Hammons Field on March 29-31.

Junior Nick Petree gave up just two hits in a complete game shutout in the first game, and the Missouri State Bears opened MVC-play with a 3-0 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores on March 29 at Hammons Field.

The game was expected to be a pitcher’s duel between Petree and Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea, and that was exactly how it played out.

“I don’t think anyone was disappointed. It was probably as good as you can get,” head coach Keith Guttin said. “We knew it was going to be very close.”

Petree threw a season-high 10 strikeouts while only giving up two walks to out-duel the opposing pitcher Manaea, who is in the running to be the no.1 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft.

Petree threw 127 pitches while going the distance and brought his season ERA down to 0.84.

“I figured out the way they were going and figured what they had on me,” Petree said. “After the first three innings, I tried to gauge their hitters by what they tried doing in their first at-bat and go from there.” u See BBALL page 9

Women’s golf ties for 7th Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Standard

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Team starts with 7-stroke lead but falls to a seventh-place tie at the UALR Classic in Hot Springs

By John Robinson The Standard

File photo/THE STANDARD

Missouri State women’s golf sophomore Chiara Citterio tied for 47th at the UALR Classic in Hot Springs, Ark., on Tuesday, March 26.

Le

Continued from page 6

ished in 33rd place (47.57).

This time around, the time he set in the 100-yard backstroke was just .50 seconds off of another school record that he set at the MAC Championships.

“I was a little disappointed with those two races. I wish I would have gone faster,” Le said. “But I was really happy with my time in

the 200-yard backstroke.”

Head coach Dave Collins was pleased with what Le was able to accomplish at the NCAA Championships, and also thinks that it is a huge step for the men’s swimming program at MSU. He also gave credit to all of the elements that had a hand in assisting the team this season.

“This was as much about an individual accomplishment as it was about a whole team and staff accomplishment,” Collins said. “A lot of

While the students at Missouri State University trudged through the late snowfall last week, the MSU women’s golf team took to the green for tournament play.

The team took a trip down to Hot Springs, Ark., to compete in the UALR Classic, and despite a strong seven-shot lead that put them into second place, the Bears fell into the rough the following day finishing in a tie for seventh.

It’s that sort of inconsistency that has plagued the team all season with several highplace finishes standing alongside several finishes lower than what most of the team would like.

Despite the seventh place finish, plenty of Bears had great days on the green.

Senior Emma Clegg finished in fifth place, and sophomore Megan Thompson tied for 18th, chief among them.

Clegg also picked up Missouri Valley Conference “Golfer of the Week” honors for the second time in her career.

“We would like to keep it (Golfer of the Week) with us,” joked Clegg as she inherited the award from teammate Megan Thompson, who won the award at the Rio Verde Invitational the previous week.

Clegg is one of two seniors on this young Bears team, as well as the team’s top player, finishing in the team’s top two all five tournaments that the team has appeared in.

people’s hard work went into (Le’s) performance this weekend, and he has really put our program at another level.”

The NCAA Championships mark the official end of the 2012-2013 NCAA men’s swimming season, but there are more competitions scheduled for the Le this summer.

“We have a national championship in the summer for USA Swimming, and then we have some other championship-style meets

When asked about how the season had gone thus far, Clegg wasn’t surprised at the team’s inconsistency.

“It’s a transitional season,” Clegg said, citing the fact that freshman and sophomores make up seven out of nine on the roster.

Clegg praised her teammates’ transitions into college golf saying, “We’re all contributing; we have a lot of depth.”

Thompson is one of the scrappier golfers on the team, fighting back from a wrist injury that sidelined her for a little while in the fall, but she has come back to rank eighth overall in the Missouri Valley Conference as well as the third best golfer on the team.

“I’ve been pretty happy,” Thompson said regarding her recent achievements. “The weather’s been really weird.”

Thompson also had comments on the chemistry the team has built.

“We get along great and we spend a lot of time together,” she said.

The Bears hope to use that chemistry and depth to finish out the season strong.

With the SMU/Dallas Athletic Club Invitational being the last competition before the Valley tournament, and despite the inconsistent season, Thomson is predicting a strong finish.

“We won it (the Valley tournament) last year, so I think we have a good shot at repeating,” she said.

With a good finish in Dallas the Bears could come in hot to take out No. 1 seed SIU.

that we will be getting prepared for,” Collins said.

Le will have a little bit of time off to catch up on school work that he missed last week, as well as some time to rest before preparing for the summer events.

“The first thing I’m going to do is chow down on so much food,” Le said. “That is definitely a priority for me.”

Le hopes to return to the NCAA Championships next season and also hopes that Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD his teammates can be there to Paul Le practices before the NCAA Championships. compete alongside him.

8 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD

Missouri State Ice Bears defenseman Carson MacInnis lays on the locker room floor before a game during the 2012-13 season. MacInnis has applied to attend the St. Louis Police Academy in hopes of one day being a St. Louis County police officer.

MSU hockey player to serve and protect Carson MacInnis applies to St. Louis Police Academy

By Tim Godfrey The Standard

This past season, Carson MacInnis has been putting on a Missouri State ice hockey sweater before every game, knowing full well what his responsibility was: to serve and protect. One day, MacInnis hopes to be able to put on the uniform of a St. Louis County Police Officer and carry out the same responsibility he had as an Ice Bear defenseman: to serve and

protect.

Since he was young, MacInnis has always wanted to do two things: play hockey and become a police officer.

Although he has been playing ice hockey for most of his life, MacInnis says that becoming a police officer one day has been the overall goal.

“For me, it was something I have always wanted to do. I wanted to be able to help me and make things a lot safer for the people I live around,”

MacInnis said.

When MacInnis was a senior in high school, he began internships with the St. Louis County Police Department. Throughout the four years since then, MacInnis has been taking ride-alongs with police officers and doing volunteer work with the department.

Although the job of a police officer is one that involves danger on a daily basis, MacInnis said that his parents were supportive of their child’s dream of becoming a police officer.

“Obviously it’s a pretty dangerous career. They were pretty willing with it, and

they know that it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” MacInnis said.

But becoming a police officer is no easy task. Before MacInnis can serve and protect the citizens of St. Louis County, he must first apply for admission into the St. Louis Police Academy; which is no easy task, either.

Those applying to the St. Louis Police Academy must take demanding written and physical exams. The written exam will test an applicant’s personality along with their reading and comprehension skills. In order to pass the physical exam, applicants must perform a required

amount of pushups and situps and run a timed 1.5 mile.

MacInnis took his exams in February, before the MidAmerican Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs, and passed them both. He is currently waiting to hear if he is allowed to take the third step of the application process: an interview with a department official.

If MacInnis ends up being accepted into the Police Academy, then he said he will forgo his senior year at Missouri State to attend the academy, which means he will no longer be able to play for the team, which head coach Bob Bucher said

would “be good for him and bad for us.”

If MacInnis leaves, the Ice Bears would be losing a seasoned veteran who recorded eight goals and 17 assists this past season, which was his best season at Missouri State, according to MacInnis.

“You don’t want to lose Carson,” Bucher said.

But MacInnis said that his coaches and teammates have been nothing but supportive of his dream to become a police officer.

“They have always known that I’ve wanted to be an officer and they (have been) pretty supportive,” MacInnis said.

Last Week’s Sudoku Answers

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Standard

the-standard.org | 9

Sam Holzer

Almost anything could happen with the Royals

Missouri pro baseball unpredictable Expect another fun summer of baseball from the St. Louis Cardinals

After winning the World Series in 2011 and making it to Game 7 of the NLCS last year, the St. Louis Cardinals have endured a stretch of success that every club dreams about. Expectations are high once again in the Gateway to the West, and anything less than a trip to the World Series would be considered a disappointment.

The team has once again lost key players heading into this season. Kyle Lohse, the team’s best pitcher for the last two seasons, has packed his bags and will now be competing for the divisionrival Milwaukee Brewers.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal had to undergo a ligament replacement surgery for his right elbow and will miss the 2013 season. Staff and emotional leader Chris Carpenter will also miss the 2013 season due to ongoing issues with his neck, shoulder and arm.

Pete Kozma, who shined during the stretch run of last season and the playoffs, will

step in for Furcal at short.

Pitcher Jaime Garcia’s shoulder issues seem to be in the past, so he’ll be back in the rotation, along with 22-yearold top pitching prospect Shelby Miller.

Closer Jason Motte and third baseman David Freese will also begin the season on the disabled list due to elbow and back issues, respectively.

Young-guns Trevor Rosenthal and Joe Kelly will provide power arms in the bullpen to alleviate the loss of Motte while 2012 set-up man Mitchell Boggs will step up and be the interim closer.

Matt Carpenter, who was being groomed to be a second baseman this spring, will slide over to the hot corner in place of Freese while Daniel Descalso handles the duties at the keystone.

With all the injuries and departures the Cardinals have endured, they keep chugging along. They’re able to do this because of their immense depth and ability to

Bball

and Voit advanced to third. “(Indiana State) threw me a changeup first, and my first couple of swings were a little off,” Peebles said. “The last pitch was down the middle and I was able to get a good swing on it.”

Freshman outfielder Matt Dezort entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter, and bunted home Voit on a suicide squeeze.

Even though two relievers were warming up in the bullpen, Guttin allowed Petree to go back on the mound in the ninth inning despite his high pitch count. Petree retired the Sycamores 1-2-3 to finish the game.

“Usually there is a point

Continued from page 6

The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when freshman outfielder Tate Matheny broke the tie with an infield single that allowed senior infielder Travis McComack to score. The single gave Matheny his 16th RBI on the season.

MSU added two more runs in the eighth inning. The first two hitters got on base as senior outfielder Keenan Maddox lead off with a double and senior catcher Luke Voit followed with a walk. Maddox then scored on an RBI single by senior outfielder Koby Peebles,

deal with adversity. And if more injuries happen, they’ve set themselves up to plug in a new guy and keep rolling along.

If an injury happens in the outfield, expect top prospect and 20-year-old phenom Oscar Taveras to step in and hit immediately. Michael Wacha, 2012 first round draft choice, is waiting in the wings at AAA-Memphis if an injury happens in the starting rotation. And if something happens to Allen Craig at first base, then slugger Matt Adams will assume his duties.

General Manager John Mozeliak has built a welloiled machine in St. Louis.

The organization has set the bar in drafting, player development and most importantly, winning at every level.

And they’re not afraid of change or mixing things up; all they care about is breeding a champion.

Expect another fun summer of baseball in St. Louis. where we’re going to take him out (of the game), but he’s pretty good about telling us when it’s time,” Guttin said. “He felt like he could give us a good ninth inning, so we left him in.”

MSU freshmen shined in the second game. Freshman Jonathan Harris pitched a gem, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out five over eight innings of work. Matheny and Voit each had two RBI’s, and the Bears were victorious, 5-1.

Matheny began the scoring in the third inning by belting an RBI-single in the third inning to make the score 1-0. The score would remain the same until the sixth inning when the Sycamores tied the game at 1-

Every team is full of hope at the beginning of each season.

They’re all feeling good about their offseason transactions, and they all feel like their young players are ready for the grind of a 162-game MLB season. The Kansas City Royals are no different.

Actually, they’ve sort of set the standard for hyping their team up and then failing to meet expectations. But is this the year that the Royals make the playoffs for the first time since 1985?

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this team. First, the starting rotation is as good as it’s been in years. By trading off an impressive package of prospects, including slugging top prospect Wil Myers, to the Tampa Bay Rays, the Royals have finally netted a bonafide staff ace in James Shields. They also got Wade Davis in the trade, who will slide nicely into the rotation.

The Royals also acquired Ervin Santana from the Angels and resigned Jeremy

Baseball Fanatic

1.

In the bottom-half of the sixth inning, Matheny broke the tie by hitting a bases loaded single that scored two runs.

Two batters later, Voit bounced a single up the middle that scored two more. Sophomore Tyler Burgess relieved Harris in the ninth inning and retired the Sycamores in order to close out the game.

Late-game drama was the story of the series finale. After the Sycamores scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning, MSU tied the game 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. McComack hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th inning to secure the sweep for the Bears.

Guthrie, who are both solid pitchers. Luis Mendoza nails down the fifth spot and will be a mediocre innings-eater at best.

The de facto “ace” for the last three seasons, lefty Bruce Chen, will slide into the bullpen along with former top prospect and bust Luke Hochevar.

The offense is young, talented and now has a sizeable amount of experience. Alex Gordon has turned around from his early-career struggles and is now one of the most productive leadoff hitters in baseball. He has also won the Gold Glove Award for the past two seasons due to his stellar work in left field.

Billy Butler continues to mash as the cleanup hitter and DH, while Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez all offer tremendous upside both from an offensive and defensive standpoint.

Alcides Escobar has always been a reliable option defensively at shortstop, but he’s now turned himself into a respectable hitter after bat-

ting .293 in 155 games last season.

Escobar’s double-play partner will be Chris Getz this season. Getz won’t ever turn any heads with his amazing play, but he should be a dependable player.

Lorenzo Cain will be roaming center field this season at The K. No one questions his talent, but staying healthy has always been a struggle for him.

To the dismay of many fans, Jeff Francoeur will once again be the starter in right field. He won’t hit for a good average, but he still has some pop in his bat and should provide some veteran leadership.

Even though the American League Champion Detroit Tigers, along with the always dangerous Chicago White Sox, are in the same division as the Royals, they still have the luxury of playing in the weakest division in the AL. Add in the fact that there are two wild cards once again, and we have the making of a very intriguing season ahead of us in Kansas City.

Senior Cody Schumacher hadn’t made a start since March 5, but showed no signs of rust as he held Indiana scores over eight innings while giving up only two hits.

MSU seemed to be on their way to shutting out Indiana State for the second time in three games, but the Sycamores’ bats woke up in the ninth. Sophomore Tyler Burgess came into the game to close out the game, but he gave up two run-scoring doubles that made the score 4-2. Senior Grant Gordon then came into the game and gave up two runs on a single that tied the game.

Indiana State added a three-run homerun to go ahead 7-4.

MSU battled back in the

bottom-half of the ninth inning.

Peebles led off the inning with a walk, followed by back-toback doubles by Maddox and junior Conor Smith brought the Bears within one run. Maddox later scored to tie the game on a balk by the Indiana State pitcher.

Sophomore Joey Hawkins led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a single for his fourth hit of the game. He later advanced to second on a bunt single by Cheray. Hawkins then scored the winning run on McComack’s double.

MSU will play road games at Oral Roberts and Illinois State before returning home on April 9 to face Missouri at Hammons Field.

10 | the-standard.org

The Standard

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 Schneider and Donnellan’s Platform I. Campus Improvements: addressing parking issues/educating about available parking, repairing sidewalks (i.e. in front of Temple Hall), blue lights on Elm Street, improved lighting on Elm Street

II. Residence Life and Dining Services: improving efficiency of dorms, extending dining hall hours, improved communication with RHA, single apartmentstyle living III. Diversity: work with groups such as AIS, Spectrum and NPHC, improving the integration of international students on campus IV. Student Government Association: website improvements, more transparency/visibility, student organization representation, student demographic representation, visiting student organizations, town hall meetings V. Athletics: new stadium, student athletic fee, improving Bear Fest Village

File photo by Josh Campbell/THE STANDARD

David Schneider, a senior nursing major, is running unopposed for student body president. SGA elections will be held from midnight on April 3 to 5 p.m. on April 5.

SGA

Continued from page 1

also abstain from voting on the issue.

There are two Wyrick proposals on the ballot as well.

The Wyrick Student Project Fund was initiated in 1983 by students of Southwest Missouri State, and is named in honor of Thomas J. Wyrick, “whose dedication and hard work inspired Missouri State University students to participate in the improvement of their university

631 E. Madison Great 2 bd,1 ba apts, just west of campus.

Text 417-520-6259 to view, or call 417-459-2843

through innovative programs and effective student government,” according to Missouri State’s policy library.

The Wyrick Fund is supported by a fee collected from each student enrolled at the Springfield campus at the rate of $3 per semester for the fall, spring and summer semesters.

According to Sears, the fund currently has $350,960.60.

The first Wyrick proposal on the ballot will be a bus stop shelter, similar to the shelter in front of Garst Dining Center. According to Sears, the shelter will be

Nice House for lease June 1. $855 3 bed, 2 bath, with A/C, W/D, & yard service.

No pets & no smoking.

Call soon 425-3273

on Madison Street, near the ROTC practice field, and will have a solar panel on top, “in line with SGA and Missouri State’s dedication to sustainability.”

The total cost, which includes construction, contractor installation labor, project administration, contingency and signage would be $62,785.

The second Wyrick proposal is an additional sand volleyball court located south of the eastern soccer field on the Betty and Bobby Allison Fields. Sears said it will be identical to the two existing courts and will provide room for over-

1, 2, and 3 bedroom houses and apartments available June 1st within 2 streets of campus. Call Greystone Properties at 865-3350 or see msuhousing.com

Canvases for oil painting 4x3 feet and 3x2 feet Call 417-693-5527 or email Kaczmarski@ MissouriState.edu

flow when the other courts are occupied.

Sears said a proposal to renovate the sand volleyball courts was on the ballot approximately two years ago, but this new proposal will add an additional sand volleyball court.

The total cost is estimated at $55,000.

Finally, students can vote on proposed changes to amend the SGA Constitution to make it a more upto-date document.

The ballot can be found at http://www.elections. missouristate.edu from midnight on April 3 to 5 p.m. on April 5.

Announcing

Come enjoy a FREE LUNCH on Wednesdays from 11:30 to 1!

This is a "come and go" event provided by Baptist Student Union.

Call 417.869.9329 for more details!

Donations to the ministry are also accepted!

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis w/ 3OH!3 at JQH Arena on April 18th. Tickets $25 for MSU students/$37 for public.

VI. Sustainability: hydration stations, clean energy/Beyond Coal Campaign, raise awareness of campus gardens, water reservoir, continue to increase recycling, LED lighting, campus farmers market

VII. Technology: collaboration stations in library, Bear Line tracking app, syllabi database, text alert system, Bear Prints for student organizations, Taylor Health and Wellness alert/scheduling online, opting out of phone/address availability online, SGA widget on My Missouri State homepage to make info more available VIII. Academics: plus/minus system section standardization, book exchange program, extending library hours, mid-semester ongoing evaluations, online petitions for student issues

IX. Springfield/city/national relations: student city councilman, provide opportunities for students to advocate at the capitol, alumni mentorship programs X. Student Affairs: Improve the Boomer meal plan, bookstore discounts for SOAR students, promoting school spirit Source: “David and Brittany for MSU Student Body President/Vice President” Facebook page

Used laptop/desktopcomputers needed by new non-profit organization. We can format all personal items off for you if needed. somoes@rocketmail.com

SUMMER LEASING AGENTS NEEDED Apply in person 4355 S. National

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Joe

Continued from page 4 really matters though because the only reason we’re going to see a G.I. Joe movie is for the pretty people, roundhouse kicks and ninjas.

I will be honest with you and say that I thought the first movie, “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I wish I could get those 118 minutes back. Going into “Retaliation,” I figured it couldn’t be any worse than the first one.

I was pleasantly correct. Not only did they kill everything that was wrong with the first movie, except maybe Channing Tatum, they added Dwayne Johnson, who I am convinced is a franchise saver.

(Yes, ladies, *Spoiler Alert,* Channing doesn’t make it very far, sorry.

But we still have The Rock and a few

Beard

Continued from page 5 the Wounded Warrior Project.

Thanks to local business sponsors, QCBMF has alreadyraised $2,250 for their local charities.

Some of the many sponsors for the competition include Mother’s Brewing Company, Patton Alley Pub, Copper Run Distillery and Aura Face + Body.

Curtis Claybaker, 39, of Springfield was first place winner of the “full beard styled” category in last year’s competition.

He said he had a friend airbrush him red, had a pair of horns stuck to his forehead and styled his beard into a five point pattern.

Some tips Curtis said he would give first time competitors are “try to be original with your outfit, dressing up to the nines is always a good idea and using hair oils will enhance the shine and look of your facial hair.”

Men aren’t the only ones who can be a part of QCBMF. The Whiskerinas are the women who are involved with the federation.

“I take pride and believe I speak for all of us ladies who love our men with facial hair when I say we EARN our title of Whiskerinas by our ability to work around the facial hair,”

others to oogle. ) The action in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is quite good. There are some good old-fashioned fistfights, some wellchoreographed shootouts, and of course, a dangling cliffside battle with ninjas. What more could you want actionwise?

Storywise, who cares, right? They tried to add little emotional beats in there, but you could see it coming a mile away. A few funny gags broke up the action nicely, but the best banter was killed off early. Perhaps a little too early.

The attempt at emotion wasn’t the only predictable aspect. Nothing was surprising or shocking. No double or triple crosses, no “we’re all going to die” moments or nail-biting sequences.

In all actuality, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” wasn’t a bad movie, it just isn’t a great movie either. What this movie is good for is a big bucket of popcorn, a giant soda and a few hours of complete mindless entertainment.

Just be prepared for “G.I. Joe: insert title.”

Christy Claybaker said. “There really is a special way to kiss them, feed them and keep the bathrooms cleaned up after them.”

Several women are active in the federation’s events and “wear their fake fur” to them, Christy said.

Women can also compete in the upcoming Beard and Moustache Competition by constructing a fake beard or moustache to wear.

If any ladies are wondering what items they should use to make their fake facial hair out of, Christy said the most common items women use during the competition are food, plastic greenery, money and even their own hair.

“The most interesting beard I’ve seen so far would be the one Grace Rybarczyk made last year out of donated money,” Christy said. “At the end of the competition, she donated the beard to the charity we supported last year — the Ozarks Food Harvest Backpack Program.”

Her tip for first time women competitors is to “be creative, and if you can dream it, you can build it.”

“Hobby Lobby is great for the necessary wire, glue, yarn, fabric, greenery or any other necessary supplies,” she said.

The cost to register for the competition is $15. You can receive a free t-shirt by pre-registering for the event. You can pre-

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Doman

Continued from page 4

their well-being.

A part of someone’s well-being is their physical health. Each day there will be some new workout and weight-loss regimen. Some workouts consist of high intensity activity and flipping tires, others have you bending yourself into shapes you never knew possible. These workouts may just be a spike in popularity, but walking has been around since the cavemen and can be an appropriate and successful workout without becoming a pretzel.

According to The Mayo Clinic, walking can “trim your waistline” and improve your health. It also can help you get into shape for higher intensity workouts or substitute as general exercise.

The website continues with a list of benefits due to walking. They include, “lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of or manage Type 2 diabetes, manage your weight, improve your mood and stay strong and fit.”

register until April 13 on QCBMF’s website www.queencitybeards.com. You can also register for the event from 2:30 to 5 p.m. the day of the competition.

If you just want to come and watch the competition there will be a $5 cover at the door.

You can bring a ball glove and get in free. The gloves will go to help a nonprofit organization refurbish old baseball gloves to send to the service men and women stationed overseas.

Christian from Just for Him, Liza from His Image Haircuts and local moustache icon, Tom Trtan, will be on the judges’ panel for this event.

The federation volunteers each month for nonprofit organizations such as the Haven of the Ozark Animal Sanctuary, Ozark Food Harvest and the Bass Pro Outdoor Fitness Festival benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“QCBMF has gone from having three to five people at the monthly meetings to about 30 people strong every month. It’s really cool to see this group grow, which is what we all love to do: grow hair,” Curtis said.

QCBMF has raised more than $10,000 for local and national organizations over the last three years.

“We are hoping to raise at least $8,000 this year and increase our Sarah Hiatt/THE STANDARD volunteer pool for the charitable work we do each month,” Christy Jim Downing shows off his mustache prior to the Queen City Beard and Moustache Federation’s Beard and Mustache Competition. said.

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The Standard

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Stand Up to Walmart’s fight not over Group submits referendum petition to City Council with more than 2,000 signatures

By Trevor Mitchell The Standard

The attempt to reverse the Springfield City Council’s decision to allow a new Walmart Neighborhood Market to be built in the city has come one step closer to success.

A referendum petition with more than 2,000 signatures was presented to the City Clerk’s office on Monday, March 25, according to a statement released by several groups opposed to the store’s construction, including Stand Up To Walmart and Stop the Neighborhood Market Project.

At least 1,787 of the signatures must be valid for the petition to be accepted.

The signature verification process must be completed

Maashi

Continued from page 2

Springfield Police Department, between 6:30 and 7:40 p.m. on March 14, SPD was sent to the victim’s apartment after a witness, who lived in the apartment below the girl, heard a female screaming.

When the officer knocked on the victim’s door, the victim answered, topless, covered in blood and holding an extended pocket knife, according to police reports.

Maashi was in the bathroom washing his hands when police entered the apartment. He had blood spots on his face and arms, according to the report.

within 20 days of the petition’s submission, according to the city charter.

Scott Youngkin, creator of Stand Up To Walmart, said in the statement that he was “confident that the City Clerk will find that this petition, which was prepared by legal counsel, has been handled properly and that we have done our due diligence to ensure signatures are from qualified registered voters living within the city.”

Should the petition be sufficient, the council will have 30 days to reconsider the zoning ordinance, which allows for a new Walmart Neighborhood Market, and decide whether or not to repeal it, according to the city charter. If the vote does not end in a

repeal, the same question will be put to a vote of the people in a special election.

The timing of this petition means that the vote will likely take place after today’s election, in which two council seats are certain to be passed to new members, and a third is up for election. This means that the 5-4 decision reached by the council last month could tip the other way.

Scott Bailes, who voted against the bill, is not running for re-election in the Zone 4 seat. Attempting to claim it are local businessman Craig Fishel, HR director Steve Makoski and Blue Bell salesman Rodney Geurin.

Fishel said in an interview that the matter was “a

zoning issue, not a Walmart issue,” and stated that his number one concern was the issue of traffic. He suggested that instead of a traffic study done by Walmart, the city should have been paid by Walmart to perform its own independent traffic study.

Fishel said he would have voted for the rezoning the first time the bill was presented, but that he would have to look over the petition before making a decision on whether or not to support the repeal.

When asked for his opinion on the issue, Geurin said, “I believe if the people of Springfield are going to be so split on the issue, it should go to a vote.”

Makoski did not respond to questions by The Standard’s press time.

Jan Fisk is running against substitute teacher and Army veteran Arthur Hodge Sr. for seat A on the general council. Fisk, who was appointed to replace the seat left open when Bob Stephens became mayor, voted yes on the bill.

When asked what he

The victim told police that Maashi had put on a pair of gray gloves, displayed the pocket knife and held the knife to her neck saying, “I want to know something,” the report said.

According to the statement, Maashi forced the victim into the bathroom and held her down in the bathtub with the knife to her neck.

The girl reportedly kicked and punched Maashi several times and was able to escape to answer the door when the police knocked.

After Maashi was taken into custody, the victim was taken by ambulance to Mercy hospital. Several lacerations and abrasions on the victim’s body were documented as injuries

received from the attack.

Medical staff said one laceration on the victim’s upper left arm would need stitches or staples, according to the police report.

The victim’s name and address are not disclosed because the state protects identities and locations of domestic assault case victims.

In the police reports, bond recommendation and felony complaints, the victim is identified by the initials Y.H., but in the prosecution’s motions and the defense’s oppositions, she’s called Y.F. Court documents say the victim is from China and may return home to live with her parents. According to Price’s opposition letter, the prosecutor announced

at the March 22 hearing that the victim is actually from Taiwan.

Maashi was enrolled at MSU from spring 2011 through fall 2012, said MSU Dean of Students Mike Jungers.

Jungers said criminal charges do not generally affect students’ eligibility to attend classes.

“As in our court system, students are innocent until proven guilty,” Jungers said. “We would have to consider (a student) a serious threat to the community before there would be any restrictions.”

Jane Robison, executive director of international enrollment management at the English Language Institute, did not respond to requests for comment.

thought about the rezoning, Hodge said that he thought Springfield had enough Walmarts, and that the area “needs to stay free of any new businesses such as Walmart or any other large store chain.”

John Rush is vacating seat B on the general council, and lawyer Craig Hosmer is running for the seat unopposed. When asked for his opinion on the issue, Hosmer said he hadn’t made up his mind, and that “it’ll take a little time for me to get up to speed once I am on council.”

Springfield elections are being held today and results of the election will be available this evening.

Across the country, similar efforts have had mixed results. Bella Vista, Ark., was successful last November in getting Walmart to voluntarily back down from

plans to rezone land for a store, merely a day before an election with a vote on the matter brought about by a referendum, according to an article from Arkansas news station 5NEWSOnline.

But, in 2011 in Westerville, Ohio, a referendum failed to pass certification by a mere 36 signatures, according to an article in The Columbus Dispatch.

Signatures from outside the allowed area and other technicalities plagued the efforts, and the movement was unsuccessful.

If the Springfield referendum fails to reach the minimum number of valid signatures, the proposed Walmart near Campbell and Grand would be Springfield’s fifth Neighborhood Market, and its 10th Walmart overall.

Weekly Crossword © 2013 King Features Synd., Inc.

ACROSS 1 Science workplace 4 One of the Seven Dwarfs 7 Campus area, for short 11 Baghdad’s nation 13 Gorilla 14 Cold War country (Abbr.)

15 List of options 16 — canto 17 Simple 18 Avid 20 Result of overspending 22 Piglet’s mama 24 Mideastern marketplace 28 Donder’s yokemate 32 Cut in two 33 Places 34 Rock band, — Leppard 36 Symbol of craziness 37 Know like — 39 Drop 41 Easter chapeau 43 Menagerie 44 “— Breckinridge” 46 Rudimentary 50 Midwestern state 53 One’s years 55 — list 56 Burn somewhat 57 Poolroom stick 58 Calm before the storm 59 Part of NYC 60 Barbie’s companion 61 Pod occupant DOWN 1 Citrus fruit

2 Vicinity 3 Gunshot sound 4 Touch lightly 5 Newspaper page 6 Star, for short 7 Chief Aztec god 8 14-Across’ foe 9 Fool 10 Parched 12 It shares a key with the slash 19 Cartoonist Chast 21 “Humbug!”

23 Marry 25 Lotion additive 26 Shakespeare’s river 27 Tear in two 28 Spill the beans 29 Timber wolf 30 PC picture 31 Actor Beatty 35 Tasseled hat 38 Crucial 40 Weep loudly

Last Week’s Puzzle Answers

42 — and field 45 Chills and fever 47 Campbell’s product 48 Not working 49 Soda flavor 50 Frigid

51 Discoverer’s cry 52 Kids’ card game 54 Still, in verse

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

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14 | the-standard.org

Paranormal

Continued from page 5

and Chiller channels, Munnich said.

Steven LaChance, who was also insome of the “Booth Brothers” horror documentaries, is an author and had his personal story featured on the Discovery Channel’s “A Haunting” television show.

Edwin Becker’s story was an episode of Paranormal Witness last season, and he is the author of “True Haunting,” his full story.

Rob Garcia from Elite Paranormal Kansas City and Lisa Livingston-Martin from Paranormal Science Lab from the Joplin area have both had episodes on

Crowdit

Continued from page 4

ing a larger contribution, you might get to be an extra in the film, or you might get credits.

“That just shows that people really want to be involved in a much more organic way than giving money,” Graf continued.

“So we’re hoping the crowd will get involved through peer review, networking, through collaboration, through creating teams and through experts being on our site to be able to offer their advice as well.”

Graf said part of Crowdit’s function is also to assist in getting the up-andcoming small business owners up on their feet.

“We’re going to be offering guidance as they’re filling out their project,” Graf said. “Currently, if we see something that could use some work, we’re going to be reaching out personally to assist them with that.

The Standard

“My Ghost Story Caught on Camera.”

Michael Lynch is a researcher and paranormal equipment developer who hosts Paranormal Talk in St. Louis, and Janice Tremeear is a Springfield author of four books concerning the supernatural in this area.

Shrine Mosque investigation

At 11 p.m. following the conference, the Shrine Mosque has granted Infinity Paranormal Research access to perform an overnight investigation of the property.

According to the Ozarks Paracon website, the Shrine Mosque has had its share of ghostly sightings and activity reported by employees and members of the public, including disembodied voices, objects moving on their own, apparitions and a stickman shadow person who is often seen moving about in one of the bleacher areas.

The 90-year-old Shrine Mosque was built in 1923 and the investigation will include many areas of the Shrine that are not accessible to the public.

A limited number of tickets are available for the investigation, and can be purchased in tandem with a general admission ticket to the conference for $70.

Attendees at Ozarks Paracon will receive a free copy of Sean Belekurov’s book, “The Paranormal Cookbook,” while supplies last. The book doesn’t feature recipes, but instead, a collection of all varieties of paranormal and supernatural occurrences in the area.

Guests are also asked to bring food donations to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest.

For more information about the conference, guest speakers or Shrine Mosque investigation, visit http://ozarksparacon. com.

What’s Crowdit up to?

The Crowdit Launch Challenge

An additional $10,000 in funding will be awarded to the Dreamer that can raise the most funds in the 75 days following the June 4, 2013 launch of the Crowdit Community.

To participate

Submit your dream online at http://www.crowdit.com between now and June 4, 2013 to be reviewed by Crowdit to make sure it qualifies for the launch event. Terms and conditions do apply, so read the rules carefully.

Source: http://www.crowdit.com

Eventually, as the site is fully launched in June, all of the projects will go before a peer review, so the users of the site will actually pick which projects are eligible to make the site.”

Graf said Crowdit is currently hosting a promotion for newcomers to their site in that the project that earns the most monetary contributions before June 1, a 75 day campaign, will receive an additional $10,000 contribu-

tion from Crowdit themselves.

Graf said also that a couple local-oriented businesses have already taken flight on their site, such as Drury student Jerrod Harmon, owner of EDJy Skate Apparel.

“He’s gotten to a place where he’s growing so fast that in order to stock the level of merchandise that he needs, he needs some capital to grow,” Graf said. “We also have a company out of

Nixa called the QRPro. They have a digital business card called the One Card, and in order to kick off their company on a national and on a global level, they are doing a project with us as well.

“I like highlighting those two because it shows that entrepreneurship and technology are alive and well here in middle-America, good ole’ Springfield, Mo.” Graf said one of the

things he loves most about the philosophy of Crowdit is the discourse it is able to create among its users.

“A guy that’s starting a band and needs to cut an album may not have the business savvy,” Graf said.

“He’s creative and he knows music, but I will be able to give him pointers to make sure he has a business structure for this band.

“On the flip side of that, a business guy like myself might own a tech company,” he continued. “He may have an invention that he may need help on the creative side. So everyone can help everyone and lend their expertise, and we see that happening. They’ll pledge a dollar just to say they support you.”

Graf’s little business is located in a newly renovated Missouri State property — future home of the engineering department — at 405 N. Jefferson Ave. He said that he is most thankful to be working in such close proximity to the student body.

“We want to be in front of students,” he said.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

“Those are thought-promoters, first thinkers. It’s students that are going to have the next big ideas, and that’s what we want on our site.

Any way we can work with MSU, whether it be offering talks to students about crowdfunding and how you can utilize it, whether it be talking to departments, we want to help in any way we can.”

Graf said the most rewarding aspect of the whole experience is what Crowdit can potentially give back to our battered economy.

“That was probably the coolest thing,” he said. “Is creating this community where we’re just going to help so many people, we’re going to help the economy, we’re going to create jobs and of course, this has just been a wild and fun ride with all the press locally and nationally.

“Brick and mortar here has been what I’ve done my whole career, and reaching out on a national stage is really exciting, challenging and nerve-racking at the same time.”

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Brixey

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according to the audit.

In addition to management changes, Lane also said they made an effort to be supportive of the bookstore staff and to regularly check — in the form of weekly meetings — on how staff members were doing.

Continued from page 1

resigned from the university after he failed to inform MSU of the whereabouts of the missing check.

The university turned the case over to the authorities — including the Internal Revenue Service, the Secret Service and the Springfield Police Department — and Reed began a thorough audit of the bookstore, discovering more than $1 million worth of transactions that were off the books and going into Brixey’s pocket through a textbook buyback scheme.

Moving forward

The scheme

Mark Brixey graduated from MSU in 1989 and during his time as a student, he worked at the university bookstore. After graduating, he became a bookstore accounting clerk in 1991 and was promoted to bookstore supervisor in 1993. He served in that position for seven years before becoming the bookstore director in 2000.

Between 1998 and 2012, the bookstore operated a student book buyback program with Follett Educational Services, a subsidiary of Follett Corporation based in River Grove, Ill., that buys and sells used textbooks purchased from college students and universities, according to court documents.

Follett contracted with MSU to operate 10 buyback book stations on the Springfield campus at the end of each semester. Follett then paid a commission to MSU for allowing Follett to conduct the buyback operation on its campus and sent a check made out to the university for payment. Follett only paid by check up until 2011. These checks were collected by Brixey, according to court documents.

After 2011, Brixey asked Follett to pay him in cash and the company agreed to do so, as long as Brixey signed a receipt for the cash.

While Follett was greatly involved with the bookstore, other textbook companies also did business with the bookstore at this time, including MBS Textbook Exchange and the Nebraska Book Company. Brixey took steps to “ensure that he personally obtained checks that were received” from these companies, according to the 2012 bookstore audit.

After he had received checks made out to the university, Brixey would take these checks to the MSU Bursar’s Office and cash them, telling workers that he needed the cash for student textbook buybacks, according to court documents.

Brixey’s freedom to do this was an unwritten policy that does not exist for any other office on campus, Reed said.

“There was an exception made years ago that we didn’t know about, and that the new administration was not aware of,” she said.

Instead of using the cash for student textbook buybacks, however, Brixey started keeping the money in 2003 and depositing it “little by little to avoid detection” into his personal credit union account at Educational Community Credit Union, said U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson.

Brixey stole $28,946 in December of 2003, escalating the amount each year to a high of $194,520.79 in 2010. His last theft from the uni-

Steph Anderson/THE STANDARD

Mitchell Smith, sophomore middle school math education major, looks at apparel at the University Bookstore on Monday, April 1.

bookstore was left in the hands of Assistant Vice President of Student Life Thomas Lane and Special Assistant to the President Kent Thomas, a decision that Brixey’s former supervisor Doman wholeheartedly approved of.

“I think that decision was made for full transparency,” Doman said. “They wanted someone who was not associated with the structure of the bookstore, and I was in full agreement for that.”

Lane and Thomas assumed interim management responsibilities of the bookstore in August and Lane was unsettled by the management practices he inherited, he said.

After assuming responsibility, Lane and Thomas analyzed the management structure of the bookstore and they immediately set out to improve internal controls — measures that help to ensure that money that belongs to the university stays in the university’s hands.

Through their process, Lane and Thomas improved segregation of duties in upper management by hiring a new course materials manager; strengthening inventory control procedures; hiring a convenience store manager; reviewing book buyback procedures, ensuring that there was “a clear delineation of cash and check handling for book buybacks; and formalizing a donation request process for merchandise and gift card donations,” Lane said.

According to the audit, 744 activated gift cards were found in Brixey’s office amounting to $13,695.15. Brixey also confirmed that gift cards were not documented and that the gift cards were given to students, organizations and the administration.

“When asked why the University Gift Policy was not followed (in terms of who received a gift, in what amount and business purpose), the former director stated that he did not agree with the university policy,” the audit said.

The bookstore has since implemented a new policy that tracks gift card requests and Reform measures issuances, and all merchandise donations are After Brixey resigned in August 2012, the also being tracked by an inventory number,

versity, $20,580.96, was taken just before his resignation in August 2012, according to court documents.

“He repeatedly abused his position and exploited the weaknesses of the university’s accounting system in stealing $1.1 million,” Dickinson said.

The internal audit conducted by Reed shows how Brixey went to great lengths to ensure that he was the sole person responsible for handling checks from textbook companies to the university, including a specific example from 2011.

On March 2, 2011, Brixey was out of the office and a prior bookstore bookkeeper emailed him saying that the bookstore had received a check from Follett for reimbursement, and asked him if she should send it to Financial Services.

“His response: ‘How much is the check?’ Her response: ‘$1,977.98,’” according to the audit.

Brixey then went on to tell the employee that he would take care of it when he was back.

Brixey also took other measures into his own hands to limit the amount of supervision of his work at the bookstore.

Originally, Brixey had been the manager of the bookstore before being promoted to director.

When he took over as director, he left the manager position unfilled and simply took on the responsibilities of both positions, allowing for little supervision.

Also, Doman, who was Brixey’s direct supervisor, lacked a budget officer position in the Office for Student Affairs.

The Office for Student Affairs did not have a budget officer overseeing all of the auxiliary areas when Doman took the vice president’s position in 2002, he said.

“It’s never been that way,” Doman said, adding that he is looking into all of the procedures outlined in the audit and that the university is exploring creating a budget officer position in his office.

After a transition team had moved in to cover day-to-day responsibilities of the bookstore, the search began, headed by Doman, for a new bookstore director that came from a specific background, he said.

“I wanted an effective leader that had a track record of running a good operation, which included, of course, controls (financial) in place, and I think we found someone who had that and is doing a great job,” Doman said.

That someone is 28-year bookstore veteran Sonda Reinartz, former bookstore manager of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., who began the most intensive interview process of her life in October, she said.

“I knew that there was an investigation of the bookstore going on, and I knew there would be challenges,” she said. “And I knew that they would make sure that they did their due diligence in hiring a new bookstore director.”

As part of her interview process in October, Reinartz met with the search committee, the bookstore staff, the Administrative Council, Smart, Doman, and participated in a student forum and a faculty forum, she said.

Reinartz began her duties on Jan. 14, the first day of the spring semester.

“I just stood around and watched a group of very organized people help students on a very busy day — the first day of spring semester,” she said.

When Reinartz joined the staff, the bookstore had already adopted all of the policies that were recommended by internal auditors, and the staff is doing its best to fulfill those policies, she said.

“I really can’t speak to the policies that were in place before I got here,” she said. “But the recommendations by the auditors were implemented by Kent Thomas and Thomas Lane and the staff are doing them. They are doing all of them.”

The staff is made up of 16 full-time employees including herself, several part-time positions, part-time temporary staff for busy times at the bookstore and more than 100 students, Reinartz said.

“Many wonder if it (Brixey’s arrest) would ever happen,” she said. “A lot of the information was kept confidential during the investigation, so they were glad to have some information so they can move forward.”

As part of his plea agreement, Brixey will not be charged with any additional charges and neither will his wife, also an employee at the university, according to court documents.

Brixey could face up to 43 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine and an order of restitution. He also must forfeit to the government $1,163,237 — the total proceeds of the wire fraud scheme.

Brixey is currently out on bond and is awaiting sentencing. A hearing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes an investigation.

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The Standard

Tuesday, April 2, 2013