May 8, 2018

THE STANDARD

GRADUATION VOLUME 111, ISSUE 30 | THE-STANDARD.ORG The Standard/The Standard Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

TheStandard_MSU

Top crimes on campus stay consistent HANNA SUMPTER Senior Reporter @hannsumpter

@TheStandard_MSU/@Standard_Sports

MSUStandard

issuu.com/TheStandard-MSU

Most common crimes Jan. 1 to April 29 Burglary, 3% Liquor law violation, 4%

Graffiti 3% Drug abuse violation, 14%

Motor vehicle theft, 4%

Domestic violence, 1% Assault, 3%

“Crime is an unfortunate reality of the world we live in,” Missouri State President Clif Smart said while reviewing the most reported crimes for spring 2018: stealing, stealing from a vehicle and drug abuse.

These crime reports stem from the area watched by the Springfield Police Department’s substation, which includes any on-campus crimes.

Between Jan. 1 and April 29, the top five crimes reported include: -Stealing - 57 reports -Stealing from a vehicle - 45 reports -Drug abuse violations - 45 reports -Vandalism/property damage - 35 reports -Leaving the scene of an accident - 30 reports “All campuses experience this type of crime; however, we are fortunate to have Springfield police officers and our own public safety officers located on our campus.” Smart said.

Andrew Englert, the associate director of the Department of Safety and Transportation at Missouri State University, said crime has been “pretty consistent” with what the department experiences in a “typical semester.”

“Every crime is serious to the victim and to us as an institution, and we never want to minimize that, but crime does occur,” Englert said. “We are always trying to drive it lower, but it is going to occur.”

Smart said the public safety officers and “a well-lit campus

Leaving the scene of an accident, 11%

Stealing from a vehicle, 16%

Fondling, 2%

Other 5%

Harassment, 4%

Stealing, 21% Vandalism/property damage, 13%

u See SAFETY, page 9

Driving while intoxicated, 1%

NOAH STANDISH Senior Reporter @NoahjStandish Missouri State’s Board of Governors recently saw a change in personnel ahead of the next academic year. Junior administrative management major William Miller will serve as the university’s next student governor, effective immediately.

The move became official just two weeks after the conclusion of the 2018-19 Student Government Association elections.

According to MSU’s website, the governor

news Tent Theatre prepares for the summer Page 2

of Missouri appoints the student governor for a two-year term and attends each of the university’s Board of Governors meetings in order to provide a student’s perspective.

Miller’s induction comes after the conclusion of Tyree Davis’s term in December 2017, following his graduation. He had served as MSU’s student governor since May 2016.

“Tyree has continued the tradition of excellence exhibited by Missouri State’s student governors,” Miller said. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to ensure that Missouri State continues to grow and break barriers.”

BRADLEY BALSTERS/THE STANDARD

William Miller named new student governor Miller’s prior experience includes serving on the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council and the Student Affairs Advisory Board.

Miller also worked as a peer advisor in the Career Center, but he said it was all preparation for his biggest role yet.

“My student affairs experiences have really helped me understand that there’s no archetype of a Missouri State student,” Miller said. “Coming into contact with so many students has really opened my eyes to their diverse wants and needs.”

Miller cited his experience working with u See MILLER, page 2

William Miller

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Lady Bear heads overseas to play pro Page 6

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THE STANDARD

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

What are you Here’s what’s next for Tent Theatre paying for?

CHIYIERRJA GRANT Staff Reporter @ChiyierrjaGrant

CONNOR WILSON Staff Reporter @connor4wilson In college, it can seem like fees tend to pile up quickly.

One of these charges at Missouri State is known simply as “Student Service Fees,” a charge which many choose to simply pay without investigating where that money is going.

Student Service Fees contribute to funding a range of various initiatives and programs at Missouri State, from the recently renovated Magers Health and Wellness Center, supporting the costs of the shuttle bus service to the Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center. In addition, it also covers several student initiatives.

“Students can initiate adding a fee,” Vice President for Student Affairs Dee Siscoe said. “The students have to decide they want to do that.”

Student initiatives cover a range of improvements to campus life, from adding key card locks to the Allison Recreation Fields for added security, to the recently added seating area outside Meyer Library.

“The students have to decide they want to (fund an initiative), and they have to get an affirmative vote by students in order to get a fee,” Siscoe said. “The most recent one is the capital improvements to the health center; that’s how we funded building this new health center. So those are student initiatives.”

The student body decides whether or not to approve a student initiative by voting online. Siscoe said that typically voting on approving or denying student initiatives is included on that online ballot.

Not all students pay the same student fees. Missouri State’s Chief Financial Officer Stephen Foucart said it’s more

of a sliding scale. Students who only have three credit hours will be charged less than students who have six credit hours, and the increase continues up until seven credit hours; adding any more credit hours after that will still have you paying the same amount of student fees as seven credit hours. Online courses are excluded from those fees.

The process for deciding how much students will be charged for these fees is a lengthy one, as the proposed budget goes through many different people and organizations where it is then approved or revised.

“The budgeting process takes about a year, and there’s a variety of folks involved in that process, starting with the governor, the General Assembly, the (MSU) president, his board of governors, the president’s cabinet, we have an administrative budget committee and an executive budget committee and the student government’s involved. So, the general theme there is it’s a year-long process that most of the campus is involved in,” Siscoe said.

“We start in mid-January, the fee resolution will be approved typically in April, and the full operating budget is approved in June,” Foucart said.

Siscoe said the fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30 and emphasized that the process goes through so many checkpoints of approval to ensure no fees can slip by.

“It’s not like I can say, ‘Oh, Steve, I need more money,’” Siscoe said. “I can’t initiate a fee.”

Students pay these fees along with tuition on the bills they are charged each semester, and future registrations may be denied until the fees are paid off in full.

Summer is near, which means it’s time for another season of Tent Theatre.

The 56th season of Tent Theatre will kick off June 13 with “Cry Baby.” The other productions include “Peter and The Starcatcher” beginning June 28, with the season ending with “The Drowsy Chaperone” beginning July 11.

Mark Templeton, managing director for Tent Theatre and managing director for the theatre and dance department, said the shows within the last five years have really resonated with theater-goers.

Templeton also said the decision of which productions will be performed is a challenging task.

“The artistic director is looking for the particular shows that we have the personnel to do,” Templeton said. “From the management side, I’m looking at shows that will appeal to our public, and then there is a producer, which would be a department head. Between me, our artistic director and the producer, the triumph of those three people are the ones who actually choose the productions for the season in hoping that it fulfills the mission of each one of our areas.”

Originally held indoors, Tent Theatre was in Carrington Hall. Due to the request of the community, Tent Theatre found its permanent home outdoors when the tent was given to Missouri State University as a gift.

“The old theatre associated with the university was actually in Carrington Hall, in that big lecture hall,” Templeton said. “In the summer, they wanted to do shows, but Carrington had no air conditioning, and so somebody gifted them a tent and they just put the tent out there west of Carrington and it hasn’t stopped since. It’s throughout history that it’s become a tradition with lots of people.”

The tent holds up to 340 people in about 14-15 rows of seats. For a theatre,

FILE PHOTO/THE STANDARD

Tent Theatre auditions were held at Missouri State University on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Templeton said it’s actually small but does typically sells out.

“Juanita K. Hall seats over 2,000, but we think the intimacy of Tent Theatre is one of the things that makes it attractive to people because, when they are seeing a show of somebody sitting in the front row, they’re closer to the actor in watching everything transpire on the stage.” Templeton said.

Tent Theatre operates as a professional theatre company. Students have the chance to work side by side with professionals from New York to put on a great show.

“The result is that we get to enjoy a big theatrical production, and that carries on down to the people working in the design areas like costumes, sets and that kind of thing,” Templeton said. “So they’re all getting expert training during the summer, so it’s a win win. Students have this great experience, the public gets to come and see these great shows and we just make sure that it’s all packaged up where people will want to come back year after year.”

After 20 years of managing Tent Theatre, Templeton’s favorite part about

it is seeing the familiar faces of those who attend every year.

“There’s a sense of community with people who come to tent,” Templeton said. “There are people who schedule their family vacations around when the tent shows are. There’s a combination of everything, but I love to see those people that come year after year, and see how much that they enjoy the show.”

Templeton wants all students to know that they are welcome to come and enjoy the show and that it’s open for the entire community, not just the students on campus.

“We want students to come back. I mean, we are part of the campus community, and we want them to come see us. We want them to come enjoy our show,” Templeton said. “It it is very rare that a university will have a professional theatre company in residence on its campus. That’s what no one else in the state of Missouri, as for as public universities, has what we have here. That’s what makes us stand out, and that’s something that I think and would hope that some students might be interested in coming to check out.”

“I hope that during my time on the board, I can assist the university in its ongoing goals,” Miller said. “I think my awareness will be important in helping me represent not most stuContinued from page 1 dents, but all students.”

MSU President Clif Smart offered Miller a vote of confidence at his ofstudents as his primary motivation to ficial induction on April 26, calling first apply for the student governor the student governor position a natuposition when it opened in November ral extension of Miller’s involvement 2017. with the university’s student affairs.

“(Miller) has been very involved on campus and is a great addition to the board,” Smart said. “He’ll represent the students well.”

For Miller, the position is just another opportunity to give back to his fellow students before graduation.

“To all students, I would ask that you help me amplify your voice,” Miller said. “If there’s anything you would like to share, don’t hesitate to tweet me (@StudentGov_MSU).”

MILLER

THE STANDARD

opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

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Tech fanatics, your summer is booked Technology conferences to watch out for this summer JONATHAN PETESCH Columnist @thepeach1999 The end of the semester is here. We’re almost done.

But above finals, there is another thing about this time of year that makes me excited — the influx of tech conferences to look forward to over the summer.

While spring is kind of dry in the tech world when it comes to new product launches, summer and fall are when most of the action happens.

Companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft will all begin hosting developer conferences where new products will be tested and launched, and it excites tech enthusiasts like me tremen-

dously.

Google will soon be unveiling their new build of Android P at its Google I/O developer conference and will be releasing a test preview for developers to play around with and start creating with.

Though I will not be attending the conference, I will still get the opportunity to take part in this test build and provide valuable feedback to Google before the company finishes the new update and releasing it alongside its new products later this year.

Shortly after Google finishes at I/O, Apple will take the spotlight at its World Wide Developer Conference.

Here, Apple has been known to unveil not only new

versions of MacOS but also launch new Mac products.

Last year’s WWDC served as the launchpad for new Mac products such as the new iMac, which was launched to much acclaim for being one of the first Mac products to include enthusiast grade parts.

It did come with a hefty price tag, but many, including myself, found it reasonable as some of the parts would be as expensive if bought alone to be put in a DIY machine.

This year, many are expecting a new Mac Pro, which has not had a proper upgrade since 2013.

Apple confirmed it was working on a new Mac Pro along with a new high-end display when it released the

new iMac Pro last year.

The Mac Pro is in desperate need of an upgrade, and the company did confirm in an interview with TechCrunch that it won’t release a new Mac Pro until sometime next year, but this year’s WWDC would be the perfect time to unveil it and start raising excitement levels for when it launches next year.

Microsoft hasn’t announced any Surface events yet, which is unusual as it typically hosts one in the spring or fall.

The 2017 Surface Pro was unveiled at an event in Shanghai in May of last year, breaking precedent of being released at a Windows event.

Many, including myself, are hoping to get a more major

redesign of the Surface Pro this year compared to last year’s model.

Though I use the 2017 Surface Pro as my daily driver laptop, I would have liked new features last year as most of the features came through the Surface Dial and Surface Pen which were sold separately, so a redesign in 2018 would be very refreshing.

This summer should be an exciting time for new, innovative technology that you’ll want to spend your hard earned cash on.

You might get to do it right off the bat, or you might Jonathan Petesch have to wait awhile but we should see some great new tech on the market soon enough.

Post Malone returns with Book review: ‘All My chart topping new album Friends are Dead’ ‘Beerbongs & Bentleys’ JOEY MUELLER Music Reviewer On April 27, Post Malone dropped one of the most anticipated albums of the year—“Beerbongs & Bentleys.”

The self-dubbed “White Iverson” has made quite the name for himself in the last few years and has managed to carve out a large platform for himself as well.

In just four days, Malone’s album was certified platinum, establishing Malone as one of the biggest names in music right now. Malone is considered to be the next big thing in hip-hop by many, and a flash in the pan by others. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

At times on this album, I could see why some think Malone is here to stay.

I particularly enjoyed some of his more personal tracks.

Whether Malone was lamenting lost love or expressing his desire to move forward from past relationships, tracks like “Stay,” “Otherside,” and “Over Now” offer something of substance.

Of course, “Beerbongs &

Bentleys” is not without its party anthems. Perhaps there is no better example of this than “rockstar,” which has been in frequent rotation on radio stations since last fall.

Another track I am sure you will hear at a party this summer is “Same B*****S,” which comes with solid guest appearances from G-Eazy and YG. It is in these tracks that Malone feels free to have fun lyrically, dropping lines like “I love paper like I’m Michael Scott” on “Candy Paint.”

My primary criticism of this album is that it is a daunting listen.

At 18 tracks, it is difficult to sit down and listen to this album and appreciate it as a singular art piece.

The rather homogenous tone of the album does not help to alleviate this either.

I think that “92 Explorer” is actually one of the better tracks on the album, but by the time you get to it, you cannot help but feel like you’ve heard it before.

This feeling of deja vu is only worsened when compared to his 2016 album “Stoney.”

Finally, I was confused as

to why “Jonestown (Interlude)” was included on this album at all. I actually enjoyed the track somewhat, but an album as bloated as “Beerbongs & Bentleys” simply does not have room for an unnecessary interlude.

It will be interesting to see where Malone’s career goes from here.

Will Malone continue to build upon the hip hop career he has built, or will he fade away as his critics predict?

There is also the possibility that Malone may use his heightened fame to pursue his interests in folk and post-grunge music.

If “Beerbongs & Bentleys” is any indication, Malone will have an audience waiting on his next move at least a little longer.

Rating: 6/10 Genre: Trap, R&B Album Length: 64:26 Favorite Track(s): Zach and Codeine, Takin’ Shots, rockstar, Over Now, Ball For Me, Otherside, Stay, 92 Explorer, Candy Paint Least Favorite Track(s): Spoil My Night, Blame It On Me, Jonestown (Interlude)

CHLOE SKAAR Senior Reporter @chloeskaar

Read it now Take on vacation Give as a gift Don’t waste your time Everybody likes children’s books for adults — the more inappropriate, the better. There is just something about seeing simplistic cartoons and bright colors depict morbid, “adult” concepts that makes us laugh.

That’s the idea behind Avery Monsen and Jory John’s picture book, “All My Friends are Dead.”

A quick and funny read, it is every bit as morbid as the title suggests. Even better, the pastel yellow cover featuring a bright green cartoon dinosaur makes the tiny book appear to be a children’s story when a reader first sees it; but the reader picks it up because the title intrigues them.

And they remain intrigued.

The so-called “saddest funny book and funniest sad book you’ll ever read” starts out pretty simple: the dinosaur from the cover informs us that his friends are all dead. Initially, it appears he may be all alone but, the apparently last

remaining Dodo bird appears and informs us that he, too, has lost all his friends to the other side. The dinosaur and the Dodo aren’t too sad; all things considered, they’re pretty lucky to be here and able to tell their stories, right? But the old man, let’s call him Jerome, who follows them is where things take a turn.

At first, he is sad because most of his friends are dead.

But, turn the page, and someone invisible to the reader is giving him some new. Turn the page again, and Jerome corrects himself: now all of his friends are dead. And the rest of the book stays about the same. What do a clown, a plant, a gallon of milk, a chicken, a zombie, a snowman and a cassette tape all have in common? Yep, their friends are dead, too. Or, their equivalent of it. The zombie’s friends are undead, and, technically, the milk’s friends expired on Tuesday but it is likely they are still around in a fridge somewhere.

As a person who reads mostly Stephen King fiction (sorry, I made a personal goal to somehow bring him up in all my book reviews since “It”) I am a huge fan of monsters, the morbid and the macabre.

The grim reaper concept is not a new one to me, but “All my

Chloe Skaar friends are dead” was a fun and refreshing twist on a familiar theme. On its surface, it is a simple and silly book with a dark topic. But it is also incredibly witty and lighthearted way to laugh at something that scares just about all of us. That said, I wouldn’t recommend using this as a real children’s book. It has a Dr. Seuss feel to it, but the conclusion being the grim reaper’s declaration that his job “makes him feel so alive” might be off-putting to youngsters.

Monsen, an actor and artist, and John, a journalist and editor, are friends in real life and are, in fact, very much alive.

Editor Q&A What have you learned as an editor this semester? How will you use that knowledge in the future?

“Sleep is important. Don’t forget to sleep. Also, take time for yourself.”

“I don’t like Sarah Teague. Hang out with Sarah Teague less.”

“I don’t know as much about sports as I thought I did. Guess I’ll try Photo Editor now.”

Cortlynn Stark, News Editor

Kaitlyn Stratman, Associate Sports Editor

Alec McChesney, Editor in chief “Aw. Love you too, Alec. Also, I’ve learned I work too much and need to delegate more.”

Sarah Teague, Life Editor

“Versatility. That’s how I’ll get used to a new city and new graduate school.”

“Fake it till you make it, and that’s what I’m gonna keep doing.”

“I’ve learned mistakes are the way to growth. I plan on making many more and growing from them.”

Emily Joshu, Managing Editor

Amanda Sullivan, Sports Editor

Megan Burke, Photo Editor

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THE STANDARD

life

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

A student’s best friend

BRADLEY BALSTERS/THE STANDARD

Millie Sue is a 1-year-old Great Dane. She’s an enormous ball of energy. Her owners, junior cell & molecular biology major Bailey Curry and junior history education major Josh Dansby, feed Millie Sue a 50-pound bag of dog food every three weeks for her rapid growth.

“She is my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without her,” Curry said.

Dogs and mental health: How can animals keep stress at bay?

MADISON BRYAN Staff Reporter @MadisonBryan14

T

he unconditional affection a dog can provide is an indescribable feeling. Sometimes a slobbery kiss or a welcoming “bark!” is something we have to look forward to. A fluffy cuddle can be what makes you feel safe and remind you that you are not alone in this world.

Students and decreased mental health are not an uncommon combination. Having a dog in college can have a big impact on mental health, along with physical health benefits.

Bailey Curry, a junior cell and molecular biology major, shared her and Millie Sue’s story. Millie is a one-year-old Great Dane.

“Millie helps me feel safe at home ... my boyfriend works nights and doesn’t get home till around two,” Curry said.

“Millie is someone to listen to me ramble, without judgment.”

Curry said Millie aids in dealing with stress from her extensive pre-medical courses.

She is also just beginning her accelerated master’s program.

Curry said two of Millie’s greatest qualities are cuddling and listening.

“If she ever sees anyone crying, she will dive her head into their lap and lay there until the water-works have subsided,” Curry said. “She is my best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without her.”

Sydney Smith, starting her second bachelor’s degree in biology in summer 2018, shared a story about her oneyear-old Labrador Retriever and Whippet mix, Ryder.

“After I graduated, I realized I didn’t want to do psychology anymore. With Ryder coming into my life, I realized that I want to be a vet, because of him I decided to go back to school.”

Before Smith rescued Ryder, Smith said, “I would work 6 a.m. to midnight multiple days a week, come home, drink a lot and really kept to myself.”

When Ryder entered the picture, Smith said she cut back on work to spend more time with him. They now go on walks and hikes, she spends more time with friends and she cut back on drinking.

“I have someone to look forward to coming home to and

Photo by BRADLEY BALSTERS

Ryder is a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever and Whippet mix. Sydney Smith, a recent Missouri State psychology graduate, adopted as a rescue dog. Although he’s skittish around new people at first, Ryder warms up quickly and is a very good boy. somebody to take care of,” said Smith. “I feel a lot happier having him with me. I am less anxious and feel a lot better mentally. He goes everywhere with me.”

Susan Mirantin volunteers with Pet Therapy of the Ozarks, a not-for profit Missouri Corporation organized to provide emotional therapy. Pet Therapy of the Ozarks certifies pet therapy dogs with prior Canine Good Citizenship certificates twice a year.

They have 80 teams that make visits to a variety of places including nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other

facilities. They are based in Springfield, Missouri, and serve within a 50-mile radius.

As a strict volunteer group, their association is funded through memberships dues and donor support.

“Research has shown that oxytocin (a chemical that creates a feeling of well-being) is released when interacting with dogs. These feelings create a powerful mood boost,” Mirantin said. “Lots of members love interacting with dogs. It elicits a positive response, and everyone is happy to see the dogs.”

Pet Therapy of the Ozarks will be visiting the Duane G. Meyer Library on May 14 from 2-4 p.m.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, the companionship that a pet offers is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress. Dogs encourage owners to exercise, increasing their physical health while also helping mentally.

“A pet can be a great source of comfort, companionship and motivation for their owners. In many ways, pets can help us to live mentally healthier lives,” according to the Mental Health Foundation.

Channeling empathy from the stage to the classroom Theater professor dedicated to sharing experiences with students HANNA FLANAGAN Senior Reporter @hanna_flanagan The Tony award-winning musical theater production “Wicked” is a revisionism of the classic tale of “The Wizard of Oz.” The play’s protagonist, Elphaba, is a green-skinned girl who later becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.

“Wicked” tells the story of her life prior to meeting Dorothy.

In “Wicked,” Elphaba dreams of meeting The Wizard; she wishes for it all her life.

When she finally gets the chance, she sings these lyrics: “Did that really just happen?

Have I actually understood?”

Lisa Brescia, who starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of “Wicked” in 2008, internalized those words every night during her performance. To channel the happiness and disbelief Elphaba felt during that scene, Brescia said she pulled inspiration from a defining moment in her own life.

“On stage, I would just remember back to the feeling of getting the phone call for my first Broadway show, and knowing that actually I could have a life in the theater — I could be a real contender,” Brescia said. “I could be someone who actually worked and did this professionally.”

As Elphaba, Brescia stood center stage in the famed Gershwin Theatre, covered head to toe in green body paint. Every night, while she sang about

“On stage, I would just remember back to the feeling of getting the phone call for my first Broadway show, and knowing that actually I could have a life in the theater — I could be a real contender.”

-Lisa Brescia

meeting The Wizard, Brescia would let her mind wonder back in time — back to 1999 in the New York City real estate office building where she got a call that changed her life.

“It’s so much part of the job,” Brescia said. “To use our substitution and personalization. So, ‘How is this moment specific and relevant to me?

What can I pull from my past experience to make this real for me in this play?’”

After a chorus call audition and four rounds of callbacks, the assistant director of the Broadway production, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” called to tell her that she had been cast as a disciple. Brescia said she was absolutely stunned. “‘Okay, wait, wait, wait, back up, back up,’” Brescia remembers saying. “‘Are you saying that when you start rehearsals, you want me to be there? … Are you saying that you want me to be in the play?’

I just couldn’t believe it.”

When she finally understood what was happening,

Brescia gave the man her contact information and hung up the phone. Still sitting at her desk in the middle of the real estate office, Brescia was barely able to contain her excitement. She quietly got the attention of her co-worker, and the two made a beeline for the bathroom.

“I told her that I got the job, and we just did silent screaming and jumped up and down,” Brescia said.

After “Jesus Christ Superstar” opened in the year 2000, Brescia’s theater career took off.

Today, her repertoire of work ranges from Shakespearean theater, to television appearances and song recordings, to regional theater productions and various other Broadway shows like “Mamma Mia” and “The Times They Are a-Changin.’”

Lindsay Northen, Brescia’s friend and a current cast member of “Wicked” on Broadway, said Brescia has managed to move seamlessly from one

Submitted by Lisa Brescia

Lisa Brescia genre of performance to the next throughout her career. She said it is particularly amazing that Brescia went on a rock band tour with the “Mamma’s and Poppa’s” and then dove right into Shakespearean theater.

“She’s done so many things that are so impressive to me,” Northen said. “Lisa’s not scared of anything. That is one really cool thing about her — she’s this quietly ferocious person.”

After over 20 years in show business, Brescia is pursuing

something a bit different: academia, which landed her right here in Southwest Missouri, where she has been an assistant theater professor at Missouri State since 2016.

“MSU attracted me for a number of reasons: One was faculty, one was the support of the administration for the department and another was the students themselves,” Brescia said. “I felt like they were eager, enthusiastic, open-minded, warm … they were leaning into the work, rather than sitting back wishing to be impressed.”

In her new role as a teacher and mentor to future performers, Brescia said she tries to mold her students into good people, first and foremost. She said she wants to make sure they are kind to each other, as empathy is an technique for compelling acting.

Randy Graff, a friend of Brescia’s and a Tony award-winning actress who played the starring role of “Fantine” in the original Broadway production of “Les Miserables,” said empathy is one of Brescia’s most valuable skills as an actor.

“She is an incredibly empathetic person,” Graff said.

“She is one of the best listeners I know, and that’s what makes her a great actor, and that’s what makes her a great teacher. She’s a very special human being.”

As a teacher, Brescia also wants her students to understand that they must persevere in the world of theater; her path to Broadway is a prime example of this.

“I tell students ‘If you’re not thriving now, it doesn’t mean you can’t,’” Brescia said.

“If you have some talent and work really, really hard and are resilient, miracles can happen.

I’m a miracle.”

Brescia said she did not grow up having some grand vision of a career on Broadway. Instead, she used her 20s to develop her skills, build her self-confidence and muster up u See THEATER, page 9

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

THE STANDARD

THE-STANDARD.ORG 5

Students and faculty fundraise for international student’s tuition EMILY COLE Staff Reporter @EMCole19 Sitting at a desk in a Kemper Hall science lab, Mohammed Jubary seems at ease. He laughs and speaks with his professor, Kevin Hubbard, across the room.

Jubary, an international student studying mechanical engineering technology, grew up in Yemen, in the capital city of Sana’a. He came to the United States in the fall of 2014 to study engineering.

When he left Yemen, he left a country at war.

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since 2011, after a political transition following the Arab Spring uprising. Rebels who did not support the new government clashed with forces loyal to the new government regime. In September 2014, rebels seized Sana’a.

The turmoil in the country has had devastating consequences for many Yemeni.

Millions have lost their jobs, and the country’s poverty rate is over 80 percent, according to the World Bank.

Jubary’s family is no exception. He said they were doing OK financially until early 2016 and were still able to send him money for his tuition. But when his mother called him one day, he had a bad feeling.

His mother told him the news — the money was gone.

“I came here with the main support of my family paying for my education,” Jubary said.

“I ended up getting a job, and it was good, but I never planned for the day that came when my family tells me ‘Hey, we can’t pay your tuition. We can’t support you anymore.’”

Jubary’s out-of-state tuition costs were more than he could afford on his own. He managed to pay for the 2016 fall semester with the money he had saved, but eventually, that money ran out too.

COLLIN HADLEY/THE STANDARD

Mechanical engineering student Mohammed Jubary, originally from Yemen, said his family started to struggle financially in early 2016, due to war back home. Now he is struggling to pay for his tuition, but his individuals in the Missouri State University community are helping him finish school.

With an outstanding tuition balance for the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018, Jubary is ineligible to register for fall courses.

“If I don’t pay my tuition, I’m not able to register for classes,” Jubary said. “If I’m not able to register, according to the International Services office, I’m not going to be able to be a student, and my visa here is to be a student. So if I’m not a student — I’m out of here.”

If Jubary isn’t in school, his visa will expire and he will be deported back to Yemen, which he says is not an option for him with the situation there.

He knew that he needed help. After trying to utilize

other resources, Jubary turned to Hubbard.

Hubbard, an assistant professor of technology and construction management, met Jubary in the fall of 2015 when Jubary showed up at his office looking for information about the relatively new mechanical engineering technology program.

When Jubary’s financial situation got worse, he said Hubbard was his only hope.

“That’s when Mohammed came and told me what was going on, and I said ‘Well, there’s no way I can just sit around and do nothing. This is this guy’s life,’” Hubbard said.

“So we tried various things, and we explored a lot of dif-

ferent avenues … but it was going really slow, and I was becoming more impatient. One day, I got up and got ready to come to work, and I looked at myself in the mirror and I said ‘Why don’t you do something about it?’ and I decided that I would.”

Hubbard, who had his own troubles paying for college, said he was determined that he would do something for Jubary.

Hubbard started fundraising for Mohammed earlier this semester. He personally donated $500, which was matched by all of the other faculty in the department. The few alumni the new program has have also contributed. He went to

classes in the department, asking students to donate what they could and to spread the word.

“The amount Mohammed needed was essentially $15,000, and it looks like as of today we’re halfway there,” Hubbard said. “We have something like $7,500, and we intend to raise all of it. It’s just because people are good and they want to help.”

One of his classmates and friends, junior mechanical engineering technology student Grant Wheeler, who is also president of the MSU chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which Jubary is part of, was asked by Hubbard to think of a way to

help Jubary.

“Mohammed is a very close friend of mine, so I was very concerned and wanted to help in any way I could,” Wheeler said. “I was very driven to help.”

Wheeler set up a GoFundMe page, called “Help Mohammed Finish School,” on April 11. As of May 5, the fund has raised $620. Wheeler said they chose the website because they thought it would be the best way to reach many people.

All of this fundraising happened without Jubary knowing. When Hubbard finally told Jubary what he and the others in the department had done for him, he was shocked.

“It never crossed my mind that anybody would stand up and help me, and when it happened, I was just speechless,” Jubary said. “When Dr. Hubbard told me, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t feel like ‘Thank you’ would do anything, but its all I had.”

For Jubary and Hubbard, this experience has made them want to help more people who may be struggling financially.

They’ve decided to set up assistance for other students through a mechanical engineering technology undergraduate fellowship.

“There’s definitely other students that didn’t have the courage to come forward or to speak about it or didn’t have the means to get help,” Jubary said. “Based on that, I talked to Dr. Hubbard, and we want to start a fund for all students.

We want to start from alumni, and I pledged myself, that as soon as I graduate there’s going to be a regular amount of money that goes monthly or annually to that fund.”

The fellowship will allow students to do lab development or research projects in exchange for financial assistance for school.

u See JUBARY, page 9

6

THE STANDARD

sports

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018 | THE-STANDARD.ORG

From Springfield to overseas, Fruendt is going pro AMANDA SULLIVAN Sports Editor @mandasullivan14 Liza Fruendt loved sports as a kid. She played soccer, volleyball, tennis and basketball. In fact, she loved soccer the most for the longest time.

In fifth grade, Liza told her dad, Joel Fruendt, she wanted to quit basketball to focus on soccer. He encouraged her to give basketball one more year, and she did. Liza won the championship. The rest fell into place.

Liza played soccer for one more year and then focused all her energy into basketball.

“The success we had in our fifth-grade league made me think, ‘Hm, I kind of like this,’” Liza said. “I had some few defining moments that made me want to work a little bit harder. I started working with my trainer, and I loved to work hard at it. I loved the process of it.”

Liza’s love for basketball never faded as she focused on the sport and worked with her trainer all through high school.

Even while still playing tennis for her high school team, she knew she wanted to take her passion for basketball to the next level.

When Liza was picking a college, Joel was unsure how serious of a choice Missouri State was. It was one of the farthest away from their home outside of Chicago at over 500 miles.

When they got on campus, though, he noticed the difference in Liza.

Liza scheduled five visits to colleges interested in recruiting her. By the end of her visit to Missouri State — the second college on the list — Liza had made her decision: She wanted to be a Missouri State Bear. And she announced her choice in quite the fashion.

On the last night of Liza’s visit, her family went to Kellie and Jon Harper’s house for a reception dinner. As they were leaving, Liza looked and everyone and said, “I have one more thing I would like to say.” She took off the shirt she had worn all night and underneath was a Missouri State Lady Bears shirt she had purchased earlier that day at the bookstore.

Liza verbally committed that night, and Joel still can’t believe it happened.

“I mean, I can’t believe that was five years ago, that was before her senior year of high school,” Joel said.

Now, Liza is heading overseas to play professional basketball. She signed with Oliver Macklin of ODM Sports Management and will head overseas around September.

For now, Liza hopes to focus on graduating, getting back in shape and spending time with her family before she leaves.

Liza’s relationship with her family is very close. Liza specifically called her older sister Sara one of her best friends.

Before Liza signed with ODM Sports, she talked with her sister a lot about whether she should try to get a full-time job or try to play professional basketball.

“It came down to her following her dream,” Sara said. “I told her, ‘You need to do what you love and follow your dream’ and she’s doing that.”

Joel has also been heavily involved in Liza’s basketball process as well. He always wanted what was best for his daughter.

Now, his youngest daughter is headed more than 500 miles away and across an ocean ­— and he still couldn’t be happier for her.

He said he’s always given Liza the advice: “Follow whatever you are passionate about, and — if you can — make a job

Senior guard Liza Fruendt dribbles past two opponents in a game against Mizzou. Liza grew up in a town outside of Chicago, Illinois.

She moved over 500 miles away to play basketball at Missouri State. Now, Liza is preparing to head overseas to follow her dream of playing professional basketball.

BAILEY VASSALLI/ THE STANDARD

out of it.”

“I think she really took that to heart,” Joel said. “I’m proud of her. It’s not what I want her to do or what anyone else wants her to do; it’s what she wants to do.”

The support Liza has received from her family made the decision bittersweet. She knows her siblings and parents want her to do what she loves and what she’s passionate about, but Liza is also aware that her being 500 miles from her family forced everyone to adjust and now the distance will be even greater.

For Joel and Sara, the bitter feeling comes from not being able to talk on the phone every day and not being there for as many games as they’ve attended in the past.

“We have lots of fun traveling to other places to see (Liza) play, even if some of them are more difficult to get to,” Joel said. “There’s no place my wife, Suzanne, and I would rather be than with the family.”

On the sweet side of things, Sara, Joel and Liza all joked about Liza being overseas and having an excuse to travel somewhere new.

“I don’t know where I’m going yet,” Sara said, “but I already took a few weeks off work to go see her wherever she is.”

Liza described her family’s support as unbelievable, and it has shown as she has grown up playing sports in an athletic and active family.

Sara said Liza going pro was the hardest but easiest life decision that Liza has made so far.

“There are so many unknowns — she has to drop everything, move and try to find a place to play,” Sara said. “But she’s doing what she loves. Basketball has always been her first love.”

Club golf team places second at NCCGA Invitational BRYCE DERRICKSON Sports Reporter @BruceyD17 One year ago, the Missouri State club golf team was founded by senior, and first club president, Adam Basler and current club president junior Jacob Weis.

Weis and Basler knew each other before starting the golf club team, having attended and played golf at Fox High School in Arnold, Missouri.

“I think the big thing with starting the team was we probably could’ve played college golf somewhere small, but we wanted to continue to play in tournaments but still have that big university atmosphere,” Basler said. “Though not be bogged down by just playing golf all the time and have that free time to still have a social life and other things, too.”

After getting approved by the Student Government Association on Feb. 14, 2017, they started to go about recruiting for the spring season.

Basler and Weis said they started recruiting with junior Calvin Hugo right after the SGA meeting.

They then started recruiting through fraternities, their website and getting the word out. Since then, it has continued to grow.

“This fall we had quite a bit of interest,” Basler said. “We’re getting noticed. People know about the club, like St. Louis high school golf knows when we’ve played. There’s guys that come here and know they want to join the team, so they can still play competitive golf but still go to a big school.”

During the first year, they played in four tournaments — two each semester. The team finished second in its region and fifth in its zone, falling one spot short of nationals.

Missouri State ranked 48 out of 100 teams in the nation during the 2018 spring season, while ranking 56 last fall.

The team played in two regional tournaments at the Fair Oaks Golf Club in Springfield and Tiffany Greens Golf Club in Kansas City, Missouri. In both tournaments, Missouri State finished second behind the University of Missouri.

The team finished second in the central region behind Mizzou by six points.

Missouri State also finished 10th in Zone 3 rankings, which would be good enough for the team to go to the postseason for the first time.

The golf club team received an invitation to the National Collegiate Club Golf Association Invitational at the Bogey Hills Country Club in St. Louis on April 28-29.

“We went to the check-in registration, which was at Norwood Hills Country Club, and I mean, the whole atmosphere … just having Srixon, Cleveland (Golf), sponsor the event and stuff like that,” Weis said. “They gave away gift bags, lots of clothes, swag, all kinds of stuff. It was fun; it makes the whole two regional tournaments mean that much more of how you play to qualify.”

In Round 1 of the invitational, Missouri State shot a 389, and Round 2 followed with a 398.

Missouri State tied for second with Robert Morris University with a total score of 787 over two rounds. Miami of

Liza ... the tennis star

Photo Submitted by Liza Fruendt Liza Fruendt had to choose between tennis and volleyball when she got to high school because they were in the same season.

She chose tennis, and her family doesn’t know how to feel about it because she beats all of them all the time.

“Even though she doesn’t play competitively, she still beats me every time,” her sister Sara said.

Her mom, Suzanne, started taking tennis lessons in hopes of beating Liza someday.

Her dad, Joel, wants to take Liza golfing when she returns home from college to see how she does. Liza also beat Joel the last time they played.

“I asked for a rematch but haven’t gotten one yet,” Joel said. “I think she may be nervous.”

Johnson heads to the NBA Draft Combine ALEC McCHESNEY Editor in chief @Alec_McChesney

Photo Submitted by Seth Hoelscher

The Missouri State club golf team competed in the National Collegiate Club Golf Association Invitational on April 28-29.

Ohio won the invitational, shooting a 769 overall.

Senior Jared Sloan placed eighth overall and led the team with a 154, only seven strokes back of Robert Morris’s Matthew Vona, who shot a 147.

“The second day, I started off kind of rough,” Sloan said. “(Weis) kind of turned and looked at me and said, ‘Hey, we got to buckle down.’ On the back I started off hot with eagle, par, birdie, and that helps when you go three under in three holes.”

Sloan shot six over par with one birdie, five bogeys and one double bogey. In Round 2, he also finished six over par, this time shooting five bogeys, two double bogeys, one birdie and one eagle.

Most of his struggles came early, as he shot nine of his 13 total bogeys in the first nine holes of the weekend.

Sloan also had some experience playing golf at the collegiate level before joining the club team.

“I played one year of college golf in Colorado,” Sloan said.

“Then I transferred here just for school reasons, and I thought maybe I could play on the golf team here, and it just never really worked out. I actually contacted Adam before it was even started up. We kind of had one at our school in Colorado, so I thought it would be cool to start one up here. They gave me Adam’s phone number, and that’s how I got connected to all these guys.”

Since the team finished second, Weis believes this shows it is heading in the right direction and will help them recruit more members.

“Next fall when I set out my table, get flyers, have the guys here, to be able to tell them, ‘We made it to the NIT (National Invitational Tournament), here’s what we’ve done’ and all this stuff,” Weis said. “I think it’s huge because I’ve had a couple of guys on the fence about joining and they don’t know what we’re about. They think it’s just for fun, but they now know there’s a competitive edge.”

With the NBA Draft less than two months away on June 21, the top college basketball players across the country prepare for the biggest night of their lives. Some, such as a former Missouri State star Alize Johnson, are fortunate enough to be invited to the NBA Draft Combine.

The combine gives players an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of NBA coaches, general managers and scouts from May 16-20 in Chicago.

Johnson, who has trained in Los Angeles with Sports Academy, sees the invitation as a culmination of hard work.

“I got the email last week, and I’m very excited because I know how hard I work, and this is the next step to get to the next level,” he said in a press release from the university. “I am really excited to show off my abilities and hopefully turn some heads.”

After being an All-MVC first team selection as a junior, Johnson exploded onto the national scene around this time last summer. He won the most valuable player at the Adidas Nations college showcase, which featured several top players across college basketball, including Mizzou’s Michael Porter Jr. In 2018, Missouri State failed to live up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon them. Yet, Johnson still finished second in the MVC Player of the Year voting, averaging 15 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. His 20 double-doubles were the eighth most in the country and drew more than 50 NBA scouts and NBA personnel to Bears’ games this season.

Johnson will have the opportunity to compete with the likes of Deandre Ayton, Porter, Marvin Bagley, Wendell Carter, Miles Bridges and Trae Young during the four-day span.

Players run through medical exams, individual drills and play five-versus-five throughout the camp.

Just being invited to the combine is a huge sign for Johnson, as less than 70 players receive the invite. Several top players, including Bonzie Colson of Notre Dame, Trevon Bluiett of Xavier and Theo Pinson of North Carolina were left off the list.

In just two rounds in the NBA Draft, 60 players get selected overall. At the beginning of the season, Johnson was as high as the end of the first round. Now, pundits have taken his name off the draft board entirely. Though, the combine gives him a chance to prove himself against top competition.

Regardless of where or if he gets drafted, Johnson will certainly be on a team for the 2018 Summer League, with a chance of making an NBA roster.

"I thank the Missouri State fans for their support and being there for me in everything – on and off the court," Johnson said. "They helped me understand that people are great everywhere, and (MSU) really had the same feel as home to me.

The fans have been a huge part of my success, and I'll work hard for them as I go through this next phase of my career."

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

THE STANDARD

THE-STANDARD.ORG 7

Drew Millas is headed in the right direction for the Bears AMANDA SULLIVAN Sports Editor @mandasullivan14 In high school, Drew Millas played football, basketball and baseball. Drew focused all in on whatever sport was in season.

He never got an offseason.

Now, in college, Drew’s baseball career has seen a jump from his freshman to sophomore year. Through 51 games last year, he had a .224 batting average with 29 RBIs. In his 44 games

so far this season, Drew has hit .355 and tacked on 50 RBIs. His dad, Andy, noticed the change begin during the offseason during the 2017 summer.

Drew went home over the break and worked at his dad’s baseball training facility, Batter’s Box. Drew focused on improving his hitting, catching and fielding with his batting coach from home, Bob Hughes. Hughes played in the L.A. Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals organi-

BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

Sophomore Drew Millas waits to bat in a home game against Kansas.

zations and has coached at the junior college, Division II and Division I levels for over 40 years.

“As a three-sport athlete, a three-sport starter, you don’t really get to focus on one sport,” Andy said. “This was his first offseason and his first opportunity to focus on one sport.”

Before the summer ended, Hughes told Andy, “I think he’s gonna have a great year.”

And so far Drew has, but not without his struggles.

During the 2017 season, Drew had trouble with his eyesight. He saw a doctor through Missouri State and got prescribed contacts.

During the fall season, Drew noticed his eyesight still seemed off. He went to see another doctor who ran tests and discovered astigmatism and that his contacts were the wrong prescription.

The adjustments showed, but October rolled around, and another problem presented itself: Drew’s hip.

What Drew described as an uncomfortable feeling turned out to be a torn labrum in his hip. He had surgery on Oct. 26, and the surgeons told him afterward he had a four-to-six month recovery period.

“Honestly, we thought he may not make it back this spring,” Andy said. “But he worked his butt off. He did everything he was supposed to do. Anything the surgeon told him, anything Jim, the trainer, told him, he did it.”

Drew went home over winter break and continued to work. He played catch with his dad while sitting in a chair to keep his arm strength and muscle memory consistent.

Drew credited his comeback not only to the rehab but his faith as well.

“I’m a very strong Christian,” Drew said.

“Everything that I’m doing, it’s all through him and giving him glory.”

Drew is still working to regain full strength but has played in all 40 games so far this season.

He has played catcher, first base and been a designated hitter.

When it came to his success with the Bears, he credits his success to his teammates.

The Missouri State baseball team recorded 80 home runs last year and have only recorded 37 so far this season. Drew has six of his own this year.

During his freshman year, Drew felt timid playing with veterans like Jake Burger, Jeremy Eierman and Justin Paulsen. He learned from them, grew more comfortable in his position and now feels like he has become the big, bold player head coach Keith Guttin says everyone on the team should be.

“We had a lot of talent last year, and we have the same amount of talent this year but in a different way,” Drew said. “I’ve taken on the role of a drive-em-in guy.”

The end of the season is nearing for the Bears, but Drew continues to focus on getting back to where he ended last year. His hitting has contributed to the team, and he’s told his dad he feels ready to catch every game, but it’s been a process.

In the first four months after surgery, he worked on hitting and rehab. Now, he’s catching and working on getting into the same groove as last season.

“We’re still trying to assume where I was last year in terms of pitch calling and that whole aspect of catching,” Drew said. “So getting behind the plate in games recently has been great for me. Hopefully I can continue to develop in that.”

With six games left, Bears are set to finish strong

BAILEY VASSALLI/THE STANDARD

Davis Schwab came in to relieve Austin Knight on Tuesday.

in 17.2 innings of work has a 3.06 ERA. His workload has diminished this year, but he has done a good job of being the guy that Guttin can turn to in critical situations.

Freshman Connor Sechler has pitched himself into the closer role for the Bears, with an ERA of 2.91. A strikeout rate of 10.91 in 33 innings of work has allowed Guttin to use him in late-inning spots.

Again, the Bears will need to win five of their next six, and that is no easy feat, with the final series of the season being against Dallas Baptist. The most exciting games of the year are coming, and the key players will need to continue what they’ve done so far for the Bears to have a chance at postseason play.

The Bears are predicted to get the third seed in the Clemson Regional, according to D1baseball.com. Winning out will certainly help the Bears chances heading into postseason play. The Bears can be in regional play, but they need to work on consistent starting pitching to advance further.

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Heading into the final stretch of the season, words you don’t want to hear your head coach say are, “Poor effort. Flat. Bad baseball, no excuse.”

Those were the words from Bears head coach Keith Guttin after Wednesday night’s 9-4 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks.

That loss was arguably the Bears worst loss of the season.

Starting pitcher Austin Knight only went 1.2 innings and got pulled after allowing one run, one hit and three walks. Knight has not fared too well this season — he has a 5.81 ERA this season. Guttin said the pitching staff didn’t throw their best stuff and pitches were not executed right.

The only highlights for the Bears during the loss came from sophomores Ben Whetstone and Drew Millas, who each hit a home run. The weekend proved to be much better for the Bears in another Missouri Valley Conference matchup against the Valparaiso Crusaders. The series did not start off as planned, though, with ace Dylan Coleman only going 2.1 in Game 1, surrendering five runs on five hits. Freshman Ty Buckner saved the day in a rare relief appearance. Buckner threw 4.2 innings of no-hit baseball, striking out two along the way.

The Bears settled down for the remaining two games. Junior Logan Wiley presented a strong start on Saturday, and Sunday became a collective effort from the guys the mound. No pitcher went more than 2.2 innings. Coleman closed out the victory on Sunday afternoon. The biggest name for the offense was Millas again. He went 7-13 along with two walks. Millas had one home run and three doubles to pair with three RBIs. The Bears remain in first place in the Valley with an overall record of 30-14 and conference record of 13-2. The Bears sit one game ahead of Dallas Baptist, who were favored in the preseason to win the Valley.

The Bears will travel to Dallas on May 17 for their final series

of the season. The Bears have only six games left on their schedule, and if they seek to win the Valley for the second straight year, the will need to win at least five of the six. That seems like a tall order, but the Bears have won all five Valley series so far this season.

The Bears will face Southern Illinois this coming weekend at home. The Salukis sit fourth in the Valley with an overall record of 25-23 and 8-7 in conference play. The Bears will look to stars junior Jeremy Eierman and Millas at the plate to keep the offense rolling into the final two series of the season.

Eierman is hitting .299 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs while hitting the two hole for most the season. His power is in decline, compared to last year. In 2017, the shortstop hit 23 home runs and was looking at being the top shortstop in the upcoming 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft.

Last season, Eierman had Jake Burger, first round draft pick in 2017, and Justin Paulsen hitting behind him. Nothing against Millas and Whetstone, but they don’t provide the punch that Burger and Paulsen had last year.

Millas has a .355 batting average, with six home runs and 50 RBIs so far this season. The sophomore has given the Bears more than expected. In 2017, Millas hit .224 with an OBP of .281. Now his OBP is .437, and he is slugging .560.

On the mound, the Bears will look to Coleman, Buckner and Wiley to carry the load for the Bears. Coleman has pitched himself to an average 4.08 ERA and 7-2 record on the year.

Buckner has been everything Guttin needed and more. He has developed into a solid No. 2 starter in the rotation. He also has a 4.08 ERA, but, as a freshman, it is looked at as a positive.

Wiley, on the other hand, has been the low-key ace of the Bears staff. With an ERA of 3.29, the lowest among starters for the Bears. In 56 innings pitched, Wiley has allowed 23 earned runs. He isn’t going to strikeout many batters, but he does pitch to soft contact. In the bullpen, the Bears have been led by senior Jake Fromson. After returning from injury in early March, Fromson has been used by Guttin in high-leverage situations,

TH

SAM GRUS Sports Reporter @SCGRUS_6

S TAT E U N I

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Hickory Hills Country Club is looking to hire motivated, outgoing Food & Beverage teammates as we head into the season. This is an opportunity to learn various aspects of the hospitality industry, from banquet service to a la carte operations within an established and well-respected country club.

Competitive base hourly rates plus tips. Please come in person to fill out an application or send resume to Director of Hospitality at mcho@hickoryhillscountryclub.com

Hickory Hills Country Club 3909 E Cherry Street Springfield, MO 65809 417.866.4384 Submit your ad online: the-standard.org Or email it: msu.standard@gmail.com

8 THE-STANDARD.ORG

THE STANDARD

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

Softball team Olina Einarsdottir came to America for the game she loves loses series to Drake CARISSA ALFORD Staff Reporter @carissabalford

Two years ago, Olina Einarsdottir ventured to Missouri State from northern Iceland to play soccer for the Bears.

Olina knew she wanted to come to America to play because, in her home country, they don’t have school sports teams.

“Every town has a team or maybe two to three teams, all the way up to the semi pros,” Olina said. “It’s just one club (for every town).”

Olina used a company called Soccer and Education U.S.A. to create and send a tape of her playing to coaches in America. She said the teams here are bigger and of higher MEGAN BURKE/THE STANDARD quality.

Sophomore Olina Einarsdottir is from Iceland and plays defense on Mis“From my first days here everyone has been very open souri State University women’s soccer team. and very welcoming,” Olina said. “They make me feel like Only 334,252 people speak Icelandic, the native tongue of part of the group.”

Olina currently lives with sophomore Brooke Zenner. Her Iceland, according to World Bank. While Olina appreciates mom, Tricia Zenner, goes to every game. The only game Tricia this because it makes Icelandians unique, it causes problems and her husband missed was last year at Texas Tech. when traveling.

Tricia has known Olina for two years, ever since her daugh“We have our own language, so it’s kinda cool that there’s ter became roommates with Olina. only 330,000 of us that speak it,” Olina said. “That’s why we “Her ability to adapt is just amazing,” Tricia said. have to learn English in school because if we didn’t, we would It is one of Olina’s goals while in America to visit every be isolated from everyone.” state before she graduates, and Tricia plans to help her accomOlina said she started learning English when she was 8 years plish that goal. old, then added Danish and German.

“Obviously soccer helps that (goal), but we’re going to help Olina had to overcome more changes than just language. too. We’re going to take her to Gulf Shores this summer,” Iceland is different from America in more ways than one. In Tricia said.

Iceland, children go to elementary school from 6 to 16 years Tricia and her family has included Olina in multiple trips old. From there, four years of what Americans would call and tries to make her feel welcomed and at home anytime she high school. It is in those four years students finish their can. general education and most students graduate at the age of “After games and stuff where (Brooke’s) parents come watch 20. they take me out to dinner with them, and I’ve been to their After secondary school comes university, their version house, even for spring break we went up to Minnesota to vis- of college. Here, students only take classes related to their it her bigger family,” Olina said. “They’re kinda like my Amer- major. Usually, it only takes two to three years to graduate ican family.” from university. This is why Olina is 22 years old and a Olina said she tries to contact her family as much as she sophomore. can, but it is hard with the time difference. However, Tricia “I am actually going to graduate in two years because I’m and Olina’s mom text back and forth. taking all of my gen-eds here,” Olina said.

“We send each other pictures of her surroundings and famShe is majoring in graphic design because of her love for ily, and we send pictures of the dogs,” Tricia said. “I send her art. pictures when I’m at the games so she can feel like she’s there.”

“I always liked to draw, but I didn’t want to just do a fine Not only is the five hour time difference hard, but the lan- art,” Olina said. “I wanted to do something that would be guage barrier caused problems as well. more than that and give me more job opportunities.”

“It’s gotten a lot better; I really struggled at first,” Olina While Olina looked at colleges in America to attend, she said. “Especially on the field, in action, it takes me maybe a specifically searched for those who offered soccer and graphcouple seconds to translate in my head and maybe by then it’s ic design. too late.”

Missouri State just so happened to be the perfect fit.

AMANDA SULLIVAN Sports Editor @mandasullivan14

The Missouri State softball team headed to Des Moines, Iowa, to play Drake, who clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title ahead of the series.

Missouri State secured the second seed for the tournament ahead of the series.

Drake showed why they earned first after sweeping Missouri State 3-0.

In Saturday’s doubleheader, Drake won 6-2 and 4-3.

Game 1 started with Drake scoring four runs in the second inning off three scattered singles.

The Bears put up their two runs of the game in the third inning after obstruction by the catcher.

Drake tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth to secure their win.

Game 2 went into the eighth inning after Drake tied the score up at three in the fifth inning. The game ended after Drake’s Sarah Maddox hit a walkoff home run.

Drake earned the sweep after winning Game 3, 2-1.

The game remained scoreless until the third when Drake’s Kailee Smith hit a home run. The Bears responded in the fifth, but the Bulldogs scored their final run in the sixth to win.

The Bears will play Friday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Game 6 of the MVC Softball Championship.

Lacrosse loses first game of nationals AMANDA SULLIVAN Sports Editor @mandasullivan14

The Missouri State club lacrosse team lost to No. 1 St. Thomas in the first game of the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association National Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Missouri State previously won the Lone Star Alliance conference title over UT-Dallas with a 10-5 victory. The Bears have won the conference championship five times, with two wins coming consecutively in 2017 and 2018.

Missouri State came into the MCLA Tournament ranked 16th.

St. Thomas scored early, ending the first half with a 10-0 lead.

The Bears scored their first goal with 6:08 left in the fourth quarter. A second was scored with 2:33 left. But it was too late. The Tommies won 16-2.

St. Thomas defeated the Bears for the second year in a row. Last year, the Bears lost 15-1.

Missouri State ends its season with a 12-3 record, going 6-0 in division play.

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018

THE STANDARD

THEATER Continued from page 4 the courage to commit to the industry.

At age 18, Brescia was unsure of her next step, but she said she knew it was not going to be college. When a friend of hers made plans to move from their hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to New York City, she decided to tag along. Equipped with typing skills, Brescia got the administrative assistant job at a real estate office.

In her free time, Brescia began to explore the art of theater. She graduated from an acting conservatory called the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she took voice lessons, acting classes and vocational dance classes and later went on a 4-and-a-half-year long tour with a singing group called the “Momma’s and Poppa’s.”

All the while, she was working that steady 9-5 desk job.

“I’d go out and perform for 40,000 people, and then I’d come back and make coffee and copies for my boss,” Brescia said.

SAFETY Continued from page 1 and an extensive system of cameras” increase safety on campus.

Other crimes listed five or more times on this semester's crime report include: harassment, liquor law violations, motor vehicle theft, burglary, assault, graffiti and fondling.

The university’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report of 2016 (2017 has not been released) listed 64 drug abuse violations leading to at least one arrest and another 56 drug abuse violations leading to a disciplinary referral. Other top crimes for the semester were not listed on the 2016 report.

Another crime listed on the 2016 report of a notable amount is liquor law violations with 90 leading to at least one arrest and 659 leading to disciplinary referrals.

“Campus safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Smart said.

What started as a means of paying rent turned into a 12-year-long career. Finally, in 1999, when Brescia got the call for “Jesus Christ Superstar,” she knew it was time to quit her day job for good.

The desk she was sitting at when she got that call was the same desk she was sitting at many years earlier when she got the call for “The Mamas and The Poppa’s,” her first bigtime gig.

It was also the desk she sat at as a young Midwesterner in need of some guidance. She said her co-workers practically watched her grow up and helped her “survive the city.”

Many times, throughout her 20s, Brescia said she doubted herself and questioned whether she would ever be able to support herself as an artist.

But she continued studying and perfecting her craft until the work paid off.

“What she set out to accomplish, she did it,” Graff said.

This year, Brescia explored another unfamiliar role as the director of Missouri State’s production of “Twelfth Night.” Over the past two years, Brescia said she has enjoyed a change of pace in comparison to the East Coast. She said she is constantly

Englert said property crime is likely to be a “big deal” anytime many people are brought together.

“There’s a high concentration of people; there’s also a high concentration of things,” Englert said. “Which is why we always encourage people to lock their door, remove their valuables from the vehicle, don’t leave your valuables unattended.”

Englert explained that the Department of Safety and Transportation participates in educational talks with students and families during SOAR, a program that welcomes new students to campus, to teach them how to stay safe.

Englert also said the department is mindful of areas where crime becomes frequent.

“We monitor where a crime is occurring, and when we see a spike in numbers we will increase our patrols of that area,” Englert said. “We will also share that with the Springfield Police Department, and they will typically increase their presence in

learning, evolving and growing.

“Being here and knowing people who have all kinds of different views and opinions and justifications for their opinions,” Brescia said. “It’s eye-opening and also heart-softening.

I may not agree, but it’s allowed me to just meet people who are different than me.”

Although she is living and working full-time in Missouri, Brescia’s theater work has not slowed down.

She has found time to continue her regional work in various cities across the country.

She also has more exciting news coming. She cannot speak about it yet, but she said she “has something on the horizon.” As for right now, Brescia is leaving herself open to whatever the future may hold and will continue to explore opportunities at Missouri State.

“I love directing. I love meeting fellow artists and scholars who are interested in different things,” Brescia said. “I think one of the gifts of getting older is you realize how little you know. At the same time you realize how much you do know … I think I can always become more intuitive, more in touch … I still feel like I’m in my 20s wanting more and more education.”

Extortion/Blackmail, 14%

DOWN 1 Apiece 2 Disco style 3 Hodgepodge

ARTSFEST ON WALNUT Southwest Missouri’s largest fine arts festival, Artsfest on Walnut Street, kicked off on Saturday, May 5 under the warm spring sun. The fest drew throngs of music and art lovers. Over 140 artists from across the nation competed for nearly $5,000 in cash awards.

Read more online at the-standard.org

Stealing by deceit, 14%

Indecent Exposure, 7% Rape, 14%

Fraudulent use of a credit device, 7%

Arson, 7% Dating violence, 14%

Fraudulently obataining a controlled substance, 7%

Stalking, 7% those areas as well.”

Smart said that while the university aims to keep students safe and students can keep themselves safe, it is important that students watch

© 2018 King Features Syndicate

4 Casual wear 5 Homes for gnomes?

6 On in years 7 “Symphonie Fantastique” composer 8 Low-pH chemicals 9 Suitable 10 Ceremony 11 Somewhere out there 19 Potter’s need 20 Whatever number 23 Vagrant 24 Mimic 25 Depressed 26 Intimidate 27 Eviscerate 28 Chart format 29 Likely 31 Ease 32 Hebrew letter 34 Ump 35 Oats-nuts-fruit

BILL SIOHOLM/THE STANDARD

Crimes reported on campus two or fewer times from Jan. 1 — April 29

Weekly Crossword ACROSS 1 Swelled head 4 Marble chunk 8 Taj Mahal city 12 “You’ve got mail” co.

13 Carry on 14 Hairstyle 15 Hollywood trickery, for short 16 Basin accessory 17 Greek vowel 18 Firetruck gear 21 “-- Impossible” 22 Officeholders 23 Bocce equipment 26 Coquettish 27 Coll. transcript no.

30 Fairy tale preposition 31 Unc’s kid 32 Witticism 33 Kitten’s comment 34 Wield oars 35 Choral composition 36 Jewel 37 Dine 38 Free from responsibility 45 PC picture 46 Tramcars’ contents 47 Grand --, N.S. 48 “Vanilla Sky” actress Penelope 49 Verifiable 50 Slithery swimmer 51 Continental coin 52 Actress Hatcher 53 Filch

THE-STANDARD.ORG 9

concoction 36 Hook-nosed Muppet 37 Rid of fleece 38 Grown-up nits 39 Beige 40 Go sightseeing

41 Genealogy chart 42 Oil cartel 43 Sandwich treat 44 Iodine source

Simple assault, 7%

out for each other.

“Frequently, a peer is best able to recognize situations where a friend is at risk,” Smart said. “Be a true friend and intervene so they don’t

become a victim. We also encourage students to report suspicious behavior. This allows our safety professionals to prevent crimes on campus.”

JUBARY Continued from page 5

While there is no specific deadline for Jubary to raise his tuition money, they said it needs to be soon.

“Every day that goes by that Mohammed’s not registered for fall classes is a day closer to the day when U.S. officials show up his door to tell him that he’s deported,” Hubbard said.

Despite the situation, Jubary and Hubbard have not lost hope and remain in good spirits. Jubary still hopes to graduate next spring and said he’s not giving up.

“Those things that you go through, its those things that make me to come to the United States and appreciate the opportunity to be here now,” Jubary said. “I’m very, very glad, and I think an opportunity like this, I’m going to hold on with my hands and my teeth. I’m not going to let it go. That’s the reason I’m fighting for this.”

To view Wheeler’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/help-mohammed-finish-school