2 | Spring Welcome 2015
The Standard
Spring Welcome 2015 | 3
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Contents 4 Calendar All the dates you need
5 Welcome back to MSU Trevor Mitchell and Clif Smart welcome you back to campus 6 New to Missouri State? Whether you’re a freshman or a transfer student, check out these columns 7 Theater calendars See when and where to get your theater fix in Springfield 8 Last semester at MSU Catch up on the news from last semester
12 Study up There’s plenty of places on campus to get your studying done 13 Spring break It’s not too early to start planning your spring break trip 14 Get up and move Get that New Year’s resolution in gear 15 Grading the Bears Eli Wohlenhaus grades to the MSU basketball players 16 Lady Bears struggling Growing pains for the women’s basketball team
9 SAC Calendar What’s SAC got planned for this 17 Golf semester? Find out here Hit the links with the MSU golf team 10 Finding a job Get employed in 2015 18 Swimming/Baseball Bears look to crush the competition in the pool and on the diamond
Standard staff Editorial staff Bart Anders reporter Elizabeth Armbrecht copy editor Theresa Brickman copy editor Rebecca Biundo reporter
Sofia Caito reporter Maddy Cushman photographer Nicholas Deckard photo editor Callie Dunaway reporter Zachary Fletcher reporter/photographer Emily Joshu reporter Andrea Koenemann distributor Rose Marthis news editor Spencer Martin columnist Trevor Mitchell editor-in-chief Taylor Mize distributor Nicole Roberts reporter
John Robinson reporter Brittanie Schuette distributor Kayla Seabaugh copy editor Peyson Shields life editor Mike Ursery sports editor Eli Wohlenhaus digital editor Professional staff Jack Dimond faculty adviser Sandy King ad manager
Spring Welcome 2015 Cover design by Brooke Partridge
Advertising staff Brandi Frye sales Holly Johnson sales Nick McConnell sales Brooke Partridge design Emily Dilley office assistant
is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by The Standard staff. The Standard 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897 417-836-5272
Standard@MissouriState.edu the-standard.org
4 | Spring Welcome 2015
Mark your calendars!
The Standard
15
Get out your planner and write down these important dates and events in the spring semester
Jan. 16
Refund Deadline — First Block Schedule and Full Semester Schedule Change at 100 percent Credit/Refund
Jan. 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No Classes/Offices Closed)
Jan. 25
My Payment Plan Installment Due
Refund Deadline — First Block Classes and Full Semester change at 75 percent Credit/Refund
Jan. 30
Refund Deadline — First Block Classes at 50 percent Credit/Refund
Feb. 9
Refund Deadline — First Block Classes at 25 percent Credit/Refund Refund Deadline — Full Semester at 50 percent Credit/Refund
Feb. 10
Census
Presidents Day Classes/Offices Closed)
Holiday
4 p.m. Monday Evening Classes Meet/Wednesday Evening Classes Do Not Meet
Feb. 20
Last day to Drop, Withdraw, declare Pass/Not-Pass or Audit for First Block Classes
Feb. 25
Jan. 26
Feb. 16
Feb. 18
(No
My Payment Plan Installment Due
March 2
Mid-Semester Grade Rosters Available
March 6
First Block Classes End
March 9 – March 15
Spring Break (No Classes/Offices Open)
March 16
Second Block Classes Begin
March 17
Refund Deadline — Full Semester at 25 percent Credit/Refund
16 !
n tio a u rad
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March 19
Mid-Semester Grades Available Online
March 20
Refund Deadline — Second Block Schedule Change at 100 percent Credit/Refund
March 25
Final My Payment Plan Installment Due
March 27
Refund Deadline — Second Block Classes at 75 percent Credit/Refund Second Block Census
April 14
Refund Deadline — Second Block Classes at 25 percent Credit/Refund
April 24
Last day to Drop, Withdraw, declare Pass/Not-Pass or Audit for Second Block Classes
April 27
Final Grade Rosters Available
May 7
Spring 2015 Classes End
April 2
May 8
April 3
May 9 – May 14
Spring Holiday (No Classes/Offices Open)
Last Day to Submit an Instructor Drop for Second Block Classes
April 3 – April 5
Spring Holiday (No Classes/Offices Closed)
April 6
Refund Deadline — Second Block Classes at 50 percent Credit/Refund
l rea n Jo i ... rld o w
Study Day (No Classes/Offices Open) Final Exam Period
May 15
Spring Commencement
May 18
Spring 2015 Final Grades Rosters Must Be Submitted Online by 10:00 a.m.
May 19
Grades Available on My Missouri State 10:00 a.m. April 10 website (check academic calendar for when Spring 2015 Mid-Semester Grades Rosters Last day to Drop, Withdraw, declare available on official transcript) Pass/Not-Pass or Audit for Full Semester Must Be Submitted Online by 10:00 a.m. Classes
March 18
Statewide Collaborative Diversity Conference
Learn how to create a diverse community and network to improve recruitment and retention of minority groups.
March 25-27
“The Ethical Citizen: Can You Make a Difference?”
The Public Affairs Conference will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions and special events to help you find your way to being an ethical citizen.
April 14-17
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Welcome back, Bears! Trevor Mitchell Editor-in-chief
@TJM613
“Hey, what’s up? How long’s it been, like a month or something? Did you change your hair? It looks really good. Oh, you didn’t? Well it still looks really good. Yeah, great seeing you too! Yeah, we totally need to hang out sometime. I’ll text you.” It’s spring semester, which means you get to have the above conversation with every casual acquaintance you have on campus for the next few weeks. But there’s more to the second semester of the year than forced small talk with the guy from biology that never pulled his weight on that group project. You’re a couple credit hours smarter, several finals more responsible, perhaps a few hangovers wiser. Whether this is your second semester or your last (or maybe your first, but then this
Clif Smart University President
@ClifSmart
Dear Missouri State Students:
Welcome. Returning students, welcome back to campus. New students, welcome to the Missouri State family. I hope you are as excited as I am about this semester. Classes are under way, our winter sports are in full swing and there are lots of student activities on the agenda. I challenge you to get involved and stay connected. One of the events you will want to attend is the presentation by Cal Ripken, Jr. at the Public Affairs Conference at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 in JQH Arena. Cal Ripken Jr. is baseball’s all-time Iron Man. He retired from baseball in October 2001 after 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His name appears in the record books repeatedly, most notably as one of only eight players in history to achieve 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. On July 29, 2007, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ripken received the third highest per-
whole “older and wiser” thing I’m doing doesn’t work, so stay with me) there’s no way you haven’t learned at least one thing from the semester we just went through. No matter how good or bad your fall 2014 was, use it to make your spring 2015 even better. Bombed all your finals? Start putting together a study plan for May, and get well acquainted with the BEAR Claw. Three years into your Pre-med studies you discovered what you really love is teaching seventh grade English? Get with your adviser and make that dream a reality. The point is, no matter where you are in your college career, you always need to keep learning from what you’ve already done, or else you’ll never make any real progress as you float your way through a couple of years here at Missouri State. So make 2015 either better than 2014 or just as great. Either way, The Standard will be here every Tuesday morning to help. As always, I can be reached at trevor613@live.missouristate.edu or @TJM613 on Twitter, and also follow @TheStandard_MSU as well. Have a great syllabus week!
centage of votes in history, collecting the highest vote total ever by the BBWAA. The many on-field accolades that Ripken received during his illustrious playing career include: AL Rookie of the Year (’82), two time AL Most Valuable Player (’83, ’91), two time Gold Glove recipient (’91, ’92), two time AllStar MVP (’91, ’01), a world record 2,632 consecutive games and 19 All-Star Game selections. In addition, his 2,131st consecutive game was voted by fans as MLB’s Most Memorable Moment in baseball history and Ripken was named to the MLB All-Century Team at shortstop. Ripken has always placed a strong focus on giving back to the community. In 2001, he and his family established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in memory of the family’s patriarch. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, working throughout the country with Boys & Girls Clubs, P.A.L. centers, inner-city schools and other organizations serving America’s most distressed communities. I hope to see you at the Cal Ripken, Jr. presentation and the other events at the Public Affairs Conference. Have a great semester. Go Bears!
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The Standard
On transfers and transitions By Rebecca Biundo The Standard @rebeccabiundo
I transferred to Missouri State University on a whim. I didn’t look at schools or tour campuses. As bad as it sounds, I didn’t even know where Springfield was on a map. I just picked MSU because I knew a handful of people who went here and I had maxed out my stay at my community college, STLCC-Meramec in St. Louis. In the beginning of the semester, I put a lot of pressure on myself to meet friends and when things didn’t pan out right away, I became frustrated. It seemed like everyone already had established friend groups and the best place for me was nowhere. I spent many weekends of my first semester listening to Taylor Swift while spooning a Subway footlong alone in my dorm room. I also spent many nights thinking about how I should have never left Meramec. I met a lot of great friends there, but as a two-year school, I knew transferring/graduating was inevitable for
them and even me. Living on campus without a car proved more challenging than I had originally thought. I walked everywhere with the exception of taking the Bear Line to Brick City. Transitions have never been the easiest for me. Actually, they pretty much suck. However, I know it’s a part of life and a part of growing up. I was not a great student until I came to MSU. Good grades never mattered to me but somehow moving away from everything I knew made me want to be successful. My brain shifted from Peter Pan to Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Since transferring I have pushed myself harder than I thought I could. I changed majors and got involved in several different student organizations and I have gotten more familiar with the campus. And while things haven’t exactly gone as I planned, I have put myself out there and met some pretty cool friends along the way. I am still learning the ins and outs of MSU and I’m still looking for that perfect sandwich. However, things are a lot easier than when I started, and I know things will continue to get better as time goes on.
What I learned my freshman year
You don’t have to be an upperclassman to do big things
By Emily Joshu The Standard @EmilyJoshu
When it seems like grades are the top priority, we can sometimes forget about our own wellbeing. You may think that a little cold is nothing, but without taking some time away from the books to rest, the symptoms can worsen. Then you won’t be able to concentrate on schoolwork anyway. I had this wake-up call last semester when complications arose from earlier health problems. I was so upset about missing assignments I almost delayed necessary treatment. “But I can’t miss class!” Yes, you can. It took my doctor’s lecture and an emergency trip home to make me realize that. Don’t be stubborn like me; listen to your body.
Health always comes first
I used to think that college kids never went home, which I blame both on movies and my older cousins’ college stories. What I didn’t realize was it’s perfectly acceptable to go home for the weekend. No one will judge you for going home. They might even be jealous because they miss their mom’s spaghetti as much as you do. Sometimes it’s refreshing to get away from campus, sleep in your own bed and hug your dog.
It’s not lame to go home
Freshman year has its limits, especially the first semester. Yes, I’m looking at you, GEP 101. That doesn’t mean that upperclassmen get to have all the fun, though. They may be older, but they don’t have more power. If you want to be a leader, be a leader. If you want to start a club, start that club.Your grade level is not a restriction; if anything, it’s an advantage since you have so much time to make your mark on the university. “I learned that you don't have to be an upperclassman to do great things for yourself and the university,” said freshman Rebecca Burger, a newly appointed SOAR Leader.
“What are you going to do with your major?” I get asked this way more often than I would like, being a creative writing major, and I know that I’m not the only person who deals with this. My extended family generally pelts me with this question every time I see them, but it also comes from fellow students. Following your passion does not always mean following a specific path right from the start. Sometimes you don’t know what kind of job you want, and that’s okay, especially as a freshman. What matters is your passion, not what other people think you’ll do with it.
Your major is no one else’s problem
u See more of Emily’s advice on the-standard.org
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Curtain call
Need theater in your life? Both MSU and Springfield have shows to keep you shouting ‘encore!’ all season long By Rose Marthis, The Standard
@RoseMarthis
MSU Department of Theatre and Dance
Looking into the life of vulnerable teens in 1970s New York City, “Runaways” combines songs, dances, soliloquies and poems to tell the emotional stories of diverse characters.
“Runaways”
Feb. 12-14, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m. Craig Hall Coger Theatre $18 adults, $16 students/seniors, $12 in advance with MSU ID
Students play every role in productions Moliere’s controversial comedy tells the by the Theatre and Dance Department. tale of one family’s deception and downfall caused by their two-faced houseguest, as a carnival incorporating magic, whimsy, nostalgia and visual into an imaginative perTartuffe. formance choreographed by MSU faculty. March 26-28, 7:30 p.m. File photo/THE STANDARD
“Tartuffe”
March 29, 2:30 p.m. Craig Hall Coger Theatre $14 adults, $12 students/seniors, $8 in advance with MSU ID
The Spring Dance Concert comes to life
“Strutting and Fretting: a neo vaudeville”
April 30-May 2, 7:30 p.m. May 3, 2:30 p.m. Craig Hall Coger Theatre $14 adults, $12 students/seniors, $8 in advance with MSU ID
Springfield Area Theater Companies
Springfield Little Theatre
Springfield Contemporary Theatre
•“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Jan. 23-Feb. 8 •“Disney’s My Son Pinocchio Jr.,” Feb. 20March 1 •“The Wizard of OZ,” April 3-19 • “Tuna Does Vegas,” May 8-17
•“Shining City,” Jan. 9-18 •“The Tempest,” Feb. 13-March 1 •“Painting Churches,” March 20-April 4 •“Spring Awakening,” April 24-May 17
Springfield Regional Opera Lyric Theatre •“Street Scene,” Feb. 20-22 •“Master Class,” March 27-29 •“Cafe des Artistes: Roma Fellini,” May 2-3
Showtimes & Tickets Visit each theatre’s website: • springfieldlittletheatre.org • srolyrictheatre.org • springfieldcontemporarytheatre.org
8 | Spring Welcome 2015
The Standard
Last semester at MSU
Whether you’re new to Springfield or winter break was just too long, here’s what’s going on around town not indicted after putting African-American Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold in July. A day after the grand jury decided there was not enough probable evidence to indict Pantaleo, over 100 Several events happened last semester that created an students gathered in the PSU and participated in a twouproar in Springfield. Here are some quick updates on a hour long sit-in. They sang songs, led chants and held up few of the biggest topics students will still be talking signs that said “Justice 4 Mike Brown” and “I Can’t Breathe.” about this semester.
By Nicole Roberts The Standard @NReneeRoberts
After Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown in August, protests swept the nation, including MSU. Homecoming Blackout was a silent protest led by 35 protesters in October 2014 at the MSU homecoming. The protesters held up signs during tailgating and the football game that said “Black Lives Matter” and “Don’t Shoot.” Protestors said audience members shouted insults and racial slurs at them. Over a month later on Nov. 24, the grand jury did not indict Wilson for the death of Brown. On Dec. 3, New York Officer Daniel Pantaleo was also
Black rights protests
Currently, employers and businesses in the city of Springfield can discriminate against someone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. In October 2014, City Council passed Council Bill 2014-189, which made it illegal for anyone to discriminate against an individual based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations. Shortly after the ordinance went into effect, a referendum petition containing over 2,500 signatures was certified by the City Clerk. City Council had 30 days to address the referendum by either repealing the ordinance
LGBTQ non-discrimination bill
or placing the issue on the April 2015 ballot. City Council tabled the issue longer than 30 days, meaning citizens will vote on the ordinance in the April ballot. Until the public votes on the issue, the ordinance will not take effect.
After nine years of being the head coach at MSU and a total record of 37-64, Terry Allen was not re-hired after his contract expired. His replacement for the 2015 season is former University of Columbia-Missouri’s assistant coach Dave Steckel. Steckel worked at Mizzou for 14 years. MSU will be his first head coaching position. Steckel helped Mizzou win consecutive SEC title games and create two SEC Defensive Players of the Year. University President Clif Smart said he will be offering Steckel a $270,000 five-year contract. Even though the university will be increasing the head coaching salary, Smart said no additional university money will be used.
MSU’s new football coach
SAC the-standard.org
By Peyson Shields The Standard @peysonrose
The Student Activities Council plans cultural, social and diverse events for the entire student body. From the spring concert to Friday night bowling, SAC ensures that Missouri State students will always have options for activities to do on campus. SAC is completely student-run and makes decisions, like the performers for the big spring concert, based on what MSU students want. For students interested in joining SAC, all council meetings are held by the SAC executive board every Tuesday at 4 p.m. in PSU 313.
❤ File photo/THE STANDARD
Student Activities Council executive board holds all council meetings.
events
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k e e ter W
Win❄
Hot Chocolate Giveaway Jan. 12, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. SAC Concerts presents: Echosmith Jan. 13, 7-9 p.m. SAC Comedy Club presents: Adam Newman Jan. 14, 7-9 p.m. SAC Films presents: “Divergent” Jan. 14, 9-11 p.m. SAC After Hours presents: Ice Skate Night Jan. 15, 9 p.m.-midnight SAC Campus Events presents: Winter Wonderland Rock ‘n’ Bowl Jan. 16, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
❄
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2015 g n i Spr k-peek snea
SAC Lectures presents: Laverne Cox Jan. 20, 7-8 p.m. SAC Films presents: “Tammy” Jan. 21 and 25, 9-11 p.m. Rock ‘n’ Bowl Every Friday night, 7:30-10:30 p.m. SAC Presents: “The Parent Trap” Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, 9-11 p.m.
10 | Spring Welcome 2015
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The Standard
New year, new you... new job? By Zachary Fletcher, The Standard
Where do you want to work? Jobs are available both on and off campus
Zachary Fletcher/THE STANDARD
Nearly every building on campus has student workers helping out. One option is the front desk at Plaster Student Union, where Dale Obermark helps answer questions.
Want to find work this semester, but aren’t sure where 6. Don’t hesitate to be proactive to begin? Here are 10 tips for a less stressful job hunt. It never hurts to follow up with an employer after submitting an application. You may feel like you’re being 1. Decide if you want to work on or off campus pushy by calling to ask for an update, but really you’re There are pros and cons to both on-campus and off- showing that you care about the job and are willing to campus jobs. On-campus jobs are conveniently located take an active role. A quick phone call is often enough to and tailored to fit the academic schedule. Off-campus get your application moved to the top of the stack and jobs tend to pay higher wages and may provide more op- might even help you secure an interview. portunities in a particular field of interest. Decide which best suits your needs and focus your search accordingly. 7. Give employers time to respond That being said, you should still allow some time for 2. Utilize your resources the employer to process and respond to your application. Save yourself some trouble and pay a visit to MSU’s If it’s a job you really want, determine a reasonable waitOffice of Student Employment. According to the office’s ing period beforehand and stick to it. Otherwise, you coordinator, Cheryl Combs, Student Employment Serv- might get impatient and settle for something less suitable ices averages 60 or more off-campus job postings at any before the first employer has had a chance to get back to given time — and that’s to say nothing of the 2,700 stu- you. dents employed by the university alone last year. Just stop by Room 113 in Shannon Hall, or go to 8. Negotiate your hours before taking the job http://www.missouristate.edu/StudentEmp/. You’ll be One of the biggest risks of working in college is takglad you did. ing on more hours than you can manage. Even if you specify in your application how much you’d like to work 3. Find out who’s hiring, rather than applying per week, it’s not uncommon to get more than you asked everywhere for. Make sure your prospective employer knows, before Few things are worse than filling out a lengthy appli- you accept the job, that you have other obligations and cation only to learn a day later that there are no positions can only be so flexible. Don’t be rude, but remember that available. Focus on businesses that have advertised open- a boss who won’t listen to the employee’s needs is not ings, rather than blindly firing out as many applications one you want to work for. as you can. While it’s true that most employers will keep applications on hand for a while, it’s usually not worth 9. Be choosy… holding out for. A job can improve your college experience or make it miserable. If you’re not happy where you work, chances 4. Beef up your resume are your grades and social life will suffer too. EmployBuilding a solid resume can be tough if you don’t ment is important, but don’t take a terrible job just behave much work experience, but you can strengthen it in cause you feel like you have to. other ways. Be sure to include academic achievements, involvement in campus organizations, volunteer 10. …But not too choosy work,and any other skills or strengths you may have. Finding work is hard these days, and you won’t always get your dream job. Sometimes you have to com5. Contact your references before listing them. promise. Just remember that every job has its ups and People are a lot more likely to give you good recom- downs and that this one is only temporary. If nothing else mendations if they’re warned ahead of time. Even if you you’ll have some stories to tell and some experience to know your references well, don’t list their contact infor- draw on next time. mation without asking their permission.
Student Employment Services: Shannon 113, 417-836-5627
@ZachSFletcher
Want more on-campus options? Check out a student leader position Spring semester is a time for trying new things and making decisions about the future. One decision that many students make is applying for a student leadership position. If you’ve ever considered being a student leader but weren’t sure what to do, or would just like to see the requirements all in one place, here’s a quick rundown to get you started.
Resident Assistants play an important role in virtually all first-year students’ lives, providing everything from health and safety assistance. to entertainment. to life advice. While they are not paid, RAs do receive free housing and food, a voucher for the bookstore, and a private room. Anyone seeking to become an RA must be a fulltime student, with 12 credit hours completed upon application and 24 finished before the job begins. Additionally, they must have and maintain an overall GPA of 2.75. RA applications are due on Jan. 29, and all applicants are required to attend one of a series of information sessions occurring on Jan. 14, 22, and 26. Following the application process is an interview and a “Carousel” session, which will test problem-solving and teamwork skills. Students who pass the selection process must take part in a one-day spring training session, a week and a half of summer training in August and a leadership course during the fall semester. Being a Resident Assistant is both one of the most challenging and one of the most rewarding things a person can do in college. To those who are unsure if they want to give it a try, Wells RA Moises Giron said, “It’s okay to be afraid of not knowing whether you’ll be able to succeed or not, but it’s not okay to let that fear stop you.”
consists of two interviews: a “role-play” interview, where the applicant is asked the sorts of questions they might receive on a tour, and a more straightforward job interview. Those selected will be expected to participate in bi-weekly meetings and a training retreat held on Feb. 8. University Ambassadors are student leaders in a very literal sense; hundreds of “followers” depend on them to navigate MSU’s campus. Even so, UA Recruitment Chair Francis Ahrens reminds prospective applicants that it’s okay to take a backseat sometimes and that “a general rule of being a leader is that you also have to follow.”
Resident Assistant
The first friend many students make at MSU is their SOAR leader. SOAR leaders are the only student leaders employed full-time: they log 40 hours a week at $7.35/hour in addition to free Zachary Fletcher/THE STANDARD room and board. Students interested in this posiWeston Thomas gives tours of the Missouri State campus while working as a tion must have an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher University Ambassador — just one of the many leadership roles students can and at least 30 credit hours completed. They must also have full-time student status for the semester have. following their summer at SOAR, so that incoming students can expect to see them on campus. Spring Student Leader Position Deadlines Applications are accepted in October, with a four-part Carousel occurring in early November. Among the tasks applicants are expected to complete at the Carousel are an interview, a mock student/parent Q&A panel, and an impromptu Info Sessions Jan. 14, 22 & 26 Info Session Jan. 14 public speaking activity. Standout candidates will Applications due Jan. 29 Applications Due Jan. 20 be selected for a second round of interviews. Once hired, every SOAR leader must take a spring leadership course and attend all training activities and SOAR sessions. SOAR is a demanding job, but as three-time veteran Katie Hash said, “You won’t know if it’s wage and are required to complete a set number of tours and other obligations each semester. Candidates must meet an something that you won’t like or something you do fall in love University Ambassador overall GPA of 2.5 and have 24 credit hours completed by the with until you apply. I did not think SOAR was for me. Then In all likelihood, you’re at MSU now because a University time they begin. I applied, and I stuck with it for three years, and it really made Ambassador convinced you it was the best choice. A UA’s job Applications for the UA position are accepted until Jan. 20. my college career.” is to promote the university, primarily by leading campus tours All applicants must also attend an information meeting, the for prospective students. UAs are paid hourly at minimum last of which will be held on Jan. 14. The selection process
Keep in mind for next year: SOAR Leader
Resident Assistant
University Ambassador
SAVE THE DATE: SOAR Leader applications are accepted fall 2015
12 | Spring Welcome 2015
The Standard
Boredom busters: Take a study break By Rebecca Biundo The Standard @rebeccabiundo
It’s the weekend, and those big tests are over. Hanging out at the same places all the time can get redundant. Here are six unique places students can unwind and have a good time: 1. “Wake Up. Do Good. Repeat.” is the motto of Heroes Coffee, located within walking distance of Brick City. The gourmet coffee shop serves a variety of signature drinks, including The Hero and the Peanut Butter Cup. Heroes is open MondayFriday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
2. European Cafe is the perfect place for a sweet tooth. The cafe, located just off the square downtown, is a modern bakery
that sells macaroons, cream puffs and even savory breakfast choices. With a cozy atmoshephere and free Wi-Fi, students can enjoy a relaxing break from school.
3. Tired of binging on Netflix? Take a much-needed break and see a film at The Moxie Cinema. The Moxie specializes in indie and underrated movies that hit the big screen. Located on South Campbell downtown, the theatre is just minutes from campus and is a good way to see movies that open in limited release. 4. Get creative with RSVPaint as you enjoy a night out learning to paint a canvas while drinking your beverage of choice, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. For $35, art supplies — including paint, canvases, and brushes — are provided as partic-
ipants are taught to paint specific paintings. Even though RSVPaint is all ages, it’s BYOB and anyone consuming alcohol must present an ID. A session calendar is availabe at RSVPaint.com.
5. It’s a blast from the past in more ways than one. 1984 is an arcade located downtown that caters to anyone looking to get their Pac-Man on or just hang with some friends. While there is a $5 admission fee, there is unlimited play on classic video games and 25-50 cent plays on pinball machines. 1984 is open Wednesday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.
6. New to the Springfield area, Sky Zone is the perfect place to relieve school stress by jumping through the indoor trampoline park. For $15, guests can bounce around for an hour and receive Sky Socks, which are required for jumping. It is a 10 minute drive from campus. The trampoline park is open six days a week excluding Mondays.
Sprang breaaak the-standard.org
Options no matter what kind of trip you want
By Callie Dunaway The Standard @Callie_Dunaway
With the spring semester beginning, it’s time to start planning spring break. Less than two months away, spring break begins on March 9. If you are traveling somewhere far and need to fly, there are a lot of different myths on when to buy plane tickets. According to Forbes, the best day to buy airline tickets is on a Sunday. Here are three different spring break options for the last minute planners:
Beach Trip
Gulf Shores, Alabama More and more students each year are ditching the typical beach destination spots for spring break and venturing to cheaper, lower-profile spots. That’s where Gulf Shores comes in. A little over 700 miles from Missouri State, Google Maps estimates it takes 11 hours and 43 minutes in the car. Gulf Shores has a lot to offer, including the beach, shopping, a zoo, golf and even amusement parks. There are plenty of beachfront hotels that range in price from $100 a night and up. Students may opt for would be renting a house or condo. There are different price ranges and sizes of homes. Look into that is VRBO.com, which has over 3,000 listings in Gulf Shores alone.
Winter Park is a little over 12 hours from campus. Winter Park is a ski resort with plenty of ski-in and ski-out options on the mountain. Aside from skiing, there is a village with shopping and activities for people of all ages. Winter Park has many lodging options, including Vintage Hotel, Zephyr Mountain Lodge and Founders Pointe. Prices range within the resort, but to get more details visit winterparkresort.com A cheaper option students can look into would be to stay in Dillon, Colorado. It is more affordable than staying on the slopes and is a short drive to multiple ski resorts.
Day Trip
Pedestal Rocks, Arkansas Pedestal Rocks Scenic Area is about a 2.5 hour drive from campus. Located south of Jasper, Arkansas, it is a beautiful scenic area with two loop trails that each have their own scenic area. The Pedestal Rocks Loop is a little over 2 miles long and leads to the main attraction, Pedestal Rocks. According to the Explore the Ozarks website, “These unique rock formations were formed over eons from water and wind erosion, sculpting unique mushroom-shaped columns, as well as numerous caves and rock shelters in the side of the bluffs.” The other trail is the Kings Bluff Loop is 1.7 miles long and leads to Kings Bluff Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Ozarks. There are many columns, cracks, caves, rock Ski Trip shelters and other formations. Winter Park, Colorado Visit www.exploretheozarksonline.com for Another popular option for spring breakers who are not crazy about the beach is Colorado. more information. Winter Park is a popular destination and only an hour and a half away from Denver. The drive to
Photo courtesy of Peyson Shields
Even on a cold, rainy winter day, Pedestal Rocks still offers beautiful views.
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The Standard
Get your sweat on — off campus
Alternative gym options for when Foster Rec is just too full
By Sofia Caito The Standard @SofiaCaito
I’m sure you’ve noticed the new wave of gym-goers that flood into Foster Recreation Center every spring. Thanks to New Year’s resolutions and spring breakers trying to get the perfect beach bod, your workout area will be a little crowded. Thankfully, Springfield has tons of gyms nearby that offer great deals if you’re trying to break away from the crowd. So if you’re looking for an alternative gym, here are few options.
Physique Fitness offers a variety of classes such as barre physique, hot barre, yoga, physique TRX, pound, thighs and assets and so much more. One month of unlimited classes is $115 or you can buy a 10-day class pass for $105. Physique also offers happy hour prices of $6.50 for their classes.
Previously Ozark Fitness, Genesis Health Clubs is a fully-equipped gym that provides a variety of classes, as well as tanning, free wifi and certified personal trainers. The personal training is included with your membership and includes a fitness
assessment, first workout and programming session, individual exercise program session, two-week follow up session and a four-week reassessment for the duration of your membership. Membership costs include a $200 enrollment fee with monthly dues ranging $3045, depending on what membership option you go with. Manager Gabe Haugh says that students can have free enrollment if they bring in a copy of this story to either the northern or southern location to redeem the discount. “We never let price stand in the way of someone being a member here,” Haugh says. The clubs will be undergoing a $5 billion renovation which will include adding a pool, hot tub and a shake and smoothie bar. The North Springfield location is open Monday-Thursday 5a.m.-11p.m., Friday 5a.m.-9p.m., Saturday 7a.m.-7p.m. and Sunday 8a.m.-7p.m. The South Springfield location is open Monday-Thursday 24 hours, Fridays until 9p.m., Saturday 7a.m.-
9p.m., and Sunday they open at 7a.m. For questions, contact ghaugh@genesishealthclubs.com.
Planet Fitness is open 24/7. Membership is $10 a month, commitment free. This fee includes a T-shirt, unlimited access to the club and unlimited fitness training. However, if you upgrade to the Black Card membership, the benefits include tanning, unlimited use of massage chairs, reciprocal use of all Planet Fitness Franchise locations and unlimited guest privileges at any location, among many other benefits. The Black Card Membership costs $19.99 per month.
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Bears searching for identity By Eli Wohlenhaus The Standard @eliwohlenhaus
Eight wins, eight losses. Six nonconference wins, six non-conference losses. Two conference wins, two conference losses. Now that you are caught up on Missouri State Bears men’s basketball, let’s get caught up on why this post-season program from a year ago is reveling in mediocrity.
Contention: The MSU Bears have not figured out their identity.
The talent displayed by each individual player on the team is not in question, but their record doesn’t reflect the players’ talents. Before the season started, head coach Paul Lusk said that the Bears were still trying to figure out who they were as a team. Two and a half months later, they seem to be getting further from finding themselves. After a 69-55 blowout loss at home on Sunday, sophomore center Tyler McCullough acknowledged that fact, saying “we need an identity as a team
to be successful.” How right he is. The Bears have not found their identity and a big reason that is has to do with McCullough, alongside forwards Camyn Boone, Loomis Gerring, Christian Kirk, Gavin Thurman and Ron Mvouika. Two weeks ago Lusk charged McCullough with the starting center role, but it has not gone according to plan (see my player evaluations later). Switching defensive schemes has only partially found success, especially recently against Missouri Valley Conference opponents. Coaches Greg Lansing and Dan Muller of Indiana State and Illinois State, respectively, solved the Bears’ defenses like a high schooler solves a fourth-grade math problem. On the other side of the ball, in what is supposed to be called “offense,” MSU is lacking. The Bears do not have any fluidity to their motion and often have little to no movement or too much. Either way, they do not create good, open looks at the basket. MSU’s road does not get any easier. The big game coming up for the
MVC men’s basketball Standings through Jan. 12
MVC W L Wichita St. 4 0 Indiana St. 4 0 N. Iowa 3 1 Evansville 2 2 Loyola 2 2 Illinois St. 2 2 Missouri St. 2 2 Bradley 1 3 S. Illinois 0 4 Drake 0 4
Overall W L 14 2 8 8 14 2 12 4 12 4 10 6 8 8 6 11 7 10 3 13
Bears is Jan. 21 against the Wichita State Shockers. Tip-off is at 7:05 p.m.
Player Evaluations
Christian Kirk: He doesn’t see near the minutes he used to, and maybe that is because he is one of only two seniors on the squad and has not been a strong leader. Despite that, he is always very poised and professional, doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done. Grade: C+ Ron Mvouika: A back injury has Seniors
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kept him out. He could be granted a his ability to score. His consistency medical redshirt, but that decision has must improve. Grade: B Sophomores not been made yet. Grade: N/A Juniors Tyler McCullough: I want more Camyn Boone: His aggressiveness out of him. He’s shown glimpses of and scrappiness allows him to keep up being dominant down-low, but unforwith the big men down low, even at tunately ‘inconsistency’ and ‘soft’ are his 6’6” stature. That aggressiveness words that could describe him. He’s earns him more fouls than anyone else young, smart, and works hard. Grade: on the team, bringing his grade down Cbecause he limits his own minutes. Austin Ruder: Unfortunately, he Grade: Bhas not been as steady as he was a seaLoomis Gerring: Moving from the son ago. Teams know to prepare for power forward position to the wing him and are bottling him up, causing guard position has not helped him. I him to force bad shots. He needs to have rarely been impressed with him. figure out how to shake the pressure Grade: D off and how to improve the other Marcus Marshall: Potential MVC aspects of his game. Grade: CPlayer of the Year candidate is certain- Freshmen Chris Kendrix: Young man is laden ly limited by this offense, but he still finds ways. I still want more leader- with talent and really needs to unleash ship, better defense and less forced his potential. He has good size and great offensive skills that he needs to shots out of him. Grade AGavin Thurman: He started the start using. His main problem right year injured and has hardly returned to now is his timidity. Grade: B+ Shawn Roundtree: The young man a lethal form that I wanted out him. He is 6’7” and a prolific scorer, but it has will be a good leader someday, I only been as hard to find as Peter Pan’s hope his composure and offensive abilities will follow. His defense has shadow. Grade: D Dorrian Williams: He is a great looked as solid as can be expected for point guard in the ways of dribbling, a first-year. Grade: D Robin Thompson: He sustained a defending and creating for others, but he is not a vocal leader and he only has season-ending injury before he had a moments when he can really turn on chance to prove himself. Grade: N/A
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The Standard
Lady Bears struggling, but individuals stand out By John Robinson The Standard @SaxmanJohn
Winning on the road is never easy in college basketball, and perhaps no team knows that fact better than the Lady Bears. Their schedule called for six straight road games to begin the season. They lost all six of them. Probably not the start second-year head coach Kellie Harper wanted for her squad, who now sits at 4-10 on the season. But when nine of the 13 players are underclassmen, growing pains are to be expected. There have been some bright spots in the young team. Freshman guard Liza Fruendt is averaging 14 points per game and freshman forward Aubrey Buckley has 11 steals on the season. As for the returning upperclassmen, none have had more impact than redshirt junior guard Kenzie Williams, who is averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game with 29 steals on the season. Junior forward and cen-
ter Hillary Chvatal has also stepped up, averaging nine rebounds per game. Despite these individual performances the Lady Bears haven’t been able to get any consistency going, at least in the positives. They have been outscored 974-832. They have also been outshot — opponents made .437 percent of baskets while the Lady Bears have made just .362 percent of their shots. The Lady Bears are also losing the turnover battle, committing 18.7 of them on average per game with a .5 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Lady Bears have picked up a pair of nice wins on the season, including a 57-52 neutral site win over Mizzou in December and a 74-66 win over 11-3 Indiana State, but those performances have been few and far between this year. If the Lady Bears hope to have success in the second half of the year, they must find that consistency they’ve lacked in the first half. There is a lot of young talent on this team; they just need the experience and maturity to put it all together.
File photo/THE STANDARD
File photo/THE STANDARD
Junior guard Kenzie Williams looks to make a play against two defenders in a game against Drake at JQH Arena last season.
An MSU player battles for a loose ball while two others look on in a game last season against Illinois State.
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Golf swings its way into a new year after ending 2014 with strong finish Men’s and women’s teams make strong showing in respective first half of 2014-2015 seasons By Bart Anders The Standard @bartanders42
Every sport has its own unique grind. When injuries, practices and competition begin to pile up, champions are unearthed from the determination of athletes to keep their dexterity and push through until the offseason arrives. If only college golf had the luxury of an offseason. Beginning in the fall and wrapping up in the end of spring, both the men’s and women’s golf teams are full swing full-time. Even when the summer arrives, ideal golf temperatures make it hard to stay off the green. Women’s head coach Kevin Kane is well aware of golf’s year-round nature. “Last year was tough,” said Kane. “I might have over-scheduled and ruffled some feathers. This year we have been much more competitive.” The women’s golf team finished strong, placing fifth out of 16 schools at the Blue Raider Invitational in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Freshman Stine Pettersen led the way for the Bears, tying for 12th overall individually at the tournament with an 8-over-par 224. Pettersen, Men’s
who was named the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week on Oct. 22, has finished in the top 10 twice in four events last fall. “Freshmen Stine Pettersen and Verena Gimmy have established themselves almost from the start,” Kane said. “Both are currently top 10 in the league in scoring, which has given this team more quality depth.” The women’s golf team resumes play on Feb. 15 in New Braunfels, Texas, for the Jim West Challenge. The team has three more tournaments scheduled after that before wrapping up the year in Burlington, Iowa, for the MVC Championship on April 19-21. Though the women’s golf team had many high-points last fall, the men’s team spent more time than they would’ve liked looking at weather forecasts. “Three of our five tournaments this fall were rain shortened,” said men’s head coach Neal Stafford. “We were extremely focused at the end of summer and were off to a good start this fall. The weather just put us behind where we wanted to be.” The good start began with a second place finish at the Derek Dolenc Invitational in Edwardsville, Illinois. It was
the team’s first tournament of the year and senior Mark Karlsen shot his way to a second place finish individually. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the men’s rain-shortened fall schedule was a 3.38 team GPA: Karlsen and redshirt senior Adam Welch both earned a 4.0. This team GPA is slightly down from last year, when the Bears ranked in the top-11 in the NCAA with an overall team GPA of 3.5. Barring any unforeseen rain clouds, the team resumes play in Goodyear, Arizona, for the Snowman Getaway on Feb. 20. Though the best chance to see the men’s team play will be at MVC Championship in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, on April 27-28. “We feel good about the championship this year,” said Stafford. “We host the tournament, and having played there before, most of our guys have a good knowledge of the course.” With the fall producing four starters averaging under 75 a round, the men’s team is poised to finish higher than last year’s fifth place finish. The women’s team is hoping to get back to championship form after falling seven strokes short of defending their title last year.
Women’s
Notable events
March 9-10 Grover Page Classic Jackson, Tennessee April 4-5 Redwolves Intercollegiate Jonesboro, Arkansas
April 27-28 MVC Championship Sunrise Beach, Missouri
April 6-7 UMKC Invitational Kansas City, Missouri
April 19-21 MVC Championship Burlington, Iowa
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The Standard
Bears back in the pool, hope Baseball Bears hope for improved offensive output, pitching in 2015 to continue domination
By Mike Ursery The Standard @MikeUrsery
The Missouri State men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams continue to raise the bar during the 2014-2015 campaign season after setting milestones last season. The men’s team won its first Mid-American Conference championship last season, posting a dominating performance with a triple-digit cushion ahead of second-place Eastern Michigan. Junior Uvis Kalnins was named the MAC Swimmer of the Year. Kalnins continues to collect accolades, having been named MAC Swimmer of the Week in back-to-back weeks during the current campaign. He broke two pool records in a meet against Denver in Lawrence, Kansas, on Oct. 27 to earn his first award. His second came on Nov. 3 after setting personal bests against Missouri in Columbia. The women’s swimming and diving team is in pursuit of its eighth consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championship during the 20142015 season. Pursuing an eighth-straight conference title could prove to be challenging after former MSU
swimmers Renata Sander and Anna Ahlin both graduated. However, swimmers junior Dora Kiss and sophomore Lauren Pavel could key MSU to another crown. Senior Garrett Nevels, who was awarded 2013-2014 MAC Outstanding Diver of the Year last season, has continued to excel at his craft. Nevels broke multiple school and pool records against Drury on Oct. 16 and finished as runnerup against Missouri. Both teams return for a home meet on Jan. 17 against Truman State before traveling across town to face Drury on Jan. 22 for the second half of the annual “Duel in the Pool.” The meet against Truman State is at 3 p.m. at Hammons Student Center.
File photo/THE STANDARD
MSU swimming and diving teams will go for more records in 2015.
By John Robinson The Standard @SaxmanJohn
Contrary to what the weather would have you believe, Missouri State baseball is close. The Bears will begin their 2015 season one month from today in Nacogdoches, Texas, at the Steven F. Austin Tournament on Feb. 13. The Bears will see 19 returning letter winners and seven regular starters for this year. One of the biggest returning players to watch on this year’s squad is junior outfielder Tate Matheny. Matheny leads the team with his .330 career batting average and was one of the best offensive players in the conference last year. Selected by the scouting website Perfect Game as one of their 54 Division-I preseason All-American candidates, Matheny also spent the summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team — the first Bear to play for the club since Ryan Howard in 2000. Matheny hit .288, third best on the squad, with one home run and 11 RBIs for team USA. Matheny will need to bring some of that offense back to MSU if the Bears want to
clean up the inconsistent offense which plagued them last season. When the offense clicked, it really clicked. They won 13 of 21 games, which had five plus runs scored, and 19 of 28 games when the Bears were able to score first. The flip side of this state is just as ugly. When opponents scored first in a game, the Bears’ record was 7-22. And while the Bears performed well in high-scoring games, they did not win a single game in which they scored less than three runs. On the mound, the Bears return two starters in junior right-handed pitcher Jon Harris and junior left-handed pitcher Matt Hall. Harris pitched a team high 79.2 innings, struck out 66 batters and notched a complete game shutout. Hall pitched the least of the four main starters with 65 innings but appeared in the most games at 16. He pitched two one-run games against conference champion Dallas Baptist and will look to continue on the starting rotation this year. The Bears often couldn’t finish the job last season, leaving a total of 459 men on the base paths. If they can find a way to shore up their offense and keep their steady pitching, the Bears should return to the top half of the Missouri Valley Conference.
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