The Index, Vol. 113 Issue 6

Head coach reflects on triumphant season

Home for the holidays, page 7 Yik Yak gains popularity,

page 8

Women’s basketball begins GLVC campaign, page 14

page 16

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

@TrumanIndex

CENTENNIAL HALL TO CLOSE

Students wait in line for food at the Centennial dining hall. Missouri dining hall will reopen next year in response to Centennial Hall’s closure. Photo by Emily Collins

Other residence halls will be impacted by the closings, including some floors opening and other floors closing MAT T FRANK Staff Writer Centennial Hall will be closing next fall because of renovations and low student demand to live in the hall.

Dec. 3, Truman State University announced the residence hall would be closing. The decision to close down the residence hall comes from both the closure of the dining hall within Centennial Hall and the lowered student demand to live in that residence hall.

The Centennial dining hall was closed so the Missouri dining hall could be reopened. The Missouri dining hall is the most recently renovated dining hall on campus. The dining hall was renovated during the summer of 2018.

Since the Missouri dining hall was renovated with bonds specifically intended for the renovation of the dining hall, the University has been recommended by the University comptroller to reopen the dining hall to demonstrate that revenue is coming from the dining hall, Jamie Van

Campus mask policy extended SETH JARVIS Staff Writer Truman State University has extended its mask policy into the spring 2022 semester and is set to be reviewed again on Jan. 28. Dec. 7, the President’s Office sent out an email to the Truman Community confirming the extension of the mask mandate.

Travis Miles, director of Public Relations at Truman State University, explained that the University president decided after communicating with the vice president and the chief information officer.

Facts such as the campus vaccination rate, campus infection rate and the transmission levels in the community influenced the decision to leave the policy in place.

“We’ve been at a high or substantial rate in Adair County for a while now,” Miles said. “I know since summer with Delta and all that, we’ve been at a high or substantial rate. Under those categories, [the CDC] recommends masking indoors.”

Miles also explained criticism of the mandate had been limited for the most part. Those who have their issues with the mandate have expressed their disapproval respectfully. However, support for

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 6 © 2021

the mask requirements is strong as many individuals feel that masks are needed to keep the University’s population healthy.

The end of the mask mandate is unknown at this point as the unpredictable circumstances of the pandemic have made it difficult to know when transmission might be reduced to a safe enough level to remove the mandate. Miles said the goal for the campus right now is to limit the spread of the virus among students and employees.

See MASKS page 3

Students wear masks in class while listening to a lecture. The mask policy will be reviewed on Jan. 28. Photo by Emily Collins

Boxel, director of Residence Life, said.

The plans for installing new windows for the hall also added to the decision to close Centennial Hall, Tyana Lange, vice president for Enrollment Management and Marketing said. The new windows in Centennial Hall are the next objective for the University’s capital improvement plan. Centennial Hall will likely be closed for two years, Lange said.

Student demand for living in the residence hall was also a factor in the decision, Van Boxel said.

“Of all of the places that we have open as residence halls to live in, in my three years [at Truman], Centennial Hall has been the least popular,” Van Boxel said. “It is the last building to fill. The folks who gravitate towards Centennial, who are returning, go over there because of the singles and the buyouts.”

Missouri Hall is a more popular residence hall compared to Centennial Hall according to the room self selection, Van Boxel said.

See RESIDENCE HALLS page 3

Redistricting meeting held on campus KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer

Nov. 10, a Missouri State House of Representatives Redistricting Commission Public Hearing occurred in the Georgian Rooms at Truman State University.

Redistricting occurs every 10 years in Missouri, and it happens after the national census is taken. When redistricting, the goal is for each district to have 37,760 residents, or as close as they can to that number. Currently, Truman State University is within House District 3.

The purpose of redistricting is to get accurate representation of Missouri residents in the House of Representatives.

This meeting aimed to get citizen feedback on the upcoming redistricting process. The meeting was open to all but focused on getting the opinions of those from Missouri, with a particular focus on residents of Northeast Missouri.

Similar meetings were held throughout the state of Missouri, with additional meetings held in St. Louis, Springfield, Kansas City, Jefferson City and Cape Girardeau.

“The Commission is here to hear the public’s comments on how they think we should move forward on drawing fair and equitable maps,” Keana Smith, House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission Chair, said.

A sign sits outside a polling place in Kirksville for the 2020 Presidential election. The redistricting meeting was held to get citizen feedback. Photo from TMN Archives Citizens of Kirksville, Marceline, Moberly and other Northeast Missouri cities attended the meeting. Members of the Redistricting Commission and other staff were also in attendance. Some members of the Commission participated through video conferencing.

See REDISTRCTING page 5

The Index

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Students host Symposium Festival

Left: Freshmen Tatumn Damron and Emily Oedewaldt hold rabbits as part of freshman Abby Hart’s presentation. Students of TRU100 and TRU110 presented projects about their class at the Festival Photos by Emily Collins Above: Freshmen Ali Christensen and Margret Liu present their project over quilting. Students and other members of the campus community were encouraged to attend.

Below: Students wait in line in the SUB to enter the Festival. Arrival times were staggered for students attending the Festival.

Crime Reports staff

DPS & KPD

Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Rachel Becker Managing Editor: Anakin Bush Features, Opinions Editor: Genevieve Tlustos Assistant Features Editor: Alyssa Rzany Sports Editor: Steven Findley Jr. Copy Chief: Sami Harris Assistant Copy Chief: Brooke Barnes Designers: Heather Beard, Cee Spiller, Izzy Juan, Jinyu Li Podcast Editor: Trevor Grandin Photo Editor: Emily Collins Photographer: Oliver Malone Copy Editors: Quinn Sloan, Gillian Burks, Jessica Robinson, Leighya McNeely, Aidan Grantham, Joshua Guiot, Emily Giannotti Staff Writers: Seth Jarvis Savannah Kluesner, Jack Ratliff, Andrew Holder, Cory Price, Matt Frank, Gabe Smith, Kennedy Cooper, Joey Dougherty, Sydney Ellison

Adviser: David Price

12/1 Theft reported at the 400 block of Suburban Dr.

12/4 Vandalism reported at the 1000 block of East Pierce St.

12/1 Fraud reported at the 200 block of South Baltimore St.

12/4 Loud noise party reported at the 400 block of East Jefferson St.

12/1 Burglary reported at the 1400 block of South Baltimore St.

12/5 Shoplifting reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

12/2 Disturbance of the peace reported at the 1500 block of South Jamison St.

12/5 Trespassing reported at the 400 block of East Northtown Rd.

12/2 Shoplifting reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St. 12/2 Theft reported at the 2300 block of North New St. 12/3 Theft reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St. 12/3 Dead body reported at the 2200 block of East Normal Ave. 12/3 Theft reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Dr. 12/4 Theft reported at the 500 block of North Baltimore St.

12/5 Theft reported at the 1200 block of North Franklin St. 12/5 Theft reported at the 900 block of South Sheridan St. 12/5 Theft reported at the 100 block of West Northtown Rd. 12/5 Theft reported at the 900 block of South Fifth St. 12/6 Domestic disturbance reported at the 900 block of West Gardner St.

12/6 Theft reported at the 300 block of South Baltimore St.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

The Index

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RESIDENCE HALLS| Centennial Hall’s electrical infrastructure will be examined during the closure, no jobs will be lost by the closure of the residence hall Continued from page 1 One of the main concerns of students living in Centennial Hall is the lack of air conditioning in the rooms. Currently, only the hallways have air conditioning. Last year, the University’s physical plant examined the electrical capacity of Centennial Hall to determine if it was possible to put window air conditioning units in each room. The plant determined the building can not support window air conditioning units in all of the rooms during the academic year while students have microfridges and other larger electronics in the rooms.

The electrical infrastructure will be

examined by the University during the closure of Centennial Hall to determine what options there are for air conditioning, Lange said.

Those employed by the University working at Centennial Hall will continue to work at the University. “[Housekeepers] will just be reallocated to the other buildings,”’ Lange said. “No one is losing their jobs in any shape or form ... and the same with the dining staff, there will be no one losing their job there. There will be some reorganization as Missouri [dining hall] gets open and Ryle [dining hall] stays open.”

To help make room for students cur-

rently living in Centennial Hall, additional floors will reopen in various other residence halls, beginning in the fall.

Dobson Hall will reopen its second floor, which will also be a pet friendly floor. Dobson will also be operating as all single rooms. Missouri Hall will reopen its third floor, and possibly the fourth floor, depending on first year student enrollment, Van Boxel said.

This year at Campbell Apartments, there are about 15 rooms for quarantine and isolation for students having or been in contact with COVID-19. Next year, Campbell Apartments will be completely open for returning students to choose to live there.

West Campus Suites will reopen its fourth floor next year. However, the quarantine and isolation spaces will be moved from Campbell Apartments to West Campus Suites. The exact number of rooms that will be held for quarantine and isolation will be determined as more is learned and discussed about the Omicron variant, Van Boxel said.

Additionally, Residence Life is increasing the number of buyouts available in both West Campus Suites and Missouri Hall, Van Boxel said.

Graphic by Cee Spiller

MASKS| The decision to extend the indoor campus mask mandate is based on CDC guidelines of community transmission, with Truman cases slightly rising over recent weeks Continued from page 1 “I think the impact on the health of the community has been pretty good. Truman has avoided any Covid related stoppages since we came back to campus in the fall of 2020,” Miles said. “I think masks certainly played a role in that because so many students and employees have made responsible choices both on and off campus. This year with the mask policy combined with more people vaccinated have resulted in our case number being even lower.”

In addition, Miles explained that cases have been slightly rising in recent weeks, and the University is keeping a watchful eye on the spread of COVID-19 within the community. As students come back from break at the start of the spring semester, they will continue to monitor the situation closely to help keep the campus safe.

Student Government is supportive of the measures in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. They have worked with groups

on campus such as the College Democrats and the Student Public Health Association to promote the usage of masks.

Joshua Grandstaff and Tori Woods, cochairs of the Health, Wellness, and Safety Committee, put forward their support for continuing the mask policy.

“Based on the numbers for COVID, it is clear that the mask mandate has been effective. This, combined with the timing of breaks and holidays, has led the Student Government to generally support the idea of a mask mandate under our current conditions — not to mention the variants that continually pop up,” Grandstaff and Woods explained.

Grandstaff and Woods also said Student Government has had discussions at general body meetings as well as among the executive committee to determine how to move forward. The general consensus is that any loosening of restrictions needs to be done in a thoughtful and safe way.

Junior Kaylee Powell hangs artwork in Ophelia Parrish. Masks are currently required in all indoor settings, which will carry over into next semester. Photo by Emily Collins Graphic by Rachel Becker

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THURSDAY, December 9, 2021

Use Yik Yak wisely In this issue of The Index, staff writer Sydney Ellison wrote about the resurrection of Yik Yak, a social media platform where users post anonymously. Sara Seifert, director of Truman State University’s Department of Public Safety, said she had concerns about the platform, as it has already been an issue of safety on campus. Sept. 11, a student posted a bomb threat to campus on the app, resulting in a third degree terrorist threat charge, showing that the posts aren’t truly anonymous.

However, the popularity of this app has grown exponentially in the Truman community. In the article, Ellison talks to students about their use of the app for entertainment purposes. Within the Editorial Board, half of the members have Yik Yak and use it for a similar purpose. It houses funny comments and complaints from all across campus. The app even creates a shared experience between students of different groups since there are no names attached to posts.

Yik Yak’s website states, “We spend our lives online under the weight of labels — both self-imposed and those assigned to us by our peers … we need risk-free, lens-free spaces to be vulnerable, to be curious, and to learn more about the people around us. Yik Yak is a radically private network connecting you with the people around you. No strings (or labels) attached.” Based on the conversations we have had within the Editorial Board, people seem to be enticed by the lack of labels on the app.

It opens up conversations people normally would not have, and broadcasts it to a group of people larger than their own friend groups.

Unfortunately, there is a dark side to such an app where all posts are anonymous: cyberbullying, the reason it was

shut down originally in 2017. Since then, the app has made a resurgence. In Feb. 2021, the refounding team purchased the brand rights to Yik Yak and re-released the app on August 16, 2021.

Like most social media, the terms and service of the app prohibit hate speech, bullying, violence and bigotry. But how are people held accountable for what they post if there is no name attached to it? Their website states posts that reach negative five total vote points are removed from Yik Yak. Yaks that are reported need to be reviewed by the Yik Yak team before they are removed unless they reach negative five vote points.

So in a way it is up to the moderators of the app and the community to vet posts with their voting capabilities.

The app may be a fun way to talk with people outside your normal niche, or share relatable experiences on campus, but it is definitely not a place to get news. While the app’s guidelines prohibit gossip and harmful rumors, the content is still there. We, The Index Editorial Board, believe people need to remain vigilant about what information they believe to be true. It is a cliche, but one that deserves to be repeated, “don’t believe everything you see on the internet to be true,” including the “anonymous” nature of the app. In the case of the bomb threat post, the student was able to be tracked down by police through his account, so there isn’t true anonymity.

Like many other social media apps, YikYak can be used for good and bad.

It can be a fun place to vent about the hardships of college in Northeast Missouri, and it can also be a place of hostility and lack of accountability. So be careful what you post and don’t believe everything you read online.

Stu Gov

Buzz

Student Government’s committees have been working on quite a few different projects as the semester comes to an end.

The Student Affairs Committee recently held the President’s Roundtable event, where the presidents of different student organizations could meet with Student Government members and other presidents to discuss issues facing their clubs.

The Environmental Affairs Committee is currently doing the Campus Cups event, which provides a free menstrual cup to any student who signs up to receive one. The last day to sign up is Dec. 10. Students who are interested in receiving a menstrual cup can email Environmental Affairs Chair, Morgan Sprehe at mas4788@truman.edu.

Our External Affairs and Purple Friday Committees are co-hosting Registration Friday, Dec.10. This event will give students the opportunity to register to vote on campus.

Assistant copy chief says goodbye to The Index BROOKE BARNES Assistant Copy Chief I like to think that if my 10-year-old self were to see me now and ask me what I majored in and what path it looks like my life is taking, she would be happy for me. For the kid who loved to read and write, who was headstrong in a way that some might call stubbornness, I have finally reached a spot where I am following my own dreams and aspirations.

My time here at Truman State University has been nothing short of eventful. From coming in as a scared little freshman, to a literal pandemic happening, to graduating a semester early. Long story short, it has not all gone to plan.

I originally came to Truman as a biology major, fully intent on going to vet school for no other reason than to appease the people in my life who thought that I should have some big title to my name. But it was after I failed my third chemistry exam in a row that I decided I was going to go to school for myself.

So I switched to an English major, and I couldn’t be happier. I had the opportunity to study something I was passionate about, and it led me here, to The Index, to meeting Julie Thomassen, who acted as a guide and a guru, and encouraged me to join and become

Thank you for your time at The Index, Brooke! We will miss you.

-The Editorial Board The table will be in the Student Union.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee is moving forward with getting the LGBTQ+ Resource Center established. They have been working with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Administration and other departments across campus.

Academic Affairs is currently working on planning Academic Accolades, which are awards given to faculty members.

Members of our Health, Wellness, and Safety Committee wrote a resolution supporting survivors, protests, and action list of the University of Missouri. This resolution supports the demands of students at the University of Missouri, and it provides some suggestions for Truman on how to deal with sexual assault as well. Some of the demands included in the resolution are including academic support for survivors without requiring a Title IX report, providing more training on how to deal with sexual assault for students and faculty, and eliminating female and heterosexual centered language when discussing sexual assault.

These are just a few of the projects that our committees are working on right now.

For more information you can find our agendas and passed resolutions on senate.truman.edu, and you are always welcome to voice your opinion at our meetings. Student Government meets at 5 p.m. every Sunday in the conference room on the third floor of the Student Union Building.

Submitted by KENNEDY COOPER diversity and inclusion committee chair

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VOLUME 113

ISSUE 6

tmn.truman.edu

a part of the wonderful editorial board.

Becoming an editor for this newspaper has really solidified my decision to go into the publishing world and literally edit for a living. I have loved reading people’s works and forming a relationship with the writers here at The Index, and I am thankful for the opportunity to discover such a love for editing.

Being a part of this editorial board has been such a gift. The memories we have made are some that I will never forget, like getting to work alongside our Copy Chief, Sami Harris, each production night, and making weird jokes and racing on chairs with our Features and Opinions Editor Genna Tlustos. Also, getting up in the early morning to deliver papers during Truman Week with our Editor-inChief Rachel Becker and our Managing Editor Anakin Bush, both of whom also encouraged me to learn more about the world of journalism and the crazy rules journalists have to follow.

Truman has been a crazy place to spend the last four years. I have lost and gained so many people and friendships during my time, I found my passion, I shed the shackles of wanting to please others, and I step forward into this next part of my life with my head held high and the support of many pushing me forward. So thank you, all of you, for all that you have done.

@TrumanIndex

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Submit corrections or contact the editor.

index.editor@truman.edu index.editor@gmail.com

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The Index

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THURSDAY, DEEMBER 9, 2021

OATS transports local community

Kirksville citizens board the OATS bus near Truman’s campus. Riders can purchase rides individually or purchase a pass for continued use. Photo by Emily Collins GABE SMITH Staff Writer In Kirksville, OATS provides transportation for college students and senior citizens.

The normal route runs MondayThursday 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Friday 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

To board a bus, in-town riders must have $2 cash for a one-way ride to their destination. If you do not have cash on hand, you can purchase a $20 punch pass from Kirksville City Hall using a card, or you can sign up for an account on the OATS webpage and put money on your rider pass.

Jill Stedem, administrative and development director for OATS, said winter brings unique challenges to providing bus services in Kirksville. Snow, ice and extremely low temperatures often result in cancellations. Stedem said OATS typically follows the guidance of the local school system, but there are situations in which the transit service would stop operations despite inaction by local school districts.

In order to find out about cancellations, you look at their Facebook page “OATS Transit” for regular updates.

Stedem said OATS is unique because

it provides services for several college campuses and towns across the state.

Though students don’t get special rates, Kirksville subsidies make riding a bus affordable compared to taking a taxi, rideshare or scooters.

Stedem also said OATS is working hard to make their services more accessible and appealing to college students.

OATS Transit is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that provides transportation for 87 counties in Missouri.

“We’re currently working on developing a ‘Where’s my Ride?’ app … if you are a rider that is using the OATS

service you can use the app to see how far away your bus is,” Stedem said.

OATS also accommodates individuals who cannot make it to the bus due to a result of a disability. The deviated route must be within three quarters of a mile of a provided OATS bus stop. Anyone with a disability may call 800-6546287 24 hours in advance to reserve a deviated route.

OATS has several openings for drivers on their website. If you are interested in applying for a position, visit https://www.oatstransit.org/.

REDISTRICTING | Members of local communities testified for redistricting efforts to bring together communities instead of dividing them Continued from page 1 The first person to testify was Mitch Wrenn. Wrenn is a resident of Marceline, Missouri, which is in Linn County. He lives in Missouri State House District 6 and ran to represent District 6 in 2018.

“This small town is awfully cut up, it has three state representatives,” Wrenn said.

Marceline, Missouri, has a population of approximately 2,544 people. Wrenn mentioned how his neighbor across the street is part of a different state house district. He believes Marceline would be better served with one representative.

The next witness was Andrea Jackson, a resident of Adair County.

“All we want is fair and equal representation,” said Jackson. “We want to keep our communities strong.”

The final witness to testify was Nancy Copenhaver, a member of the League of Women Voters, although she was not testifying on that organization’s behalf.

Copenhaver has lived in Northeast Missouri for most of her life. She grew up in Edina and currently resides in Moberly.

“We are very county oriented here… redistricting efforts should account for

“All we want is fair and equal representation. We want to keep our communities strong.”

- Andrea Jackon, Adair County resident counties, cities and school districts,” Copenhaver said.

The commission members will continue meeting and determine a proposed map for the Missouri State House Districts.

Graphic by Cee Spiller

OUR 2021-2022 WAITLIST IS NOW OPEN!

The Index

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Truman workers protest for higher wages

A large inflatable rat was posted in front of the SUB as part of the protest. Scabby the rat has been a symbol of labor protests all over the country.

Photos by Anakin Bush ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor A wage strike to protest the delayed response of wage proposals occurred on Truman State University’s campus Dec. 4.

The Physical Plant union has been negotiating wages with the University for months.

Physical Plant consists of grounds maintenance, custodial services, building maintenance and other operations.

Protestors stood outside of the Student Union Building. They had a large inflatable rat, among signs and other banners. The inflatable rat has been used as a symbol for workers attempting to get higher wages and more benefits, according to rattracker.org.

Andrew Hutchinson, P. E. representative for Laborers’ Local 955, was one of the organizers for this event.

Hutchinson said Physical Plant workers have tried for five months to negotiate with the University but have been unsuccessful.

“Truman refused to bargain in good faith with us and compared bargaining over wages to haggling over the price of a used car,” Hutchinson said. “And now these workers are protesting to make their voices known to the Board of Governors because the Board of Governors is the last chance to return us to the bargaining table and give us a real living wage.”

Protestors stood in during the Board of Governors meeting and held signs while two Truman students spoke about wage increases and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Above: Protestors hold signs as people enter the SUB to attend the Board of Governors meeting. They were demanding a living wage and negotiations in good faith.

Left: Protestors stand in on the Board meeting and hold signs. Negotiations have been ongoing for several months.

Below: Protestors hold signs with their demands, including a living wage and respect for their occupations. Protestors included those who work at the University and those who do not.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Home for the holidays

7

ALYSSA RZANY Assistant Features and Opinions Editor

A family oliebollen recipe

Sociology professor Brian Ott also said he enjoys Christmas, and his family has many traditions tied to it. He said when he was a child, he looked forward to spend-

Ott and his two brothers dressed up for Christmas. Dressing up was He was known to dress up primarily for the divinity. Submitted photo

ing time with his family on Christmas Eve in Iowa.

“Each year, everyone would dress up to spend a few hours catching up, eating, opening gifts and always taking family pictures,” Ott said.

One keen memory Ott has is eating divinity which he said is “a gooey-ish, nougat-like type of candy.” His grandmother would make it each year come Christmas time, even though only a few family members ate it. Both making and eating this candy was said to be quite the experience.

“My grandma probably doesn’t make the best divinity in the world, but it is definitely the best divinity I’ll ever have,” said Ott. After spending time at his grandparent’s house in Iowa, Ott said he and his family would attend midnight Catholic mass on Christmas Eve. Ott said he looked forward to being the tallest in the line of children who received their holiday treat bag.

Typically, Ott said, these bags consisted of candy, an apple and a pencil for the children to enjoy. They would walk down the aisle in front of the whole congregation and receive their bags.

Ott said he doesn’t remember getting his

Christmas in November While Spanish professor James Hammerstrand said they didn’t have yearly traditions that he practiced, he and his family still enjoyed spending time together and exchanging gifts.

“We always opened presents on Christmas Eve, but foods varied and in whose house we spent Christmas Eve and Day also varied,” said Hammerstrand.

After moving to Kirksville, Hammerstrand said more of his family

Hammerstrand with some of his family members in 2019. They were celebrating Christmas in Illinois that year. Submitted photo

started spreading out across the country, and because of this, he will usually travel to his sister’s house in Illinois when the holidays come around.

He said his ways of celebrating the holidays have changed over the years, and he mentioned that he and his family enjoy reminiscing on family members who are no longer with them.

“As family dynamics have changed, so have our ways of celebrating,” said Hammerstrand. “We have begun taking time to remember members of the family who may have passed in the last year or two.”

Hammerstrand and his family also have a different way of celebrating Christmas as far as opening presents goes. They try to get together at least once, but with everyone being spread out as well as with the size of the family, it’s often difficult for everyone to get together.

Hammerstrand sometimes they will open presents on Thanksgiving because that’s when they all end up being together.

Ecstatic for Christmas Senior Zach Williard said he has always loved Christmas. As a kid, he and his siblings would wake up early in the morning and wait until they were allowed to open presents — in the meantime, they checked to make sure Santa ate all of his cookies and drank all of his milk.

“We would wake up at like four in the morning and then talk and watch TV until we could wake up our parents later in the morning,” Williard said.

He also mentioned that going to church the night before and singing “O Holy Night” was a highlight as a kid because he got to hold a candle and thought that was “super cool.”

He said his favorite part of Christmas, however, was traveling from his hometown in Illinois to Pennsylvania to visit family. They would ex-

change secret Santa gifts and enjoy each other’s company.

“This was probably my favorite part about Christmas,’’ Williard said. “I enjoyed getting gifts as a kid, but my favorite part was seeing my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.”

Nowadays, Willard said he still enjoys going back to his hometown in Carbondale, Illinois, during the holiday season, but, while he is in Kirksville, he and his friend group does secret Santa which he said is a fun time.

In the future, Willard hopes to continue visiting family and friends during Christmas. It’s something he greatly values and enjoys.

“To me, family is an important part of Christmas so I definitely want to keep visiting and spending quality time with family as a tradition during Christmas,” said Williard.

Zach (far left) and his family pose in front of the Christmas tree. He is excited to celebrate for the rest of the night. Submitted photo

first holiday treat bag, but he does remember his last and his family members laugh about it to this day.

“I do remember the time that my parents wished had been my last. Even after getting the treat bag as a 6-foot-tall teenager, among a sea of pre-school and kindergarten-aged, actual, kids I know I went at least one or two more times,” said Ott. Now that Ott has a family of his own, one of his favorite traditions is decorating the Christmas tree with his wife and daughter, Ina. He said they play many types of Christmas music and unboxed all of the ornaments.

Ott and his wife have been making oliebollen, which are Dutch donuts, during the holidays for nearly a decade. Ott said this is a tradition that his wife’s family valued during New Years, and this tradition is what let Ott sweet talk his way into the family.

“I entered mostly as a stranger to her extended family, only known as “Brian, Stephanie’s boyfriend,” but I left with their blessing, a kind of driver’s permit of family membership, a handwritten, original family oliebollen recipe in my pocket,” Ott said.

Ott and his daugher Ina decorating the Christmas tree. One of her favorite traditions is putting the star on top of the tree. Submitted photo

Bringing traditions across water Not all Christmas traditions are the same, and sophomore Joelle Kantayya can attest to this. With parents from Bangalore, Karnataka and Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu in India, they have brought some new traditions into their family of four.

Kantayya mentioned that she and her family get together with their extended family and eat Biryani, a traditional celebratory dish, on Christmas Day. They also all participate in a gift exchange each year.

Another yearly tradition Kantayya said they value is going to a Christmas Eve church service. She said that she enjoys this tradition the most because it is always hopeful and exciting. Her family also always reads Luke 2 in the Bible before opening gifts on Christmas morning.

In the future, Kantayya said she hopes to host a festive Christmas party at her house in Kirksville. She also hopes that, as she gets older, her traditions with her family continue.

“I hope to continue the traditions with

my family, they are all special to me and have meaning,” said Kantayya.

Kantayya, her dad, and her brother singing around the piano. Her family finds joy in signing songs, especially during Christmas. Submitted photo

A faith filled Christmas Chemistry professor Kenneth Carter has kept Jesus at the center of his Christmas traditions since he was a kid. After working on their family Christmas tree, and putting on the “icicles,” that is, tinsel, young Carter would admire his mother’s manger scene on the mantelpiece.

He and his family also used to drive around and look at Christmas lights, sing Christmas carols, and watch “Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol.”

“As a very young child, it was hard for me to wait to open presents, so to smooth out the excitement, my mother would let me open one a day starting a few days before Christmas,” said Carter.

Once Carter had children of his own, he said he enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree with them, as well as continuing singing Christmas carols and looking at Christmas lights He and his family have started including their cats in gift exchanges as well.

One tradition he grew up with and will continue to spread is sharing the

Carter and his family at his father’s house in Kirksvile. They just finished singing Christmas carols. Submitted photo

Carter and his mom are decorating the tree in 1959. He was about two and a half years old. Submitted photo birth of Jesus. He and his family love attending Christmas Eve worship, and he also enjoys playing classical-style guitar for such services.

“So, the deepest meaning of Christmas for me, a faith in and celebration of Immanuel, God actually with us as one of us … but my traditions have changed, and grown, and diminished, like the twinkling of lights on a Christmas tree, like tinsel in the wind, like snow that makes the trees shine with scintillating splendor for a day or a season, and then gives way to spring green and flowers at Easter,” said Carter.

A lot can be taken away from traditions, both old and new. Whether you dance to Chrismtas songs with your family while setting up the tree, or simply curl up near a fire while sipping hot cocoa, be sure to embrace this holiday season and give yourself a much-needed break.

Graphic by Jinyu Li

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 6

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The Index

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Anonymous connections

Yik Yak is becoming more popular among Truman students SYDNEY ELLISON Staff Writer

Graphic by Rachel Becker

There is a new app gaining prominence among Truman State University students. Yik Yak allows users to post anonymously within a five mile radius. The app is especially popular on college campuses. Users can also upvote or downvote a post to show their opinion.

Yik Yak was originally launched during 2013 and had a strong surge of popularity, but after reports of unfettered cyberbullying, the app lost momentum and shut down during 2017. The app relaunched during 2021 solely on iOS with plans to expand to Android in the future.

“Yik Yak has been around for quite a while and they had several problems when it first came out, feeling that people were emboldened or felt brave enough to say things that they wouldn’t normally say to peoples faces or do so if they didn’t feel they were anonymous,” Sara Seifert, director of Public Safety, said.

On the Truman campus, freshman Sam Cornelius uses the app for entertainment.

One thing he enjoys about the app is seeing how users respond when they have no accountability.

“People can be just a little more real [under anonymity],” Cornelius said. “People can be meaner than what they would normally be but people can be nicer or more genuine.”

Cornelius also partially credits Yik Yak for keeping him informed about groups or communities at Truman. He thinks the app is a good way to learn about problems that might be happening.

The app was particularly helpful in spreading information about the petition for an LGBTQ+ center on campus. Many posts urged readers to take action.

“I think reading [Yik Yaks] keeps you in touch with a lot of things about campus because I heard things about communities that I wasn’t really involved in but I got to second-hand experience their disputes,” said Cornelious.

With Yik Yak’s anonymity comes some potential problems. A bomb threat was posted on the app Sept. 11. DPS was alerted through emails from concerned students and reached out to Yik Yak to get the phone information of the poster. Once acquired, DPS was able to track down this student through IT services at Truman.

Seifert said she discovered the app was relaunched through this incident. She had previously worked as a part of the internet crimes against children unit in the Kirksville police department. It was there that she learned and dealt with Yik Yak in its earliest stages.

Seifert said Yik Yak is one of the easiest social media sites she has worked with. The company so far has answered quickly and with as much information as legally possible. This was not the case for the original Yik Yak that launched in 2013. Seifert recalls that it was very difficult to get information quickly back then.

The app’s anonymity makes it stand out among many other prominent social media apps.

There are no usernames or profile pictures. There is only Yakarma which are points awarded for engaging on the app.

Anonymity can encourage people to comment thoughts that might be hard to share in real life. Comments range from explicit content to detailed mental struggles. Anonymity can lessen embarrassment when asking for advice or decrease the fear of ridicule. Yik Yak can create a space for a community to be more forthcoming and honest.

“I think that social media allows people the feeling of anonymity, or being anonymous, and that they are more likely to say and do things that they wouldn’t normally do in person,” Seifert said.

On the other hand, anonymity can reveal thoughts that would be too risky to reveal otherwise. It can allow for cyberbullying, as seen with the original launch of Yik Yak. Seifert said the anonymity of the app is only surface level.

“Nothing is anonymous on the internet, you leave a digital footprint with everything that you do,” Seifert said.

According to Cornelius, he has not seen much of the negative side to anonymity. Cornelius thinks the app does a great job at connecting communities, especially on college campuses. He recalls going back to his hometown and checking the app only to see everyone posting about their colleges.

“I think it’s a way to form a community of college students which is really cool cause it’s easy to get alienated even when there’s a lot of stuff going on,” Cornelius said.

Sophomore Emma Rohrbach thinks the app builds a more connected student body. She is only a reader on the app and uses it occasionally as a form of entertainment. According to her, the pros of the app outweigh the cons.

“It’s like a whole community, everybody shares their thoughts. I feel like I can get a pulse on how everyone’s doing on campus,” Rohrbach said. “Makes me feel less alone.”

A student looks at the Yik Yak app. Yik Yak has been gaining in popularity since it’s Yik Yak is only available for iPhones. Their website states they are working on makrecent relaunch in August. Photo llustration by Rachel Becker ing an app compatible with Android phones. Photo Illustration by Rachel Becker

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

The Index

9

Keep caffeinated with these cafes

People sit outside of Picasso’s on Main Street in St. Charles. The cafe is directly on the banks of the Missouri River. Photos by Savannah Kluesner SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer Home to at least six different Mom-and-Pop coffee shops, St. Charles is the perfect coffee destination. Equal parts city and Main-Street-small-town, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Missouri’s first capital. However, if you’re there to check some items off your coffee bucket list, these two cafes definitely deserve your perusal.

Picasso’s Coffee on Main Street: The Crooked Tree Coffee House: Situated directly on the coast of the Missouri River, this Pablo Picasso inspired coffee shop represents both artistic creativity and quality craft. By using only their special blend in their featured drinks, Picasso’s embodies their slogan “the art of coffee.”

Although their menu remains relatively consistent, meaning there are not many seasonal drinks, many of their year-round specials are titled after a famous piece of art, and each represents quality-roast coffee. The interior is decorated with art for sale by local artists as well as Picasso-themed artworks, as well as featuring tons of natural lighting and a gentle color scheme. The dining area is almost always busy, but if you are lucky enough to snag a seat in the corner, you can see the Missouri River from your chair. No matter where you end up, though, there is a clear view of historic downtown St. Charles.

As a bonus for winter break, Main Street hosts a Christmas event every year, during which famous winter characters, such as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jack Frost and countless representations of Santa, walk down the streets singing songs and greeting visitors.

A lot of the buildings in historic St. Charles are themselves historic, and from the moment you walk into the doors of The Crooked Tree Coffee House, you get a sense of that history. With an authentic metal ceiling and walls cut away to reveal the original brick below, as well as with the menu chalked onto the wall, this coffee shop is emblematic of coffee culture. This shop also features a large variety of coffee-based drinks, as well as smoothies and blended drinks. They change their seasonal offerings and six specialty lattes every two or three months depending on the season, meaning that there is always something new to try. Because the large dining area is often uncrowded, the shop is generally quiet, and many patrons stay to work on homework or to read, although others stay to use the public piano. Another perk of this coffee shop is that they have a full dining menu. If you aren’t the biggest fan of coffee yourself, or if you want to bring along a friend who is more of a tea drinker, there is sure to be something of interest on the menu for you. Finally, it’s worth noting that The Crooked Tree’s coffee is not quite as stout as the offerings ofmany other coffee shops, meaning that it is a great place to try coffee for a first time drinker.

No matter which cafe you decide best fits your coffee needs, be sure to stop by St. Charles, Missouri for your next caffeine fix.

Savannah’s Order:

Although there are constantly new seasonal drinks to try, my current favorite is the Candy Cane Forest. Marshmallow syrup makes anything smoother and creamier, and paired with peppermint and white chocolate, it creates a perfectly sweet, Christmas-inspired drink.

Why you should choose The Crooked Tree:

I love trying new things, and when I go to The Crooked Tree, I know that there will always be a new specialty latte to drink as well as a go-to favorite available. Additionally, this shop is usually less crowded, making it the perfect place to work, catch up with friends and family or to simply enjoy some self-reflection and coffee-sipping.

People talk at Picasso’s on Main Street. The cafe is known for their art-themed drinks.

Savannah’s Order:

The Van Gogh’s Milky Way is my go-to choice, both hot or iced. This is a perfect drink for anyone who finds coffee to be a bit too bitter for their tastes — a mocha with notes of caramel and vanilla, this drink combines the best of three worlds for a deliciously sweet result.

Why you should choose Picasso’s:

I have made so many memories in this wonderful coffee shop. It’s the perfect kind of place for it, as it represents an essential small-town feel and intense creative energy all at once. Plus, once you’ve had a taste of the incredible coffee, it’s hard not to want to come back every day.

Employees work at the counter of The Crooked Tree. The cafe is known for their specialty lattes.

The Index

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Graphic by Jinyu Li

Local not-for-profit organization rolls with the pandemic’s punches JOEY DOUGHERTY Staff Writer

Since its 2016 founding, Take Root has served the Kirksville community in various ways, such as addressing issues of the industrial food system, alleviating hunger in Adair County and promoting healthy living through its signature pay-what-you-can structure.

Founded by Jessica and Tracy Parks, Take Root prides itself on its sourcing of local food and ingredients to create healthy meals. William Robb took over as Take Root’s chief executive from the Parkses during spring 2020.

“I have some kitchen experience, so I get to cook,” Robb said. “I really enjoy cooking and feeding people, but I also take care of the social media and work with the bookkeeper on books and work with the board on finances, so it’s a pretty broad job.”

Prior to joining Take Root, Robb said he worked for a grant-funded horticultural program, specializing in garden construction for prisons. As the grant ended, he began seeking out the next step in his journey. Robb said his position at Take Root is that next step, building upon his experience in various humanitarian organizations.

Robb explained how his understanding of such organizations was certainly useful as COVID-19 propagated across the globe, sending both the largest cities

and smallest towns into lockdown.

“I interviewed in a cafe that was thriving and bustling and had a huge community,” Robb said. “And when I showed up to report for work we were closed.”

Robb unknowingly inherited quite the burden, having to shut down the cafe for the greater part of that spring and summer — its busiest time of the year — as the pandemic raged. He explained that when Take Root reopened, there simply was not the necessary volume of business to keep the cafe going.

Following the restaurant’s unfortunate fate, Take Root created a community dinner program to fulfill its mission.

“We pivoted to our community dinner program,” Robb said, “and built that up as a way to deliver on our mission. We just ran our last one for this season — monthly community dinners out of the First Presbyterian Church. We worked with the Health Department to get that kitchen licensed.”

Robb explained that boxed meals served at the church continue the no-cost tradition of the closed cafe with donations, of course, welcomed.

With events like community dinners, volunteer work is available and, according to Robb, needed.

“When we reopen in the spring,” Robb said, “we’ll definitely have a need for volunteers to staff the kitchen at the community dinners and help serve the dinners.

The type of food that we prepare is made from scratch,

so there’s usually a fair amount of peeling and chopping and so forth.”

While the fall season has since wrapped up, the spring will present new opportunities with the start of the new season in either February or March 2022.

Truman student Jenna Szczeblewski, who has volunteered in the past and currently works as Take Root’s social media and communication coordinator, said the community dinners are a great way to get to know other people in a relaxed environment. Szczeblewski said there are various roles for volunteers to fill, such as taking orders from cars that pull up, bagging orders or even taking pictures and writing brief testimonials for Take Root’s social media. She praised Truman organizations like Cardinal Key, Blue Key and both Greek and non-Greek fraternities and sororities for their recent volunteer efforts.

Robb highlighted two aspects of Take Root’s mission that stand out from other similar organizations.

For one, he said that he wants to continue Take Root’s main focus of putting food on the table for those who need it, emphasizing the prevalence of food insecurity in Adair County.

The second aspect of Take Root’s mission that Robb discussed concerned the economical effort to solve the long-term issue of food insecurity. Ultimately, Robb said he wants to avoid a simple Band-Aid approach.

“That means sourcing as much food as we can locally,” Robb said. “If we buy from a farmer, 100% of the food dollar goes into [their] pocket, but if we buy beef through Walmart, 12 cents of that food dollar will go to the farmer. So, by purchasing locally, you really can cycle the funds and keep them in the community.”

Robb explained that one challenge faced by Take Root is attempting to market local food to those who cannot afford it, food that is commonly more expensive than imported goods.

He proposed that the solution to this dilemma lies in altering the current infrastructure to allow for a local food demand that farmers can satisfy. Robb did not specify on such alterations, but said he was hopeful, rather, for general change.

Looking to the future, Take Root aims to continue its twice-monthly community dinners with the spring season.

“We did two dinners in September,” Robb said. “And I like that rhythm of every two weeks and it’s a good way to get more food out there. When we open in the spring, we’re going to see if we can get secure enough funding to keep our dinners twice monthly.”

Robb said that a new brick-and-mortar location is also on the table with Take Root seeking more permanent asylum.

Thinking long-term, he explained how the organization plans to get involved in food production, perhaps partnering with a local farm or landowner to further that insistence on local food sourcing and educate people on the nutritional benefits thereof.

Despite the ambition behind Take Root’s goals, Robb said he remained hopeful for the organization’s future.

William Robb and Jenna Szczeblewski talk to students by the Take Root stand at the New Student Welcome during Sept. 2021. Though Take Root’s physical storefront has closed, the company is still finding ways to serve the community. Photo by Rachel Becker

The Index

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

11

Tool’s “Ænima” is mesmerizing JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer Few bands inspire levels of cultish devotion quite like Tool. Their albums are masterclasses in musicianship and their spiritual lyrics have profoundly impacted many a fan’s life. During August 2019, the band — finally — made their back catalog available on streaming services, and every one of their albums landed on the top 10 iTunes chart, with four of them coming in at the top four spots.

Coming in at the top spot was their 1996 album “Ænima,” their undisputed masterpiece that celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year.

Tool’s sophomore album proved to be a turning point for the band, shifting their sound from hard rock to a more psychedelic approach. The album is widely regarded to be their best work, as it perfectly mixes the band’s philosophical musings with their dark and offbeat humor.

Tool is widely known for their mastery of lyricism, particularly when it comes to plays on words and double entendres for the use of dual meanings. The title of the album, Ænima, comes from both the words “anima,” which means soul in Latin, and “enema,” which is a medical procedure on the rectum, according to Loudwire.

The first track, “Stinkfist,” is a sludgy, industrial-metal masterpiece, and it works perfectly as the album’s opener.

The lyrics showcase the band’s prowess in writing songs that have multiple interpretations: it can be interpreted as a warning against the desensitization of humans via mass media, or a tale about a sexually explicit act. It is also the first of many instances where singer Maynard James Keenan utilizes distorted vocals to enhance the psychedelic feel. The next song, “Eulogy,” explores themes of religious manipulation, attacking L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology and one of Tool’s favorite targets. Their biting language disparages those who inflate their own self importance and paint themselves as the sole saviors for mankind.

“Forty Six & 2” has an extremely complicated meaning, but briefly summarized, it is about Jungian evolution and chromosomes. The basic idea is that humans will evolve and develop two extra chromosomes that allow them to

become one consciousness with each other as well as the world around them. Do not let the confusing lyrical themes deter you, however. The instrumental work on this track is superb, guaranteed to leave you headbanging. One of the album’s most fun and most straightforward rockers is “Hooker with a Penis.” The song deals with neither sex workers nor phallic members, but instead, a holier than thou hipster that accused the band of “selling out.” The biting and aggressive reply is a fun listen that simultaneously hits back at the fan-turned-critic while also taking a shot at consumer culture and the music industry.

The interlude “Die Eier von Satan” sounds frightening at first listen, with a man angrily shouting in German over crowd noise. However, Tool’s dark humor is illustrated when a translation reveals that it is merely a recitation of a marijuana edible recipe. The band’s humor is again demonstrated during the chorus of “Pushit,” with the cadence of

Keenan’s vocals sounding as if he is imploring the listener to defecate on him.

Tool’s disgust with LA and celebrity culture is reflected in the lyrics of “Ænema,” which suggests pushing most of California into the ocean. The album’s closer, “Third Eye,” is its most ambitious. Clocking in at nearly 14 minutes long, it features excerpts from stand up comedian

Bill Hicks, the band’s favorite comedian and the person who the album is dedicated to. The song is a psychedelic masterpiece about the famous “third eye” found in some spiritualities.

Singer Maynard James Keenan’s phenomenal vocals help bring the album’s lyrics to life, infusing them with passion and energy. “Ænima” debuted Justin Chancellor on bass, taking over from Paul D’Amour. Chancellor’s bass work is nothing short of magnificent, writing riffs that intertwine with guitarist Adam Jones’ guitar playing. Both work together to create a unique and immersive psychedelic sound, while also retaining heavier rock and metal influences as well. Drummer Danny Carey utilizes Eastern drumming techniques that add to the trippy experience, while also laying down some of the greatest drum tracks one will ever hear. Each member of the band excels in their role, each showing off their virtuoso skills while also meshing with the talents of the other band members.

There are several aspects of “Ænima” that have become Tool staples, and while they may seem strange or foreign at first listen, they ultimately enhance the listening experience. The first is Tool’s use of interludes between songs. These range from the sound of a needle skipping to a German marijuana edible recipe to a voicemail left on Keenan’s answering machine. These may not seem crucial to the listening experience, but for the first few listens, it is crucial to include these in your listening to the overall album. Especially with later Tool albums, these interludes can serve as an introduction to the following song. The other aspect that may seem strange is the length of Tool songs. The album clocks in at a hefty one hour and 17 minutes, with six of the 15 songs exceeding six minutes. This may be off-putting to some listeners, however, the immersiveness of the songs on this album make the songs seem shorter than they are.

Overall, the album can only be described as an experience. It is deeply moving, and a mind-blowing journey that is impossible to replicate. Each member of the band plays an integral role in forming the soundscape of the album.

At times, it is easy to forget you are listening to music. To say that “Ænima” is a masterpiece is an understatement.

The fanbase for this band is fanatical in their devotion, and after listening to the album, it is easy to see why. So dive in, open your third eye and headbang away.

Tool’s “Ænima”gets 5/5 stars

Ode to a peppermint mocha SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer In that time of year most dire, With finals squeezing down Upon your skull, the weight of A thousand anvils pressed against Your cranium, as if Atlas Decided to take his holiday Vacation and left you in charge, I look to you, peppermint mocha.

With your sweet puffs of Peppermint perfection, your Rich chocolatey taste and zing Of blessed caffeine, who could Face this season of trials Without your gentle, sweet

Embrace? Who would want to?

In times of trouble, you remain.

What a fortuitous time of season For you to reign supreme Above all other coffee.

As the air bites our lungs And seeps beneath coats and scarves, As we shiver our way through campus, Questioning every life decision we ever made, I commend you, peppermint mocha.

Momentarily at peace, I settle down for a long night Of dreaded final essays and Take another gorgeous sip.

Graphics by Jinyu Li

The Index

12

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The Index

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

13

Bulldogs take down Maryville

Above: Guard Masen Miller looks inside for a pass opportunity. Miller has 26 assists so far this season. Photos by Oliver Malone

Above: Forward Elijah Hazekamp rises up for the jump shot over the Maryville defender. Hazekamp scored 16 points for the Bulldogs against Maryville.

Left: Guard Sam Nissen shoots a free throw. Nissen played 12 minutes for the Bulldogs against Maryville.

Truman athletics looks to bloom in upcoming spring season STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor Happy final issue of the semester, Index readers, thanks for sticking with us through the end. It’s been a wild ride for me personally, but taking on this position has been an enriching experience beyond measure.

Now, I will do what most sport’s writers and outlets do: make potentially too-early predictions about the future.

To begin, a look at the basketball programs here at Truman State University. Both teams enjoyed some success last season, and both were led by excellent coaches.

On the women’s side, you have a team led by third-year head coach Theo Dean which came off of an impressive 14-3 regular season record last season, while having some games removed because of COVID-19 cancellations. The Bulldogs made it to the GLVC Tournament Final where they were defeated at the hands of Drury University and suffered a season-ending loss at the hands of Drury once again in the second Midwest Regional game in the NCAA Div. II Tournament.

Both of these postseason outcomes were not ideal for this team, but the motivational flame was certainly reignited during the off-season. As of the date of this publication, the women’s basketball team will be 4-5. It is a rocky start to the season, but keep in mind the out-of-conference schedule for this team was stacked.

Look forward to improvement from the team as they get deeper into conference play. A player to keep an eye on is junior guard Hannah Belanger, who received the fourth Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America team selection in Truman history. She is a dynamite player who fills the hoop up with buckets like a contractor fills up a swimming pool.

Now, to analyze the men’s side. One name you need to know: Cade McKnight.

GLVC Player of the Year last season, and ninth in Div. II scoring, his game has been on the rise since he came to Truman. Expect a similar type of season from the senior forward, as he looks to lead this team back to an Elite Eight appearance. Masen Miller is another electric player who was named GLVC Freshman of the Year, and his guard play will be crucial alongside McKnight this season. The leadership of coach Jeff Horner has brought a winning culture to this program, and expect the winning ways to carry on. The Bulldogs are sitting at 6-2 currently this season.

Let’s take a deep dive into the swim team as well. Last year under coach Jerod Simek, the program sent four swimmers to the national meet. I’ve spoken with Simek and some of his returning swimmers including national qualifier senior Emma Brabham earlier this year, and the hunger to repeat success is apparent in this program. Expect the men’s and women’s teams to strive for more national representation. The men’s team has two more meets before the GLVC meet, and the women’s team has one tune-up meet before the postseason.

Another sport that takes a fairly large break before spring competition is women’s tennis. This team is full of some freshman talent including Allie Brown, Akansha Negi and Abbi Worster. With a 4-1 overall record in terms of team competition, the future is bright for this team. I spoke with coach Steve Smith earlier this semester, who came across as enjoying the on-court success but was really proud of the off-court performance from his players. Smith is a great leader who wants his players to succeed outside of the tennis court, and I think this will lead to better chemistry for the doubles matches, as well as overall team support within the program.

Last but not least, the baseball and softball programs will begin their season in February. Both teams will look to improve their previous season records. For baseball, the potential return of senior slugger Kory Carter will be huge for their success. On the softball side, senior Emma Walbert will be the returning spark to this team, having batted a team-leading .422 last season.

Truman and sports are becoming more and more synonymous in conversations.

This place has a real sports culture, a real presence in the midwest scene. I encourage everyone to keep up with their success, I surely will have my eyes glued to the spring athletics. I hope you have your eyes glued to more great content from the sports section as well. Happy holidays and enjoy your well-deserved break.

The Index

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

Women’s basketball begins GLVC campaign ANDREW HOLDER Staff Writer

The Truman State University women’s basketball team had a solid start to their Great Lakes Valley Conference campaign, suffering a loss to University of Missouri-St. Louis by three points and beating Maryville University by the same margin this past Saturday, Dec. 4. Currently, the team is sitting at a .500 winning percentage in conference play and a 4-5 record overall.

Some of the struggles at the beginning of the season came from the shifting roles of players following the graduation of seniors Katie Jaseckas and Tiffany Davenport.

“When you lose players such as Jaseckas and Davenport who played almost 40 minutes a game, you have to be able to change something. We have had to adapt with freshmen, and we have not had as much experience as everybody … we had to stick to our principles and stay positive as all the older girls continue to encourage us,” said freshman forward Maddie Niemeier.

Niemeier is one of four freshmen from the incoming class, all of whom have seen considerable playing time very early this season. Niemeier put up impressive highschool statistics before arriving at Truman, spending three years on varsity and being named allconference her junior and senior year.

Commenting on the transition from high school to college basketball, Niemeier said, “It is definitely faster than it was in high school. Also, you pick that up pretty fast when you get here especially when you’re playing with all the girls and that’s just how they play normally.”

“I think we do a great job of trying to instill culture into the younger girls. Even though we do have a lot of older girls, we don’t have as much playing experience, so we have a lot of girls stepping into new roles this year and really jumping in with minutes, and they’ve done a great job of adjusting to that,” said junior forward, Ellie Weltha.

Weltha herself has stepped into a larger role on the team over the past couple seasons. As a freshman, she came off the bench averaging 5.2 minutes per game and 1.3 points. The next season, she started every game, averaging 11.1 points per game, and so far this season she is averaging 17.6 points per game, putting up career highs in almost every statistical category.

Weltha attributes a lot of this success to the coaching of the team. “A lot of it is just doing exactly what coach Dean says. He’s putting me in a position to be successful by telling me the things I need to improve on, so working on a lot of things such as executing moves in games, working on moves that are out of my comfort zone.”

Head Coach Theo Dean has become a popular name over the past couple of years at Truman, as he has coached this team to impressive records since his promotion in August of 2019. Overall, Dean’s record as a head coach stands at 37-13, and he has garnered praise from fans and players alike.

“He brings a lot of energy, and he bases everything on effort and attitude all the time, so I think when you have that and you have a bunch of girls that want to play and want to buy in, the atmosphere gets better and everybody wants to compete,” Niemeier said. “I think he makes sure we all know what we’re doing well and what things we need to fix, but the confidence part really does come from the coaches.”

Bri Burns and Katey Klucking defend the Maryville ball-handler. The Bulldogs had two steals against the Saints.

Forward Maddie Re looks toward the corner where her teammate awaits a potential pass against Maryville. Re is averaging 12 points this season.

Photos by Oliver Malone Following the win over Maryville University this past Saturday, players are confident this can be a great season and this team can compete for a GLVC championship.

“We definitely have all the pieces, and we’re definitely putting them together right now. We are more than capable of competing for a GLVC championship,” Weltha said.

“With the way we’re growing and progressing, I see no problem with us ending top in conference and hopefully making a run in the tournament.”

Truman’s next game is against Hannibal-LaGrange University at 4 p.m, Sunday, Dec. 19 in Pershing Arena. The Bulldogs will seek to return to a .500 overall season record and take another step towards competing in the GLVC tournament at the end of the season.

Hannah Belanger looks to inbound the ball against the University of Missouri St.Louis. Belanger played 36 minutes against the Tritons.

FOOTBALL| Head Coach reviews another chapter in Bulldog Football history Continued from page 16 The team is also among national leaders for graduation rates, Nesbitt said.

“They’re winning, they’re doing well in the classroom, they’ve also won six of the last eight sportsmanship trophies voted on by head coaches,” Nesbitt said. “So they’re competing, … and they’re doing it with class, and that’s kind of what this thing should be all about.”

Looking forward, the coaches will focus on recruiting, which they have fallen behind on because of the bowl game. After wrapping up recruiting early February, they will be focusing on player development.

Nesbitt said that looking at the arc of his career, having spent 42 years as a coach, 12 as a head coach for the Bulldogs and having been a player himself at Truman in the 70’s, the team has been playing consistently

well for the last seven or eight seasons. Nesbitt said the team has a long, rich history and that this season is the eighth time in the school’s history they’ve had nine wins in a single season.

When he first became a coach for the team, the school had a 32% winning percentage for the previous ten years. Many thought the team could no longer be successful at football since they had a highly selective academic program. Though there’s a smaller recruiting pool, Nesbitt said academic students could also be successful players and people had forgotten the team had been successful in the past.

“I’ve been coaching for 42 years and made a living competing with smart, tough competitors and athletes, and so I think they absolutely work hand in hand,” Nesbitt said.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

The Index

15

The Index’s fall sports awards STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor Greetings, Index readers! This is the first annual Index Sports Awards, where the cream of the crop from Truman State University athletics are honored for their achievements. These players and one select coach were selected based off of stats, awards received and how they impacted the game for their team. All of these awards are subjective and all in good faith, and an attempt to uplift the stellar performances from this past fall.

Without further ado, The Index Sports Staff presents: The Index Sports Awards!

Athlete of the Semester: Cody Schrader This semester we saw many outstanding athletes, but Cody Schrader won athlete of the semester. In his sophomore campaign, running back Cody Schrader left no statistical stone untouched on the ground game. Named GLVC Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player of the Year, Schrader ran for the second-most yards — 1,855 — in a single season in Truman history. This yards total was enough to lead the GLVC and all of Div. II as well.

Golden Boot: Hanna Hickey The Golden Boot award goes to a star soccer player who showed their skillson the feild this season, Hanna Hickey. Hickey left it all on the field this season, quite literally: the fifth-year senior midfielder played every minute of every game. Hickey earned a selection to the All GLVC First-Team and had a final statline of four goals and four assists, where three of her goals were game-winners.

Young Dog Award: Ryan Olivas Ryan Olivas was named the Index’s best underclassmen for the season. This guy was a junkyard-Dog in the secondary for the football team this season. The freshman cornerback played with intensity and passion each play, never shying away from the receivers he covered. Olivas had 49 total tackles along with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Team Award: Volleyball This goes out to the team with the best chemistry, and for this season it was volleyball. It’s not easy bringing in a new head coach and assistant coach to any program. For volleyball, this was the reality this fall, but the Bulldogs didn’t lose their sense of team that they established. Watching their play on the court is a visible indication that they are one of the most cohesive programs at Truman.

Best Pack: Football defense This award goes to the best sub-group within a sport, this semester that was the Bulldog’s football defense. These guys were in the trenches every snap pursuing the ball with the ferocity of a rabid Bulldog. This defense had eight players selected to either the GLVC First-Team or GLVC Second-Team. Alongside this, the defense was ranked fifth in the entirety of Div. II football at rushing yards allowed per game.

Coach of the Year: Mike Cannon This award goes to Mike Cannon - Coach Cannon is a class act for the women’s soccer program here at Truman.

On-field success included a 10-3-3 regular season record and the right to host a GLVC Tournament game as the no.

3 seed. One of the major highlights of the season under Cannon for this team was the five game win streak that they rattled off towards the end of the season.

16

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021

HEAD COACH REFLECTS ON TRIUMPHANT SEASON GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features and Opinions Editor The Truman State University football team went to Hobart, Indiana, for the postseason America’s Crossroads Bowl game against the Hillsdale Chargers Dec. 4.

The Bulldogs carried out a victory with a 34-17 win. This was the second time Truman represented the Great Lakes Valley Conference and their second win in a row at the Crossroads Bowl.

This was the second time the team faced Hillsdale, having won the first game 38-24. Head Coach Gregg Nesbitt said playing the team again put them in “NFL mode” and created a sort of division rivalry. He said that while each game is unique based on which players are available, both teams could still learn from the first game.

“Teams evolve,” Nesbitt said. “There are always four, five, six key plays in any ball game, and sometimes you make them and sometimes you don’t.”

While you can get a good idea of what the other team is like based on film, it’s not a true replacement to actually playing against them and seeing how your team physically lines up, Nesbitt said.

Hillsdale is a good, well-coached team, Nesbitt said, and they adjusted their strategy well going into the game, Nesbitt said. The Bowl was overall a really great experience for both players and fans, Nesbitt said.

There are only four Div. II bowl games in the country, and Nesbitt said he can’t imagine one running better than the Crossroads Bowl. The Bowl was also great for the Hobart community, as the residents are very much into athletics.

To give thanks to the Hobart community, the team spent Friday afternoon at local elementary schools for question and answer sessions with the kids, Nesbitt said.

During the game, the Bulldog’s defense played exceptionally well, and the offense also did well at moving the ball, Nesbitt said. They went into halftime with a 6-3 lead. The team fell behind in the third quarter, but the offense kicked into gear, Nesbitt said. The defense got the takeaway on an interception and gave the Bulldog offense a short field.

The Bulldogs were then able to score a touchdown, and the offense controlled the game down the stretch.

The team finished out the season 9-3, being the first back-to-back nine win season in the Bulldog’s history.

Nesbitt said they had a really young team this year, with 36 out of 44 two deep being freshmen or sophomores eligibility wise. Some on the team had COVID-19 waivers.

“We’re very very proud of that, particularly with our youth, they did remarkably well, and in the same breath, it’s a year that could have been,” Nesbitt said. “We were upset down in Bolivar, Southwest Baptist — great quarterback down there, and they played well — hats off to them, but it’s a ball game that we’d certainly like to replay.”

Contrary to the Hillsdale game, Nesbitt said he thinks he did a poor job preparing the team for the Bolivar game, and he and likely several players would like to have that week back to better prepare. Many people are visual learners, Nesbitt said, so it’s important to use words to create a visual picture, something that he could have done better going into the SBU game.

The last game of the official season the Bulldogs were defeated by the Greyhounds and Nesbitt said he thought the team could have played better during that game as well.

“Our last game of the year we lost here to University of Indianapolis 1310, and felt like we’re a better football team and just didn’t come out on top, so it could have easily been nine and two, 10 and one, national playoffs as opposed to a bowl game, all those types of things,” Nesbitt said. “Hopefully that sour taste puts competitive chips on our younger players.”

Nesbitt said the team also could have

“They’re winning, they’re doing well in the classroom, they’ve also won six of the last eight sportsmanship trophies voted on by head coaches. So they’re competing, … and they’re doing it with class, and that’s kind of what this thing should be all about.”

-Gregg Nesbitt Head Coach played better at the Family Day game against Lindenwood University, with a 31-21 loss.

Although he is closing in on a career win count of 300, Nesbitt said all he can remember is the losses. However, he said he is very proud of the team, particularly Jaylen Jefferson and Cody Schrader from a national perspective. Jefferson is no. 2 in the country in terms of kickoff returns.

Schrader is the no. 1 running back in

Above: Quarterback Nolan Hair throws the ball out to the flat. Hair threw for 162 yards against Hillsdale. Photos by Oliver Malone

the country, having gone over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in the season with this last bowl game. This yardage puts Schrader second for yardage in the history of Truman, behind Jared Anderson who won the Harlan Hill trophy in 1996. Nesbitt expects Schrader to be named a national First Team All-American.

Nesbitt said he is very proud of what the team as a whole has accomplished, with a 78% win rate — 28 out of 36 games. The Bulldogs are also consistently at the top or close to the top of the league in terms of academic success, with a 3.3 average GPA for the calendar year.

See FOOTBALL page 14

Above: Sophomore Cody Schrader takes it to the outside on a run. Schrader ran for 219 yards against Hillsdale. Graphic

by Jinyu Li Left: Freshman Ryan Olivas takes the ball the other way after an interception. Olivas had three interceptions this season.

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 6

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