The Index Vol 113, Issue 4 by Truman State University Index

Student showcase days return to campus, page 6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Top 5: Least spooky Halloween movies,

page 7

Kirksville festival reunites community, page 9 Why we should care about sports, page 13

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

THOUSANDS RAISED FOR FLATS MATT FRANK AND SYDNEY ELLISON Staff Writers

Senior Jackson Elder gets his head shaved by junior Daniel King. This was one of many fundraising events hosted to raise money for FLATS. Photo by Rachel Becker

Organizations banded together for Truman State University’s 2021 homecoming to raise $15,707 for the Forest Lake Area Trail System. FLATS is a volunteer-based organization in Kirksville whose goal is to create a 4-mile trail connecting Kirksville to Thousand Hills State Park, according to their website. Olivia Daehnke, Alpha Gamma Delta director of activities and leadership, said, “It’s been really exciting, and it’s nice to see everyone come together for a similar cause and work towards one thing to better our community.” Philanthropy is probably the biggest part of homecoming, Daehnke said. She said she personally organized about four events in the last month, working to raise money for FLATS. Alpha Gamma Delta has raised over $1,400, Daehnke said. Daehnke said she was thankful her chapter was so willing to help organize events and they were ready to jump right in. “It felt like the whole community was working towards something,” Daehnke said. “It gave me ideas, it gave me a lot of people [who were] willing to step up and help.” Alpha Gamma Delta held a delivery night, where they purchased items from To Die For Bakery, then sold and delivered them to people’s houses. Daehnke said the fundraiser was extremely successful and her organization sold over 100 goods in one night. See FUNDRAISING page 3

Students plan Halloween events ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor Truman State University organizations have gotten into the Halloween spirit, with some groups hosting Halloween-related events. Some of these events are planned by students, while others are planned by the city of Kirksville. The University’s professional agricultural sorority Sigma Alpha is hosting their annual Haunted Corn Maze. It will be held at the University Farm Oct. 28 from 7-10 p.m., Oct. 29 from 8 p.m.-midnight and Oct. 30 from 8 p.m.-midnight. One of the students planning this year’s event is senior Sigma Alpha co-chair Mollie Mansfield. This is her third year participating

in the Haunted Corn Maze. Mansfield said the event has been an annual tradition for as long as she has been a member. Planning for the event began as far back as February. Mansfield said this is when the two co-chairs in charge of the event were selected. The other co-chair is senior biology major Ellie Wright. Over 30 people help work the event. Mansfield said this includes Sigma Alpha members and Alpha Gamma Rho members. This is Mansfield’s first time planning the Haunted Corn Maze, and she said it has been a fun and fulfilling experience. “I really love planning for events, and I really like getting to know all the girls in the sorority and I just really love Halloween,” Mansfield said. See HALLOWEEN page 3

Halloween Events Sigma Alpha Haunted Corn Maze

Alpha Phi Omega escape room

University farm Oct.

28 - Oct. 30

Oct.

28 - Oct. 29

Board of Governors Homecoming back with review budget, audit COVID-19 precautions MATT FRANK Staff Writer The Truman State University Board of Governors met Oct. 22 to review University operations and proposals. The meeting was chaired by Sarah Burkemper, vice chair of the Board. On-campus construction projects were reviewed during the Board of Governors meeting. The Pershing Building renovation project has begun. The project was reported to have spent $893,104. The total approved budget is $4,829,000. It was reported that the renovation is 20% complete. Financial reports were also re-

viewed during the Board of Governors meeting. The University reported that $24.4 million was received from various grants that are to be used to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. $6.6 million was distributed to 2,800 students for food, housing and technology purposes. Revenue from tuition has decreased by 5.5% — $1.1 million — from the previous academic year. The number of students enrolled this fall semester is also 430 students less than last year.

See BOARD page 6

SETH JARVIS AND GENNA TLUSTOS Staff Writer and Features and Opinions Editor

Truman State University hosted many events last week in honor of homecoming, many of them in person with COVID-19 precautions. There were a wide variety of events for students to involve themselves in throughout the week. Senior Liz Christal was the events coordinator of the homecoming committee, which organized many of the events for the week. She described some of what occurred during the kickoff event Oct. 19.

See HOMECOMING page 5

Seniors Andrew Holder and Conner Havrilla are handed Fitz’s rootbeer during Oktoberfest. Students were provided with beverages and a souvenir cup at the event. Photo by Emily Collins

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

All roads lead home

The University Statesmen Marching Band performs in the parade. Kirksville and neighboring towns also have bands participate. Photos by Emily Collins

Above: Spike and the Truman cheerleaders ride on a float. The theme for this year’s Homecoming was “all roads lead home”. Right: Sigma Sigma Sigma rides on a sailor themed float. Many Truman and Kirksville organizations participate in the annual parade.

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 Giannoti 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

10/19 Suspicious activity reported at the 600 block of West Cottonwood St. 10/19 Harassment reported at the 400 block of South High St. 10/19 Suspicious activity reported at the 1000 block of North Osteopathy St. 10/19 Suspicious activity reported at the 1400 block of Queens Ct. 10/21 Theft reported at the 200 block of East Washington St. 10/21 Suspicious activity reported at North Franklin St. 10/21 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1700 block of Cottage Grove Pl. 10/22 Loud noise party reported at the 300 block of East Burton St. 10/22 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1000 block of Centennial Ave. 10/23 Fight reported at the 700 block of West Elizabeth St.

10/23 Fight reported at the 200 block of East Illinois St. 10/23 Vandalism reported at the 1300 block of Bishop Dr. 10/24 Theft reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St. 10/24 Domestic disturbance reported at the 800 block of South Fifth St. 10/25 Trespassing reported at the 500 block of Woodwind Ct. 10/25 Theft reported at the 100 block of West Washington St. 10/25 Fight reported at the 1700 block of North Centennial Ave. 10/25 Vandalism reported at the 3700 block of North Baltimore St. 10/25 Theft reported at the 1400 block of West Potter Ave. 10/25 Theft reported at the 100 block of North High St. 10/25 Harassment reported at the 100 block of East McPherson St.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

The Index

FUNDRAISING | Truman community raises money for the Forest Lake Area Trail System Continued from page 1 The sorority worked with Delta Chi to host a “Pie an AGD or DChi” event. Patrons purchased plates with whipped cream and shaving cream for $3 and were able to pie members. “It was fun because even people who were in the sorority wanted to come out and pie their friends,” Daehnke said. Daehnke said they made almost $300 from that event. She said she wants people to take advantage of the philanthropy events and look at how the money raised supports the Truman and Kirksville community. “Greek life is full of very passionate and hardworking people,” Daehnke said. “When we come together to accomplish a goal, we can get it done.” “I think the most challenging part is just that there are so many events for homecoming, which is awesome, but so much work goes into each little event that a lot of people don’t see,” Daehnke said. Over homecoming, another sorority

on campus, Delta Zeta, raised $4,052. Delta Zeta hosted various events to raise money, such as Date a Delta Zeta, selling Insomnia Cookies on the Quad and a Mi Casa profit share night, Abby Smeltzer, Delta Zeta president said. The Date a Delta Zeta event involved nine Delta Zeta members auctioning off an evening of their time to go out for a date to Mi Casa. Insomnia Cookies is a chain of bakeries, with a location in Columbia, Missouri, which Delta Zeta went to and brought back to sell on the Quad. “People kind of go insane for this event, Insomnia Cookies, because unless they want to drive an hour and a half for one cookie, they’re not going to do it,” Kylie Modaff, a Delta Zeta member said. “So, having [the cookies] here, the people just love it.” The organization also hosted a Mi Casa profit share night, during which Mi Casa donated 10% of their profits to Delta Zeta, Smeltzer said. Delta Zeta then put that money towards the money raised for FLATS. This year’s homecoming also brought in new organizations that want to be involved in the events. One of those organizations is Phi Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Beta chapter. Phi Sigma Pi is a national honor fraternity of around 60 members. Phi Sigma Pi has never been involved in homecoming until this year. “I decided it would be a really good idea to get

A student raises fundraising money at a table outside the SUB. Tabling is just one fundraising event that happened during Homecoming. Photo by Emily Collins Phi Sigma Pi involved in homecoming because we have never done it before,” Maddie McGregor, Phi Sigma Pi recruitment adviser said. “I thought it would be a great way to get involved and get acquainted with other organizations on campus.” Phi Sigma Pi decided to participate in the Baltimore St. level of participation, McGregor said. There are different levels of participation, each level having more events and responsibilities as they go up. Baltimore St. level does most events, except for the lip-sync event and being involved with team philanthropy. A level of participation is chosen before an organization begins raising money. Phi Sigma Pi raised the most money

in the Baltimore St. category. Phi Sigma Pi put on various events to raise money, such as a Pie a Brother event and an earring fundraiser. The Pie a Brother event made around $250. The earring fundraiser began because one of the Phi Sigma Pi members makes earrings as a hobby, so they were asked to put their hobby toward helping raise money for FLATS, McGregor said. “I think the most rewarding part is at the very end of homecoming week when you see the big check that the homecoming committee is holding that we are donating to our chosen philanthropy and that you know that you made a big difference,” Daehnke said.

HALLOWEEN| Sigma Alpha hosts annual Haunted Corn Maze, while Alpha Phi Omega hosts an escape room Continued from page 1 Mansfield said the theme for this year’s Corn Maze is “Stephen’s Nightmare.” It is based on the work of horror author Stephen King. The Corn Maze is split into each section, with each being based on a different King novel. “Misery,” “Children of the Corn” and “Pet Sematary” were the works selected for the event. Mansfield said the most difficult aspect of planning the Haunted Corn Maze is assigning positions to the members. The positions are the job that each member has, including running a section inside the Maze and taking tickets outside the Maze. “This year we tried to put an executive member in each of the positions, just to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Every one of the executive members has been through the Corn Maze before so they know what to expect,” Mansfield said. Alpha Phi Omega is planning another Halloween-related event. They are hosting an escape room in Violette Hall. Participants will have 30 minutes to solve puzzles and escape the room. To participate in the escape room, students must sign up in advance online. The event can be attempted solo, or with groups of up to six members. APO hosted the event Oct. 20-22 and resumed Oct. 27-29. Sarah White and Brielle Navara, Alpha Phi Omega fundraising co-chairs, planned the escape room. They originally thought of doing a haunted house but changed their plans to an escape room. Navara said it was not very difficult, but it was still not easy.

“There are certain things that you have to think of what you’re about to do, and you also have to think as a participant. What would you be looking for, what would you think would be cool, stuff like that,” White said. During the planning process, White and Navara had some friends test the clues to ensure it was solvable. White said their test run was solved correctly in about 28 minutes.

“We reserved the room about three weeks in advance, so we would know what kind of room we were working with,” Navara said. “After we actually got room confirmation, that’s when we started planning where each thing would be.” White said her favorite part of planning the event was hearing people talk about the clues and try to solve them. Navara said her favorite part was planning the room and coming up with the clues.

White said hosting an escape room is a good fundraising opportunity that she thinks more organizations should consider hosting. “If you want to do this as a fundraiser, it’s really fun and a fun way to get to know who you’re working with. It is a challenge, but the rewards are satisfying,” White said.

The entrance to the Haunted Corn Maze in 2018. This has been an annual event for many years at Truman. Photo from TMN Archives

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Is COVID-19 old news?

RACHEL BECKER Editor-In-Chief “The unprecedented global pandemic.” Those words have been haunting us for the past year and a half. Even my nine-year-old niece has the term “coronavirus” in her everyday vocabulary. When this all started in 2019 — 2020 for the United States — I don’t think anyone expected it to go on this long. But what happens when breaking news becomes old news? At The Index, we have done our best to cover COVID-19 from different angles but at this point, even our writers are burned out from even hearing the terms “mask mandate,” “vaccination” and “social distancing.” Admittedly, I am too. We experienced the pandemic together, the highs and lows. We were scared for our own health and the health of our families. We were in lockdown for months. We endured online classes. But what now? We have been on the edge for so long, it no longer is the edge. The “unprecedented” has become the precedent. Most students no longer forget to bring a mask to school, we are all used to it by now. We no longer complain about Zoom classes, but just opt for them when we don’t want to get out of bed. It seems as though life has gone back to normal, or at least we have changed our definition of “normal” to adapt to the life we’ve been living for almost two years. However, as things fall back into the mundane, there are still news stories breaking every day related to

the pandemic. Daniel E. Slotnik with the New York Times wrote on Tuesday of this week, “An independent committee of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration voted to recommend authorizing the PfizerBioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, opening the way to inoculate 28 million children in the United States.” The COVID-19 news goes much farther than the United States’ borders. The New York Times also reported that Moderna agreed to sell up to 110 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to African countries. This is after calls from the World Health Organization for pharmaceutical companies to help the vaccination efforts in countries that need it. The New York Times also reported that Hong Kong’s quarantine rules have gotten even tighter, after being known as some of the strictest around the globe. As of Tuesday, China has locked down a northwestern city due to a small outbreak. What I am trying to say is, there is still news to be covered regarding the pandemic. While we may be fatigued right now, it is important to remain vigilant. When our guard comes down and we stop following COVID-19 precautions is when we open ourselves up to illness. My family was all diagnosed with COVID-19 a few weeks ago. Most of my family is vaccinated and very particular about masking and social distancing. However, because news about COVID-19 had seemed to slow down, they let their guard down and got sick because of it. Patrick Cockburn with The Nation wrote, “The polio epidemic in Cork supposedly ended abruptly in mid-September 1956 when the local press stopped reporting on it, but that was at least two weeks before many children like me caught it.” We cannot let something this serious fly under our radar. When we let that happen it just gets much worse. Not only do we need to remain vigilant by following COVID-19 precautions like masks and distancing ourselves, but we also need to stay informed even when it is difficult. One of the easiest ways to help stop the spread is to get vaccinated. Lastly, don’t forget what we are up against: a global pandemic.

Time to start preparing for winter weather It’s beginning to look like another cold Kirksville winter. It will be the first for many, or at least the first time many students will trek up the hills of Barnett Hall or across the icy Quad to get to inperson classes. We, the Index Editorial Board, think the time is upon us to begin preparing for Kirksville winter. As many students prepare to go home for Thanksgiving, which is coming up sooner than you may think, now is the perfect time to begin the preparation for the cold months. While many people have inevitably noticed a wind chill with average lows for October being around 42 degrees Fahrenheit, according to usclimatedata. com. The days of 30s, 19s and 15s will soon be an unavoidable problem in November, December and January, respectively. Moreover, while an average of zero inches of snowfall for October is expected according to Perdue climate data, now would be a good time to prepare all the necessary supplies for the expected 6 inches of snow in January. More experienced Kirksvillians can attest that the most brutal part of Kirksville winters is not the temperature, but rather the wind chill. Because of the flat landscape of northeast Missouri and the proximity to large bodies of water, wind can often sweep in and cut right through an unsuspecting student. My student adviser’s advice freshman year was to invest in a reliable nylon or leather winter coat or a windbreaker. This is more combative against penetrating wind than even mul-

Stu Gov

Buzz

Student Government was proud to host and be part of many events during the last few weeks. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee tabled for Rainbow Friday with the Purple Friday Committee and handed out rainbow flags for National Coming Out Day Oct. 11. The Environmental Affairs Committee hosted Sustainability Week events, and created a Homecoming Ad Hoc Committee, whose job is to ensure our Student Government body can participate in Homecoming events like the parade Saturday, Oct. 23. Students should feel free to attend Student Government weekly meetings every Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Conference Room on the 3rd floor in the SUB. Also, be sure to check out our website, senate.truman.edu, if you are seeking information about what Student Government does, how the different committees serve the Student Government body, etc. If you are interested in any updates on upcoming events, an easy way to stay up-to-date is through our Instagram account @tsustugov. Submitted by Alex Crawford, Public Relations Director

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published during the academic by students Truman Stateconsults University, MOadviser 63501.but ultimately is forum, and content of TheThursdays Index is the responsibility of Thyear e Index staff. Theateditor-in-chief withKirksville, the staff and The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public responsible for all decisions. forum, and content The Indexare is the of The Indexofstaff. The Editor-in-Chief consults with the staff but represent ultiOpinions of Th e Indexofcolumnists notresponsibility necessarily representative the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our and Viewadviser editorials mately is responsible for all decisions. theOpinions view of the Editorial through two-thirds majority vote. The of Editorial Boardof consists of or thethe editor-in-chief, managing editor, section of The IndexBoard columnists areanot necessarily representative the opinions the staff newspaper. Our View editorials repeditors, chiefof and copy chief. The Index reservesmajority the rightvote. to edit submitted becauseofofthe space limitations, repetitive subject resentcopy the view theassistant Editorial Board through a two-thirds The Editorialmaterial Board consists Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, sectioncontent editors,orcopy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because ofand space limitamatter, libelous any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements letters to the tions, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the Editor-in-Chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes editor. advertisements and letters to the editor. LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon LETTER POLICY: theThe Sunday publication become of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, letter isare subject tonoon editing grammar Indexbefore welcomes letters and to the editor property from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor due by thefor Sunday before publication and spelling errors. and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar, punctuationmust and contain spellingaerrors. Submissions well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or ediSubmissions must contain well-developed theme andLetters cannotcontaining exceed 500 words,attacks, except at the discretion ofinaccurate the opinions editor and/will not tor-in-chief. Submission doesanot guarantee publication. personal libelous attacks or information or Editor-in-Chief. The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, beand published. letters to the editor must be typeddoes andnot submitted by publication, email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online tmn.truman.edu. should All offer a valid argument. Submission guarantee especially when submissions fail to add at something to the not be taken in consideration. Include thediscussion. words “letter to the editor” inpersonal the subject line oflibelous the email. Letters which are information not submitted digitally current Letters containing attacks, attacks or inaccurate will not bewill published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.editor@truman.edu or online at tmn.truman.edu. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of email. Letters which are submitted digitally will be taken intothe consideration. ADVERTISING POLICY: Forthe up-to-date information on not current advertising rates or not to inquire about availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu. ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Sales Manager at tmnadsales@truman.edu. VOLUME 113

ISSUE 4

tmn.truman.edu

tiple layers of cotton can be. Many people find that their saving grace when it comes to the constant traveling to and from home and class, from harsh deep snow to warm, cozy home is socks, socks and more socks. No one wants to sit around in cold wet socks after a long lecture, but the constant walks to and fro can run through your sock supply very quickly if any snow gets into your boots, requiring multiple changes a day. This means students should probably be more grateful for receiving socks this holiday season. For commuters, the anticipated snow may be of concern because of the city’s mandate of tenants needing to remove snow from their property within 24 hours or pay a fine. For those looking to avoid incurring any additional charges during the duration of their college stay, that means purchasing a snow shovel and a reliable pair of boots may be a worthwhile investment. However, for those who have yet to experience a Kirksville winter, it is not all doom and gloom. Students typically find solace in walking past the snowmen and snowwomen in the courtyards of the residence halls. The annual tradition of students using sleds, cardboard or whatever else they can get their hands on to go down the hills of campus is often a popular activity. If that is not your thing, then just keep the road salt and fluffy socks on hand for bunkered down Netflix nights.

@TrumanIndex

Contact Contact

Submit corrections or contact the editor. index.editor@truman.edu index.editor@gmail.com

660-785-4449

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

College Republicans call to end University mask mandate GABE SMITH Staff Writer

On Sept. 22, the Truman State University College Republicans published a press release urging Truman to end its enforcement of the mask mandate on-campus. The press release alleged that Truman’s administration overstepped its powers by enforcing the mask mandate. It also said students should have the right “to make their own personal risk assessments” about whether a mask should be worn or not. “Our stance was to tell the administration that there are students that won’t just agree with these policies. We want to take a stand and challenge this to try to get some

accountability and answers from the administration,” said Kyle Farrell, chairman of the College Republicans. Despite this, Farrell said the organization has no problem with individuals taking precautions against COVID-19. Farrell emphasized the importance of the freedom to make personal health decisions and hold the university accountable for their policies. “College republicans are not anti-mask or anti-vaccine, we are anti-mask mandate and anti-vaccine mandate,” Farrell said. The mask mandate, which will be reevaluated by the Executive Leadership Team Nov. 5, requires all students to wear masks when they are inside buildings on campus. The recently implement-

Sophomore Margherita Maiani works on a computer in Pickler Memorial Library. The mask mandate remains in effect for the fall semester. Photo by Emily Collins

ed vaccine incentive program will help inform the November re-evaluation. The press release also took issue with the vaccine incentive program. It said that Truman would inevitably incentivize organizations to peer pressure individuals into giving up their health and privacy rights. Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said the vaccine incentive program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Truman students and faculty. The vaccine incentive program was implemented in an effort to increase the vaccination rates in hopes that the University would not need to impose a vaccine mandate, Gooch said. Gooch said creating positive incentives rather than punishments for vaccines helps the University avoid making inherently difficult decisions about requirements for faculty and students on campus. Mike Owsley, president of the Truman College Democrats, said their organization supports the masking mandate and is advocating for a vaccine mandate. “We have previously, vocally, called for a vaccine mandate. We still want a vaccine requirement, as well as a continuation of the mask mandate,” Owsley said. Owsley emphasized the efficacy of the vaccine alongside the effectiveness of masking post-vaccination. Owsley also said the College Democrats see no major points of agreement with the College Republicans. Farrell, however, said the call for lifting the mask mandate is a bipartisan issue. “We think that there is a pretty wide bipartisan agreement on this. There are a lot of people in the middle that would support the University lifting the mandate,” Farrell said. One of the major issues that Farrell and the College Republicans brought up was the issue of transparency. The College Republicans are in favor of the University initiating a town hall with student organizations in order to facilitate an open dia-

logue about the COVID-19 policies. Farrell said the College Republicans formally recommended a town hall to President Sue Thomas, but no action was taken by the administration. In response to calls for more transparency, Gooch said Truman has made a deliberate and intentional effort to make sure students could be informed about what data the University uses to make decisions. “We have been very transparent about our procedures. They have always been posted on the webpage, we have an area specifically delegated to COVID-19 updates,” Gooch said. “I’m not sure where this idea of a lack of transparency comes from, I know the president and the Executive Leadership Team have always welcomed the opinions of students, faculty and staff.” Even though the University has made it clear that they are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, Farrell wants to know the specific studies that are dictating Truman’s decision making. Faculty and students would still have the right to wear masks, host classes via Zoom and socially distance, said Farrell. But for Gooch, the risk calculation must err on the side of caution in order to avoid a situation where students and faculty are forced to transition their learning to an online format. “I know that a mask mandate is not the most comfortable way to operate, but considering the fact that we have a mask mandate and we’ve kept cases low, it’s hard to not see the positive effects,” Gooch said. The College Republicans did not reveal any specific details about their future plans, but noted there are other events planned to more forcibly challenge the administration and rally support for lifting the mask mandate.

HOMECOMING| After 2021’s online homecoming, the University hosted an in person celebration this fall Continued from page 1 “We had tables all day long where we were selling our apparel,” Christal said. “We also had flat Spike going on during the day as well as our spirit day wacky-tackyTuesday. And then in the evening, we have the homecoming kickoff which consists of a cornhole tournament, live performances and court introduction.” Oktoberfest was another occasion that was organized by the homecoming committee to help foster school spirit for the week. Students who went to the event were greeted with root beer and live music. Junior Maggie Hart, a member of the committee, explained that this gathering was meant to get students excited about Truman by upping school spirit. The committee worked with the Student Activities Board, Residence Life, and Union and Involvement Services to put together the outdoor activity. “The Oktoberfest thing was really fun. It was fun to talk to people and it reminds me a little bit of home. I come from a pretty German heritage town up north, so it was very nice to have Oktoberfest to make me feel more at home and more welcome,” Chase Strub, a freshman, said. There were other events throughout the week as well, including a parade, lip-sync contest and a trivia battle. This homecoming was different because of the effects of COVID-19. It has been nearly two years since the last homecoming occurred. This resulted in certain changes to accommodate COVID-19 safety precautions.

They had to find a balance between what activities can be done and what actions break guidelines. For instance, the lip-sync contest still occurred, but with the addition of masks. Senior Xoe Zuber, another member of the homecoming committee, stated that non-Greek fraternities and organizations were more involved in the 2021 celebration. This stands in contrast to previous years, where activities were more Greekfocused. These reforms that were made resulted in a more diverse array of students being involved. “It is a phenomenal experience, I can tell you that,” Zuber said. “I’m so excited to get to see everyone here doing fun things with each other again. It’s just something that brings the school together every year that we get to have it, and it’s something that’s really important and central to the Truman experience.” Junior Olivia Daehnke, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, also discussed coming back to homecoming after a year off. There were difficulties with returning, as many people were not used to the business of the celebratory week. Despite this, there was much excitement among students. “A lot of our new members and even, like, sophomores, because they’ve never had homecoming, I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from them. They’re really excited, and they’re just happy to be back out and doing things, and feeling the real college experience,” Daehnke said. “I can definitely say it’s very different because things have been open this year,

OUR 2021-2022 WAITLIST IS NOW OPEN!

Students participate in a cornhole tournament at Homecoming Kickoff. Most homecoming events were held outdoors because of COVID-19. Photo by Emily Collins even though we’re still wearing masks, we’re still getting to actually do things, like the lip-sync competition,” Matt Eisenreich, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon said. “That’s just the school adapting to COVID and everything like that and knowing that it’s still present but we’re still enjoying our time here,” Eisenreich said. Eisenreich said over the last year, everyone has been in the process of figuring out how to hold events like this. He said

everything has felt a little different, including how homecoming was handled. “For me, I’m so new here I wouldn’t even know what normal is,” Eisenreich said. “It’s hard to know what is normal but in the same way we kind of get a blank slate for that … to kind of organize it for how we want it to be and not just kind of follow tradition. We kind of set it in a way.”

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Student showcase days return to campus

Guests listen to a presentation about the biology department during their tour of campus. Showcase days occurred virtually last year. Photos by Emily Collins

After moving to a virtual format, showcase days return to in person KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer In person showcase days are now being offered for prospective students at Truman State University. During the last academic year, the showcase days were held on a virtual platform because of COVID-19. The admissions department has decided to resume in person showcase days for the fall semester because of the enhanced experience and the cost of the virtual platform, according to Shari Foglesong, assistant director of admissions. “We found that [the virtual showcase] was a pretty good band-aid but not the approach that we thought was most effective for prospective Truman students,” said Foglesong. The showcase days are similar to how they were set up before the COVID-19 pandemic but with more precautions. Each event is currently being limited to 100 registered prospective students, and it is recommended that they bring two guests each. There are other COVID-19 precautions being taken, such as increased space for events so that people can social distance. “I am so happy we are able to have our in person showcases again. We did a great job of pivoting and providing an excellent virtual visit but nothing compares to the feeling you get on the Truman campus,” said Tyana Lange, vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing. “The wonderful buildings, grounds and especially the smiling faces of the bulldog

family. Even with masks, it is easy to see how happy faculty, staff and students are to welcome prospective students and their families to campus.” An in person showcase day gives prospective students an opportunity to experience things on campus that they would be unable to do virtually.

meet faculty from each department, and there are some student services available there as well. This includes the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the McNair Program, Financial Aid and University Counseling Services. There are also optional athletics presentations during this time.

“I am so happy we are able to have our in person showcases again. We did a great job of pivoting and providing an excellent virtual visit but nothing compares to the feeling you get on the Truman campus. The wonderful buildings, grounds and especially the smiling faces of the bulldog family. Even with masks, it is easy to see how happy faculty, staff and students are to welcome prospective students and their families to campus.”

-Tyana Lange, vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing

On a showcase day, prospective students will go on a 30 minute tour of campus with a student ambassador. Each group, which includes a student and their guests, will get their own student ambassador for the tour. Then the students and their guests will go to the Meet the Faculty Reception in the Student Union Building. There they can

Following the Meet the Faculty Reception, there are breakout sessions for prospective students in the Pre-Law, Pre-Med and Education Programs. Prospective students then go to the welcome presentation, which takes place in the Baldwin Auditorium, which includes videos, a student speaker, a welcome from Uni-

versity President Sue Thomas and a presentation about scholarships and admissions. This year the student speaker is Jesse Wren. In his speech, he talks about his experience at Truman. “I enjoy talking about my experience at Truman and how that has shaped my personal and professional life,” said Wren. During this presentation, prospective students will sit in groups based on the academic presentation they will attend afterward, in order to limit contact and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The academic presentation occurs after the welcome presentation, and prospective students choose which one they would like to attend. This presentation is given by a faculty member in the discipline that the prospective student is interested in. After this, the prospective students and their guests eat in the dining halls on campus. Students head back to the Student Union Building for a variety of presentations hosted by different departments. Some of these include Financial Aid, Study Abroad, the Honors Program, and a Diversity and Inclusion Interactive Session. There are easels for each residence hall, with Student advisers there to discuss what each hall is like. Student ambassadors also have Student Life tables to discuss how prospective students can get involved on campus. There is a table for transfer students and admissions counselors to answer any questions. Then students can choose which residence halls they would like to tour, and University Farm tours are available as well. In person showcase days are effective in recruiting students to come to Truman. According to Foglesong, if a student is admitted and attends a showcase day, they have at least a 50% chance of attending Truman. “A showcase event is like a one-stop shop,” said Foglesong. “On a showcase day, they can interact with at least 10 different people and find that connection. They get to explore more of campus and really visualize themselves here.”

Prospective students and their families listen to a presentation put on by the psychology faculty. Robert Tigner, psychology department chair, made an appearance at the presentation.

BOARD| Board of Governors discuss budget, Greenwood project finances Continued from page 1 The University was also reimbursed for various costs relating to the pandemic. Truman received $2.6 million to cover the costs of expenses such as converting existing facilities into socially distanced classrooms, emergency supplies and equipment, and student COVID-19 testing. The University’s investments have also increased by $13 million to a total of $76.5 million. These investments include endowed, short-term, longterm, trusts and annuities. Most of the $13 million growth is centered in the endowed category. The annual audit of the University was reported by RupertBrown LLP accounting firm. A proposed bill in the United States Senate was also brought up because the University is mentioned in it, during President Sue Thomas’ President report. The bill includes $3.4 million in federal funding to finish the Greenwood Interprofessional Autism Center.

The bill also includes $900,000 for the University to begin graduate programs in music therapy and vocational rehabilitation. It is also reported that Senator Roy Blunt has been supporting the bill. The Board of Governors also received updates on the Summer Writing Initiative for New Grants, also known as SWING. They also received information about the MoExcels and GEER Grants programs. The Advancement department also relayed information to the Board of Governors about their meetings held that same day. Enrollment Management also shared updates with the Board of Governors during the meeting. Highlights from recent events were also shared with the Board of Governors. These events include the Celebration of Faculty Scholarship, TruSolutions and Mid-Scream.

detours

ursTop 5: Least spooky THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Halloween movies

ours detours

ALYSSA RZANY Easily frightened

As someone who jumps at startling moments during children’s movies and covers her eyes during horror movie previews, you wouldn’t think I’m the best candidate to write about spooky Halloween movies, and you’re right. So instead, I’ve compiled a list of the least spooky Halloween movies for all those out there like me who hate being scared.

5. Ghostbusters

ours

I’m not sure how many of you would consider this a Halloween movie, but for scaredy-cats like me, it counts. The group of scientists make their city safe by busting ghosts and while I’m always reluctant not to cover my eyes when I see the huge green ghost at the end, I push through, and it’s never as bad as I expect. While this was a great movie, I’d have to say it’s one of the spookier ones out there, so it’s unfortunately in last place.

4. Hubie Halloween This movie seems like it would be really scary, but don’t worry — it’s not bad at all. It’s surprisingly decent. Adam Sandler plays Hubie, the community laughingstock, who is trying to save his city from a murderer. The movie has a crazy plot twist at the end, and it gives off the most Halloween-type vibes from this list. Overall, it’s not the most engaging movie I’ve watched, but it’s good enough to watch during the spooky season without getting scared.

3. Beetlejuice The trending TikTok song made me go watch this Halloween classic. Although some of the characters look frightening, I found that the movie itself is actually really good. It’s about a deceased couple who haunt their house while the ghost Beetlejuice tries to scare away new tenants. Being a musical nerd in high school also added to this “spooky” experience seeing there’s a lot of song and dance.

2. The Addams Family I’m not going to lie, I didn’t watch this movie until last year because I thought it would be too scary. Turns out it’s about a long lost brother visiting his family, or so they think. After a lot of peer pressure, I finally caved. To my relief, I only jumped a few times, usually from the floating hand named Thing — like, how is that something we universally accept? I don’t like it. Either way, this movie is one of my favorites and it has become a tradition to watch it each year.

1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Finally, ranking in first place, we have quite possibly the greatest Halloween movie created. It has been a classic since I was a kid, and believe it or not, I haven’t jumped once while watching it. Charlie and his friends are celebrating Halloween while his friend Linus waits for the “Great Pumpkin.” It’s a comfort blanket movie for me, and it wouldn’t be Halloween without watching it at least once, especially since I usually watch it to console myself after a scary movie preview. Graphics by Jinyu Li VOLUME 113

ISSUE 4

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

What we’ve been

watching

“Halloween Kills” fails to kill expectations ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor The original “Halloween” from 1978 is the very definition of a classic movie. It influenced the entire horror genre for the 1980s and spawned over 10 sequels. As is the case with most horror movie sequels, the quality of these films ranged from pretty good to downright awful. Being a massive fan of both the horror genre and the “Halloween” franchise, I was skeptical when a new trilogy was announced. I have seen every film in this series, so I was hopeful it would be better than all of the “Halloween” films released after the mid-’80s. The 2018 sequel to the original, aptly titled “Halloween,” was the first sequel in the franchise that truly felt worthy of being a followup to one of the most influential films of all time. The 2018 “Halloween” was fastpaced, focused and scary. It had everything necessary for a successful “Halloween” sequel — great kills, good characters and a simple story. These are all elements that the “Halloween” sequels failed to include, so it is a good thing that the 2018 sequel ignores all the other films except the 1978 original. However, the recently released “Halloween Kills” fails in almost every category that its predecessor succeeded in. Returning director David Gordon Green chose to start “Halloween Kills”

with a flashback set after the 1978 “Halloween.” This is a good indicator of the film as whole — unfocused and riddled with pacing issues. This introductory scene lasts for at least 10 minutes and does very little except waste the audience’s time. Once the film jumps back to the present, we get our first good look at the best part of “Halloween Kills” — Michael Myers. The violence and gore he dishes out has been amped up to a degree never before seen in the franchise. It is even more violent than Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” duology from the late 2000s, a feat that is impressive in its own right. The kills do not seem as numerous as the first film, but they come across as far more brutal. Michael in the first entry was just a guy who wanted to kill random people on Halloween. In this followup, Michael is beyond angry. He was almost killed and three of his victims escaped him at the end of the last movie. Veteran Michael Myers actor James Jude Courtney returns to portray the character. His version of Myers is exactly what I want to see in the iconic villain. He is cold and efficient in this film — a per-

sonification of evil designed only to kill. The first scene with Michael also introduces the audience to the other iconic “Halloween” character, Laurie Strode. While Michael is an excellently written character, in this film, Laurie’s characterization is horrible. After narrowly escaping with her life and learning that The Shape is haunting Haddonfield, Illinois again, she is also very angry. The motivation is there for her to be an amazing character, but she is ruined in “Halloween Kills.” Laurie has been built up to be a hardcore survivalist who aims only to kill The Shape that ruined her life in 1978. That characterization is completely thrown away in this story. Green makes the baffling decision to keep Laurie trapped in a hospital room for the entire film. Instead of Laurie being strong and going on the hunt for Michael even while wounded, she is instead delegated to the sidelines. The series started with Michael hunting Laurie, so one of the central characters being thrown to the side feels like a betrayal to longtime fans of the franchise.

“The recently released ‘Halloween Kills’ fails in almost every category that its predecessor succeeded in.”

Green pushes these two iconic characters to the side to put the focus on random citizens of Haddonfield. These are a mix of characters original to this film and characters returning from the 1978 original. The town has had enough of The Shape terrorizing them, so they decide to fight back. The theme of a town rising against a terrifying evil is incredible — on paper. In execution, it is horrible. The story simply does not make sense. It is hard to entirely describe without spoilers, but pretty much everything the characters do make no sense. People say they will hunt Michael, but instead, they spend the entire film hanging out at the hospital. Extra subplots are introduced that add absolutely nothing to the overall plot. The scenes with Michael haunting random citizens of Haddonfield serve as a distraction from the actual story. For being one of the most iconic horror villains in film history, he is vastly underused. He has always been the main draw of the series, and barely utilizing him in this film should be a crime. If “Halloween Kills” dropped the entire plot of events at the hospital, the film would be much better off. The single accomplishment of this film is to set up the upcoming final film in this “Halloween” trilogy, once again directed by Green. Hopefully, he can finish the trilogy with a bang and reignite the spark that the 2018 “Halloween” had.

“Halloween Kills” gets 2/5 jack-o-lanterns

Graphics by Izzy Juan

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

The Index

RED N R A B Prints made by Truman students were for sale at Red Barn. The event was a good opportunity for new artists, Lydia Richard, Truman student and artist, said. Photos by Rachel Becker

Kirksville festival reunites community GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features and Opinions Editor On Oct. 2, the local community gathered together to celebrate the arts and local craftsmanship. After being canceled last year, the Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival was especially appreciated by many in attendance this year. Around the Kirksville Square, there were about 65 vendors with tents selling various arts, crafts or food, according to Dwight Buckingham, the adviser for the festival and chair of the 2019 festival. Red Barn is coordinated by the Kirksville Arts Association. Buckingham has been on the Red Barn committee of the Kirksville Arts Association for about 30 years, he said.

“Well I think it’s really a good feeling that we could bring this event back. For the city of Kirksville, it’s one of the biggest things that happens all year in Kirksville and people really missed it last year so I think it’s just really enlivened the arts in Kirksville.” -Dwight Buckingham, Red Barn Adviser

This year some things were moved around, he said, like tents being spaced out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aaron Fine, the chairman for the 2021 festival, said COVID-19 and other changes have required flexibility. “We really have a great committee that arose to every challenge,” Fine said. “It’s an amazing group effort, you know you get an amazing sense of how the community works when you’re inside an operation like this, so it’s been stressful sometimes and really really gratifying.” According to Buckingham, the 65 exhibitors was lower than the typical 100 that the festival has. About half of the exhibitors are local to Kirksville, Buckingham said, and the other half are from areas like Kansas City, Iowa, Illinois, etc. Attendance had been good, Buckingham said. The crowd usually gets a boost of families coming into town for family day. Attendance has grown every year except for this year because of COVID-19, Buckingham said, though they are still glad the event is taking place. “Well I think it’s really a good feeling that we could bring this event back,” Buckingham said. “For the city of Kirksville, it’s one of the biggest things that happens all year in Kirksville and people really missed it last year so I think it’s just really enlivened the arts in Kirksville.” Buckingham has been attending Red Barn since the very first one about 47 years ago. It first took place at the red barn at Truman State University’s campus, which gave it its name. Overall, the biggest changes have been the growth in size and the location change, Buckingham said. When it first started the festival was two days long, Buckingham said, now it is one. The basic concept of people selling arts-related goods was basically the same. At the first Red Barn, Buckingham thinks there were about 15 or 20 exhibitors, much smaller than what Red Barn has averaged in recent years. Cindy Summer, an exhibitor at the festival who has been coming to Red Barn for 10 years, said this was her third show this year, a big change after not doing shows last year. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but this year every show she’s done has been extremely busy, she said. Summer, who is from Memphis, Missouri, sold different teapots and lanterns, and many items made out of various metal objects. She said people were very excited to be out and mingling. Emilie Barone was at Red Barn representing Kappa Pi, an international honorary art fraternity, as well as Clay People, a Truman pottery club. Her booth sold various ceramics and prints. Many of the ceramics were made by Lydia Richard, a member of Kappa Pi. Richard was glad to be selling the ceramics instead of keeping them in her house.

“It’s weird to not see it in my living room right now but I’m hopeful that getting my name out there will help me grow as an artist,” Richard said. “I want to do an apprenticeship next semester for ceramics, and so I’m hoping the more I can get used to the world of making and selling, the better chance I have of making it long term.”

Prairie Johnson and Grace Statwick discuss the Red Barn festival and Johnson’s art work. Red Barn took place at the Kirksville square on Oct. 2. Barone said this was her first Red Barn and they’d had a lot of interest in the pottery so far. While it had been hard to part with things she’d made, it also felt good to have people want something she made, Barone said.

People walk down the street at the Red Barn festival. The event was more spaced out this year compared to previous years because of COVID-19.

Jamming The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

with Jack

Spooky soundtrack covers satisfy JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer

Halloween movies are as iconic and integral to the season as pumpkins and candy corn. Everyone has a favorite Halloween movie, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” has been a fan favorite since its release in 1993. Its soundtrack is just as iconic, spawning instantly recognizable hits played at every Halloween party. In 2008, a starstudded ensemble including Marilyn Manson, The All-American Rejects, Korn, Rise Against and Danny Elfman covered the soundtrack for “Nightmare Revisited.” Easily the most recognizable song from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” soundtrack is “This is Halloween.” This anthemic earworm is bound to make any Halloween party burst into song, and is the most famous song from the soundtrack. Marilyn Manson covers the song in “Nightmare Revisited,” and adds an even spookier element to the song. This cover adds a menacing sound to match the scary lyrics. The song is the clear highlight of the album, although the multiple assault accusations against Manson diminish the playability of the song. “Jack’s Lament” is covered by The All-American Rejects, providing pop punk vocals to an excellent song. One of the drawbacks of the song is that aside from the vocals, it sounds too similar to the

original. The artists failed to put their own spin on the song, and the song doesn’t live up to its potential. Korn’s cover of “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” is the perfect example of a band not only putting their own spin on a song, but taking it and running with it. The darkness of the song in context of the movie is perfectly complemented by the dark and menacing sound utilized by Korn. Korn not only understood the assignment, but executed it flawlessly. Rise Against covers “Making Christmas,” providing the punk rock franticness that perfectly encapsulates the idea of Halloween monsters attempting to create what they think Christmas is. The sound not only matches with the context of the movie, but also the mood of the lyrics themselves. “Oogie Boogie’s Song” is covered by Rodrigo y Gabriela, offering a fast-paced, bluesy rendition of the villain’s theme song. Despite its lack of vocals, the song surprisingly works very well. Amy Lee of Evanescence covers “Sally’s Song,” giving a hauntingly beautiful performance. The song is both dark and spooky, but also gorgeous. Overall, the album is a fun, spooky listen. Like many covers, it does not reach the greatness of the original, yet it offers a darker, creepier alternative to its source material. The album does drag at times, with a runtime that is nearly as long as the movie itself. As such, not every song works, but the ones that do excel. The highlights from this album are necessary for any spooky Halloween playlist. Graphics by Jinyu Lee

“Nightmare Revisited” gets 3/5 stars

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

How do you feel about candy corn?

David Bradshaw, sophomore

Grace Marshall, junior “... It’s fun, it’s got a fun coloration. It’s the perfect accent candy, and I will stand by this. People misunderstand candy corn and how good it is because they misunderstand its purpose. Obviously it’s terrible when you eat it alone — it’s pure sugar. Obviously. That’s the point. It’s the accent candy. It’s how you fill out your autumnal variety, if you will … I’m a believer in candy corn. Candy corn is good, and I will fight about this …”

“I don’t like candy corn because it’s gross and tastes like wax. There are so many more candies that are actually worth eating. People that eat candy corn don’t have souls.”

Halloween magic and dancing yellow lights SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer The Halloween I was six, It was a frigid night. Icy, cold rain burrowed into hair and princess costume, Goosebumped arms beneath gossamer sheer sleeves, Legs painted in tights, my armor against a wintry enemy. I clutched my candy bag tightly for warmth.

We drove from house to house that night to stay warm, At the edge of our seats, anticipating, waiting To depart our 2004 white Saturn steed. Hardly any houses gave out candy that year, And my bag was light in my grasp as we mounted the stairs, Still shivering in the toasty embrace of our own home, of my father’s arms.

But for a six year old, The glimmering dance of yellow lantern lights on glossy pavement, The near-scorching heat of the car, sinking into chilled skin, The contrast of my sister’s grey sweatshirt and pointed witch’s hat, A good witch, delivering us on broomstick to each new, exotic destination, It was magic. Graphics by Izzy Juan

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

ALL YOU CAN EAT FRIED CHICKEN, MAC & CHEESE, BISCUITS & GRAVY BREAKFAST, LUNCH, SALAD BAR, & MORE. $11.99

Downtown Kirksville, 215 West Washington St. maxwellskirksville.com (660) 956-0648 $0.99 MARGARITAS

$10

starting

11 a.m.

Bottomless Mimosas

Bloody Mary’s Every Thursday!

With Sunday Brunch!

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Bulldogs take on Bearcats at home

Senior Hanna Hickey dribbles the ball down the pitch. Hickey has four goals this season.

Above: Graduate student Chance Douglass rears back to send the ball into play during a corner kick. Douglass is in her fifth year at Truman. Left: Redshirt junior Kate Peterson powers up to send the ball on a free-kick. Peterson started in all 14 spring matches last season. Photos Oliver Malone

Why we should care about sports

STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor I wanted to talk with you, whether you are a non-sports fan or a die-hard fan, about why this community, as well as society, should care about sports and their impact. To preface this, I would like to address the environment at Truman State University that you are most likely part of. We are an academic-centric community, where the cream of the crop is produced and put out into the real world post-graduation. With such an academically focused school, it can be easy to get lost in your own educational journey. However, I think supporting and being invested in the success of athletics is an integral

part of the college experience. Here’s the thing, Truman’s student athletes are also going through the rigorous coursework you’re experiencing. They’re STEM majors, your student ambassadors and as integral of a part to the academic success of our school as you are. Alongside being scholars, our athletic friends endure early practice times, travel almost every week and perform at elite levels day in and day out. I’m not here to be the spokesperson for student athletes. However, I do wish to express the main reasons why supporting sports and the media that covers them is so crucial. For one, sports can unite people of all backgrounds and upbringings. Finding one collective team or program to rally around can instantly be a bonding point between you and a complete stranger. You can discuss the team with your fellow fans as if you have an actual stake in their success, one of the more enjoyable parts of the experience. Watching sports provides a break from a bleak reality, especially within the past three years. During COVID-19, sports have been the one constant in our world that could be somewhat normal. This was because of diligent efforts to protect the athletes while still providing an opportunity for them to showcase their skills. Viewing sports as a motivational tool is also applicable. The grind is something that is embraced

by those who understand that you will fail sometimes. You won’t meet your expectations sometimes, my friend. Athletes know this better than almost anyone. We can see a bit of ourselves in these athletes, the people that so many look up to and are inspired by. Who wouldn’t want to watch beings seemingly larger than life work hard to be the best? I’ll watch them alongside you, reader. When you pick up a copy of The Index and flip through, consider reading all the stories in full. Particularly for the sports section, consider reading the story to find some sort of human interest. I’m talking about the heart they put into their performance, the motivation and what drives them. I propose at least attending one Truman athletic event in your college career. Even if it isn’t your “thing,” or even if you don’t understand the sport itself. You will be genuinely surprised at how much fun you can have alongside your fellow students. I implore you to begin following at least one sports media outlet. The creativity and culture around these brands are second to none. You can find friends across the globe who support what you do. Thank you for your continuous support of The Index, and specifically the sports section. We do it all to uplift this athletic community, and to tell the stories that may not be told.

ATHLETE of the week

Andy Brennan is a senior midfielder for the Bulldogs soccer team and hails from Dunboyne, Ireland. Brennan has started in 12 matches this season and scored a crucial goal against William Jewell College in a win Oct. 22. The Ireland native was also named one of the team’s captains at the start of this season.

Andy Brennan

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Senior reaches 1,000 career kills STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor Truman State University’s fifth-year senior Ellie Kaat broke through the volleyball 1,000 career kills mark Oct. 16. Kaat is the 18th Bulldog in University history to achieve this accomplishment. Kaat has been on the team since her freshman year and gradually progressed into the player that the outside hitter has become today. “I think the one word to describe my career at Truman would be ‘learning,’” Kaat said. “I was not a well-developed hitter my freshman year.” Kaat started two matches her freshman year, and appeared in 20 matches overall, putting up decent first-year stats. Kaat also said playing a year of club volleyball helped ease the transition into the collegiate level. “Freshman year for me was a constant state of trying to learn how to play at the outside hitter position,” Kaat said. Kaat had no idea that after her freshman season, she would make her mark in the record books. If one thing were to be a contributing factor, it is the teammates throughout the years supporting her, Kaat said. “The thing about volleyball is that it is truly a team sport. I would not be able to perform without the trust and bond I’ve had with my teammates,” Kaat said. “I am eternally grateful for the role Truman State volleyball has played in my life.” Kaat has enjoyed playing with a variety of teammates over her career and said a part of the learning curve was adjusting to each new one. The biggest influence for Kaat coming to the team was the sense of family they exsaid Kaat. The “I am eternally grateful hibited, team continued to supfor the role Truman port Kaat up until and volleyball has played in after her milestone accomplishment. my life.” “During the game, -Ellie Kaat, I had no idea I had 1,000 kills,” Outside Hitter reached Kaat said. “I get into a zone when I’m out there on the court.” Kaat said that her teammates snuck a congratulations poster with them on their trip to the Crossover Tournament. They celebrated her accomplishment after the game. Kaat has 1,020 career kills as of their last game played Oct. 23. The senior has received two Second Team All-GLVC honors, as well as a three-time Academic All-GLVC member in her career.

Ellie Kaat rockets the ball over the top of the block. Kaat leads the team in kills this year with 211. Photos by Oliver Malone

*Fifth year outside hitter from Cedar Grove, Wisconsin *1,020 career kills as of Oct. 23, 2021 *Career high 26 kills in one match on Nov. 1, 2019 vs William Jewell *Two Second Team All-GLVC selections *Three Academic All-GLVC awards *Finished third out of entire GLVC in kills per set (3.74) (2018)

Ellie Kaat explodes with emotion after a big play. Kaat plays the outside hitter position. Grahpic by Jinyu Li The Bulldogs celebrate after scoring a point. The team has a 5-18 record this year.

OUR 2021-2022 WAITLIST IS NOW OPEN!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

The Index

TRUMAN STATE TEAM RECORDS Football (6-2): Football bounced back in a big way with a dominant win over William Jewell College. Men’s soccer (1-13): The Bulldogs will look to finish the season on a positive note. Women’s soccer (8-3-3): A strong finish will place the Bulldogs in good position for the postseason. Men’s swimming (0-3): The men’s side will swim on through the rest of the season. Women’s swimming (1-2): The women’s side will keep pushing forward through the season. Women’s tennis (4-1): Tennis will enjoy its mid-year hiatus and pick back up in February. Volleyball (5-18): Volleyball will look to keep playing hard for new head coach David Gannon.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

FANS GRILL AND CHILL FOR HOMECOMING GAME

Redshirt freshman quarterback Nolan Hair stands tall in the pocket as he gets ready to throw down field. Hair completed 16 of his 21 pass attempts in the game. Photos by Oliver Malone

Truman parents tailgate to prepare for Bulldog Football STEVEN FINDLEY JR. AND CORY PRICE Sports Editor and Staff Writer

To a fan, tailgating is a key part of any game day event. The comradery that comes with a good tailgate sets the tone for the crowd experience. Amanda Teegarden is the mother of Truman football player Dillon Larson and is a new parent to the program. Teegarden and her family have been to multiple home games so far. “We try to show up about two hours before the games,” Teegarden said. “That gives us time to relax and to chat with other players’ families.” When asked how Teegarden heard about tailgating, the Bulldog mom received an email from the Truman State Touchdown Club. Some activities that Teegarden mentioned included cornhole as well as a community grill brought down to cook food before the game. “It is overall a very sharing and caring community,” Teegarden said. “It’s all about sup-

porting the boys.” Teegarden said she is an advocate for the tailgating experience and wants to let parents know that it is a worthwhile experience to participate in. Teegarden said her favorite part of the experience is just a sense of being together with fellow football players’ families.

“It is overall a very sharing and caring community. It’s all about supporting the boys.” -Amanda Teegarden, Bulldog Parent

Jerry and Brenda Blasdel are also new members to the football family and expressed their experience with tailgating this year. “Tailgating on the road is a different experience,” Brenda said. “Less families travel — understandably — to faraway road games.” Being new to the program means not being too accustomed to the tailgating culture, the Blasdels said. Newer families to the program have to find their footing in the culture at the start. The Blasdels offered a solution in the form of new family introductions so that there is an easier transition into the football family experience. “Knowing the other families in the program is very important,” the Blasdels said. The Bulldog parents also felt that they will be better prepared for the start of next season. However, the Blasdels said they are advocates for the tailgating experience overall and implore others to participate.

Senior kicker Josh Scheiderer winds his leg back to send it deep for the Bulldogs. Scheiderer hit a 45 yard field goal in the third quarter.

Sophomore Cody Schrader pushes forward through the initial tackle against William Jewell. The Bulldogs beat William Jewell 52-0. VOLUME 113

ISSUE 4

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex