The Index Vol. 113, Issue 8

Alice Davis, a Student Health Center hero, page 10

Top five: Tips for staying safe in the snow,

page 7

Truman sports brief, page 14 Baseball looks to have a successful spring, page 16

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

@TrumanIndex

TRUMAN CONTINUES MASK MANDATE ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor Truman State University announced Jan. 28 the COVID-19 mask mandate would continue, with masks required indoors.

The University email states that January has seen the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Adair County since the pandemic began during March of 2020. As of Feb. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies Adair County as having a “high” community transmission.

According to the CDC’s website, a high transmission rate is declared if the total number of new cases in the past seven days per 100,000 people is greater than or equal to 100.

As of Feb. 1, Truman reported 14 active student cases and two active employee cases. These totals do not include data from the Adair County Health Department.

The email states decisions involving the campus mask mandate are made by the University president, with further consultation provided by the executive leadership team.

Factors that influence the mask mandate decisions include “the number of active cases related to the University; the transmission rate in Adair County; the campus vaccination rate; Truman’s capacity to effectively accommodate students in isolation and quarantine; guidance of the CDC and the local health department; and the advice of Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Student Government,” according to the University email.

Patty Rogers prepares to take blood from a visitor in the Student Health Center. The mask mandate will continue until at least Feb. 25, when it will be reviewed again. Photo by Emily Collins

See MASKS page 3

Truman professors University seeks to increase enrollment publish work ALYSSA RZANY AND GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Assistant Features Editor, Features and Opinions Editor Students and professors are constantly writing, whether writing a paper for class, planning a lecture or daily journaling. Most recently, however, Truman sociology professor Brian Ott had an article published in an academic journal based on a chapter of his dissertation.

Soon after, Standart Magazine contacted him to write a similar article.

After several years of interviews and writing, Ott published his chapter entitled “Minimum-Wage Connoisseurship,” then worked for about seven months on reworking the chapter into an article.

Ott said it’s about “concepts that he has developed based on [his] ethnographic research of the specialty coffee industry called minimum wage connoisseurship.”

“I describe the rise of post-Fordism and argue that the development of the industry and its laborers, who I called ‘minimum-wage connoisseurs,’ are characteristic of a post-Fordist system of production and consumption,” said Ott. “I got contacted by the editor for this magazine, and [they] asked me if I would do a different version of it for the public … especially for the coffee industry and those interested in the specialty coffee culture,” said Ott. “I probably spent another couple months on it, and they accepted it.”

One aspect that Ott enjoyed was coming up with an opening. He tries to

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 8 © 2022

engage his audience by getting a hook that will interest them. According to him, there isn’t much that’s more engaging than a plastic pill box in a stranger’s living room.

Ott said he enjoyed this entire process because he got to think about those close to him and his students to figure out the perfect way to write it.

“I want people to learn and not even know that they’re learning because I’ve made it captivating and interesting enough.”

SETH JARVIS Staff Writer

There have been changes to enrollment methods at Truman State University over the past few years. These reforms are meant to make the admission process more straightforward for students interested in Truman, improve enrollment numbers for the University and better understand the students’ intentions as they prepare to pick their college.

Hayden Wilsey, an associate director of admissions at the University, oversees the communication and marketing teams inside the admissions office. His work includes processing applications, communicating with students about

their decision to go to Truman and overseeing data management. He also said he supervises the recruitment of graduate students to Truman.

One of the significant changes that admissions has made since last year is the flow of communication toward incoming students.

Wilsey said previously, a large amount of email blasts were sent out to students based on where they were at in the admissions process. Over the summer, they built a new communication system that sent emails to students with information tailored toward their specific interests or needs.

See ADMISSIONS page 3

- Brian Ott, sociology professor

See PROFESSORS page 5

A cutout of Spike welcomes prospective students at the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitor Center. Recent changes to the admissions process hope to streamline it for future students. Photo from TMN archives

The Index

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Something new at the fair Spring Activities Fair hosted in Student Union Building MATT FRANK Staff Writer The Truman State University spring Activities Fair took place last week, with a new scavenger hunt incentive for attendees.

The Activities Fair took place Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. The fair was at the Student Union Building in various rooms. Each organization was given its own table, which could be decorated however the organization saw fit.

The Activities Fair is put together by the Organizational Development Team based in the Union and Involvement Services office. The team is comprised of seven members. In addition to planning the Activities Fair, the Organizational Development Team usually works with new organizations starting on campus, ensuring organizations are in good standing with the University and have access to resources such as room reservations.

“We’re pretty used to [planning the Activities Fair]. It’s part of a routine,” Em Smith, organizational development team lead, said. “It is interesting right now with COVID, trying to make sure that we keep things as distanced as we can while still providing a good Activities Fair experience for everyone.”

Additional COVID-19 precautions were that only two representatives of an organization were to be sitting at each table at a time. Also, while small individually wrapped candy was allowed to be given out by the organizations, any real food was not allowed. The tables were also spaced out more than they were prior to COVID-19.

Before COVID-19, there were two organizations at each table and all of the

organizations would be at the event in one night.

Because the Fair was split into two nights, the Organizational Development Team tried to categorize organizations together for the convenience of attending students. Some of the categories were academic and professional, feebased and sports organizations.

Some categories are larger than others, with the academic and professional organizations category being the largest, and other smaller categories being minimal, such as service organizations having only around seven tables, Smith said.

There were about 135 organizations signed up for the Activities Fair. In total, there are around 230 active chartered organizations on campus.

A scavenger hunt took place during the Activities Fair, which aimed to increase attendance and interest in the event, Lucah McCullough, Union and Involvement engagement coordinator, said.

The scavenger hunt was called “find your bunch” and students would go around to different organizations to get a password. They would then be entered to win a giveaway. The scavenger hunt was fruit themed, so each password was a kind of fruit. The prizes were baskets filled with $40 worth of items that included bullet journal notebooks, pens, a pencil bag and socks that were all fruit themed.

There were also some small items given away at the entrance to the event, such as highlighters, stickers and windshield ice scrapers.

Mika Zans, president of Prism, a social pride organization on campus, said the majority of the members of their organization joined from the Activities Fair.

Above: A student talks to representatives of an organization at the Activities Fair.

Only two students were allowed to be at any given table. Photos by Oliver Malone Bottom right: A student from an organization explains the group to a fellow student. A scavenger hunt was held for this semester’s Activities Fair.

Bottom left: A member of a campus group speaks to students about joining the group. About 135 various organizations attended the Activities Fair.

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 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, Matt Frank, Gabe Smith, Kennedy Cooper, Joey Dougherty, Sydney Ellison

Adviser: David Price

1/26 Burglary reported at the 300 block of Rombauer Ave.

1/29 Suspicious activity reported at the 200 block of East Illinois St.

1/28 Burglary reported at the 800 block of North Elson St.

1/29 Theft reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

1/28 Vandalism reported at the 300 block of North Marion St.

1/29 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1500 block of South Jamison St.

1/28 Burglary reported at the 100 block of East Illinois St.

1/29 Shoplifting reported at the 200 block of East Illinois St.

1/28 Burglary reported at the 800 block of North Elson St.

1/30 Domestic disturbance reported at the 2200 block of East Normal Ave.

1/28 Loud noise party reported at the 300 block of East Burton St. 1/28 Domestic disturbance reported at the 400 block of South High St. 1/28 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1300 block of East McPherson St. 1/28 Suspicious activity reported at the 400 block of East Jefferson St.

1/31 Theft reported at the 800 block of South Cottage Grove Ave. 1/31 Vandalism reported at the 500 block of West Potter Ave. 1/31 Theft reported at the 1400 block of Crown Dr. 1/31 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1000 block of North Centennial Ave.

The Index

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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MASKS| University continues to mandate masks on campus because of high community transmission Continued from page 1 Other Missouri universities also continue to require masks on campus.

Northwest Missouri State University requires masks in all indoors settings for “people who are not up to date with their vaccines,” according to the NWMSU website. University of Missouri requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, according to Mizzou’s website.

University of Missouri-Kansas City recommends face coverings on campus, but does not require them according to UMKC’s website.

Truman will review the mask mandate policy again no later than Feb. 25.

Graphic by Rachel Becker

ADMISSIONS| Changes to enrollment methods seek to streamline and simplify the process for potential students Continued from page 1 For instance, if they are interested in theatre, then they will receive emails about the theatre program at Truman.

Students who are admitted will receive emails from a professor in the department that they are interested in.

Wilsey said this move has been quite successful as the open rate of some of the emails have been upwards of 97%.

Wilsey said that students who end up touring campus are more likely to eventually enroll at Truman than students that do not. Incorporating encouragements toward visiting in messaging is very important for recruitment. He said that additionally, in-person admitted student events and Saturday showcases have returned.

Admissions counselors are also playing an important role in the recruitment process Wilsey said. In-person meetings help with prospective students as they go through the process of enrolling at Truman. In addition, counselors are traveling to various high schools across the state to meet with students at those locations.

“The challenge of our job is knowing how a 17 or 18-year-old makes a big life decision. The way that we know that is not by asking them but by seeing how they behave and what they choose to do,” Wilsey said. “We want to make sure we’re providing good support, and information that is helpful for students to make good decisions is really what our push is.”

Enrollment has been declining at Truman and at universities across the

country over recent years. Truman had 5,231 students in fall 2019 and 4,655 in fall 2020, according to the Fall 2020 Enrollment Report. Wilsey explained that the University has largely focused on handling issues that they have control over to improve enrollment.

He said that the University needs to be messaging more aggressively toward students in certain areas. Truman is a relatively isolated university, with students often having to travel over three hours to attend, so messaging has to be focused on showing why Truman would be a good fit for students.

Wilsey said one of the structural changes that has been made to encourage students to come to the University has been making the application process more straightforward.

Historically, the timeline has not been helpful for how the current student moves through the process. This year, the University made certain competitive scholarships automatic and awarded students them at their admission. Because of this frontloading of information, there are more excited students who know what they are doing on the financial end and other aspects of the University.

This has made students more confident in their choice of attending the University. In addition, an enrollment deposit has been added so admissions is more aware of the likelihood of a prospective student attending Truman.

Truman has also begun partnering with organizations like Niche and Net Natives over the past year to help mar-

ket the University. Wilsey explained that they worked with them to create a marketing strategy and then tested those ads in different markets. The goal was to see which ones were the most effective and what needed to be changed. Overall, they are focused on getting good data and staying up to date with how students are going about their college search.

Keaton Wagner, the coordinator of marketing at the University, explained that one of the reasons why the University decided to utilize Net Natives is that they have a prioritizing software that allows them to close the loop on reporting and determine the return on investment for marketing dollars.

It is not a perfect process, he said, but it makes it easier to determine if someone who enrolled received advertisements from Truman. This process integrates data gathered with data from a customer relationship program called Slate, which tells the University when students apply and enroll. This program makes it easier to determine the effectiveness of Truman’s advertisements.

Audiences of ads are chosen by utilizing Slate, Wagner said. They can determine who has shown interest in Truman and also build “look-alike” audiences of people who also might be interested in Truman.

The goal is to encourage students to look at Truman and then ultimately apply to the institution. This process is a planned, multi-step process that occurs over a long period of time, Wagner said.

Tyana Lange, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at

the University, described some of the changes that have been made over the past couple years. They promoted two assistant directors, Wilsey and Shari Fogleson, to associate directors. The knowledge that the two of them had with previous directors and their perspectives allowed positive momentum to continue within the department.

Lange also described other reforms implemented over the past two and a half years. Communication with students has improved, and they have worked on promoting the quality and excellence of the University over price.

In addition, the University has created a junior communication plan to reach students earlier in their college search process.

They are working toward getting enrollment stabilized for the University.

For fall 2022, the goal for enrollment is around 750 students according to Lange. In the long term, they hope to get around 900 to 1000 students per year.

Achieving this goal involves bolstering transfer numbers and promoting graduate studies at the University, said Lange.

The messaging of the University is also being modified.

“We want to make sure we’re providing good support, and information that is helpful for students to make good decisions is really what our push is.”

- Hayden Wilsey, assosciate director of admission

The Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitor Center serves as an area to welcome prospective students to Truman. The University continues to offer online events while also bringing back in-person events. Photo from TMN Archives

“What we have done is focused on price. I hear this from students all the time: I came to Truman because it was my best option financially, but I stayed at Truman because I loved the experience.

I want us to have the conversation about excellence, the worth that students see.

That’s the messaging that I want to see the University move toward,” Lange said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Why Kirksville desperately needs a coffee shop

SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer

The idea of the local cafe has a long and fascinating history. Important historical movements, such as the French Revolution and the period of Enlightenment in Europe, were fueled, in part, by heated conversations at coffee shops. Even today in some cities such as Vienna, these important conversations are part of the essential framework of the coffee shop aesthetic itself, as noted by Luke Waterson of Adventure.com. Although modern coffee shops look different from those that fueled revolutionary movements, the cafe still has an important role in culture and history, and Kirksville residents, including but not limited to Truman State University students, are sorely missing out.

Even if the conversations found in modern coffee shops are more humble than those that occurred in Paris or Vienna, a small town coffee shop is universally recognized as synonymous with college culture, which in itself is typically considered liberating. Unlike in the library or the Student Union Building, coffee houses provide neutral spaces where both studying and socializing are acceptable and often occur concurrently.

A variety of topics, from next week’s exams to spring break plans to social inequality, might come up during the course of a single conversation. There is something rejuvenating about a good cup of coffee and a space not affiliated with the Truman logo that inspires true discussion, from the meaningful to the mundane. During the wake of COVID-19, many of these spaces are disappearing, but the integral component of student life, authentic conversation, is becoming more important than ever.

Supporting spring sports Now that we are a few weeks into the semester, the student body is beginning to develop their semester habits for the spring. We, The Index Editorial Board, see great value in making attending sport events a part of these habits for the spring semester.

Currently, the men’s and women’s basketball, track and field, and swimming teams are all competing. Baseball and softball will begin in February, and tennis and golf will begin their second-half of the season pushes this spring as well.

In this issue of The Index, the sports section has a season preview article for the upcoming baseball season. Features and opinions editor Genevieve Tlustos spoke with head coach Dan Davis and some of the players on the team in the story.

Also in the sports section this week is a column written by sports editor Steven Findley Jr. regarding spectators of athletic events here at Truman. We, The Index Editorial Board want to remind spectators that there is a mask mandate in place for attending athletic events. We hope students and the local community will continue to cheer on the athletes in a safe manner.

Feb. 10 will feature a basketball doubleheader, where the men’s and women’s basketball teams will take on Quincy University at home. Tip-off for the women’s game is 5:15 p.m., and the men will follow up after the completion of the first game. Once again, we implore you to safely attend and cheer for the Bulldogs.

Attending athletic events is a great way to take a break from the academic pressures that we feel during the semester. That moment of relaxation and enjoyment alongside fellow students and supporters is something we feel can be beneficial. Make sure to have fun and to continue to cheer on the athletics this spring season, especially the senior players that used their extra year of eligibility to compete one last time in front of the Truman faithful.

While spaces such as the SUB or the library, or, for that matter, chain coffee shops such as Starbucks or Scooters are no doubt important and are valuable places to work and study, there is something fundamentally different about a Mom-and-Pop coffee shop that fosters a different way of thinking and being.

The atmosphere of these establishments, including everything from their furniture to their lighting, encourages socialization and discussion. The originality and creativity of specialty drinks inspire that exact authenticity in us. Even the use of glass plates and mugs, which many small cafes use, encourage the visitor to sit and stay for a while — and no big event, from a discussion about global warming to a budding friendship, was ever resolved in the 15 minutes it takes to wait for a to-go coffee.

Having a small coffee shop in Kirksville would be beneficial, too, to permanent Kirksville residents and even other small businesses downtown. By bringing student traffic to the square and promoting local businesses through advertisements, local cafes are positioned to increase small business shopping in the foundational shops that have made and sustained Kirksville through the years.

Even if we don’t realize it, cafes often play a key role in the vitality and atmosphere of small towns, especially college towns. Kirksville has been without a local coffee shop for two years — but it shouldn’t be. As visitors to this town, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make it a hospitable place for small businesses, including that historically essential cultural thread, the small town coffee shop.

Stu Gov

Buzz

We are so excited to announce that the LGBTQ+ Resource Center is very close to being open! Even now, thanks to the multitude of people who helped make this space a possibility through their donations, we have bean bags, chairs, couches, bookshelves filled with books, artwork to display and, of course, our amazing pride flags. The first time I walked in, I immediately felt welcome, even though no one was there and the space wasn’t quite complete.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee – chaired by Kennedy Cooper – has been hard at work to make this space a reality. The committee has been working for several years to take this space from a resolution to a resource center. The first resolution in support of an LGBTQ+ Resource Center was passed unanimously during 2015, and the same body also passed a resolution during 2016 that summarized a student survey illustrating statistical support for the center. Last semester, the current body addressed the resource center through Resolution 121.005 – A Resolution of Continued Support of Establishing a Gender and Sexual Diversity Center.

Since this resolution passed, the body has moved pretty quickly to gather materials and resources to establish the resource center. We will be announcing a grand opening date in the near future, and I cannot wait for this space to provide knowledge, resources and community to the people who need it most.

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The Index

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Residence Life changes housing options KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer With the new semester beginning and the 2022-2023 housing portal opening up, there are some updates in Truman State University’s Residence Life Program.

Some of these updates include the availability of a gender inclusive housing program, Centennial Hall closing, Missouri Dining Hall opening and reupholstering furniture.

The gender inclusive housing program will be available for the 2022-2023 school year. Gender inclusive housing is available for students who wish to live with a roommate of a different gender.

There are a limited number of suites available for gender inclusive housing, and they are available in all residence halls that have suite-style living. Jamie Van Boxel, director of Residence Life, says more students at Truman may be interested in gender inclusive housing than at other Missouri schools.

Centennial Hall will be closing for renovations. Currently, the fifth floor is only for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation, which will need to change for the 2022-2023 academic year. Residence Life plans to find a new quarantine and isolation location this semester and over the summer. Students who currently live in Centennial Hall have a greater preference in the room selection process because of their displaced status.

Since the Centennial Dining Hall will close, the Missouri Dining Hall will open back up for students. There will be additional spaces opening up in Missouri Hall and West Campus Suites.

Additionally, the second floor of Dobson Hall will open up for pet friendly housing. Residence Life expects to

accommodate people who would like to live in pet housing without a pet for the 2022-2023 academic year. Pet-friendly housing began in the fall semester of 2020. This year, Residence Life was unable to accommodate people who wanted to live in pet friendly housing without a pet, because of the number of people who wished to live in Dobson Hall with a pet.

Residence Life is working on another project: reupholstering some furniture in the residence halls. These updates are already occurring in Ryle Hall, where some main lounge furniture and rolling chairs in the floor lounges will be reupholstered. The furniture in Missouri Hall will be reupholstered over the summer.

Part of this project will also include fixing broken chairs currently in storage.

Students eat dinner at the Centennial Hall dining hall. Centennial Hall will close next semester for renovations. Photo by Emily Collins

Dobson Hall’s second floor will open next semester as an addition to the pet friendly house option. Students who do not wish to live with a pet will be able to stay in Dobson as well. Photo from TMN archives

Graphic by Cee Spiller

PROFESSORS| Spanish professor Stacy Bryant and sociology professor Brian Ott recently published their work in various publications

Bryant works on her computer in her office doing work for her courses.

Bryant published her article last year. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Continued from page 1 “I want people to learn and not even know that they’re learning because I’ve made it captivating and interesting enough,” said Ott. Ott is now working on research involving mental health and students’ perspectives on professors, and he is looking forward to learning new things from his research and sharing it with others.

Spanish professor Stacy Bryant also recently published an article last year in the “Bulletin of Hispanic Studies” entitled, “Examining the Adoption and Diffusion of Ecclesiastical Gallicisms in Old Spanish.”

“I’m interested in the ways the interactions and the ways words spread through face to face contact and things like that, and so that’s ultimately what my article was about,” Bryant said.

The article focused on the migration of French speakers to modern-day Spain who brought with them the church’s cultural practices that changed Spanish vocabulary.

“It did take probably the better part of a year to gather the data, you know, a good chunk of time to write it and edit it and rewrite it and reedit it and all those things, so this is probably the fifth iteration of this particular topic that I’ve written about.”

Bryant said, “That’s kind of the process, you just kind of submit it, see what

they say — you know, it’s like when you turn in a paper — it takes multiple drafts, right?”

“I’m interested in the ways the interactions and the ways words spread through face to face contact and things like that, and so that’s ultimately what my article was about.”

- Stacy Bryant, Spanish professor Bryant has plans regarding a new project along the same lines as this publication that she hopes to present this spring. Bryant’s passion for education also blends into her research.

“I think it is fun when you can really make a connection between bringing something into the classroom … and your research.”

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The Index

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Truman theatre department rehearses for “Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche”

Top: Courtney Kopp, Bonnie Jeune, Addie Godsy and Emma Lewis all perform a dance for their meeting of the Susan B. Anthony Society for Sisters of Gertrude Stein’s annual quiche breakfast. Haley Schnurbusch also plays Lulie in the play.

Photos by Rachel Becker Above: Kopp, playing Vern, swoons during the play. This show is directed by Cat Gleason, student success adviser.

Right: Dale, played by Godsy, at rehearsal for the show. The Truman theatre department will be opening Feb. 23.

Below: The “widows” smell and admire a dish of quiche. Tickets can be purchased for $8 at boxoffice.truman.edu.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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tours detours Top 5:

Tips for staying safe in the snow

ours

RACHEL BECKER Winter Weather Weatherer

The City of Kirksville issued a snow emergency for Feb. 1 in preparation for winter weather to hit the city. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for Feb. 1 through Feb. 3, predicting heavy snow and accumulations of 6 to 14 inches during that time. As someone who has weathered my fair share of Kirksville winters, I thought I would share some of my tips on how to keep safe in the snow as well as what the experts recommend.

1. Preparing your vehicle

While the National Weather Service may advise you to stay in during severe winter weather before the storm hits, make sure to prepare your car in case you do need to brave the cold.

Check your tires’ tread, a common trick is to take a penny and insert it into the tread, with Lincoln’s head facing down and out. If you can see all of Lincoln’s face, your tread depth is below 2/32 of an inch, and you need new tires. Also, consider replacing your tires with allweather or snow tires.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends keeping a winter emergency kit in your car in case you become stranded in the cold. Include supplies like a portable charger, extra hats and blankets, food and water, jumper cables, tire pump, first aid kit and flashlight in this kit.

2. Safely heating your home

While it may be tempting to turn up the thermostat, be careful in what methods you use to heat your home. If using a fireplace or space heater, be extremely careful and follow common safety precautions. Make ​​ sure to keep them away from any flammable materials, like curtains or blankets. Avoid using extension cords to plug in a space heater, and inspect the cords and heating element to ensure safe use. The CDC states turning on the stove for heat is not a safe option. Keep extra blankets and winter coats around in case the power goes out.

3. Walking on ice

If you are forced to be out and about during winter weather, you are bound to come across some icy paths. The CDC states that walking on ice is extremely dangerous and many injuries related to cold weather happen from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways and porches. An easy way to avoid icy sidewalks is with kitty litter, rock salt or other chemical deicing compounds. Five-gallon buckets of rock salt can be found at the entrance to many residence halls in case students see icy patches.

Be careful when walking on ice, while snow boots with good tread can help navigate within the snow, ice is still a hazard. So wearing the right footwear, taking slow steps and avoiding ice when possible is your safest bet.

4. Plan out travel

Keep up to date on travel advisories issued by the National Weather Service. The Missouri Department of Transportation also posts road conditions online at traveler.modot. org, this map includes road conditions as well as construction and road closures. Use these resources to avoid traveling on icy roads. Do not travel in low visibility conditions, like in the snow. The CDC recommends letting someone know your travel plans, like your destination and expected arrival time so they can notify authorities if you are stuck somewhere.

Always carry extra warm clothing and blankets in your car, so if your car does break down you have an alternate source of heat.

Also, stay inside when you can. While playing in the snow is a classic winter pastime, limit your time in the cold. Traveling is not recommended in winter weather, but do your best to plan it out if you must.

5. Know the signs

The CDC defines hypothermia as an abnormally low body temperature. This is a dangerous condition that can happen when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures.

Know the warning signs of hypothermia, and if you experience a body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, seek medical attention immediately. Warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness.

Frostbite is a type of injury caused by freezing. The CDC states that frostbite can lead to a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. Signs of frostbite include a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy and numbness. If you notice signs of frostbite, seek medical care, as frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.

Graphics by Rebekah Nelson VOLUME 113

ISSUE 8

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The Index

8

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

What we’ve been

watching

“Don’t Look Up” is much more than a popcorn movie JOEY DOUGHERTY Staff Writer Dark comedy “Don’t Look Up,” released on Netflix during late 2021, offering a doomsday narrative akin to ‘90s popcorn flicks “Armageddon” and “Deep Impact.” Injected with enough relevant social commentary to elevate the film above such fare, director and screenwriter Adam McKay’s piece is at once onthe-nose and worthwhile.

“Don’t Look Up” follows Randall Mindy and Ph.D. candidate Kate Dibiasky, two low-level astronomers operating out of Michigan State University. When Dibiasky discovers a comet predicted to inevitably impact Earth, she and Mindy go on a massive media tour to convince the government and populace at large of the planet’s fate.

Said media tour, however, quickly devolves into a seemingly hopeless effort to get anyone to take the threat seriously, from media-trained talk show hosts to the blundering President Orlean. As the administration fumbles their own efforts to deal with the comet both literally and publicly, Mindy and Dibiasky realize they must take matters into their own hands to incite action.

The parallels to reality are often obvious and worthy of note. “Don’t Look Up” is not shy about its connections to the current state of affairs in America and elsewhere: Orlean as a stand-in for incompetent leadership or the comet as an analogy for COVID-19.

It seems that McKay wants the audience to see these parallels for what they are: social commentary and, ultimately, calls to action. That’s where “Don’t Look Up” most notably succeeds, in its efforts to not just call attention to administrative failings, corporate greed and social ignorance, but to encourage change for the better through the resilience of its characters against the often frustrating odds.

All the while, “Don’t Look Up” works as what it ultimately is: a movie. Dark comedy is a notoriously difficult balance to strike, few directors having aced it.

While McKay doesn’t quite reach the heights of Martin McDonagh with his “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” or the Coen Brothers with their “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” many of his jokes land satisfyingly deadpan and the film bears an overall atmosphere of, “Should I be laughing at that, or is this just sad?”

Much of this balance lends to the film’s cast. “Don’t Look Up” is chock-full of big-name actors, nearly all of whom bring some of their best. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence portray the main duo Mindy and Dibiasky, respectively.

While Lawrence plays the frustrated college graduate with all the postmodern cynicism asked of her, DiCaprio stands out as the film’s best performance. At each turn, he masterfully enlivens the role of helplessly awkward professor turned ambitiously righteous whistleblower, adding what appear to be his own real frustrations about American administration to his character’s psyche.

The film also features Meryl Streep as the crude President Orlean and Mark Rylance as supertech CEO Peter Isherwell, a Mark Zuckerberg type with the mannerisms of Elon Musk and style of Steve Jobs.

In all, while “Don’t Look Up” threatens to buckle under the weight of its occasionally overbearing cynicism — the title itself poking fun at the willingness to ignore a looming problem — the messages at play through McKay’s direction and the cast’s performances bespeak an ultimately hopeful narrative that is thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

The medium of film has always sought to turn a mirror on society. It’s easy to make it just that and nothing more. Thankfully, “Don’t Look Up” avoids this issue, instead offering a narrative that is both reflective and calling for change.

“Don’t Look Up” gets 4 out of 5 Earths Graphics by Jinyu Li

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

The Index

9

Geno’s is back

Former bar will reopen as an event center younger students knew the type of music we played …”

Geno’s has a light-up dance floor Originally opened as a bar during straight out of “Saturday Night Fe2008, Geno’s closed when the pan- ver” and looks like a typical club demic started. The former bar will be from the ’70s, Treasure said.

Truman professor Sergio Escobar reopening this month.

They will not be selling alco- said he used to go to Geno’s somehol but will have a certified server times before it closed. They used available to serve alcohol brought to have salsa nights once or twice a month for a few into the establishyears. These events ment, owner Randy “I think what makes were very successTreasure said. ful and the bar was Geno’s will [Geno’s] unique is the always packed, Eshost any type of music we play. I mean, cobar said. event, Treasure Escobar said said. Throughout today’s music you can he really enjoyed the past, they have go anywhere and hear, the music and that had events such as Treasure was a very sorority parties, but most of our crowd is nice man. Geno’s comedy shows and Truman students and... was his favorite many other types so many of the younger bar, he said. of events.

“Two things are “Basically, ev- students knew the type very special about erything is the of music we played.” that bar. First the same,” Treasure design, right? Like said. “We’ve got -Randy Treasurer a disco bar, and our same ‘70s type the music. atmosphere, lightGeno’s owner second, It’s the only bar up dance floor and that used to play all that, so you’ll music from the be able to come in, bring in your own music, whatever ‘60s and the ‘70s, so that’s unique,” you like. If you want food or alcohol Escobar said.

Escobar also said Geno’s was or whatever, you can bring that in.”

Treasure decided to close during unique because different people, both 2020 because the pandemic hit and from the communities of Milan and there were a lot of uncertainties, he Truman were able to interact, people said. Treasure worked at Dover Bar- who don’t typically cross paths.

Parents enjoyed coming to the bar ber during the week, and Geno’s was his weekend job. He said they also during homecoming, Treasure said. had trouble finding employees during During the future, he hopes students the pandemic, which also contributed will bring their parents to Geno’s for graduation parties or other events. to Geno’s closing.

One time, Treasure said a student Truman students called him to ask if they were going to reopen, but the brought their mom into a bar where liquor license for the establishment he was working, and he recognized her as someone who had worked with had expired, delaying the opening.

What makes Geno’s different is him during the ‘80s.

Treasure has lived in the Kirksville the music and the atmosphere, Treaarea most of his life and attended Trusure said.

“I think what makes it unique is man in the ‘70s.

“Back when I was younger around the music we play,” Treasure said.

“I mean today’s music you can go here when it was Northeast Missouri anywhere and hear, but most of our State, it was a lot more of a party crowd is Truman students, and I was school than it is now. You had kids out really surprised that so many of the partying Wednesday night or ThursGENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features and Opinions Editor

Geno’s is located on the Square. The event center is reopening after closing at the beginning of the pandemic. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos day night [or if] it was a big night or whatever. Now I don’t see near as many Truman kids out as I used to. I know enrollment’s down, but … with the virus going on, you just don’t see as many kids moving around as you did, but back in Northeast Missouri days, they partied a lot.”

Treasure thinks students that go to Truman are busier and more serious.

He also cited rising alcohol costs as a

reason students might be more hesitant to go out. Being in the bar and nightclub business most of his life, Treasure has noticed that kids also get out later and buy alcohol at places other than bars. This is why many of the bars in Kirksville are only open a few days a week, Treasure said.

Their first event is scheduled for February, Treasure said.

Geno’s has a ‘70s themed interior, and used to play ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s music. The location was originally opened in 2008. Submitted photo

w o N ! g n i r i H

The Index

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Alice Davis Davis, a Student Health Center hero ALYSSA RZANY Staff Writer Over the past two years, nurses have been some of the most celebrated essential workers. With the last two years of the pandemic, as many have fallen ill and hospitals become crowded, nurses have had to rise to the occasion. Their lives have become busier than ever, and it’s important to understand what they go through each day to truly appreciate the work they do.

Advanced practice registered nurse Alice Davis said she has worked at the Truman Student Health Center for 12 years.

Since she was a child, she knew she wanted to work in the medical field, she said.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Truman State University and her family nurse practitioner certification at the University of Missouri, Davis said.

“I have always had an interest in the medical field,” said Davis. “I don’t remember ever considering anything else.”

During her time as a nurse, Davis said she has worked in several clinics, and since joining the Student Health team at Truman, she has enjoyed working with young adults. She said she likes educating Truman students about health care.

Since Truman’s Health Center partnered with Complete Family Medicine, Davis has had the opportunity to branch out and work in other settings which she said she enjoys.

Before COVID-19, Davis said she would see patients for routine lab work, immunizations and other medical needs.

Now that COVID-19 has made its appearance in Kirksville, Davis said they do a lot of COVID-19 testing. They still do screenings, as they did before, but it’s much busier now.

“Our COVID-related care keeps us busy, especially with the paperwork and reporting involved,” said Davis.

When they’re not testing for COVID-19, Davis said some of the most common ways they treat students is through screenings and wellness check-

ups, birth control, skin issues and mental health. They also still give immunizations, do lab work and administer allergy shots, she said.

Davis said all of the COVID-19 chaos has not robbed her of her joy as a nurse practitioner. She said her favorite part of her job is helping people achieve better health, and the most rewarding part of her job is helping people take better care of themselves.

“I have worked as a nurse practitioner for over 20 years now, and I love what I do,” said Davis. “ … I have found [that] our students at Truman give me hope [that] our world may someday be better.”

A lot of stress comes along with being a nurse practitioner, but Davis said she has mastered managing that stress.

During her time off, she said she enjoys spending time with her family and relaxing whenever she can, which sometimes involves escaping the cold.

“I have a wonderful family and amazing grandkids,” said Davis. “I [also] like to quilt, enjoy peaceful days in the country and take trips to warm places.”

During the coming months, Davis said she would love to see some change. She said she wished COVID-19 would go away, but knows it won’t. She also mentioned hospitals need time to restock their supplies and their treatment options for those in need.

After seeing Truman students for over a decade, Davis said she knows some tips and tricks to help them out. Some of this advice includes lowering stress levels and taking good care of themselves, she said.

“Don’t stress the small stuff. Really.

Don’t stress so much,” said Davis. “Drink fluids, exercise, sleep eight hours a night and give yourself a break from time to time.”

There is a lot to learn from our nurse practitioner heroes, and hearing about their days only increases our respect for them.

Alice Davis and Patty Rogers look at a book. Davis said Truman students have given her hope that the world may someday be better. Photos by Emily Collins

Truman nurse Teri Tucker listens to someone’s heartbeat. The work required because of the pandemic has kept nurses busy, Davis said.

Graphics by Rebekah Nelson

The Index

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

11

A series of haikus about Thursday SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer

All days of the week Are special. But I like this Day the most of all.

There is something quaint About your name. I just cannot Seem to let it go.

My favorite days Are the Thursdays it rains or Drips small drips of snow.

It must seem unfair.

When all anyone can see Is Saturday’s glow.

But… On Thursday, it seems All things are possible. On Thursday we’re alive.

Great coffee always Tastes better on Thursday. I Simply don’t know why.

Not everyone knows How to love you. But that’s fine.

I do anyway.

Graphics by Rebekah Nelson

Alice in Chains amazes JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer

Concept albums have been around for decades and have been utilized to much success. Albums like “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,” “American Idiot” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city” have pushed the limits of their genre and redefined what it means to be an album. However, few have reached the levels of darkness and grit of Alice in Chains’ 1992 album “Dirt” which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Released at the height of the grunge movement, the album focuses on one of the most prominent and dangerous aspects of the dark Seattle scene: heroin. The album focuses not just on heroin addiction but also on addiction as a whole, as every member of the band dealt with some sort of substance abuse. It serves as a dark and ominous foreshadowing to lead singer Layne Staley’s descent into debilitating addiction and fatal overdose during 2002.

It provides a tragic look into an excellent band at their darkest moment. The album is a dark and joyless listen, with few tracks that you will want to listen to again. While some of the songs are weak, the impact and lyrical content of “Dirt” are immeasurable and cannot be overstated.

The album opens solidly with “Them Bones,” a song that literally shouts to get your attention, speaking of mortality and death. “Rain When I Die” is a stoner-rock anthem, setting the foundation as well as the bar for the genre during following years. “Down in a Hole” is a slow-tempo rocker that

touches on the depressive nature of addiction. The antiwar epic “Rooster” enters at the halfway mark, and it is one of the highest points on the record.

The song is one of the only songs on the record that does not deal with substance abuse, instead serving as a biographical account of guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s father’s experience in Vietnam. While it is not explicitly about addiction, the lyrics can also be applied to the subject, serving several purposes.

The song is masterful, with Layne

Staley’s haunting and pained vocals mixing with Jerry Cantrell’s in-your-face guitar tone to create one of the best stoner rock songs of all time.

The song “Junkhead” touches on the rampant drug abuse in the Seattle music scene, once again expanding on the album’s theme of addiction. The album’s title track showcases the self

loathing and suicidal thoughts that often accompany substance abuse, providing a heavy, grungy feel to the music. “Hate to Feel” and “Angry Chair” are both solid additions, with a start-stop feel to the former while the latter once again elaborates on addiction. The album’s closer, “Would?” is the strongest on the album and one of Alice in Chains’ greatest songs.

Written about the lead singer of Mother

Love Bone and good friend of the band Andrew Wood, who died from a heroin overdose during 1990, the song is a masterclass in songwriting. The

rumbling bass, insistent drums, screaming guitars, haunted screeching and growling vocals combine to create a song that not only dominated the band’s discography, but has stood the test of time.

“Dirt” serves as an excellent addition to the stoner-rock subgenre, with riffs that are incredibly thick and sludgy. The album is dark, gritty, angry and nihilistic, never letting up throughout its 57 minute runtime. Granted, some of the songs, such as “Sickman” and “God Smack” are notably bad for the awkward singing

by Layne Staley, and many of the songs have a similar sound to them while dealing with similar lyrical content.

However, this overall sound contributes to the idea of the album as one entity, discussing one singular theme that threads throughout the music to create a bleak atmosphere. As previously mentioned, few of the songs will make you come crawling back for more.

However, is that not the point?

Addiction is an ugly beast, one that casts us into the darkest depths of ourselves, forcing us to confront our scariest demons. Yet somehow, we find ourselves shamefully returning to our addictions, like a dog to its own vomit, only to rediscover why we hate them in the first place.

The album follows this formula, drawing the listener in with brilliant and catchy tracks like “Rooster” and “Would?” but ultimately leaving the listener depressed and unsatisfied. An album that not only communicates the intended message but leaves the listener feeling like they’ve experienced what the band has, is truly a great concept album.

“Dirt” gets four out of five stars

Graphic by Cee Spiller

The Index

12

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Track and field: Bearcat Open @ Northwest Missouri State University (A) Women’s basketball: Truman @ Lewis University, 5:30 pm (A) Men’s basketball: Truman @ Lewis University, 7:30 pm (A)

Women’s basketball: Truman @ University of Indianapolis, 1 pm (A) Men’s basketball: Truman @ University of Indianapolis, 3:15 pm (A)

Track and field: Bearcat Open @ Northwest Missouri State University (A)

*

Men’s and women’s swimming: GLVC Conference Meet @ Elkhart Aquatic Center (A)

Women’s basketball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 5:15 pm (H)

Women’s basketball: Truman vs. University of Illinois Springfield, 1:00 pm (H)

Men’s basketball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 7:30 pm (H)

Men’s basketball: Truman vs. University of Illinois Springfield, 3:15 pm (H)

* Softball: Truman vs. Wayne State College @ Emporia, Kan., 12:15 p.m. (A) Women’s basketball: Truman vs. William Jewell College, Softball: Truman vs. Concordia University, St. Paul @ Emporia, 5:15 pm (H) Kan., 4:45 p.m. (A) Men’s basketball: Truman Baseball: Truman vs. Northwest vs. William Jewell College, Missouri State @ Joplin, Mo., 7:30 pm (H) 4:00 pm (A)

Baseball: Truman @ Christian Brothers University, noon (A) Baseball: Truman @ Christian Brothers University, 3:00 pm (A)

*

* Softball: Truman vs. Emporia State University @ Emporia, Kan., 1:45 pm (A) Softball: Truman vs. Washburn University @ Emporia, Kan., 4:00 pm (A)

Softball: Truman vs. Parkside @ Rosemont, Ill., 9:00 am (A) Softball: Truman vs. Purdue Northwest @ Rosemont, Ill., TBD (A)

* TrackalsoandonField:Feb.Darren12:Young Invitational - Grinnell College (A) Baseball: Truman @ Christain Brothers University, noon (A) Baseball: Truman @ Christain Brothers University, 3:00 pm (A) Tennis: Truman @ Evangel University, TBA (A)

also on Feb. 19:

Tennis: Truman @ Grand View University, 3:00 pm (A)

Baseball: Truman vs. Missouri Southern @ Joplin, Mo., 9:00 am (A) Baseball: Truman vs. Missouri Southern @ Joplin, Mo., noon (A)

*

Softball: Truman vs. Ferris State University @ Rosemont, Ill., 1:30 pm (A) Softball: Truman vs. Saginaw Valley State University @ Rosemont, Ill., 3:30 pm (A) Baseball: Truman @ Trevecca Nazarene University, 2:00 pm (A)

Baseball: Truman @ Trevecca Nazarene University, noon (A) Baseball: Truman @ Trevecca Nazarene University, 3:00 pm (A) Softball: Truman vs. Hillsdale College @ Rosemont, Ill., 3:30 pm (A)

also on Feb. 20: Baseball: Truman vs. Missouri Western State University @ Joplin, MO, 4:00 pm (A)

also on Feb. 25

Baseball: Truman @ Trevecca Nazarene University, 5:00 pm (A) Tennis: Truman vs. Principia College @ St. Louis, MO, TBA (A) Tennis: Truman vs. Missouri Baptist University @ St. Louis, MO, TBA (A)

also on Feb. 26 Softball: Truman vs. University of Minnesota Duluth @ Emporia, KAN, 10:00 am (A) Softball: Truman vs. Northwest Missouri State University @ Emporia, KAN, 2:35 pm (A) Softball: Truman vs. Grand Valley State University @ Rosemont, IL, 6:00 pm (A)

Graphic by Rebekah Nelson

Supporting athletics during a pandemic

STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor Hello once again Index readers, thanks for your continued support of the paper. I think there is always time to talk about things that the Truman State University community specifically continues to do well during this pandemic.

In case you weren’t aware, we are still experiencing a new normal during this ordeal against mankind. It felt as though things could sort of be normal again, even I had great hopes when professional sports leagues were starting to allow fan attendance once again.

This paper is written for and about the local community, and the return of spectators to the stands to support our athletes has been a welcome sight. But, this does raise the question as to how we can continue to be as safe as possible while navigating the treacherous terrain of a pandemic.

This past Saturday, a fellow staff writer, Andrew Holder, and I were set to call the men’s basketball game against McKendree University for the student powered radio, 88.7 KTRM-Kirksville. Regardless of the game itself, from the press box inside Pershing Arena, a person really does have a view of everything in the gymnasium.

What I viewed was a student body that is still taking this pandemic seriously. As far as I could tell, the student side was littered with masked faces who cheered for the Bulldogs louder than ever.

Wearing masks as an everyday accessory is part of that new normal. The mask mandate continues to be extended, for good reason. Knowing that even during

a basketball game, students are wearing masks and relatively practicing social distancing is wonderful.

I know a lot of divide has been drawn up over if sports should even be going on right now. The world is weary of travel and the way that COVID-19 is spreading.

All I can say is that the Great Lakes Valley Conference has conducted their sport operations in an appropriate manner. Player testing, mask mandates for spectators and other cautionary measures are what’s keeping this season going.

My heart goes out to all the seniors that returned for one last ride. The NCAA was gracious enough to give out extra eligibility to their student athletes, and a lot of these seniors are getting a proper send-off in their final seasons.

I hope the community will continue to be spectators to these athletic accomplishments in a safe manner. That is how we keep what so many people love going, sports.

The Index

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

13

Women’s basketball surging after slow start

Senior guard Katey Klucking defends against a Southern Indiana player. Klucking played 39 out of 40 minutes in the game for the Bulldogs. Photos by Oliver Malone

Second-half of the season push has Bulldogs near the top of the GLVC LILLIE MORISAKI Staff Writer Women’s Basketball started their season 3-5. Since then, the Bulldogs are 14-6.

“I’ve never been on a team that has started with a losing record,” senior guard Katey Klucking said. “I think starting with the losing record kind of sparked a fire in everyone, and then we got going.”

The team quickly turned around and found themselves winning game after game.

Theo Dean has been the head coach for the past three years, but has played some role in the program for 10 years. He credits their success to their skilled upperclassmen.

“We have a great collection of leadership and a very experienced starting lineup,” Dean said.

“I think that we all just came together and worked on what we needed to work on, and we have just been able to get back in the game and crunch away each time we do it,” senior center Allison Thomas said. “We all stay focused, and we don’t give up.”

It was their game against Drury University Jan. 17 that would determine if they could keep it going.

The Bulldogs have never won against Drury in all of school history.

“In my time here, [beating Drury] was something that anyone in the program [always] wanted to do,” Klucking said.

Klucking put up nine points and had two assists against the Lady Panthers.

The Bulldogs won in a close game, 67-66.

“They accomplished three things in a row in just one game,” Dean said. “Not only did they beat the number one team in the nation, which this school has never done, but also that game itself tied the record of eight games in a row which was the longest winning streak in school history.”

“It showed the grittiness that we had. We were never winning in that game up until the end, and we kept making pressure free throws,” Klucking said.

Women’s basketball continued to win and faced Lindenwood University Jan. 20.

The Bulldogs hadn’t won against Lindenwood since 2013.

“It was another big win because they’ve just been a team that for whatever reason we could not beat,” Dean said. “We were able to get a big win where we didn’t really play well. We didn’t shoot it well, but we defended probably, our best defense that we’ve played.”

However, it wasn’t beating the number one team in their conference that was the team’s biggest barrier.

“People are having to push their body beyond the limits that they’re used to,” Klucking said. “The mental and physical exhaustion from what this pandemic has been doing the past couple of years for us has been our biggest challenge.”

“The biggest struggle for me has been figuring out what is too much. We’ve literally done the same thing every practice since Jan. 3,” Dean said. “At the end of the day, we are still not playing our best basketball game. The main thing for us is to just continue to save our bodies. We need to be injury free to be able to play our best basketball at the end of the season and going into the postseason.”

Bulldogs fell to the University of Southern Indiana Jan. 27 but found another win against McKendree University Jan. 29.

The team had lost their winning streak, but picked up another win right after.

“It was a downfall in terms of our winning streak, but it also shows that we are

Junior guard Hannah Belanger dribbles against a defender. Belanger scored 13 points against Southern Indiana.

Senior forward Maddie Re prepares to shoot a free throw against Southern Indiana.

Re shot 4-6 from the line against the Screaming Eagles. just going to go up from here,” Klucking said. “We saw we were able to have 10 wins in a row, so that means we can definitely do it again. We need to focus just by doing it game-by-game rather than by looking at it and saying we need to win 11 games in a row.”

Women’s Basketball will face Lewis University Feb. 3, the University of Indianapolis Feb. 5 and Quincy University Feb. 10.

With just seven regular season games left, the Bulldogs look to pick up another streak as they head into the postseason.

“We understand our conference, anyone can walk in and beat you any given night,” Dean said. “Of course, we want to win, of course, we hate losing, but our three main things are that every day we want to be 100% better, we want to have fun out there and we just want to play basketball the right way. If we do those things, we can live with the results.”

Redshirt senior guard Brioenne Burns closes out on defense. Burns had a career-high 17 points against The University of Southern Indiana, however the Bulldogs fell short in a 66-78 loss.

14

The Index

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Truman sports brief: Week of Feb. 1 STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Sports Editor This section is dedicated to bringing the reader up-to-speed on what has been happening in Truman State University athletics since the previous issue of The Index. From big game results, to incoming recruiting classes, the Truman sports brief will serve as a quick guide for readers to stay in the loop on all things athletics.

Men’s basketball last five It’s been a shaky last five games for the Bulldogs. Going 2-3 over a span of five games, the team has scored under 70 points in each of their losses but scored over 70 points in their two wins. One of the major highlights from this stretch was sophomore guard Masen Miller’s 27 point night against the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a new career high for the former Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. Cade McKnight continues to be a consistent player for head coach Jeff Horner, leading the team in scoring three out of the last five games. The Bulldogs have a 13-6 record heading into their matchup against Lewis University. Check out page 12 of The Index to see when the Bulldogs are in action next.

Redshirt freshman guard Sam Lock looks to pass around a pesky defender.

Lock has five assists on the season. Photos by Oliver Malone

Truman throwers atop GLVC Truman thrower Jacob Morris was named GLVC Field Athlete of the Week for his school record breaking performance at the South Dakota State Div. II Invitational. Morris broke fellow teammate Bobby Campbell’s weight throw record with a 19.51m toss according to Truman athletics. Three Bulldog throwers make up the top three weight throw performances this season in the GLVC. Jacob Morris is first with his 19.51m toss, followed by Bobby Campbell with an 18.95m toss Dec. 4 and third is Brendan Baker with a 18.59m toss also Dec. 4. See page 12 of The Index for upcoming meet dates and times for the track and field team.

Cade McKnight player of the week by GLVC The hardware and accolades continue to pile up for junior forward Cade McKnight. McKnight earned GLVC Player of the Week for the second time this season for his two games played from Jan. 24 - Jan. 30. According to Truman athletics, McKnight averaged 23.5 points per game, pulled down seven rebounds per game and shot 61% from the field over the two games. Another positive for the forward is his free throw shooting, in which McKnight shot 90% from the free throw line over the two games played.

Redshirt junior forward Cade McKnight looks to attack the paint against University of Southern Indiana. McKnight earned his second career GLVC Player of the Week honors.

Men’s basketball signs two freshman guards According to Truman athletics, the Bulldogs signed two new players to the fall 2022 class. One of the signings is 6’5” guard Preston Turner, from Ellsinore, Missouri. Turner averaged 29 points per game and is the second leading scorer in East Carter High School history according to Truman athletics. The second signing is 5’11” guard Casen Lawrence, a three year varsity starter out of St. Louis, Missouri. Lawrence averaged 15 points and four assists per game for Westminster Christian Academy his junior year, according to Truman athletics.

Junior guard Hunter Strait brings the ball up for the Bulldogs. Truman has two upperclassmen on their roster currently.

Women’s basketball last four The Bulldogs 10 game winning streak was snapped against the University of Southern Indiana, but the team is still sitting with a great 14-6 record and an even more impressive 10-2 record against the GLVC. One player who made a big impact was freshman guard Gracie Stugart, who scored against McKendree University with a career high 12 point performance and knocked down two three-pointers. The Bulldogs are on the heels of UMSL for the lead in the central division and avenged their loss earlier in the season to the Tritons with a dominant 25 point performance from junior guard Hannah Belanger. An article written about the Bulldog’s recent success is on page 13 of The Index.

Freshman guard Gracie Stugart attacks the basket on a dribble drive.

Stugart played a career high 31 minutes against McKendree.

Graphic by Jinyu Li

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

The Index

15

Bulldogs fall short to Lewis Flyers

Bodies fly to the floor for a loose ball against Lewis University. The Bulldogs had three steals against the Flyers. Photos by Oliver Malone

Above: Freshman forward Eric Northweather pulls up for a jump shot.

Northweather led the team in scoring with 16 points against Lewis University.

Right: Forward Dylan Peeters dishes a crisp pass to a teammate.

Peeters put up five points in limited action against the Flyers.

Forward Elijah Hazekamp dribbles the ball upcourt on a fast break. Hazekamp led the team in rebounds with nine total against the Flyers.

ATHLETE o f

t h e

w e e k

Junior field athlete Jacob Morris had a successful showing at the South Dakota State Div. II Invitational last week. Morris was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Field Athlete of the Week after breaking the school weight throw record with a 19.51m throw.

The throw ranks sixth in the entirety of Div. II and holds up first in the GLVC. Morris will look to continue his season Feb. 4 at the Bearcat Open hosted at Northwest Missouri State University.

Jacob Morris

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

BASEBALL LOOKS TO IMPROVE THIS SPRING GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS

Features, Opinions Editor The Truman State University baseball team hopes to improve after ending last season 7-33.

Though the team is facing a tough schedule again this year, according to senior starting pitcher Connor McKenna, they are hopeful this year will be better.

McKenna said it wasn’t the season the team wanted to have. It was a young team, and because they started 0-20, there’s not really one specific issue they’ve been able to point to — it was a whole-team issue.

“It just kind of seemed like nothing ever matched up, like there would be games that we would score some runs, but those were the games that the pitching really didn’t show up, and then we also had a lot of games where we pitched it pretty well, only gave up a few, but the offense just never got anything going, so it was a full team failure I guess you could say in those first 20 games,” McKenna said.

As the season progressed, the team began to figure it out and won some games, giving them a good feeling about the upcoming season, head coach Dan Davis said.

Davis attributed the losses to a young pitching staff.

“We just took some lumps last year and decided it would help us in the future, and we just stuck with those guys throughout the year and hopefully “I think this year we’re that experience helps us and pays off for us this year,” Davis said.

“At the end of the day, we just didn’t succeed in the first half of the seeing a lot more guys season and got off to a tough start, and it kind of barrel rolled on us,” Davis said. “But we’ve been through the battles and stuff, and the guys take pride in what they are a year older. We’ve added a couple of guys here and there who are do on a day-to-day going to help us. I have high expectations for this year.”

Senior catcher Jacob Schneider shared the sentiment of his teammate basis.” and coach about last season, and said the team didn’t finish with the record they would have liked.

At the same time, it was a younger team, and they faced some tough -Jacob Schneider teams at the beginning of the season, McKenna said. The team also struggled to hold on to leads and often ended up giving them away tosenior catcher ward the end of the game, McKenna said.

McKenna said he thought the momentum they picked up at the end of the season, and their ability not to completely give up after a rough start, was a positive thing they could take into this upcoming season, especially since so many players are returning.

The issues from last year have motivated the team instead of discouraging them this year, and that has helped them this fall to work hard. McKenna said they did better this fall than they have at any point in his time on the team.

“We definitely learned as a group, we just have to, everybody kind of has to be bought in. There’s not a day that we’re going to go out on the field and probably be the more talented team to the degree that somebody will just roll over, and we’ll be able to win if we don’t give our best effort or don’t show up or anything like that,” McKenna said. “And we know that, so that’s a good lesson for sure for this year, to know that we have to come out and really show up, play our best game, do all that to have a successful year.”

Schneider also said the team has committed to a change and thinks the on-field product will improve this season.

The team has created a more competitive environRedshirt senior cacher Jake Schneider takes a powerful swing at the ment, Schneider said, and has more communication and pride pitch. Schneider had 15 hits last season for the Bulldogs. Photos from in their work.

“I think this year we’re seeing a lot more guys take pride in what they do on a TMN archives day-to-day basis,” Schneider said.

The goal for this year is to make the postseason and compete for the national championship, Davis said. The team wasn’t necessarily at that level yet but was taking a step in the right direction, he said.

McKenna said his personal goal was to give his team the chance to win every time he goes out on the mound. The team goal was to capitalize on situations where they have the opportunity to score.

“I think the most important way that the team dynamic has changed is … guys are a lot more bought in, like nobody wants to go out and do what we did last year … that was not fun … more guys now realize that if they aren’t all in on what the coaches are saying, really being a member of the team, working toward those team goals, then it’s gonna happen again so everybody just needs to be on the same page, working toward the same thing, not worrying about the individual numbers or doing the best thing for you. It’s about doing your job to put your team in a position to win,” McKenna said.

This year there are some players who can do multiple things offensively and have both speed and power, Davis said. The offense will likely be their strength, according to Davis.

The team will have to work on defense and commanding the strike zone, Davis said.

A few players to watch are Brennan Perkins, who was injured but is back in the lineup, Holden Missey who has been a top hitter the past three years, Simon Murray, Will Fromm and Connor McKenna.

Overall, Davis said he thinks this season could be a very athletic and fun team to watch.

“You know we’ve talked about our potential for a long time, and the last two or three years we’ve had a lot of potential, and we haven’t lived up to it,” Davis said.

“So I think that’s the one thing I want to see out of our guys is living up to potential and when it really counts.”

“I think this year’s team is the most talented team I’ve been on in the five years that I’ve been here. There were some other years that probably rivaled this year, but I think that this year we’re the deepest that I’ve seen since … and so I’m just excited that this year we’re going to play a little bit more cohesive ball together and kind of see where that takes us,” Schneider said.

“I’m glad that this year should be a little bit of a different year than last year … when you look at last year, it’s just kind of a disappointing mark on all of our time and experience here, and so it’s a motivating factor to kind of prove that’s not really who we are,” Schneider said.

The season will start with a four-game away series against Christian Brothers College starting Feb. 12.

Junior outfielder Kevin Donohue swings at a pitch last spring. Donohue batted .272 for the season in 27 games.

Graphics by Jinyu Li

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 8

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