The Index, Vol. 113 Issue 10

Student athlete balances two sports, page 16

Janet Gooch reflects as provost,

page 9

Beyond the pages, page 11 March Madness is sports at its finest, page 14

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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UNIVERSITY TO INSTALL CAMERAS

Students take notes and listen to a lecture during class. 76 security cameras will be added to various locations around campus. Photo by Rachel Becker

The total cost of installation will be $331,884 over five years SETH JARVIS Staff Writer Truman State University has begun the process of installing 76 security cameras across campus. These cameras are meant to provide added security and crime deterrence at the University.

According to the Board of Governors, the cost of installing the cameras will be $331,884 for five years. Hardware, programming and training will cost $162,017. Electrical, cabling and boring will cost $150,667. A three-year service agreement will cost $11,520. Along with this servicing them will cost $3,840 for years four and five. Sam Guth, physical plant director at the University, said the contractor the University hired for the project is Communications Technology Incorporated out of St. Louis.

Guth said the plan is to have all

cameras installed by Aug. 1. Over the summer, members of the Department of Public Safety and Information Technology Services will be trained on how to use the system. DPS will have exclusive access to the system except for ITS’s normal maintenance of it.

Guth said the cameras will be installed on poles in parking lots as well as on buildings. Some boring will have to be completed to wire the cameras along with indoor wiring occurring in certain buildings. The campus has been divided into quadrants and installation will take place over phases. The goal is to avoid disrupting school or the numerous camps that Truman hosts over the summer.

“They won’t be inconspicuous; they are not hidden cameras by any means.

They’re full-size, outdoor cameras that are weather resistant. There are a multitude of types, some of them have better

nighttime resolution than others at certain spots. Using the ambient light from the parking lots and stuff like that, some cameras don’t need to be enhanced because we have the lights on all night,” Guth said.

Guth explained that this is a well-designed project that was designed with the students in mind. It emerged from requests from students and parents over the years.

Sara Seifert, chief of the Department of Public Safety, said the cameras are being installed to provide added security to the campus. Much of it will be perception as there will be warnings that people are under surveillance.

The cameras themselves will not be monitored 24/7. What the cameras record will be available for playback if there is an issue on campus. The goal is to bring a sense of security to students and up the

department’s clearance rate of crimes committed on campus.

Seifert said cameras are going to be placed in strategic locations across campus. Places that have seen more crime than other areas, such as parking lots and bike racks, will host the bulk of the 76 cameras. Only one indoor camera will be placed in the business office in McClain.

DPS will be the main hub for reviewing, training and accessing the cameras.

The two people at DPS who will be predominantly trained to handle the cameras on the campus will be Seifert herself and Sergeant Jeremey Cordray. They were heavily involved in the selection process of the cameras and choosing where the cameras needed to go.

See SECURITY page 3

Student groups LGBTQ+ Center debate abortion officially opens JACK RATLIFF AND GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Staff Writer, Features and Opinions Editor College Republicans and College Democrats hosted a debate over the issue of abortion last Friday, March 25.

College Republicans were represented by Kyle Farrell, Abby Kranz and Layne Nichols, while College Democrats were represented by Ella Schnake, Alicia Stout and Kaitlyn Skeeters. Only one panelist in College Republicans had prior debate experience while two of the panelists in College Democrats were on their debate teams in high school. Stout is currently serving on the Truman debate team.

See DEBATE page 5 Abby Kranz speaking at the podium.

Kranz took the affirmative side of the debate along with other College Republicans Layne Nichols and Kyle Farrell. Photo by Rachel Becker

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 10 © 2022

MATT FRANK Staff Writer

Truman State University opened its first LGBTQ+ Resource Center Feb. 23. Truman held a ribbon cutting event to commemorate the moment.

The ribbon cutting event marked the opening of the center’s student lounge, located at Baldwin Hall room 101. The Resource Center is a part of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion office, which is also on the first floor of Baldwin Hall.

See CENTER page 6

Senior Shania Montufar and junior Kennedy Cooper cut the ribbon at the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Montufar and Cooper are on the advisory board for the Center. Photo by Emily Collins

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Fair celebrates African culture

Above: A booth with mannequins showcases African clothing. The event was hosted by the African Students Association. Photos by Oliver Malone Left: Students serve African cuisine to those in attendance. The fair was held March 26 to raise funds for the organization.

Below: Students play games on the Quad at the African fair. The African Students Association also does food delivery of African food to raise funds.

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: Emily Giannotti Designers: Cee Spiller, Jinyu Li Rebekah Nelson Podcast Editor: Trevor Grandin Photo Editor: Emily Collins Photographer: Oliver Malone, Robby Garner, Jayden Dawson Copy Editors: Quinn Sloan, Gillian Burks, Jessica Robinson, Leighya McNeely, Aidan Grantham, Joshua Guiot, Sydney Ellison Staff Writers: Seth Jarvis Savannah Kluesner, Jack Ratliff, Andrew Holder, Matt Frank, Robby Garner, Gabe Smith, Kennedy Cooper, Joey Dougherty, Sydney Ellison Natalie Morrison, Jayden Dawson, Jade Marceau, Lillie Morisaki Adviser: David Price

03/22 Theft reported at the 1000 block of North Osteopathy St.

03/25 Trespassing reported at the 200 block of North Baltimore St.

03/22 Theft reported at the 1100 block of West Hamilton St.

03/26 Suspicious activity reported at the 2600 block of North Baltimore St.

03/23 Trespassing reported at the 2700 block of South Franklin St.

03/26 Theft reported at the 600 block of South Osteopathy St.

03/24 Burglary reported at the 300 block of South Franklin St.

03/26 Suspicious activity reported at the 1700 block of North Centennial Ave.

03/24 Domestic disturbance reported at the 400 block of West Jefferson St.

03/27 Theft reported at the 1000 block of East Randolph St.

03/24 Shots fired reported at the 1300 block of Queens Ct.

03/27 Suspicious activity reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

03/35 Theft reported at the 1200 block of North Elson St.

03/27 Theft reported at the 400 block of West Scott St.

03/25 Theft reported at the 1600 block of Fairview Dr.

03/28 Burglary reported at the 2600 block of North Baltimore St.

03/25 Burglary reported at the 1400 block of North Walnut St.

03/28 Trespassing reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

03/25 Burglary reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore St.

03/28 Loud noise party reported at the 900 block of West George St.

03/25 Burglary reported at the 1200 block of West Burton St.

03/29 Suspicious activity reported at the 1000 block of North Osteopathy St.

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Forensics team wins big at tournaments ROBBY GARNER Staff Writer Last month, Truman State University’s forensics team claimed first place at the Missouri Forensics State Tournament. Because of concerns presented

by COVID-19, the tournament occurred virtually this year.

Students were able to give their speeches on campus in their meeting room rather than having to drive across the state and give their speeches separately. Some students found this a refreshing change of pace.

“Being in the same building … it’s nice to have more time with the team and being able to bond between rounds,” said senior Kayla Gerlt.

While students are normally separate from each other during the debate rounds, they were presented with a unique opportunity this year to log onto Zoom after they completed their speeches and watch their teammates compete through the virtual rooms.

Another benefit of having the tournament online was that it enabled several

other universities, that normally would not attend, a chance to compete.

When it came time for the awards ceremony, all the team members were able to witness it in the same room. Multiple members said it was a great boost for team morale to be in such close proximity with one another.

Team members Ella Schnake, Megan Ford and Maya Krump all won awards for their performances in informative and oratorical speaking. Among the awards, Megan Trent was the state champion and awarded second place speaker, Sophomore Elijah Baum was a semifinalist and awarded third place speaker, senior Jackson Elder was the state champion in extemporaneous and impromptu speaking, and senior Kayla Gerlt was the state champion in duo interpretation.

Following this tournament, the forensics team competed in the at the Pi Kappa Delta Biennial National Tournament & Convention in Orlando, Florida where the team placed eighth in the individual sweepstakes and twenty-fourth in the debate sweepstakes.

Ella Schnake incorporates actions and movements to enhance her performance. The team placed first at the Missouri Forensics State Tournament. Photo by Emily Collins

The forensics team poses for a picture after a successful tournament. They were able to watch their teammates compete via Zoom. Photo by Robby Garner

Maya Krump practices her speech for her event. The team placed eighth at the Pi Kappa Delta Biennial National Tournament & Convention. Photo by Emily Collins

SECURITY| 76 security cameras will be placed around campus for the fall 2022 semester, will be installed on poles and buildings in phases over the summer Continued from page 1 Cordray will have the ability to burn off disks if something happens on campus. Department police officers will have the ability to save recorded sections if an event occurs, but have to receive permission from Cordray to have recordings burned onto a disk. Seifert will oversee this whole process.

Seifert said the security camera company the University went with is Avigilon. She explained that one reason why they chose them is because of them being easy to work with. Most of the training to use the cameras will be online.

According to Guth and Seifert, March 25 was the start date of the project as groups such as the Physical Plant and the Department of Public Safety met with the contractors.

Graphic from BOG meeting notes from March 1, 2022

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No mask mandate?

No worries When the President’s Office sent out an email to the campus community Feb. 25 stating that Truman State University no longer requires masks on campus, the campus community was split. Most of us were shocked at the news, expecting the mask mandate to be intact until spring break at least.

The new ruling went into effect at 5 p.m. Feb. 25. All buildings on campus no longer require an individual to wear a mask to enter. This protocol follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, updated Feb. 25.

The CDC community levels place Adair County at “low,” which recommends, “People with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask,” according to the CDC’s website.

The email states students who would feel more comfortable can continue wearing masks. Individuals on campus can continue to enforce masks in personal offices, but the individual must provide masks, according to the email.

We, The Index Editorial Board, were nervous when the mandate was first lifted, but seek to inform students about the updated usage of masks.

As of March 28, 2022, the COVID-19 community level is still low and the CDC said people can choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect themselves and others.

To ease the anxieties that come

with the changing COVID-19 protocols, a New York Times article entitled “Should You Still Wear a Mask?” by Amelia Nierenberg explains how safe you might be while going maskless in certain situations.

Nierenberg states, “if you’re otherwise healthy and have received your vaccine and booster shots, your risk of getting seriously ill with Covid is extraordinarily small.”

“If infection rates where you live are high … the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend masks in most indoor spaces. But in many situations, the decision to wear a mask is becoming a personal one,” Nierenberg said.

Outdoor spaces are generally safe according to Erin Bromage, an associate professor of biology who studies infectious diseases at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

“If you’re standing on a lawn watching a show, there’s really no data to support that a mask does anything to protect you that Mother Nature’s not taking care of,” Bromage said.

Places like The Quad are safe for maskless fun. When it comes to masking in the classroom, our community’s COVID-19 level remains low so we are fine without masks according to the CDC. But in general, do what makes you feel comfortable and respect others’ decisions on the matter.

Stu Gov

Buzz Hello, my name is Ethan Kershaw and I am the current vice president of Student Government.

Sadly, my term will be up in just two weeks and I plan to study abroad in the fall semester so I will not be pursuing reelection.

However, I encourage everyone to run, but especially to vote in our upcoming elections. Tomorrow, April 1, is the filing deadline so I imagine most people that are running are already on the ballot, but if you still want to run contact our Elections Administrator Owen Smith for more information at stugovelectionsadmin@truman.edu.

Online voting will take place next week from 8 a.m. Monday, April 4, to 4 p.m. Friday, April 8, so be sure to cast your vote for the next president, vice president and senators. Just go to vote.truman.edu on

those days to access the ballot by logging in with your Truman State email and password.

Now that I’ve said my bit on elections, I would like to say that it was a great experience to serve as the Student Government’s vice president. I had the privilege of working with many great students, staff and faculty members to improve Truman State University and the student experience here.

My time in office sure has flown by — or felt like it would never end, depending on the day — and I look forward to seeing what the next body will accomplish. Please be sure to contact the Student Government email: studentgovernment@truman.edu with any questions or concerns that you may have as a student and we will work to advocate for you!

SUBMITTED BY ETHAN KERSHAW vice president

SAB is not considering student wants

ANAKIN BUSH Managing Editor Truman State University’s Student Activities Board regularly brings entertainment to the University for students to enjoy. While this is an amazing idea on paper, the execution left a lot to be desired.

Most recently, SAB brought “comedian” Nick Colletti to campus. The general consensus after his announcement was “who?”

When a comedian’s most famous bit is from a dead social media platform from six years ago, there is cause for alarm. The comedy show confirmed the fears many had about him, as most in attendance agreed that his show was not very funny and was even offensive to some. Even SAB themselves acknowledged this, with

Hannah Rohm saying “Nick’s performance wasn’t the performance that we were expecting … and we want to make the students know that, that wasn’t what we understood to be bringing to campus,” This is not the first time SAB has brought a comedian to campus resulting in a mixed response. During 2020, Josh Peck came to campus as a comedy act. While he was a bigger name than Nick Colletti, he was about as un-funny. Both relied on cringe “frat boy humor.” While this style is possibly amusing to frat boys, it fell flat to most of the audience. In his show, Peck came across as a second-rate child actor trying to stay relevant.

These days, Peck is primarily a YouTuber, where he hangs out with similarly unfunny people like David Dobrik. Maybe SAB really likes this style of humor on the platform, as the next comedy act coming to campus is YouTuber Trevor Wallace.

Many are expecting Wallace to disappoint like Peck and Colletti. I share this expectation. While YouTubers certainly can produce funny and entertaining content, usually, that does not translate well to a live unedited performance. Especially when the YouTubers are not professional comedians with a refined comedy style.

Compare this disappointing string of

comedians to the superb comedy act during 2018, Kenan Thompson. Thompson is a massive name in the comedy field. Not only has he been a cast member of Saturday Night Live for nearly 20 years, he also has a refined sense of comedy. Thompson relies on actual storytelling and joke structure unlike the other comedy acts brought to campus.

Humorless comedy acts are not the only disappointing shows the SAB has put on in recent years. The 2019 musical performance was Hunter Hayes. Unless you are a fan of bad country music, you probably don’t know who Hayes is or have no desire to learn. While attendance was very low for that event, another controversy arose: the amount of money spent to bring him to campus. The number was never publicly revealed by SAB, but it was a rather high number based on rumors within the student body, with most of the SAB budget spent on this one event that nobody liked or attended.

SAB never revealed the cost to bring Peck or Colletti either, but I can guarantee it was too much. These YouTube comedians tend to have large egos, and I have little reason to believe these two would be any different. With the amount of money spent on these concerts, some-

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times exceeding their $20,000 budget, why not book an act that more students would enjoy? SAB sends out surveys to students asking them about who they would like to perform so they know who the student body wants to see. The results of the 2019 SAB concert survey were never released, but it seems logical to conclude Hayes was not the winner based on attendance at the event. Just because someone is expensive to bring to campus does not mean they are inherently good.

There are plenty of great acts out there, including some smaller acts, that would be much cheaper than other acts.

I realize this sounds overly critical, but I really do appreciate SAB bringing entertainment to students. I just truly wish the acts were worth attending instead of leaving very little lasting impact. Perhaps SAB should work closer with students to ensure the acts will actually be appreciated and attended, instead of causing disappointment and wishful thinking of an entertaining performance. If SAB wants to continue to utilize surveys, then the survey results should be publicly released to ensure they are followed through with. Another possible option would be to encourage students to present their feelings on potential acts at SAB meetings.

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Alumna raises funds for Ukrainian family

ROBBY GARNER Staff Writer

With the Russia-Ukraine conflict getting worse by the day, a Truman alumna is doing her part to ensure the safety of her family and friends in Ukraine.

Dariya Kucheryaba, a member of the spring class of 2021 has been collecting money to send back to her family and friends overseas in Ukraine. For the last several years, Kucheryaba has been living in the United States with her mother and grandmother while the rest of her extended family stayed overseas.

When the war with Russia began, her aunt, niece, godmother and family friends all had to flee to Moldova for their safety. Kucheryaba said the timing was crucial since many countries have been closing their borders to the refugees in the weeks following the outbreak of war.

Despite escaping Ukraine, Kucheryaba stated her family’s troubles are far from over. Currently, they live in a non-modernized house in Moldova with a host family, meaning they have no electricity or running water. In addition, they have no money since the Ukrainian currency is worthless now. Only U.S. dollars are being accepted by the countries still taking in refugees.

Kucheryaba said the money she has collected will be used to assist in her family’s general livelihood such as collecting food, rent money, feminine

products, baby food and other essentials “Long term plans are indefinite, it all depends on what the war does,” Kucheryaba said.

Kucheryaba concluded the interview by urging Truman students to remain in-

formed about the conflict, “The world has desensitized us to war. It becomes different when it happens to you.”

Kucheryaba admitted she has to force herself to read the news most mornings, but remains hopeful that things will

work out in the end. She reminded Truman students that they should never be afraid to help someone in need.

“It will always make a difference.

Especially when it starts gaining numbers.”

Ukraine

Moldova

Graphic by Cee Spiller

DEBATE| A political debate was held between the College Democrats and College Republicans in Baldwin Hall, with standing room only Continued from page 1 The debate took place in Baldwin Hall room 114, with three panel members for each side and a professor serving as the moderator. Each side had the opportunity to give an opening statement, with several chances to give arguments against their opponent’s platform as well as a chance to refute what their opponents said. There was then a 10-minute period where each side could ask the other questions and cross examine them. Following the cross examination, each side gave their closing statements and then took audience questions.

Both organizations were happy with the turnout, showing that abortion is an issue that students care about. The event was a follow up to a political expo last semester, where each political club was invited to state their views on certain political issues. After witnessing the big turnout and wishing for a chance to go back and forth on the issues, Farrell proposed the debate regarding abortion.

After the debate, many audience members agreed that while it was unlikely to change anyone’s minds, it was still an important discussion to have. Alexa Kolesiak stated that people’s minds were likely already made up before they

The crowd of students at the abortion debate in Baldwin Hall 114. The room filled up before the event even started, leaving standing room only. Photos by Rachel Becker watched the debate and they had a clear preference towards which side they support. Despite this, she argued, it is

College Democrats voice their opinions during their turn at the debate. Three members were on each side, with a professor serving as the moderator.

a good debate to have as it is such an important issue.

Warren Barge agreed and said, “I don’t necessarily think this changed a whole lot of minds, but in some situations, especially when we live in a democracy, it’s not necessarily about coming to different conclusions, it’s about having these constructive debates and allowing individuals to air their viewpoints, their perspectives, where they’re coming from, and I think that has some value within itself.”

Aili Eggleston and Nicole Young disagreed that the debate was constructive, arguing that everyone came into the debate with their prior views and that the issue of abortion has already been discussed multiple times. They argued that most people likely came to see a fight between College Republicans and College Democrats.

Despite this expectation, both sides expressed their pleasant surprise that

the debate remained civil and did not devolve into personal attacks. Stout, reiterating a point she brought up during the debate said, “It felt more like a discussion than a debate. We were unable to change each other’s minds but remained civil; it just felt like we were two ships passing in the night.” Farrell and Nichols stated that they didn’t change their minds on the issue, but they hoped that the debate would at least cause some audience members to think critically about the issue of abortion.

The students in College Democrats agreed, saying that they hoped the debate caused people to challenge their own views and use critical thinking.

Both sides stated their desire to find common ground with the other, and the debate proved that both College Republicans and College Democrats are united in their desire to educate students and challenge them to think critically.

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CENTER| The Center opens after 10 years of development, offers resources tailored to LGBTQ+ needs to students on campus Continued from page 1 The LGBTQ+ Resource Center is still a work in progress, Shania Montufar, LGBTQ+ Resource Center advisory board member, said. Montufar said they are still working on getting student workers for the lounge. “[The LGBTQ+ Resource Center] is something students at Truman have talked about for a really long time,” Montufar said. “So, there has been a student desire to have a center like this on campus for upwards of ten, fifteen years.”

The student lounge is open during regular building hours Monday through Friday. The lounge has various resources available, including LGBTQ+ related books and condoms. Other organizations have been in contact with the Resource Center and have posted advertisements on the center’s bulletin board.

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center’s student lounge is completely made up of donated items. A donation drive provided the rugs, lamps, various pride flags and other items. University surplus donated the larger furniture in the

room, such as couches and chairs. Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, helped the center to find and secure a space for the student lounge, Montufar said during the event.

The LGBTQ+ Resource Center will host its first official event April 1 on the Quad as a part of Truman’s Diversity Week. The event is not happening until April because the Resource Center wants to have an opening event that can include everyone that wants to participate, Kennedy Cooper, Student Government Diversity and Inclusion chair, said. An outdoor event is the only way to successfully include everyone, Cooper said. The ribbon cutting ceremony only involved advisory board members and administrators who helped to create the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. This is because of the room’s small size and inability to comfortably accommodate more people.

The advisory board of the center is composed of members from Student Government, members of CDI, representatives from some relevant student

James Hammerstrand speaks at the ribbon cutting event about his feelings on the Center. The Resource Center is located in Baldwin Hall. Photos by Emily Collins organizations and some faculty, Montu- said there are around 15 people involved far said. The advisory board is currently in the advisory board. working to organize the structure of the On a petition that gauged interest LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Montufar in opening the Resource Center, many students indicated they were interested in health. Because of this, the advisory board is working with members of the Nursing Department faculty and the Women’s Resource Center. “Health” can span from sexual health to mental health resources. The petition garnered about 1,007 signatures, Montufar said during the event.

Montufar said these connections have helped to provide the LGBTQ+ Resource Center with other resources.

Montufar said the Resource Center received all of its sexual health resources from non-profits and the state of Missouri because of these connections.

During the event, Montufar said Student Government has been involved with the creation of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center beginning in 2010. Since then, Student Government has passed four resolutions for the center, citing a need for targeted support for LGBTQ+ community members.

Sue Thomas, University president, attended the ribbon cutting event.

“These are the kinds of things that make Truman really proud,” Thomas said when prompted to comment. “When we talk to prospective students who are coming to Truman, one of the things we talk about is how we want students to Students and faculty who attended the ribbon cutting pose for a photo to commerate the opening. Many students on campus feel welcome.” were interested in the Center according to a petition on campus.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

detours

ours Truman alumna opens small business

ours detours SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer

Create the Vibe Candle Company, a make-your-own candle shop located on Franklin Street, provides Kirksville with a creative and heavenly-scented candle experience.

Established by Megan Howard-Boyer during March 2020, the shop allows you to create a personal candle, including scent and color. Customers can also purchase candles that Howard-Boyer has made herself.

A Truman State University alumna, Howard-Boyer was inspired to operate a business based on candlemaking by her own lifestyle. She noted the influence her mother’s habit of burning candles when she was younger had on her, and said she herself enjoyed burning candles in her own home.

“I love lighting a candle first thing in the morning to kind of set the intention or the vibe for the day,” HowardBoyer said. “It’s just a habit … One of the first things I do in the morning is get my coffee and light a candle.”

One of the other inspirations for starting the business, Howard-Boyer said, was the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both a personal-trainer and now a small business owner, Howard-Boyer sought an alternative method of making money when she could no longer meet with clients in-person. Although she still works as a personal trainer, creating candles and shipping them nationwide at the beginning of the pandemic was a way to stay financially sound during difficult times.

“I tried to think of, you know, ‘What can I do?’ And I thought, ‘Well, I burn my money on candles, why not try to figure out how to make and sell them?’ That’s where it all started,” said Howard-Boyer about the inspiration for her business.

Although there are challenges to operating a small business during a continued worldwide pandemic, HowardBoyer has met mostly success. As the pandemic shifted, so did her business model. She first began with shipping products to homes then began to offer private parties. She moved into her current space during November.

For her, material availability has caused most of her challenges. From jars, to lids, to wicks, Howard-Boyer has struggled to obtain the materials necessary to make the

ours

candles. According to Howard-Boyer, each of her materials has been difficult to obtain at times. She also noted that shipping prices can be difficult but maintained that the experience has been beneficial for her.

Although many small businesses have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, Howard-Boyer has been able to not only survive but become successful.

“For me personally, it really was a blessing in disguise because had it never happened, I wouldn’t be doing this.

Luckily, I was able to really just thrive with the business,” she said.

In terms of the items available to purchase, each item is handcrafted. Howard-Boyer completes every step of the process herself, including combining scents, pouring the candles and designing labels. Further, she offers not just candles, but make-your-own-wax-melts as well, which she noted could be beneficial for students in dormitories or for clients whose landlords have rules against burning candles.

Part of what Howard-Boyer views as most rewarding about operating a business in a smaller town is the ability to form relationships with clients. This includes getting to know customers by name and talking with them.

“When anyone comes to the candle bar, or when I have private parties, I really like the intimate setting and just getting to know customers and providing a welcoming and nice experience.”

One of the essential things about Howard-Boyer’s business is the individualized experience of creating one’s own candle. She also offers services regarding plants, such as repotting, buy/sell/trade services and her own custom homemade potting soil.

Graphics by Rebecca Nelson Howard-Boyer also mentioned one other important aspect for Truman students specifically.

“Students get a discount,” she said with a laugh.

One Truman student who has visited “Create the Vibe” is senior Mikayla Thomas. Having visited right after the business opened its first location beside “To Die For Bakery,” she noted that she was interested in its create-your-own-candle experience. Part of that interest was due to Thomas’s experiences as an employee at a candle bar in Jefferson City.

Thomas noted her own affinity for candles and her interest in how Howard-Boyer utilized the candle bar in her own business. When Thomas visited, larger groups required a reservation, which differed from her experience with candle bars.

“But still just the concept of being able to make your own [was] something I was familiar with and was eager to see how it worked here,” Thomas said.

One of Thomas’s favorite parts of her visit was the variety of available jars, including the different colors available. She noted that she liked the cologne scent options available. She also enjoyed her experience with Howard-Boyer.

Thomas also noted that “Create the Vibe” adds variety to Kirksville’s entertainment options.

“It definitely adds more of a college vibe, like cool things to do on weekends for college students. She definitely advertised it as a lady’s night out kind of thing,” said Thomas. According to her, the candle shop provides “things to do in Kirksville that’s not your standard thing.”

Create The Vibe owner Megan Howard-Boyer smiles at the camera. The grey apron dons the store’s logo. Photo illustration by Savannah Kluesner

A sign hangs at the entrance to Create The Vibe. Fairy lights and plants decorate the interior. Photos by Savannah Kluesner

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 10

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

A customized candle made at the candle bar sits on a counter. This candle is caramelized praline and almond cookie scented, two scents provided at Create the Vibe.

@TrumanIndex

© 2022

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

The Index

9

Mitski’s struggle for normalcy JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer What does a musician owe to their audience? Once an individual makes the choice to enter into a career in the public eye, particularly making intensely personal music, it becomes harder and harder to separate one’s life from work. This brutally honest lyricism often performs incredibly well, catapulting an artist into superstardom. However, with that success, there comes a heavy price. Fans can begin to see the artist as less of an individual person and more of a symbol and larger than life figure. Along the way, this can cause fans to lose sight of the fact that artists are human beings with their own lives, hopes and dreams.

This disconnect between artist and audience has been chronicled numerous times before, but perhaps none have personified this struggle more than Mitski.

Mitski began her career in the early 2010’s, with a succession of albums in 2014, 2016 and 2018 that cemented her star status. However, Mitski began feeling the pressures of performing. In an interview with Vulture, she said the music business is exploitative, turning people into products to be bought, sold and consumed. Mitski announced her retirement from music during 2019, however, her contract stipulated that she had to record one more album. That same year she began to work on the album, however, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production, and the end result would become 2022’s “Laurel Hell.”.

The album begins with “Valentine, Texas,” a vibey opener that starts soft but crescendos into a bombastic opening track.

One of the album’s singles, “Working for the Knife,” is truly an album highlight, perfectly displaying Mitski’s beautiful voice. The song showcases Mitski’s vocal skills with a catchy pop tune that belies the song’s themes of alienation in the music industry and the artist’s hesitancy to continue. “The Only Heartbreaker” is a perfect encapsulation of the entire album’s style, a mixture of 80’s pop over sad girl indie music. Many of the songs on the album are definite ear worms, however, the radio friendly sound disguises the depth and emotion behind the lyrics.

The album is very short, with its 11 tracks combining for a runtime of only 32 minutes. The songs are short and sweet, making it an easy and quick first listen. While the short runtime may lead the listener to believe there is little below the surface, nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, the retro 80’s sound mixed with sad-girl indie vocals are easily digestible, but the depth and weight of the emotion packed into the lyrics truly makes this album sit heavily with the contemplative listener and gives it a truly tragic feel. One cannot help but wonder if this is the end of Mitski’s musical career. Will she call it quits and attempt to live out her dream of living as an ordinary person? Or will she press on in her struggle to extract happiness from music? Only time will tell, but if this is the end, “Laurel Hell” serves as a truly emotional and fitting farewell.

Laurel Hell: 4/5 records Graphics by Jinyu Li

Janet Gooch reflects on her time as provost NATALIE MORRISON Staff Writer As Provost Janet Gooch prepares to begin her new position as chancellor of the University of Illinois-Springfield later this summer, I had the privilege to visit her office and discuss her daily work routine and the important lessons she has learned while here at Truman State University.

Early on in her high school years, Gooch was certain that she wanted to study speech-pathology. While working in the shoe section of a Dillard’s department store, her part-time coworker was a speech pathologist, and later on, Gooch would visit with her outside of their work environment to discuss the career path further.

After graduating, she earned her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology, and eventually went on to pursue a master’s and PhD in the subject as well.

Before completing her PhD, Gooch began her initial faculty position here at Truman in 1995. She would then go on to become the chair of the communication disorders department and ultimately the dean.

Generally, she takes part in meetings with President Sue Thomas, the executive leadership team and the deans of various departments on campus. Her favorite pastimes include attending student events, such as capstone projects and art presentations, but she also enjoys seeing what students are doing in the classroom.

Gooch said her favorite part of her job was anything that involves students.

“Seeing student work is always fun,” Gooch said. “Just walking out on campus and seeing activities on the Quad or going through the Student Union Building and looking at the tables that are set up, all of that is the fun part.”

Additionally, she has also enjoyed having the opportunity to teach a class or be a guest lecturer.

As for her least favorite part about work, Gooch said, “Seeing students or faculty struggle and having to help find them the support that they need. It’s rewarding if we can, but it’s difficult when we can’t.”

Although she has been pleased with the duties and outcomes of her job, harder times have taught her to keep everything in perspective when dealing with a stressful situation.

“Panic rarely helps,” Gooch said. “I just remind myself [to] keep a level head. Especially as a leader, I think you set the tone; if you’re panicked, people in your presence are panicked. If you’re calm, then other people remain calm. The best thinking happens when you’re calm.”

From a more personal standpoint, she likes to run six days a week to destress outside of the office.

Overall, she believes that the best part about her work is talking to people.

“Getting to know different people, especially here at the University, seeing the creativeness of the faculty and students, and seeing what Truman does for people,” Gooch said. “That’s the joy.”

Janet Gooch sits in her office. Gooch will be leaving Truman to work at the University of Illinois-Springfield. Photo illustration by Natalie Morrison

The Index

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What we’ve been

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Watching

“Drive My Car” is a character drama about loss and life JOEY DOUGHERTY Staff Writer During the 2020 Academy Awards, Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” a nuanced thriller about the social divide between the poor and rich, won big. “Parasite” became the first foreign language film to win Best Picture and, this year, another international film was up for the coveted accolade, an achievement in and of itself. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” was released during late 2021 after premiering earlier that year at the Cannes Film Festival. It is available for streaming on HBO Max. “Drive My Car,” or “Doraibu Mai Kaa” in the original Japanese, tells the story of Yûsuke Kafuku, a renowned stage director and actor who, after the unexpected passing of his wife Oto, commits himself to directing an ambitious production of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” in Hiroshima. Mere days before Oto’s death, Yûsuke had discovered his wife’s secret affair with another man. Now, he must navigate the mystery of her infidelity when the very person she was seeing joins the production. All the while, the audience follows his interactions with Misaki, the quietly mysterious chauffeur assigned to him by the production company, who deals with demons of her own.

At its heart, “Drive My Car” is a film about the inability to fully know another person. A pivotal moment in the narrative occurs minutes before Oto’s death when, as Yûsuke prepares to leave for work, Oto confronts him and says there’s something they need to talk about when he gets home that night. When Yûsuke returns later than usual, he discovers her body in the living room, collapsed, lifeless, on the floor. What had she wanted to talk about? Was it her affair? Was it something else entirely? Neither Yûsuke nor the audience will ever know. In Oto’s absence, Yûsuke wonders how well he truly knew her and how well he truly knows anyone. He illustrates this uncertainty by describing the unknown part of a person as “a spot that I couldn’t look into, where something dark swirled.”

One character that brings this growing doubt of Yûsuke’s to the fore is Misaki, the young woman tasked with driving him to and from the hotel. She is quiet, reserved and, at first, unwilling to share much with Yûsuke. As the two bond each day, she begins to share deep secrets from her past, reminding Yûsuke of the complexity of each person, of those spots where something dark swirls. All the while, Yûsuke helps Misaki cope with this past. The dynamic that forms between them is a healing one and is central to the narrative of loss and learning to move on.

On a technical level, “Drive My Car” is nearly masterful. Cinematographer Hidetoshi Shinomiya brings Hiroshima to life with impressive long shots, often of raised highways and roads. The lighting is always on point, appropriately bright in the sterile insides of corporate buildings and moody in the shadowed interior

of a car at night. One scene toward the film’s end comes to mind: a series of close-up shots of Koushi Takatsuki, the man with whom Oto has an affair, speaking with Yûsuke about Oto herself, almost unblinkingly as the pair’s respective character arcs come to a head. Such a scene speaks to the film’s visual and storytelling strengths, naturally interwoven.

Where the film falters is in its length. “Drive My Car” is a long-winded film, clocking in at just under three hours. It’s a slow burn to the highest degree and, while this is often appropriate for the heavy subject matter, there’s lots of connective tissue that can feel stretched thin. Furthermore, the film ends rather abruptly, leaving the viewer wanting more closure, even if Hamaguchi’s goal was to leave the audience without it.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura make a natural pairing as Yûsuke and Misaki, respectively. Masaki Okada as the unlikable Takatsuki provides a captivating foil for Nishijima’s Yûsuke, the scenes they share abuzz with unspoken tension.

Despite its length, “Drive My Car” is an arthouse film worth watching. Original short story author Haruki Murakami and director Hamaguchi’s characterization makes for a dramatic character piece alive with tension, even in the drawn-out bits. “Drive My Car” deserved its spot in the impressive lineup at this year’s Academy Awards and the chance to become the recipient of some of the most coveted prizes in filmmaking.

“‘Drive My Car’ deserved its spot in the impressive lineup at this year’s Academy Awards and the chance to become the recipient of some of the most coveted prizes in filmmaking.”

“Drive My Car” gets 4/5 stage lights

Graphics by Jinyu Li

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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Beyond the pages An inside look into Pickler’s Special Collections There are many old and rare books in the Special Collections department. The department was started by E.M. Violette to aid in his teaching. Photo by Emily Collins GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features and Opinions Editor At Truman State University, there are roughly 10,700 records in the museum collections, around eight or nine hundred feet of linear manuscripts and about 30,500 books, according to Amanda Langendoerfer, the director of Special Collections and Museums at Truman. These were primarily donations, and all are available to students in the Special Collections Department in Pickler Memorial Library.

Langendoerfer said the department has been around for a very long time, and was created primarily by E.M. Violette in the 20th century.

“E.M. Violette was a history faculty member here. He truly believed in the power of an object to tell a story, and he started collecting things to teach with,” Langendoerfer said.

“He was quite a collector.”

Violette originally started by housing the objects in his office, then expanded to the hallways, then had a museum.

Read more about the background of special collections online at tmn.truman.edu.

Within their vast array of items, the department has some items that they have to be more careful about how they display.

“We do have some World War II materials. I don’t hide them, but I’m also careful about how they get showcased because you want to treat the period with some element of respect to the people who were involved,” Langendoerfer said.

In the 1940’s, a lamp was donated to Special Collections by a woman named Lillie Salome. Salome claimed it was a lampshade made of human skin of U.S. soldiers that were in a particular camp.

Langendoerfer said there’s no proof that the lamp is what the donor claimed, and said she was skeptical as to the authenticity of the story. The department has never had it tested, as it would be invasive and expensive. However, it is true that during that time objects made of skin, particularly books, were more common and were typically made out of cadavres.

The department also has some Nazi items that were collected during the war by people who were abroad and then donated to Special Collections.

The department also has a collection of materials related to Harry Laughlin. Laughlin, a Kirksville native, was the director of the Eugenics office from 1910-1921 in New York.

Annie Moots, the digital collections librarian, said the Eugenics collection is the most well-used by non-Truman students, and has been used by a wide variety of people.

“They are controversial, especially recently. The Laughlin collection has gained a lot of attention … I’ve worked in special collections for 17 years, and I think it’s an important collection to preserve,” Langendoerfer said.

Langendoerfer said it’s like the adage, “If you don’t remember history you’re going to repeat it.”

“It’s important to understand that laws, particularly in this country, aren’t the result of one person, they are the result of a democracy … you have to realize that the mass public was behind this, and ask yourself why, and then ask yourself what happened to make it fall out of popularity,” Langendoerfer said.

The department has a map that shows when states adopted sterilization laws.

The reason the movement fell out of favor had a lot to do with World War II, Langendoerfer said.

“Eugenics is by no means dead, it is still very much being practiced around the world today in many different forms and … having a collection like the Laughlin Eugenics collection helps people understand how it’s been applied in the past, helps inform them about things they’re going to make decisions on now and helps them become better citizens when they start to apply those concepts,” Langendoerfer said.

“The object itself isn’t the evil thing in a controversial collection, it is what the people did,” Langendoerfer said.

Amanda Langendoerfer opens the Medieval Book of Hours. There are many precautions in place to avoid damaging the materials, such as the use of foam blocks and gloves. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos working with cuneiform tablets or rare books or pieces that are authentic to the time frame they’re representing, and how powerful of an experience that can be to learn from … ,” Langendoerfer said.

Langendoerfer said the department has a small gallery and not much exhibition space.

If there was one thing she could change, she said that would be it. People would be more inclined to go to a museum type of space rather than coming in and going through special procedures to see items.

The department encourages student groups to come in, such as the student historical society or printmaking club.

“It does take a little bit of time, but I think it’s worth it because how many times can you say ‘Hey, today I saw a 16th century book and got to work with it,’” Langendoerfer said. “That’s a unique aspect as well that you get to actually handle and work with the materials.”

Langendoerfer said she thinks it’s unusual for a school the size of Truman to have such a robust special collections department.

“I see so much excitement on students’ faces and listening to them talk when they get to see something that sort of supplements their education …You can read about the Medieval period or the Renaissance period but when you get to come and see the ‘Book of Hours’ in person, and you realize people were touching this back in the period and it was actually this particular work [that] is significant … to me that’s an irreplaceable experience to help supplement … the educational experience.”

Moots said Special Collections is the greatest place on campus because of the unusual items. She said Langendoerfer has done a great job at increasing the collection and keeping it as a teaching collection.

“Don’t be intimidated to come in or ask us … the four of us who are full time people there are enthusiastic and really like working in Special Collections. I feel like it’s the hidden gem on campus,” said Moots.

The department is open 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are closed occasionally when classes are visiting the room. The schedule with their hours for each day can be found online. You can walk in at any time, or make an appointment.

If there’s a specific item you want to see, it’s best to send an email about 24 hours in advance so a librarian can retrieve it and set it up in time.

A rare book is placed on foam so it can be opened. There are about 30,500 books in the Special Collections department. Photo by Emily Collins “I know some people probably feel like we shouldn’t have it, or we should burn it or get rid of it,” Moots said.

Langendoerfer also said she’s heard people on campus asking why they preserve the Laughlin collection, and why they have it. She said no one has come directly to ask her about it, even though they have a great faculty that can help people realize the historic significance behind the collections and why having a controversial collection isn’t bad.

“I think as people become aware, there’s sort of this initial shock of why would you have this, why would you preserve it, and I think the important message for me is, we don’t destroy things, but we don’t idolize them either,” Langendoerfer said.

She said she thought the uncertainty was part of a more global movement of people questioning the preservation of historic objects, whether through monuments, archives or book publications.

Langendoerfer said, in general, there’s not always a lot of interest from students in special collections outside of class requirements though.

“I would say it’s pretty limited, and … because I think students are very busy, they tend to focus on things that are required for their classes, and so coming in for personal use, people just have limited time for that, and so usually we find that the best way to get students engaged with the collections is through the curriculum,” Langendoerfer said.

“I don’t think students know about it, I wish we could get the word out a little bit better and that’s always a challenge, I think in the library world that is a challenge for all libraries to toot their own horns as to what we can offer people,” Moots said.

“I wish people felt welcome to come in, I want them to utilize the department, to work with us. The message I’d like to leave everybody with is to help spread the word about … the high impact experience you get in working with historic material and how

A representation of the lamp in Special Collections. Donated in the 1940’s, the donor claimed it was made of human skin. The material of the lamp has not been tested as it would be too expensive and invasive, so the claim is unverified.

Graphic by Rebekah Nelson

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

Comedian sparks mixed reaction on campus JAYDON DAWSON Staff Writer At 7:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, Truman State University welcomed stand-up comedian and former Vine star Nick Colletti to campus, where he performed in Baldwin Auditorium.

Colletti, who is most notable for popularizing the phrase “suh dude” in 2015 and starring in the online series “The Real Bros of Simi Valley,” made jokes relating to current events, popular culture and his life.

The set lasted for roughly an hour, with a question and answer segment at the end with two members of SAB. At one point, the microphone was passed around the auditorium and students were able to ask questions of their own.

“We had 250 or so people at the event, and it was around what we expected,” Kolton Piva, the communication development chair of the Student Activities Board, said.

Piva and Hannah Rohm were co-committee chairs for the Colletti performance.

Piva said on the day of the event, it takes around 10 workers to keep everything running smoothly.

Reactions from Truman students were mixed.

“It wasn’t bad,” Aaron Baldwin said, a Truman sophomore who attended the performance. Baldwin said all he knew about Colletti before he came to campus was that he was popular on Vine.

Addison Noecker attended the event with her friends.

“We didn’t like it,” Noecker said.“We would play off his jokes. We were laughing at him- not with him.”

SAB said they were caught off guard by the content of Colletti’s performance.

“Nick’s performance wasn’t the performance that we were expecting … and we want to make the students know that, that wasn’t what we understood to be bringing to campus,” Rohm said.

Kara Hunt, president of SAB, said the organization works with a booking agency to find a potential artist. Hunt said they review the performer’s online content, and discuss what they think students would like to see on campus.

Saturday, April 9, SAB is hosting another comedian, popular YouTuber Trevor Wallace. The event will take place in Pershing Arena at 7 p.m.

Piva says through these events, SAB’s ultimate goal is to provide experiences unique to Kirksville and the Truman community.

Nick Colletti performs at Truman. Several students who attended said they didn’t like it. Photos by Genevieve Tlustos

“Nick’s performance wasn’t the performance that we were expecting … , that was not the performance at all that we were expecting, and we want to make the students know that, that wasn’t what we understood to be bringing to campus.”

Nick Colletti looks at the stand during his set. Nick Colletti was a Vine star who peformed at Truman Feb. 25.

-Hannah Rohm, SAB concert co-chair

On the anniversary, I think of strawberry chapstick SAVANNAH KLUESNER Staff Writer It felt wrong to use the Chapstick, Strawberry, that has been sitting in the Medicine cabinet all this time.

This is the year of big things.

I hold moments in my hands Like Polaroid snapshots already taken, Grainy and fuzzed at the edges, But you can see what’s in them.

I started my time here taking Steps in 8 to 5, marching onward In quick, rapid procession. I will be leaving With shaking knees and firm handshake Behind a podium, and you won’t be there.

The last time I held your hand, The sun glittered the tears on our cheeks As we stood in a circle around Your bed and grasped each other tightly.

The thing is, we won’t ever get to know each other as adults,

Forever held in each other’s Polaroids As Dad and his little girl. With that title, You’d press me to your chest and I’d be overwhelmed By the scent of a Lifesaver’s mint and strawberry Chapstick, Sensations I stole from my five-year-old self.

And maybe it’s just because of the anniversary, But maybe I won’t ever use strawberry Chapstick again Without thinking of you.

Graphics by Rebekah Nelson

The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

13

Tennis sees success on and off the court GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Features & Opinions Editor

The Truman State University tennis team currently has an 11-2 record, an improvement from last year’s 7-8 overall record.

Coach Steve Smith said he thought the season has gone very well.

“My goals for the season were to have the kids play well and also support each other, and both of those things have happened,” Smith said.

Smith said he hoped to provide the players with a sense of normalcy during a time of COVID-19.

He wanted tennis to be something the players could concentrate on other than the pandemic.

He was able to help reach his goals of keeping the players physically and mentally fresh. He said he kept them physically fresh by doing some extra strength and conditioning in the winter months to avoid overuse injuries. They’ve also done some yoga, which helps with flexibility.

The number one and two position players left after graduating last year, leaving room for new players to step up.

Smith said the freshmen players, Allie Brown, Akansha Negi and Abbi Worster, are all playing really well.

Allie Brown is a freshman player who is currently in the no. 1 position.

Brown said she wasn’t expecting to be in the no. 1 position. However, there’s no pressure when she plays in the first position because her teammates can still win beneath her. She said even people in the bottom positions cheer for them, and there’s no superiority complexes on the team.

“Everyone having experience at the bottom sets them up for victory, and I even receive advice about who I play at the top from the upperclassmen on the team,” Brown said.

“They’re playing some good tennis, “ Smith said. “I’d

“They are all good tennis players who try their hardest and do a wonderful job of supporting each other at practice, away from practice, at the meets — it’s a supportive environment, not a cutthroat environment,” -Steve Smith, head coach

Graphic by Jinyu Li

say, like in terms of level of play and just team character, [we’re doing] about the same which is really good considering what we graduated and what the kids have had to live through last year and this year.”

Smith said this year the pandemic hasn’t affected the games as much as last year. Previous seasons have had the number of games cut down, making Smith concerned about scheduling meets if they were just going to get canceled.

“It was a little more up in the air last year in terms of scheduling because the previous seasons, a lot of the season was taken away, so you were kind of ambivalent about scheduling a lot of meets that you didn’t know would actually happen or not,” Smith said.

Smith said no games have been canceled so far this season, so they’ve been able to play a more normal amount of games.

Brown said she’s been focusing on getting to know the team, especially since they’ll only be playing together for four years.

“Team bonding during first semester was limited because of COVID, but we’re building up this chemistry now,” Brown said.

The team has their own events, such as lip-synching, and traditions such as teammate Rachel Shelly splitting an apple before their games.

Looking forward to conference play, Brown said she’d heard their conference was scary. However, if they could get three wins, they’d be able to have a shot against anyone, Brown said.

Smith said only the top half of the teams were able to participate in the conference, and Truman had never qualified for it before.

Brown said she thought they could finish out the season playing pretty well. She said the tennis program hadn’t really been in that position before, and they’d have to play their best and roll with the results.

Brown said Smith has been a supportive coach.

“Sometimes when we get to the end of the score, coach Smith just tells us we won. He doesn’t put pressure on us and wants us to have fun with it,” Brown said. “He even sometimes tells us jokes and lifts our spirits on the sideline during close matches. Without pressure, it helps us to win.”

“I would say that they are all good tennis players who try their hardest and do a wonderful job of supporting each other at practice, away from practice, at the meets — it’s a supportive environment, not a cutthroat environment,” Smith said.

April Sports Calendar Home (H) * also March 1 Track & Field: Truman @ Washington University (A) Away (A) also March 2

Softball: Truman @ Lewis University, noon (A) Softball: Truman @ Lewis University, 2:00 p.m. (A) Track & Field: Southwest Baptist Invitational @ Bolivar, Mo. (A) Track & Field: Central Methodist Invitational @ Fayette, Mo. (A)

also March 23

Softball: Truman vs. William Jewell College, 2:00 p.m. (H) Tennis: Truman vs. Drury University, TBA (H) Track & Field: Lindenwood Invitational @ St. Charles, Mo. (A)

also March 10

Tennis: Truman vs. Simpson College @ Indianola, Iowa, 1:00 p.m. (A) Tennis: Truman vs. College of Saint Mary @ Indianola, Iowa, 4:00 p.m. (A)

Baseball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, noon (H) Softball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, noon (H) (ET) (H) Softball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, 2:00 p.m. (H) (ET) (H)

Golf: Dan Salisbury Invite @ Springfield, Ill. (A)

Golf: UMSL Spring Invite @ St. Louis, Mo. (A) Softball: Truman vs.

University of Illinois Springfield, noon (H) Softball: Truman vs.

University of Illinois Springfield, 2:00 p.m. (H)

* Baseball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, 3:00 p.m. (H) Track & Field: Central Methodist Invitational @ Fayette, Mo. (A) Track & Field: Southwest Baptist Invitational @ Bolivar, Mo. (A)

Baseball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, 1:00 p.m. (H) Baseball: Truman vs.

University of Indianapolis, 4:00 p.m. (H) Tennis: Truman vs. Quincy University, TBA (H)

Track & Field: Truman @ Central College (A)

Softball: Truman vs. Quincy University, noon (H) Softball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 2:00 p.m. (H) Tennis: Truman vs.

University of Missouri - St. Louis, TBA (H)

Baseball: Truman @ University of Southern Indiana, 2:00 p.m. (A) Track & Field: Jim Duncan Invitational Baseball: Truman @ University of @ Des Moines, Iowa (A) Southern Indiana, 5:00 p.m. (A) Baseball: Truman @ University of Tennis: Truman @ William Jewell Southern Indiana, 6:00 p.m. (A) College, TBA (A)

Baseball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 3:00 p.m. (H) Tennis: Truman vs.

Southwest Baptist University, TBA (H) Golf: GLVC Championships @ Waterloo, Ill. (A)

Softball: Truman vs.

Missouri Western State University, noon (H) Softball: Truman vs.

Missouri Western State University, 2:00 p.m. (H)

Baseball: Truman @ William Jewell College, 3:00 p.m. (A)

Track & Field: Truman State Twilight @ Kirksville, Mo. (H)

Baseball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 1:00 p.m. (H) Baseball: Truman vs. Quincy University, 4:00 p.m. (H) Softball: Truman vs. William Jewell College, noon (H)

30

29

Baseball: Truman vs. Quincy University, noon (H)

Tennis: Truman @ Rockhurst University, TBA (A) Softball: Truman vs. Drury University, noon (H) Softball: Truman vs. Drury University, 2:00 p.m. (H)

Baseball: Truman vs. Lewis University, 3:00 p.m. (H)

Softball: Truman @ Southwest Baptist University, noon (A) Softball: Truman @ Southwest Baptist University, 2:00 p.m. (A) Baseball: Truman vs. Lewis University, 1:00 p.m. (H) Baseball: Truman vs. Lewis University, 4:00 p.m. (H)

Graphic by Rebekah Nelson

The Index

14

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

WELTHA| Athlete splits athletic duties between sports at Truman Continued from page 16 “I’ve been maybe thinking about going overseas and playing basketball,” Weltha said.

“That’s in the air right now kinda depending on what happens. I’m going to stay and get my master’s and get two more years for basketball, so I’ll figure that out, but maybe overseas, maybe not, just depending on where my body is once I get there.”

Weltha said that she had many memories that stuck out from her time at Truman.

Like most of the women’s basketball team, beating Drury was her favorite.

“That was such a fun game,” Weltha said. “The place was full, they stormed the court, all that fun stuff. It was a fun game to play just in general.”

Weltha focuses on having fun and continues to play simply because she enjoys it.

Her family has been there to support her along the way.

“My older brother played football at McKendree, and my little brother is going to come here next year and play football. They kind of understand and they’ve just kind of been, like, on board with it the whole time,” Weltha said. “Especially my parents, when I was going through the transfer process, they were all about, ‘As long as you’re having fun you’re doing the right thing for yourself, like, we don’t care what you do.’ They all say that as long as I’m having fun, they’re all about whatever I’m doing, whether we’re playing well or we’re losing, or if I’m sucking wind, they don’t really care, as long as I’m having fun.”

Weltha goes up for the shot with a defender’s hand up against the University of Southern Indiana. The forward averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and shot 37% from the three-point line this season. Photo by Oliver Malone

Truman sports brief: Week of Mar. 31 Tennis’ last eight matches The tennis team is surging this spring and have won four in a row heading into their contest with Missouri Valley College on March 30. The Bulldogs are 7-1 over their previous eight matches, mainly taking on non-conference opponents on the road. GLVC play will begin April 2 against Quincy University. Freshman Allie Brown has remained undefeated in singles matches this season. See page 13 for more schedule details.

Graphic by Rebekah Nelson

Baseball showing improvement This spring, the baseball team has surpassed their total win mark of seven last season. The Bulldogs have 12 wins this year and are 3-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Junior pitcher and first baseman Holden Missey and sophomore outfielder Brennan Perkins have been leading the charge offensively with six home runs apiece as of March 28, and the bullpen has been holding up against their opponents. Youth has been the name of the game for coach Dan Davis and this team, with young talent stepping up in their first or second seasons for the Bulldogs. Heading into the heart of the GLVC schedule, the ‘Dogs will have a four-game home weekend series coming up against the University of Indianapolis. Future game dates are available on page 13 of this issue.

Pitcher/first baseman Holden Missey awaits a throw to first base from a teammate. Missey is batting .367 this season with 37 hits and 20 RBIs. Photo

by Oliver Malone

March Madness is sports at its finest ANDREW HOLDER Staff Writer As we near the end of March, we also near the end of an event that every sports fan looks forward to. That’s right, I’m talking about March Madness, a time where sports fans all over the world share similar experiences of filling out a bracket with no direction and watching five games at one time while neglecting whatever work we were supposed to get done that day. If you follow sports at all, everywhere you go, everyone you talk to is enamored with this tournament of 64 teams, some of which we have never heard of and will likely never hear of again. Warren Buffet offers a grand prize of one billion dollars for filling out a perfect bracket, an almost unfathomable amount for an unfathomable feat because filling out a perfect bracket is close to impossible … right?

Everyone who fills out a bracket is relatively aware of the impossibility of a perfect bracket,

but to put a number behind it, it’s about a one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (9 quintillion) chance. To put this absurd number in perspective, you would have greater odds to win the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots … in the same week. So why do we fill out brackets then? No-one that’s not from the future is going to fill out a perfect bracket. The closest anyone has gotten to a perfect bracket was guessing an absurd 49 games in a row, and he still had 15 games left to go.

So again I ask, why do we fill out brackets? Anyone you would ask would give you a pretty simple answer: “It’s fun.” Even if you aren’t a basketball fan, filling out brackets is fun. There are so many different ways to fill out your bracket and so many ways to watch it get busted.

Whether you pick your favorite mascot, your favorite team, which school is closest to a fast food restaurant — credit to multiple TikTok users — picking a bracket is enjoyable. In this specific tournament, I was incredibly invested — my favorite team was a no. 2 seed with a real chance of winning the national championship, and they lost in the second round; yes it was heartbreaking.

The Kentucky Wildcats, one of the most renowned basketball programs in the country, lost to the St. Peter’s Peacocks in the first round. To give you an idea of how crazy this is, St. Peter’s University has almost 2,000 less students than Truman and a basketball court that resembles one of a highschool gymnasium where they have to fundraise to pay officials. Yet, they took down one of

the top teams in the country, then did it again and again, almost making it to the final four as a 15 seed. What else can you say besides, America loves an underdog. Is that why we love March Madness?

I would say that’s another part of the reason, but there has to be more. For instance, where else are you going to see five game winners in a day and instantly become a superfan of whichever team you picked in your bracket. The first game of the tournament was during a Thursday morning between Michigan and Colorado State. I was not a fan of either team, and I don’t think I have ever watched a Colorado State University game during my life. At the same time, I was glued to the television, cheering on Colorado State University, in a losing effort, until the final buzzer.

Overall, March Madness is a time that brings us together, and I will cherish the memories of making brackets with my family and others close to me. So I invite you, as I close out this piece, to think of your favorite March Madness memory, whether it’s the elite eight run of St. Peters or watching the tournament with family and friends. Sports is, and always will be, more than a game.

March Madness is no different.

The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

15

Bulldogs take three games from Parkside Rangers

Sophomore Michael Daggett pitches against the Rangers, March 20. Daggett had six strikeouts and allowed four runs over seven innings. The Bulldogs fell 2-4. Photo by Rachel Becker

Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jack Owens puts the ball in play against the Rangers. Owens had six hits and eight RBIs total in the series. Photo by Rachel Becker

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Zachry Schneider delivers a pitch against the Parkside Rangers. Schneider pitched six innings, allowed four hits, struck out three batters and was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs in his start. Photo by Oliver Malone Junior pitcher/first baseman Holden Missey bats against the Parkside Rangers, March 19. Missey had a double in the fifth inning, putting the Bulldogs up 9-0. The Bulldogs finished the game in seven innings and won 11-0. Photo by Rachel Becker

ATHLETE o f

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Senior infielder Kayla Quanstrum had the bat going this weekend for the Bulldogs. Quanstrum hit two home runs in the first game against the McKendree Bearcats, and added a third in the second game. The senior had five hits total between the pair of games as well. Quanstrum has been a part of the Truman softball program since 2018.

Kayla Quanstrum

16

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

STUDENT ATHLETE BALANCES TWO SPO RTS

LILLIE MORISAKI Staff Writer

Junior Ellie Weltha is a dual-sport athlete. Weltha is a forward for the basketball team and utility for softball.

Before coming to Truman State University, she played at Illinois State University.

“I actually committed my sophomore year [of high school], ” Weltha said. “I just played softball there.”

Weltha played four sports during high school, softball, basketball, track & field and then volleyball her senior year.

Only playing one sport at Illinois State University made Weltha miss being a multi-sport athlete.

“I thought it would be fine to just play one, and I really didn’t like it,” Weltha said. “I really wanted to transfer to play two sports.”

Weltha didn’t even have Truman on her radar.

Coach Theo Dean reached out during the transfer process and had her come to Truman on a visit.

“I thought that it was too far away from Illinois because it’s, like, four hours,” Weltha said. “My parents were like, ‘no you should at least give it a chance,’ and then I came on campus, and I got along with both coaching staffs great right off the bat and that was really it.”

Going from one college sport to two was a challenge during the beginning, according to Weltha.

Weltha said learning how to balance both sports took some time to adjust.

“My first semester here, the fall, was a mess. I did not do a good job balancing things at all,” Weltha said. “But as time went on, and once we finally did the second fall, obviously the first spring I was here was canceled, so I never got to complete the full year, but the second fall I was on campus my schedule was a lot better, we got things figured out and I was a lot more on top of things with my time management, but the first fall here was definitely an adjustment.”

Even though Weltha played four sports in high school, college sports were much different.

“I wasn’t used to college sports being a multi-sport athlete, so that was definitely different, but I think we got the hang of it now, so it’s a lot better now,” Weltha said.

A normal week for Weltha consists of both sports, but the hours change depending on the season.

“Most of it was just for fun honestly, but now that I am doing it, I think that I’m a lot more athletic in more ways than one,” - Ellie Weltha, senior foward

According to the NCAA, athletes can practice only 20 hours for their designated sport when they are in-season, and no more than eight when they are out of season. For dualsport athletes, the rules are slightly different. They can stay in 20 hours all year long.

“In the fall, I’ll have 30 minutes of conditioning and then I’ll either do an hour core workout and an hour open gym with basketball, or I’ll do a one and a half to two hour practice with softball,” Weltha said.

“As the fall goes on, I’ll ease more into basketball.”

Graphic by Rachel Becker

VOLUME 113

ISSUE 10

tmn.truman.edu

Weltha’s average day looks different depending on what season she is in.

Once basketball starts, she is able to practice 20 hours a week with them.

“I’ll do everything with basketball, and I’ll do about an hour to two hours a week of a softball individual,”Weltha said. “So I’ll just go rep out hitting or rep out ground balls, and I’ll do that, like, twice a week until softball season comes.”

The constant practices don’t leave much time for anything else, according to Weltha.

Weltha has to miss out on many of the social aspects of the sports.

“When I’m not in season for softball, they’ll all go hang out and do stuff, but I have basketball practice.

When I’m not in season for basketball, they’ll go do stuff, but I’m busy on the weekends,” Weltha said. “I would say it stinks sometimes, missing out on hanging out with friends.”

There are still multiple benefits to playing two sports, Weltha said.

While Weltha decided to be a multi-sport athlete just for fun, she has seen many other positive impacts.

“Most of it was just for fun honestly, but now that I am doing it, I think that I’m a lot more athletic in more ways than one,” Weltha said. “When you do just basketball or just softball, you’re using the same muscles over and over. It’s a big change of pace going from one to the other, but I think even mentally it keeps me on my toes, and I think both of them help me in a lot of different ways.”

Weltha has loved playing so much that she wants to continue in the future.

She still has time as a junior, but has plans after college as well.

See WELTHA page 14

Redshirt junior forward Ellie Weltha looks to go up strong against William Jewell. Weltha earned a first-team unanimous All-GLVC selection for the season. Photo by Oliver Malone @TrumanIndex

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