The Index, Vol 114. Issue 3

New programs to be offered at Truman

SETH JARVIS Staff Writer

Truman State University has added new academic programs for the 20222023 academic year.

In the School of Health Sciences and Education, a master’s degree in disability studies and a graduate certif icate in applied behavior analysis are now options for students.

Chris Rosado, Ph.D., applied behav ior analysis program director, said these programs have been added to help pre pare individuals to be a Board Certified

Behavior Analyst. The main difference between the two programs is that one of them is a certificate for those who al ready have a master’s degree.

Rosado said this field is similar to counseling and social work. Individuals are trained to work with people who have disabilities such as autism. The disabilities studies portion of the program focuses on teaching students to advocate for those with disabilities, while the behavioral com ponent teaches students how to become clinicians. For instance, their career work might include working with a child with autism to help them communicate.

Rosado said the job market for these programs is relatively strong. Demand for jobs in certification in this field has gone up by 35%, while actual growth has been only 22%, so there are many open opportunities for graduating students.

Rosado said this program was devel oped to meet the needs of rural Mis souri areas. The program is online, so anyone from across the state can join the program. It is also designed to al low people to maintain their jobs fulltime while going through the program.

Lyceum series back in person

GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Editor-in-Chief

The Kohlenberg Lyceum series, which brings performers to Truman State University’s campus, will have free general admission for a season of all in-person events after being virtual throughout the pandemic.

The series has been in existence in various forms since 1899, and was es tablished to provide experiences that would give cultural awareness in rural communities, said Dawn Howd, direc tor of stewardship at Truman.

Foundation funds and donations from Friends of the Lyceum fund the series, said Marie Murphree, director of devel opment and planned giving.

The committee is looking to grow the number of donors and potentially work with some local businesses to continue to offer the Lyceum performances at no charge, Murphree said

The speakers are paid in part by the interest from Holman Family funds, which is promoted along with the Lyce um series, Murphree said.

In the past, there was a $10 fee to attend Lyceum performances, but the committee wants to keep them free so money is not a barrier. The Lyceum is a benefit to being a student at the University, Howd said.

There are six Lyceum events planned for the year and two Holman Family speakers.

Student Health Center continues to strive for affordability

SETH JARVIS Staff Writer

Complete Family Medicine has overseen the Student Health Center for almost two years. At the clinic, they provide a variety of measures to help students pay for healthcare. They are currently working with members of Student Government to further reduce costs for students.

Junior Mike Owsley, Student Govern ment treasurer, hopes to see the costs of healthcare reduced on campus by raising

the student health fee. Student Govern ment has the power to bring a measure to increase the health fee to the student body, who can then vote on the issue. Owsley said the health fee had not been raised since the early 2010s, so it has been falling behind rising prices.

“If we all pay a little more, then the people who really need the student health center can pay a lot less,” Owsley said.

Owsley is working on getting a measure passed to see this fee in creased. By doing this, he hopes more money can be used to help subsidize

STI testing and counseling at the health center.

Madeline Harms, Clinic Coordina tor, said costs without insurance at the Student Health Center can range from $19 to around $150 depending on what the student is being seen for and what tests need to be completed. For a gen eral checkup, a student can be expected to pay around $40. If insurance is be ing used to cover the costs, Harms rec ommends contacting one’s insurance provider before a check-up to see what they might cover.

Harms said the clinic has a variety of resources they utilize to help students pay for healthcare at the clinic. There is a same-day self-pay option where students will receive a 50% discount if they pay on the same day they go to the clinic. There is also a sliding scale ap plication, where students who meet all income requirements only have to pay $15 for any service at the health center.

Harms said the prices at the health cen ter are very competitive when compared to other medical facilities in the region, with the health center being more affordable for students. Harms said the health center works to provide the best healthcare they can for students and will work with them to ensure they are able to afford care there.

According to Tyana Lange, vice president for student engagement, en rollment and marketing, the University spends $1 million on the health center each year. The University has contract ed Complete Family Medicine to run the clinic, and pays for the clinic’s op erations, covering expenses such as the staff’s wages and supplies.

Lange said the contract between the University and the clinic sets expectations such as hours at the clinic and personal re quirements. Lange said the University is not involved in billing at the clinic.

“From my perspective — I’ve been managing the contract since April — I’m incredibly impressed with the staff we have over at [Complete Family Med icine],” Lange said, “We have two nurse practitioners on our clinic on campus — and there’s only one nurse practitioner at the urgent care clinic on Baltimore, and we typically see less patients per day than they do at the urgent care clin ic, so that assured me and gave me con fidence that our students are being seen quickly and in a timely manner.”

Senior Jessica Phillips studies in the Health Sciences Building. The School of Health Sciences and Education offers a new master’s degree in disability studies. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Sophomore Kate Chevalier works the front desk of the Student Health Cen ter. Each student pays a health fee that helps support the center. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Families gather for fun-filled weekend

Kirksville residents and visitors attend the Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival. The festival celebrated its 47th year last Saturday. Photos by Emily Collins

Senior Hannah Zimmerman slides down a zip line. Truman State University brought in various activities for Family Day.

Sue Thomas, Truman State University president, speaks with Truman community members. Family Day was a time for students to bring their friends and relatives to campus and enjoy the day together.

Zimmerman prepares to go down a zip line. The zip line was brought to campus by the Student Activities Board as a part of the Family Day activities.

Musicians play for the crowd at the Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival. The festival offered live music, dancing, food and various vendors selling their handmade arts and crafts.

PROGRAMS| New options available in disability studies, linguistics, music

ences between applied and theoretical linguis tics. In addition, there is a one credit mid-major seminar and a one credit senior seminar. These are shared between the three linguistic majors to maintain a unified cam pus community.

HEALTH| Student Health Center working to further reduce costs

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There are ten content-level cours es for the master’s program. It is set up for two courses to be taken per term, with one taken during the summer. Throughout an eightweek term, there would be only two meetings per class. There is also an internship included within the pro gram. The applied behavioral analy sis certificate differs by having eight courses and no internship.

“The good thing about our intern ships is people can do them at the plac es they work at, so they get paid at the same time,” Rosado said. “So if they’re working at a special education class that is cool — maybe they work for an APA clinic, a behavioral analysis clinic — they could do it there.”

In addition, a bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics has been added this year. The University already has a program in theoretical linguistics. Mary Shapiro, Ph.D., a professor of lin guistics, said there was large demand among students for this new program.

There were students who were less interested in the theoretical aspects of linguistics and more interested in the social applications, such as how some languages and dialects are discrimi nated against in the fight for social jus tice, Shapiro said. She also said many students want to teach English as a sec ond language and adding this degree provides students with another avenue to pursue that goal.

Shapiro said many of the courses that come with this degree are al ready being taught at the University. Courses in subjects such as sociolin guistics and teaching English as a sec ond language were pulled together to form this new major, with not many having to be added.

Shapiro said applied linguistics has a wide range of potential fields, such as teaching English abroad. There are also jobs in fields such as branding and marketing, where linguists can help ensure their strategies are effective. In addition, many companies and or ganizations need translators and lan guage policy workers.

Shapiro said there are new classes added for all linguistic majors at the University. There is a new major semi nar where all linguistic majors share a one-credit course to learn the differ

Darrin Hetrick, Ph.D., is a new professor at Tru man this year, and was brought in for the new applied linguistics major. He said one of the biggest uses for the degree is learning how to teach English as a second language, so it’s at the intersection of linguistics, educa tion and culture. Other common uses include language policy development and translating.

Hetrick said linguistics is about understanding how people learn languages, why they learn them and how language impacts wider sociocultural elements of society. He said language sometimes holds hidden connotations that may impact those we interact with.

“We need to understand our language carries a lot of underly ing messages that we don’t always recognize or understand,” Hetrick said. “That’s really an important aspect of applied linguistics that I hope students understand.”

A bachelor’s degree in music busi ness is another new program this year. Eric Dickson, Ph.D., music de partment chairperson, said a similar degree existed in the 1980s until it was discontinued. He said this pro gram is largely a reaction to the cur rent music business, which is very entrepreneurial in nature, so this degree is meant to help prepare stu dents for this environment.

Dickson said this program includes many of the traditional music class es but also pulls in business classes. Dickson said one of the most impor tant major courses is introduction to the music industry. It is a course that students take in their second semester of the major where they learn how to market themselves, do taxes and learn more about the music business.

Dickson said one of the final cours es of the major is a capstone intern ship. Students in the major will begin preparing for this during their intro to music industry class by showing stu dents paths available to them.

“I hope that students will see this as an opportunity to under stand how vast the music indus try is,” Dickinson said. “You can teach, you can perform, you can be in administration, you can run a recording arts studio. I hope they gain an understanding of how big the industry is and how many dif ferent possibilities there are to be successful in the music industry.”

Lange said Complete Family Medicine has provided the clinic with additional resources the University would not have ac cess to otherwise. For instance, the connections the clinic has across the state and nation al lowed them to bring in virtual counselors, so there are current ly no waitlists at the clinic to re ceive mental health services.

According to Andrew Fa jkus, outreach services manager at Complete Family Medicine, a service of Hannibal Regional, Complete Family Medicine began running the clinic during Spring 2021. Complete Family Medicine submitted a proposal to operate the health center and University Counseling Services, and it was rewarded in June 2020. They are in the second year of their con tract with the University to run the health center.

Fajkus said pricing at the clinic is the same at the health center as it is at other clinics run by Complete Family Medi cine. This fee schedule is based on market analysis at the local and national level.

Fajkus said the clinic pro vides services to help students register for Medicaid if they qualify for the program. They work with students one-on-one to help them ensure their care is affordable.

Fajkus also said that by taking over the clinic, students are no longer billed by the University for utilizing services there. So, no holds will ever be placed on a student’s account due to a medi cal bill from the clinic. He said these payment programs are new to the University, and were added after Complete Family Medicine took over the health center dur ing 2021. In addition, wages were raised for staff of the health center along with hiring more workers.

Fajkus said Complete Family Medicine is in frequent contact with University administration and students to discuss ways to further reduce costs. He met with Student Government last year to discuss ways in which they could help reduce the costs for students at the clinic.

“If somebody comes in [to UCS] for a crisis, they’re never going to have a bill for a crisis appointment. We have that in our agreement with the Univer sity,” Fajkus said. “We have the sliding scale in place that tries to provide an affordable option [for on-going therapy needs and at the student health center]. That reduces the bill typically for most Truman students down to $15 per visit. We feel like a lot of what we’re doing is making sure the right information is getting out to students about what ser vices are available and the costs of the services.”

Crime Reports

9/20 Suspicious activity reported at BNB Hall

9/21 Domestic disturbance reported at the 300 block of N. Baltimore St. 9/21 Suspicious activity reported at the 1100 block of N. Baltimore St. 9/22 Stolen bicycle reported at BNB Hall

9/22 Shoplifting reported at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St.

9/22 Assault reported at the 200 block of E. Illinois St.

9/23 Domestic disturbance reported at the 700 block of S. Fourth St.

9/23 Theft reported at the 1100 block of W. Hildreth St. 9/23 Theft reported at the 1000 block of E. Jefferson St.

9/23 Suspicious activity reported at the 1200 block of Baird St.

9/24 Trespassing reported at the 100 block of S. Franklin St. 9/25 Domestic disturbance reported at the 200 block of Stanford St.

Senior Eastlyn Koons works in the Health Sciences building. A bachelor’s degree in applied linguistics has been added this year. Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Left: Students walk past the campus health center. Andrew Fajkus, outreach services manager at Complete Family Medicine, met with Student Government last year to discuss ways to further re duce costs.

Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Connection

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Connection

The Student Climate Union has big plans for fall

The Student Climate Union is a politically-driven environmental orga nization on campus. Students who are interested in making an impact on Tru man environmental practices and policy — as well as working towards broader social justice goals — are encouraged to join. In the past, we organized an elec tion-sit-in to push administration to give students and faculty election days off, and we’ve hosted an Anti-Nihilism Panel. We have even bigger and better plans for this fall semester! Throughout Sustainability Month, we will be putting on a variety of events, ranging from so

cial activities to petitioning to political letter writing — more details to come, follow us on instagram @studentclima teunion for updates. We love passionate members with a drive to make change in their surroundings, as well as students who just want to come to our events. Aside from following us on Instagram, you can email studentclimateunion@ gmail.com and ask to join our email list to learn about what we’re doing each meeting and join our Discord. We look forward to meeting more of our Truman community this fall!

EMMA ROHRBACH Vice Chair / Public Relations Manager

Red Barn shows charm of Kirksville area

During the middle of the se mester, when classes pick up and life gets more stressful, is the per fect time to forget about school for a few hours and enjoy the commu nity of Kirksville. The Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival was a per fect opportunity to do just that. We as an editorial board would like to express our appreciation to the community, particularly the Kirksville Arts Association, for all their hard work putting to gether this event.

Many different people from craftsmen to students to parents all came together in a way we do not often see in Kirksville. Red Barn is a reminder of the poten tial we have as a community.

The Red Barn festival show cases the charm of Kirksville and the surrounding area. Seeing how much people care about the arts is truly inspiring.

It can be easy for Truman stu dents, many of whom are from larger cities, to complain about the lack of activity and events in Kirks ville. Luckily, Red Barn serves as a

reminder of the appeal of a closeknit community where you can go to an event like that and see people you know, and that there can be large, area-wide events.

It can also be easy for students to isolate on campus. Many stu dents can go days only speaking to other students or their profes sors. Red Barn is a great opportu nity to see kids, families and the elderly all come together.

We as an editorial board also believe in the inherent value of the arts as well. Regardless of the attendance or community aspect, it’s important to share the arts, appreciate the talents of those in our community and learn more about others.

This community has a culture that has developed over decades, and continuing to celebrate our culture is a way to bring us together. The University and the Kirksville community are closer than many think, and we can strengthen that connection through joined participation in events like these.

Be basic, buy a pumpkin spice latte

often signifies that cold weather is arriving. The spices typically consist of a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.

According to the Starbucks website, the recipe has been unchanged for 11 years and is available in nearly 50 countries. Starbucks said the hashtag “PSL” gets over 3,000 tweets per day. Despite the drink’s success, it continues to face the term ‘basic.’

SYDNEY ELLISON AND EMILY GIANNOTTI Features & Opinions Editor, Copy Chief

Starbucks brings back the pumpkin spice latte every August to celebrate the beginning of fall. It debuted in stores in 2003 and has carried an outstanding amount of success with Starbucks Stories estimated to have had over 200 million people enjoy the latte just between 2003 to 2014. Clearly, this drink is both widely available and popular. However, with this popularity comes the ridicule of ordering something so ‘basic.’

For many, looking forward to a pumpkin spice latte is not an unusual feeling. It’s a common spice blend used when the leaves start to change, and for some, the taste

Both this drink and the term ‘basic’ are implicitly gendered. The full term is uses an additional graphic word that is often used as a directive towards feminine presenting people. Although there are men who order and enjoy pumpkin spice lattes, the threat of being basic is primarily targeted towards women. Consequently, when a mass amount of women enjoy a drink, that drink becomes a threat. Women have been ridiculed for drinking a latte simply because it is so popular.

Unbeknownst to most people today, women have been connected to pumpkin spice blends for generations as the spice blend has been around for decades and throughout American history women were largely expected to be homemakers. According to Pew Research, in 1970 53% of mothers were staying at home. During this time, they often used this spice blend in their cooking in order to provide for others. For years,

women and mothers were praised for supplying this delicious blend of spices, and now they are ridiculed. It’s time for the girls to take this back.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 20224 The pumpkin spice latte is not the only widely enjoyed item that gets the reputation of being basic when women partake—the list includes avocado toast, Nike Air Force 1 shoes, taking selfies, infinity sign tattoos, listening to Taylor Swift, and on and on. Interests that predominantly men partake in do not get the same bad reputation. When men show interest in sports teams, it’s encouraged and socially regarded as part of the “male experience.” When women show interest in sporting teams, they are “pick-me girls.” When men show interest in bands, they are cool rockers. When women show interest in bands, they are “crazed fangirls” who could never have an original thought.

EDITORIAL POLICY:

The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501.

EDITORIAL POLICY: e Index is published ursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. e production o ces are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. e Index is a designated public forum, and content of e Index is the responsibility of e Index sta . e editor-in-chief consults with the sta and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions

The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The Editor-in-Chief consults with the staff and adviser but ulti mately is responsible for all decisions.

Contact For some reason, in today’s culture, women are not allowed to collectively enjoy popular trends without the fear of being shamed and ridiculed. Society tells women to “not be like other girls,” almost as if they are too scared of the power women could hold when coming together against a common enemy. The pumpkin spice latte can turn that idea around. You are allowed to be like other girls. Buy a pumpkin spice latte.

Opinions of e Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the sta or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. e Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. e Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor

Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials rep resent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limita tions, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the Editor-in-Chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor.

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LYCEUM|

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Performance series in person again

Performers this year include the Saint Louis Ballet, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. One of the Holman Family speakers will include Susana Mendoza, an alumna of Truman and Illinois comptroller.

A committee made up of several faculty members and typically a student representative chooses the performers, though they have not filled the position of student representative yet, Murphree said. Some factors they consider are variety and diversity, said Murphree, who has been on the committee for four years. Howd has been on the com mittee for ten years.

“What we’re looking for in those people is people who might have a story to tell that … students … can really benefit from,” said Murphree. “With the Lyceum series our goal is to offer cultural performances that people might not be able to access.”

Howd said the committee tries to think about the reason why the program was created, to bring cultural events to the area and consider the series’ history.

They try to avoid bringing all of the same types of events, so not all plays or dance performances, said Howd.

“We also try to find at least one [event] that we think will be really popular, and we always try to find some that maybe won’t be as popular, but we know the community really needs,” Howd said. “We try not to bring the same thing all the time.”

The committee tries to bring alumni since it brings a more special connec tions to the community, Howd said.

Murphree said one constraint is the stage space in Baldwin Auditorium. The rigging is almost 100 years old and makes it difficult to stage more in tricate productions, she said, and it does not function at the same level it did 20 years ago.

Budgeting is also a factor, particularly since admission is free, Howd said.

While deciding who to bring in for the Holman Family speaker series, they try to think about who would resonate with the greatest number of peo ple in the community, Howd said .

“It’s not always easy to say, ‘Students will love this and faculty will love this and the community members will love this,” Howd said.

Friday was the first in-person performance since March 2020. The Keesha Pratt Band performed. Murphree said attendance was fair.

“For all the changes that we made and for not having Lyceum in a while, I was pleased with the number of people,” Murphree said.

“It was phenomenal — she was really really good,” said Murphree. “We had people dancing, like up from their seats dancing, so it was really fun.”

Murphree said she wished there was more awareness of the Lyceum among the student body. She thought part of the reason students did not know about the series was because of the large turnover rate at the Univer sity and therefore fewer professors suggesting their students go to events.

Tickets will be available two weeks prior to each event, Murphree said.

Art department faculty showcases their work in gallery

The Truman State University Art Gallery in Ophelia Parrish is cur rently showing an exhibition of the art department faculty’s latest works.

The University Art Gallery has various exhibitions throughout the year. Often the first exhibition of the academic year will be of art faculty’s works, Heidi Cook, University Art Gallery director, said.

“It’s a beginning-of-the-year cele bration for our department because we’re celebrating some of the work that our faculty have done before our students have had a chance to dig their hands into their projects and classes,” Cook said.

The annual faculty art exhibition has been a part of the University Art Gallery’s schedule for over 20 years.

A driving factor behind the facul

ty exhibition is the teacher — schol ar model that Truman promotes, Cook said. The teacher — scholar model uses scholarly work to aug ment classroom teaching. The scholarly work for the art depart ment faculty is creating a body of art outside of their classes.

The art faculty are on a rotation for who will have work shown in the ex hibition. Usually, they will have work shown every few years, Cook said.

When it is a faculty member’s turn to have work shown in the University Art Gallery, Cook will sit down with the faculty member and discuss how their latest body of work looks and decide where in the gallery it would work best.

About 189 people attended the opening reception event for the

exhibition. A significant number of people attending were from the community, Cook said.

“Partly why it’s important is as a model for students,” Cook said. “We don’t want to ask students to do anything that we ourselves would not do. We start the year with these faculty shows, and we always end each semester with our senior cap stone exhibition. So, in some ways, I see them as parallel.”

One of the faculty members showing work is Lindsey Dunna gan, an associate professor of art from the painting department.

Dunnagan is in her seventh year of teaching at Truman.

“My work encompasses a lot of ideas that can be funneled into the realm of family and nostalgia,” Dunnagan said. “Also thinking a lot about nature, which ties into my nostalgia for Alaska and the family I grew up with there.”

Dunnagan uses mostly paint ing media in her work, such as wa tercolor and oil. She also uses ink, charcoal, graphite and gold leafing.

Dunnagan started working pro fessionally in 2009, but she had been creating art and showing it in small galleries long before then.

The faculty having a space to show their art is helpful for grant writing, Dunnagan said. When Dunnagan was writing a grant for an upcoming project, she said she knew she would

have a space to show the work. This meant she would also have the op portunity to be more experimental with the work.

Another member of faculty show ing their work in the exhibition is Nick Phan, who teaches printmak ing. Phan is an alumnus of Truman, having graduated four years ago, re turning to fill in for another profes sor on maternity leave.

“I didn’t think eight years ago when I started here [as a student] that I would be in [the faculty art exhibition],” Phan said.

Phan works primarily in prints. Phan’s series of smaller prints in the gallery were originally postcards he printed. Phan said he mails prints out to people, and they correspond to events in his life.

Phan’s larger works in the gallery are related to spaces in his life, Phan said. These spaces can be places he has worked in or even objects he has seen in his daily life, Phan said.

“A lot of our students may not realize that all of the art faculty are working artists,” Dunnagan said.

“So I think it builds a deeper con nection, but also often we are telling them things they should be think ing about professionally, and when they see that we are professional artists working with curators, then they’re like ‘Okay, maybe you do know what you’re talking about.’”

Professor Lindsey Dunnagan’s art, “Northern Catch,” is in the Ophelia Parrish art gallery. The piece was inspired by Dunnagan’s childhood in Alaska. Photo by Emily Collins

Actors perform “Ain’t Misbehavin’ in 2018. This year, performances will be free general admission. TMN Archives

Truman community members foster children

ALYSSA RZANY Staff Writer

254 children were neglected or abused and put into the foster care system in Adair County in 2021, said Rachel Priest, alternative care worker, investigator, licensing worker and subsidy worker of the Adair County Department of So cial Services, Children’s Division.

254 children were put into the foster care system. Hundreds of families were investigated and assessed over a 90-day period. On top of this, there were 418 hotline reports and referrals, up to 11 months of court dates, and only 23 closed cases. This doesn’t include the children that were abused and neglected but went undetected, said Priest.

Elizabeth Wiles, Katrina Schmerold and Lexie Stratton are three of about 80 licensed foster parents in Adair County and have helped several of those 254 children feel safe, loved and cared for. Wiles is a mother of four biological children, Schmer old is a single mother and Stratton was a student at Truman State University just last year.

Elizabeth Wiles, assistant professor of justice systems at Truman, has been a foster parent for two years. Soon after getting her license, she, her husband and her four biological children welcomed a sibling set of three into their home during the height of COVID.

“Child abuse … rates were actually on the increase because people were so isolated and people were los ing their jobs. That financial stress makes abuse and neglect go up,” said Wiles. “So we’re like, maybe this is a way we can help.”

They were excited to help out the community and wanted to take advantage of being in a posi tion where they could care for several children. For quite some time, Wiles and her husband were caring for seven children at a time on top of each of them having full-time jobs.

Wiles said the children in her house were always having a blast. They were taken care of, loved and shown compassion every step of the way. After taking on seven children as well as some emergency placements at the same time, Wiles’ house was never quiet.

“It was never a dull moment, which I liked,” said Wiles. “Of course, it was also exhausting but it was also really fun and in a lot of ways because it was just so full… They’re full of love and cuteness, and they’re going to be full of sass too.”

They bought a big van right before they became foster par ents and took many trips that helped the children feel like part of the family. While Wiles’ family has many incredible memo ries with their house full of joy, there were trying times as well.

Wiles mentioned times when they would have nine kids for a night for emergency placement because parents were coming from out of state. She said that there are times when foster parents want to say no to placements, but if they don’t take in children, they might have to sleep on the Children’s Division office floor.

“But it’s like, we can do this, you know, it’s a sacrifice, but it’s nothing compared to what the children are going through,” said Wiles. “How traumatic would that be to just sleep on the floor of an office building because there’s no homes that can take you?”

The passion and care that Wiles and her family provide to these kids is something that brings them joy, and the great news is that if you aren’t ready to be a foster parent, there are other ways to help out. Wiles said campus organizations can do clothing drives, college students can host babysitting events for foster children and the community can provide toiletries and gently used clothes for the children in foster care.

“You don’t have to be a foster parent to help foster kids. There’s so many little things that you can do,” Wiles said. “It’s really fulfilling to know on a little level that you’ve made a dif ference in this child’s life.”

Another local foster parent is Katrina Schmerold, a sin gle foster mother who has cared for many different children. Currently, Schmerold is doing respite care, which is when a person can temporarily watch another foster parent’s child to provide short-term relief of care. Schmerold said has known she has wanted to be a foster parent since she was a teenager.

Previously, Schmerold cared for two children for a year

and occasionally took two others when she was able. As a single foster parent with a full-time job as a psychology pro fessor at Truman, she had her hands full, but she said she gave everything to her foster kids.

Schmerold was enrolling her youngest foster children in preschool, some of which had a two year long wait list. In doing this, she was able to form relationships with other foster parents as well as the teachers and they all constantly supported each other.

“A positive thing is with Kirksville, is it being more of a close-knit community,” said Schmerold. “The teachers are easy to get in contact with, you get to know people really quickly.”

Even when schedules clashed and times got tricky, Schmerold always found a way to make it work. There were even instances when she would have review days with her stu

made. There is a lot to be aware of as a foster parent, so car ing for kids and having their best interests in mind saves them from a lot of turmoil later on.

The great thing about foster care is that you don’t have to be a professor or even a full time employee to take care of a foster child. This is the case with 23-year-old Lexie Stratton, a Tru man graduate student at the time, who took on the role of being a foster parent to a 6-year-old.

After inquiring about being a foster parent in June, Strat ton and her boyfriend became licensed foster parents and had a 6-year-old by the middle of August. She said the eight week licensure program does not cover all of the trials and excite ments a foster parent might face, so making connections with other foster parents is crucial.

“[The class] definitely doesn’t prepare you for everything, or probably even half of the things. We definitely met a lot of people within the Adair community and that helped a lot,” said Stratton. “Foster families are a great support because they understand exactly what you’re going through. It’s craziness.”

Having experienced a difficult upbringing herself, Stratton felt called to take in children so they could have a better life. When she called to inquire about becoming a foster parent, there were eight newborn babies waiting to be placed in a fos ter home and that pushed her to become someone who could care for and love those children.

“It’s definitely cool watching kids heal, but it’s also cool seeing them make sibling relationships with other kids in my home,” said Stratton.

As a part-time Truman student at the time, Stratton had to juggle several graduate classes on top of caring for all of the needs of a 6-year-old child. She said some of her professors were understanding and worked with her, but others didn’t quite understand her situation.

“In some of my classes, I brought [the child] with me… but the professors in my major were just question ing of everything,” Stratton said. “I had a lot of negative comments about having to turn my camera off on Zoom.”

Stratton echoed the sentiments of Wiles, saying there are several ways to help out even if fostering a child is not possible. Respite care, donations and philanthropies for foster care systems, and babysitting are a few of several ways people can help foster children and their families. She also said it’s not required to have a lot of money to be a foster parent. You just have to have a steady income that supports your basic needs.

As for a career, there are many other ways to get a job in the foster care system that don’t require taking in children.

Since 2016, Priest has been helping families reunite as well as working the “behind the scenes” jobs that you don’t hear about as often.

dents and bring her two foster children with her. She said the students loved it and the kids had a fun time running around.

Schmerold also said there are issues in foster care with staff shortages, mental health shortages and hotline calls. She said the “Missouri Independent” wrote a story on how “Missouri caseworkers are ‘drowning’ as the Children’s Di vision is plagued by staff shortages.”

She said it is important to encourage Truman students to apply as caseworkers as well as for other internship opportuni ties that are offered to alleviate these staff shortages and to help put kids into safe and loving foster homes.

Additionally, Schmerold has noticed mental health services severely lacking in Kirksville. There aren’t many therapists in the area and the waitlists are astronomically long, she said.

“There is a huge lack of mental health services for chil dren and adults here in Kirksville,” Schmerold said. “My children were on a waitlist for over seven to eight months before they finally got in to see a child therapist.”

Schmerold said anyone involved with children in the com munity should call the emergency hotline if they are concerned. Anyone, whether a student babysitting or a teacher working in schools can call. Even noticing neglected neighbors would con stitute an emergency hotline call, she said.

Schmerold said a lot of times children may be coming to school hungry and dirty, in which case a hotline call can be

One of her favorite parts of her job is helping reunite families and making children feel comfortable in the sit uations they are in.

“There are so many pros with this job – getting to see families reunify with each other and have a better relation ship with each other in the family as well as connecting families to resources in the community to help better them selves if there is not an option to reunify with the parents,” Priest said. “It is a great feeling also to help the children find permanency in their own lives.”

On the other hand, Priest said, there are some hard parts that come along with the job. She said one of the toughest things for her is seeing the initial trauma the children carry with them when they are first brought into the foster care system.

Priest’s involvement with foster care stemmed from digging deeper after she graduated college and worked in prisons. She found that her heart was with the children who needed support in their lives, and that led her to the foster care system.

“I figured to stop the ongoing cycle in these children’s lives, it has to start with the children and not with the adults in pris on,” Priest said. “I saw there was a high need for workers in the Children’s Division and applied. Since then I have loved my job, and the feedback from families is very rewarding.”

The foster care system needs support. From the nine children Wiles took in, to the lack of services for parents mentioned by Schmerold, there are countless ways to help, whether it be getting a license to become a foster parent or hosting a clothing drive through your student organization. Any small effort can cause a ripple effect and have a posi tive impact on everybody involved. These children need our help, and it’s important we use the resources we have to take care of those in our community.

Graphics by Heather Beard

Take Root prepares for a comeback

ALYSSA RZANY Staff Writer

Take Root, a pay-as-you-can cafe, was a staple in Kirksville from 2015 to 2020 until they closed because of COVID-19. Stu dents would get a cup of coffee and study, Kirksville commu nity members would participate in fun activities hosted at the restaurant and most importantly, those who were food insecure had a place to get food they needed and would enjoy.

Dr. Dereck Daschke, philosophy and religion professor at Truman State University and board member for Take Root, took a sabbatical in 2015 where he learned the intricacies of what makes people feel better. He said he came away with the knowledge that food is a type of medicine, and he works to pro vide it to others in the community.

Take Root closed in 2020, and with these new ideas, Daschke said he decided to rebuild it so they could further impact the community. Knowing food is a medicine inspired him to strive for a fresh start with the restaurant.

“Those of us on the board are really committed to the idea that people in the community should have access to healthy food and local foods. Just because you can’t afford the best food doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have access to something delicious,” Daschke said. “And, you know, that’s not a privilege. That’s something that everybody should have the right to, and so we’re hoping that we’re doing something to make that a better experience.”

Daschke’s personal motivations to help rebuild the busi ness align directly with Take Root’s mission, which is to “ad dress the intertwined impacts of the industrial food system, food insecurity, dietary-related diseases and a weakening rural economy. Our mission is to alleviate hunger and pro mote health by offering nourishing, high quality, local food on a pay-what-you-can basis.”

Missions like these require a board of directors that are just as passionate about feeding the community around them, and Kara Jo Levery is another board member that carries that passion.

Levery was the previous president of Take Root before they closed in 2020, and she remembers it as a three leveled building on The Square with spaces for meetings, events and theater pro ductions. Like Daschke, Levery was drawn in because of Take Root’s mission, and that passion continues into their rebuild.

Levery explained that Take Root is a nonprofit, pay-whatyou-can model that draws in all different kinds of people in the Kirksville area. Because of the food insecurity that engulfs Kirksville, she felt drawn to the idea that someone needing help with food could be more private to avoid embarrassment.

“We are creating community-focused spaces,” Levery said. “We want people to feel respected. We want people to be able to get their needs met and still have dignity. So the pay-what-you-can model allows patrons to get support in a way that does not feel too public.”

Brett Berke, Ph.D., is a Truman biology professor and a board member of Take Root as of last year. When he joined, Take Root’s physical location was closed, but when the idea of community dinners came up, he helped to make that a reality.

Community dinners were about once a month at the First Presbyterian Church in Kirksville. Berke said anyone was welcome, and they had grab-and-go options because of the heightened COVID-19 cases.

“We would use their kitchen and cook really delicious, nu tritious food that people could just drive up, wear a mask and eat, and again, pay as they can. So it was great,” Berke said.

Berke also said Take Root, while still maintaining its mission, is branching out. They are starting a double arm initiative, meaning they will have one express for-profit cafe and the same nonprofit cafe that originally attracted the Kirksville community.

The express cafe will be on the A.T. Still University campus, and Berke said the University is donating the space, oven, fridges and freezers they will need to provide food for students and any others who want to visit.

“I think we’ll call it ‘Take Root Express’ and will serve grab-and-go things like sandwiches and coffees and danish es or whatever [we] feel like making for profit,” said Berke.

The board is hoping to get this location up and running by January, but in the meantime, they will be working on hiring staff and managers for that location.

Along with the express cafe, the board of directors is also in the process of claiming a new space to call home for their non profit cafe. Dashcke said they have a couple of spaces in mind on The Square for where they will relocate.

For now, they have architects coming up with plans for how and where to build kitchens, counter space and seating. There is not an estimated opening date yet, but the board is excited to get the ball rolling, said Daschke.

“I sort of have been thinking about how a community can be a place for health and healing,” Daschke said. “[During my sabbatical], I learned how simple it is to create a community around food … Nothing makes people feel included like be ing included in meals …. Creating a space where people can sit down and have food together is not the hardest thing.”

The board of directors have many aspirations for the future of Take Root, but one idea, separate from their usual commu nity events, would be a teaching kitchen, said Daschke.

In studying food insecurity, Daschke found that some peo ple do not have fundamental knowledge about cooking.

“[We] can offer what we think is helpful advice about buy

ing healthy food and cooking at home and things like that … I would love it if, down the line, we could have something where there was a group of people [to] just kind of do real simple, ba sic cooking stuff, and maybe even put together a little package of five things … that you might need to get started in a kitchen if you don’t have them,” Daschke said.

Nicole Dorn, senior, said she was very sad to see Take Root go in 2020, but is looking forward to the new opportunities she will have in the new location.

“I loved all the plants they had as decoration,” Dorn said. “They brought in the beauty and comfort of nature, and I am excited to have [Take Root] back as a place to study and get away in a happy study place.”

Joelle Kantayya, junior Truman student, said she went to Take Root nearly every other week. Like Dorn, Kantayya was disappointed when it shut down, but has some specific factors she’s looking forward to in the rebuild.

“I’m looking forward to having a place to do homework and spend time with friends,” Kantayya said. “Take Root was delicious and every meal I ate there was wonderful. They also had great options for plant-based diets and the menu fluctuates based on available ingredients which I also appreciate.”

While awaiting both new locations, the board of directors needs some help. Those in the community who are grant writ ers, want to make donations or have a desire to volunteer are all welcome to reach out to anyone on the board.

Levery spoke on the donation aspect and said it does not have to be some large sum of money to make a difference. She realizes that many people do not have money they can spend without making sacrifices, but she said even one dollar a month could make a huge difference.

The mission of Take Root never left Kirksville, but in a few short months, its physical presence will begin to be reestab lished and benefit all in the community.

with Jack Jamming Jamming

Noah Cyrus drops a wellrounded debut album

JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer

Some families seem destined for great ness. Their names are synonymous with suc cess and excellence, and yet, this very success can cause towering expectations for younger members of the family. The Cyrus family has certainly solidified a prominent spot for themselves in the music industry, with Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus both being major stars in their own respec tive genres. The massive success of her father and sister and growing up in the spotlight have undoubtedly left high expectations for the youngest child of the family, Noah Cyrus. After releasing singles for the past 6 years, Cyrus has released her long-awaited debut album, “The Hardest Part.”

Noah Cyrus carves out a unique place for herself in music, paying homage to her roots while simultaneously creating a modern and accessible sound. She takes her father’s coun try chops and her sister’s pop prowess, seam lessly combining the two to create a sound that is her own, reminiscent of indie pop. The 34-minute runtime leaves very little room for filler, although there are some weaker songs on the album. Despite this, the album is well done, with mature themes of substance abuse

and failed relationships that are more impres sive given the singer is only 22 years old.

The album’s best song is undoubtedly “Ev ery Beginning Ends,” a call and response duet that leans into the country influences of the album. A pair of lovers realize they are fall ing out of love over the weeping strains of a guitar. The song perfectly encapsulates the maturity and emotion that permeate the rest of the album, and is destined to be a jukebox favorite of the lonesome and brokenhearted.

The album’s closer, “Loretta’s Song,” is an excellent tribute to Cyrus’ grandmother, and “Mr. Percocet” tackles substance abuse.

Some of the songs are not as poignant or catchy as their counterparts on the album, and the short runtime accentuates this weak ness. They are not bad songs, but just feel weak juxtaposed with the album’s standouts. Short albums are difficult to pull off, and Noah Cyrus nearly pulls it off seamlessly.

Because her musical career dates back to 2016, this album does not feel like a de but for Noah Cyrus. Nonetheless, it is the sound of an artist finding their way and their voice, carving out a distinct place in music for themselves while still paying homage to their roots. An excellent, short album, Noah Cyrus’ long awaited debut is well worth the listen.

Take Root was a popular cafe with the Kirksville community. It has been closed since 2020, but is planning to reopen soon. TMN archives

Graphics by Maddie Morris

Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival provides community

GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Editor-in-Chief

Once a year, artists, food trucks and performers gather to give community members a taste of the arts.

The annual Kirksville Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festival is in its 47th year. This year had 73 exhibitors, up from last year’s approximate 65, said Dwight Buckingham, who was in charge of the information booth this year.

Red Barn is put together by the Kirksville Arts Association. Buckingham said he has been on the committee for Red Barn for about 30 years and has previously been the chair and adviser of the festival.

Buckingham said the turnout had been amazing this year.

“It really hasn’t let up since we opened at nine o’clock this morning,” Buckingham said. “You can tell a lot of them are from Truman since it’s Parents’ Weekend which we always appreciate.”

Everything went smoothly, Buckingham said, citing a huge crowd.

Erin Skogsberg, from La Belle, Missouri, said this was her second year as a vendor at the festival. Skogsberg, who had a booth selling handmade goat milk soap, said there seemed to be about the same amount of attendees as last year.

“I always enjoy it — it’s always a fun thing,” Skogsberg said. “A lot of work, get ting prepared for it and setting up, but it’s always enjoyable.”

The festival is not hard work just for the vendors, however. Buckingham said planning for the festival is a lot of work as well, with planning beginning in January and a minimum of one monthly meeting until the event occurs.

The first Red Barn festival took place at the red barn on Truman State University’s campus in 1974, and it was moved to the downtown area several years later as it grew, Buckingham said.

Freshman Chrystal Lee said she found out about the festival from her Student Adviser and really enjoyed it.

“It’s very nice,” said Lee. “There’s a lot of community that is coming together — it’s nice to see it. I feel like they really kind of support … Truman.“

“I feel as if the arts fair is one of the biggest things Kirksville does all year, and people really look forward to it,” Buckingham said. “We are so glad we are able to continue it after 47 years.”

Where is the best place to study on campus?

“The best place to study on campus is by far the bridge between the Health Science[s] Building and Pershing! It gets great sun, is low traffic and super close to all my nursing classes.”

“I love to study in our chapter room inside Brewer Hall. It is a cozy place where I can make some coffee and sit at our study bar. Also, nothing beats running into my sisters while I’m studying.”

“My favorite place to study is the second floor of the library. It has a pretty view of The Quad and a perfect amount of quietness that I always find myself feeling comfortable and productive.”

McNabb Medical

A private pay doctor’s office

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Audrey Currey senior

Reagan Kuennen sophomore

Molly McGurn junior

Erin Skogsberg sells soap at the Kirksville Red Barn Arts & Crafts Festi val. The festival showcases the arts in the community and had 73 exbibi tors this year.

Photo by Genevieve Tlustos

Volleyball falls in first two matches

Above: Junior Molly McGurn goes for the ball, Sept. 16. The Bulldogs fell to Drury at their home opener.

Left: Freshman Emma Baierl serves to Drury University. Baierl had 30 assists for the Bulldogs.

Right: Freshman Annabelle Crowder goes back for the ball. The Bulldogs fell to Mis souri S&T, Sept. 17. Photos by Oliver Malone

SOFTBALL | Timing of change leads to challenges

Continued from page 14

While Ferrill has been coaching the team,

must do as well, he said.

move

have been

but the timing has made the job more difficult.

team is excited for the prospect of a better season, Stade said.

have really good kids,” Ferrill said.

mean I really like our players, and I don’t mean from a softball standpoint—I just mean more from a human standpoint I think they’re awesome.”

Left: Senior outfielder Macy Taylor prepares to bat April 10. The Bulldogs fell to University of Illinois Springfield in a double header. Taylor had an RBI for the Bulldogs in their second game. Photo by Oliver Malone

Above: Junior Hanna Berry looks to serve to Drury, Sept. 16. Berry had seven kills and a block for the Bulldogs.

Above: Freshman Jessica Proszenyak goes for the ball against Missouri S&T, Sept. 17. Proszenyak led the team in aces and had six kills and digs each for the Bulldogs.

Truman sports in brief: week of Sept. 29

Golf plays first two matches

Truman golf placed 11th out of 15 teams in their first meet of the season Sept. 20. The Bulldogs played at the Drury University Lady Panther Invite. Junior Catherine Salem led the Bulldogs with a 158 which led to a tie for 25th. Salem had a collegiate best of 76 on the second day after an 82 on the first day. Her two birdies led her to jump 19 spots on the leaderboard. Salem was followed by senior Kara Hunt who was tied for seventh place on the first day. Hunt finished with 159 and tied for 27th. Senior Natalie Fatka and freshman Reese Stovall both tied for 62nd with 166 and senior Jordan Marshall tied for 71st. Truman shot 321 and 326 to tie with Evangel University.

The Bulldogs took the win in the Kansas City Cup hosted by William Jewell Sept. 27. Fatka, Stovall and Hunt all placed within the top 10. During the second round, Truman shot their lowest 18-hole team score since 2017. Fatka had four birdies during the second round which led to a fifth-place finish. Stovall finished in 8th and Hunt tied for ninth. Marshall finished 15th and Salem tied for 16th. The Bulldogs will play in the Virginia McCoy Invite hosted by Park University Oct. 10 and 11.

Soccer looks forward

Both Truman State University soccer teams tied University of Missouri-St. Louis 1-1 in their most recent games Sept. 25. For the men’s team, freshman Nathan Grewe had the only goal for the Bulldogs and was assisted by senior midfield and forward Adam Shine. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Casey Hansen had the goal for the women’s team.

On Sept. 23 both teams fell to Maryville University, the number one ranked team. Maryville beat the Truman men’s team 0-4, with sophomore goalie Justin Olwig having four saves. Maryville beat the women’s team 0-3, and senior goalie Beth Hopwood had four saves for the Bulldogs as well.

Both teams had games against Drury University, where neither team scored Sept. 18. Truman soccer found wins against Missouri S&T Sept. 16. The men’s team won 3-1 with goals by junior midfielder Jack Knust along with graduate student midfielders Andy Brennan and Mac Knudsen. The women’s team shut out the Miners with a final score of 2-0. Freshman midfielder Gianna Gorman and redshirt sophomore defender Izzy Fultz scored goals for the Bulldogs. Both teams will face McKendree University Sept. 30.

Cross Country finds success

The Truman cross country teams have placed high in their past two meets. At their first meet of the season at the Les Duke Invite hosted by Grinnell College Sept. 10, the men’s team placed sixth and the women’s team placed second. The men’s team was led by senior Nathan Key who placed 15th overall. Sophomore Andrew Henton finished 21st and junior Ryan Harness 22nd. They were followed by freshmen Jake Gutzman, who placed 34th, Sam Kallaos, who placed 39th, Max Fuller, who placed 42nd and sophomore Joe Armour who placed 48th.

The women’s team was led by four runners scoring in the top 10. Cora Stimpson finished fourth and was closely followed by freshman Breanna Mathes in fifth. Freshman Kate Yates finished seventh, and junior Addie Mathis finished eighth. The Bulldogs also had freshman Emma Schultz in 29th, senior Reese Howard in 34th and sophomore Kati Schoeneberg in 35th.

Truman had a great showing at the Larry Young Invitational hosted by Columbia College. The men’s team finished third and the women’s team took first place. Henton led the team in 11th and was followed by Key in 22nd, sophomore Evan AuBuchon in 23rd and Gutzman in 32nd. Stimpson was the individual champion and was followed by Mathes in seventh, Mathis in ninth, junior Lexy Henrikson in 11th, and Yates in 13th. The Bulldogs’ next meet is Live in Lou hosted by University of Louisville Oct. 1.

Football wins in overtime

Truman football won their past three games against South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Hillsdale College and Tiffin University. The Bulldogs had an exciting walk-off win in overtime against Tiffin University Sept. 24. Truman tied the game 10-10 with a 39-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Grant Ross. In overtime, Tiffin scored but was closely followed by a touchdown from senior running back Shamar Griffith. During the last play of the game, the Bulldogs went for the two-point conversion, and junior quarterback Nolan Hair found junior wide receiver Zach Zerwig for the win, ending the game 18-17. Hair was 19 for 33 for 156 yards and senior tight end Matt Hall caught nine passes for 68 yards. Junior linebacker Isaiah Estes had 10 tackles for the Bulldogs.

Ross was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-tying field goal. He also made the extra point on freshman running back Denim Cook’s touchdown in the first half and averaged 55.7 yards on his three kickoffs. The Bulldogs are 3-1 and will face Missouri S&T Oct. 8 for the Homecoming game.

Sophomore running back Jake Tuttle defends the ball, Sept. 3. Tuttle rushed 49 yards for the Bulldogs and scored one touchdown.

Sophomore goalie Tatumn Damron kicks the ball, Sept. 25. The Bulldogs tied University of Missouri-St. Louis 1-1. Photos by Oliver Malone

TRUMAN COACHES BRING NEW PERSPECTIVES

Student takes on role of assistant coach for women’s tennis team

MICHAEL LAKEY Staff Writer

Junior Ethan Hinni is the assistant coach for the women’s tennis team at Truman State University for his scholarship job. Truman does not currently have a men’s tennis program.

Hinni said he decided to take on a role that requires more effort than the majority of scholarship jobs on campus because tennis is something he loves to do.

“I wanted to continue to play tennis,” Hinni said. “COVID stripped me of that [during] my senior year [of high school], and coaching was a great opportunity to help people and continue my tennis career.”

Men’s tennis is a spring sport at the high school level in Missouri, so Hinni’s senior season was canceled when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March.

Ethan has a large, valuable role on the women’s tennis team, said head coach Steve Smith.

“He’s a very good tennis player,” Smith said. “His technique and his form are very good. It’s natural for players to observe other’s technique and model their own after it. Ethan provides a very good model for the players on the team.”

“He puts in lots of extra hours above and beyond the requirements for a regular scholarship job,” said senior Julia Fangman. “He’s there every single day consistently. It means a lot to the team.”

Hinni practices with the women’s team every day, both leading and participating in drills that Smith sets up. This allows him to both coach and compete with the team during practices.

“They really want to win a point against him, so he provides a lot of motivation,” Smith said. “When they do win a point against him, they remind him of that, and they enjoy it.”

Hinni’s age and role create a unique dynamic between him and the players.

Hinni and Fangman both said he feels more like a teammate than a coach in certain respects.

“I definitely feel more like a teammate,” Hinni said. “I’m able to help them practice against competition that can mimic what they see in real games,” Hinni said.

However, noting certain responsibilities such as passing NCAA educational modules, Smith believes Hinni to have a coaching relationship with the players. He said Hinni runs drills and does not participate as much in the team’s strength and conditioning activities because he is a coach.

Smith also highlighted Hinni’s positivity, saying that the team as a whole is very positive, and Hinni and the players feed off each other in that respect.

Hinni also brings a competitiveness to practice every day that helps to push the players to become better. Smith said he often runs drills that involve playing against Hinni directly and the players become extra motivated and more competitive when trying to beat him.

An additional reason Hinni took on the role with the women’s team is Truman does not currently have a men’s tennis program. Men’s tennis, along with men’s wrestling, was eliminated in 2019 due to budget restrictions at the University.

“The men were given an additional year, which happened in 2019,” Smith said. “There is still an agreement that if a certain amount of money is raised in a certain period of time, the men’s team can be reinstated.”

Smith said he believes that agreement lapses sometime next year.

The final season allowed players on the team to find other schools following the 2019 year, Smith said. One player, Chase Klosener, decided to continue as a student assistant to the women’s team. Klosener graduated last year.

Since Truman did not have a men’s program, and Hinni’s senior season ended early in 2020, he took a similar role to that of Klosener last year. Hinni can already see the impact his role is having on himself.

“It has made me more outgoing for sure. It has also kept me busy and injected some more fun into my life,” Hinni said.

Softball makes culture change with new coach

LILLIE MORISAKI Sports Editor

Ron Ferrill has taken on the position of softball head coach this year at Truman State University. Ferrill was previously the softball head coach at Saint Ambrose College.

The players have already noticed a difference, senior outfielder Macy Taylor said. The Truman softball team finished last season with a record of 8-35.

We have to rely on each other a little bit more than we have in the past because we are so tired at practice all the time,” Taylor said.

The practices are harder because of Ferrill’s new mindset, senior catcher Lauren Stade said.

Ferrill said this season he wants the players to give their maximum effort to develop themselves.

“It’s been a little bit harder — practices, harder lifts, harder conditioning — but we know in the end it’s going to be worth it because if that’s what it takes to win some more games and make it to postseason, then that’s what it’s going to take,” Stade said.

These changes are because of the culture change Ferrill wants to make, he said.

In previous seasons, the players were not held to as high of a standard as they are now, Ferrill said.

“The big shift [has been] trying to create a practice environment where it’s not only a positive supporting environment for each other, but we get a lot more work done at a higher intensity level,” Ferrill said.

They have already been making improvements since their first practice together, Ferrill said. Taylor said the players feel having this set of fresh eyes is something that will help them improve this season.

This set of fresh eyes does come with its own challenges, Ferrill said. He came into the season late which has made the transition difficult.

“I didn’t even know the players, and they had already started the season, and they had already moved into campus and been working together and had their first practice,” Ferrill said.

Ferrill did not even know their names or their abilities, which has made it harder to know what gaps to fill when it comes to recruiting new players, Ferrill said.

“I’m scrambling to see who is still available, evaluating them and then trying to convince them that they need to come look at us here at Truman State,” Ferrill said.

A lot of the players that are eligible to play next year are already talking to other schools or have even committed, Ferrill said.

He also has to focus on the season ahead of them.

“As corny as it sounds, I don’t know what I don’t know,” Ferrill said.

Ferrill previously coached for an NAIA school, so making the jump to a Division II school means that he has not seen a lot of the competition, he said.

This makes it difficult to know what was going on last season and determine what changes he can make this year, Ferrill said.

“Are they really that much better than us, or were we just not doing the little things that we needed to do?” Ferrill said.

The main goal right now is to implement his new culture that he has implemented at his previous jobs which has led to his success, Ferrill said.

“My goal is always to win every game, but I don’t know how realistic that one is,” Ferrill said. “Right now, I’m just working as hard as I can to make each individual player better and then hope that translates to the team being better.”

The team was last in the conference last year, but Ferrill would still like to see competition and make it to the middle of the conference, Ferrill said.

of the week

“He’s there every single day consistently. It means a lot to the team.”

- Julia Fangman, senior tennis player

Cora Stimpson, sophomore cross country runner, was the individual champion at the Larry Young Invitational hosted by Columbia College, Sept. 16. Stimpson led the women’s team to a first place win at their opening meet at the Les Duke Invite hosted by Grinnell College, Sept. 10. Stimpson led the women’s team to second place with her fourth place finish overall.

SOFTBALL page 11

Coach Ron Ferrill has taken on the role of head softball coach. Ferrill previously coached at Saint Ambrose University. Truman Athletics

Junior Ethan Hinni helps coach the women’s tennis team. Hinni has taken on this role for his scholarship job. Truman Athletics

Sophomore Akansha Negi prepares for the serve, Sept. 13. Negi and sophomore doubles partner Allie Brown fell to Missouri College. Photo by Oliver Malone