The Index Vol. 109 issue 1

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu

New Year, New Look!

It has been a while since we’ve mixed up our look at The Index, so it was time for an upgrade. Be sure to grab a copy every Thursday!

SPORTS | The press box at Stokes Stadium is on target to be done

by Bulldogs’ opener Page 9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 tmn.truman.edu @TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork

FEATURES | Johanna Burns gives advice to new students from a Kirksville native Page 5

Gooch selected as VP for Academic Affairs

BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor

Photo by Brently Snead/TMN Truman State University President Sue Thomas with the University Board of Governors at the Board’s meeting on Aug 5. Thomas and the Board approved several adjustments to the University’s budget to compensate for the withheld state funding, but did not cut the budgets of any academic departments.

Truman plans budget to manage state cuts

BY SETH WOLFMEYER AND BRENTLY SNEAD Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor

Truman faces a loss of funds close to a million dollars in state appropriations compared to last year with several areas taking reduced funding while protecting the academic departments from cuts.

The cut in funding came after the Missouri General Assembly originally reduced the higher education budget by 6.6 percent, but Governor Eric Greitens withheld funds up to the original 9 percent cut he recommended.

Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance, and planning, said the University had planned the budget for this year for the 9 percent reduction.

Rector said the final state budget typically ends up as what the governor recommends, so the University assumed the worst case scenario since it began putting together this year’s budget in late February.

Rector said Truman was budgeted to receive $44.7 million in 2017 and has only been budgeted $40.7 million for 2018, a difference of close to $4 million. However, Truman did not receive the full budgeted amount last year, so the effective loss in funds is around one million.

Budgeted State Appropriations Educator & General Budget

Rector said Truman set out several principles while finding ways to cut costs to make up for the loss of funds. This included protecting academics and sustaining important student support functions. As a result, Rector said the University managed to protect the academic department budgets from any cuts.

“The idea was to try to maintain the academic budgets as much as possible,” said Rector.

Rector said the University reduced funding in a combination of areas, including nonacademic and academic areas. He said the operating funds, which are used for examples like supplies and travel, were cut in the Public Safety, Physical Plant, Human Resources, Information Technology, the Registrar’s Office and the Business Office. In academic areas, Rector said funds were cut in the library operating budget by $100,000.

In addition to cutting funds, Truman also increased tuition for students. Rector said tuition was raised by 2.1 percent for state residents and 3.3 percent for non-state residents. Including fees, this raises the total cost of state residents from $7,506 to $7,666 and non-state residents from $13,999 to $14,440.

See BUDGET page 4

2017

2018

44.7 million

40.7 million

2017

2018

97.3 million

94.4 million

What was hit?

•Library operation budget •Maintenance & repair budget •Equipment budgets •Academic & research equipment budgets

Janet Gooch was installed in her new position as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost on July 1, following an internal search to find a candidate to fill the seat vacated by now-President Sue Thomas.

In her 22 years at Truman, Gooch has served as dean of the school of health sciences and education and interim dean of the school of science and mathematics, in addition to serving on the faculty of the department of communication disorders.

In her first month on the job, Gooch said things have gone well and she has been able to adjust to the position. She worked closely with the Provost and Academic Affairs Office as a dean, which gave her a sense of what the position is and how it works. Gooch said there are still many things to learn about the position, but there haven’t been any big surprises.

“Everyone here in the administrative offices have been very supportive and helpful,” Gooch said. “It’s gone well.”

Though there has been a lot of turnover in the office of Provost for the past six years, Gooch said she intends to be around as long as people want her around. She said she and her family are both involved in the Kirksville community and she is very dedicated to the University.

Gooch said many of the initiatives she will be working on have to do with the University’s strategic plan, which was developed through a process involving students, faculty and staff. She said goals have been set for the University in the plan, and she will be working to accomplish them.

“I am quite honored and pleased to be in this position, and I look forward to working collaboratively with the entire University to do what we do best,” Gooch said. “Now it’s time to get going on some of the things we set out to do.”

Gooch said she thinks Truman is well-positioned to continue its mission in the coming years. She will be working to incorporate more high-impact student experiences, develop different revenue streams and create an online strategic plan. She said she believes that these developments will help the University carry out its mission of providing students with high-quality education at a low cost.

Truman is always looking for ways to collaborate with other universities, Gooch said. There are opportunities to partner with other schools on curriculum and articulation agreements, and Gooch said this not only makes Truman competitive, but also allows the University and others to offer the best they can to their students.

Gooch said that all the initiatives she works on will be meant to further develop and promote the University’s mission of providing a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education to its students.

“I support all of the programs here on campus in an equal way and promote them all, because they’re all important and they’re all a part of what we do,” Gooch said.

She cited curriculum and work with student affairs and the study abroad office as ways to promote the liberal arts mission for all students at the university.

Overall, Gooch said she thinks the position will be challenging, but she is prepared to face that challenge.

“I think if I felt ready, maybe I would have an overinflated sense of my own abilities,” Gooch said. “But I felt like I was certainly ready for this challenge.”

Truman, Kirksville, prepare for rare total solar eclipse

BY SPENCER FOUST Staff Writer Just in time for the first day of classes, the Great American Eclipse will cross over the United States Monday, Aug 21. This will be the first time since 1869 that a total solar eclipse can be seen from Missouri.

When the center of the eclipse passes over Columbia, Missouri, Kirksville will be 50 miles north from the edge of totality — the area in which the sun will appear to be completely covered by the moon.

For those watching from Kirksville, a partial eclipse will reach its peak around 1:11 p.m. Assistant Physics Professor Vayujeet Gokhale said a partial eclipse is far more common than the total eclipse that will sweep across the nation. Although he estimates that solar eclipses occur twice every three years, this eclipse will be unique in that it will only be visible from the U.S., with the exception of portions in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This will be the first total solar eclipse to exclusively pass over U.S. territory since June 13, 1257, NASA reported in November 2016.

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 1 © 2017

To have a total eclipse, Gokhale said it requires the relative size of the sun and moon to appear the same from where you’re viewing it from Earth. Once that rarity has happened, there are a couple windows of time through which you can experience the eclipse.

The event can take up to three hours in its entirety.

When the total eclipse occurs, that view will last for only about 2.5 minutes.

Those in Kirksville on Aug. 21 will be able to experience the eclipse from 11:45 a.m. to roughly 2:40 p.m. — but 98.5 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon at 1:11 p.m., Gokhale said.

Some students may have a chance to visit major viewing areas like Columbia, St. Clair or St. Louis, as some professors have canceled their classes for that day to view the eclipse for themselves. Gokhale and Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said that while the administration did not wish to cancel the entire first day of classes, professors were welcome to cancel their first day of classes with notice to their students.

See ECLIPSE page 4

2017 Total Eclipse Map Kirksville

Maximum Totality Limits of Totality

St. Joseph Moberly Kansas City

Columbia

St. Louis Jefferson City Cape Girardeau

The Eclipse will be visible in Kirksville from 11:45a.m. to 2:40p.m. with the peak of 98.5 percent coverage at 1:11p.m.

The Index

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

Baldwin Hall renovations complete for new year Left: Classrooms in Baldwin Hall were given new furnishings. The academic building was closed for the entire 2016-17 school year for renovations, including the refurbishing of 12 general classrooms. The building also houses 47 faculty and staff offices, the Multicultural Affairs Center, the Center for International Education and the Center for International Students.

Below: The main hallway on the first floor of Baldwin Hall received new light fixtures highlighting the old auditorium box office. The auditorium, which opened in 1959, was also renovated, receiving a new coat of light blue paint and reupholstered seats. Foreign language computer labs and study rooms were added during the renovation, as the updated building houses the Department of Classical and Modern Languages.

Photos by Austin Dellamano/TMN

Above: New chairs and carpet were installed in the third floor hallway. New heating and air conditioning were also installed, along with new paint and electrical work. The renovation cost $14.5 million, with $9.2 million of the cost being covered by the state of Missouri. The building opened in 1938 and last had large-scale work done on it in the summer of 2012, when a structural renovation was completed.

Right: A study lounge on the second floor of Baldwin Hall. There are multiple new study spaces all over the building, including informal lounges and five glassed-in collaborative study rooms complete with television screens and white boards. Conference rooms, music practice rooms and interfaith prayer rooms were also added.

NEWS IN BRIEF CAMPUS CAR THEFT

ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING

TRUMAN BEST BUY AWARDS

Campus police investigated a car theft that took place outside of Dobson Hall between Aug. 9th at 6 a.m. and Aug. 12th at 11 a.m. The vehicle was recovered on Aug. 13th. Campus police sent out an email with a few tips to help prevent another theft in the area. Students are encouraged to make sure their doors are locked before they leave the car, never keep their keys in the car and not to leave personal or valuable items in their vehicles.

Truman Days starts on Aug. 16th. On the first day at 7:00 p.m., the annual safety workshop and active shooter drill will take place in Baldwin Auditorium.

During the workshop students learn about safety precautions the university takes. They go over different scenarios and discuss how to react to them safely. All students are welcome to attend. The seminar is put on by Truman’s Department of Public Safety and the Kirksville Police Department.

Truman has been named a “best buy” college by Fiske for the third time. The award is a compilation list of schools that exhibit both affordability and quality education. Truman comes in as one of only twenty colleges in a list of schools from the United States, the UK and Canada. Truman was chosen for this award in part by its loan default rate being at a low 3 percent compared to the national average of 11.3 percent.

ECLIPSE GLASSES FOR SALE

SESQUICENTENNIAL PLANS

FINANCIAL WELLNESS COURSE

The Truman State University Stargazers Club is selling special glasses for viewing the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. Looking at the sun requires solar lenses, which shield eyes from harmful rays emitted by the sun. Eclipse glasses can be purchased for $1 in Magruder Hall 3168 Monday through Friday between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m., and again from 1:10 until 4:30 p.m. They can also be bought in the office of the School of Science and Mathematics.

Proceeds from the sale of the glasses will benefit the University Observatory.

This year, Truman will ccelebrate 150 years as a University. There will be a celebration on Sept.

2nd and activities spread throughout the 2017-18 school year. There are three planned large scale events in relation to the sesquicentennial. First is the Sesquicentennial Celebration Kick-Off on Aug. 25th. Then a community thank you celebration on the 8th of Sept. The last large event will be the Homecoming Celebration. Organizations are encouraged to try and make their Homecoming festivities sesquicentennial related.

The Center for Academic Excellence will offer a one-credit INDV course 12-1:20 p.m. on Tuesdays for the first block portion of the semester. The course is set to discuss not only how to be financially stable while in college but also provide helpful tips for staying financially well in the job field. The course goes over how to secure a job, credit and debit, paying off your loans, your rights when leasing, creating and living on a budget and everything about taxes. The course is available to all students and can be found under the course reference number 7868.

staff Serving the University community since 1909 Adviser Don Krause Editor-in-Chief Seth Wolfmeyer Digital Director Ben Cook Managing Editor Brently Snead News Editor (Text) Nick Telep News Editor (Multimedia) Brea Parnell Features Editor (Text) Rachel Fechter Sports Editor (Text) Rachel Steinhoff Sports Editor (Multimedia) Jeremy Jacob

Copy Chief MacKenna Palazza Assistant Copy Chief Trevor Hamblin Photo Editor Bethany Travis Design Chief Mariah Radle Distribution Manager Jessica Rose Staff Writers Jase Willhite, Ashley

Murphy, Kennedy Martin, Paul Province, Patrick Pardo, Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Curt Wichmer, Kayla Perkins, Spencer Foust, Kira Hintz, Johanna Burns

Copy Editors Julianna Foster, Katie

Puryear, Bethany Spitzmiller, Sarah deVeer, Ellen Thibodeau Cartoonist Annie Kintree Designers Clarissa Todd, Lawrence Hu, Emily Mollet, Georgia Gregory Photographers Lawrence Hu, Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Daniel Degenhardt, Hannah Ahlenius Distribution Representatives Greta Roettechen, Amanda Claywell

Ca mp u P ri s & C nte o d E m mu v er nit y yT hur New sda s y

Lou des t

Sta Bro tion adc in t ast he M ing idw 24/ est 7

Aw ar d

Win Pub nin lish g Tr av e ed l Tw ice Maga aY zin e ar e

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Fea Liv ture eE ver s on A yT i hur r sda y

The Truman Media Network is a student run media organization made up of several outlets, including TMN TV, Detours, KTRM and The Index.

If you want to join us in producing news and entertainment, apply online at tmn.truman.edu.

Truman Media Network Television is your student run source of news and features videos. Dedicated to highlighting the most interesting people and stories on campus, we do our best to keep you entertained and informed. We have what you need, including The Dogpound, our sports focused weekly report, and Segments, our talent highlight show. Want to check us out? Tune in to channel 36 to catch our live broadcast every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. or search for TMN Television on YouTube to see all of our videos. We’re always looking for more people behind the camera, so if you want to learn all things video, let us know!

Since its inception as a glossy print magazine in 1996 at Truman State University, Detours has gone on to produce over 40 print issues that have been distributed throughout the tri-state area. After almost 20 years of print publications, Detours ended its print era in 2015 but to move forward with the publishing industry, Detours officially shifted to solely producing the magazine digitally.

Both the biannual digital magazine and the Detours website offer engaging multimedia content featuring restaurants, sightseeing attractions and distinctive lodging opportunities. We also feature a biannual photo contest highlighting the best photography in the Midwest. Visit us at tmn.truman.edu/detours.

Truman’s radio station has been 100 percent student powered since 1998. Live 24/7, KTRM plays only the hottest college tracks from a constantly updated library of music.

KTRM hosts events every semester featuring local Kirksville artists. Truman’s radio station is home to dozens of unique radio shows playing a wide variety of genres. Rap, hip hop, country, jazz. Whatever you’re into, we’ve got you covered.

Join the KTRM team to be a part of the loudest radio station in the Midwest by applying online!

For over 100 years, The Index has been the number one news source for all things Truman. As a student run newspaper, we aim to provide students, faculty, and the Kirksville community with unbiased news and top features stories in the area. With aspiring journalists, learning designers and dedicated editors, we cover what you need know and look good doing it. Grab a new issue every Thursday. It’ll be easy to find them because they’re just about everywhere. Interested in helping us be an even better source of news? Apply online and we’ll get you started.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

[ Our View ]

BY SETH WOLFMEYER Editor-in-Chief

Every organization has to be able to change, to grow and evolve with a world which is always moving in a new direction. Here at The Index, we are no different.

The past few years have been tough, just as they have been for many others. It is not easy running a student newspaper, and we find new challenges to conquer every day. It may be difficult, but that makes these challenges no less rewarding or worthwhile.

The good thing about being a student-run newspaper is that every year is a fresh start, a chance to re-examine how we work and what we want to be.

This year, the staff and I decided we didn’t want some huge change — some great and elusive goal which would prove too high and only end in frustration.

All of us at The Index simply wanted to get back to improving our journalistic skills.

You may have noticed the new look of the paper, or if you’re a freshman you get to see it without ever knowing the old look. We’re pretty proud of this design, and it took a lot of hard work to get it to where we like it. I just hope you like it too.

However, a cool look does not make a better paper. For that we need to improve as journalists.

We plan of focusing more on training our writers, chasing down stories rather than letting them come to us and organizing ourselves so we get all the facts you need. All our goals can be summed up with the idea of improving through practice and not just change.

The path of journalism in the future is uncertain, but this paper’s dedication to the craft is not.

I hope you enjoy what we write this year, and I hope you pick up the paper or go to our website at tmn.truman.edu. I can’t promise we won’t make mistakes. We are, after all, here to learn. But I can promise we won’t stop trying to put out the best paper possible every week, and if you want to be a part of this, just let me know. We like new people.

The spring of 2017 was not an easy semester for Truman State University. With a revenue shortfall at the state level, Governor Eric Greitens and the Missouri General Assembly were forced to make cuts to the state budget.

As a result, money was withheld from public universities that had previously been promised to the institutions for the fiscal year. For Truman, this meant a reduction in our operating budget and a $50 surcharge for each full-time student. Additionally, it stalled progress on the Greenwood Autism Center, since there was not enough funding to proceed past the planning stage of the project.

The state’s higher education budget for the fiscal year was reduced by 9 percent through withholdings the Governor’s office.

The lack of funds put Truman’s administration, as well as other public universities within Missouri, in a tough spot. Truman prides itself on delivering a highquality education at a low cost,

and it seemed unlikely that Truman would come out of the situation without raising tuition significantly or making large cuts to academic budgets. Thankfully, however, the damage was minimal.

We, the Truman Media Network Editorial Board, commend the administrative staff of Truman State University for how well they have responded to the decrease in state funding and subsequent reduction in the University’s budget. In planning the budget for this fiscal year, which started on July 1, Truman administration assumed the worst and drafted the budget around the potential 9 percent cut in state appropriations. The administration’s prudence and ability to plan ahead ultimately paid off as the state’s withholding was set to 9 percent.

While the overall academic budget did take a hit, the budget of each academic department was fully shielded from cuts. Additionally, instead of laying off faculty or staff, vacant positions

were reconfigured or eliminated.

In contrast, the University of Missouri system, laid off around 200 faculty and staff members.

Truman’s tuition suffered an increase, but only by a modest amount — 2.1 percent for instate students and 3.3 percent for out-of-state students.

Though we applaud the administration for these solutions, we are disappointed to see that the faculty and staff did not receive raises this year. We at TMN believe professors and university staff should be rewarded more for not only their hard work, but also for the quality of wokr they are known for.

For this reason, we hope to see change in the near future. Though this is far from an ideal scenario for the University, the administration has done a good job in handling a bad situation. With its focus on academics and affordability, the University has succeeded in preserving the most important elements of our institution.

Organizations vital to building friendships

BY TREVOR HAMBLIN Assistant Copy Chief Freshman year was a busy time for me. On top of adjusting to life as a college student, I had joined the anime club, a Dungeons and Dragons group a friend had started and I was branching into working at the Truman Media Network. That next year I would find myself at Club Tennis, swing dancing, the fighting game club and even working on copy desk here at The Index. I don’t really do much of those things anymore, mostly due to time constraints or conflicts in scheduling, but it’s safe to say that having been in these clubs has changed my entire college experience.

While many of my friends were made through living in West Campus Suites or being in Cantoria — a performance choir on campus — it was these clubs and groups that really forced me to broaden my horizons.

The important one for incoming freshman is how I really got

to know the people around me.

Meeting new people is a given — after all, that’s one of the biggest reasons people join clubs. And when you meet someone through a club, you know you’ll have something in common already.

But just as important was how I grew closer to the friends I already had. I usually went with someone I already knew, in case I didn’t have fun. And while we were friends before, these clubs were often something I didn’t know we had in common before.

I knew nothing about my friend Andy’s background in tennis before we tried out Club Tennis, but when I learned it became a common topic for us.

One thing you probably haven’t thought about, though, is how a club can expand your skills and interests. While I had passing interests in tennis and dancing, I was never any good at either before joining. In fact, my backhand was horrible until I started going to Club Tennis.

Then I improved it so much that I now use a two-handed forehand to make it more like my backhand. Or with dancing, while I may not know the steps very well anymore, the knowledge that I am capable of it really changed my perspective of things.

With non-club-oriented groups, you may find the focus is more on this second option. TMN as a whole is focused on student learning, as we are an educational organization, and it has really helped to give me perspective on how the journalistic process works. I even got involved with parts of the process I never thought I’d be involved in by working on copy desk and now working as the assistant copy chief.

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

Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent 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 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.

LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar and spelling errors.

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online at tmn.truman.edu. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken in consideration.

Honestly the only negative part of being in a club for me was not always feeling like part of the group. Clubs often have their own methods of including new members, as this can be a common issue. After all, they spend a lot of time with these people to talk about this interest.

But if you’re really interested in a topic, just know this is going to be a hurdle in the early stages of joining an organization.

There’s also the fact that many clubs require a lot of time and commitment. As I mentioned earlier, my time in many of these clubs or groups was limited by other commitments. While I obviously still work at The Index, my time here conflicted with tennis practice and with one of the swing dance groups on campus.

I still play DnD, though, because we’re flexible about when we hold it. But if I were to restart tennis or dancing, I’d be starting from square one again, or at least close to it.

Still, I wouldn’t trade my time in these groups for anything. It’s worth the connections to other people alone, but the fact that I can still learn and improve just makes it invaluable. Plus, even if it’s not related to another area, many clubs can be great resume builders. Something like swing dancing teaches you teamwork, listening skills, coordination and the importance of dedication.

Or you could just do it because it’s fun. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Contact Submit corrections or contact the editor.

index.editor@gmail.com

660-785-4449

tmn.truman.edu

ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 636-785-6004 or jai6847@truman.edu.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 1

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The Index

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

ECLIPSE | Rare event visible BUDGET | Decrease in state funding leaves Truman with fiscal pressure past and would like to going forward, but cannot do it across Missouri, with partial Continued from page 1 Rector said the University is in a fortunate position to for free. She said the University is also in the middle of coverage in Kirksville have turnover and retires in several positions which led to a capital campaign to fundraise more for Truman which Continued from page 1 Staff were encouraged to notify their students via email well in advance if they were to postpone Monday’s classes.

Gokhale also strongly encouraged any students who may be visiting the totality spots to be mindful of the expected traffic. Millions of tourists are expected to enter the state to see the eclipse, and highways like Interstates 70 and 63 are likely to be very busy. Gokhale said it would be smart to wait until later on Monday evening before returning to Kirksville.

Planetarium Director Jared Young said that though he is not an instructor, the excitement of the eclipse makes it far less to worry about missing class than one might assume.

“It’s just a matter of ending a class a few minutes early, or not having one at all,” Young said.

Truman’s Stargazers Club will be putting up several telescopes across campus that students can use to view the eclipse. Young said that one of these telescopes will be set up right in front of the planetarium

by Magruder Hall.

Anyone who intends to look at the eclipse is heavily encouraged by Young to grab a pair of solar glasses. A cheap pair of safety glasses can be purchased through the planetarium or Professor Gokhale. After selling 7,500 pairs earlier this year, a shipment of up to 2,000 more is expected to arrive before move-in day, Young said.

some savings. He said Truman has been reviewing every position which opens up to justify a new hiring, find a way to better utilize the position or eliminate the position. Rector said this led to 19 less positions at the University, with all necessary positions being covered.

Rector said the University also decided not to give the staff and faculty raises this year. He said this was unfortunate as Truman’s salaries are not the best and are low in several areas. He said because of funding issues, the University may have employees which have not gotten a raise multiple times in the past 10 years. However, Rector said Truman is doing better than several other Missouri universities, including the University of Missouri which had to lay off around 200 people.

“Overall, compared to what’s happening on some other campuses, it’s not quite as bad,” said Rector.

Janet Gooch, executive vice-president for students affairs and provost, said the University wants to take an extensive look at how faculty and staff is paid in the future.

“Naturally there’s disappointment in the faculty, you know, [the faculty] always want to be and should be rewarded for their hard work,” said Gooch. “But I think people understand … when you take a nine percent cut from the state it’s hard to imagine where the money for a raise would come from.”

Gooch said academics tried to cut money outside of student affairs in order to preserve the student experience. This included not holding a free institute for Missouri teachers which teaches them how to instruct AP classes. Gooch said Truman has run the institute in the

been successful so far.

Gooch said one of the departments that experienced a cut in the budget is the library. She said the library will be tasked with evaluating and rethinking what materials they will make available.

The library’s budget received a cut of $100,000. Normally, this cut would be the priority of the dean of the library. However, Richard Coughlin retired last year. Rather than hiring a whole new position, the decision was made to create a co-dean system between the three department heads within the library — Amanda Langendoerfer, Janet Romine and Stephen Wynn.

Romine, associate dean of libraries for research and instruction, said the arrangement began as a temporary fix but will now be permanent. Romine said she feels sharing the position works because they all work together well. She said though they each have their own specialties, they have been able to share the responsibilities of the former dean well.

Langendoerfer, associate dean of libraries for special collections and museums, said the budget cut ultimately affected their acquisitions budget.

“We have a responsibility to maintain a core collection and find materials that are appropriate for class use and that will be used by the faculty and students here at Truman,” said Langendoerfer. “We have always been very good stewards of the University’s money and we’re just really evaluating the materials, especially the rather pricey journals and databases we provide [because] they are actually quite a large percentage of the library budget as a whole.”

International students arrive for orientation

Photos by Rachel Fechter/TMN Top right: International students arrived in Kirksville starting on Friday, Aug. 11. Orientation week activities included a scavenger hunt, trips to Walmart and an evening at Thousand Hills State Park. All students will also participate in Truman Days.

Above: Senior Rachel Flynn assists new international student Valentin Clot-Vaussier during the third of four orientation sessions that took place on Sunday and Monday.

Cultural integration leaders from the Center for International Students were on hand to help new international students get ready for their first day of classes.

Bottom right: International Students attend an orientation session in a computer lab at Violette Hall. Orientation sessions were primarily held at the Baptist Student Union, but activities took students all over campus and Kirksville.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

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If you’re reading this, then chances are you’ve just finished moving into your first home away from home. The bed’s been lofted and de-lofted twice and made up with inconvenient, extra-long bedding that will only ever fit your dorm bed. You’ve just finished hanging posters and Target wall decorations with what feels like three dozen Command strips. Your parents are probably on their way to Walmart for some forgotten but much needed necessities — most likely toilet paper or ramen — before heading home. You’re here. You did it. You made it to college. Welcome to Kirksville.

Three years ago, I was in the same place as you. I hugged my mother and sister goodbye with well-intentioned promises of calling often. I made awkward small talk with my roommate before meeting the rest of my house for a long list of rules and advice from our student advisers.

I played the uncomfortable get-to-know you games. And I went through the same adjustment process every freshman does, with one small difference. When I left for college, I only moved 1.4 miles.

That’s right folks. I’m what a Typical Truman Student, commonly abbreviated as TTS, would call a townie. I was born and raised in Kirksville, as were my parents before me. So when I moved into my dorm, I didn’t experience the same sort of culture shock many of you might be going through. You might just be realizing you’ve committed four years of your life to a town that’s at least an hour and a half from the closest mall. Perhaps you went on that trip to Walmart, and it occurred to you that you could drive the length of the town in less than 15 minutes.

Or maybe you’re sitting in your room wondering, “What now?” Don’t worry, there’s more to Kirksville than meets the eye.

For the last three years I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard another Truman student complain about Kirksville or how bored they get here. When people find out I’m from Kirksville one of the most popular questions they ask me is, “What do you do around here?” The thought might have even crossed your mind already. Sure, Kirksville isn’t a cultural mecca by any means, but I love this town. I’ve got 21 years of experience to prove life is what you make it and home doesn’t have a thing to do with geography. Someone once told me that only stupid or lazy people get bored, and the older I get, the more I have to agree.

For me, Kirksville is home. I spent my childhood biking to the public library, baking in the sun at Thousand Hills State Park, stargazing and picnicking in parks. I’ve never run out of things to do. And with a little imagination, you won’t either. So I’m here today to share more than 21 years of townie wisdom with you about how to make Kirksville your home for the next four years.

I’m sorry to say it kids, but you’ve just committed to being a professional student. This means countless hours spent slaving away over books inside. If you’re like me, then spending more than three hours cooped up somewhere — even if it is in a cool library or the sweet newly renovated Baldwin Hall — you go a little stir crazy. And the only way I know how to beat back the scholarly blues is by going outside.

I’ve always said Kirksville is a summer town, but the truth is, Kirksville is an outdoors town. There’s something here for everyone.

Nature enthusiasts. Cyclists. Swimmers.

Hikers. Runners. Stargazers. Athletes. We’ve got it all.

One of my favorite places is Thousand Hills State Park. Friends, if you leave Kirksville without ever having been to the state park then you have missed out. Honestly, this place deserves its own article. Pretty much all my favorite activities can be found out there.

I love to hike along the trails. My favorite is Red Bud Trail, blazed in yellow, because the scenery out there is amazing and I love the challenge of the varied terrain. This particular trail crosses a stream a couple of times and I

It seems fitting that this would make the list since the eclipse is just days away. Have any of your professors canceled class yet?

Everyone in Kirksville is gearing up to experience this once in a lifetime event. But the astrological enthusiasm doesn’t have to end after Aug. 21.

The Del and Norma Robison Planetarium is not only planning a solar eclipse viewing but schedules

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almost always find myself pausing to watch the water flow by on its way to the lake. It’s also a great place for cheesy photo shoots with your besties. Cue audience groans because I just revealed I’m a basic Instagram obsessed millennial. Wait, am I a millennial? Doesn’t matter. I have no shame.

The Thousand Hills Trail, blazed in red, is popular with mountain bikers and runners.

Although the red trail is actually 10.5 miles long, I typically stick to the one mile loop connector used to shorten or lengthen the trail. Guidebooks are available at the start of the trail and I highly recommend you use them. The first time I took friends out on this trail I thought I turned onto the one mile loop but actually ended up on the full trail. For some strange reason we kept going. Let me just say this, I was neither emotionally nor physically prepared for a 10 mile walk. The brand new Forest Lake Trail runs through the heart of the park and is wheelchair accessible.

From this trail you can stop by the swimming beach for a free dip in the lake or visit the petroglyph site. If you’re interested in biking, but didn’t bring yours to college with you then you can rent one from the marina.

Not interested in hiking or biking but still want to be active? Then you should definitely check out the other equipment rentals down at the marina. I love kayaking on the lake. If I wasn’t poor of pocket I would already have invested in my own kayak. Thankfully, renting can be very affordable. Every summer, my friends and I make sure to fit in at least one trip to the lake to take advantage of this deal.

Equipment rentals are by the hour and if you

a slew of shows throughout the year.

A trip to the stars is just a short walk to Magruder Hall.

Journey a little farther and you can visit the observatory at the University Farm. There’s even a Stargazers Club on campus that organizes open houses at the observatory.

Another Kirksville tradition is Train Bridge. If you’ve been on

tmn.truman.edu

head out early enough on a weekday then the rates are half their normal price before noon.

This is a limited time offer folks. As with most places, the rentals shut down after Labor Day. Get it while it’s hot, pun intended.

Okay, okay. Enough fangirling over Thousand Hills. There are plenty of other parks in Kirksville. Rotary Park — also referred to by locals as swimming pool park because it’s next to, well, the swimming pool – boasts an amphitheater, Frisbee golf and a sweet jungle gym for young ‘uns. Locals also head here for sledding in the winter since the park is set atop a large hill. There are also several parks within walking distance of campus and our own beautiful quad, creatively called The Quad, where you can string up a hammock, throw around a Frisbee, toss a ball with friends or just spread out a blanket and take a nap in the sun.

Ryle commons boasts a killer sand volleyball pit where you can work up a sweat with friends before barbecuing a delicious meal. Or rent a basketball from the hall desk.

Walk down to the tennis courts for some hand-eye coordination. Kite flying brings surprising yet idyllic delights to most college students. The list goes on.

I could go on and on about everything there is to do outside in Kirksville — oh wait, I already have — but the truth is there still lots to talk about that doesn’t require being outside. I just heard a lot of imaginary people in my brain going, “Whew.”

campus for more than an hour you may have heard someone recommend this to you. This hot spot features a bridge suspended over the railroad and an unfettered view of the sky. Visitors can search for constellations in the night while the wait for the train to pass under them. Be safe, kids.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, within a short walk from campus is a magical place I would like to introduce you to. A little place we like to call The Square. I know, we’re creative. Here you can browse the famous three-story upscale thrift store Hidden Treasures while enjoying a lavender mist latte from Sweet Espressions, an off-chain coffee shop with a killer atmosphere.

You can walk to Pagliai’s Pizza for a palonza before catching a late showing at the Downtown Cinema 8.

Townie fun fact — Palonzas, a wonderful concoction of sauce, cheese and meat enclosed in a pocket of delicious dough baked to perfection, were originally called ronzas, until a controversy surrounding the name and a chain of restaurants called Runza forced a name change a few years ago. They’ll always be ronzas to me — my childhood is filled with fond memories of their 99 cent baby ronza night and their family movie night.

Grab a cup of frozen yogurt from Tru-Yo Café and walk up to the Princess Emporium for a day of thrift shopping and antiquing.

These two stores actually have some neat

history of their own. Tru-Yo Café was originally owned and operated by a Truman student, hence the name. Since then the store has been sold and renovated. Princess Emporium, according to my great-great aunt Meredith, used to be an old theater. And folks, you only need to walk in and glance up at the ceiling to see what she’s talking about. Once upon a time, Kirksvillians packed into Princess Emporium not to buy antiques but to watch movies. My aunt can also remember a time when there used to be chaperoned dances above the theater for teenagers.

More into trivia than history? Head on over to Maxwell’s, a trendy eatery and bar, for their Tuesday night trivia.

Another place to visit is the Aquadome for music and open mic nights. Although this TTS favorite mostly hosts concerts, they by no means limit themselves strictly to music.

Here you find events dedicated to poetry, food and art. Another Truman hot spot is Take Root Café, a recently established paywhat-you-can restaurant dedicated to food sustainability and access located in one of

One of the things I didn’t take advantage of until I enrolled at Truman was the free art and music opportunities. Are you listening Kirksville natives? There’s something for you guys too in this article. It seems like every week there’s a concert and all it took was one course on jazz ­— thank you LSP requirements — to get me hooked on all the free concerts.

And these musicians are seriously talented.

It seems like every Truman student becomes intimately familiar with the concept of stress.

The pressure of an academic life is unexpectedly fast-paced.

The constancy of balancing ever looming deadlines was one of the most difficult adjustments for me when I came to college. Thankfully, rural living reminds me to slow down every once in awhile. One way I do this is by taking a country drive.

When I was a junior in high school, I spent a summer building farm fences with my father to raise money for dual placement courses I planned to take. While I didn’t relish the manual labor, I did find an unexpected blessing in the winding drives we took each morning to reach our jobsite. And during the day, at any moment I could look up from whatever task was consuming my attention and

find myself faced with the beautiful vision of sweeping oceans of grass and rolling hills dotted with cows, hay bales and the fences I was helping to build. The kind of peace I experienced out there is a feeling I still struggle to put into words. Now, all I have to do to leave behind the stress of whatever problem is overwhelming me is to roll down the windows of my car and hit the road.

Growing up, my family took a lot of what I call “daycations.” My mama would pack a picnic lunch and my sisters and I would load up in the minivan and the whole Burns tribe would take off. Sometimes we would just drive around back roads, listening to a Cardinals’ game or the golden oldies station while my parents made observations about the changes in the farms and homes we saw along the way. Other times we had a destination in mind — the

Kirksville in Rotary Park. The park is also home to a veteran’s memorial, with lists of the names of locals who served in the military. I’ve been trying to find my grandfather’s name on the memorial, but I haven’t found it yet in the long list of veterans.

Kirksville is also home to the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine.

Collections include everything from artifacts of Andrew Taylor Still’s life on the frontier to the formation of osteopathic medicine

the cutest spots in Kirksville, Pickler’s Famous.

The downtown area sports all kinds of interesting stores and venues for a broke college student to spend their hard earned money, but your time here in Kirksville won’t be complete without exploring one of the festivals or parades that take place on The Square. Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival is coming up and you don’t want to miss it. Vendors come from all across the state to display and sell their wares. The local farmer’s market is also hosted here every Saturday.

Check out the Kirksville community calendar for more events on The Square. Or you can just stay tuned with Truman Media Network. We’ll keep you posted.

There are also the Ophelia Parrish galleries where students or guest artist exhibits are almost always on display.

The English and literature department brings in authors to do readings of their work and answer questions.

And every TTS looks forward to The Soicety Of Dance Arts recital and the theatre department’s productions each year.

The Kirksville Arts Association is an organization dedicated to supporting regional artists. They also

plan the yearly Red Barn Arts And Crafts Festival. Although the Kirksville Arts Center sadly burned down last spring, the council is still going strong and currently displaying their fibers, metal and wood exhibit at their new location on Baltimore Street. Gallery 104 on The Square also features local artwork and hosts painting workshops throughout the year.

Who knew Northeast Missouri had such talent to offer?

Midwest Old Thresher’s Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa comes to mind.

When we got hungry, we’d pull over to a roadside park and have a family picnic. If I sound nostalgic it’s because I am. Were there times I wish we had gone to some exotic location for a vacation? Yes, but I also wouldn’t trade those car trips for anything, and I can get pretty violently carsick.

So don’t be afraid to round up a troupe of friends, pile into someone’s hybrid and take off for destinations unknown. Take in the scenery. Raid the C-store before you leave and have your own roadside picnic. Discover the joys of Amish and Dutch country stores.

Learn how to use a road map.

Roll down the windows and blare the radio. One of the benefits you have of living in a new place is the discovery of something new.

One piece of advice your student advisor is going to give you, if they haven’t already, is to leave your door propped open as often as possible. This way, you meet more people and feel more connected with your community, right? Well, the same theory applies to small towns. The old saying that everyone knows everyone in a small town is true. I can’t remember a time where I went into the grocery store with Mama and came out in under an hour — usually because we’ve seen half a dozen people we know and stopped to have five minute conversations with each of them. Now that I’m entering my senior

It’s hard to imagine a place existing before you’ve been there.

You never really consider what a place used to be like. But if you’re a history buff, Kirksville has a lot to offer.

Did you know Kirksville was the site of a small battle during the Civil War? One of the oldest graves in the historical Forrest Llewellyn Cemetery dates back to the Civil War. Every year, Civil War enthusiasts travel from all around to re-enact the battle of

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

year of college, I can honestly say that the connections I’ve built here are special.

There’s something comforting about knowing people will remember your name once you’re gone. And the truth is, people in Kirksville want to get to know you. Truman students play a large role in our community and in our economy. So go to the farmer’s market some Saturday.

Talk to people. Ask them questions about their wares and answer questions in return. If you’re a church going person, find a church here in Kirksville or get connected with several great religious groups on campus.

If you love sports, volunteer with a program at the local schools or join an

intramural team. Love theater? Join one of the community theatre productions.

There are countless opportunities to find your community. As a writer, I jumped straight into Truman Media Network and had a job by September of my freshman year. Find your interest, find your community.

Not sure where you’re interests lie?

Then I highly encourage you to go to the activities fair. Pretty much every student organization shows up to recruit new members. There’s something for everyone there, including free food. And since Truman is such a small school, these niche communities are always looking for new faces to join their families.

as a profession. I can remember visiting the museum during a field trip in grade school and being morbidly fascinated by the display of the human nervous system.

Truman has its own interesting culture and history to explore. For example, did you know there used to be a small lake on campus? Learning about the history of a place changes your perception of it. You’d be surprised by all there is find out.

If you’ve made it this far in the article, then I have one more piece of advice for you. Write letters. It may seem like weird advice or like an outdated form of communicating, but there’s something about writing letters to your loved ones that forces you to consciously reflect on the place you’re living. The people you’re writing to don’t have any idea what living in Kirksville is like and you get to share it with them. I treasure the snail mail I get from friends who left Kirksville for college. And who knows, one day those letters might become tangible evidence of a wonderful part of your life.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

The Index

Truman accommodates first generation students

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BY KAYLA PERKINS STAFF WRITER

Truman State University is home to students of many races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and backgrounds. One group of around 700 students on campus are first generation students who the McNair Scholars Program and other entities at Truman are trying to better suit and accommodate.

A celebration for first generation students was held at Truman last October, and the turnout was overwhelmingly positive, kick starting a larger conversation about how to help and recognize first generation students at Truman.

The McNair Scholars Program is a national program instituted by the Higher Education Act of 1986. There are currently over 150 McNair Scholars Programs nationwide at various public and private universities.

The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to help first generation, low income and racial minority students move past undergraduate school to obtain research doctorate degrees.

Heather Cianciola, McNair Scholars Program project coordinator and principle investigator, said the McNair Scholars Program was originally created to add diversity to academia – since most people with research doctorates go on to become professors.

Cianciola said McNair is one of eight programs funded by the Higher Education Act of 1965, along with immersion programs for middle and high school students who would be first generation, low income or racial minorities.

Cianciola began working with the McNair Scholars Program in summer 2011, when she was an instructor. In 2015, she became interim project director and later accepted the full project director position. She has been working with first generation college students for the duration of that time, and she said she thinks first generation students bring experiences with them that differ from their non-first generation counterparts.

Cianciola said nationwide research on first generation students shows that there are lower graduation rates among first generation students, and they are more likely to come from lower income families. This research has also shown they do not perform as well on standardized tests and their average GPAs are lower than non-first generation students.

Cianciola said Truman has recently completed research which has shown that first generation students at Truman have an average GPA at the same level as other students, but they graduate at lower rates. She also said many of them do not participate in undergraduate research because of financial struggle. “[First generation students] tend to be a little more reticent to ask for help,” Cianciola said. “They tend to be less aware of the networks available to them and of how to approach faculty members of organizations or how to go after leadership positions

Heather Cianciola, McNair Project Coodinator and Ryan Miller, McNair Evaluation Coordinator reach out to incoming first generation students. Cianciola and Miller are establishing a group for first generation students.

Submittted Photos

A group of first generation college students and faculty gather in the Student Union Building following a meet and greet last year. They discussed their experiences of being a first generation student.

or things that would benefit them in terms of social or cultural capital or things that would benefit them in the long run.”

Senior Jessie Wooldridge, an English major and first generation McNair student, said they did their research on first generation students which has manifested into a bigger project.

Wooldridge said one day they were talking to McNair Scholars Program and Evaluation Coordinator Ryan Miller about first generation students and the McNair Scholars Program. Miller suggested to Wooldridge that they do their McNair research on first generation students.

To conduct their research, Wooldridge looked at first generation faculty and staff and — hoping to discuss the positives of being a first generation student — looked at cultural capital that faculty possessed.

Through their research, Wooldridge discovered these faculty had an appreciation for intelligence outside of academia, meaning they valued skills outside of traditional knowledge.

The other cultural capital first generation students possessed was understanding that part of their identity. Wooldridge explained knowing the hardships that come with being a first generation student is helpful. They hope their research spreads awareness of the success first generation students can still have as well as helps first generation students take proactive measures in their learning.

Wooldridge is going to continue doing research on first generation students for their English degree, and they hope to continue developing their research sparked by the McNair Scholars Program in a graduate school program.

“The McNair Scholars Program can only help so many students,” Wooldridge said.

“I mean – there were only 20 of us, and so I’m doing this research to help students outside of what McNair can provide.”

While researching, Wooldridge is also working on establishing an organization for first generation students to build a community. Some goals of the organization would be to build and sustain a group of students who share similar experiences as well as setting up mentoring programs for those students. Additional goals would also include working with recruiters and university counseling to improve retention rates of first generation students throughout their college career. They said they also want to reach out to more high school students who could become first generation college students.

Wooldridge and their peers applied for a charter for their organization last spring semester but got turned down when members of the New Organization Hearing panel thought such an organization was not necessary and would not retain members.

Wooldridge said they will be reapplying for a charter this fall semester.

University President Sue Thomas was a first generation student herself, and said that first generation students bring with them a special perspective to school because they have a different set of experiences and backgrounds.

Thomas encourages the sharing of ideas and histories to better understand one another and the world around us but warns that we should not get caught up in these differences that could divide the student body.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

Questions on the Quad What advice would you give to incoming Truman freshmen?

“I have a class during the eclipse and my professor already emailed us saying he wouldn’t cancel class so I’ll just live that experience through other people.”

“Aside from studying your heart out, take care of your mental health. Grades are important and so are friends, but take the time to make sure you’re doing okay.

Don’t be afraid to talk to people about what you’re feeling.”

'From what I’ve seen of new Baldwin, I really like it.

The auditorium is so much nicer compared to its stuffy predecessor.”

“I’m going to Columbia. I have my solar glasses. I’m ready.

All my classes got cancelled, so I’m free as a bird.”

“I would say just let things happen naturally. Everything will work out. Go with the flow. Don’t stress out so much. I think a lot of people try to get super involved at first but those opportunities will come naturally. You don’t have to be an overachiever.”

“I haven’t seen them yet. They’ll be more accommodating for students I think. That third floor [used to] be stifling.”

“Probably what I’m gonna do is sit out on the quad on a blanket and watch the sun with my friends and eat some snacks or lunch.”

“On the academic side try to gauge your professors. Bring your books to class the first week and if you figure out you don’t need to don’t because books are heavy.

Gauge those classes.”

“I’ve seen the posts on Facebook. I’m a transfer student so I’ve only been in there once.

I’m excited as a history student because I’ll probably be in there more than normal.”

“Pray that my classes get cancelled and probably hitting up whatever the stargazers have set up.”

“Do as many activities as you can.

Freshmen year is super easy.

It’s your chance to do a ton of activities and make a whole bunch of friends to start off. Just don’t do all of them.”

“I was a freshman last year so I’ve never seen it. I’m excited to see it and hear other people being excited about it. Also I’m looking forward to classes being more spread out.”

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Mental Health Tip

Tip of the Week

Courtesy of University Counseling Services (660-785-4014)

Exercise has been proven to increase brain neurotransmitters like Serotonin and Norepinephrine and can be as effective as antidepressants in decreasing symptoms of depression. Regular exercise can decrease feelings associated with both depression and anxiety.

Prep crew prepares dorms for freshmen to move in

Photos by Rachel Fechter/TMN A group of seven Truman students move micro fridges in and out of the proper dorm rooms for occupants just two days before freshmen move in day. This group is part of prep crew, who arrive early to set up rooms for students moving into the dorms.

Senior Allyson Lotz and Sophomore Hannah Oberg check the condition of the micro fridge. In addiiton to moving mico fridges, other prep grew groups helped with filling goodie bags to put in freshmen rooms, serving as parking coodirnators on freshmen move in day and managing the hall desks during Truman Days.

Sophomore Faith Locke and Oberg move micro fridges from Missouri Hall to Dobson Hall. One problem encountered by this crew was pushing the heavy fridges across the uneven brick sidewalks.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

The Index

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Stokes renovation nears completion

BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer

With a little more than a month before Truman State University’s first home football game, construction crews in Kirksville move to put the finishing touches on the Stokes Stadium renovation project. While the field’s surface is already in place, the track and press box are still incomplete.

Kevin White, assistant director of athletics for communications and operations, said the stadium’s press box is right on schedule. He said the box’s interior should be finished around Sept. 16, which would leave plenty of time to set up the wiring, phone lines, sound system and other features before the Bulldogs’ first home game. White said while the press box is on schedule, the construction of the track will take more time. According to White, the track was delayed when the construction crew had an issue filling asphalt. The time it takes to grind asphalt to its proper grade is what has caused the delay.

“The stadium should be finished before the first home game, but it needs to be left alone,” White said. “There are plenty of fences up, so people need to make sure they keep out. It’s a lot like when Baldwin Hall was being renovated — the same still applies to the track … To keep it all intact, the football team will have to move their practice to the south field where they had Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN their spring ball at.”

Despite the construction delays, Tim Construction crews were out Monday finishing the renovations on Stokes Stadium. The football team will be finishing their last Schwegler, track and field head coach, seven days of training camp on the rugby field so the renovation can be completed. said the track is on schedule to be ready in time for the team to begin practice. Schwegler said delays in large construction projects particularly important. He said in the past, there was less field between the sideline are common which is why it’s important to be flexible. He said after the track is poured, and the track, which led to painful collisions with the ground when a tackle carried a player too far out of bounds. Raftery said although expanding the track layout was it will take time to set, but should be done in time for their organized practices.

“The track team doesn’t start official practice until the 11th [of September], so mainly to benefit the track team, the football team appreciates the additional room that’s going to work out,” Schwegler said. “Now, the kids usually do workouts indi- as well.

“We’ve been practicing on the rugby field all summer, so it’ll be nice to use the field,” vidually for the first three weeks once classes start — so they’ll have to improvise there Raftery said. “As far as off the field goes — and with the press box updates, they’ll be — but it should work out for us okay.” providing a much nicer viewing area … I’m sure anyone who comes to watch the game Schwegler said the track team has dealt with adjustments like this in past years.

Sophomore wide receiver Drake Raftery said the stadium renovation benefits can tell. We’re pretty proud of the new stadium. It’s definitely a higher-class viewing members of the football and track and field teams. Raftery said movement space is area than what we had before.”

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Work on the press box is needed and expected to conclude around Sept. 16. Assitant Athletics Director Kevin White said it is right on schedule.

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Despite the issues laying asphalt, the track team is expected to start practice on schedule. Properly grinding the asphalt will take more time.

Softball duo reach All-American status

BY JEREMY JACOB Sports Multimedia Editor Two members of the Truman State University softball team were recognized among the best players in Div. II this past season. Former sophomore outfielder Christa Reisinger was named a First Team All-American by the NFCA and D2CCA and former senior catcher Lex Van Nostrand was named an honorable mention AllAmerican by the D2CCA. The Bulldogs qualified for their fourth straight postseason and recorded their sixth 40-win season in program history. Their lineup contributed to this success by setting numerous offensive team records including runs scored, hits, total bases, batting average, runs batted in and doubles. Both women had key spots in the Bulldog lineup, as Reisinger was the leadoff hitter and Van Nostrand was the cleanup hitter.

Reisinger not only led the team in hits and RBIs but also the entire nation.

Submitted by Truman Athletics Junior outfielder Christa Reisinger ranked nationally in many offensive categories.

Her batting average was more than .500.

She placed in the nation’s top 5 in total bases, on base percentage and runs scored per game. She currently has the highest batting average in team history.

“It is rewarding to be recognized with other really talented players,” Reisinger said.

Reisinger said being selected as an All-American is one of the highest honors of her career, along with being selected as an All-State player twice when she played at Troy Buchanan High School.

After playing her inaugural college season, Reisinger said she became more comfortable with the college game. She said she was able to more frequently put the ball in play, compiling a better season than last year — a season where she was named the GLVC freshman of the year and named a finalist for the NFCA national award.

Reisinger said she has never been eager to receive awards in her career because she focuses on one game at a time. Nevertheless, she said she feels honored to receive them and believes this mentality will further her growth as a player, possibly netting her an All-American selection or two in the future.

Reisinger said Van Nostrand’s cool-under-pressure cleanup approach gave her the utmost confidence she was going to score when she reached base.

Van Nostrand said she first noticed her strong season when she was marveling at the team’s statistics at one point in the season including Reisinger’s sky-high batting average. She said she discovered her average was more than .400, and finished the season with a .400 average — her highest at Truman.

Alongside her batting average, Van Nostrand set a program record for RBIs in a single season. She ranks in the top 25 nationally in RBIs, total bases, doubles, hits and home runs.

She is tied for first in sacrifice flies, driving in seven Bulldogs in exchange for an out.

Van Nostrand said it’s the team’s goal to make the pitcher work and throw as many pitches as possible. Even in the

event she does not see a lot of pitches or reach base, she said she is content to drive a pitch in the outfield so the runner from third can score.

Van Nostrand said her senior year was the most fun she had at Truman. She said Reisinger sparked early game leads and helped Van Nostrand’s pitchers.

Now that her playing career is over, Van Nostrand said she can take pride in the fact that she was part of four postseason NCAA teams. She said she was disappointed the team fell short again this year, but she is elated she played well enough to be recognized nationally.

Head Coach Erin Brown said she foresaw a possible All-American selection for Reisinger and Van Nostrand when she checked the statistics halfway through the season. At the time, she said Reisinger was in the top 10 in various categories and Van Nostrand was in the top 25 in various categories.

Brown said Reisinger’s remarkable propensity to reach base more than 50 percent of the time and Van Nostrand’s clutch instincts with runners on base were key parts of the team’s success this year. She said having those skillsets, showcased in the leadoff and cleanup roles, provides the team with the necessary punch it needs offensively.

Brown said she noticed growth in Reisinger this year, as she figured out how she can attain success and contribute to the team on a consistent basis. She said Reisinger is showing more patience at the plate this year and keeping her emotions in check allowing her to set the tone in the lineup and the clubhouse. She said Reisinger has a clear opportunity to be an AllAmerican again if she continues to play to her potential.

Brown said Van Nostrand was the glue that held the team together the previous four years. She said Van Nostrand’s competitive nature and leadership was evident when she collaborated with pitchers and repeatedly came through with the hit, justifying her position in the upper half of the lineup.

Submitted by Truman Athletics Graduate assistant softball coach Lex Van Nostrand broke the program single season RBI record this past year. The previous holder was Elizabeth Economon.

Now that Van Nostrand has finished her playing career, Brown said she is sad her leadership is leaving with her.

“From when I played and the ten years that I have coached, I’d say she is one of the top two catchers that we’ve had,” Brown said.

Van Nostrand’s name is scattered in the program’s record books, as she is third in runs, RBIs and total bases and tied for first in grand slams.

Brown said the team is excited to have Van Nostrand fill a graduate assistant role next year while she finishes her master’s degree in education.

Brown said it is not easy to become an All-American, as she has had great players in the past not be selected, but having players at that caliber is valuable.

“Whenever you have kids like that on your team, everyone knows where the bar is and that pushes everyone else to have success,” Brown said.

10

The Index

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

FOOTBALL | Truman football returned to campus early to kick off the preseason with fall training camp.

Camp days begin around 7 a.m. with practice, weights, walkthroughs and meetings lasting until nearly 8 p.m.

Continued from page 12 “I think we’re seeing the rebirth of a real winning culture as well as both a determined and talented brand of Bulldog football,” Spratt said.

Along with Spratt, the Bulldogs will have 12 seniors on the roster this year. Wide receiver Jordan Jorgensen will be returning punts one more season after accumulating the second-most yards in the GLVC.

“I think we’re seeing the rebirth of a real winning culture...”

- Senior wide reciever Kyle Spratt

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Bulldog defenders slide their way through defensive footwork cone drills as head coach Gregg Nesbitt looks on.

The defense has seven returning starters, five of those members of the 2016 All-GLVC team.

This mindset and the promise of the younger Bulldogs such as redshirt freshman defensive lineman A.J. Devecchi and reigning freshman of the year Barr could mean fun years ahead for the Bulldogs.

Regardless of the heat, they will all be in the same mindset come training camp as they work to sharpen their game and make their way to an outright conference championship.

Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN Left: As prize for winning a share of the 2016 GLVC championship, the ‘Dogs received championship rings at the end of July. The ‘Dogs will have several highly anticipated conference match ups this year, including show downs with Southwest Baptist University, McKendree University and the University of Indianapolis.

Right: Truman state quarterback Johnny Weidmaier completes a short pass to junior running back Andy Satulla. Truman football spent this week on the rugby field due to track resurfacing, but also used this as an opportunity to prep for their first game against Michigan Tech University which will be played on a grass field.

SOCCER | After graduating seven seniors, Truman women’s soccer looks to build chemistry and fill crucial roles on the field.

Continued from page 14 Cannon also mentioned that the conference hosts two other teams that made it to the NCAA tournament last year — Rockhurst University and University of Missouri-St. Louis. These are anticipated to be two of the many difficult match-ups the team will face.

After graduating seven seniors, the team will add seven new freshmen to the 2017 roster this fall. Senior goalkeeper Katie Mattingly said this new freshman class is expected to add lots of new talent and potential.

“We graduated a very large class this past year with a lot of key players, so we definitely hope that some of the newcomers can step up into those roles and continue the team’s success,” Mattingly said.

Another key factor of the Bulldog’s success has been morale. Mattingly said team chemistry has been, and will continue to be, a huge contributor to the team’s drive. She said she doesn’t recall ever being on a team that has been this fun and hard-working.

Sophomore midfielder Hanna Burke also said the Quincy game is one fans won’t want to miss. It is typically the last conference game of the year, but this season it will kick off as the start of conference play for the Bulldogs at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.

“This will be exciting,” Burke said. “We can start our [conference] season off with a tough rivalry.”

The 2017 season will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at Ashland University in Ohio. The team’s first home game will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 against University of Illinois-Springfield.

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Senior goalkeeper Katie Mattingly redirects the ball as she makes a save in Monday’s practice. Mattingly was credited as a second-team All-American in 2016.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

The Index

Men’s soccer near ready

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN The men’s soccer team had their first practice on Monday, Aug. 14. Head Coach Duke Cochran expects this team to have a ton of experience on a roster with 15 returning players.

BY STEPHANIE HULLETT Staff Writer Truman State University men’s soccer team opened preseason practices Sunday Aug. 13 with a renewed focus on producing better results in 2017.

Last fall, the Bulldogs went 6-7-4, taking the majority of those losses by just one or two goals. Senior defender Nicholas Klemm said he believes this is the most talented group of men to come through the program in his time as a Bulldog.

Klemm said the potential he sees in the team was reinforced during last spring’s season, where the Bulldogs stepped away with only one loss. Klemm said this type of play was more consistent with its true potential.

“A lot of our results didn’t go the way we wanted, and I don’t believe the record reflected how talented this team is,” Klemm said. “However, in the spring, we changed our formation and started to play a lot better soccer.

We’re going to carry this momentum into this season and have a great year because we all know that this is one of the most talented group of guys to ever come through this program.”

Klemm said as a senior he has a different mindset — focused more on the program than on himself — which has spread throughout the rest of the team. He added he thinks the Bulldogs will differentiate between goals and expectations more this season.

“Coming into the season fit are expectations we have for each other and not just goals anymore,” Klemm said.

“This has carried over into all areas of our training and games. This allows us as a team to expect and demand more out of each other and ourselves.”

Head Coach Duke Cochran said the team will have a lot of returners, despite losing a few good players. The team will be older and have more experience as a group. This preseason, he said the team will focus on learning and developing its system, making use of every moment the players have together during their limited five practices before their first scrimmage.

“Preseason will go by quickly, and we will focus on the system we want to play, how to defend out of that system and where can we get the most out of our players,” Cochran said.

“We are about 80-85 percent of what

we want right now, and it’s that last 15-20 percent we need to fine tune.”

To keep the momentum going from spring to fall, sophomore defender and forward Jake Koenig said he stayed on top of individual conditioning and weightlifting programs.

He said a lot of the team stays competitive in the summer months.

“A lot of the St. Louis guys get together every summer and play in a summer league against other collegiate level teams in order to maintain our level of competition and fitness as well,” Koenig said.

The team is approaching this season focused on the game and goal ahead of them. Koenig said the GLVC is one of the best conferences, and if they focus too far ahead, they won’t see the immediate results they are looking for.

The ‘Dogs begin their season at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1 against Lindenwood University and will take on Saginaw Valley State University at 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 3. Both opening weekend matches will be played at Quincy University as part of the QU Alumni Cup.

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11

WELCOME | Editor talks about school’s success Continued from page 12 The squeak of shoes and slam of balls echoing throughout the rafters of Pershing Arena give way to the opening days of Truman volleyball practice.

Last fall, the Bulldogs struggled to find rhythm in their young roster, but the struggles of September were building to the successes of November. Starting the season 3-11, the ‘Dogs demonstrated resilience to write their own Cinderella-ending to the season — a second conference crown in three years.

And yet more magic is in the making if you were to venture up the hill to Bulldog Soccer Park. After claiming the GLVC Championship in 2015, the Truman women’s soccer team returned to meet expectations in 2016.

Named regular season co-conference champions, the ‘Dogs earned a bid to the NCAA National Tournament and weren’t stopped until a loss in a Sweet 16 battle with three-time defending national champions, Grand Valley State University. Steadied by secondteam All-American goalkeeper, senior Katie Mattingly, the ‘Dogs posted 16 shutouts and rewrote the Truman record books by only allowing seven goals in their 21 matches.

That’s right, Truman Athletics emerged from fall 2016 alone with three conference titles. The ‘Dogs owned the fall, and the rest of the year was only a continuation of what had been started in the early months of the year. As a women’s basketball player myself, I love sports, and I’ve been filled with so much pride by simply watching my fellow Bulldogs selflessly work for the name on their jerseys.

Throughout my time at Truman, my passion for sports has transcended into a passion for sports writing, but to be honest, that new love has little to do with journalism and everything to do with the school I represent. There’s something truly special about this little athletic community.

I love this school and this newspaper, and I strive to bring readers a platform that will adequately recognize our student athletes and coaching staff. I promise to bring my best effort each week with the hope that every issue we put out, every story we tell, will do a little more to unite Truman students and student-athletes. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — if we can further connect the athletic community with the student body, special things can happen on this campus and in this community.

As always, it’s a great day to be a Bulldog. Cheers to a new year, and go ‘Dogs!

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12

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

Welcome back, Bulldogs!

BY RACHEL STEINHOFF Sports Text Editor index.sportseditor@gmail.com

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN The Truman State University offensive line takes position at a fall camp practice on Monday, August 14. While the turf in Stokes Stadium was completed prior to fall camp, the ‘Dogs spent this week of practice on the rugby field while the track was resurfaced.

‘Dogs aim to repeat success

BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer Football season is knocking at the door and with a brand new field and a group of new faces, the Truman State University Bulldogs are ready to get back at it.

The Bulldogs finished off last year with an overall record of 8-3, while going 7-1 in conference play, consequently giving them a share in the conference title with Southwest Baptist University. With the success of last year, though, defensive coordinator Kellen Nesbitt said the team cannot get complacent.

“You just can’t assume, with all that back [defensive and offensive start-

ers], that you are going to get back to where you were,” Nesbitt said.

Nesbitt said the team will approach training camp not looking too far into the future. Nesbitt’s group had the top rushing defense in the GLVC allowing only 94.4 yards per game.

The offense last year, led by sophomore quarterback Jaden Barr, sophomore running back Jordan Salima and senior wide receiver Joey Schenck, averaged 26.8 points per game.

The training camp that takes place before the season is essential in getting the new players acquainted with the Bulldog system, while also showing the newcomers the devotion that goes into winning games. Assistant coach and leader of the strength and condition-

ing program Jeramey Dockery said this devotion starts in the summer with offseason workouts.

“The summer workouts were great, there was a great turnout and great commitment,” Dockery said.

Almost 90 percent of the players that ended on the roster last year came back for the summer to workout with their fellow teammates, many of them veterans of multiple seasons with the Bulldogs.

Senior wide receiver Kyle Spratt said the players who have put in the work everyday are ready to get back out on the field and get back to where they were. For some, this is their last season, and they want to leave the program on a high note.

See FOOTBALL, page 10

Welcome back Bulldogs! And a huge welcome to all our baby Bulldogs joining us for the first time this fall. We’re excited to meet you.

Summer’s end will never fail to leave us with bittersweet feelings of nostalgia, uncertainty, and for some, maybe even dread of the looming semester. I’ll admit to experiencing all of these feelings in the past two weeks. Summer days seem to speed up the older you get, and knowing I’m in my final semester of undergrad makes this return to Kirksville even more uneasy than the last. On the other hand, these feelings are overshadowed by an even more overwhelming sense of belonging. Kirksville has truly been a home away from home for me the past three years, and if there’s one thing that makes me excited to be coming home, it’s the start of fall sports.

While the sidewalks, library and lecture halls remained vacant in their summer hibernation, the opening days of August have seen the athletic facilities burst to life with the grind of Bulldog camps. The sparkly new Stokes Stadium echoes whistles, hits and cheers as Bulldog football preps for a chance to defend their first ever GLVC Conference championship — the glimmer of the ‘Dogs new 2016 championship rings serving as a reminder of the postseason birth that was just narrowly missed last year.

See WELCOME, page 11

Truman Women’s Soccer 20 Year Winning Tradition Since the ‘Dogs first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997...

Regular Season Conference Titles 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Conference Tournament Titles

2004 2005 2007 2009 2016

2007 2015

NCAA Tournament Appearances 1997 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007

2008 2000 2010 2013 2015 2016

Back to back GLVC titles set high expectations for women’s soccer

BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer After a deep 2016 post-season run into the national semifinals, the Truman State University women’s soccer team returns to the field more determined than ever. The 2017 season is expected to bring a strong team dynamic and some exciting match-ups.

Head Coach Mike Cannon is heading into his 25th season this fall as the winningest coach in program history for women’s soccer.

“Our goals every year are to win the GLVC regular season title, the GLVC Tournament, and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament,” Cannon said.

Cannon also stressed the importance of keeping their play consistent throughout the ups and downs of the season. He said the team is looking to bring back a stingy defense, favorable passing and timely VOLUME 109

ISSUE 1

scoring. This approach has allowed them to find success in the past and will hopefully foster more rewarding results this season as they expect tough competition.

“In the GLVC — in every sport — there are no easy games, just battles every time out.”

- Head Coach Mike Cannon

“In the GLVC — in every sport — there are no easy games, just battles every time out,” Cannon said.

“Our first weekend in Ohio will be a great test to start the regular season against two very good regional opponents before we dive into conference play at our biggest rival, the first GLVC game.”

See SOCCER, page 11 tmn.truman.edu

Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN Bulldog soccer park came to life this week as the men’s and women’s soccer teams began fall practice. The women open their season Aug. 31 and the men start Sept. 1.

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