march 31 2016

Opinions

Features

Sports

Cartoonist creates comic about time management

New Truman course teaches evolutionary science to non-science majors see page 5

The man behind the mask of Spike the Bulldog is set to graduate this semester see page 7

see page 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

EXCELLENCE SINCE 1909

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-PRODUCED NEWSPAPER

Graduating Senior Public Service Announcement

Senior portfolios are due Friday, April 1 The portfolio is available at portfolio.truman.edu

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Student rape trial postponed

CAR SAFETY TIPS Here are a few tips to decrease the chance of car break-ins

The trial of a former Truman student charged with rape has been rescheduled for October.

- Keep your vehicle locked at all times

By Johanna burns

Assistant News Editor index.newseditor@gmail.com

- Never leave your keys unattended in your car

Last week, the March 23-25 jury trial of a former Truman State student charged with rape was rescheduled for Oct. 11-15.

Former Truman student Haoyu Tian is facing charges of felony rape or attempted rape, felonious restraint, and tampering with a victim or a witness in a felony prosecution.

Tian was arrested April 24, 2015, and was held on a $150,000 cash-only bail bond before being released on his own recognizance April 30 after surrendering his passport. Tian was arraigned before Adair County Judge Russell Steele May 4.

July 6, the court scheduled Tian to appear before a jury March 2325. March 14, the jury trial was rescheduled for Oct. 11-15.

- Make sure your windows and sunroof are closed when you exit the vehicle - Avoid leaving valuables in plain sight - Park your car in a well lit area Source: geico.com/information/safety/auto/preventing-auto-theft/

Car break-ins spike in Kirksville

By Emily merkle/Staff Writer The Kirksville Police Department received nine reports of car break-ins throughout the last four weeks.

People reported thefts from cars and tampering of vehicles from several different parts of Kirksville. Some were near Truman State’s campus.

KPD Detective Steve Feeney said break-ins reported near campus occured at the 700 block of E. Patterson St., the 700 block of S. Sheridan St. and the 600 block of S. First St., among other locations farther from campus.

Feeney said there are two types of criminals that will break into cars. He said opportunistic criminals happen to see something of value in the car and try the doors or potentially break in. Feeney said other criminals walk outside with the intention of looking for cars to break into.

Feeney said one of the best ways to prevent car break-ins is to always lock the doors and roll the windows up, especially during the summer.

He said another way to minimize the chances of a break-in is to hide

valuables. Feeney said he recommends never leaving the keys in an unattended car.

Feeney said there are likely more car break-ins than those reported. He said some people do not report break-ins because damage is minimal or the stolen items are not of great value. Feeney said the people who commit these crimes usually do so more than once, and early reports can help solve these cases.

Feeney said the Kirksville Police Department encourages people to call 911 immediately if they notice any suspicious behavior.

Photo Illustration by Emily Wichmer VOLUME 107

ISSUE 24

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

NEWS

Alcohol Awareness Week kicks off with guest speaker

IN BRIEF

SAB TrumanLive! event to showcase Truman students’ talents Students will perform 7 p.m. April 1 during TrumanLive!: A Night at the Trucademy Awards show.

The talent show will feature a variety of acts including comedy, spoken word, rap, singing, dancing, guitar and ukulele.

Doors open at 6:30 in Baldwin Auditorium. Tickets are not required.

Truman State celebrates National Truman Spirit Day Students and alumni can submit photographs for National Truman Spirit Day April 1.

Photographs should demonstrate the individual’s Truman pride.

Categories include most spirited, Bulldog pride, Truman tykes and Spike’s furry friends.

Office of Student Research seeks grant applicants

Damian Soane/Index Above: A student listens to Sgt. Brent Bernhardt of the Missouri State Highway Patrol speak about the effects of drinking alcohol. Below Left: A poster advertises the various events of alcohol awareness week. Alcohol Awareness Week included mocktails, games and information tables on The Quad. Below Right: Sgt. Bernhardt educates students about the dangers of drinking alcohol. Alcohol Awareness Week aimed to convince students to drink less.

The Office of Student Research now is accepting Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research for summer 2016.

The grants will go to students participating in research and creative scholarship this summer. Students from all disciplines are invited to apply. Applicants must be current Truman undergraduate or graduate students. Grants up to $750 are available as institutional pay or to cover supplies and travel for research.

Applications are due online at secure. truman.edu/osr-s/ by 11:59 p.m.

April 11.

The grants are part of an effort to promote a culture of research and scholarship. Projects should stem from original ideas and involve exploring new topics.

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

The Senate approved the Spring 2016 Environmental Sustainability Fee Slate.

The Senate read a resolution in opposition to Missouri Senate Bill 731.

Damian Soane/Index

Damian Soane/Index

Junior Christy Crouse reported the Diversity Committee is working on two resolutions. One resolution will document bilingual admissions materials and the other will be in response to results from the LGBT survey.

CRIME REPORTS DPS & KPD

Serving the University community since 1909

Staff

Editor-in-Chief Bethany Boyle Managing Editor Austin Hornbostel News Editor Emily Wichmer Assistant News Editor Johanna Burns Features Editor Katey Stoetzel Assistant Features Editor Emily Ploch Sports Editor Devin Gillespie Assistant Sports Editor Courtney Strait Opinions Editor UmmeKulsoom Arif Copy Chief Rose vonHatten Assistant Copy Chief Molly Thal Design Chief Noah Dayson Staff Writers Emily Merkle, Zack Irvin, Lindell Sconce, Jack Derbak, Rachel Fechter, Brently Snead, Paige Yungermann, Sarah Hicks, Rachel Steinhoff, Curt Wichmer, Jonah Mckeown, Grace Bueckendorf, Taylor Lay, Ingrid Roettgen, Maddie Kamp, Seth Wolfmeyer, Menaie Barton, Heather Brostrom, Matt Ragsdale, Carlen Fidler, Bradley Franka, Roisin Lynch, Sara Murillo, Kasey Harvey, Jessica Howard, Joey Iaguessa, Tim Pickel, Andrew LaMartina, Shelby Frazier, Carolina Benitez, Drue McMichael Cartoonist Anna Kintree, August Davis Copy Editors MacKenna Palazza, Holly Fisher, Julianna Foster, Catherine O’Mara, Megan Gibbons, Trevor Hamblin, Sarah DeWolf, Zack Irvin Designers Clarissa Todd, Trevor Stark, Kara Nord, Samantha Nielsen, Lauren Jin Photo Editor Trevor Stark Photographers Trung Vo, Athena Geldbach, Marissa Billmeyer, MacKenna Palazza, Lindsay St. John, Damian Soane Marketing Manager Josh Gilmore Marketing Representatives Drake Gens, Emily Fitzgerald Adviser Don Krause

3/29 Suspect arrested for theft at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St.

3/27 Suspect arrested for driving while intoxicated on West Hickory Street.

3/28 Unlawful use of a weapon reported 3/26 Suspect arrested for driving without at the 900 block of E. Scott St. a license at the 100 block of E. Jefferson St. 3/28 Harassment reported at the 300 3/26 Theft reported at the 700 block of block of Pfeiffer Ave. E. Pierce St. 3/27 Domestic disturbance reported at 3/26 Suspect arrested for shoplifting the 0 block of Center Road. at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St. 3/27 Suspect arrested for assault at the 2200 block of E. Normal St.

3/26 Suspect arrested for hindering prosecution at the 500 block of Walker St.

3/27 Theft reported at the 1300 block of S. Baltimore St.

3/25 Theft reported at the 1000 block of S. Lincoln St.

Mark your calendar “The Hunting Ground” Showing and Panel April 5 7-9:30 p.m.

SUB Activities Room

The Hunting Ground is a CNN Films documentary about sexual assaults on college campuses, institutional coverups and a student movement to make a change. Join University officials for a free screening of this movie and a group discussion after.

Asian American Experience and the (Un)Making of the Model Minority Myth April 6 7 p.m.

SUB Georgian Room A

Cheehyung Kim, University of Missouri history professor, will discuss the model minority myth of Asian Americans, their history and their experiences in the United States while celebrating their successes.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Be proud of your artwork Trevor Hamblin

The eternal curse of being an artist is the feeling your art just doesn’t reach the bar you set for yourself, that you are inadequate in what you do and who you are. This feeling becomes worse when seeing another artist of the same kind. After all, you only see your own mistakes when looking at your art, but you’ll see the good points of someone else’s. So you unconsciously set your bar higher to catch up to them. But while you are improving, so are they. You’ll never feel like you can catch up and the cycle continues. The artist, however, is always better than they think, and thus needs some words of encouragement — which is what I’m here to provide.

Now, when I say “artist,” I don’t just mean someone who draws, paints or sculpts. I’m including writers — poets, novelists, playwrights or screenwriters — and musicians, as well as anyone else who is passionate about their craft. I myself have dabbled in visual art and have some musical talent, but I consider myself first and foremost a writer. I know this feeling of inadequacy has affected me the same way as it has other kinds of artists.

This semester, I have been honing my craft with a screenwriting class. This has been a challenging and rewarding experience. When it came time for me to workshop my script, however, I spent the entire day panicking. I was nitpicking it. and went through a minor panic attack about re-examining my career path and life plan. But when class came, hearing what people liked about my script really helped me relax, and it balanced out my fears and personal critique to something more positive.

What I’m saying is you are not a bad artist, regardless of the mistakes you have made, are making or will make. You are improving, even if you can’t see it. Oftentimes, an artist’s eye will improve faster than their hand. You become better at seeing what makes art good or bad faster than you get better at actually creating art. They are, after all, two completely different skills, and if you start seeing what you do wrong faster than you can fix it, then obviously you are going to feel like everything you do is wrong.

If you feel bad about art others say is good, try and think about why they are saying it’s good. What merit do they see in it? If you say your work is bad just because you’re comparing it to others’ work, then you aren’t really looking at your art for what is good about it. Constant comparison is another reason why artists feel inadequate, which is why you should break yourself from the habit as soon as possible. As an artist, you already are bringing something new to the table — yourself. So you shouldn’t try to be the best artist in the world but, rather, the best artist that can express you.

Really, if you’re an artist, then you’re already on the path to improvement. Hone your craft when you can and try to take the time to see what you’re doing well. Are you good at drawing eyes?

Does your dialogue feel natural? Can you hit high notes really well? Being able to identify your strengths is just as important as identifying your weaknesses, and can be the difference between quitting and improving. And if you quit being an artist, then you are quitting being yourself.

Trevor Hamblin is a sophomore English and communication major from Moberly, Mo.

Group work isn’t that bad

Holly Fisher Most students are familiar with the resounding groan that echoes throughout a classroom in response to one dreaded phrase — group project.

No one wants to deal with the hassle of organizing schedules, distributing workloads and collectively meeting deadlines in addition to completing the project itself, so people hate group work. However, objectively speaking, group work really is not bad, and — considering how much the real world values and expects group cooperation — I believe the educational system could benefit from doing the same.

The majority of higher education consists of individual projects. Personally, I think I’ve only been involved in about four group projects during my four years at Truman State, but I’ve turned in more solo work than I ever could begin to estimate. So when a professor decides to assign a group project, it’s uncomfortable. Students are pushed outside the metaphorical box.

This does not have to be the case.

By assigning more group work, the process won’t be as unnatural or inconvenient because students will become more accustomed to it and will hate it less. It simply will be the standard way of completing school work. I also believe normalizing this type of work will make students more likely to work actively with their peers. One of the most common complaints of group work is how certain members sit back, contribute nothing and take credit for the end result. Although there always will be students who feel inclined to cheat, the urge to cheat on one random group project is much greater than it would be to cheat on the vast majority of projects. Professors can combat this by requiring simple and easy group evaluations for each project, which would hold individual members accountable.

Problem solved.

Now, I’m not advocating for more group work just for the hell of it. I’m currently taking two separate senior seminar classes, and the capstone projects for each require individual research and presentations.

However, the vast majority of research I’m using for my individual project was not published individually — almost all of it is a result of group collaboration.

This trend goes beyond academic publishing. We hear the same thing when applying for jobs — team work and team building are highly valued skills. If the real

world prefers to deal with groups and collaborations, then why isn’t this a focus of our education?

More group work in the classroom cultivates the knowledge students would learn individually and teaches valuable skills for working together that indisputably are required in life beyond school grounds.

By working together, students have the additional benefit of expanding their point of view and learning how to tackle projects from an angle they might never have thought to approach on their own. They learn the different thought processes of their peers, which means they have an exponentially larger number of opportunities to grow their own ways of thinking and react positively to students’ ideas. In other words, students learn more than the immediately applicable bits of knowledge they need for the completion of any project.

As the saying goes, give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.

It’s also important to note how competitive the field of academia is. There is constant pressure to produce the best and most relevant ideas, to be the first to make the next revolutionary breakthrough. Of course, a little competition is good for anyone and motivates us to do better than we would otherwise, but academia can become competitive to the point of being cutthroat and frustrating. This mentality often trickles down to the students, fostering the same frustration and competitive ideology. I think by implementing more group work we can encourage a more supportive and constructive environment as students are brought together, sharing their work rather than staying in their own bubbles.

Increasing the amount of group work has a number of upsides. I can understand still wanting to measure a student’s progress individually, which is why I’m not suggesting a complete dismissal of individual projects or tests. But honestly, implementing more group work has so many benefits it seems one of the only reasons it hasn’t been more encouraged is because of the overly rigid and institutionalized nature of education.

Students’ immediate response to group work is to say how much it sucks, but that doesn’t diminish how much adding more of it can improve the educational system. Students hate writing 10-15 page papers too, but that doesn’t mean educators shouldn’t assign them.

The educational system, as good as it is, can be improved. We need to stop separating students from their peers — we need to work together.

Holly Fisher is a senior English and linguistics major from Elizabethtown, Ky.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Students react to SJR 39 passing Missouri Senate Joint Resolution 39 might head to the voters in November

By Jack Derbak Staff Writer

After a 39-hour filibuster that began March 7, the Missouri Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 39, which allows religious organizations to deny services based on issues of same-sex marriage.

SJR 39 prohibits the state from imposing penalties on religious organizations acting in accordance with their religious beliefs concerning same-sex marriage. The resolution does not allow hospitals to refuse to treat a marriage as valid for the purposes of treatment or spousal privileges, according to the current resolution summary.

Junior Christy Crouse, Truman State Student Government’s diversity chair, said the resolution leaves an extreme amount of leeway in interpretation, and the resolution could lead to many circumstances where members of the LGBT community could be discriminated against.

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“An act can be conceived in many different ways, so this opens up a wide range of circumstances in which a religious organization could discriminate and/or mistreat those from the LGBTQ+ community within Truman and around Kirksville,” Crouse said.

Despite the resolution's implications for LGBT individuals regarding their ability to receive service, Crouse said she is not aware of any organizations on campus raising awareness about the resolution.

District 2 Sen. Bob Onder sponsored the resolution, and supporters call it a religious freedom resolution because of its protection of religious organizations and their beliefs.

“Religious organizations already have rights to free speech and to have their own unwelcoming atmosphere if they are against the LGBTQ+ community,” Crouse said.

“This leaves way too much room for hate and blatant discrimination in the Kirksville community.”

Missouri’s eight Senate Democrats filibustered the joint resolution for 39 hours, but it passed 23-7 and is now in the House. If the House passes

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the resolution, it will appear on the November ballot for public voting.

The filibuster garnered attention on social media, with people on Twitter using the hashtag #NotInMyState to share their opinion about the resolution.

“One of the misconceptions I’ve heard about it is that it ...[is] law right now. It’s a resolution to have the legislation placed before the people of Missouri,” —Sophomore Jacob Brooke, Truman Democratic campaign coordinator

Among the people sharing their opinions was Gov. Jay Nixon, who tweeted he is “proud of senators who are standing on the right side of history [and] against discrimination.”

Sophomore Jacob Brooke, Truman

Democratic campaign coordinator, said he wants people to keep the resolution in mind with the upcoming election.

“One of the misconceptions I’ve heard about it is that it … [is] law right now,” Brooke said. “It's a resolution to have the legislation placed before the people of Missouri.”

Brooke, along with other critics of the bill, compared it to previous legislation that allowed organizations to refuse service to interracial couples.

Brooke said he is having a hard time understanding the need for the resolution.

“It basically says if I disagree with your lifestyle and I disagree with who you are ... then I have a right to refuse you access to my business,” Brooke said. “I don't think it's necessary and I really hope that the people of Missouri will see that when we get the chance to vote on it in ... November.”

In response to some of the criticism regarding the resolution, the Missouri Senate Majority Caucus tweeted the resolution only protects religious organizations, and the caucus is “fighting for fairness and right for people to freely live their faith while not infringing on rights of others.”

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Biology course offered for non-science majors

BY MADDIE KAMP Staff Writer

In biology professor Peter Goldman’s class next semester, students will get the chance to study and understand the history of our species on a scientific level.

Goldman will teach a biology course called “Homo sapiens: A Biological Perspective” next semester that will satisfy the life science LSP mode of inquiry.

This course primarily is about evolutionary history and the processes responsible for historical changes within our own species. Goldman said it is an introductory evolutionary biology course that will involve aspects of genetics, ecology and geology. This course recently was added so junior and senior nonscience majors would have an opportunity to learn about evolution in a way that is geared toward them.

“In the liberal studies, one aspect of that — an important aspect — is to have students who are not trained to be scientists to understand the power and limits of scientific investigations,” Goldman said.

With preference given to non-science majors, Goldman said he thought it would be an interesting new endeavor for him and an opportunity to interact with older non-science majors who might not have a clear understanding of evolution.

Goldman said he thinks evolution is a topic a lot of students are not comfortable with. He said he thinks evolution is not taught effectively in high schools or

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higher education, so students who take the course might be lacking information.

Goldman said he hopes this course will defuse any controversy in students’ minds about whether evolution has taken place. He also said he hopes the students taking this course will leave with a better understanding about this subject.

“Well, I hope to get out of it a far better understanding of how science works, and what draws us to this way of satisfying our curiosity,” Goldman said.

“In the liberal studies, one aspect ... is to have students who are not trained to be scientists to understand the power and limits of scientific investigations.”

-Biology professor Peter Goldman

This fall marks the second time this course has been available at Truman.

Goldman said when it was offered for the first time last spring, he was able to learn a lot about how to keep the interest of the students because students either loved the experience or didn’t seem to enjoy it at all.

He said he plans to structure it differently this time and change the course because he learned a lot from the first time he taught it.

There is no lab offered with this course.

Instead, there are discussion sessions during which students will tackle projects that

actually come up in scientific investigations.

Goldman said students will try to make sense of the kinds of investigations evolutionary biologists perform. He said students will also look at the intellectual problems that arise when trying to work out life’s long history and processes involved in shaping that history.

“I hope it’s an intellectual adventure for people,” Goldman said. “It is for me.”

The textbook for this course is Carl Zimmer’s “The Tangled Bank: An Introduction to Evolution,” an introductory evolutionary biology text for non-science major college students. Goldman said “The Tangled Bank” is not specifically focused on the evolution of Homo sapiens, but it does present a lot of information about our evolutionary past and present.

Junior anthropology major Andrew Springmann took the course last spring.

Springmann said coming from a social science background, he didn’t know much about the process of evolution, but this course helped him learn about the mechanics of evolution and gain a deeper understanding of it. Springmann said his interest in paleoanthropology, a type of anthropology that deals with early human fossils, is what made him interested in taking the course, and he said it was a good introduction for someone outside of the discipline.

“I would definitely recommend the course to anyone that’s coming from a non-biological background who wants to learn more about evolution in our own species and in other species as well,” Springmann said.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Sigma Kappa takes Students spell for Greek part in national effort

BY CARLEN FIDLER Staff Writer

For two semesters, the Delta Theta chapter of Sigma Kappa at Truman State has participated in the Ultra Violet Campaign, a national campaign that benefits university chapters across the country and provides support for their main philanthropies. The fall 2015 semester was the first time the sorority took part in this campaign.

The Ultra Violet Campaign helps raise unrestricted dollars, money an organization can use however it deems most appropriate, to support the sorority’s main priorities. These priorities are referred to as PULSE — philanthropic initiatives, unrestricted gifts, leadership development, sisters in need and education. Each of these priorities will impact members across the nation and at Truman.

“It’s new to our chapter,” said junior Maddi Hartke, Sigma Kappa webmaster. “It is a huge thing everywhere else, and it is cool that we are able to bring it to Delta Theta.”

Hartke said she presented information about the campaign to students, faculty and members of the community.

Sophomore Campbell Drake, philanthropy vice president, said this year is a building year, and she said she expects the campaign to be bigger during the future.

Drake said Sigma Kappa is planning a 5K run to help raise money for the Ultra Violet Campaign.

Chapters may choose from one of the many Ultra Violet fundraising events or develop their own event, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Members of the sorority can advertise their event to raise awareness for the

foundation’s mission and its causes, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

When members of Sigma Kappa raise money, it will go to the Sigma Kappa National Foundation. From there, the foundation will decide where the money goes. Donations could go to any of the sections of PULSE. This money could possibly benefit members of the Sigma Kappa chapter at Truman, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

“To me, the UV campaign is a way to give back and help my own sisters,” Drake said. “For Sigma Kappa, it means that we come together to help our sisters with different programs.”

Drake said Sigma Kappa’s main philanthropy focuses on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s and aiding the Maine Sea Coast Mission.

The national foundation has pledged to give a gift of $1 million to the Alzheimer’s Association Women’s Research Initiative, which focuses on clinical research for women, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Unrestricted gifts allow funding for programs across the nation, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

For example, if a member of Sigma Kappa wants to host a free medical clinic for the homeless community, money raised can help sponsor this event, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Sigma Kappa also focuses on developing its members as leaders.

Leadership consultants attend chapter meetings across the country to help train, teach and educate members to help them become strong leaders, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

Sisters In Need helps Sigma Kappa’s across the nation who have experienced

tragic events, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation These can include financial distress, deaths in the family, medical issues or natural disasters. Since 2005, the Sigma Kappa Foundation has awarded more than $40,000 to members across the country.

“To me, the UV campaign is a way to give back and help my own sisters. For Sigma Kappa, it means that we come together to help our sisters with different programs. ” -Sophomore Campbell Drake, Sigma Kappa philanthropy vice president

Education is important to the women of Sigma Kappa as well, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation. Members across the country receive scholarships. The foundation has awarded 778 scholarships since 1989, which help pay for academic needs such as tuition, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation. If a member is struggling to pay for school because of family emergencies, the foundation is able to help pay for academic costs, according to the Sigma Kappa Foundation.

To start raising money for the Ultra Violet Campaign at Truman, Sigma Kappa will host a trivia night for all Truman organizations to attend 7-9 p.m. March 30 in the SUB Down Under.

This will be Sigma Kappa’s first fundraising effort for the campaign.

philanthropies

BY JESSICA HOWARD Staff Writer

Delta Phi Epsilon and Alpha Kappa Lambda teamed up to host Truman State’s first Philanthropy Spelling Bee March 29 in the SUB Activities Room.

The women of DPhiE came up with the idea to host the campus-wide spelling bee for charity earlier this year. Shortly after it began planning, DPhiE contacted AKL to ask the fraternity to co-sponsor the event.

Together, the organizations reached out to all the Greek fraternities, sororities and most of the service organizations on campus to participate in the event.

Junior Jaclyn Kueny, DPhiE philanthropy coordinator, said the women hoped it would be a lighthearted event and a fun competition.

Kueny said she hoped to draw people with the philanthropy aspect of the event.

Kueny said the spelling bee followed traditional rules with a few twists, such as the organization that sells the most tickets got a free pass to use on a mistake. She said a word list and judges from DPhiE and AKL were ready for the competition, and there were seven organizations with two participants each signed up for the event. Kueny said each round increased in difficulty until only one participant, the spelling bee champion, remained. She said the champion, sophomore Alex Vietor, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, received 20 percent of the total funds raised from ticket sales to give to a charity of her choice.

Kueny said the remaining 80 percent of ticket revenue went to the Delta Phi Epsilon Education Foundation — a philanthropy that provides academic and business scholarships to sorority

members and their families — and the national AKL philanthropy, These Hands Don’t Hurt.

AKL philanthropy chair, sophomore Benjamin Russell, said These Hands Don’t Hurt is a national campaign that seeks to prevent sexual abuse and domestic violence through education and encouraging people to take a personal stance against abuse. He said These Hands Don’t Hurt gives people a chance to pledge they will not be a part of physical abuse by having a poster students can sign.

Russell said he appreciated the opportunity to raise money and awareness about multiple causes.

“DPhiE came to us with this idea for the spelling bee, and at the time, I assumed and had no problem with going with one philanthropy, but they asked us if we wanted to do a separate one,” Russell said. “We have three national philanthropies, and These Hands Don’t Hurt is our biggest one. This seemed like a big platform to raise awareness.”

“This seemed like a big platform to raise awareness.”

-Sophomore Benjamin Russell, AKL philanthropy chair

With the proceeds going to at least two charities, Russell said the organizations had no set goal for how much the event would raise, but ended up raising $280.

Junior Jordan Vassel, AKL vice president, said this semester and this event in particular are part of a large effort to increase how much work his fraternity puts into doing good.

“We’re setting precedent, if you ask me, for years to come,” Vassel said. “This semester we are setting a precedent, and this spelling bee is one of those things.”

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

@trumanathletics

7

tmn.truman.edu

Submitted Photo

Spike preps for graduation After five years of serving as Truman State’s sole mascot, Spike the Bulldog, senior Alex Scherr will be trading in his costume and mask during May for a graduation cap and gown

He said he has become better as a mascot with experience, improving as the fan turnout and support grows at Truman.

As of right now, there is no one set to take over the Spike position. Scherr said he has not had anyone voice interest in becoming Spike, and Truman will have to start recruiting to find someone soon.

BY SETH WOLFMEYER Staff Writer

It is often easy to disregard the dedication of others, especially when they work behind a mask. For five years, senior Alex Scherr has been dedicated to bringing spirit and excitement to Truman State, not as himself, but as the University’s mascot, Spike the Bulldog.

Scherr came to Truman with two years of experience after being his high school’s mascot. He heard about the opportunity to become Spike and turned in an application. Five years later, he still dons the suit for every home game and occasional special events. Scherr said he plans to graduate at the end of this semester, making this his last year as Spike.

“I’d say my favorite part is the fans,” Scherr said. “It doesn’t matter the age of the fan — I’ve enjoyed interactions with kids to adults to older adults. I think just seeing the expressions and being able to uplift the crowd, regardless of the score, is such a neat responsibility.”

Scherr said the University honored him at the senior football and basketball games this year.

Scherr said though the recognition is nice, the honor of being able to help and the joy he gets from being Spike is enough.

Scherr said it is uncommon to be mascot for five years. Scherr said people typically graduate sooner or stop mascoting for academic reasons.

He said it can be difficult to balance schoolwork and being the school’s mascot. He said he often has to put more effort into having homework done during free time before events, but he said the nursing program at Truman has worked with him to create a schedule that does not interfere with events.

With his high school experience combined with his time at Truman, Scherr has been a mascot for seven years. Scherr said rather than losing its appeal and excitement, suiting up actually has gotten more thrilling over time.

“[Scherr] embodies everything good about Truman. What Alex has done as Spike, he doesn’t have to try to be a mascot — he just genuinely is one. I think that’s why everyone loves Alex.

It’s who he really is.”

- Senior Molly Turner

Trevor Stark/Index Top: Senior Molly Turner and Spike pose during the mascot’s 100th birthday celebration during May. Above: Senior Alex Scherr shows his support during student government elections last April. Scherr will graduate from Truman in May.

“I’m willing to take somebody under my wing and talk about these responsibilities I expect someone would do for Spike,” Scherr said.

Scherr said his days as a mascot might not be over because professional mascoting is a dream job for him. Scherr said becoming a professional mascot is a competitive field, and earning a position would not be easy. While he tries to focus on going into nursing, he said he has looked at mascot positions in St. Louis, his hometown.

Senior Molly Turner, former cheerleading team captain, said Scherr brings everything the perfect mascot needs — enthusiasm, happiness and energy. Turner said Scherr brings a positive atmosphere to every game, regardless of the outcome, while also representing the best parts of Truman. She said the dedication Scherr has put into his role and improving Truman is some of the greatest she has ever seen, from preparing for games to always showing up with his best attitude and even giving advice to help the cheer squad fight injury struggles. “[Scheer] embodies everything good about Truman,” Turner said. “What Alex has done as Spike, he doesn’t have to try to be a mascot — he just genuinely is one. I think that’s why everyone loves Alex. It’s who he really is.”

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

vs. Missouri State W 2-1 W 7-1

vs. Quincy University W 8-6 W 2-1

vs. Drury University W 2-0 W 5-0

vs. Quincy University L 10-3 L 10-2

VOLUME 107

ISSUE 24

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www.facebook.com/TrumanIndex

@trumanindex

© 2016

8

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

NBA champs will be the West’s best

By Andrew LaMartina Staff Writer The NBA Playoffs are quickly approaching, and I think everyone knows who the clear favorites are — the Golden State Warriors, which have a great chance to set the best NBA regular season record ever. The Warriors won the championship last year, and the team picked up right where it left off, setting a record for most wins without a loss to start the season.

You can attribute a lot of the Warriors’ accomplishments to the unbelievable play of the reigning MVP, guard

Stephen Curry, who I think is going to win MVP again without a doubt. But it is not just Curry who made this team able to challenge Michael Jordan’s 1996 Chicago Bulls’ 72-win season. The entire team is made up of great players, and they all play together well. Klay Thompson is one of the best shooting guards in the game. As one of the best 3-point shooting duos in the game, Thompson and Curry make the Warriors a nearly unbeatable force. Include forward Draymond Green, who is leading the league in triple-doubles this season, and you have three of the top players in the NBA on the same team playing on the best home court in professional basketball.

The Warriors are undefeated at home this season and are going to have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

As long as a key player doesn’t get some unbelievable injury, the Warriors will take the championship with ease.

The only team I think stands a chance to win the championship is also in the Western Conference — the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are always a great team, and I think their amazing season is overshadowed by what the Warriors are doing. But the Spurs are also undefeated at home this year and are only five games behind the Warriors.

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The Spurs stacked up their roster this season by adding forward Lamarcus Aldridge to their already loaded roster.

One of the oldest and best centers, Tim Duncan, has remained healthy alongside one of the league’s best point guards, Tony Parker. In addition to Duncan and Parker, forward Kawhi Leonard is one of the top five best players in the league and the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, . The Spurs are looking amazing and probably are the only team that can beat the Warriors. If those two teams meet, it would have to be in the Western Conference Finals, which would make one of the best series in a few years. I would take the Warriors in seven games over the Spurs.

The Eastern Conference is the weaker conference by far, and it has been for the last few years. I do think the Cleveland Cavaliers will be back in the Finals this year because they have LeBron James, who is one of the all-time greats. He has made it to five NBA finals in a row and will look to make it to another one this year. The only team that can challenge the Cavs is the Toronto Raptors, which fell during playoffs last year and were upset in the first round.

A good question to ask is do the Cavaliers have the fire power to beat a team from the Western Conference? The Cavs have

top-tier point guard Kyrie Irving, but he still has not been able to put it all together and take a leap to the next level of greatness. Forward Kevin Love has had a good year, but nothing like the years he had when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. I still believe trading forward Andrew Wiggins for Love was the biggest mistake the Cavs made. I think the team would have won last year if it had Wiggins.

San Antonio can give the defending champs a run for their money, so the Western Conference Finals could get interesting.

Regardless, Cleveland would have had a better chance if Kevin Love stayed healthy instead of injuring his shoulder during the first round of the playoffs.

Perhaps we will just have to see what happens this year. San Antonio can give the defending champs a run for their money, so the Western Conference Finals could get interesting. But it’s the Warriors’ championship to lose.

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9

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Missing the “Madness” A sweet season for sports by rachel steinhoff Staff Writer

Last-second heroics, impossible comebacks and unbelievable upsets — you know, an average day during the NCAA basketball tournament... for the men, that is.

After all, does the men’s March Madness tournament ever disappoint? During March, you can expect the unexpected. You can believe in the underdog and fall in love with a Cinderella story. College basketball reaches its peak during March, and sports fans buckle up for a ride through 67 games of relentless competition.

2016 brought a new level of madness. There have been highs, lows and bracket-busters that seemed impossible. In fact, March 19 is being called the wildest day in March Madness history.

Watching March Madness, I’ve collected the greatest moments of triumph and defeat so far in this year’s tournament — moments and memories of games I’ll share with my kids someday.

This tournament has proven to be a roller coaster of the unexpected, and basketball fans around the country are soaking up every minute of the excitement. The fall of Michigan State University, the University of Notre Dame’s ability to pull off improbable shots and even more improbable wins, and the surge of No. 10-seeded Syracuse University to the Final Four are just a few examples seen during this season’s tournament.

With all the action this year, one particular team caught my attention and quickly became my favorite story of 2016.

First round action in the West region featured No. 11 University of Northern Iowa against No. 6 University of Texas. Because I like to root for the underrated, mid-major schools, I was a UNI Panthers fan for the day, and the game yielded incredible results. After a phenom-

enal second half of runs and lead changes, the game came down to the final play. With 2.7 seconds left and no time-outs, Northern Iowa heaved a half court buzzer-beater that gave the Panthers one of the first upsets of the tournament.

The Panthers moved on with hopes to continue their run in the big dance, but the second round against the third-ranked Aggies of Texas A&M University wasn’t as kind to UNI. No game of this tournament — and quite possibly no college game ever — will stay with me in the way that watching the complete self-destruction of the Panthers was able to. Called the greatest collapse in NCAA history, UNI allowed the biggest comeback of all-time — 35 seconds that undoubtedly will haunt the players forever.

Down 12 points, A&M defied the statistical odds and came back to eventually defeat UNI in double overtime.

Texas A&M had less than a 0.0004% percent chance of winning that game in the final seconds, according to FiveThirtyEight. In ordinary circumstances, coaches might pull their seniors, and players might accept defeat and back off the press — but the Aggies did the exact opposite and gave real meaning to the phrase “it’s not over ‘til it’s over.” The Aggies turned up the pressure, forced turnovers, knocked down shots, and made me wonder how many other games could turn out that way if teams met the challenge of a deficit rather than throwing in the towel. The comeback was amazing, but heart-wrenching. It’s a game I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

That’s what March Madness is to me. It’s witnessing the impossible and watching incredible talent on the biggest stage. March Madness is an opportunity to learn the game and watch some of the most memorable moments in all of sports.

During the excitement of the men’s tournament, many of us tend to forget another event happening at the same time. The NCAA Women’s National Tournament offers the same pressures of chasing greatness in a win-or-go-home setting, yet the women’s tournament not only takes a backseat to the men’s, but goes almost entirely unnoticed by the majority of the country.

As a basketball player, it can be hard to see so little attention cast on the women’s bracket, but as the years go on, the problem is clear.

Where’s the madness? Sports are a business — an entertainment business — and the women’s tournament simply hasn’t been bringing the excitement. During the past year, women’s basketball has faced rule change after rule change, all in the hopes of making the game more appealing to fans, but no matter how many things you change, it’s up to the athletes to go out and compete.

When it comes down to it, the controversy within Div. I women’s college basketball is the absolute dominance of the University of Connecticut. The Huskies are on an attendance streak of nine Final Fours and have reigned as champions since 2013. This year, the Huskies stand undefeated on their way to the Final Four, sitting at 35-0 with all 35 games won by double digits.

Winning like this is not normal — it’s exceptional. I respect greatness, and that’s what UConn’s women’s program is. It is historic, and possesses talent that makes the game look easy. I’ve always been a fan, and enjoy watching the best of the best, but this year, I haven’t been as excited to watch.

UConn’s advance to the Elite Eight this year, came during a blowout that was 61-12 at halftime. It was painful to watch, and I experienced second-hand embarrassment for their opponent. Mississippi State University entered the game with a talented roster and 28-7 record, but Connecticut made MSU look foolish.

While I watched the game, one of the commentators noted fans were stunned, thinking, “What did we just watch?” On one hand, I was in awe of the talent and power I had just witnessed from perhaps the most dominant women’s basketball team ever. On the other hand, I felt uncomfortable for the players who ended their season in a slaughter, and feel no desire to watch another game similar to it.

Competition is supposed to thrive during March, and I would love to see the women’s side catch up with the men’s in that aspect.

I want to see a team challenge Connecticut, and I want the sport to get more of the respect it deserves. The women’s side should strive for the intensity of its male counterparts and start a little madness of its own. Because at the end of the day, sports fans live for the madness, and the madness lives during March.

by tim pickel Staff Writer

Every year, people across America celebrate the official first day of spring, March 20. To most of us, the vernal equinox comes with promises of longer days, warmer weather and beautiful flowers sprouting up from the ground.

Spring brings with it three months of picturesque weather, transitioning us out of the depths of winter and into the freedom of summer.

If you’re a die-hard sports fan, however, spring has an entirely different meaning. Once the middle of March comes around, the sweetest part of the year for sports is in full bloom. The next three months bring the most exciting time in sports, full of opening days and championship games.

The next three months bring the most exciting time in sports, full of opening days and championship games.

The first event that usually comes to mind for sports this time of year is the NCAA Div. I Basketball Tournament and its yearly showcase of the 68 best men’s and 64 best women’s teams in the country. During three consecutive weekends the top-dogs, underdogs, hot shots and bracket busters all duke it out for their chance to be the last team standing and bring the spirit of March Madness to life. This tournament alone packs enough entertainment for the whole season into about a week and a half of total action.

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March Madness only marks the beginning of the fun, though.

For many sports fans, springtime means one thing — baseball’s opening day. Kirksville might just be a small town in northeast Missouri, but its passion for baseball stacks up against any big city, and three rival fan bases clash as they bicker about which team is best during the next six months. The Cardinals and Cubs are coming off promising 2015 campaigns, and the Royals are even better off after winning their second World Series last year.

But there’s no need to wait another week for baseball to start.

Bulldog baseball and softball teams have been playing every weekend for the past month and a half, providing plenty of opportunities to catch a game and support Truman State. Both teams will play at home this weekend.

Forgot to fill out a bracket? Is baseball not your thing? Then what does springtime have to offer you in terms of sports? Only some of the most intense and heated playoff campaigns professional sports have to offer. Just a week or so after NCAA basketball champions are crowned and the MLS and MLB begins their regular seasons, two of the most exciting playoff races in all of professional sports begin — the best NBA and NHL teams try to prove their worth and put together a championship run. The NBA playoffs will feature the Golden State Warriors trying to make a run at history and dethrone the 1996 Chicago Bulls as the best team of all time, while center Tim Duncan with the San Antonio Spurs and forward LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers will do their best to crash the party. In the NHL playoffs, left wing Alexander Ovechkin will try to break the Washington Capitals’ curse and finally get his name etched on the Stanley Cup, and a potential first round matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks could ruin some friendships at Truman before the spring semester is done.

Spring is when the weather is fine, the sun will shine and teams put it all on the line. So whether you’re a die-hard sports fan, a casual observer or feel like getting into something new, do yourself a favor and sit back, relax and enjoy.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

Taste of Truman

EVENTS

with Laura Seaman

Humans vs. Zombies Orientation 8 p.m. April 4 Violette Hall 1000 People interested in playing Humans vs. Zombies - a week-long, 24/7 game of undead tag — should attend the game’s final orietation session. All players are required to attend orientation to participate.

Waiting for Godot 8-10:30 p.m. March 31 Black Box Theatre

TOP

Come see the second Theatre Lab Show, “Waiting for Godot,” which is written and directed by students. This event is free and open to the public.

Cinnamon Cheesecake Bars Directions: • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

• With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until softened, then mix with egg, vanilla and half a cup of sugar.

• Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13 pan with

one tube of crescent roll dough.

• In a small bowl, mix half a cup of sugar with

cinnamon. Spread half the mixture over the layer of crescent roll dough.

• Take the cheesecake mixture and spread it evenly in the pan.

• Use the second tube of crescent roll dough to cover the mixture, then cover the dough with the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture and bake for 30 minutes.

• Let the bars cool completely in the fridge, then serve.

Celebrity Guest Cameos in TV Shows

1

Throughout the run of “Psych,” a Detective Dobson was always referenced, but never seen. During the show’s final episode, none other than Val Kilmer showed up as Detective Dobson. Fitting, because one of main character Shawn Spencer’s favorite actors was Kilmer.

2

“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is a comedy with dark undertones. Not surprising when the premise involves girls being rescued from an underground cult leader. That leader happens to be Jon Hamm. Hamm as a creepy, eccentric cult leader was only one of the show’s comedic surprises.

Ingredients: • 2 tablespoons cinnamon • 1 cup sugar • 2 packages crescent roll dough • 16 ounces cream cheese • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 egg

3

“Parks and Recreation” is rife with many political figure cameos, but the best one is Senator John McCain. His brief appearance only lasts for a matter of seconds,and is made even more hilarious when Leslie Knope unknowingly chatises him for interrupting her breakdown in a closet.

4

During the season eight episode of “The Office,” “Garden Party,” we are introduced to Andy’s brother, Walter Bernard Jr., who is played by Josh Groban. Groban plays the spoiled rich brother Andy is jealous of.

5

The future in “Futurama” includes frozen heads of celebrity figures. One of those heads is Leonard Nimoy, aka Mr. Spock from “Star Trek.” Nimoy voiced himself during the pilot of “Futurama” and helped guide Fry during his adventures in the future.

The Batman/superman movie we need, but not the one we want

BY KATEY STOETZEL

Features Editor index.featureseditor@gmail.com

Oh, boy. To say "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is bad is a gross understatement. It's not just bad — it's really bad, and the difference between those is the storytelling. Moments in this film are great. But at the end of its two-and-a-half-hour run time, mere moments aren't enough to pull together a decent movie.

Having two of the most famous superheros on screen should be fun. It should be exciting. But this film, a sequel to 2013's "Man of Steel," also directed by Zack Snyder, is drowning in its unrelenting need to be dark.

This probably has to do with screenwriter David S. Goyer, who wrote and developed the stories of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" series and wrote the script for "Man of Steel." Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy proved superhero stories could be dark, but that didn't mean every single one needed to be, and "Batman v Superman" proves not all them should be.

When the entire theater is restless, you know there’s a problem. One of the weirdest aspects of "Man of Steel" was its narrative structure, and Goyer and Snyder run into the same problem with this film. The story is chaotic and unbalanced, with scenes jumping from one to the

next with no coherency or sense of direction. To make it more complicated, there are dream sequences scattered throughout with zero context. Characters jump from location to location with no through line. Often, what should be one long scene turns into five, broken up and spread out among so many other scenes that by the time we return to the action in one, we've completely forgotten about it. The different ideals at the core of the tension between Batman and Superman are interesting at first, but when the action calls for the two to team up, those ideals suddenly are dropped, and the ensuing drama doesn't leave room to continue the conversation.

The fact is, this film tries to do too much. First, it's a Batman origin story. Then, a "Man of Steel" sequel, a "Justice League" prequel, a battle of philosophical ideals and a political thriller. There's so much, not one part gets adequate time to breathe. Snyder said this is a film made for the fans. For sure, there are many elements fans are sure to appreciate, but that leaves general audiences feeling alienated and lost.

But there are good moments. Ben Affleck is great as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Affleck plays the billionaire playboy with a cool subtlety that contrasts his edgier version of Batman. And this Batman definitely plays loose with the rules. The relationship between Wayne and Alfred is fun too, though Jeremy Irons doesn't get much to do.

There are larger nods to the DC movie universe. An ample amount of time is spent setting up the "Justice League." Ezra Miller as the Flash, Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ray Fisher as Cyborg make cameos. And Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman is the absolute saving grace of this film. Although her screen time is limited, Gadot easily slides into her role as Wonder Woman. We also get a lot of time with Diana Prince, too, which is cool. And look out for the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Chris Pine cameo.

The battle between Superman and Batman is one of the better actions sequences. If anything, Snyder can be commended for those. Speaking of action sequences, the tie-in to "Man of Steel" at the beginning with Bruce Wayne racing through the streets of a destroyed Metropolis is exhillarating, and a great way to introduce the character — Bruce Wayne, not Batman, trying to save his own people.

But these moments are few and far between, and the bad most definitely outweighs the good in terms of this film as a standalone. But taking in consideration the bigger picture, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" does its job — I'm already looking forward to "Wonder Woman" and "Justice League." Maybe in time, after those films, we can look back on this one as just a stepping stone to those other movies. Grade — D+