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Trevor Hamblin explores Pokemon Go game features. see page 7
TMN gives freshmen tips on what they wished they knew. see page 10
Bulldogs embrace long camp days to prep for season. see page 14
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016
EXCELLENCE SINCE 1909
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-PRODUCED NEWSPAPER
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Student Government follows through By Rachel Fechter
News Text Editor Index.Newseditor@gmail.com
Photo by Lindsay St. John/TMN The Kirksville Kraft foods plant is located on Industrial Road. While lay offs and a possible closing were considered last year, the plant is actually expanding with new production lines and new employees.
Kraft annouces new production lines By Emily Merkle Staff Writer
Following announcements of expansion, the Kirksville Kraft plant recently announced its new production lines. Set to open throughout the course of several months, these new production lines will retain the positions originally employed on bacon, which was consolidated to Ohio, and add new jobs. Carolyn Chrisman, executive director of Kirksville Regional Economic Development Inc., said Kraft will continue to produce ham and will add production lines in round white turkey, cotto salami, various types of bologna and mixed spices. The mixed spices will be sent to other plants to be used to make other products. Chrisman said the new lines will retain all positions currently at Kraft and add 70 new jobs. “These products rolling out of Kirksville will sustain production for decades to come,” Chrisman said.
Chrisman said the new productions lines will start on a moving timeline. She said one line is set to open during October 2016 with a new line set to open each following month. Chrisman said the expansion to the plant will increase the tax base, making a beneficial impact on Kirksville’s economy. “It’s been a busy time, but it’s going well, and Kraft is hiring,” Chrisman said. Kirksville Tourism Director Debi Boughton said Kraft has been busy with the changes, and Bacon Fest — a festival and food drive sponsored by Kraft — will not take place this year. Boughton said the Chamber of Commerce wants to continue partnering with Kraft to put on a festival with a food drive component. She said at this time, brainstorming for a new festival has just begun. Boughton said she and others are open to suggestions of tying in the new Kraft lines to a festival.
Construction on The Square finishes By Johanna Burns
Kirksville completed Street improvements to the downtown area on schedule July 27 as part of a multidepartment city effort to improve the visual appeal of The Square. The Tax Increment Finance commission financed the project, which was part of the Downtown Revitalization Pilot Program. Improvements include street resurfacing, new street markings, improved sidewalks and traffic changes. Engineering technician Linda Jepson, who oversaw the project, said there will also be 18 new street lights installed in the near future. Jepson said one of the major changes drivers should be conscious of is the change to traffic directions. She said several of the streets surrounding the square have been redesigned from one-way traffic to two-way traffic. Jepson said drivers should be mindful of these changes and pay attention to how traffic is structured. “Part of the reason we did that is because we were seeing a lot of vehicles going the wrong way on a one way,” Jepson said. Jepson said all streets, with the exception of Elson Street, that were one-way but a block away from
The Square became two-way. She said it might take people a while to adjust to the changes, but the design allows more opportunities for people to get in and out of The Square. Jepson said this is the largest project she has ever worked on. She said it was a compilation of four major projects coming together — concrete work, sidewalk improvements, asphalt work and the marking crew. Jepson said three different contractors and the city handled the construction. She said the city did some additional work on waterlines and redesigning streets for better water runoff. Jepson said previously, water ran down the middle of the streets and caused damage and ice issues during the winter. She said these improvements will help to fix some of those problems. Jepson said the majority of the street resurfacing work took place at night to limit inconvenience to business owners. She said construction went smoothly with few delays, though two cars were towed when they parked in no-parking areas during the resurfacing phase of the project. Jepson said it has been more than 20 years since the streets in the downtown have been completely resurfaced. She said her department did the best they could to fix any major issues.
Photo by Lindsay St. John/TMN
Photo by Lindsay St. John/TMN
Two cars sit on Harrison Street after rennovations were made to the street. It has been 20 years since rennovations have been made to The Square.
Cars drive toward the cross section of Harrison and Franklin streets. Construction on Kirksville’s Square created two-lane traffic to make it easier for people to leave The Square.
Text Flow Editor
VOLUME 108
ISSUE 1
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During the 2015-16 school year, Student Government researched, wrote and passed 31 resolutions proposing changes impacting the Truman State population. Truman Media Network did a follow-up covering six major resolutions voted on by Student Senate to see if and how the resolutions will be implemented for the 2016-17 school year. One of the six major resolutions, Resolution 116.023 was in opposition to eliminating or exempting student health fees. Senior JJ Dorrell, Student Senate president, said there would be major drawbacks to eliminating student health fees, which was why the resolution to keep health fees intact passed in student government. “UCS [University Counseling Services] provided face to face counseling to 521 students, 8.5 percent of student body, during 2013-14 year,” Dorrell said. “If there were to be a bill that let students opt out of that health fee, that could possibly be jeopardizing to the future of the health center because that’s how that’s funded.” One more resolution discussed was Resolution 116.008, which designated Indigenous Peoples’ Day be recognized on Columbus Day. Dorrell said Student Government is still awaiting approval on this bill from the Board of Governors and will not hear a result until October. “I think it would enhance the diversity that makes Truman’s campus a welcoming university,” Dorrell said. “I hope the board will pass it.” Another resolution discussed was Resolution 116.025, which was a resolution of statistical support for an LGBTQ+ resource center. Senior Christy Crouse, former student government diversity chair and current vice president, said she and the diversity committee spearheaded the research that went into discovering if the student body would want an LGBTQ+ resource center and whether it would be feasible to create. “[The] Diversity Committee passed two resolutions dealing with this center last year,” Crouse said. “One of them established that we see a need for one on our campus, and the other one brought the numerical evidence that students would like this implemented. We issued a survey to the entire student body and got statistics of certain demographics that support and would use the center, and who students would like to staff the center.” Crouse said last year, Resolution 116.025 was more focused on research, and she thinks this year Student Government will work to actually implement the resolution. Crouse said the resolution still needs to be approved by the Center of Student Involvement. Currently, Crouse said the biggest hold-up on plans for the LGBTQ+ resource center is finding a good space, but once one is found, discussion of materials, equipment and staffing the center can begin. An additional resolution, Resolution 116.024, encouraged the addition of Spanish admission materials. Crouse said the Diversity Committee also spearheaded this resolution and began gathering Spanish-speaking students to help translate the materials from English to Spanish, though she said they were unable to fully put the resolution into motion and hope to work on that this year. “I am president of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honors Fraternity, so I will be getting help from our group to get this done this next year,” Crouse said. “The Admissions staff is supportive, but has only provided the materials to be translated. Once we do that, they will print them.” Another major resolution voted on during the 201516 year was Resolution 116.010, which endorsed the inclusion of a medical amnesty clause in the University Student Conduct Code. Sophomore Brett Combs, former voting senator of academic affairs and current house speaker, said medical amnesty is the idea that if someone has done something illegal, like drinking alcohol underage, and needs medical assistance, they will not be penalized by the law if they call or ask for help. Combs said students are relcutant to seek medical treatment to avoid getting in trouble in such situations. Combs said Student Government found Truman has similar policies already in place and decided there wasn’t a need to pass the resolution. “[Department of Public Safety] has commented safety is more important, and they take that into consideration,” Combs said. “There has been documented cases [from DPS] where people have called for medical assistance and not been hit with a [Minor in Possession.] It was emphasized to us that it kind of already exists. The biggest benefit was finding that DPS does understand.” Among the other resolutions, there was also Resolution 116.016 in support of hiring an additional University counselor. Combs said the Health and Wellness Committee went above and beyond talking to former University President Troy Paino, University Counseling Services and the Health Board. “Whether the resolution was actually the catalyst to get the new counselor or not is a running debate,” Combs said. “It shows the University was listening to the voice of the students, so I believe that’s the most important part to come out of it whether it was our resolution that gave them the idea. The part that matters is that the University is listening.” Combs said even with all the progress Student Government made last year, they’re going to try and have an even better year during 2016-17. “The members that we have retained from last semester are all excellent and love the positions they’re in, so I think at a base level we’re starting off an even better @trumanindex
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