March 9, 2017 by Truman State University Index

Features

Opinions

Tru Men heads to semifinals for international a capella competition

Ben Wallis explains why academia should question its foundations

Sports

Men’s basketball earns selection to Div. II NCAA National Tournament page 10

page 5

page 3

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

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Health care bill could impact students By Zackary Irvin Staff Writer

Higher education chair updates Truman community on state budget By Kayla Perkins Staff Writer

On Tuesday March 7, Truman State University Student Government hosted an event where University President Sue Thomas, political science professor Candy Young and Paul Wagner, Missouri Council of Private Higher Education Executive Director, discussed the current budget situation of Missouri and Truman State University. Each speaker took a turn explaining a different part of the budget situation concerning Missouri citizens and Truman students. Young was the first to speak at the event. She explained the problematic trends in Missouri and the 1980 Hancock Amendment, which put a cap on what Missouri can collect in revenue. She also explained that the state has other priorities ahead of universities, such as social services and the tax credits that resulted from the Hancock Amendment. The next speaker was Wagner, who discussed how Jefferson City is responding to budget cuts. Wagner is a lobbyist for public universities in Missouri and often spends time in Jefferson City. He talked about how term limits, a general lack of knowledge at the capital concerning higher education, the disconnect between adults who have a higher education and those who don’t and the Missouri Senate’s view of pub-

lic universities affect how the Senate decides on the state’s budget and the funds allotted to higher education. Wagner discussed a meeting from earlier that day with Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, to which Thomas was invited at the last minute. Greitens invited Thomas to the meeting to represent Truman State, which Greitens believes is an example of a university in the state of Missouri that is exhibiting the excellence he expects from all Missouri public universities. “[Greitens] really likes to talk about the word excellence a lot,” Wagner said. “At the last minute the Governor called and said, ‘I want you to bring the Truman president, too.’ I think the reason he did that was he wanted to highlight in that room, you know, we want to focus on excellence. We want to focus on people who are providing results, who are showing value added, and who are proving to be a good investment.” The last speaker was Thomas. She talked about Truman’s budget and the plan moving forward with cuts from state funding. Thomas talked about a three-step plan concerning the budget cuts at Truman. These are steps taken to ensure that Truman is being proactive instead of reactive moving forward. After all the speakers finished, the floor was opened up for students in attendance to ask any of the speak-

ers questions about the Missouri or university budgets. Some of the questions were anonymous, while others were asked outright by the students. These questions covered possible changes that will be made to the A+ program, how cutting different expenses would affect the budget, and what action students can take to reach out to Missouri legislation. The last question of the night was for Thomas. A student asked where students can go for hope in this time of financial crisis. “I think they need to look at everybody on this campus,” Thomas said. “I’ve said this a million times — we’re a campus of very bright and talented people who can figure things out, and I think as long as we work together, we have the ability to figure this out and come out the other side much stronger. So, if you want to look at hope, turn around and look at everybody in this room and everybody you pass on campus.” Editors Note: For more information about Truman’s three-point financial plan, please see the Feb. 23 edition of The Index. The Index Archives can be found at index.truman.edu.

Retirement costs complicate budget after recent cuts By Spencer Foust Staff Writer

Truman State University’s contribution rate to its statewide retirement plan for professors brought annual costs up by an estimated $784,000 following a string of budget cuts by Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. The specific changes to the contribution rate address an aspect of the state’s retirement program that mandates an employer’s yearly contribution to a collective “pot,” according to Missouri State Employee’s Retirement System guidelines for retirement. This pot is the funding by which MOSERS ensures that Missouri’s retirees are receiving a quality income replacement to help stimulate

the economy in their retirement, according to the MOSERS website. Dave Rector, Vice President for Administration, Finance and Planning, said in 2018 Truman will pay an extra 2.8 percent to MOSERS, a rate that had previously been steady for four years. According to MOSERS’ summary, this raises the rate of contribution per retiring employee from 16.7 percent to 19.5 percent. In addition, MOSERS clarifies that inflations in rates like these are normally to match the rising costs of living. Rector said rather than providing any changes for professors, this plan is purely a financial matter for the University to handle. After public education lost $146 million because of budget cuts in January, Rector said

additional costs to the University were unexpected and complicate next year’s budget. “We pay this to MOSERS based on payroll,” Rector said. “So, a person earning $50,000 will cost $1,240 in additional retirement contributions during the next budget year. This is not money the individual will receive, it goes into a pool of funds held by MOSERS.” This change, although new to the University’s 2018 budget, was decided in fall of 2016, according to a footer in the summary provided by MOSERS and Rector. According tot he summary report, the fact that it comes into effect following the budget cuts is merely a coincidence, as is the timing of the million dollar renovation of Stokes Stadium.

Truaman students might soon experience the positive and negative effects of a bill for lawmakers to replace the Affordable Care Act, more popularly known as “Obamacare,” led by United States Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and other GOP Representatives. The Washington Post and Bloomberg News reported on the unfolding story Monday evening. As both sources state, the new health care bill proposes individual tax credits that will depend on a person’s income and age. This is after criticisms of the GOP’s initial idea to have the credits depend on only age. The individual tax credits will be available to individuals who make $75,000 per year or less and families who make $150,000 per year or less. These tax credits will not be available for insurance policies that cover abortion. It also allows insurers to apply a 30 percent penalty on those who have gaps between their last health care policy and a new one. There are no specific details on whether there is a time-frame to determine how long one can remain uninsured. The new bill will prevent Medicaid from paying for health services, including but not limited to abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics, according to multiple sources such as National Public Radio. In their initial plans, the lawmakers offered grants to states that replace the current ACA law. Other details of the bill include letting people stay on their parents’ health plans up to age 26, forbidding insurers to deny coverage and apply extra charges to those with preexisting conditions, and imposing a surcharge on people who have gaps in their health care coverage. GOP lawmakers also intend to shrink Medicaid. In response, four GOP Senators have already stated their opposition toward the bill. This means there is no majority for the GOP if a bill were to be finalized and voted on. Senators Rob Portman, Shelley Moore Capito, Cory Gardner and Lis Murkowski issued a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The letter to McConnell said, “While we support efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and make structural reforms to the Medicaid program, we are concerned that the Feb. 10 draft [of the] proposal from the House of Representatives does not provide stability and certainty for individuals and families in Medicaid expansion programs or the necessary flexibility for states,” according to the Business Insider. Although the new bill is an attempt to repeal “Obamacare,” some GOP lawmakers are concerned it will not do enough. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee have said they will vote against the bill in its current form because it does not go far enough in repealing ACA, with some calling it “Obamacare Lite.” The GOP health care bill has been developing for several weeks now, and this unveiling is the first real information about what GOP lawmakers want to do. However, their bill does not outline any costs, estimates or coverage details. Brenda Higgins, Director of the Student Health Center and University Counseling Services, said she has a few concerns related to the proposed bill and its implications on students. Higgins said eliminating the Medicaid expansion — though it does not necessarily affect Missourians because the state did not accept it — will affect students who are from those states that have expanded Medicaid. Higgins also said she is worried about the GOP’s bill for pre-existing coverage. See HEALTHCARE page 4

There will NOT be an issue of The Index next week because of Truman State’s midterm break. VOLUME 108

ISSUE 19

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Multi-million dollar Stokes Stadium construction progresses

CORRECTIONS The photos with the Fort Chariton story on page 6 of last week’s issue were submitted by Angela Schultz and not taken by Maddie McDermott.

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

The Senate will begin glass recycling again after Spring Break but plans to do battery recycling have been delayed until after the Senate’s meeting with Residence Life hall directors. The Senate had a first read for a resolution supporting the installation of a student accessible printer in Magruder Hall.

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Top: Stokes Stadium, built in 1930 and the home of Truman football as well as track and field, is getting a makeover that includes replacement of the 55-year-old press box. Left: Rolls of artificial turf like this one have been in place since 2009 but will be replaced with a brand new turf field as part of the $2.5 million project funded by private donations and student athletic fees. Bottom: The old playing field and track have been torn up, making way for the new playing field that will have wider dimensions capable of fitting a soccer field. Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN

The Senate had a first read for a resolution supporting sponsorship of an annual voter registration drive.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Student government goes to the state capitol Members of Truman’s Student Government, as well as representatives from the communication disorders department and University President Sue Thomas, went to Jefferson City on February 21 for the annual Truman Day at the Capitol. Students met with members of The Missouri General Assembly, including Kirksville Representatives Nate Walker and Craig Redmon and Senator Brian Munzlinger. Truman alumni Senators Scott Sifton and Mike Cunningham and State Treasurer Eric Schmitt were also on hand.

Upchuckles to host faculty stand up comedy show

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN

Five Truman faculty members, including University President Sue Thomas, will try their hand at stand-up comedy in the faculty comedy show sponsored by UpChuckles, Truman’s stand-up troupe. The show, scheduled for 8 p.m. March 24 in the auditorium at William Matthew Middle School, will be a fundraiser for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Tickets for the event are $5 and are available through the communication department, in the Student Union Building in the days leading up to the event and at the door.

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Staff Editor-in-Chief Austin Hornbostel Managing Editor Johanna Burns News Editor (Text) Rachel Fechter Lifestyle Editor (Text) Austin Hornbostel Lifestyle Editor (Multimedia) Brently Snead Sports Editor (Text) Rachel Steinhoff Sports Editor (Multimedia) Seth Wolfmeyer Opinions Editor Will Chaney Copy Chief Megan Robison Assistant Copy Chief Molly Thal Design Chief Samantha Nielsen Staff Writers Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Curt Wichmer, Chris Burk, Lesley Reno, Mercy Tee, Kayla Perkins, Nicolas Telep, Kira Hintz, Spencer Foust, Morgan Alexander, Jeremy Jacob, Jessica Shultz, Maddie McDermott, Zackary Irvin Columnists Trevor Hamblin, Korbin Keller, Eboni Miller, Jared Roberts, Trista Sullivan, Ben Wallis Cartoonist Annie Kintree, August Davis Copy Editors Julianna Foster, Megan Gibbons, Trevor Hamblin, Katie Puryear, Ian Madden, Bethany Spitzmiller, MacKenna Palazza, Sarah deVeer Designers Clarissa Todd, Lawrence Hu, Mariah Radle, Emily Mollet Photo Editor Damian Soane Photographers Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Hannah Conner, Hudson Taylor Distribution Manager Kain Kneib Distribution Representatives Jessica Rose, Taylor Libbert Adviser Don Krause

3/7 Theft reported at the 800 block of S. Sixth St.

3/4 Harassment reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Drive

3/7 Theft reported at the 900 block of S. First St.

3/4 Narcotics offense reported at Hazel Creek Lake

3/6 Theft reported at the 500 block of N. 3/4 Suspects arrested as minors in Baltimore St. possession at the 1000 block of S. Franklin St. 3/6 Theft reported at the 0 block of Overbrook Drive 3/4 Assault reported at the 700 block of Shannon Lane 3/5 Fraud reported at the 700 block of E. Patterson St. 3/4 Theft reported at the 1700 block of S Porter St. 3/5 Hit and run reported at the 2200 block of N. Baltimore St. 3/3 Theft reported at the 900 block of S. Franklin St.

Mark your calendar Tale of Tales: A Feast for the Imagination 5-6:30 p.m. March 9 Magruder Hall 2001

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages will be hosting a film screening of the 2015 film “Tale of Tales” by Italian director Matteo Garrone, followed by guest speaker Marino Forlino on the influence Arabic literature has had on Italian literature.

TruCare Service Event 6-8 p.m. March 9 Violette Hall second floor

The Alumni Association is hosting TruCare, a volunteer event where Truman students can give back to the local community. For this event, the association will oversee card-making for people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Kirksville.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

Pineapple is a legitimate pizza topping

Jared Roberts On Feb. 21 the president of Iceland said if he had his way he would ban pineapple on pizza, according to CNN on Feb. 21. This prompted people — mainly in support of this suggested ban — to go on Twitter and let the world know where they stood. Recently there has been a lot of debate, including the creation of memes, about how people are just plain silly for liking pineapple pizza. However, there is little to no merit to these claims. Why shouldn’t people be able to enjoy the sweet and salty combination of pineapples on pizza? I believe there is no reason they shouldn’t. Pineapple belongs on pizza for three main reasons — it has a long history of being a part of pizza, many people enjoy pineapple pizza and, finally, it can be mixed with a variety of toppings to create a balanced and full taste. In 1962 at Satellite Restaurant in Ontario, Canada, Sam Panopoulos created the first ever Hawaiian pizza, topped with ham and pineapple, according to the Food Network. This was an instant hit, even in the conservative pizza-loving Canada. “People only put on mushroom, bacon and pepperoni, that’s all,” Panopoulos said. “I had pineapple in the restaurant, and I put some on. And I shared with some customers and they liked it. And we started serving it that way.” This shows that pineapple has a history of being included on pizza and shows true innovation with food. Panopoulos saw a chance to make something new people might love, and he was right in doing so. Pizza with pineapple has been around for quite some time now and is ingrained in many cultures. This leads to my next reason — people generally enjoy pineapples on their pizza. Buzzfeed offered a poll asking whether people think pineapple on pizza is great, gross, or if they don’t care. Sixty-four percent, or 54,300 people, said they think it is great, mentioning the sweet to savory ratio. Only 29 percent, or 25 thousand, said they think it is gross. And seven percent, or 5,467 people, said they did not care. This clearly shows

that people enjoy pineapple on their pizza, more so than they do not. According to the poll,the reason people said they thought it was great was because of the spot-on sweet to savory ratio, which helps prove my third reason pineapple belongs on pizza — it provides a balanced taste. When judging any food it is about the taste — how different is it, how much it makes you want more. This is the benefit of putting pineapple on pizza. It gives people the ability to have sweet and savory tastes on a pizza, something that was not as feasible before its creation. Having the ability to mix pineapple with other toppings such as ham

allows for a significant expansion of the palate and allows for people to truly get many flavors from pizza, something people are not used to being able to get. So let’s end this debate — let pizza be free and let people choose whatever toppings they want for their pizza, including pineapple. Because in the end, it should be in the creative and tasteful image that allows people to put what they want on their pizza.

for a career in business or finance. Today, with declining public budgets, universities are increasingly forced to compete for students and corporate financing. With each stage of the university’s evolution, education has been subordinated to capitalist imperatives — chiefly, to provide graduates with marketable skills. The foundations of the social sciences reflect this. The starting point of economics is the single individual and assumes that she maximizes her utility or preference level based on price signals. Markets tend to balance out — supply tends to meet demand — and crises are exceptional to the norm. These assumptions properly belong to the neoclassical tradition of economics, but this is so widely accepted at the university that the neoclassical model is often the only one taught to undergraduates. Modern political science, borrowing from economics, uses the rational individual as its basic unit of analysis. Concerned with making existing political institutions more efficient, it busies itself with analyzing the forms and properties these institutions assume. Both disciplines focus their attention on distinct objects — the economy and politics. Coincidentally, they both also presuppose these objects are stable and natural. Political science upholds political order and economics extols the virtues of the market. The social sciences as they are reinforce and reproduce capitalist society. Can they supply the tools for its critique? Thankfully, alternative intellectual traditions already exist that do offer these tools. They are less concerned with disciplinary boundaries and involve themselves in seeking knowledge about the world in order to change it. One of these traditions is Marxism. Against dominant economic orthodoxy, it concerns itself with the social relations among people, principally in the form of class relationships. Capitalist society is founded on the exploitation of the working class. Workers produce more value than they are paid for, and the surplus accrues to capitalists. Marxism, against the orientation of the modern social sciences, argues the unnaturalness of our society and exposes its crisisridden and exploitative reality. Similarly, radical feminist traditions denaturalize our society by revealing the violence of patriarchy. Radical feminists, in contrast to liberal feminists, believe that society must be fundamentally changed in order to abolish oppression and thus reject a legislation-based approach. Theorists like

Silvia Federici demonstrate how women’s uncompensated house- and carework is vital to the functioning of capitalist society. Marxism, however, is mostly excluded from the social sciences. Radical feminism has suffered the same fate. Both reject the primacy of the “rational individual” that is especially central to the foundations of economics and political science. They instead deal in terms of fundamental social relations, articulated as “class” and “gender.” They utilize concepts like “exploitation” and “oppression” to expose conflict as an essential part of our social existence. They also reject the parceling of the social world into components like the economy, politics and civil society — divisions created by and for the market. However, this holistic approach is in many ways more representative of our lived experiences than the social scientific one. We do encounter exploitation and oppression. The social sciences have historically evolved to meet the needs of capitalist society, and in so doing naturalize that society. And, despite the services it provides to the existing social order, the university has been placed under ever-intensifying siege. A review of priorities is in order. Truman’s Vision Statement promotes an “empathetic understanding of human experiences” and commits the University to “developing educated citizens needed to protect our democracy.” These practical, progressive ideals are incompatible with rigid disciplinary foundationalism. More specifically, they are incompatible with a foundationalism that is incapable of critiquing the status quo. The social sciences are uniquely suited to assist Truman in meeting these goals — if they can shed their dogmatism. Critical traditions like Marxism and radical feminism supply ready-made alternatives to reigning disciplinary orthodoxies. They can be evaluated objectively — with regards to their internal consistency, relevance and explanatory power. While debates over whether or not they meet these criteria are sure to occur, dismissing them out of hand is socially irresponsible and intellectually dishonest. Truman’s vision statement speaks to an education beyond careerism. To realize such an education, those in academia must break down the barriers between disciplines and challenge our assumptions — ruthlessly, and without delay.

Jared Roberts is a sophomore political science major from Maryland Heights, Mo.

Social sciences should question foundations

Ben Wallis The social sciences are rarely interested in investigating their foundations. By accepting the initial assumptions and standard methodologies that make up these foundations, academics are able to undertake the “real work” of, say, forecasting economic growth, explaining voter turnout or measuring national religious participation. There is always a danger that a lack of self-criticism might lead to the exclusion of real insights from “unorthodox” areas, merely because of foundational disagreements. The nature of the modern university reinforces this trend toward dogmatism, with its rigorous separation of professional “disciplines.” The social sciences at Truman State University should more fully embrace challenges to their foundations, understanding them as enriching contributions, rather than deviations or distractions. This means engaging with perspectives that conflict with their initial assumptions — in the hopes that these might supply useful knowledge about the world and how to change it. The present state of the social sciences can only be explained by reference to the university’s specific context and history as institution. The university we are familiar with is the capitalist university. The modern university emerged in the late nineteenth century, according to sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein. At the time, prevailing liberal ideology promoted a separation between the basic elements of European capitalist countries — the market, the state and civil society. Disciplines were organized to study these elements, respectively, as economics, political science and sociology. Over the twentieth century, with more of the middle class gaining access to education, the university became further commodified. For example, studying economics in the modern university is largely about acquiring skills

Ben Wallis is a junior political science and history major from Troy, Mo.

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HEALTHCARE | Health Center director expresses concerns about national health care plan

City council makes various financial plans to benefit city

Continued from page 1 Even though the new plan claims individuals with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage, Higgins said it does not prevent insurers from possibly charging higher rates for coverage. Despite her concerns, Higgins said there are some positives that she sees. “I am very happy that individuals can [still] remain on their parents’ health care plan until they are 26,” Higgins said. Higgins said this is an important aspect for the students at Truman, as a large majority of students are under 26 and depend on coverage from their parents’ health care plans. Higgins said she hopes these new reforms do not force students to sacrifice comprehensive health coverage for affordable, less comprehensive health coverage.

Staff Writer

People can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26

Elimination of Medicaid expansion in Missouri will not change but could impact/ alter other states’ current medicaid plans

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By Nicolas Telep The Kirksville City Council met to discuss the construction of a new asphalt plant, the purchase of three new city vehicles and plans for “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” at its bi-monthly meeting at City Hall on Monday. After the Pledge of Allegiance led by the local Girl Scouts, a number of resolutions were considered. There was no citizen input at the beginning of the meeting, and most of the resolutions passed with no discussion, except for some administrative details. Kirksville Mayor Jerry Mills declared March “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” in accordance with the national observance during the month of March. Mills said Kirksville is striving for equality and assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities and helping them live independent lives. Mills also encouraged citizens to participate in activities and learn more about developmental disabilities. The City Council approved the purchase of a Roadbuilder Series Model RB110 for the city’s new asphalt plant. The system will be bought from Indiana-based company Asphalt Drum Mixers, Inc. who submitted the lowest bid of $1,139,200 for the total cost of the plant, and Kirksville Public Works Director Glenn Balliew said the remaining money after the system purchase will be used for site preparation and utilities at the plant, including a truck scale. The Council voted 4-1 in favor of the resolution, with the dissenting vote coming from Councilman Rick Steele. The Council also approved the purchase of three new city vehicles. The city purchased all three vehicles from Lovegreen Ford, a local dealership that submitted separate bids for each vehicle. An SUV, a four-wheel-drive Police Interceptor and a Ford F-350 pickup truck outfitted with a plow will be purchased for the Kirksville Police Department to use in inclement weather. Balliew said all three of the purchases would be made with money left over in the budget, and will use extra money to outfit the vehicles for their specific purposes. The council approved the purchases unanimously.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

Tru Men head to Semi-Finals WRITTEN BY JOHANNA BURNS Managing Editor

REPORTING BY ISAAC CARMICHAEL Staff Writer

Truman State University’s True Men a capella group will head

Sophomore David Stowers, social chair for True Men, said

to Bloomington, Indiana, March 25 to compete in the semi-finals

he’s happy the group’s time and energy was recognized at

of the International Competition for Collegiate A Capella.

such a high level.

The announcement that True Men will advance to the semi-

“For me, personally, it’s really rewarding because we work

finals came after a surprising announcement that the all-male

very hard for this,” Stowers said. “We put in a lot of time and

a capella group had tied for first place with the Amateurs

a lot of hours. It’s cool to see that I am capable of this and

from Washington University in St. Louis during the ICCA Mid-

that we as a group are capable of coming together and put-

west Quarterfinals.

ting on a show together.”

True Men have been a staple of the University’s culture

Stowers said because ICCA is an international competition,

since 1997, and they have only advanced this far in the com-

True Men will be representing not only their own organiza-

petition one other time.

tion’s skill, but the University as a whole, in places and before

When the quarterfinal results were announced, True Men

audiences that might have never heard of Truman State before.

originally ranked at fourth place, but after noticing a math-

If True Men place at the semi-final competition, they will ad-

ematical error in the total points, the scores were re-tallied

vance to the finals and compete on Broadway in New York City

and the judges announced that True Men had actually tied for

against some of the best a capella groups in the nation.

first with the Amateurs. The Amateurs and True Men will ad-

ICCA is divided into nine different competing regions —

vance to the semi-finals along with Bare Naked Statues from

Central, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, North-

Saint Louis University, who placed second.

west, South, Southwest and United Kingdom. The Great Lakes

True Men Director Alan Smith said he attributes the group’s

region was the first to host its semi-finals competition, which

success at the quarterfinals competition to the time spent per-

took place March 4 in Chicago. The Voices in Your Head a ca-

fecting the a capella group’s performance.

pella group from Chicago University took first with 401 points,

“I think that we have had more time than in the past to sort of polish our set to perfection rather than past years in

closely followed by Amazin’ Blue from University of Michigan and Fundamentally Sound from University of Wisconsin.

which we’ve sort of been rushing to do preparation at the

Next in the lineup is the Southwest Semifinal at University

last second,” Smith said. “We’ve definitely had more time to

of California in Los Angeles. For a full schedule of upcoming

prepare.”

events and to purchase tickets, visit varsityvocals.com.

“It's cool to see that I am capable of this and that we as a group are capable of coming together and ” — Sophomore David Stowers

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 19

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

REACTING TO VIDEOGAMES BY BEN COOK

Digital Coordinator

The Nintendo Switch is a console unlike any other, and I’m not saying that because a Nintendo representative told me to. The Nintendo Switch is an experiment in gaming hardware, and it shows. The Switch pushes the limits of conventional design, but just like the 3DS, there are a lot of kinks Nintendo needs to refine before the experiment can be considered a success. The Switch is capable of what it’s advertised to do, but it’s the little details that hold it back. You’re probably thinking I’m disappointed with my purchase, but I can assure you, I have enjoyed every minute I’ve spent using this console. So, let’s get the negatives out of the way before I gush about “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” for 12 pages the editors will inevitably cut out. The Switch’s shortcomings are in no way detrimental, but a few of them come close. You can’t charge the console in kickstand mode, you can’t transfer saved data between consoles, the joy-con

controllers are coated in a cheap material that can’t withstand adhesives, attaching the wrist straps is overly complicated and the system currently lacks a web browser. But here’s the real kicker — the Nintendo Switch has a screen made of plastic, as opposed to the glass used in most smartphones. This means the screen is easier to scratch than most mobile devices. There have even been reports of the screen getting scratched after repeatedly taking the system in and out of the dock. All these issues combined make the Switch feel more like a prototype and less like a finished product. Having said this, I’ve still thoroughly enjoyed the time I’ve spent with the Nintendo Switch. The Switch offers a play experience unlike anything I’ve seen before. The versatility of the Switch is outstanding, and its launch titles, including “1-2 Switch” and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”, allow it to flex its muscles from day one. With the click of a few buttons, you can go from exploring Hyrule in the comfort of your bed to challenging your roommates in a myriad of high-energy party games. I’m still not sure if I should keep

my Switch in the living room, on my desk or in a portable case. Luckily, switching back and forth between these modes is easy and satisfying. The joy-cons slide into place on either side of the console with relative ease. You’ll know if you’ve pushed the joy-cons in all the way thanks to a pleasant, audible “click” made by a locking mechanism holding the joy-cons in place. The console’s “switching” gimmick works better than expected. I just wish the rest of the console was as well thought out. So the question stands — should you buy the Nintendo Switch right now? If you own a WiiU and you’re itching to play the latest installment of the “Legend of Zelda” — as you should be — I recommend picking up the WiiU version immediately. If you don’t have a WiiU, I recommend waiting a while. As it stands, there’s not enough software to warrant paying $300 for a console with so many glaring shortcomings. Many of these issues can be fixed with software updates, and I think we’ll see an updated version of the Switch sometime in the near future.

Throwback Thursday: Students compete for scholarships As we slide quickly into the middle of March, returning students turn their minds to scholarships. Whether it’s applying for the Truman Foundation Scholarships or renewing your scholarships with the University for another term, this is the time of the year to be mindful of exactly how to pay for another year of schooling. Most students would do just about anything for a scholarship check, but would they attend a bootcamp for $700 and the promise of an additional two years of tuition? In 1999, students had the chance to compete for scholarships in a leadership training camp called Camp Challenge, according to a September 23 issue of the Index. Camp Challenge was a five and a half week training course designed to be an intensive leadership training program. University students enrolled in the camp participated in a variety of competitions, earning points for successful completion of the competitions and for neatness of living. The students with the most points at the end of the summer were awarded one of the 350 available scholarships. During the first and second week of the camp, students filled out paperwork before moving onto phase two — Operation True Grit. This phase included activities such as rappelling off of helicopter skiffs and towers, swimming and weapons training. The third week was comprised of competitions such as basic rifle marksmanship, land navigation, water safety and leadership reaction. At the end of the camp, students were tested in a final Full Challenge lasting 40 hours where the participants carried out missions that used their newly learned skills. To be eligible for the camp, students had to pass a physical but did not have to be members of ROTC.

Art classes display student work

Photos by Johanna Burns/ TMN Above: Installment art and drawings in Ophelia Parrish showcase the work of students for the project “wI love you, man(kind).” Left: Senior Haley Johnson’s drawing hangs next to a cone with inspirational messages.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

EVENTS Alpha Chi Sigma Tie Dye 7-9 p.m. March 9 Magruder Hall 1025

Curtain Call Theatre Presents: Health Awareness Week March 21-27 See How They Run 7-9 p.m. March 2-11 Curtain Call Theatre 512 Elizabeth St.

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Alpha Chi Sigma will host a public tie dye event in Magruder Hall. It is $8 to tie dye or $15 to buy a T-shirt to tie dye.

Curtain Call Theatre will perform “See How They Run,” an English comedy in three acts. Viewers can look forward to a classic farce set in the mid-1940s.

Books That Will Make You Think

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“Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut. In his usual bitterly humorous way, Vonnegut asks readers to think about the dangers of having destructive technology at our fingertips. While this apocalyptic novel was written in the 1960s, it rings true today. “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. This novel paints a picture of a society that outlawed books and enforces this law with firefighters sent to burn down the homes of those who own and read books illegally.

The Nursing Student Association will showcase a health promotion topic during the week and teach the community how to better protect itself. This year’s theme is Think Safe, Drive Safe.

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“Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult. This early 2000s novel takes readers into the heart of a fictional small community right after a school shooting, and into the minds of the shooter himself, his bullies and the judge of the trial for the shooter’s case.

“The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver. The book switches socio-cultural perspectives by taking an American family and their white, racist, sexist values and putting them in Congo where they become the minority.

“Cat’s Eye” by Margaret Atwood. Atwood tells a thought provoking tale about a young girl’s journey through adolescence and her emotionally abusive and manipulative friends who hold a grip on her for the rest of her life.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

Swimming goes to NCAA national championships BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer

Seven Truman State University swimmers advanced to the Div. II National Swimming and Diving Championships, including one from the men’s team, junior Will Shanel, and six from the women’s team — sophomore Emma Barnett, juniors Kortney Betz and Nikki Sisson and seniors Allison Strickler, Evyn Spencer and Hannah Nicks. Juniors Jamie Fitzpatrick and Grace Fodor also punched their ticketS to the National meet to compete in relays. Spencer, a four-time National meet qualifier, said this meet is extremely bittersweet. Spencer said even though it is her fourth time being there, the awe of the experience of being around the top competition in Div. II hasn’t faded. Spencer said if you were to ask her when she first got to Truman if she

would make it to Nationals all four years, she would have considered it an unachievable goal. “A lot of hours have been spent in a pool in my lifetime,” Spencer said. “As sad as it is to think about being done, I am also very excited to close this chapter in my life and go after what’s next.” For this meet, Spencer said she would love to make top eight and be on the podium once again, but she said if that doesn’t happen, it’s okay. She said she has had more success as a swimmer than she could have dreamt of. Regardless of how her career finishes, Spencer said she is grateful to be accompanied by some of her best friends, who will be there to celebrate at the end of the day no matter the outcome. “For anyone to make this meet for one year is an honor — for Evyn to make it all four years is an amazing accomplishment and something she should be really proud of,” Head Coach Ed Pretre

said. “Evyn is an awesome competitor and is extremely tough.” Pretre, reigning GLVC Coach of the Year and fifth-year coach, said sending seven players to the National meet is a great accomplishment, and he is confident in this group to perform well and represent Truman on the national platform. Pretre said training prior to Nationals was focused and intense, but in a very positive environment. “[Assistant] Coach [Jerod] Simek and myself decided to really give them lots of rest for this meet,” Pretre said. Barnett — the youngest of the swimmers making the trip to Birmingham — said she personally tries to focus less on specific times and more on enjoying the experience of Nationals. Barnett said Truman has the competitive experience with a talented conference in the GLVC, but being able to compete against the fastest people in the nation is incredible because of

how hard it pushes the swimmers in each of their races. Barnett said this year is even more special because it is the festival year. A festival year happens only in Div. II and is different from other competitions because the NCAA creates an environment that mimics the Olympics. Barnett said winter sports, track, wrestling and swimming are all competing within the same complex and have an opening ceremony that includes lounges for all the athletes to mingle and embrace the experience. Barnett said outside of the pool, everyone at Nationals is outgoing and friendly, so she’s able to meet a lot of new people. She said she enjoys the opportunity to see some incredibly fast swim times, which Barnett said really inspired her to establish new goals after last year. The National meet kicked off March 8 and will last through March 11 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.

Photos submitted by Kurt Rahe Left: Sophomore Emma Barnett competes in the 500 free at the GLVC Championship meet just under a month ago. Barnett is the youngest Truman swimmer to compete at the Div. II Swimming and Diving National Championships this year, and will swim the 200 back, 500 free and 1000 free. Right: Junior Kortney Betz competes in the 400 IM at the GLVC Championships. Betz will also represent Truman in the 500 free at Nationals.

Barmettler aims for consistency during spring half BY JEREMY JACOB Staff Writer

Truman State University junior golfer Nicolle Barmettler has been seeking more than just low scores on the course. She also trains for consistency in a game of ups and downs. From afar, fans can look at Barmettler’s scores from her first two and a half years and conclude that she already has it. In her first 23 competitions, Barmettler posted the top team score in 22 of them, culminating in her solo appearance at the NCAA regional last year — the first Truman golfer to qualify for the regional since alumna Katie Spangler in 2008. Nevertheless, Barmettler said she can be even better. “It is a very frustrating game sometimes,” Barmettler said. “That’s what keeps me coming back.” Barmettler said her fall performance left her feeling unsatisfied. Her average round score last year was 78.8 through 21 rounds. This year, her score is 79.4 through 10 rounds. Barmettler said she practices putting the most because that is the area where she can save the most strokes. She said it has always been the weak point of her

game, so she tries to visualize the ball going in before each attempt. She said having more confidence would help her find her short stroke and consistency. “Golf requires a lot of mental strength, so positivity and confidence is a huge part of the game,” Barmettler said. Head Coach Clint Fitzpatrick said as a high school athlete, Barmettler already had a rare positive attitude that would help her recover quicker from bad rounds. Of course, he looked at Barmettler’s stellar scores, but he said her desirable attitude is what made her a can’t-miss recruit three years ago. “It’s hard to look at her and see whether she’s having a bad round or a good round,” Fitzpatrick said. Truman hired Fitzpatrick to fill an unexpected vacancy when longtime coach Sam Lesseig — the Bulldogs’ only coach since 1985 — passed away in 2013. Lesseig was instrumental in launching the program and was also speaking with Barmettler about coming to Truman. After his passing, Fitzpatrick said Barmettler’s commitment was up in the air. Fitzpatrick said he realized convincing Barmettler to join the program was a huge

priority. He said calling Barmettler was one of his first tasks as the new head coach. With Barmettler on the team, Fitzpatrick said she has been invaluable from a performance standpoint — her score has been counted at every event she played — and most importantly, from a leadership standpoint. While Barmettler isn’t a vocal leader, he said, she is still a dedicated player who leads by example. Oftentimes, Fitzpatrick uses her as an example of somebody the other women on the team can model themselves after. “I don’t think we can put into words what she means to this team,” Fitzpatrick said. Barmettler’s dedication doesn’t surprise her sister and assistant coach Kim Barmettler in the slightest. The Bulldog bloodline began with Kim Barmettler when she competed for Truman from 2012 to 2016. Kim Barmettler said she saw this as they were playing together in high school and at Truman when Nicolle Barmettler would refine her game almost every day. She said their friendly sibling rivalry translates to the rest of the women on the team. “She would push me to be better, and I would try to push her too,” Kim Barmettler said.

Nice, large

Kim Barmettler said her younger sister seriously entertained the idea of joining her at Truman after visiting one summer and watching her play in one of her tournaments. She said having a connection to home away from home was important to Nicolle Barmettler in her decision. Kim Barmettler said playing with and coaching her sister gives Nicolle Barmettler someone familiar to lean on and someone familiar with her swing to offer advice and critique. She said her sister asks her to take videos of her swing to analyze later. For the most part, Kim Barmettler said she has the utmost confidence in Nicolle Barmettler to let her coach herself and make adjustments needed during tournaments. Prior bad rounds and even back surgery during her sophomore year of high school hasn’t deterred Nicolle Barmettler in her search for consistency. She said she hopes Nicolle Barmettler and the rest of the team place high in the standings in their first three events starting next weekend so Nicolle Barmettler won’t be alone this year at the regional. “We’re a lot stronger last year and this year than we’ve been in a while,” Kim Barmettler said.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

SOFTBALL | The Truman State University softball team swept its competition this week, outscoring opponents 36-0. The ‘Dogs also swept this week’s GLVC Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. Continued from page 10 Brown said when players are getting hits and getting on base it takes some pressure off the pitchers and defense. Truman softball saw rewards for its week of successes, sweeping the GLVC Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. The GLVC recognized senior catcher Lex Van Nostrand and sophomore pitcher Lauren Dale. Van Nostrand hit .500 this week, scoring three runs, two doubles, one home run and seven RBIs. Dale went 2-0 in the pitching circle, accounting for 12 innings. During these innings there were no runs scored, and nine batters were dismissed by strikeout. Next up, the ‘Dogs will be facing some regional competition in Florida. They play eight different teams during the course of four days. Brown said these will be key games to potentially give someone the go-ahead in the post season. “Every game will be hard,” Brown said. “We just have to keep doing what we focused on this week in preparation so we can just play these games and be prepared for all these different opponents.” Van Nostrand said the games will be crucial, but being in nice weather will be helpful. “The focus for Florida is [to] win,” Van Nostrand said. “It is going to be so nice down there ... who doesn’t like playing softball in 80 degree weather when around here the norm is 50?” The ‘Dogs left Kirksville yesterday for the Sunshine State’s National Training Center. Truman will play Ashland University at 2:30 p.m. March 10.

UPCOMING EVENTS MEN’S BASKETBALL 3/11: 2:30 p.m. vs. Ferris State University Louisville, Ky.

SOFTBALL 3/10: 2:30 p.m. vs. Ashland University, Clermont, Fl. 5 p.m. vs. Hillsdale College, Clermont, Fl. 3/11: 12 p.m. vs. Northwood University 2:30 p.m. vs. Le Moyne, Clermont, Fl. 3/13: 9:30 a.m. vs. Auburn University at Montgomery, Clermont, Fl. 12 p.m. vs. Southern Connecticut State, Clermont, Fl. 3/14 12 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls University Clermont, Fl. 2:30 p.m. vs. Ohio Dominican University, Clermont, Fl. Photo submitted by Sonam Wagnal

A Truman State University infielder tosses the ball around the infield during a chilly March day in

BASEBALL 3/11: 12 p.m. vs. Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD 2:30 p.m. vs. Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD 3/12 12 p.m. vs. Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD 3 p.m. vs. Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD 3/14: 1 p.m. vs. Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo.

TRACK AND FIELD 3/11 – 3/12: NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, Birmingham, Al.

SWIMMING 3/9 – 3/11 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Birmingham, Al

GOLF 3/13 Buccaneer Spring Classic Germantown, Tn.

Photo submitted by Sonam Wagnal

3/14 Buccaneer Spring Classic Germantown, Tn.

A Truman State University baserunner slides toward third base during a March 1 game against Wayne State College. Truman outscored Wayne State 17-0 in the doubleheader.

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SPORTS

‘Dogs earn historic bid to Div. II National Tournament THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

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BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer

After an eye-catching run and upset win against Southern Indiana University in the GLVC Tournament, Truman State University men’s basketball lost to Lewis University 85-75 in the semifinal round. The Bulldogs’ season is not yet finished. The men held onto seventh place in the Midwest Region, sending the ‘Dogs dancing to the NCAA Div. II National Tournament for the first time since 2006. The opening round will place the purple and white against Ferris State University Saturday. Head Coach Chris Foster said the team’s tournament berth had long been a goal for the program, and he said because of that, even graduated players had a hand in the building process to make this dream come true. Foster said, historically, the team has had some issues getting into postseason play, and it was an obstacle the players had to get over. He said it was vindicating to finally reach the NCAA Tournament and see that the program is doing all the right things to make Truman a postseason competitor. Foster said a lot of the team’s success has been in overcoming adversity. He said all players on the team have been doing their part — the younger players have been relieving the many injured starters, the upperclassmen have taken a leadership role on the team, and the injured players continue to cheer on the team or even play despite their injuries. “We’ve got some depth, and we’ve been able to overcome injuries and sicknesses as we’ve come down the stretch because the next man just steps in and does their job to help us,” Foster said. “For the time being, we need to rest up and keep healthy. [Sophomore guard] Jake [Velky] is still nursing his ankle, and [sophomore guard] Nate [Messer] just came off hand surgery … We aren’t used to having a week-long break between games, so we need to use this time to make sure we’re rested up and at 100 percent for Saturday.” Messer said since breaking his hand about four weeks ago, he has had to sit out most of the team’s games, and he said because of this he is excited to get back into the lineup on Saturday. Messer said the team has shown a lot of determination this season, and has battled through what he calls the

Photo submitted by Sonam Wagnal Redshirt senior guard Cory Myers looks for an open teammate in the Bulldogs’ final home contest against Quincy University. Myers was named to the 2017 GLVC All-Tournament team last week. Myers averaged 28.7 points in the ‘Dogs three tournament matches. toughest schedule in the region. He said winning against Ferris State on Saturday will come down to “the little things” on offense and defense — getting multiple defensive stops in a row, capitalizing on offense and keeping a positive outlook. “I think [Ferris State] is a good matchup for us,” Messer said. “I think it’ll be an interesting experience playing someone we haven’t played all season … A lot of our conference’s teams made it to the tournament, so I think it’ll be a nice change of pace to play someone else.” Assistant coach Mike Annese said the team has worked hard to get so far this season, and has certainly earned its spot in the tournament. Annese said, at the moment, the Bulldogs are reviewing film from their own games and Ferris’ games. “We mainly need to stick to what we’ve done in the past and move on from there,” Annese said. “This game’s going to be about our players coming together to get it done. They’ve worked hard all year, and they’re going to finish it as a team.”

Softball hits stride at home

Photo Submitted by Sonam Wagnal Redshirt senior forward Connor Erickson goes one-on-one with a defender to get to the hoop during a game earlier this season. Erickson will end his career at the Div. II National tournament after the ‘Dogs earned their first national playoff bid since 2006.

GLVC SWEEP For the second time in program history, the Truman softball program claimed honors for GLVC Player and Pitcher of the Week.

BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer

Truman State University softball defeated the University of Central Missouri in a double header March 4. The Bulldogs won 13-0 in the first game by the ten-run rule and 6-0 in the second game. This is their fourth straight win and shutout, outscoring their opponents 36-0 in those combined games. The team is now 10-8 and preparing for their Spring Break trip to Florida. Junior outfielder Riley Cook said the team hopes to carry this momentum and said the weekend shutouts give the Bulldogs much-needed confidence below the .500 mark. “We’ve been focusing on the things each individual can do each inning or each at bat to have success, and that has been really beneficial,” Cook said. “Our confidence as a team is high right now so we just need to keep rolling.” Head Coach Erin Brown said she was very impressed with the pitchers this week. They did not give up a single run in the four-game stretch — performances like that don’t happen too often, Brown said. She said the pitchers were backed by a steady defense that stepped up and made some key plays to get them out of innings. Offensively, she said the girls executed what they had worked on — hitting the ball more solidly. See SOFTBALL, page 9 VOLUME 108

ISSUE 19

tmn.truman.edu

GLVC Pitcher of the Week Sophomore pitcher Lauren Dale earned her first GLVC recognition as she gave up no runs in her 12 innings pitched last week. Dale gave up just seven hits while delivering nine strikeouts and holding the opponents’ batting average to .163.

GLVC Player of the Week Senior catcher Lex Van Nostrand went 6-for-12 at the plate last week to hit .500 for the Bulldogs. Among her six hits, Van Nostrand had two doubles, one home run and drove in seven runs. Van Nostrand is now tied for ninth in Bulldog history for runs batted in with 106 on her career.

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