Merged (4)

Sports

Features

Opinions

Kirksville woman with terminal illness owns bakery in town

Korbin Keller discusses freedom of religion

Transfer shooting guard adds maturity to men’s team

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

EXCELLENCE SINCE 1909

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-PRODUCED NEWSPAPER

tmn.truman.edu

City considers new sales tax

By Kayla Perkins Staff Writer

On Jan. 18, The Kirksville City Council voted to include a half percent sales tax increase proposal on the ballot for April elections.

If the sales tax passes in April, there will be a projected revenue of $1.2 million dedicated to park systems. With these funds, as well as funds already available through revenue generated from parks and money received from capital improvement, the total annual budget for park systems would be about $1.5 million for the year.

For the municipal election, Kirksville citizens will have the option to vote to increase sales tax by half a percent to go toward the maintenance, improvement and beautification of Kirksville parks.

The areas maintained by Kirksville Parks and Recreation include Brashear Park, Jaycee Park, McKinney Park, Memorial Park, North Park Complex, Patryla Park, P. C. Mills Park, Rotary Park, Hazel Creek Lake, Forest Lake and Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery.

Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said the city council has master plans to maintain and improve parks, as well as tree maintenance plans and hike/bike/trail plans.

Young said the Parks and Rec department currently has about $60,000 a year for capital improvement. Existing needs of all Kirksville parks amount to $2,860,020 anually.

Young said this excludes the new aquatic center the city hopes to install, which alone will cost between $4 and $7 million.

Young said with the current amount of money the city receives from capital improvement it would take the city between 114 and 164 years to carry out all parts of the current plan, including the construction of the new aquatic center. Young said this would not include additional maintenance parks would need past the maintenance needed right now.

Young said the hope is that all existing master plans for the parks in Kirksville, including the new aquatic center, will take about 15 years.

Young said if the sales tax increase is passed, shoppers in Kirksville will pay a bit more in taxes than they do currently.

Young said, for example, if a shopper spends $100, they will pay an addition $0.50 in sales tax. Young said $250 spent would result in an additional $1.25 in sales tax, according to the reading supplement provided to City Council. Young said a shopper spending $500 will pay an additional $2.50 in sales tax.

City Clerk Robyn Snyder read the language of the ballot.

The 2017 municipal elections are April 4.

Photo by Spencer Foust/TMN Mainstreet Market’s revenue has decreased in profits roughly $7,000 since its new renovations. However, despite the decrease in SUB profits since the addition of Chik-fil-A shown above and other dining options, C-Store profits have increase by $20,000.

Mainstreet Market profits suffer while C-Stores flourish

By Spencer Foust Staff Writer

After its first semester with a new layout, Truman State University’s Mainstreet Market has seen a dip in profits while the campus convenience stores have flourished.

Truman Sodexo General Manager Lora Cunningham and Dave Rector, vice president of Administration, Finance and Planning confirmed that in comparison to previous semesters, dining in the SUB is down roughly $7,000. With such a large decrease in profit, one might be skeptical about the success rate of the food court.

During the transformation, Sodexo removed all aspects of the grocery store theme from Mainstreet Market leaving the area for food purchasing and dining only.

Before renovations, Mainstreet Market was laid out as a mixture of a cafeteria and a grocery store. You could find many kinds of foods in the Student Union Building — from a jug of orange juice to a 12-pack of soda to a cheeseburger and fries.

On Jan. 13, 2016, a fryer fire destroyed the kitchen of Mainstreet Market’s The Original Burger, a popular burger and fries restaurant. The destruction caused no injuries, but did cause enough damage to ensure a full-scale renovation, Rector said.

Rector said Truman’s contract with Sodexo allows for any surplus of money made from the dining facilities to be invested back into those services. This surplus fund is normally used to renovate dining halls, such as the million-dollar renovations of Centennial Hall and Ryle Hall’s dining halls in years past. Truman was able to use this surplus fund to renovate Mainstreet Market after its fire.

Though Rector had previously said there were renovations planned for Missouri Hall’s dining hall by Summer of 2018, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens’ budget cuts might affect that plan.

The renovation created a new dining atmosphere in the Student Union, which Cunningham said was meant to emulate a traditional food court.

From what was once comparable to a supermarket space came restaurants — Chick-Fil-A, Mein Bowl, Wholly Habaneros and Slice of Life.

“To compare the new and old model right now is apples and oranges, really,” Cunningham said. “It might as well have been a separate place with all the extra groceries taken out of it.”

Since the change, the profits from the convenience stores in Dobson Hall and West Campus Suites have increased roughly $20,000 from last school year. When looking at the $7,000 deficit that Mainstreet Mar-

ket is enduring, the increased profits from the convenience stores make up nearly three times that much.

Cunningham said she was confident in Mainstreet Market’s first semester, saying the dip was expected and the C-Store’s success was a pleasant side effect.

Cunningham said with these new food choices on campus, students have more options for the food Sodexo believes they enjoy, aiming to satisfy their most common food choices — chicken, Asian, Mexican and pizza.

Some students, like junior Stephanie Mossinghoff, said they think there are fewer people visiting the Market than in semesters prior.

“I used to eat there on occasion,” Mossinghoff said. “Since the renovation, though, everything feels a lot more expensive. It costs two meal blocks to get a piece of pizza that’s essentially the same as the kind in the dining halls.”

It would seem there are some, like Mossinghoff, who especially miss the choice of eating a burger in Mainstreet Market.

“It’s just sad, because the one place I consistently ate at the most was The Original Burger, and now there’s a Chick-fil-A there,” Mossinghoff said.

Three cases of Missing child found in Greentop mumps confirmed on

By Rachel Fechter

News Text Editor index.newseditor@gmail.com

An eight-year-old girl dressed in a pink and white long sleeved shirt and black leggings was reported missing by her father on Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. from their residence at Devlin Place Complex.

As the evening grew colder and darker, the Kirksville Police Department eventually found the girl around 7 p.m. at a relative’s house in Greentop, Missouri, in Adair County about 11 miles north of Kirksville.

The relative called KPD and informed them the girl was at their house.

KPD Deputy Cheie Steve Farnsworth said the girl was not abducted from her home and KPD has found nothing suspicious in their investigation about the girl’s home life.

Farnsworth said the KPD is still investigating how exactly the girl made it to Greentop. Farnsworth said there are many different reasons a child might leave their home without their parent or guardian being aware.

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 15

“Sometimes, kids get in trouble, and they’re punished, so they leave,” Farnsworth said. “If parents are divorced and one wants to live with mom or one wants to live with dad, they take off that way. Nine times out of ten, they’re with their friend or something, but we don’t take it like that. When a child is missing, from a police standpoint we have to look at the case and say ‘what if someone did abduct the kid?’”

Farnsworth said different agencies in the community came together to help find the missing girl.

“We had people from the sheriff ’s department, the highway patrol, the ambulance department,” Farnsworth said. “We tried to get it out to the media. We [broke] up neighborhoods for people to start looking in. We had witnesses calling and saying ‘hey, I’ve seen her at this location [and] she was walking.’”

Farnsworth said KPD will do a routine follow-up with family services regarding the girl and her family.

tmn.truman.edu

Truman’s campus

By Ben Cook

Digital Coordinator

Brenda Higgins, Student Health Center Director, reported Tuesday three confirmed cases of mumps among students on campus in an email sent to students and faculty.

The health center is also in the process of evaluating six other potential cases of mumps.

Higgins said people who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are nine times less likely to get mumps than people who are not vaccinated, according to the email.

However, those who have received vaccinations are still able to contract the disease, especially if they have prolonged contact with someone who has mumps.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and significant, painful swelling of the parotid glands around the ear and jaw.

www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork

In recent years there has been a decrease in confirmed cases of mumps, but cases of mumps can still emerge in densely populated areas such as university campuses.

“Prior to 1967 and mumps vaccination, mumps was a universal disease of childhood, but since the vaccination became widespread, there has been more than a 99 percent decrease in mumps cases in the US,” Higgins said. “However, outbreaks do occur — especially in places where people have prolonged, close contact, such as universities.”

Higgins said Truman State University’s campus has not seen a case of mumps in recent years but the University of Missouri saw more than 300 cases of mumps last semester, which could have been the origin of the initial contact.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described by the CDC, contact the Student Health Center at 660-785-4182 or contact your medical provider. @TrumanMediaNet

© 2017

2

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Pre-Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Club has informational meeting

CORRECTION A letter to the editor from last week on page 4 — titled “Orwellian” and submitted

by Xavier O’Brien — originally appeared in a post on Reddit. O’Brien’s submission seemed to mirror most of the content from the Reddit post. We apologize for not noticing this error before publication.

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

The Student Representative to the Board of Governors said Board of Governors members met this weekend and discussed budget cuts. The representative also told the Senate the presidential search project is continuing as planned.

The Senate is a planning a “March for Science” on Earth Day.

Photo by Hannah Conner/TMN

The Senate is preparing for “Truman Day at the Capitol,” an event where Truman student government members visit Jefferson City and interact with government officials. This event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Magruder Hall printer petition has been in circulation for about one week now and the Senate plans to attach a resolution to it soon.

Top: The Pre-Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Club met Feb. 7 in the Pershing Building.

Left: Health and Exercise Sciences professor Roberta Donahue spoke during the meeting about articulation agreements.

Bottom: Senior Hanna Slossom, Pre-Physical Therapy Club President, and junior Maggie Farrand, Pre-PT/OT Club vice president, discuss the club’s plans for next semester.

The Senate had a first read for a resolution supporting the placement of a suicide prevention hotline phone number on student identification cards.

CITY COUNCIL IN BRIEF

Photo by Hannah Conner/TMN

The Council approved a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Council approved a resolution to extend Kraft Heinz Company’s Project Exemption Certificate to June 30, 2017, meaning Kraft Heinz can purchase construction materials tax free until that date in June.

The Council approved the purchase of a 2017 John Deere 4052R tractor from Sydenstricker Farm & Lawn.

The Council approved the reappointment of Bill Castles to the Historic Preservation Commission.

Photo by Hannah Conner/TMN

The Council approved the purchase of a 2017 Takeuchi TB290 excavator with attachments from Luby Equipment Services.

CRIME REPORTS DPS & KPD

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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 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

2/6 Vandalism reported at the 900 block 2/4 Theft reported at the 1500 block of N. of N. Centennial St. Green St. 2/6 Hit and run reported at the 2200 block 2/4 Harassment reported at the 1500 of N. Baltimore St. block of N. Green St. 2/6 Fraud reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Dr.

2/4 Property damage reported at the 200 block of W. Hickory St.

2/6 Theft reported at the 600 block of W. 1/29 Minor in possession visibly Scott St. intoxicated at the 1100 block of S. Mulanix St. 2/6 Theft reported at the 1600 block of N. Green St. 1/28 Theft reported at the 1300 block of S. High St. 2/5 Shoplifting reported at the 500 block of S. Franklin St. 1/25 Property damage reported at the 600 block of S. Halliburton St.

Mark your calendar University Swingers Aerials Workshop 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Feb. 11 Kirk Gym

Jack O’ Hearts Scholarship Ball 7:13 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Feb. 11 SUB Activities Room

Join the University Swingers in a workshop The Zeta Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma where they will teach those who attend how Theta sorority will host this ball. The ball to do swing dancing moves that require is to highlight talented, intelligent, and airlifts. No dance experience is needed to handsome young men at Truman. attend the workshop.

3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Religious freedom is still a struggle

Korbin Keller The United States is fortunate to have been one of the first modern nations to recognize the importance of the freedom of religion. Faith is the foundation on which we build our lives — faith in a god, faith in the church or temple, faith in defining principles, faith in reason — the choice of belief system is central in determining what we stand for.

In America, we are fortunate to be able to choose our belief system — in a god, in multiple gods, in no god, or in a flying spaghetti monster, we are able to choose without fear of persecution.

It is because of these freedoms that it might be easy to forget that the freedom of religion is an exception, not the rule. For a large part of the world, the choice of faith is a choice that can bring ruin to people and their families. Many governments around the globe see religion as an opposing force — it can teach people to put their faith in things unseen, rather than a tyrant. Furthermore, some tenets of religion can directly challenge the tenets of a government. Daoism in China, for example, teaches that government should be restrained and limited. This directly challenges the message pushed by the Communist Party, which states the government should have direct control over the lives of its citizens.

Religious institutions around the world face persecution or censorship. Sometimes, a religious message has to be approved and edited by the government — essentially watering down a message until it is a perversion of itself. In other nations, certain faiths are outright banned, and their practitioners face imprisonment or death for their actions.

Perhaps no religion faces persecution on a global scale like that of the Christian church. I won’t say that there is a “war on Christianity” in the United States — in fact, acting like there is a “war on Christians” here cheapens what an actual war on Christians looks like abroad. Former Secretary of State John Kerry declared that ISIS was waging a genocidal war on Christians in Iraq and Syria, while the Gordon-Conwell Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that, on average, 90,000 Christians have been martyred for their faith annually since 2005. In nations such as Iran and North Korea, Christian ministers are regularly jailed by the government. Another example of state-sponsored persecution around the globe include Falun Gong in China. In fact, Falun Gong practitioners claim that thousands of believers are imprisoned by the Chinese government, and there are even reports of human organ harvesting being performed on these prisoners. Reports on these activities have been published by sources such as the Epoch Times, an independent Chinese news source published by practitioners of Falun Gong. Furthermore, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu points toward global Jewish persecution as a sign of a lack of religious tolerance in many parts of the world, while at the same time, many point to President Trump’s current travel ban as targeting Muslims. Even at home, we have to remain vigilant to make sure these freedoms do not erode. As it can be seen, principles, values, belief and faith are what give meaning to life. The martyrdom of believers even shows that their faith and standing by their principles was more important to them than their very lives.

It seems that religious tolerance is shrinking in the world, but we should do more in promotion of it. It can start here at home — discovering the various belief systems around the world gives a fascinating insight into the soul of humanity. Most importantly, we cannot take religious freedom for granted. Several organizations exist for the promotion of international religious freedom — the International Association for Religious Freedom, the International Religious Liberty Association, Forum 18, and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty are all focused on mobilizing people and resources toward the promotion of religious freedom. In the United States, religious attendance and association might be on the decline, but even though not all of us are “men of the cloth,” we should not take this freedom for granted and stand up for it at every opportunity. Not all of us are journalists, but we still value freedom of the press. Not all of us are undergoing a criminal investigation, but we still value civil liberties. Not even all of us vote, but I don’t think anyone takes for granted the people’s right to vote.

So giving time, resources or commitment to organizations that promote religious liberty will be well spent. The ability to decide our own belief systems is essential for liberty, free will and harmony.

Dear Index, With regards to the lead letter, published by L. Seidel last week [Jan. 26], I have no problem, as also an anti-Trump community activist, with verifiably ¾ of it’s content. I would indeed go far much further than her in her laudable warning against the “irrationality” of much we are already witnessing. When a key Trump advisor talks the Orwellian language of “alternative facts,” to defend Trump’s press secretary’s risible diminution of former president Obama’s inauguration numbers to boast Trump’s alleged higher inaugural attendance, we are surely all entering the proverbial lunatic asylum of Victorian imagination.

However, I and a lot of other people, I assure her, are mystified and wonder whether Linda Seidel can clarify the meaning of her last, very odd paragraph. In which she takes it upon herself to state one reason American dissidents for Trump should stay here in the USA itself and fight the good fight is because America’s imperial might can get you “anywhere!” Oh, oh, what insularity!

When I read this, I started thinking comparatively of a recent Democracy Now! exchange on Free Speech US TV. In which my Canadian scholar counterpart, the anti-capitalist writer authoress Naomi Klein, was “politely” ignored. When she dared to critique her lady and fellow American left-wing panelists by pointing out that Donald Trump’s unfortunately effective campaign to buy goods with the label “made in America” was not only ultra-nationalistic, but had in Klein’s words, piercingly, a US origin “I didn’t like at the time.”

In other words, the original good American labor opposition to NAFTA, and so on, was used even by the American left in an anti-foreign countries or diminishing way of meaning. As an immigrant, I must say this is sadly the case and is a major problem for those of us in the world’s left wing movements. In that, the US ultra-left often mimics the insularity of the US right. So Klein’s point was listened to, but completely and rudely ignored, by her panelists, even the usually excellent Amy Goodman.

This is important, as Klein and I too are to warn our US, especially institutionally affiliated, and thus economically well off counterparts, that it feeds into Trump and the ultra-nationalistic agenda. Klein, for example, like me is an active member of Canada’s New Democrats as I am of British Labor, and we know that anti-Trump working class people can suffer if wild worries and

misleading statements are made by the well-off left wing ivory tower set here in America.

So, can I put to Dr. Seidel the record more accurately, as it presently stands, especially after a week in which Trump has literally closed down many American embassies abroad, such as my own one in London’s Grosvenor Square. No, Trump cannot get you, American dissidents, necessarily, if you choose to work or move abroad in your dissent. You are still safe abroad, Dr. Seidel. Indeed, thousands of US citizens and green card holders moved to Canada and Europe, especially Sweden and Holland, in the 1960s and 70s anti-war years, because of their opposition inside America to Vietnam, making them targets of repression herein. Canada’s first liberal, former Prime Minister Trudeou, incurred Nixon’s roth indeed, by his such protective of American dissidents program. His son, the second PM of Canada, has also welcomed American explicitly dissidents from Trump similarly, even before Trump was inaugurated. Finally, if you take out second-citizenship to your American own, in Australia, with its powerful labor movement, or New Zealand, with its Green own equivalent, Trump would encounter further obstacles in trying to deport you or silence you.

In conclusion, misstatements do not help, because resistance abroad, by Americans, is absolutely crucial, as the half-British half-American actress Rebecca Hall pointed out in her Trafalger Square speech last week but one, to the march on London of over 100,000 women and others in solidarity with your own march, Dr. Siedel, on Washington D.C. Indeed, if we are to ever defeat this awful, quasi-fascist Trump administration, and its global equivalents rising in Britain, France, and Germany, be they Brexiteers or whatever they call themselves, we need global solidarity, not insular-minded Americans of any political persuasion. You see, we’ve got to the present mess because Trump relies upon the unpleasant fact that most Americans, alas uniquely among Western democracies, statistically do not have foreign passports, and have not even traveled to Canada for a recreational tour. Insularity is a hallmark of fascism everywhere.

Yours sincerely, Larry Iles

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

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4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

City prepares for Arts Center demolition

By Nicolas Telep Staff Writer

The demolition process for the Kirksville Arts Center has begun, but the Kirksville Arts Association and other groups who used the building for event space show no signs of slowing down.

Plans called for the demolition of the building near The Square to begin on Wednesday Feb. 8, with A&D Construction, a California, Missouribased LLC, being contracted to handle the project.

The Arts Association has set up shop in a space formerly occupied by U.S. Cellular at the corner of Baltimore and LaHarpe streets. An art exhibit about Abraham Lincoln is currently on display in the gallery there. The loss of the Arts Center had a major impact on the Arts Association and also affected other groups that used the space. However, the Arts Association is far from inactive and is continuing programs with plans for the future.

Linda Treasure, president of the Kirksville Arts Association, said depending on the weather, the demolition of the Arts Center building should be mostly completed within the next month. Treasure said the cause of the fire that destroyed the 107-year-old building was not determined, but there is a strong possibility it was an electrical fire because some of the building’s wiring was original.

Treasure said finding the right contractor was key to a successful demolition, and she was confident the contractor set to demolish the building was comfortable working around existing structures at

the site. Treasure said a survey would be sent out to Arts Association members asking about what they want from the Arts Association in the future under a grant from the Missouri Arts Council. She said the Association plans on hosting additional community input meetings to find out what kinds of programs the community is interested in. She said once the Kirksville Arts Association is able to determine what the community wants, it will be easier to determine what kind of building would suit the community’s needs.

“We’re really interested in what the community wants,” said Treasure.

She added that people might be content with just having a gallery, or might want more workshops or performances. Treasure said the Arts Association had insurance on the building, but there was no way to be certain of the total financial burden to the Association at this time. She said they would have a better idea once it was determined what kind of space they wanted.

“Everything is on the table,” Treasure said, “No option has been ruled out.”

She said the Arts Association is considering building a new building, renovating an existing one, and moving to a location other than downtown. Treasure also said the long-running afterschool arts workshop at Ray Miller Elementary School “Invitation to the Arts” would continue, as would other community programs like Summer on The Square and the Red Barn Art Festival. She also said there are other exhibits planned in the gallery

at Baltimore and LaHarpe streets for the coming months. Treasure said the greatest loss in the fire was the quilt display that had just been hung in the building the previous day.

“Many, many hours of work and love was put into those quilts, and they were destroyed,” she said. “As far as a building, we can come back, maybe, with something nicer, something that will serve our needs even better, but we’ll never replace those quilts.”

In addition to the quilts, Treasure said that membership lists and artist rosters that were stored on a laptop and a USB drive were lost in the fire as well.

Fortunately, Treasure had copies of member lists from the past three years and a copy of the Arts Association history at her home. She said a list of destroyed and lost items is being compiled.

Damon Pee, program advisor for Organizational Engagement and Leadership, said there was a relationship between Truman Greek Life and the Arts Center. Sororities used the space for events during their four-day fall recruitment season. Pee said the Greek Week committee chose the Arts Center as their local philanthropy. He said the committee was planning to not only donate money, but also create artwork to display in the Arts Center. However, since the committee learned the building was being demolished and not restored, they have chosen a different local philanthropy. Nonetheless, Pee said he thought there would be organizations willing to step up and volunteer with a rebuilding project, were it to happen.

“I know our Greeks are always looking for handson projects to follow up with,” Pee said.

Left: The Kirksville Arts Center awaits demolition after a fire heavily damaged the building on the evening of December 2, 2016. Murals on the south side of the building, as well as other works of art that were built into the structure, have been removed while demolition equipment was moved in.

Bottom: A singed piece of sheet music that had been property of the Kirksville Community Chorus was recovered from the Kirksville Arts Center. The Kirksville Chorus lost a lot of their sheet music which has made practices and performances more difficult.

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN

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5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

BY JESSICA SHULTZ Staff Writer

S

tepping over the threshold of Kirksville’s To Die For Bakery, customers are transported back to fond memories of their grandmother’s kitchen. The sweet aroma of banana nut muffins permeates the air and awakens the senses.

What many people don’t realize when they enter the tiny shop, located just off The Square on Washington Street, is the cleverly named bakery fulfills a lifelong dream for one Kirksville resident.

Opening a bakery had always been a childhood dream for Tari Glaspie, To Die For Bakery owner, and May 2, 2014, she and three employees celebrated the bakery’s grand opening.

Glaspie said her love of baking started when she was a young girl learning to cook in her mother’s kitchen. She said many things she knows about baking were things she learned from her mother. Glaspie said she appreciated that her mother encouraged her to be creative and not worry if the kitchen got a little bit messy during the cooking process.

“We always made good food but not always pretty food,” Glaspie said.

Glaspie said what started out as a hobby when she was a child eventually turned into much more.

Glaspie said even though her mother mainly enjoyed cooking meals, her mother would also bake birthday cakes, cookies, pies and muffins from scratch because her mother knew how much she and her siblings enjoyed eating the treats, especially after school.

“I was a baker in training my whole life ,starting with learning how to bake from my mom,” Glaspie said.

It was during graduate school that Glaspie learned to appreciate exotic flavors and cooking techniques.

While there, she said she developed friendships with international students. Glaspie said she was happy to meet international students because she learned about the types of foods they ate and the ingredients that went into their foods.

“When I learned how to bake, I never went to school for it — my mother and international friends taught me about baking techniques and baking ingredients,” Glaspie said.

Glaspie said growing up her favorite flavor for desserts was, and still is, pistachio. Graduate school opened up a whole new world of flavors, though. She started to gather different ingredients to make her desserts, muffins, breads, pies and scones while teaching her international friends how to make American foods.

Glaspie said the journey to the realization of her childhood dream was not “all peaches and cream.”

When Glaspie was in her 20s, her father had a heart attack. She chose to care for him dur-

Photo by Hannah Conner/ TMN

ing his recuperation, which necessitated Glaspie moving to St. Louis to be closer to him.

However, Glaspie said she continued to develop her baking ambitions. She said she enjoys taking one of her old recipes and altering it in some way. Through this technique, she has created confections like tea bread, bacon cheddar bread and cheesy soda bread.

While Glaspie was in her 30s, she was working in the Department of Film and Television for PBS in Warrensburg, Missouri, when she was confronted with health problems.

While working for PBS, she was diagnosed with and beat breast cancer. However, when she turned 33 years old, she was diagnosed with cancer again — only this time, her prognosis was not as positive as before. She was diagnosed with a terminal form of Stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, an incurable form of cancer that attacks the body’s immune system. The doctors told her she had 20 more years to live.

See BAKERY, page 6

Photo by Hannah Conner/ TMN

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 15

tmn.truman.edu

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@TrumanMediaNet

© 2017

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

REACTING TO MOVIES

BY JOHANNA BURNS Managing Editor

I was supposed to be working on my homework. In fact, when I sat down to my computer, I fully intended to work on my homework — I promise.

But then, through no fault of my own, I somehow found myself browsing through the list of available movies on Amazon Prime. A scant minute later I was settling to watch “Love & Friendship,” obligatory cup of tea and cozy blanket present, without having consciously decided to watch a movie. I’m sure you’ve all found yourself in similar situations. Don’t lie.

As a self-proclaimed Austenite, the phrase “Jane Austen film adaptation” is guaranteed to send me into fits of ear-shattering glee. I’ll admit that from the get-go. When I heard an adaptation of Jane Austen’s epistolary novel “Lady Susan” was in the works, I was excited. After watching the adaptation, “Love & Friendship,” I can definitively say my expectations were surpassed.

“Love & Friendship” stars Kate Beckinsale as the manipulative and scheming — yet beautiful — Lady Susan. The plot centers around Lady Susan’s quest to find a husband for herself and her teenage daughter.

Going into the movie, I was a bit apprehensive of how an epistolary novel — written entirely in letter format — would be made into a movie with action and dialogue. Much to my delighted surprise, the dialogue was the best part of the movie. Witty and fast-paced, the dialogue was what moved the plot along. While this Jane Austen adaptation lacks the sweeping drama of long lingering looks between characters and dramatic scenic panoramas of past adaptations, the manic pace of the dialogue required audiences to pay attention. There were times I found myself leaning forward in anticipation,

as if my physical proximity to the monitor enabled me to pick up the subtle digs and innuendos. You could watch this movie a hundred times and still not catch all the subtext.

However, I fear the focus on banter means the writers sacrificed character development. This was a problem for me. I always thought what makes “Lady Susan” such a compelling lead was the idea of an untrustworthy narrator. Through the letters in the novel, we learned Lady Susan is a bit of a social pariah, with a reputation as a flirt and a homewrecker. However, the same people who derided her as conceited and deceitful turned around and sang her praises as a misunderstood victim of societal judgment after meeting her. The reader is left questioning whether or not Lady Susan was a victim or if she was such a master of charm that she turned the most prejudiced people in her favor.

Because of the intensity of the language, the movie strips the story of any mystery. It’s clear from Lady Susan’s interactions with her American friend, Mrs. Johnson, that Lady Susan is as manipulative as society portrays her, regardless of how many times she protests her reputation. Additionally, the supporting characters leave something to be desired. While the letters in the novel give readers direct insight into the feelings and thoughts of the characters, the movie relies on their interactions with one another and the audience must judge the characters based on their susceptibility to Lady Susan’s charm.

Ultimately, this movie lived up to all my expectations. It will take me several more viewings before I can decide on its permanent place in the rankings of best Jane Austen adaptations. But since that gives me an excuse to watch more adaptations, I’m not complaining.

BAKERY | Kirksville baker Tari Glaspie defied all odds, surviving a terminal cancer diagnosis, to achieve childhood dream of opening a bakery Continued from page 5 Glaspie said as she processed her thoughts and her feelings from her counseling session, she started to ponder on her counselor’s words of recommendation about how to cope.

Glaspie said the counselor advised her to live the rest of her life based on something that is worth living for.

Glaspie said as she slowly began to allow more positive thoughts to enter her mind she asked herself, “What is worth living for?” She said she began to recall memories and the feelings of delight she felt growing up when baking cakes and pies with her mother.

She made an agreement with herself that she would do everything she could to pursue her childhood dream to open up her own bakery.

“I can sit at home in a bubble and feel sorry for myself, but afterwards, I will still be sick, and I will still be dying,” Glaspie said. “Nothing is changed from it, I am still sick.”

It was from that point on that she decided to continue to work as a supervisor at a convenience store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at the same time, save up her money to one day buy a space for her bakery business.

“Everything fell into place like clockwork," Glaspie said.

Glaspie said now she has been able to visit with her mother. She said her mother plays an important role in assisting customers. Glaspie is teaching her mother how to make an assortment of scones, pastries and breads.

Glaspie said she enjoys her life and tries to live it to the fullest because she is very aware that her health issue might cause her not to wake up the next morning. She said she has been able to survive three doctors who have told her at three different times that she has six months to live.

The bakery will celebrate its third anniversary in May. Glaspie said she does not know where the time has gone because “it seems just like yesterday when the business first opened.”

Right: Scones line the window of To Die For Bakery, located off The Square and owned by Tari Glaspie as part of her lifelong dream. Bottom: Glaspie uncovers dough ready to be made into baked goods. Glaspie survived breast cancer and is currently diagnosed with stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Photo by Hannah Conner/ TMN

“I can sit at home in a bubble and feel sorry for myself, but afterwards, I will still be sick, and I will still be dying. Nothing is changed from it, I am still sick.”

- Tari Glaspie, To Die For Bakery owner

As she began to make strategic plans for her bakery, she said her bakery name is based on her conversation with her cancer hospital counselor on the day she was diagnosed with CLL. She would call her bakery To Die For Bakery.

Several years later, Glaspie received word of an opening in a Kirksville convenience store. Glaspie said she accepted the job offer because she wanted to be closer to her parents.

Glaspie said the timing was right to open her bakery because she could work in an area nearer to her aging parents, and she knew of an empty building space to open her bakery in.

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Photo by Hannah Conner/ TMN

7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

EVENTS Trumance

“The Mask You Live In”

7 p.m. Feb. 9 SUB Georgian Room A

7-8 p.m. Feb. 13 Ryle Hall Main Lounge

6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 15 Violette Hall 1010

United States Peace Corps and Truman State University are working together to offer students Peace Corps certification. This informational meeting will answer student questions about the preparatory program and the experiences students will gain through Peace Corps programs.

SAB is hosting a “Newlywed” style game for couples and friends to test how well they know one another with a series of questions. The winning group will be gifted a night out in Kirksville.

Refreshments and door prizes will be provided.

In honor of Men’s Health Awareness Week, a free viewing of an award-winning documentary “The Mask You Live In” will continue a conversation about men’s health on Truman campus.

The viewing will follow a short speech by communication professor James Ciancola about his personal experiences.

TOP

Peace Corps Prep

Musicals For People Who Hate Musicals

1

“Rent” was groundbreaking when it opened and revolutionized the rock musical in 1996, and it continues to be a favorite for theater lovers and rock fans alike. A group of young performers, writers and filmmakers struggle to survive in the world of HIV/AIDS and poverty.

2

“Once.” Folk and indie music fans, this one is for you. Boasting eight Tony awards and a score by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, this modern love story combines banjos, piano, accordions, ukuleles and even a melodica to create a truly distinctive sound that will appeal to fans of Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men.

3 4 5

“Bright Star.” Comedian Steve Martin and singer-songwriter Edie Brickell collaborated to write the music and lyrics for this bluegrass musical. The show tells the story of an editor played by the ridiculously talented Carmen Cusack in 1946 through flashbacks to her rebellious teenage years in 1923.

“In the Heights” — written by “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda — combines rap, Latin music and show tunes to depict the gentrification of a Hispanic neighborhood in New York. In one of the most memorable songs, “96,000,” characters learn that someone in the neighborhood has won the lottery, and dream of what they would do with the cash.

Contrary to the stereotype that all musicals are lighthearted and upbeat, “Next to Normal” tells the story of the hardships a suburban mother faces trying to manage a household with bipolar disorder.

Tom Kitt’s electronic rock score perfectly complements Brian Yorkey’s cutting lyrics, creating an explosive soundtrack that will stay with you long after the first listen.

Throwback Thursday: Careers a focus on campus Everyone knows Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall as a residence hall was made up out of three separate halls. But what was the purpose of those halls before they became residence halls?

Blanton Hall once housed a "career library," according to a March 27, 1980 issue of the Index. The library was open to students as a resource for deciding their major, learning about jobs in those fields and the level of education needed for those jobs, according to the article. The library also helps students find schools that offer programs that fit the

students' needs.

The library used a simple personality test in conjunction with something called the John Holland system, according to the article. The John Holland system divides 800 job descriptions into six personality-type categories. After figuring out which personality type a student was, the student could then immediately view the types of jobs that would fit their personality best.

The career library was meant to be a resource for those students who were truly at a loss about what

direction their life should take, but also offered resources about job listings to students of any age or background, according to the article. Workshops took place in the library to help students craft résumés, practice interview skills and assertiveness.

Throughout the years, Blanton has become a residence hall and the Career Center in the Student Union Building has replaced the career library, but a focus on preparing students for the workforce still remains a large part of what makes Truman State University the kind of school it is today.

8

THURSDAY, FEBRURARY 9, 2017

Tarantino and Smestad focus on continuing success

Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/ TMN Photo by Lindsay St. John/ TMN Left: Senior Laura Tarantino crosses the finish line, earning a victory in Truman’s cross country meet this fall. After her best-ever cross country season, Tarantino now shifts gears to indoor track and field distance running.

Right: Sophomore Cassidy Smestad practices her discus form at a practice last spring. Smestad’s main event is the shot put, in which she is currently in the top-25 in Div. II.

By Curt wichmer Staff Writer

The second semester of college is about trying to finish the year strong.

That statement is especially true for student athletes. In particular, two athletes in Truman State University’s track and field department are looking for that strong finish — senior Laura Tarantino in distance running and sophomore Cassidy Smestad in shot put. Last semester, Tarantino placed 18th at nationals in cross country and led the Bulldogs to a 5th place finish at the GLVC Championships. In her previous season, Smestad was GLVC shot put champion. Regardless of sport, each athlete is looking to finish this season by building on the successes of their pasts.

Tarantino is currently taking part in indoor track season, which has a conference championship meet Feb. 25. The grind doesn’t end on the indoor track, however. Tarantino said she has been focusing on preparing for the outdoor meets which start again in April. Tarantino said the conference meets are all about scoring points, and she said she wants to score as much as she can in her events, whether it’s in the 3K indoors or the 5K in the outdoor season.

She said she has been focusing particularly on the outdoor 10K and hopes to grab a provisional mark again and reach nationals in May. Tarantino said she has a lot of good memories with the team and wants to leave on a high note.

“Placing fifth this year at conference was really memorable,” Tarantino said. “We even made a bet with coach last year that if we made it that far, he’d cook us all dinner. I can also remember a lot of times where everyone is up

early at 5:45 a.m. training together, so being together in the early morning is pretty memorable, too. I’m very excited, and I’d really like to enjoy these last few months with my teammates after these four years.”

Tim Schwegler, track and field and cross country head coach, said Tarantino has improved every year, in large part because of her inner competitive drive and self motivation. Schwegler said based on stats alone, Tarantino is easily one of the top 50 distance runners in the country. He said the team’s goal is to always do the best it can in conference. He also said Tarantino has gotten good points for the team during her other three years, and he is looking forward to watching her perform.

Making a strong representation for the Bulldog women in field competition, Smestad is currently tied for 25th in Div. II shot put and is preparing for her meet in Indianapolis this weekend. In 2016, Smestad was GLVC Champion in shot put and placed 15th in the NCAA national tournament. Smestad said for her, the end of indoor season is all about preparation for outdoor season. She said she hopes to make it to the national indoor meet this semester and thinks she has the discipline, drive and determination to make it possible.

“I know that I have set the bar pretty high for my track and field career this past season, and I really want to be so much better than that this year,” Smestad said. “I have been putting in a lot of time in the weight room and practices. I believe that it is really important to have a good outlook and mindset when it comes to tough competition, so I have been focusing on that a lot lately. I like to say that there are no days off — this makes me work harder and make my training count.”

UPCOMING E V E N T S Wrestling

2/9 7 p.m. vs. Graceland University Kirksville, Mo.

2/12 TBA at Maryville University Lombardi Duals St. Louis, Mo.

men and women’s

Swimming

2/8 - 2/11 at GLVC Championships Crawfordsville, Ill.

Baseball

2/11 Noon vs. Northwest Missouri State University Arkadelphia, Ark. 2/11 3 p.m. at University of Nebraska Kearney Arkadelphia, Ark. 2/12 Noon vs. Henderson State University Arkadelphia, Ark.

Softball

men’s

2/11 3:45 p.m. vs. West Alabama University Montevallo, Ala.

2/9 7:30 p.m. vs. Lewis University Romeoville, Ill. 2/11 5:30 p.m. vs. University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, Wis.

2/11 8:15 p.m. vs. North Alabama University Montevallo, Ala.

Basketball

women’s

Basketball

2/9 5:30 p.m. vs. Lewis University Romeoville, Ill 2/11 1 p.m. vs. University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha, Wis.

2/12 11:15 a.m. vs. Mississippi College Montevallo, Ala. 2/12 1:30 p.m. vs. Delta State Montevallo, Ala.

Track and Field

2/11 TBA at Tom Hathaway Classic Indianapolis, Ind.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

MESSER | Sophomore transfer guard Nathan Messer has made an immediate impact on the court for the Bulldogs. Messer entered Truman with experience from the Naval Academy.

Photo submitted by Sonam Wagynal Messer fires up one of his 184 three-point attempts this season. Messer is ranked 10th in Div. II in total three-point field goals made. By percentage, Messer and the ‘Dogs are the second-best threepoint shooting team in the nation.

Continued from page 10 Foster said he has known about Messer since his days in traveling summer basketball which also helped establish a connection to him through Messer’s coach. After Messer decided to leave Navy, he reached out to Truman last summer to see whether Foster and his staff were interested. About a week later, Messer visited the Truman campus and knew right away it felt like home, committing himself to three seasons in purple and white.

Foster said he appreciates his team’s ability to burn teams with their long-range shooting, but he thinks they should tighten up their defense for the five games remaining on their schedule. If the rest of the team adopts the same attitude as Messer, tirelessly trying to expand their game, Foster said he thinks the team has a legitimate shot to make a historic postseason run.

“The sky’s the limit for the type of player that he can be,” Foster said.

Junior guard Zach Fischer got to know Messer when he visited the campus last summer but had encountered him in high school, because his and Messer’s alma maters — Christian Brothers College and Lafayette — used to face each other. Fischer said Messer’s work ethic and overt leadership are beyond his years and can help the team.

“He shows them what they have to do to take their game to the next level,” Fischer said. “As a result, it helps out our program as a whole.”

Fischer said he thinks Messer’s Navy experience was rewarding, and his time at Div. I was beneficial to him and his team. Messer being first in the gym and spending off days in the weight room might not seem like much at first, but Fischer said that sets the tone for all the underclassmen.

Fischer said defenses should be on high alert because Messer’s range isn’t just limited to the three-point line — it also extends to about three or four feet beyond the arc. The dramatic spacing that results from the threat of shooters like Messer, Velky, Myers and Kanaskie create driving lanes for the team’s group of guards and allows them to consistently flirt with the 90-point threshold every game. The team is averaging

‘Dogs fill slots with strong recruiting

BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer

After splitting the rights to the 2016 GLVC Championship title, the Truman State University football staff has kept busy hosting recruits. Thirty-two players have been added to the Bulldog team for the 2017 season.

Seventeen of these are offensive commits. Assistant Coach Jason Killday is the offensive coordinator for the ‘Dogs after joining the staff last March.

Killday said the emphasis has been mainly on this year’s recruiting class and the offensive line. The ‘Dogs lost several experienced men from the o-line, notably, senior Brad Wellman, who accumulated 42 career starts in his Truman jersey. Killday said not many guys who play collegiate football can say they have that many starts or even games under their belt, and he said that number alone speaks loudly on behalf of what the ‘Dogs are losing in terms of not only leadership, but also game experience.

Along with Wellman, seniors Colby Dohrman and Joey Schenck will be leaving vacancies within the offense.

“All those guys have been through fire, knowing exactly what to expect going into game and how things should go throughout the game,” Killday said.

A few standout commits for the fulfillment of these positions have been Jake Ellis, a 6’7’’ tight end from Rock Island, Illinois, Israel Griffin, an athletic offensive lineman from Belleville, Illinois, and Jaylen Jefferson, a tailback from St. Louis, who Killday said provides a lot of speed to the offense.

Along with recruiting commits, the ‘Dogs also anticipate the debuts of the 2016 redshirt freshmen who took last season to get bigger, faster and stronger. Killday said he hopes to see big things coming from these young athletes who he said have spent countless hours in the weight room since they arrived on campus. Freshmen Dante Ruffin, Jarin Wallace, Cam Nisbet and Jake Koons are a few that have impressed Killday with the hard work they’ve been putting in.

Assistant Coach Kellen Nesbitt is in his sixth season as defensive coordinator for the ‘Dogs. Nesbitt said the defensive end of the team had the luxury of a relatively full returning roster when looking to fill spots in the offseason. However, a few key gaps were left from seniors Austin Zoda, a four-time, all-league defensive back, cornerback T.J. Fine, a four year starter, and Kyle Leckrone, a big part of the defensive line in Truman’s GLVC Championship season.

Nesbitt is optimistic for filling the defensive holes left behind with the redshirt freshmen and commits being brought in. Junior Pablo Adame IV will also return this season after suffering a torn achilles’ tendon in the opening game of the 2016 season.

“I’m not sure how much of an immediate impact next year’s freshmen will have, but the door is always left open,” Nesbitt said. “There are a couple of them that could have a chance to play as a true freshman, but I imagine many of them will end up redshirting. Final decisions with redshirting aren’t made until the end of August, after camp.”

Nesbitt said recruiting is about 98 percent done, with a few guys still coming to campus in the next few weeks for potential roster spot opportunities. The roster count is about 117, and typically it is only at 100-110.

Both Killday and Nesbitt said the field construction hasn’t hurt the recruiting process — in fact, it has probably helped. The Bulldogs’ new field will have a new track, press boxes and turf, and is an exciting thing for players, recruits and coaches, although the field construction won’t be done until late summer.

This affects the normal football spring workouts and spring games. Gym time is always scarce during this season, because football doesn’t have the priority of getting it because they aren’t in season. Nesbitt said the teammates are going to do their best to find any time they can in the gym to have workouts, even going after late night Thursday basketball games.

Returning ‘Dogs will hit spring practices hard upon return from Spring Break, and the coaches will get their first look at their signed prospects in training camp in August.

88.2 points per game and has scored at least 90 points eleven times.

Factoring in Messer’s shooting ability, unconditional love for his family and God, and mature work ethic, Fischer said that he has been a great asset to Truman.

“He’s such a great teammate on the floor and an even better person off the floor,” Fischer said. “It’s been a true pleasure having him here.”

Messer, a Chesterfield, Missouri, native said his family is able to see every one of his shots go in now that he is closer to home. Messer said his parents were able to make it to about two or three games when he was in Annapolis. He said that has made his Truman experience even more worthwhile because his family is incredibly important to him. Messer’s younger brother, Jake, recently signed on to be a part of the Bulldog basketball team next season.

“The sky’s the limit for the type of player that he can be.”

- Head Coach Chris Foster

Messer’s relationship with his three brothers, including his younger brother and Truman commit Jake, is evident in a YouTube video they released in 2015. In the video, the four Messer brothers take turns executing seemingly impossible shots from all over the gym. Messer said they were just messing around one day and his older brother Michael suggested they share it with the world.

Messer has proven other times to be receptive to advice as his former Navy teammate had an interest in spoken word poetry and encouraged Messer to compose and release his own to reveal his other passion beside basketball and family — faith.

Messer said his Christian faith has been the center of his life for years, expressing that in two different poems he posted on YouTube. While these two activities were fun for Messer, he said they were also good opportunities to bond with his family and other believers.

CLARK | Senior center Cassidy Clark leads the Truman women in statistics and leadership.

Continued from page 10 “I’m a big believer in ‘you’re only as good as your seniors allow you to be’ — that’s leading on and off the floor for us, and she does that,” Eagan said. Eagan said Clark will leave an impact on the program and is someone she will be talking about long after she is gone.

Clark said the team atmosphere allows for greatness from the players. The women are highly competitive, yet support each other and want the best for one another. She said even if someone gets beat during practice, there are no hard feelings. Instead, they keep pushing one another to get better.

“Just being here for one year I can see how much my game has improved, and I owe that all to my coaches” - Senior center Cassidy Clark

Clark said her success here can be attributed to her coaches and teammates. She said her coaches are always taking the time to work with them individually during the day on top of team practices.

“Just being here for one year I can see how much my game has improved, and I owe that all to my coaches” Clark said. “Then I have to repay that to my teammates because they are so good and good at getting me the ball when I want it or need it.”

The Bulldogs are currently 11-11 for the season. Clark said her ultimate goal at Truman is to win a conference championship. Clark and the ‘Dogs are on the final stretch, with just five conference games remaining until a hopeful bid into the GLVC Tournament. The women embark on their final road trip this weekend, playing Lewis University Thursday, Feb. 9 and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday, Feb. 11.

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SPORTS

12

@trumanathletics

tmn.truman.edu

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Transfers emerge as leaders

Photo submitted by Sonam Wagynal Above: Sophomore guard Nathan Messer lines up a free throw earlier this season. Messer is best known for his three-point shot, where he shoots 42 percent.

Left: Senior center Cassidy Clark focuses in on a free throw attempt. Clark Photo submitted by Kyle Quick leads the Bulldogs in points, blocks, steals and rebounds per game this year.

Clark makes lasting Messer brings maturity mark as lone senior as underclassman

BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer Cassidy Clark is the only senior on Truman State University’s women’s basketball team, and she is taking on a leadership role in many ways for the ‘Dogs — despite it only being her second season in the Bulldog system.

Clark transferred to Truman from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, her junior year. She came from a winning program there, only losing a total of eight games in her two years as an Eagle. When her two years in the NJCAA were coming to a close, Truman had just come off winning the GLVC championship.

Clark said she was ready to come to another successful program and chose to pursue her college career with the Bulldogs.

Head Coach Amy Eagan said Clark made an impact for the team after they had just lost a senior post player.

“Last year when we were recruiting her we knew the impact that she could have on our program, and she had some experience,” Eagan said.

“We wanted to bring somebody in that could really fill that role for us this year and she’s done a great job with that.”

This season, Clark is on the leaderboard in various categories. She has played in every game and leads

the team in average points per game at 14.3, leads with 22 blocks and 35 steals and in defensive and offensive rebounds with a total of 160. Two weeks ago, Clark was voted Best Player in the GLVC by a fan vote on herosports.com.

Eagan said Clark’s success is a result of her work ethic, drive, coachability and immense love for the game.

Clark is also a statistical leader in many conference categories. In the GLVC, Clark is ranked 3rd in field goal percentage, 9th in blocked shots per game, 10th in rebounds per game, 11th in average points per game and 14th in steals per game.

Eagan said Clark has been a great leader on and off the court.

“She makes good decisions off the floor, and on the floor she’s a great leader — she demands it every day from herself, she demands it of [her teammates],” Eagan said.

Eagan said Clark brings a grit to play with a chip on her shoulder and is the intense competitor that every coach would want in their locker room. Eagan said even though Clark’s time on this team is coming to a close, she is not content with getting through the final month grind of the season — she continues to want to get better and better.

See CLARK, page 9

BY JEREMY JACOB Staff Writer

Truman State University guard Nathan Messer is only a sophomore, but on the court it would be hard to point out #33 as an underclassman. According to his teammates and coaches, Messer visibly obtains maturity and leadership qualities above his years — qualities secured during his time at the Naval Academy.

Messer is part of the potent threepoint attack the Truman men boast this year. Truman ranks first in the GLVC in three-point field goal percentage and three-pointers made per game. Messer said he committed to the Bulldogs last summer after he decided the military career path wasn’t for him, but he said his Navy experience wasn’t in vain.

“You can see yourself go a lot further than you may have expected,” Messer said.

Going into his year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, Messer said he didn’t know much about the military other than he wanted to try it. One year later, he was a freshman at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, playing a total of three minutes in two games. He said he ultimately wanted to embark on a new journey

MEN

for his sophomore campaign, which eventually landed him a spot on the Bulldogs roster.

Messer has flourished in his inaugural season with Truman, averaging 13.1 points per game and making 42 percent of his shots from three-point range. His production places him third on the team in scoring. He is also fourth on the team in three-point percentage — among all Bulldogs with at least 45 attempts beyond the arc — behind sophomore Jake Velky, redshirt senior Cory Myers and senior Kyle Kanaskie.

With 80 percent of his shot attempts of the three-point variety, Messer said his confidence and tenacity for shooting from deep comes from his long hours in the gym perfecting his stroke. He said his skill set has translated well to Truman, as the Bulldogs run a motion offense that involves setting up many screens and constant movement from all five guys on the floor.

“When you catch the ball in rhythm, the percentage of that shot going in goes up a lot more,” Messer said.

Head Coach Chris Foster has noticed Messer’s advanced professionalism and thinks the year he spent at the Naval Academy Preparatory School school also helped him mature as a person and player.

See MESSER, page 9

WOMEN

QUINCY

10-3

DRURY

12-1

TRUMAN STATE

9-4

ROCKHURST

8-5

ROCKHURST

7-6

MARYVILLE

7-6

DRURY

6-7

MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

6-7

MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS

4-9

TRUMAN STATE

6-7

MISSOURI S&T

3-10

WILLIAM JEWELL

5-7

WILLIAM JEWELL

2-10

MISSOURI S&T

3-10

MARYVILLE

2-11

QUINCY

2-11

Connor Erickson Redshirt senior forward Connor Erickson posted two career nights last week. Erikson poured in a career high 22 points in Thursday night’s match against the University of Indianapolis, and he outdid himself on Saturday with another team-leading 24 points.

Erikson was 10-of- 13 shooting on Saturday in just 20 minutes of play.

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 15

tmn.truman.edu

ATHLETE of the

WEEK

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