March 23, 2017 by Truman State University Index

Features

Opinions

Students participate in student-led Black Lives Matter class

Opinions editor explains importance of challenging assumptions page 3

Sports

Softball enjoys success on Spring Break in Sunshine State

page 5

page 10

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

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UpChuckles to feature professors in charity comedy show By Maddie McDermott Staff Writer

Photo by Damian Soane/TMN The new Holiday Inn Express Hotel being built at 2523 S. Franklin St. is estimated to be finished and open in September of this year. This new Holiday Inn Express is being built on the former site of Milano’s Italian Restaurant while the other Holiday Inn Express already in Kirksville is going to be rebranded.

Four new businesses set to open in Kirksville within the year By Nicolas Telep Staff Writer

A number of new businesses, including two national chain retail stores and two hotels, are set to open in Kirksville by the end of the year. Wisconsin-based home improvement chain Menards and Oklahomabased craft store Hobby Lobby will be building and opening locations. Depending on construction timelines, Menards aims to be open by the end of the year, while Hobby Lobby could open as early as August. A Hampton Inn and a new Holiday Inn Express are also slated to be built. Hampton Inn is scheduled to open in June, and the new Holiday Inn Express is expected to open in September. Menards, Hobby Lobby and Hampton Inn will all be located on North Baltimore St. between Missouri Route 6 and Barrington Road, and the new Holiday Inn Express will be located on South Franklin St. on the former site of Milano’s Italian Restaurant. Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said both hotels are under construction, Menards has purchased land to build on and Hobby Lobby is preparing its site. “Our local economy is constantly changing, and we’ve had a lot of great developments in the last year or so,” Young said. “There’s a lot of good news in terms of retail and commercial activity in the city of Kirksville.” Young said one of the partners in the development of the Hampton Inn lived in Kirksville and developed the Comfort Inn. Menards will be a corporate store — not franchised — like all other stores in the chain. The new Holiday Inn Express is being developed by Paul Williams, who recently opened a Holiday Inn Express in Sikeston, Mis-

souri. Hobby Lobby will be developed by Kirksville Commons, a local limited liability corporation. Young said Menards did not request any city assistance or incentives for their new store, while the other three new businesses will be located in newly formed community improvement districts, where sales tax is 1 percent higher than normal to fund improvements to the surrounding areas. In addition to the community improvement district, the Holiday Inn Express has been granted chapter 353 property tax abatement because of its location on the site of an abandoned restaraunt, which was designated as “blighted.” Young said the abatement allows the new business to pay property tax at the rate that would have been assessed on the previous building. Young said the new developments should be good for the city’s economy. “In general, more economic activity means more jobs for our community,” Young said. “It means an improved quality of life. It is important to keep more tax revenue, more revenue in general, in Kirksville not only for our small businesses, but also for our city as well.” Young said the hope is that people will stay in Kirksville to shop instead of going to cities like Columbia, Quincy or Ottumwa. He said the city is also aiming to become more of an economic and commercial center for the surrounding area. Kirksville Tourism Director Debi Boughton said the Hampton Inn and the new Holiday Inn Express will add approximately 70 rooms each, 140 rooms altogether, to the 394 rooms currently available in Kirksville and the surrounding area. “We have needed a new hotel for quite a while,” said Boughton. “The

tourism office and the city economic development office were talking to many hotel developers to try to have them come to town and, all of a sudden, we had two that were coming.” Boughton said the new rooms are much-needed for activities going on in the community. For example, Boughton said on the weekend of April 20 there are 50 people staying at a hotel in Macon — in addition to those staying in Kirksville — because of all the events happening that weekend. She said the tourism department has been looking for a new hotel to be built for about three years. Boughton also said the customer pays a 3.6 percent occupancy tax in addition to sales tax for each night in a hotel room. The revenue from this tax goes to the tourism department. Boughton anticipates an increase in revenue to the department because of the greater number of hotel rooms. Boughton said more people are expected to visit Kirksville, and it will be much more convenient for people who come to town for specific events. “Those many times that we are so full that people are staying in Macon and other places, we will have those visitors actually getting to stay in Kirksville where their event is,” said Boughton. Boughton said the new Holiday Inn Express will include a conference room with a capacity of 100, and she would like to have another large conference room available in the city. She said the city would like to bring some larger conferences and conventions to town, and the largest gatherings the city can host at this point are about 400 people. Boughton also said the current Holiday Inn Express will be rebranded but will remain in business.

Photo by Damian Soane/TMN Photo by Damian Soane/TMN The new Hampton Inn Suites hotel being built at 2604 North The new Menards being built on North Baltimore St. is Baltimore Street is estimated to open in June of this year. estimated to be finished at the end of this year. VOLUME 108

ISSUE 20

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Truman State University’s standup comedy group, UpChuckles, will host its first Faculty Charity Show at 7 p.m. Friday at William Matthew Middle School, located 1515 S. Cottage Grove in Kirksville. The show will feature five faculty members — Program Adviser for Organizational Engagement and Leadership Damon Pee, Annual Fund Officer for the Office of Advancement Dylan Phillips, Communication Professor Jared Young, English professor Christine Harker and University President Sue Thomas. Jay Self, faculty adviser for UpChuckles and Communication Department Chair said the idea of a faculty show has been simmering for some time. “This is our first year trying it,” Self said. “We’ve been toying with it for two years. We’ve never managed to get it organized because the group is relatively small, but now we’ve got a good sized group, so we’re ready to roll.” Self said a student member of UpChuckles has been assigned to coach each faculty member in their comedy including the ideas, delivery and writing, using a process similar to the one UpChuckles members use. “[When UpChuckles practices sketches] we divide into smaller groups of three to four and take turns saying ‘we got some new ideas,’ and ‘here’s what we’ve written so far,”’ Self said. “We read the joke to the group, the rest of the group tells whether or not they like the idea ... it’s a place for [comedians] to bounce ideas and get other directions and other ways to present the material.” Self said he is confident the show will be a success. “It will be a fun and entertaining show,” Self said. “Our shows do pretty well as a general rule, and now you’re going to have people who you’re not used to seeing do comedy doing comedy, so it’ll be even funnier, and it all benefits a good cause,” Self said. UpChuckles president junior Lisa Simms said professors in the past have shown interest in doing stand up comedy, which is how the show came about. Simms said the participants agreed to be part of the show a few months ago and have been meeting with their coaches to rehearse, write and rewrite weekly or biweekly ever since. Simms, Leine Jakel and professor Chris Outzen will judge the faculty members and determine who wins the title of “Funniest Faculty Member on Campus.” Simms said one UpChuckles member will perform during the scoring process at the end, simply to keep the energy of the show going while the judges score, but other than that the staff will perform during the bulk of the show. “Please come out and enjoy the fruits of these wonderful faculty members’ labor,” Simms said. “It’s a great way to help a wonderful cause and a fun way to get to know your new president.” UpChuckles vice president junior Lawrence Cobb has been coaching Thomas the last several months. Cobb said acting as comedy counselor to Thomas has posed a fun, interesting and scary challenge. “With every joke I write, I have to work around political neutrality, an absolute absence of crass or lewd material, President Thomas’ background and what will seem genuine, making sure to write not only funnily, but intelligently and much more,” Cobb said. “... There’s a level of risk for any comic. You can alienate or offend a great number of people without trying to. This makes it very difficult to write stand-up for someone who has to defend the reputation of an office like university president. President Thomas has given me quite the challenge.” Tickets will be on sale today, March 23, and Friday in the Student Union Building, Barnett Hall 1400 and at the door. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds go to the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

TLS members host Q&A session for middle and high school students

STUDENT SENATE IN BRIEF

The Senate did not meet this week because of Spring Break.

CITY COUNCIL IN BRIEF

Photo by Rachel Fechter/TMN

Top: Service and social sorority Tau Lambda Sigma hosted a Q&A session for middle and high school aged girls in the community to ask questions during Girl Love Week promoting feminism on campus. Left: Members in the audience were each given a slip of paper to write questions on which were all put into an envelope, read one by one and answered by different members of the TLS panel to preserve anonymity. Questions such as “How has your sense of identity changed since middle school?” and “If you could tell 15-year-old you something, what would it be?” among others were asked. Bottom: Members of the TLS panel discussed their own personal experiences as women, ranging from body image issues, discrimination based on their sexual orientation and growing up in a single parent household.

The City Council approved a Settlement Agreement in the second of two federal court cases filed against the city by Amir Hamidi. Hamidi requested the rezoning of property he owned, previously zoned as residential, for the purpose of opening a secondhand shop on the property, according to City Manager Mari Macomber’s staff report, In a separate rezoning issue, the Council approved the rezoning of 2810 Round Barn Way from a residential property to a Planned Local Business.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Lyceum bringing St. Louis brass quintet The Saint Louis Brass Quintet will give the final performance of the 2016-2017 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series. The quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 3 in the Ophelia Parrish performance hall. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the cashier’s window in McClain Hall, Edna Campbells bookstore on The Square, or at lyceum.truman.edu. The Lyceum Series was abbreviated to three shows and relocated to Ophelia Parrish this academic year while Baldwin Hall is being renovated. In the fall, the series will pick up again with a full schedule in the newly renovated Baldwin Auditorium.

Music department to host Hansel and Gretel opera

Photo by Rachel Fechter/TMN

The music department’s production of Hansel and Gretel begins a four-show run tonight at 8:00 p.m. in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The opera by Engelbert Humperdinck, based on the classic Grimm Brothers tale, will also be performed Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. as well as on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.. General admission tickets are $5, and tickets for students are $3. All tickets are available 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

3/20 Hit and run reported at the 800 block of E. Jefferson St. 3/19 Theft reported at the 1500 block of N. Walnut St.

3/17 Possession of drug paraphernalia reported at the 1700 block of Centennial Ave. 3/17 Trespassing reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Dr.

3/19 Harassment reported at the 2100 block of E. Normal St. 3/15 Arson reported at the 1400 block of S. First St. 3/19 Fight reported at the 200 block of W. Pierce St. 3/14 Harassment reported at the 500 block of N. Baltimore St. 3/18 Domestic disturbance reported at the 200 block of S. Halliburton St. 3/14 Property damage reported at the 700 block of Wilson St. 3/17 Harassment reported at the 2600 block of N. Baltimore St. 3/14 Possession of marijuana reported at the 0 block of Grim Drive.

Mark your calendar Curing

Capitalism through Late Night Pixar Movie Marathon 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Democracy 7-9 p.m. March 23 Violette Hall 1000

Richard Wolff from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, according to New York Times Magazine, is “America’s most prominent Marxist economist.” Wolff will give an analysis about how to alleviate the drawbacks of a capitalist society on our economy and democracy.

March 25 SUB Georgian Rooms

The Student Activities Board and Center for Student Involvement are hosting a Pixar movie watch party. “The Incredibles,” “Finding Nemo” and “Monster’s Inc.” will play in Georgian Room A and “Toy Story 3,” “UP” and “A Bug’s Life” will play in Georgian Room B.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Seize opportunities that challenge your assumptions

Will Chaney Opinions Editor Even before my first semester began at Truman State University, I was warned about Kirksville’s lack of things to do — a view many students have during their entire stay here. Tour guides, counselors and professors often brush over this supposed reality with a joke about how students are forced to concentrate on academics or by reminding us that Columbia is a short drive away. However, after five semesters at Truman, I find this belief to be not only inaccurate, but it also becomes a self-defeating obstacle to a successful college experience. We are here to have “transformative experiences that foster critical thought, daring imagination and empathetic understanding of human experiences at home and around the world,” according to Truman’s Vision Statement. In 2017, this is more than just a sweet sounding, advertisement-friendly ideal — it is an obligation for every one of us who made it into a four-year university. In 2017, the world faces more challenges that are increasingly complex and will require creative solutions that previous humans were unable to figure out. For this reason — in addition to all the fun that comes with it — I encourage you to seek out opportunities on campus and around town that will challenge your existing assumptions about the world. Of course, most learning in college comes in the form of structured, time-sensitive and prepared bundles of time called class, usually led by a real adult and organized according to a very large book. Many of these classes offer the opportunity to challenge our existing outlooks — one such class I had the pleasure of taking was philosophy professor Lloyd Pflueger’s “The Buddhist Tradition,” which I signed up for on a whim with a couple friends. This course taught me much more than just the history and principles of Buddhism — it made me confront questions that challenged my assumptions about reality, which were based on a Western Abrahamic culture. I was raised to believe everyone has one life and that there might or might not be an afterlife. This is very different from the Buddhist tradition, many sects of which believe everyone experiences multiple lives on Earth and are reincarnated after death. I had to confront the fact that I believed everyone has one life for the arbitrary reason that I was born in Missouri instead of Nepal or India. The material raised an even deeper issue — does the answer to that question even matter? When asked about the afterlife, Buddha responded with silence. Buddhism teaches that becoming too focused on questions that cannot be properly answered might cause more suffering than they are worth, but my Westerntrained subconscious resisted asking such a question. I gained a new appreciation, respect and understanding of billions of people’s base assumptions about reality by stepping outside my bubble. While this course and many like it have the ability to transform its participants’ outlooks, classes are often limited to repeating normalized information and methodology without challenging their foundations. Universities in capitalist societies serve a purpose beyond what they publicly endorse as virtues of education — they must prepare individuals to work for existing employers, which too frequently do not prioritize discovering new ways of thinking about society. How can we stop climate change, end racism or decrease poverty if we are using the tenth edition of the same textbooks that informed previous generations? Despite the efforts of the Liberal Studies Program, most fields of study develop within their own bubbles, carrying their own assumptions, without examining the contributions of other fields. The field of economics typically assumes human beings make decisions that maximize their quality of life, while the field of psychology contests this claim, yet there is no clear resolution in the curriculum. Many of the problems our society faces require new and creative solutions not discussed in coursework, but which can be found in other places within academia and society. We can also become trapped within cultural bubbles — listen to the same type of music, participate in the same holidays and read the same types of books. We cannot hope to have an appreciation or respect for others’ cultures without a base knowledge of their practices. This ignorance becomes dangerous when society’s major leaders — Republican, Democrat and those who pull their strings — form their policies around the exclusion of groups of people from less dominant cultures. If we are unaware of the conditions people face before they decide to migrate to the United States, we might support overly harsh immigration restrictions. We might even — consciously or unconsciously — give lower priority to problems the others experience once they move to a country with a completely new and different culture. Many Truman students, myself included, are guilty of poking fun at “townies” — a derogatory term for Kirksville residents — without attempting to understand why they do the things we mock. Fostering ignorance about others creates divisions that are unavoidable and harm our social interactions. Fortunately, Truman and Kirksville offer a plethora of opportunities to find new perspectives that might

Contrary to what a February 23rd Letter to the Editor would have you believe, the Northeast Missouri Region is awash in electric power. According to a member of the Board of Directors of Associated Electric, Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative has exceeded their goals for the requisite amount of electricity to power the region. Just last month, the other electric giant in the area, Ameren, sent out a rate increase notice that touted decreased demand among their reasons for requiring higher compensation from their ratepayers. The fact is that absolutely none of this adds up to our friends and neighbors painstakingly lighting candles to make it through their evenings or shivering through winter without the lights on. Were that the case, the entire community would be fighting tooth and nail for more electric infrastructure and not just paid employees, a very few people looking to make a quick buck off an easement and people who completely misunderstand the issue. This next brings me to the definition of the word, “many” which Merriam Webster considers to be: “consisting of or amounting to a large but indefinite number.” The number of people who have signed easements is quite definable and is somewhere in the neighborhood of 20. This is out of the approximately 400 signatures needed to complete the project. Doesn’t seem like too “many” to me. Throughout the acquisition of the signatures they do have, scandals of fake substations listed in literature, misleading elderly landowners into thinking the project has been approved, and kicking local residents out of public open houses for asking too many questions lead me to wonder how many of these easements have been gained through deception. There is nothing altruistic or magnanimous about a giant corporation, who is already in the works to receive a $92 million budget increase paid by members of our community, taking even more to provide very little power to a region that already has more than enough. Sarah Van Hala

seem hidden but are easy to find. Many student organizations provide cultural events we might not be familiar with, such as the African Student Association’s “Sights and Sounds” acrobatics show several weeks ago. If you’re like me and are unfamiliar with opera, the music department is performing Hansel and Gretel tonight, March 23, through Sunday, March 26. Other organizations, like the Global Issues Colloquium — see the calendar on page 2 — and the Interfaith Center host presentations and forums for the purpose of exposing new points of view. If you want to learn more about the “townies’” culture, you can attend a local auction, one of the many craft shows, the annual Round Barn Blues Festival or visit a local church. Direct cultural experiences humanize their participants

and produce a deeper understanding than we can obtain through books. Even though it is a particularly diverse country, the United States is currently divided and becoming increasingly unstable. We must rid ourselves of ignorance about other people’s perspectives and see them as full and equal human beings by subjecting our own assumptions to relentless criticism. This is not a task society often compels us to do — it’s our responsibility to make it happen, and as college students in 2017 there is no better time than now.

Will Chaney is a junior economics major from Bridgeton, Mo.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

New artwork goes on display in gallery

Photo by Austin Dellamano/TMN

An opening reception in the University Art Gallery debuted “Closed Eyes Gaze: The first showcasing of “Closed Eyes Gaze” at the reception was accompanied Rafael E. Vera and Victor Marquez-Barrios” in the cube and by a supplemental musical performance by music professors Michael Bump and Annual Juried Student Exhibitions in the main gallery. Jesse Krebs along with senior Taeyeong Jung.

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SOCIAL MOVE-

black MATTER CLASS EXPLORES

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

BY KIRA HINTZ Staff Writer

“Understanding the Black Lives Matter Movement” is a new two-credit, student-led interdisciplinary studies course available this semester that discusses and analyzes the Black Lives Matter movement. History professor Marc Becker said junior Will Chaney, senior Trista Sullivan and junior Ben Wallis proposed the idea for the class. Becker said he agreed to become an adviser for the class despite not getting paid for his position because he admires Chaney, Sullivan and Wallis and likes having the opportunity to work closely with the three of them on an issue that’s important to all of them. The structure of the class, Becker said, is modeled on the syllabus of Frank Leon Roberts, a New York University professor who originally designed the class. Becker said Chaney, Sullivan and Wallis took the syllabus and modified parts of it so it could better fit being taught at Truman State University. The proposal for the class, Becker said, was done at the last minute. Becker said he, Chaney,

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 20

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Sullivan and Wallis accidentally turned in the class proposal after its official deadline, and it had to be put through faculty governance to get approval to become a verified class. A main focus of the class, Becker said, is its emphasis on the dramatic inequality of incarceration rates of African Americans in comparison to white people. Becker said the class is an interrogation that looks directly at why people can live in a society that prides itself on being democratic when the act of policing is not reflective of society as a whole or the norms that people claim to embrace, Becker said. The abusiveness of policing practices, particularly investigatory stops by police on black people, are also regularly discussed. Becker said these subjects are usually then related to how people can organize themselves to help confront those types of injustices. Trying to gain approval of the class in faculty governance last semester was a challenge, Becker said. A couple of objections were voiced, Becker said, with the biggest pushback being around the question of whether or not it’s appropriate for students to teach a class. Becker said most people are supposed to have an advanced degree in a specific field to teach, and faculty governance intially was in contention of deciding if students really have the qualifications to present that education. Additionally, Becker said another opinion that is often debated is the purpose and value of BLM as a social movement when “All Lives Matter.” “There are very specific reasons why a class like this focuses on black lives,” Becker said. “It does not mean that other lives mean less. What it means is that we live in a legal and judicial and policing environment that treats black people, particularly young black men, in a highly discriminatory fashion. So it’s confronting that I as an old, white, male professor typically do not face the type of dangers like Michael Brown faced in Ferguson of being shot by a cop. And so to say that ‘all lives matter’ again, there’s two ways that you can parr something like that. If you read literature of how Black Lives Matter started as a concept — it did start with the concept of ‘All Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter, too.’ And that is the ideological base of it. It’s like young, black men are humans, are part of our shared reality and their lives are important as well. [To counter] ‘Black Lives Matter’ with [the phrase] ‘All Lives Matter’ [is] a frankly racist statement that diminishes the importance of black lives.” Becker said the class was eventually approved with only one vote of opposition and three abstentions.

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The reason for wanting to introduce the class, Becker said, is because its content is such a contentious issue. Becker said after the election of President Donald Trump there might be more pressing issues in America right now, but before the election BLM was one of the primary political topics in the United States, which is a reason the class was approved. In the discussions in faculty governance, Becker said many of his colleagues vocally embraced the class because BLM is such an integral and ongoing issue in society right now. Becker said Truman, as a public university, needs to engage in issues like BLM and continue to engage in other subjects like it. Becker said the class is progressing well and there have already been some serious and in-depth discussions. In regard to this, the most important quality the class provides, Becker said, is an environment where students can have honest conversations about race, racism, oppression and social movements. Becker said that this doesn’t necessarily make the class fun because BLM is a serious topic, but the class can be challenging and rewarding for students. Becker said there are benefits teaching a sudent-run program can bring to the classroom, unlike the common professor. “It’s designed more like a seminar where you have people reading the same material and then discussing it,” Becker said. “Trista, Will and Ben — the preceptors for the class — they thought a lot about these issues and are particularly wellqualified to conceptualize the issues and put the readings together [and] to lead the class discussions. And the class attracted a good group of people who have also thought deeply about these issues and wanted to keep thinking about these issues. So for this type of course I have no problem with having students lead it because they have important insights and are willing to share and discuss those, and so it ends up being a very useful experience.” Becker said support for the class was mostly positive, and he’s proud of the official support he gained through his colleagues, despite being disappointed by some of the obstacles the class had to face in faculty governance. Another adult adviser of the class is Carol Bennett, Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs. In addition to having degrees in African studies and African American history, Bennett said she’s also interested in what’s currently going on with the world. Bennett said she chose to support the class because she thought it would be a good way to bridge the historical past to the historical present. See CLASS, page 7

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

REACTING TO MOVIES BY JOHANNA BURNS Managing Editor

One of my earliest memories is sitting on my diapered booty watching, for the first of what would be a thousand times, a girl fall in love with a beast. Since that moment, “Beauty and the Beast” has been my favorite movie. So when Disney debuted its live action remake of a tale as old as time last weekend, I went in knowing I might be disappointed. I shouldn’t have worried. Going into the theater I had two concerns — storyline and music. As so often happens with resonances, each retelling of a story changes the plot to suit their purposes, their style. The 1991 animated version of “Beauty and the Beast” differed significantly from the original fairy tale, focusing less on Belle’s backstory and more on the Beast’s backstory. In the fairy tale, Belle’s father is a merchant in reduced circumstances, her mother is present and well, and Belle is one of three daughters. The animated movie simplifies that storyline, eliminating the character of the mother and sisters, and instead focuses on how the Beast came to be cursed. To my delight, the remake kept elements of both versions by sticking closely to the Beast’s backstory while leaving a trail of clues for Belle’s backstory that culminates in a dramatic scene in Paris. The result is a satisfying tribute to previous stories that still offers something

new to audiences intimately familiar with the Beauty and the Beast story. For most Disney fans, the work of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken borders on the spiritual. The songs of the 1991 classic were what drove the storyline, even going so far as to actually tell the story at times. I knew, for this movie to be successful in my eyes, the work of Howard Ashman had to be honored. I felt safe going in knowing Alan Menken was still responsible for the score, and I was curious to see what changes he might make, if any. For the most part, it stayed true to the original soundtrack, as it included classics such as “Be Our Guest,” “Something There” and of course, “Beauty and the Beast.” However, I was surprised by the number of new songs. The addition of songs like “How Does a Moment Last Forever” and “Days in the Sun” were not particularly memorable, but I recognize their use in the story. The one new song that I did truly enjoy was “Evermore.” It was refreshing for the Beast to have his own song, and placing it at the moment of the movie when Belle leaves made it so stirring. I was surprised to find myself tearing up. There’s been a lot of controversy regarding Emma Watson’s — and other actors’ — ability to sing. While I agree singing isn’t Watson’s forte, I was willing to sacrifice that point for her superb acting skills. She brought a force to Belle’s character that was missing

from the animated movie and cemented the character as ahead of her time. This wouldn’t be a review of “Beauty and the Beast” if we didn’t talk about the library. In the animated movie, the library scene serves as a turning point in the Beast and Belle’s relationship. As a child, I nearly worshiped that library — to be honest I probably still do. It’s safe to say that I was positively drooling to see what Disney would do with CGI technology. The lead into the scene was promising. With the stunning detail of the castle — the entire castle is reminiscent of the opulence of Versaille — and landscapes, I expected the library to be jawdropping. To my disappointment, we were only given a quick glimpse of the library. However, the attention was focused on the playful interaction between Belle and the Beast in the library. Disney chose to have the two bond, not over a gift, but over the joy of literature itself. In the end, the touching banter over books more than made up for my quashed dreams of library aesthetic. My only recommendation — don’t see it in 3-D. I found it distracting, even nauseating, until halfway through the movie. I give this remake a solid B. It doesn’t live up to the hype the way the Cinderella remake did, but it stays true to its roots while finding new and magical ways to delight audiences. I look forward to more Disney remakes – cough, cough, “Mulan” and “The Lion King” — to come.

Jackie Cruz, Orange is the new Black star, will be Truman State’s SAB spring 2017 speaker. April 13th @ 7:30pm

CHURCH of CHRIST Kirksville

110 Pfeiffer Ave. • Kirksville, MO 63501 • 660-627-4003

You are invited to hear an unusual series of lectures that will directly address key concerns you may have about modern science and faith in God.

While many people believe science is incompatible with faith in God, these lectures will help you understand how honest scientists find ample evidence for a living and creative God. John Clayton - a nationally recognized teacher, author, and scientist - will address some of the more difficult issues facing people today. Your faith in God - and science - will be strengthened by these lectures. Your questions on these and other related issues will be clearly and rationally explained.

This program is presented as a public service by a local group of Christians who seek to restore New Testament Christianity. There will be no admission charge, we will not try to sell you anything, and no collections will be taken during the program. We wish to convince people that they can logically and intelligently believe in God and in the Bible as his Word. Free materials are available with no strings attached, and opportunites will be given to ask questions. Come and enjoy a relaxed visual presentation with no pressure or coercion involved.

OUR SPEAKER: John Clayton, a scientist and former atheist, came to believe in God in part because of the evidence he found in nature. An award-winning science teacher, recognized by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the National Association of Geology Teachers, Clayton has earned national prominence for his knowledge and skill in dealing with matters of science and the Bible. His approach fosters clear thinking and scientific honesty. Clayton is the author of The Source: Eternal Design or Infinite Accident? He has written an extensive body of science study material and is the editor of a bimonthly journal addressing science and faith in God titled Does God Exist? His popular lectures include illustrative photographs, scientific demonstrations, and relevant fossil artifacts.

John Clayton, Speaker

Does God Exist?

Lectureship @ Truman State University Sponsored by Ekklesia Campus Ministry & Kirksville Church of Christ

A devout atheist until his early 20s, John Clayton was part of the same organized atheist group that made Madeline Murray O’Hair famous. He decided to write a book called All the Stupidity of the Bible, but instead found himself slowly becoming convinced about Christianity. Today, he travels the U.S. giving some 40 lectures per year on the subject “Does God Exist?” He is a retired teacher and geologist by profession, having taught for 41 years in public schools in South Bend, Indiana. He holds a B.S. from Indiana University in Education with a concentration in Physics and Mathematics. He holds an M.S. from Indiana University in Education with a concentration in Chemistry and Psychometry. He also holds an M.S. from the University of Notre Dame in Geology and Earth Science. Mr. Clayton has received numerous teaching awards. He maintains a popular website that stresses that science and faith are not enemies, but friends. His website is http://www.doesgodexist.org/

Serving Fresh, Local Food & Drinks

With food made from scratch, our menu features locally-raised beef and pork. We also use local produce as much as possible. Wednesday - Saturday 5-9 p.m. Sunday Brunch Menu 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday Evenings 5-8 p.m. Check out out on Facebook for our daily specials. Reservations required for parties of 7 or more. 202 S. Hwy 63, Greentop, MO www.sebrees.com 660-949-2130

We’re Seeking Lovers of Truth in Milan, MO We are nondenominational Christians seeking others willing to unite on the simple teachings and worship practices of the New Testament. Join us for Sat. Bible studies with Evangelist Wade Stanley. Sullivan County Senior Center, 111 N. Market St., Milan. Saturdays 10 - 11 a.m., March 18-April 22. Check out our FB Page "Milan CommuWade Stanley nity Bible Study."

Fri. Mar. 24 Does God Exist? Violette Hall 1000, 7-9 PM, Q&A till 10 PM Sat. Mar. 25 Lunch, 11 AM-12:30 PM, Chariton Room, Missouri Hall, Q&A, Limited Seating Sat. March 25 What Is God & Who Created God? VH 1000, 7-9 PM, Q&A till 10 PM Sun. March 26 @ Church of Christ 110 Pfeiffer Ave. The New Atheism, 10 AM Why I Left Atheism, 11 AM Free Noon Lunch @ Church Jurassic Park and Genesis 1:30-3:30 PM

HOPE, JOY, LOVE & LIFE!

Enroll Today @ ReachGod.worldbibleschool.org

CELEBRATING

50 YEARS! GOLDEN

Sun. April 2 • Dan & Gaylene Green Renewal of Vows during AM Service With Kenneth Thompson Officiating Fellowship Meal Afterwards

Happy Anniversary!

Kenneth Thompson

God’s Message brings Hope, Joy, Love and Life! Learn how in the Bible - for FREE! Learn in your home, at your pace, with online friends. His grace has reached us and can reach you. Reach out to Jesus. He’s reaching out to you.

Married April 1, 1967 with Kenneth Thompson Officiating No Gifts Please! Donations in Their Honor to the Church of Christ for Ekklesia Campus Ministry at Truman Are Welcomed. Bro. Thompson will be conducting the 11 AM Service. Focusing on Marriage.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

CLASS | Students learn about the social context surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement in a one-time class offered this semester. The class is led by students, and participants contribute to discussions about race, racism, oppression and social movements.

TOP

Continued from page 5 The addition of the class, Bennett said, has also helped educate students in different ways. Bennett said the class can enhance critical thinking and speaking skills and address whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on with marginalized people. Another major component, Bennett said, is it helps guide students to understand the perspectives of race, identity and the intersectionalities that come with race in gender identity. Bennett said the class is also a space for students to express themselves and their experiences without retribution. Although the class is open for anyone, Bennett said white and black students will definitely differ in what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve personally experienced and what they will share within the class. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In most cases, white students, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the same conversations with their parents as a black student does and they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t experience, for example, what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be pulled over by a police officer in that same way,â&#x20AC;? Bennett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So for white students ... they get to hear direct stories from [black] students and how theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being perceived. Even though theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Truman students [and] theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re educated individuals, respectable, still their skin color is being looked at as a negative and lumped in with criminals [and] drug dealers.â&#x20AC;? Bennett said students will soon fill out a survey about the class but most enrolled students seem to be enjoying it. The only criticism from students, Bennett said, has been that not enough people speak up in class. Bennett said this is common in most classes which typically have five or six students that talk regularly. Part of this silence, Bennett said, is not because people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t engaged but are probably just synthesizing everything

1 2

theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hearing and trying to make sense of it. Bennett said when people do speak they bring new dynamics and perspectives to the conversation. This open discussion, Bennet said, not only makes students think about others but also about themselves, especially how they want to share their experiences with others. Bennett said this helps them better understand why people are angry, as well as the story of BLM, which is not one where everyone wants to kill the police or damage property. One thing the class does ask, Bennett said, is for people to go into it with a clear, unbiased mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do walk into conversations with preconceived notions,â&#x20AC;? Bennett said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do think that you have to be open minded. You have to be critical of yourself and often times we [want to] be critical of others and what they say, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at ourselves and see if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making sense and if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re knowledgeable. And a lot of people, when you start talking about oppressed groups, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll hear someone say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Well, my family came from Ireland, and we were able to build up this business in 80 years and after 80 years the business is still flowing and we have this nice house.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; But if you look at someone thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s black or brown [those] policies are different, treatment is different. So you have to be able to understand that part of it, too.â&#x20AC;? Bennett said one thing students can hopefully learn from the class is how to be open and honest even about their own biases. Additionally, Bennett said she hopes students can look at protests introspectively and start to dissect them. An example of this, Bennett said, is watching the news and distinguishing vandalism not being a part of a movement itself but being something usually not caused or created by the people protesting.

2000s Movies You Probably Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Remember Sleepover. This was the best teen movie of the 2000s, no contest. Also, Alexa Vegaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest role to date â&#x20AC;&#x201D; outside of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spy Kids,â&#x20AC;? of course. If one of Truman Media Networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editors moves to Australia, we hope we have a zany adventure like this before they go. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Editorin-chief Austin Hornbostel watched this movie more times than a male preteen probably should have. Sunshine. The best sci-fi film youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably never seen. A team of astronauts go on a mission to reignite a nearly burnt out sun with a nuclear fission bomb. Sunshine also has excellent CGI for its limited budget, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth a watch for the concept alone.

Youth in Revolt. This is Michael Ceraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Parent Trapâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sort of. Not only does Cera play his typical socially awkward teenager role, he also plays the role of bad boy alter ego Francois, complete with an awful mustache and penchant for chain smoking. Bonus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this film is based on an equally excellent book.

Treasure Planet. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Atlantisâ&#x20AC;? of the 2000s. Wait, scratch that. Maybe these films get less love because they were a similar genre and came out within a year of each other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Atlantisâ&#x20AC;? gets the nod for runner-up, but â&#x20AC;&#x153;Treasure Planetâ&#x20AC;? is less talked about. Also, did you know this is Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retelling of the classic Treasure Island but in space? Neat.

Accepted. What happens when founders of a fake college â&#x20AC;&#x201D; started because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get accepted to real schools â&#x20AC;&#x201D; get real applicants and have to turn their university into a reality? This features baby Jonah Hill in one of his early roles. He dresses up as a hot dog at one point. Good times.

â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż Â Â? â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż Â? Â?Â?Â Â â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż Â? Â Â&#x20AC; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż Â&#x201A; Â&#x192; Â&#x201E; Â&#x2026; Â&#x2026; Â

â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;Ż

Â&#x2020; Â&#x2021; Â&#x2C6; Â&#x2030; Â&#x20AC; Â&#x20AC; Â&#x160; Â&#x2039; Â&#x152; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2019;Â&#x201C; Â&#x192; Â&#x201D;

Season high finish for golf

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

The hype of March Madness BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer

BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer

The Truman State University women’s golf team got back into action over Spring Break at the Buccaneer Spring Classic in Tennessee. Although the tournament was cut short on the second day because of cold weather conditions, the ‘Dogs placed second out of seven teams. Truman came home with two top-ten finishes behind junior Nicolle Barmettler, who also made the all-tournament team, and freshman Lindsey Repp, who placed topten for the first time. Repp also shot a career-low 74 in the second round. Barmettler said the team is really proud of her, and she said she hopes it will give her confidence to continue to play well the rest of the season. Juniors Stephanie Hulett and Amanda Ressel were top 20 at 11th and 19th place overall. Ressel said the cold weather conditions really tested the Bulldogs’ mental toughness — the temperature never got above 34 degrees, and it was pouring rain. They were able to get through only seven holes on the second day before play was canceled, so these holes didn’t count. Ressel said a lot of the competition they faced came from lower southern states that weren’t used to the cold and being from Kirksville made it easier to adapt. The Bulldogs’ next meet is this weekend at Perry Park in Kentucky. Barmettler said this tournament is a big one because almost every team in the East Region will be there. Barmettler said the team should have a good shot in making it as a team to regionals — a big team goal this year — and this weekend will be a great chance to compete against good competition. Sophomore Brooke Kelley said after having a short Spring Break and continuing training on their own at home, the teammates are back working on their overall game and especially trying to get their consistency back after the long winter months of not competing.

Photos submitted by Stephanie Hulett Top: Members of the Truman State University golf team pose with their second place trophy at the Buccaneer Spring Classic in Tennesse last week. This was the top team finish for the ‘Dogs thus far this year. Bottom: Junior Stephanie Hulett concentrates as she lines up a putt at the team’s most recent meet. Hulett was one of four Bulldogs who placed in the top 20 at the tournament as she finished 11th overall.

Every March, avid fans of college basketball dust off their bracket sheets and predict who they think will defy all odds and win the NCAA Tournament. This annual event brings together all kinds of people — students, proud college alumni and even fans with no tie to any university. There’s a significant amount of hype around the playoffs for college ball — hype rarely seen to such a degree for the professional postseason. This begs the question — why are college basketball playoffs more popular than the NBA playoffs? This gap in popularity between professional and college basketball playoffs is reversed with nearly every other sport, so what makes basketball different? On The Bleacher Report, Tim Keeney said a key factor in college basketball’s reigning popularity is the effort college players show when they play compared to that of professional players. Keeney argues that the college student mentality of NCAA athletes pushes them to try their hardest for four years in the hopes of a professional career, whereas athletes who are already paid tend to rest comfortably instead of giving it their all. This drive to excel, Keeney said, is what leads more people to watch college basketball. Additionally, Keeney said the NCAA’s superiority over the NBA extends beyond the postseason into the regular season. Professional teams often intentionally drop games near the end of the regular season to get a better draft pick, but college students, many of whom “are staring their final game of their career right in the face,” as Keeney said, give maximum effort, leading to upsets late in the season. This keeps college games competitive at the point in the season where NBA games would start to become less interesting. Though I agree with the previous arguments, I think there are additional factors that keep the NCAA’s popularity above the NBA. For one, college basketball is more accessible to fans, especially in the Midwest. Sure, teams like the Bulls and the Cavaliers are technically in the Midwest, but there’s no strong desire for the vast majority of people from Missouri, Kansas or Nebraska to root for a team like the Milwaukee Bucks, for example. Instead, we have our regional college teams to cheer on. Through college basketball, areas with little to no likelihood of owning a professional basketball team still have multiple teams close to home to follow through the season. College basketball is also more interactive than the NBA. College students naturally feel more included in the NCAA than the NBA because their school is such a big part of their lives, but college basketball’s level of fan interaction extends to non-students as well, particularly through the bracket. Classes, families and workplaces have bracket competitions to see who can predict the early winners, who can predict the upsets and ultimately, who can predict the winner — you don’t see this for the NBA. NBA players might be more “talented” than college athletes, but the connection fans have with their regional team is what makes the NCAA prevail over professional basketball. Hold on basketball fans, March Madness is here.

Nice, large All wood floors. 2500 ft.². All appliances, washer and dryer, side-by-side fridge water and ice, microwave, dishwasher, stove, water and trash, all included. Walking distance to both colleges, food and entertainment.

Call 660-216-8608

PRESENTS

Tickets

St. Louis Brass

A limit of four tickets, per person, may be purchased for $5 each (includes tax) at:

7:30 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2017 Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall*

• University cashier window located in McClain Hall • Edna Campbells on the Kirksville Downtown Square • Online at lyceum.truman.edu * The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series St. Louis Brass performance will take place in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall due to the renovation of Baldwin Hall. The Performance Hall provides a wonderful venue for the performances, however, it has a smaller seating capacity, with 450 seats compared to 1,395 seats in Baldwin Auditorium.

Brass Quintet adds zaniness to its talents. Diverse material combined with imaginative presentation marked the engaging concert.

Earn credit at STLCC this summer

Enroll at PATHTOSTLCC.COM

— The Kansas City Star concert review

lyceum.truman.edu

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Photo submitted by Truman Athletics Senior outfielder Dave Gambino stares down a pitch as it makes way into the strike zone during last season. Gambino was named a preseason all-region selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association prior to the start of the 2017 season and is currently tied with sophomore first baseman Charlie Kreh for a team-leading 13 RBIs.

BASEBALL | A Truman State University baseball team that has been struggling to limit strikeouts so-far this season got hot at the right time Monday night. The ‘Dogs tallied 20 hits and 13 runs to defeat Lewis University. Continued from page 10 Now, Davis said the offense is going through its own rough patch mostly because of the tough non-conference schedule and the quality pitchers it has faced. Davis said the team discussed being mentally tough in the batter’s box when a battle is waged against one of these high-quality hurlers. He said a batter should typically look for a pitch to crush early in the count. When this doesn’t happen and the batter falls behind, he should look to foul off

pitches near the corners of the strike zone. Staying alive with foul tips raises the pitch count, a contribution even if the at-bat ends in a strike out. Davis said there are productive strikeouts that last around seven or eight pitches, and he wants his team to avoid the unproductive ones that last only three or four pitches. Forcing the pitcher to work harder for outs, even if hitters strike out, wears down the pitcher to a point where his high pitch count forces his early exit. He said he thinks the team will cut down on the strikeouts using this

UPCOMING EVENTS

Photo submitted by Truman Athletics Senior right-handed pitcher Alex Hoffman delivers a pitch in a starting performance last season. Hoffman, accompanied by left-handers redshirt freshman Bryan Clark and Rian Markes have been steady in the rotation for the ‘Dogs.

BASEBALL 3/25: 12pm vs. Quincy University Quincy, IL 3pm vs. Quincy University Quincy, IL

3/26: 12pm vs. Quincy University Quincy, IL 3pm vs. Quincy University Quincy, IL

mentality, which will allow the team to become more balanced. “We’ve always been a tough team to strike out,” Davis said. “I don’t think it’s any different with these guys.” Strikeouts aside, Davis said a few hitters have made the offense potent this year and are evidence that it will improve. Senior catcher and third baseman Jason Priest leads the team in batting average with .380 and with 20 RBIs and sophomore first baseman Charlie Kreh is tied for second on the team in RBIs with senior outfielder and first baseman Dave Gambino at 13. Davis said senior third baseman Chris Iliopoulos had a great weekend in the four games against Lewis, hitting four home runs. Iliopoulos leads the team in home runs with seven and slugging percentage with .661. Iliopoulos said he typically doesn’t show that much power as he usually hits balls in the gaps, but he said he has been elevating more balls and they have just been finding their way over the wall. He said he wants to cut down on his strikeouts because he currently leads the team in that category as well with 18. “Striking out is the worst thing you could do,” Iliopoulos said. Iliopoulos said strikeouts stagnate the offense by bailing out the opposing defense. He said the offense needs to put more pressure on the defense by forcing them to make plays, which would increase the probability of mistakes. He said the games against Lewis were examples of the lineup not applying enough pressure. Iliopoulos said the opposing pitching staffs have been stingy with the amount of hittable pitches and said they need to lock in and sustain the battles against these talented staffs. He said Augustana’s staff was strong and the lineup was able to hang tough in the box, which explains how the team was able to come out of the four-game series with two wins. While the ‘Dogs have to be more disciplined against the offspeed pitches, Iliopoulos said the offense is capable of doing that. He said this is one of the best lineups he’s ever seen because everyone in the order can hit for power but also spray balls all over the field — which was shown in the team’s first eight games. “I’m 100 percent confident we’re going to get back to that,” Illiopoulos said.

TENNIS

SOFTBALL 3/25: 12pm vs. McKendree University Lebanon, IL 3pm vs. McKendree University Lebanon, IL

3/26: 12pm vs. University of Illinois-Springfield Springfield, IL 3pm vs. University of Illinois-Springfield Springfield, IL

Rent: Heritage House Rentals has 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apts, duplexes & townhouses well maintained available now for 2017-18 year. Close to TSU. Pet friendly. Call Heritage House Rentals, LLC 660-665-2787 or visit heritagehouserentalsllc.com

3/25: TBA at Quincy University Quincy, IL

GOLF

3/26: TBA at Perry Park Spring Fling Perry Park, KY

Rent: Vista Heights has 1 & 2 bedroom apts well maintained available now for 2017-18 year. Located close to TSU. Water & trash provided. Pet friendly. Call Donna 660-665-9224 or visit vistaheightsapts.com.

Want to advertise with TMN? Contact us at: jai6847@truman.edu (417) 761 - 2897

SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2016

@trumanathletics

tmn.truman.edu

Bulldog softball heats up in Sunshine State BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer

Truman State University softball headed south for a Spring Break trip, playing a total of eight games over four days. The Bulldogs went 7-1 in Florida, leaving the Sunshine State with crucial wins over regional opponents. At the end of this trip the team had won 11 of its last 12 games, making its overall record 17-9 before coming home to start conference play. “We’ve been talking a lot about having good defense, good pitching, good hitting all at the same time, and we figured out how to piece it all together,” Assistant Coach Bailey Wittenauer said. “We didn’t have a lot of time to sit and dwell. We had another game right away, so the girls did a great job of staying focused.” One close win was against University of Sioux Falls. The final score was 11-10, but the Bulldogs had a 9-3 lead at one point until the Sioux Falls bats heated up and tied the game 10-10. Wittenauer said that was a huge win for the ‘Dogs because they remained focused and battled to come through with the close win. Wittenauer said everyone on the team stepped up and filled their roles, which is why the team is having so much success right now. Three players who were very solid in Florida include seniors Valerie Schmidt and Lex Van Nostrand and sophomore Christa Reisinger. “It’s hard to pick just one [impact player] because everyone did so well, but Valerie Schmidt has really stepped up this year and is now a starter who has been doing really well hitting for us too, and bats close to a .377,” Wittenauer said. “We also have Christa Reisinger who is batting .550 or something outstanding like that. Lex [Van Nostrand], our catcher, too, is just so steady every game. They all just get the job done.” Junior Ashley Murphy said everyone on the team is contributing to its success. Murphy said there were a couple games where the team had to come from behind. They relied on each other and trusted the process, no matter how early a team was able to put up runs against them. “On any given day, any one of our players will step up and get a key hit

or make a big time play,” Murphy said. “Each one of our players plays a very important role and the depth on our team is incredible. Each win is a complete team effort.” Murphy said the weather was great for the women, but they also were able to relax on their day off. Murphy said the ‘Dogs got a break from Midwest winter conditions to play in 70-80 degree weather and enjoy some free time outdoors. Murphy said the team was able to visit the beach or catch a spring training game on their day off. The Bulldogs came right back to Kirksville to start conference play against the University of WisconsinParkside. They won the double header 5-2 and 7-3, but fell to Lewis University the next day in both games of the double header. Truman softball now sits at 19-11 overall and travels to McKendree University and University of Illinois-Springfield this weekend for double headers.

Dominating the GLVC Sophomore outfielder,

1st in the conference in the following categories: Batting Average: .545 At-bats: 99 Runs Scored: 37 Hits: 54 Stolen Bases: 20 Walks: 15

Photo submitted by Truman Athletics Sophomore outfielder Christa Reisinger takes a swing during an at-bat earlier this season. Reisinger and the Bulldogs went 7-1 on their Spring Break trip to Clermont, Florida to improve their overall record to 17-9.

“On any given day, any one of our players will step up and get a key hit or make a big time play.”

Hot bats carry ‘Dogs into conference play BY JEREMY JACOB Staff Writer While most students were resting during Spring Break, the Truman State University baseball team played eight games against Augustana University and Lewis University, going 3-5 for the week. Now heading into its conference schedule, the team has scored 106 runs through 20 games. However, the team scored most of the 106 runs during the first eight games when they averaged 7.3 runs per game, juxtaposed with only four runs per game

during their last 12 games. Head Coach Dan Davis said he has noticed the team making less contact, especially during the last couple weeks. The Bulldogs rank No. 4 in the conference with strikeouts at 131 through 20 games. At this time last year, the team had 102 strikeouts through 21 games. Davis said they would have a better chance to reach their goals if they reduced the strikeouts. He said the rotation has pitched better as of late especially the left-handed redshirt freshman Bryan Clark and freshman Rian Markes, and right-hander senior Alex Hoffman. See BASEBALL, page 9

Chris Iliopoulos Bulldog third baseman senior Chris Iliopoulos

ATHLETE

made noise at the plate last weekend against Lewis University, blasting four home runs in four games. Iliopoulos knocked out three home runs on Sunday alone, tallying seven long shots on the season thus far. Iliopoulos leads the team in home runs and slugging percentage at .661.

VOLUME 108

ISSUE 6

tmn.truman.edu

of the

WEEK

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