The Index Vol. 112, Issue 9

Bulldogs make Elite Eight

Admitted student events, page 6 Pride@Prejudice,

page 14

page 7

Professors publish through local press company, page 9

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu tmn.truman.edu

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

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UNIVERSITY PLANS FOR FALL SEMESTER RACHEL BECKER News Editor

Truman State University is in the process of planning for the fall semester in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brenda Higgins, associate vice president for student health and wellness, said the University will likely continue its mask mandate. Photo by Bidan Yang

Truman State University is starting to plan for the fall 2021 semester and the COVID-19 regulations it will require.

Brenda Higgins, associate vice president for student health and wellness, said the University looks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for higher education to create its COVID restrictions.

“We feel like [the CDC is] the ultimate expert in the field of communicable disease so in all cases, we try to follow the CDC guidelines,” Higgins said.

“We also try to be in compliance with our county guidelines.”

For example, the Kirksville City Council and the Adair County Health Department instated a mask mandate Nov. 25, 2020. Truman has had its mask mandate in place since the beginning of the fall 2020 semester, so sometimes the University is ahead of requirements of the county.

However, if the Kirksville City Council decides to remove its mask mandate, Higgins said, the University will probably keep its mandate in place until the CDC does not recommend it anymore.

Higgins said the University seems to have grown accustomed to wearing masks over the past year.

“We’re better at reading eyes and facial features than we have been in the past,” Higgins said. “So I think as long as the CDC is recommending and as long as we don’t really have a way of knowing who’s immunized.”

The CDC has recently updated its COVID guidelines to recommend that three feet of distance between people is as effective as six feet of distance.

See FALL page 5

City Council election heating up KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer

Kirksville City Council elections will take place Tuesday, April 6. There are four candidates running for one seat and a three-year term.

The candidates are Kevin Alm, Kabir Bansal, John Gardner and Dana (Danny) McDowell. On March 16, the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce held a Virtual Candidate Forum on Facebook Live. Alm, Bansal and Gardner attended the event, but due to technical difficulties, Alm could not participate after opening statements.

The candidate forum can be viewed online on the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

At the forum, the candidates were asked three questions pertaining to their qualifications, what they want to do for the economy and how they want to improve infrastructure. They were also given the opportunity to give an opening statement.

Kevin A. Alm has run for city council in the past but has not been elected.

Bansal has worked as a Deacon in his church, works in process improvement and analysis and works with different teams in his workplace. He is also a Truman State Graduate with a degree in Business Management.

“Something that I believe is very important is looking at how we allocate funds for different maintenance activities for infrastructure in the City of Kirksville,” Bansal said.

See KIRKSVILLE page 3

Missouri moves to Graduation to be phase 1B - Tier 3 held in person ANAKIN BUSH Assistant News Editor

RACHEL BECKER News Editor Missouri is now on Phase 1B - Tier 3 of its COVID-19 vaccination plan.

Those who are now eligible for a vaccine include K-12 teachers, childcare providers, communications sector employees, information technology workers, food production workers and government officials.

This phase does not include higher education faculty, staff or students. Phase two is scheduled to go into effect Monday, March 29, and Phase 3 on Friday, April 9.

In a press release sent out March 18, Gov. Mike Parson said when all phases of Missouri’s Vaccination Plan are activated, approximately 4.5 million Missourians will be eligible. The state estimates that approximately 60% of Missouri citizens are interested in getting a vaccine.

“With the progress we are currently seeing and vaccine supply expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks, we are well ahead of schedule

VOLUME 112 ISSUE 9 © 2021

Kerianna Roder, pharmacy manager in Waukaa, Iowa, prepares to give a vaccine. Missouri is now on phase 1B - tier 3.

Submitted photo with our vaccine plan,” Parson said in a press release. “Supply projections are subject to change, but it is critical that we start preparing for this potential influx and ensure there is a consistent number of people who are eligible and interested in receiving a vaccine.”

See VACCINES page 3

Graduates line up at the December 2020 graduation. That graduation did not allow in-person guests. Photo by Tim Barcus

Truman State University is dividing its spring 2021 commencement into seven ceremonies across two days, which will allow guests to attend in-person in a limited capacity.

The spring 2021 commencement ceremony plan was announced to students in a Truman Today email March 15. Three events will be held May 7 at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Four ceremonies will then be held May 8 at 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. All ceremonies will be held in Pershing Arena.

The 11 a.m. ceremony on May 7 will be for accounting, agricultural science, art, art history, biology and design majors. The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will be for biochemistry and molecular biology, business administration, chemistry, classics and communication majors. The 6 p.m. ceremony will be for exercise science, French, German, health science and history majors.

See GRADUATION page 5

The Index

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

Truman recognized for urban forest management Sophomore Devin Johnson and freshmen Ana Sophia Ragouzis and Sophia Akridge study on The Quad. The Arbor Day Foundation awarded Truman State University a 2020 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition. Photos

by Bidan Yang

Below: Junior Kylie Anderson walks past Pickler Memorial Library. Tree Campus USA has recognized Truman State University as a partner school since 2014.

Freshman Gabbi Woods studies outside. Five standards must be met in order to receive recognition, including observing Arbor Day and having a campus tree-care plan.

staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Pivoney Managing Editor: Elisabeth Shirk News Editor: Rachel Becker Assistant News Editor: Anakin Bush Features Editor: Erica Lindsay Assistant Features Editor: Genna Tlustos Assistant Opinions Editor: Brittany Morrow Copy Chief: Julie Thomassen Assistant Copy Chief: Brooke Barnes Digital Director: Francesca Valente Assistant Digital Director: Maddie Harris Digital Assistant: Ryan Slaughter Designer: Norah Grojean Podcast Editor: Trevor Grandin Photographers: Emily Collins, Bidan Yang, Oliver Malone Copy Editors: Olivia Sloan, Gillian Burks, Jessica Robinson, Sami Harris, Leighya McNeely

Staff Writers: Allison Maschhoff, Savannah Kluesner, Ari Klokic, Jack Ratliff, Taylor Herndon, Kennedy Cooper, Jenna Manzelli, Joey Dougherty, Steven Findley Jr. Andrew Holder, Ethan Hewett, August Volton, Matt Frank, Ben Orshiso, Gabriel Smith

Adviser: Don Krause

03/17 Shoplifting reported at the 2500 block of North Baltimore Street

03/21 Property damage reported at the 200 block of South Mulanix Street

03/17 Domestic disturbance reported at the 1400 block of South Downing Street

03/21 Dead body reported at the 1000 block of Don Street

03/18 Trespassing reported at the 2100 block of North Baltimore Street

03/21 Vandalism reported at the 900 block of East Normal Avenue

03/18 Harassment reported at the 500 block of South Stanford Street

03/21 Vandalism reported at the 1200 block of North Main Street

03/19 Domestic disturbance reported at the 10 block of Devlin Place

03/21 Theft reported at the 600 block of South Fible Street

03/19 Theft reported at the 1600 block of North Centennial Avenue

03/22 Vandalism reported at the 300 block of South Baltimore Street

03/19 Trespassing reported at Eastgate Drive

03/22 Theft reported at the 600 block of East Pierce Street

03/19 Theft reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore Street 03/20 Domestic disturbance reported at the 700 block of West Elizabeth Street 03/20 Property damage reported at the 1100 block of North Green Street 03/21 Property damage reported at the 200 block of South Mulanix Street

03/22 Theft reported at the 200 block of South Mulanix Street 03/22 Theft reported at the 700 block of West Martha Street 03/22 Trespassing reported at the 300 block of West Washington Street 03/22 Dead body reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore Street

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

The Index

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KIRKSVILLE| Candidate forum held virtually prior to City Council election

A car drives on Baltimore Street. The quality of the city’s roads and sidewalks has been a topic of discussion this election. Photos by Rachel Becker

Continued from page 1 Bansal said he wants to reevaluate how the City is spending its money, as well as work to fix issues in neighborhoods and business areas.

When looking at the economy, Bansal said he wants to work with local businesses to promote economic growth, have higher wage jobs and encourage more companies to come to Kirksville. Some specific types of businesses he mentioned include manufacturing jobs and family-oriented event centers.

“We have to get out of the mindset that we are just a college town with retail stores and mexican restaurants,” Bansal said. “That’s not all we are.”

Gardner also participated in the candidate forum.

Gardner is the former Residence Life director at Truman, served on the board for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration, has experience with strategic planning and served as treasurer for AquaDogs. Gardner also currently works at A.T. Still University.

Gardner said he believes his professional experience helps to make him qualified for City Council.

“One thing that stands out for me is that I’ve overseen budgets in the millions of dollars and revenue generation in the tens of millions of dollars,” Gardner said. “I think that’s a unique experience that can be useful in running a city.”

Gardner said he wants to improve the roads and sidewalks in Kirksville, and also hopes to work on the water system, keeping the cost for water low and using block grants to improve the water systems in Kirksville. He also said he wants to work with internet providers to make sure citizens have access to higher quality internet.

For the economy, Gardner said he wants to bring more higher-wage jobs to Kirksville and partner with outside entities to bring money and business to the

City. He also said he wants to help provide incentives for these private companies to come to Kirksville.

“You can see Kirksville in a couple of different ways, one can be a small town in Northeast Missouri, but I like to think of it as like the economic hub of Northeast Missouri and I think we have the opportunity to continue to grow that,” Gardner said.

McDowell is also running for City Council, but did not participate in the candidate forum.

McDowell wrote on his Facebook page that he was born in Kirksville. He also posted that senior citizens need to be represented on the City Council, and he encouraged citizens to go vote.

“I want to see every citizen represented by our City Council,” McDowell said.

Citizens who are registered to vote in Kirksville can vote in the election April 6. The polls will be open from 6 a.m to 7 p.m. Polling places can be found on the Adair County website or by calling the Adair County Clerk’s office. Sample ballots can also be found on the Adair County website.

There are four candidates running for City Council. Three candidates attended the virtual forum, but one of those three left early due to technical difficulties.

VACCINES| Parson releases dates for vaccine rollout across the state Continued from page 1 The federal government told Missouri that COVID-19 vaccine allotments to the state are projected to significantly increase by the first week of April. Parson said the timeline for phases two and three ensures that there is a consistent number of people who are eligible and interested in receiving a vaccine.

Parson said phase two is estimated to extend vaccine eligibility to approximately 880,000 Missouri citizens. Phase two opens up the vaccine to those employed in construction, critical manufacturing, higher education, and remaining food and agriculture sectors. This phase also includes homeless and disproportionately affected populations.

Phase three of the vaccination plan will open vaccination to all Missouri adults, extending vaccine eligibility to an estimated 1.1 million Missourians who were not activated under any other tier or phase. More information on the specific qualification of these phases and tiers can be found on MOStopsCOVID.com/priority.

As of now, one in four people in Missouri have their first vaccination, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The state also estimates that 50% of Missouri’s 65 and older population have been vaccinated.

“Missouri’s position is continuously improving on the COVID-19 front,” Parson said.

“With over 1.2 million Missourians having initiated vaccination, large increases in vaccine supply and the activation of Phases 2 and 3, we are confident that we are winning the battle against COVID-19.”

Jim LeBaron, administrator for the Adair County Health Department, said the vaccination rollout in Adair County has been really important for the community.

“The main thing is that we get our vaccine into the arms of people that want it as soon as possible,” LeBaron said. “I’m glad that the governor is opening this up on April 9. My conversations with the state is that I was asking that it be available to everyone sooner than this, but at least we got April 9 and that’s a good thing. It’s a good thing for Adair County.”

LeBaron said he hopes more of the vaccine is available to the county.

He said President Joe Biden’s administration has promised more vaccines in the coming months and he said the county is waiting like everyone else to see exactly what that rollout will look like.

“We are being told there’s plenty of vaccine for everybody that wants it,” LeBaron said.

The Health Department and community vaccinators have given over 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, LeBaron said.

Including higher education students, LeBaron said he estimates close to one-third of the Adair County population has been vaccinated so far.

Brenda Higgins, associate vice president for student health and wellness, said places like Hy-Vee and Walgreens are offering to vaccinate anyone with their leftover shots. While the majority of students are not able to get vaccinated until phase three, she still recommends people call vaccination sites to see if they have any extra appointments available to use spare vaccinations.

“If they have extra doses that have to be used because they can only be thawed out for a certain amount of time … you can get on wait lists,” Higgins said, “At that point, they’ve already vaccinated those who are signed up. And these are doses that are going to have to be destroyed. And so they would rather put it in anyone’s arm than to put it in the trash can.”

Students will most likely not be required to get a vaccination before the fall semester, as long as the vaccines all fall under the emergency use protocol, Higgins said.

Higgins said the University can require vaccines like the MMR or meningitis vaccine because they are both Food and Drug Administration approved. However, the COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized for emergency use so the University cannot ask if students, faculty or staff have been vaccinated nor can they require the vaccine.

“Now, with that said, I absolutely believe it’s safe,” Higgins said. “I think it has been studied very thoroughly and over a long period of time, just not for COVID, for other SARS viruses and I’m very comfortable with it. But as far as a legal matter, until it’s an FDA approved vaccine, it probably won’t be required.”

Higgins said she is concerned about the part of the population who is vaccine hesitant or vaccine resistant.

Higgins said people are hesitant about the vaccines for a number of different reasons, whether they just don’t believe in vaccines, they don’t believe they’re safe, they thought the approval process was rushed or they are abstaining for political reasons.

“A big concern of mine is just that even once vaccines are available, that we may still have a lot of people who are hesi-

Kerianna Roder, pharmacy manager in Waukaa, Iowa, gives a vaccine to an employee of Waggoner Pedatrics of Central Iowa. Submitted photo tant or refuse to get the vaccine,” Higgins said. “I think that could impact where we are in the fall. So that’s one of my biggest concerns.”

LeBaron said Adair County is very split in its opinion of the vaccine, similar to the county’s opinion about masking.

LeBaron said the Adair County Health Department Board of Trustees met on Monday and unanimously voted to keep the mask mandate in place until at least April 12, when they will revisit current data and discuss options.

At the meeting there were people there both for and against the mandate, LeBaron said. He also urges people to vote in the upcoming April 6 election, where members of the Adair County Health Department Board of Trustees will be elected.

LeBaron said this might be the most important election for the Health Department in its history. He urged citizens to take a look at the candidates and make an informed vote.

LeBaron said while the county might have different views on masks and getting a vaccine, the response from some citizens to the vaccine has been emotional.

“I’ve really been moved by the tears,” LeBaron said. “It really, it just breaks your heart when people are crying when they get their vaccine. Cause they’re so relieved, you know, and so thankful to get the vaccine.”

LeBaron said he has had both doses of the vaccine and had little to no side effects, he said the vaccines are backed by science and are effective.

He said any chance to increase COVID-19 vaccine shots in the community is good and urges people to get a vaccine where they can.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

[ Our View ] Graduation plans should be revisited Students were informed of this semester’s commencement ceremony plan March 15 via a Truman Today email. The ceremonies will take place over two days, indoors and with a strict attendance maximum of two guests per graduate. Upon learning of this year’s plan for graduation, many students have expressed frustration with the guidelines, including students with divorced parents who will be forced to make difficult decisions about their allotted tickets.

In this way, some people see the restrictions as too strict.

However, by inviting people to Kirksville in order to celebrate graduation, the University is allowing for the possibility of increased community spread.

And while limiting the number of invitations to two per graduate does minimize risk, the decision to have the ceremonies indoors restricts the ability to social distance. Therefore, some students see the decisions as too lenient.

It seems the commencement planning team has tried to compromise between these two ideas by finding a middle ground that, unfortunately, doesn’t fully satisfy anyone. The circumstances we find ourselves in are less than ideal and we, as Truman students, must understand that a lot of thought and work has gone into trying to give students the chance to walk across the stage.

While the world has endured this past year of uncertainty and confusion, we understand how easy it is to crave normalcy. But when looking at the numbers of infections and deaths in both Adair county and Missouri as a whole, it is clear that we are still in the middle of this pandemic. Not enough has changed since last December to warrant looser safety measures, particularly large gatherings of people indoors.

We, The Index Editorial Board, ask the University to consider hosting the commencement ceremonies outdoors. We understand that trying to organize a new venue in the event of inclement weather can create issues, so we encourage the commencement planning committee to wait until we get closer to May 7-8 to make a final decision about location. If the weather permits, we believe hosting the events outdoors for better ventilation, as the CDC recommends, would result in a larger number of people feeling safer about attending commencement.

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Uncertainty is good and bad RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief As the spring semester begins to wind down with just under 50 days left, the future can seem increasingly uncertain. Certainly, the added stressors of being a senior college student are at play here. However, this year, like last spring, I can’t help but notice the heightened unpredictability of what’s to come.

On the front page of this issue, we report that Truman State University has begun planning COVID-19 precautions for next semester, but the timeline for when these official restrictions will be released is unknown. While the University doesn’t want to release the guidelines too soon as the future of the pandemic can change, it is important to keep students, faculty and staff aware of what to expect in order to start preparing — or at least have an idea — for what next semester will look like.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my four years here, it’s that Truman students like to plan. Without a clear

picture of how the semester will unfold, it’s difficult to orchestrate which classes to take, how often you want to be on campus and how best to be successful — however that’s measured.

In a broader context, the pervading social and political uncertainty is also formidable. As COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out, it’s becoming evident that many areas of society will begin to change again — allowing more in-person events and a reduced need for precautions. As we eagerly await the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal government, many areas are simply up in the air. Often when talking about the future in a political context, it’s easy to form an opinion that we are heading in either the right or wrong direction, but right now it just seems unclear. It’s difficult to feel a sense of comfort about the future when we really can’t anticipate how it will unfold.

However, uncertainty can also be exciting. As the number of vaccinated individuals increases, I’m more encouraged than I have been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is, of course, more work to be done, but we should lean into the uncertainty and focus on the possible positive outcomes. Just as easily as an imagined negative result can come about, so can a positive one. As the semester passes and you begin to plan for the near future, focus on the positive outcomes.

Local elections affect Truman students too ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor It’s finally that time of year again when the sun’s warmth graces us for the first time in months and suddenly flowers and municipal election candidate signs pop up in grassy areas around town. The buzz this year, however, seems to have less to do with bees and more to do with who will fill the vacancies on the Kirksville City Council, the Kirksville R-III School Board of Education and the Adair County Health Department’s Board of Trustees.

Election day is April 6 this year and here’s why Truman students, who are eligible to vote in Adair County, should care; decisions made within the Kirksville City Council and the Adair County Health Department have an observable, lasting effect on Truman students, especially in our present moment.

The Kirksville City Council is a vital part of policy implementation affecting the local economy, infrastructure and wellbeing of Kirksville residents, which is especially important amid this current pandemic. As students, we are residents of Kirksville for as long as we’re in school, which could be four or more years. This is a significant amount of time to be impacted by these issues and subsequent decisions. If you have the ability to vote for a City Council candidate who you think will best represent your interests and needs as a student, take advantage of that opportunity. Even if you’re not going to

be here for much longer, you should do your part to help improve City Council representation for the sake of the students and other community members who will be in Kirksville after you leave.

As we rightly consider how our actions might affect Kirksville in the future, it is perhaps more critical that we acknowledge the urgent, on-going health issues we currently face. The Adair County Health Department has been at the front and center of our community’s attention since the early stages of the pandemic. We are supposed to rely on its press releases for necessary public information and its guidance for the safest practices and policies. We can only rely on these, however, if we trust that the people creating this public information and guidance have our needs and interests in mind. As written on the front page of The Index this week, Jim LeBaron, Adair County Health Department’s administrator, said this might be the most important Health Department election in its history.

University President Sue Thomas also announced during a Board of Governors meeting Feb. 6 that the University partially bases its policies on local health department guidelines. Therefore, it is in our best interest as students at Truman to have members of the Adair County Health Department’s Board of Trustees who advocate for the best possible COVID-19 guidelines. The City of Kirksville also takes guidance from the Health Department. Most Truman students don’t stay on campus all the time; we often live, shop and do various leisure activities off-campus, so city policies on COVID-19 also affect us.

As Kirksville residents, it’s important to have our voices heard in matters involving this community. These matters have always impacted Truman students, but it’s even more imperative now — amid this continuing health threat — that we do whatever we can to make Kirksville a better, safer place to live for ourselves and our fellow community members.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

GRADUATION| Spring graduation to be broken up into seven ceremonies Continued from page 1 The 9:30 a.m. ceremony on May 8 will be for interdisciplinary studies, justice systems, liberal studies, linguistics, mathematics, modern language, music, nursing and philosophy and religion majors. The 1 p.m. ceremony will be for communication disorders, computer science, creative writing, economics and English majors. The 4 p.m. ceremony will be for physics, political science, political science and international relations, psychology, Russian, sociology/anthropology, Spanish, statistics and theatre majors. The 7:30 p.m. ceremony will be for all master degree students.

Students who wish to participate in the commencement ceremony must apply to graduate by April 1. Graduation candidates who do not want to participate in

the ceremony must notify the Registrar’s Office via email by April 12.

Each student will be allowed to invite two guests to attend the ceremony in-person. Social distancing will be enforced for all students and guests. Everyone in attendance will also be required to wear a mask. All ceremonies will be livestreamed for viewing by those not in attendance. The delivery method for this live stream has yet to be announced.

“This commencement will be unlike any Truman has ever attempted, and it will require a lot of extra planning and preparation from University staff, faculty and administration,” the Truman Today announcement states.

Registrar Nancy Asher said the decision to host seven ceremonies is number based. The commencement planning team

determined how many students can fit on the Pershing Arena floor while maintaining social distancing.

Asher said 140 to 150 students can safely fit, with seven ceremonies of 140 students getting to the estimated amount of graduates.

Asher said the planning team has not encountered too many challenges, but she expects getting enough staff for seven ceremonies to be a challenge.

Asher said she hopes students and their families will be satisfied with the new modified structure. She explained that the easiest solution for the ceremonies was to hold them with no guests, but they decided to work on a change because they knew students wanted their family there.

“We are doing it for [the students],” Asher said.

Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said a challenge of planning the seven ceremonies was figuring out the best timing. They knew it was not possible to do all seven ceremonies in one day, so the planning team had to decide which two days would be best.

“I do hope that families will see that we’ve gone above and beyond to try to accommodate two guests,” Gooch said.

Gooch said the ceremonies fit within Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, so she feels comfortable with the ceremonies because they fit within the guidelines.

The CDC website outlines risk factors and recommendations to follow for planning large events. The risk factors include the amount of COVID-19 cases in the community, the setting and length of the event, the number of people in attendance and how people behave during the event.

Safety recommendations include enforcing social distancing, requiring the usage of

masks, having adequate hygiene supplies and making sure the event area remains clean.

“That doesn’t mean it alleviates all concern,” Gooch said. “I mean anytime you have a larger gathering I guess you increase the opportunity for there to be a spread of COVID, but what we are doing falls within CDC guidelines so for that reason I feel like it’s defensible.”

Gooch said feedback for the winter commencement ceremony was positive. That ceremony only allowed students to attend with no guests. Gooch said she thinks each ceremony keeps getting better as guests are now allowed to attend.

Emma Fellows, senior agricultural science student, thinks that it is great that guests can come as long as social distancing and mask wearing are enforced.

Fellows said she felt bad for those who would want to bring more than two guests, such as step-parents. She feels that having guests in any capacity brings about a sense of normalcy.

Fellows said having seven smaller ceremonies is a little odd, but she prefers a short graduation due to COVID-19.

“I think this is the best way to handle the situation, and I appreciate that they are trying,” Fellows said.

Cj Richards, senior history major, is also happy that guests can attend the ceremonies.

Even with only two guests for each student allowed, he is happy that his parents can come watch his ceremony.

Richards is fine with the seven ceremony structure, although he would like to be in the same ceremony as his friends to see them graduate.

“I’m honestly just happy we have some progress back to the world we lived in before COVID-19,” Richards said.

FALL| Truman still discussing COVID-19 regulations for fall Continued from page 1 The University has yet to decide if it is going to adhere to that new guideline in the fall.

“That would allow for not double, but at least a few more people in our classrooms, in our auditoriums and that kind of thing,” Higgins said. “So that that would be positive as long as we were really confident that that was safe.”

Higgins said that vaccines most likely will not be required in the fall because the vaccines are under an emergency use authorization and not full FDA approval. Because of that distinction, the University cannot require the vaccine and, due to HIPAA protections, it cannot ask who among its faculty, staff or students have been vaccinated.

As for when the University will release the official restrictions for the fall, Higgins said the timeline is unknown. She explained that the University does not want to release the guidelines too soon because the path of the pandemic is still uncertain. She said the University is also aware that people are making plans for the fall that will be dependent on these regulations.

Higgins said the University commonly looks to other universities to see what their regulations and requirements are.

Although the University of Missouri-Columbia is different from Truman in its population and size, it is one university Truman looks to, Higgins said.

The University of Missouri-Columbia announced via Twitter on March 17 that it will be opening Faurot Field for the next football season at its full capacity of 62,621.

Truman Athletics has yet to announce if it will allow guests at fall sporting events.

Overall, Higgins said she thinks the University has done a good job at dealing with the pandemic considering no one anticipated it.

She said faculty normally have a semester or two to acclimate to new changes, but with the pandemic they had to get everything online quickly. She said over the past two semesters faculty have perfected the online format.

“We have more ways of offering courses than we did in the past,” Higgins said. “It’s been a struggle for faculty. It’s not just faculty. I think staff have also had the same kind of struggles.”

Higgins cited the example of the University Counseling Services, where counselors had to figure out how to do their jobs remotely.

The University’s primary goal is to protect its students, faculty and staff, Higgins said.

“If some of the other things weren’t perfect but we were able to protect our community, then we achieved our goal and we still were able to provide a quality education,” Higgins said.

Sophomore Geemma Brom and senior Sami Richardson sit outside at a table in front of the Student Health Center. Vaccines will most likely not be required next semester. Photo by Bidan Yang

The Index

6

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

Admitted student events to still be held in person GABE SMITH Staff Writer During the first two weeks of March, the first round of admitted student events came to a close, but like most on-campus events this year, they looked different.

Given the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations against large social gatherings, the Office of Admissions took proactive steps to ensure the safety of attendees while still maintaining a high level of prospective student engagement.

Ryan Myzak, director of admissions, said admitted student events are typically comprised of hundreds of students, open buildings, access to faculty and exposure to organizations on campus. This year, the Office of Admissions divided these events into six ‘micro-events’ featuring each individual school on campus.

“For us, a big part of getting students to come to Truman is getting them to see the campus and experience the environment,” Myzak said.

Despite the impact COVID-19 had on the overall event structure, Myzak pointed out that Truman was uniquely positioned to show prospective students that the classroom experience wasn’t radically different compared to pre-COVID times.

This was, in part, due to the overwhelmingly positive support and initiative Truman faculty took during these events, Myzak said.

Myzak explained that faculty took the time to speak to students individually, talk about their respective programs and make accommodations for those who weren’t able to attend.

However, there were plenty of logistical and organizational difficulties leading up to admitted student events. Shari Fieser, director of campus events and visits, said the lack of space on campus and COVID-19 precautions had a significant impact on event structure.

“It’s hard to get a lot of energy from a crowd of only forty students in a large auditorium,” Fieser said.

Fieser pointed out the many steps the Office of Admissions took to ensure the safety of students, including limiting the number of guests a student could bring with them as well as contactless check-in with QR codes.

Even though this year’s admitted student events are relatively small compared to the events hosted in the previous two years, Myzak said Truman has fared better than many of his colleagues at other universities.

“People at other campuses are blown away when I tell them that all of our fac-

Admitted student events have been held in-person and virtually this year. Ryan Myzak, director of admissions, said Truman has fared better than many of his colleagues at other universities. Photos by Bidan Yang

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ulty voluntarily went [to] and did online training,” Myzak said. “That says so much about what you get here at Truman.”

The Office of Admissions will host six more events later in April for students who were not able to attend the in-person events in early March. Each of these events will consist of unique academic program presentations from every department on campus.

In addition to showcasing faculty and academic programs, these Admitted Student Events will include a virtual tour of the University and a glimpse of residence life at Truman.

Sophomore Kathleen Love walks past Pickler Memorial Library. Six more admitted student events will be hosted in April. Photos by Bidan Yang

life

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

7

Pride@Prejudice:

a classic tale with a modern twist

Cast members Emily Kemp, Maddie Sarasio Meyer, Theresa Dawson, and Will Griffin rehearse for the show. The cast is limited to five people who interchange acting as British characters and American students. Photo by Rachel Becker GENEVIEVE TLUSTOS Assistant Features Editor If you were a student assigned to read Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” for English class but never did, the Truman State University Theatre Department’s newest production, “Pride@Prejudice,” is for you.

The play will be performed live in Baldwin Auditorium and will be livestreamed March 25-27. Tickets are $2 for the in-person showing and $5 for the livestream showing and can be purchased at boxoffice.truman.edu. The higher livestreaming cost covers both the licensing fee and per-customer fee.

“The show ‘Pride@Prejudice’ is described as a romantic deconstruction,” Ann Rapp, senior and director of the play, said. “It’s the classic story of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ but with a modern twist. It’s got excerpts from internet forums and letters from Jane Austen sprinkled throughout to explain, clarify and emphasize certain points of the show.”

Junior Emily Kemp, the lead actress who plays Elizabeth Bennet, said the characters in the play switch between acting out their British roles to interjecting as the American students who perform the roles. These interjections aim to provide clarity and humor for modern audiences.

“Pride@Prejudice” was submitted

by Rapp as a lab show, which is the one fully student-lead show per semester. For the lab show submission process, students submit a play and a directorial approach to a steering committee, a group of elected students who review submissions and pick one to be performed.

“Pride@Prejudice,” written by Daniel Elihu Kramer, was chosen by Rapp because it fit well with COVID-19 restrictions. Such restrictions include a

limit of five actors on stage at a time, face shields during the performance, social distancing on stage — with a few exceptions — and separation of the audience from the stage.

“The reason I chose this show, besides just adoring ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in general, is in regency society when the story takes place, everyone stands very far apart from each other,” Rapp said. “So it seemed like a good fit for the COVID guidelines that we had to follow.”

Kemp said it has been challenging to do a romantic play without getting close to the other actors.

It has also been difficult during more intense scenes where her instinct is to get closer to the other person, Kemp said. The only time that she has contact with another actor during the production is on three occasions where she holds an actor’s hands. She and the actors both sanitize their hands off stage before those particular scenes.

Junior Maddie Sarasio Meyer, who has several roles in the play, said there is little physical contact on stage. The cast is careful to wear masks and use lots of hand sanitizer. Sarasio Meyer said there are only five people in the cast all together, and all are in the same small “pod.”

Four of the five cast members have also

gotten the first dose of the vaccine.

Along with providing a blend of classic literature and modern interpretation, “Pride@Prejudice” is an unusual play in that there are only five characters. All actors play more than one role, with Sarasio Meyer playing eight different roles.

“It’s been interesting trying to learn different voices and really nail down different postures and stuff that indicate one character specifically to help the audience as much as possible realize that those characters are different individuals, Emily Kemp, because we don’t have a lot of time lead actress to do big costume changes,” Sarasio Meyer said.

Sarasio Meyer said she has never had to play that many roles for one show. There are times when one of the characters she plays introduces a different character that she also plays. There is also a lot of fatigue with the show — mainly because it is two and a half hours long — but the supportive cast helps, Sarasio Meyer said.

Rapp said directing the show has been a lot of fun and she is thankful for the cast and their positive attitudes. She said the choices the actors make and their ideas make her job easy and her first directing experience valuable.

“As an actor, it’s maybe the funnest show I’ve ever been a part of, and as an

“As an actor, it’s maybe the funnest show I’ve ever been a part of, and as an audience member, that will definitely come through.”

audience member, that will definitely come through,” Kemp said. “The cast, we have fun every day at rehearsal, and I know people say that a lot, but genuinely we have a lot of fun.”

Sarasio Meyer said the show has been a way for her to have a break and shut out everything that’s happening in the world. The cast and crew all are excited to be there, and are able to leave their stresses and worries at the door, she said.

Rapp said she hopes the fun and romantic play can give people an escape from the exhaustion many people are feeling a year into the pandemic.

Sarasio Meyer said classic literature can often be confusing or scare people off. As a person with dyslexia, Sarasio Meyer explained that she has had issues with the word order of older books like “Pride and Prejudice.” She said it is fun for her to see a version of it that explains exactly what is happening where the characters playing the roles sometimes don’t understand the motivations of those roles. Sarasio Meyer said she thinks “Pride@Prejudice” will make the audience feel safe with their limited knowledge of the original work.

“Academically, I think it’s a really good way of understanding the story,” Kemp said. “I first started ‘Pride and Prejudice’ when I was in seventh grade, and there were a lot of things that I didn’t understand, and I think if I read it now and I didn’t know the story at all, I would still not understand a lot of things. So because we have this guise of being American students half the time, we are able to really convey what is going on and what that really means.”

Kemp encouraged people to come see the show live in order to have the full experience but said the streaming would also be a great option.

Below: Griffin and Courtney Klein play the roles of Mr. Darcy and Caroline Bingley, respectively. Rapp said she hopes the play’s fun and romantic nature can give people an escape from current stressors. Photo by Rachel Becker

Above: Sarasio Meyer and Kemp have a socially distanced conversation as Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet. Actors said it was difficult to stay apart during more intense scenes, but limited contact. Photo by Rachel Becker VOLUME 112

ISSUE 9

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The Index

8

TOP {5}

by Taylor Herndon, Spring Superfan

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

SociallyDistanced Spring Activities

We did it, Bulldogs! We are through a brutal winter and spring is upon us. As we spring forward into warmer weather, what can we do to enjoy the sunshine but still stay socially distanced? Here are my top five favorite socially distanced things to do in warmer weather:

3. Gardening While I do not have a green thumb myself, I love to see beautiful blooming flowers during springtime. Being able to enjoy the weather while also adding color to what has been a dark, dreary winter helps to lift your mood and have fun in the process.

5. Read a book or do homework outside

2. Baking

Yes, I know: Homework is not very fun, but why not finish what you need to do anyway out in the sun and warmth instead of inside? This could be an incentive to get it finished and even boost your mood. Also, reading is always a fun activity that you can do anywhere.

This is always a fun activity to do by yourself or with friends. Making things such as spring-themed cupcakes and treats can get you in the mood for springtime. Baking in the spring helps me get excited with my friends while also celebrating that springtime is here.

4. Go for a hike

1. Crafts

A walk around Thousand Hills State Park — or even just campus — is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the sunshine as you do so. Going with friends or even by yourself for a mindful walk will help you to enjoy the changing of the seasons. I enjoy hiking when the weather is not too hot and there are not too many bugs yet.

Getting creative and doing crafts with your friends outside on The Quad, or even just by yourself, is a good way to enjoy the sunshine and get creative with friends. Find ideas online, and let nature and the blooming flowers inspire your own creativity.

METALLICA’S MASTERPIECE:

ASTER OF PUPPETS life. “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” is a ballad-like song that explores the treatment of patients in a mental health “The album sees Metallica at hospital in a “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”-esque way. “Disposable Heroes” is a sharp critique of not only Metallica is one of the most popular and well-known metal bands of all time. If you’ve ever been to a sporting event its best, flawlessly spitting out the military but also professional football at a time where player safety and well-being was disregarded in favor of a or turned on rock radio, odds are you’ve probably heard “Enter Sandman” or another Metallica song. The band’s im- long epics — the shortest song win. “Leper Messiah” criticizes televangelists and religious figures that seem to only care about making money and garpact on the metal genre cannot be overstated, particularly is five minutes long — that will nering fame. with the release of its third album, “Master of Puppets.”

The only criticism for this album is that at times, the Clocking in at just under 55 minutes, “Master of Puppets” is a masterpiece. Released in 1986, Metallica took its tried have you headbanging un- length of the songs can drag on, causing the listener to lose focus. As songs stretch over the five and six minute mark, and true formula of thrash metal aggression and pushed the envelope of what critics thought was capable. The album til your neck is sore and then it can be easy to start to drift away from the music. However, the songs are so good that I rarely find myself doing mixes fast paced, aggressive tempos with melodic, and at this — honestly, I’m just nitpicking. The songs are so well times gentle, sections. These slower paced and melodic sec- headbanging some more.” done that the length doesn’t significantly impact the listentions are not only heavy in their own rights — see “The ing experience.

Thing That Should Not Be” — but also serve to make the As the last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton before faster sections seem even faster and louder. The album sees Jack Ratliff, his tragic death on tour, the album is a lasting tribute to his Metallica at its best, flawlessly spitting out long epics — brilliant work as a crucial band member. Listening to his the shortest song is five minutes long — that will have you headbanging until your neck is sore and then headbanging Staff Writer beautifully haunting intro to “Damage, Inc.” always gives me chills and occasionally makes me misty-eyed to recall some more. the incredible talent Cliff possessed.

After facing accusations of “selling out” with an acousComing in at No. 2 on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time,” tic intro on a ballad released on their previous record, Metallica fired back with an acoustic intro to one of their heaviest songs, “Battery.” The thrash masterpiece “Master of Puppets” is a true work of art. In 2015, it was selected by the Library perfectly sets the tone for the record, giving the listener a preview of precisely what of Congress to be preserved in the National Recording Registry for being “culturis in store. While the album has straightforward thrasher songs like “Battery” and ally, historically or aesthetically significant.” After all these accolades, to say that “Master of Puppets” is Metallica’s best album and one of the greatest of all time “Damage, Inc.,” many of the other songs explore societal issues.

The title track deals with any sort of coercive force that holds power over one’s seems like an understatement.

JACK RATLIFF Staff Writer

SEND ALBUM SUGGESTIONS TO jlr2323@truman.edu

The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

9

“The Belinda Chronicles” a coming of age journey for every stage of life ALLISON MASCHHOFF Staff Writer

An enjoyable read that finds its strength in its honesty, ingenuity and familiarity, “The Belinda Chronicles” by Linda Seidel, a retired Truman State University English professor, is work that manages to turn tough topics into a light read without losing depth.

This “lightly fictionalized memoir” takes an unflinching look at the later stages of life, including losing one’s parents and confronting one’s own mortality.

“The Belinda Chronicles” is a steady read, taking a thematic approach that flirts with various timelines. The book alternates between vignettes about the people in Belinda’s life and her reflections as she struggles with the approaching deaths of her aging parents and enters a new stage of her life. It compares multiple generations of family members and asks about the ways our elders impact us, even as we become elders to those that come after us.

Despite mainly focusing on life’s endings and the anxieties of old age, Seidel still manages to intersperse moments of lighthearted humor that bring a genuine smile to the reader’s lips by interspersing happy memories and staying true to her witty self. The narration is honest and inviting; many of the sections about Belinda reflecting on her own life feel as if the reader has been invited to sit down with her and listen to her story.

If there is a weakness in the work, it would perhaps be the commentary on Belinda’s singleness. Seidel makes a clear case for why Belinda does not wish for marriage in her old age, but Belinda feels largely removed from social circles beyond her parents’ nursing home. It may have been nice to see Belinda find a new purpose in her life as she learns to live as the now-oldest generation of her family. However, considering the work is a memoir, that new purpose may not yet be ready to be written. The prologue sees Belinda setting out to learn in this new stage of her life and while she does learn over the course of the book, more lessons are undoubtedly to come.

While displaying a sharp mind, deep introspection, and clear writing ability, Seidel maintains an air of approachability that gives the reader the sense that they already know her. Belinda’s character sits at the intersection of the quintessential elderly woman and the free-spirited feminist. Her story is one of both family and individuality as she copes with what it means to “become a grown-up who made her own safety — and found her own fate.” She perfectly encapsulates the beginning of the end mentality that so many people face after retirement while still remaining relatable for readers of all ages. This book would be perfect for anyone beginning a new stage in their life because whether it is seventy years or twenty, everyone has a past that informs their future.

If you enjoyed “The Belinda Chronicles” and would like to read more, Seidel has continued to post new installments on Facebook and some of her vignettes are published in the digital magazine “Wordpeace,” where Truman professor and fellow Golden Antelope author, Monica Barron, is on staff.

Local press publishes works of Truman professors, young writers ALLISON MASCHHOFF Staff Writer

It all began with Neal’s mother, Vivian, who had always enjoyed writing. In 2004, Neal and his brothers decided to self-publish one of Vivian’s stories and give it to her as a gift. Little did they know they were sending Neal and Betsy Delmonico on a journey that would last over a decade. The retired college professors who had taught at Truman State University — Neal in the philosophy and religion department, and Besty in the English and linguistics department — found a new passion for the publishing business that continues to this day.

After being introduced to the publishing process, Neal realized he could begin publishing his own research. Because his area of emphasis is Eastern Asian religions and uses languages not commonly printed in the United States, he had often struggled to find American publishers who would produce the original scripts alongside his translations. Neal’s studies have been the inspiration for the press’s title, as well as its offshoots.

“Golden Antelope” pays homage to Vivian’s hometown of Golden, Colorado, and is also a character in an Indian epic that represents art and creativity.

“It seemed appropriate,” Neal said.

While Neal wrote various works to publish, he said Betsy is at the heart of the creative press. She prefers editing and helping others reach their goals to writing stories or articles herself.

Neal and Besty decided to publish works relating to East Asia and Neal’s studies under the imprint Blazing Sapphire, a title also based on Indian texts, saving the Golden Antelope brand for creative works. A few years later, their business grew after they were asked to publish the work of their friend and colleague, Arnie Preussner, a committed Truman English professor who continued teaching while undergoing cancer treatment. Beginning with Preussner’s work on Shakespeare, the Delmonicos created the third branch of their publishing company, Naciketas, for nonfiction works unrelated to East Asia. Neal explained that Naciketas is a character from an Indian story who is known for asking questions to the point of frustrating those around him; he compared him to Socrates from Western culture.

Since branching out, Golden Antelope Press and its imprints have published the works of six different Truman professors. One-quarter of all works the Delmonicos have published have been authored by people with Truman connections. They have even published work

by Kirksville native Ruth Ann Musick, a folklorist who

went to Truman when it was Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. Current faculty members who have published with Golden Antelope Press include Bob Mielke and Monica Barron. Still, a large portion of Golden Antelope authors are retirees who have finally found time to write the book they have always wanted to write. One of these authors is Linda Seidel, a former Truman professor. Her new book, “The Belinda Chronicles,” began as a series of Facebook posts and reimagines Seidel’s personal journey entries as moments in the life of the fictional Belinda.

While Golden Antelope has published many authors in later stages of life, they have also published younger authors who eventually moved on to contracts with bigger publishers. Because of the business partner they use to actually print the books, Golden Antelope books can be purchased internationally, and while physical copies are printed on-demand, readers can also buy ebook versions.

The small press is growing in prominence; last year, it received over 300 submissions from around the world.

However, Betsy and Neal both acknowledged that they are not able to offer writers some of the advertising and marketing opportunities available when working with bigger presses. Small presses like Golden Antelope do not have the budget to put on the kind of events and

campaigns that are often necessary to make a book stand out among the 300,000 new books published each year in the U.S. alone.

Knowing that Truman’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing attracts many aspiring writers who will traverse the publishing journey, Betsy and Neal gave some advice. First, Betsy said to remember that selfpublishing can be a real option.

“It’s losing some of the stigma,” she said.

Since the Delmonicos run Golden Antelope as a home business, they can only handle so many projects at one time. They said they often suggest the self-publishing route to authors who have polished manuscripts but cannot be accepted by Golden Antelope at the time of submission.

Betsy’s second piece of advice was for people going through the editing process.

“If an editor says, ‘Change this to this,’ some change needs to happen there, but probably not the specific ‘this to this,’” Betsy explained.

She added that editors are good at seeing where changes need to be made, but that it is often the writer’s job to know exactly how to fix the problem.

The Delmonicos still live and work in Kirksville, and the press opens for submissions periodically. More information can be found on the Golden Antelope website.

The Index

10

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

In Perspective Narratives from the campus community

What are your goals for the rest of the semester?

Joe Clay, junior “One goal is to finish with good grades in all my classes. Another goal is to get elected to the executive board of Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity I’m in. I’m on it this year and have enjoyed the learning opportunities it has given me and getting to serve my brothers in that way. I would love to be able to continue doing that in a new position next year. My last goal is to make sure I take time to have fun and make some good memories as well. Some of the ways I plan on doing that are playing Spikeball, mountain biking or hiking, and just hanging out with friends. I’ve only got a year of school left after this, so I want to make sure to make the most of the time I have left with my friends in the college setting.”

Lauryn Robinet, freshman “One of my goals is to raise my GPA enough to retain all my scholarship money. Last semester didn’t go as planned so I’m working as hard as I can this semester to make up for it. My other goal is to be more involved both on campus and in the community. Joining [Alpha Sigma Gamma] has given me opportunities to serve the campus and the community so I’m going to take as many of those opportunities as I can.”

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The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

11

Men’s soccer suffers two losses over weekend ETHAN HEWETT Staff Writer The Truman State University men’s soccer team added two more losses to its record this past weekend.

The Bulldogs were shutout against Indianapolis University on Friday, losing 0-3, and lost a 1-2 nail-biter against Lewis University on Sunday. These two losses bring the Bulldogs to a 1-6-1 record for the season.

Head Coach Duke Cochran said the biggest struggle this season has simply been getting the result they’ve wanted.

Cochran added that his players have played well, but combinations of fouls and late-game mistakes have resulted in the final box scores.

Despite the three-goal loss to Indianapolis, the rest of the Bulldogs’ losses have been decided by just one goal, including three overtime losses.

“It’s kind of on the knife’s edge,” Cochran said. “At that point as a team, you just got to keep pushing because eventually it will break your way.”

Cochran explained that his team having more experience together will help those games go their way more often. With a young team, Cochran said the team leans on its leaders right now.

One of those leaders, forward Andrew Brennan, said the starting rotation usually consists of four to five freshmen. However, Brennan said the younger players are beginning to adapt to the college style of play.

“I think they’ve played really well and improved us in a lot of areas,” Brennan said.

“Because of them, we’re definitely a stronger team.”

Brennan added that the extended offseason and limited preseason might have hindered the initial bonding process between the younger and more experienced players.

However, Brennan said he is making the most of this season and as a captain on the team, he has tried to set an example for his younger teammates.

“I’m making sure I’m doing everything I

can to lead by example,” Brennan said. “And when things go wrong, I just encourage guys by saying we still got time here and we can still pull out a result.”

Brennan said this encouragement was greatly needed against Lewis after the Bulldogs conceded a goal within the first five minutes of the match.

While the record might not show the improvements, Cochran said several freshmen have had solid first-year campaigns, including forward Sam Newton.

Newton currently co-leads the team in goals with Brennan at three and has put up seven shots on goal so far this season.

Defenseman Dominic DeProspero echoed that his team has been playing well this season. However, DeProspero went on to say they just haven’t been able to put together a complete match.

“Whether it’s mental lapses or individual lapses, as a team we can’t seem to put together a full 90 minutes so when that whistle blows, we come out on the winning end,” DeProspero said.

DeProspero said the team might just need more time before those mental lapses start to dissipate as players gain more experience on the field and work together as a team.

In terms of play, DeProspero said experience is everything and players can find their way into a groove with themselves and their teammates.

Right now, both DeProspero and Brennan said one of the bigger challenges on the field is figuring out when to be aggressive.

Brennan said several conceded goals this season were results of the team getting too aggressive in their own defensive third of the field, giving opponents easy looks.

Brennan added that with experience comes the ability for a player to know when to clear the ball downfield rather than trying to make ill-advised passes.

Cochran said players hope not to make the same mistake twice and getting more time on the field will eliminate those mistakes.

“It’s been a little sad seeing the different mistakes we can make to cost us a game,”

Midfielder and forward Ryan Stites heads the ball in a game last season. The men’s soccer team is 1-6-1 so far this season. Photo from TMN Archives Cochran said. “But in that is the learning ex- creative when we get in the offensive third,” perience as you age up and mature.”

Brennan said. “We know we have talented Cochran said most of the top teams in the players that can produce moments and magic conference have groups of players who have to score goals.” been around the Great Lakes Valley ConferBrennan added having that style and flair ence and with each other for a while. to their offense should help them moving forMeanwhile, DeProspero said the team has ward in this season and beyond. tried to get into more of an attacking mindset Despite the results this season, DeProspeand pushing the ball downfield more into the ro said any of the team’s remaining games opponent’s defensive third of the field. could go their way and this season has been In previous seasons and early on this year, preparation for both himself and the younger DeProspero said his team tended to play players moving into next season in the fall. more in its defensive shape, but recently has Cochran concluded that his team has been attempting to shift the momentum into played well this season and with the young its offensive third, creating more scoring op- talent on the team, the future is bright for the portunities. men’s soccer program.

Brennan elaborated on this by saying he The Bulldogs will push on with their seafeels they have more of an identity offensive- son this weekend taking on the University ly this season. of Illinois-Springfield March 26 and Quincy “We’ve really been trying to get more University March 28.

Women’s soccer battles against injury ANDREW HOLDER Staff Writer The Truman State University women’s soccer team lost two of its last three games , beating the Lewis University Flyers 2-0 on March 21.

Before grabbing its third win so far this season, the Bulldogs lost to the University of Southern Indiana 0-1 and

the University of Indianapolis 2-3.

Southern Indiana won on a penalty kick in the 84th minute as Truman dropped its second game in a row, leaving the team with a 2-4 record on the season. After another loss and a win, the team’s current record sits at 3-5.

Head Coach Mike Cannon said that Truman has faced numerous injuries over the past year, leaving the team

Midfielder Hannah Hickey guards the ball in a game last season. The women’s soccer team is 3-5 so far this season. Photos from TMN Archives

depleted in numbers. “[The injuries] have made it more challenging,” he said. “We should get some players back soon, so we don’t have to play 14 or 15 players back to back … which wears on you if you don’t have a bench.”

Some freshmen on the team have been forced to play larger roles with all the injuries the team has suffered. One of them is defender Izzy Heintz who has stepped up in a big way this season.

Heintz said it has been difficult to take on such a large role for the team as a freshman. However, she mentioned the team has helped a lot and has built an uplifting culture in the face of adversity.

Heintz has played 282 minutes for the Bulldogs, including 106 minutes in a double overtime game against Missouri University of Science & Technology.

Truman has found itself in many close contests this season, which gives Coach Cannon confidence despite a rocky start to the season.

“Lindenwood went to overtime, Mckendree went to overtime, they were all fairly even games,” he said. “We are right there. In most of the games, we have been tied most of the time.”

Despite numerous shot attempts and chances, the Bulldogs have found it challenging to find the back of the net this season, with three goals being scored in six games, all courtesy of junior forward Faith Branson.

Branson said she credits her performance this season to the work that she

put in during the offseason, yet she still finds areas to improve.

“I’m trying to work on connecting with the midfield more,” Branson said.

“We had more opportunities to score because I was holding the ball more to help the team get up because if I make a mistake and lose the ball, the defense and midfield have to work back again.”

Coach Cannon said the first goal will be huge in upcoming contests, with most of Truman’s games having a scoring margin of 1 goal.

“We are a good team and they are a good team … if you look at the scores in the conference, the games are pretty tightly contested,” Cannon said.

Truman plays against the University of Illinois-Springfield at 1 p.m. this Friday in Collinsville, Illinois, and the game will be streamed on GLVCSN.

The women’s soccer team celebrates after a goal in a game last season.

The team has had numerous games run into overtime this season.

Volleyball team postpones three games Right: Setter Rachel DeFries sets the ball for the team. The volleyball team has postponed three games after players tested positive for COVID-19.

Bottom Left: DeFries prepares to hit the ball in a game earlier this season. The Bulldogs return to the court March 30.

Bottom Right: Opposite hitter Emma Berthold spikes the ball over the net. The volleyball team will reschedule its three missed games. Photos by Oliver Malone

The Index

12

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

Bulldogs’ season halted by Drury

Top Left: Forward Maya Mouton shoots the ball in a game against Southwest Baptist University earlier this season. The women’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Div. II Midwest Regional before Drury University ended its season.

Right: Guard Katey Klucking looks to pass the ball.

The women’s team had a record of 17-5 this season.

Bottom Left: Guard Hannah Belanger protects the ball. Throughout the uncertain COVID-19 season, team unity was a constant. Photos by Oliver Malone

Softball grabs three wins over weekend STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Staff Writer The Truman State University softball team saw two series this past weekend, one against Lindenwood University and another against the University of St. Louis.

The Bulldogs finished with three wins out of the four games played throughout the weekend.

Head Coach Amanda Bradberry has her squad sitting at a 7-11 overall record early on in the softball season.

“Continuing to make the little adjustments game-by-game led us to our recent three-game win streak,” Bradberry said.

The UMSL series was dominated by a combination of good hitting and great pitching, Bradberry said.

Truman combined for seven runs in total over the two-game series while only giving up one run overall.

“We got the timely hitting down, and the players adjusted to what the pitchers were throwing,” Bradberry explained. “This was key to our series sweep.”

The sweep over UMSL was the Bulldogs’ first conference series sweep of the season and extended the Bulldog win streak to three games.

Coach Bradberry shifted focus to discuss what the team has ahead in its immediate road trip this upcoming weekend.

“To begin the week, the team has a day off,” Bradberry said. “It’s a good chance for the players to re-

cover from the weekend.”

Bradberry expects the team to stay sharp over the week and head into the following two series with the energy from last weekend.

The idea of the team is crucial for the second year head coach, as Bradberry applauded her team’s overall ability to step up.

“I think the joy in our season so far is that different people are stepping up each game,” Bradberry said.

“It’s been fun to watch from a coaching perspective.”

The Bulldogs have seven home runs on the season and 124 hits overall, and a team ERA of 4.79.

Truman is currently in seventh place in the GLVC at this point, with games coming up against McKendree University and University of Southern Indiana.

“Early on in the season, our players were kind of watching and taking everything in,” Bradberry described.

Bradberry concluded the previous sentiment with the notion that the team has matured since the start of the season.

The head coach closed the conversation with a declaration that she shares with her team after each season improvement.

“I always tell our team to bring those wins and that energy over into our practice and future games ahead.”

The Bulldogs will be in action this Saturday and Sunday, first, a two game series against McKendree followed by a series against Southern Indiana.

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Above: The softball team won three of four games last weekend. The Bulldogs swept the University of Missouri-St. Louis, making it the first conference series sweep of the season.

Left: Pitcher Rachael Kernich winds up in a game earlier this season.

Head Coach Amanda Bradberry credits the team’s pitching and good hitting for its success. Photos

by Truman Athletics

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

The Index

13

Baseball drops first 12 games of season ANDREW HOLDER Staff Writer The Truman State University baseball team has had a rough start to its season, dropping its first 12 games, with its most recent series against the University of Indianapolis from March 19-21.

Despite the rough start to the season, Head Coach Dan Davis still finds ways to stay positive.

“There definitely is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Davis said. “I scheduled tough teams to start the season off, knowing that they were going to be good. It did not start off the way we wanted to, but we have been starting to press more.”

Davis mentioned that this past weekend

was one of the best performances he has seen from the team this season. Despite not scoring many runs, players were hitting hard and getting on base. The next key will be to drive those runs home, which will begin to make Truman more competitive in the conference, Davis said.

Davis said that pitching has been facing a huge burden this season.

“Our pitching has been adequate,” Davis said “It’s almost like the pitchers need to be perfect if we know that we are going to score only one or two runs. They feel like they have to throw a shutout every time.”

One of the benefits of the rocky start to the season is that young players have had a chance to prove themselves during playing time.

Davis said he is especially impressed

First baseman Holden Missey prepares for a pitch. The baseball team has not won a game this season. Photo by Truman Athletics

with Brennan Perkins’s work and the youth on the pitching staff as well, with two freshmen starting on the weekends and the bullpen almost entirely composed of underclassmen. He noted that it has been fun to watch them play and grow to be better players.

Davis also mentioned that although it is never easy to go on a losing streak, team morale has stayed high, and despite some frustrations, noticeable improvements are being made.

“It’s not like we are hitting any kind of a panic button or try to reinvent the game,” he said, “It is all about getting better at what you do, and that is what we are going to continue to do.”

While the freshmen have been impressing Davis, he said he is also very hopeful for the short-term future of this team. Davis praised Connor Mckenna as a tremendous player, saying that his numbers don’t tell the whole story and he gives Truman a chance to win the game every time he steps on the mound.

Cathers, Jake Schneider and Reid Wilson were also praised for their toughness and reliability on the field.

Truman will face the University of Illinois-Springfield at home this weekend from March 26-28. Despite the strong start the University of Illinois-Springfield has had this season, Davis said he expects this to be a competitive series

and is confident in his team’s abilities against top 10 opponents.

The first game against the University of Illinois-Springfield will be Friday at 3 p.m. and is viewable on the GLVC Sports Network.

Infielder Landon Hamm throws the ball. Despite the losses, Head Coach Dan Davis said the Bulldogs are playing well. Photo by Truman Athletics

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14

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

DECADES IN THE MAKING

Guard Turner Scott shoots the ball in the season’s last game of the regular season against Southwest Baptist University. The Bulldogs had a 20-2 record as of March 23. Photo by Oliver Malone

Bulldogs make Elite Eight in NCAA Tournament STEVEN FINDLEY JR. Staff Writer The men’s basketball team has undertaken postseason tournament play and the Bulldogs competed in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs’ road to postseason success took an early hit when the team suffered a nail biting two-point defeat to the University of Illinois Greyhounds in the GLVC quarterfinals.

Forward Elijah Hazekamp has been a key player on the team this season, his first as a Bulldog.

In his redshirt sophomore season here, the North Dakota University transfer has experienced the ups and downs of postseason play immediately.

“It was definitely disappointing to lose in the GLVC tournament,” Hazekamp said. “However, we had to move on with the NCAA tournament ahead.”

Hazekamp finished with 12 points and five rebounds against the Greyhounds and knocked down three triples.

The redshirt sophomore elaborated that the team couldn’t lose sight of its goal and the minor setback would lead to a major comeback.

“Seeing that we still were given the [No.] 1 seed in the national tournament was motivating for sure as well,” Hazekamp said.

The Bulldogs rolled past their first round matchup at Ashland University, where the team out-rebounded Ashland 32-27.

Hazekamp said his main skills on the court are being a rebounder and an effective offensive player.

“Rebounding takes effort, and I really have found my niche in it,” Hazekamp said. “I’m letting the offense flow naturally when it does.”

The big time transfer put up 15 points and pulled

down 10 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ Midwest Regional championship game.

Guard Turner Scott is the floor general for the Bulldogs, and in his redshirt senior season has enjoyed making it back to the national tournament.

“This tournament run means a lot to not only me but also to my fellow class members,” Scott said.

Scott was a freshman during a season where the Bulldogs reached an NCAA tournament, but the following season finished with a below 500 record.

The guard credited previous basketball alumni for putting in the framework that has always been built upon to get the team to this point.

“We’ve been building this type of run up for a while now,” Scott said. “All that work is finally paying off.”

Scott has been putting in his fair share of work in postseason play, averaging 13 points and seven assists over the last three games.

Fellow guard Masen Miller has also been putting up numbers for the squad, all while being a freshman this season. “[Miller] has been huge for us this season,” Scott said. “Anybody who watches our games knows that he is a true shooter.”

The guard tandem has been a staple for Coach Horner this season, and Scott also credits Miller for his excellent defense.

The Bulldogs scraped past Michigan Technological University in the Midwest Regional Championship game and are slated to take on Flagler College in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.

“This week we have to make sure our minds are right as well as our bodies,” Scott said. “Staying focused and prepared will give us our best shot.”

The senior guard specifically laid out the importance of staying on top of academics, as the team will be locked in on Monday.

The quarterfinal matchup will be played March 24 in Evansville, Indiana, at 8:45 p.m.

Above: Guard Hunter Strait dribbles the ball. This season’s team is the first to make the Elite Eight in over 20 years.

Right: Forward Dylan Peeters attempts to block against SBU earlier this season. The men’s basketball team played in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals last night. Photo by Oliver Malone VOLUME 112

ISSUE 9

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