The Index Vol. 111 Issue 16

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Men’s basketball plays like it’s 1979 page 12

Student group struggled to find funding,

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“Every Breath We Drew,” page 7 Totta leads Bulldogs with talent, passion, page 14

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanIndex

@TrumanIndex

International student numbers down KIRA HINTZ Staff Writer The Center for International Students at Truman State University is experiencing its lowest recruitment rate ever with a 300% increase in fall 2019 prospective students being denied a student visa. Thirty international students have been denied a student visa, which is the highest amount the CIS has seen since 2004. Prior to that year, the biggest number of students turned away has only been 10. CIS Director Melanee Crist said in a normal school year the CIS would’ve gained 114 international students instead of 94. The CIS always has a goal of 100 or more students, so

Crist said staff can feel disappointed when a student is denied since that recruitment effort can seem emotionally and financially wasted. Crist said the CIS focuses on bringing a diverse group of international students to campus which can be more difficult with a visa denial. The country that denied prospective students visas the most was Nepal, followed by a few rejections from Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and China, Crist said. She said students from European countries aren’t affected as often by visa troubles. Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said fall 2019 enrollment consisted of 374 international students, which make up 7% of Truman’s student body. As far as financial contribution,

Rector said Truman would survive without a bigger international population as there are more in and out of state students. Truman’s 2020 spring semester has 5,231 students, the lowest amount Truman has had in the past ten years, Rector said. While 30 students isn’t necessarily a dramatic drop, Rector said because of the current small Truman student body it would’ve been beneficial to have those 30 students enrolled. If students are initially denied their visa, Crist said the CIS works closely with them to remedy whatever issue happened and help them reapply a second time. “[The CIS] can provide documentation like a letter that talks about why this person is a good match for Truman and Truman’s

STUGOV PROMOTES ELECTION SEASON

reputation,” Crist said. “We come and advise them in a general way about addressing whatever the visa officer said because a lot of times the proof exists [for visa approval], but they just didn’t know what was going to be asked.” Crist said the CIS will only defer a student twice since they don’t believe in a third referal and above. She said the CIS can’t invest the time and the money in an effort that won’t have a beneficial result for either party. Additionally, it’s not beneficial for the student to keep applying as it’s financially and emotionally draining for them, Crist said. See VISAS page 3

Fewer students submit SA applications JOSIE WAGNER Staff Writer

An Adair County resident votes in last year’s election. Student Government is urging Truman State University students to vote in the presidential primary either in Kirksville or at home. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt

Students raise awareness for spring voting ANAKIN BUSH Staff Writer

Truman State University Student Government is spreading information and getting students prepared for the upcoming Democratic primary election for president. The Democratic primary is taking place Tuesday, March 10. Registered voters can vote in the primary election for the Democratic candidate they want to see become the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. That nominee will then challenge the Republican nominee for the presidency. Truman’s Student Government is once again getting involved with the election season. Student Government President Deanna Schmidt said Student Government does a

variety of activities related to the campaigns. Schmidt said spreading awareness for elections is a big goal of Student Government. Student Government used social media to provide information to students about polling places and reminders to vote. “A big part of what we are doing is trying to emphasize to students how important this is, since it’s a presidential election year,” Schmidt said. The election this year is during Truman’s spring break, which raised some problems for Student Government. They have been raising awareness and instructing students on how they can still vote even when students are off campus for break. If you are registered to vote in Kirksville, you can choose to vote absentee in person at the Adair County Circuit Clerk office in

Voters attend a rally for Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren. The Missouri primary election is Tuesday, March 10. Photo by Ryan Pivoney

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 16 © 2020

Kirksville City Hall until March 9, the day before the primary election. Another option is to vote online. The deadline for registration has already passed for the Democratic primary, but you can register now for the general election. Schmidt said she encourages everyone to register to vote and follow through with the process. She stressed the importance of the election, as students’ four years at Truman are shaped by the people they elect. “I think we are a very diverse microcosm of Missouri, and especially Missouri college students,” Schmidt said. “I think that young people in general have a lot to say in elections, so that’s one reason we really want to get Truman students out.” Emily Smith, External Affairs Committee chair, led the voter registration drive. This activity allowed students a chance to register for the election. Over 50 students turned in forms, which were then taken to the county courthouse. Smith is also working on informing students about the election. She thinks it is very negative that the election falls on spring break this year. She said it is harder for students to get out and go to their polling location when home for break. “It’s a lot easier to vote here in Adair County when we are here at the school, because we have the polling stations in the [Student Union Building] so it reminds kids to vote on the day polls are open,” Smith said. Other student groups on campus are getting involved in the election as well. Griffin Roster, vice president of Political Science Students Association and member of College Democrats, said College Democrats got involved during the Iowa caucus. See ELECTIONS page 5

The number of applicants for the student adviser position was lower than anticipated this semester, and Residence Life extended the deadline to accommodate this. The 2016-17 school year saw the employment of nearly 90 student advisers, while 2019-20 had 75 SAs. The 2020-21 school year SA selection is taking place March 16, but the first wave of applications saw only about 17 applicants. The deadline was then extended and a more aggressive marketing campaign put into place, resulting in around 57 applicants in the second wave. Director of ResLife Jamie Van Boxel declined to share exact applicant numbers, but maintains that the number of applicants is proportionally similar to the number of applicants in other years when compared to enrollment. Van Boxel said because the decline in the number of SA applications is proportional to the declining number of enrolled students at Truman, life in the residence halls will not be affected. The first wave of applications saw fewer than expected, Van Boxel said, which he attributed to poor marketing by the department. “As soon as we were past the deadline we were getting a number of inquiries from students who had just learned about the application — that it was time to apply to be an SA or an apartment manager — and when they went on the website to apply ... they couldn’t because we were passed,” Van Boxel said. After receiving additional interest, ResLife made a quick decision to reopen the form and take more submissions while also increasing publicity for the job. Zac Burden, student life and development coordinator for ResLife, is a member of the committee for hiring SAs. He works with other ResLife staff to review applications and interview applicants. See RESLIFE page 3

Students gather at the dining hall in Ryle Hall. The number of applicants for student adviser positions is lower than its been in the past three years. Photo by Rachel Becker


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