The index Vol. 109 Issue 22

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018 tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork

FEATURES | Northeast Missourinative Rhonda Vincent returns for concert Page 7

SPORTS | Women’s basketball closes season in GLVC tournament Page 14

Student Government pushes battery recycling program

BY TRISTON DELCOURE Staff Writer Truman State University Student Government has proposed a battery recycling program for campus and taken steps toward making the project a reality.

In past years, the Office of Sustainability worked with Student Government to recycle batteries every

TruCare highlights service in March

BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer

Truman Alumni Association is hosting its second annual TruCare event, in which Truman State University administration, faculty, students and alumni are encouraged to participate and record service hours.

Throughout March, affiliates of Truman are encouraged to volunteer in communities all around the world and submit recorded hours to Truman to serve their communities and show off their Bulldog spirit. The totals will include participants and hours volunteered for the Big Event on April 7.

Director of Engagement Stacy Tucker-Potter said the goal is to connect alumni and continue the service ethic important to Truman.

“The idea among alumni to do something in conjunction with the Big Event has been around for quite a few years,” Tucker-Potter said.

“One of the things that the alumni board was aware of is that not everyone lives in a chapter area, so they wanted to make sure that people outside of chapter areas can be involved in these efforts.”

Last year’s TruCare event

1,300

par ticipants

4,700

hours of ser vice Last year, there were more than 1,300 participants who recorded more than 4,700 total hours of service. Tucker-Potter said as they prepared for this year, alumni relations wanted to maintain the current course but build more recognition for the program.

Jordan Smith, coordinator of alumni relations, created the website participants can use to record their service hours throughout the month. She said individuals and alumni chapters are free to volunteer wherever and whenever is best for them, so the event is active throughout March. This year, alumni chapters are working with a variety of volunteer organizations and projects including Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House and Buddy Packs for Food Banks.

semester by organizing battery collection drives. Sophomore voting senator Jared Kolok said previous efforts had been stifled by their infeasibility.

Students did not save batteries because of the low frequency of drives and lack of awareness surrounding the events. To address this problem, a permanent installation will be created in the Student Union Building to increase accessibility.

This initiative is a collective effort by Student Government and the Office of Sustainability. Graduate student Becca Elder, sustainability outreach coordinator, said the office works closely with students to educate them about sustainability issues and promote communication between student organizations.

The office has many recycling options available for students from battery recycling to rentable compost bins, but Elder

Budget cuts leave staff and faculty positions open

said having a battery recycling bin would greatly assist sustainability efforts on campus. The bin itself is made of PVC pipe, which is inherently fire resistant and safely contains the toxicity of batteries.

“We are really working to make sustainability accessible for Truman students, and we hope they will make the effort to be more sustainable and do more things like recycle batteries,” Elder said.

See BATTERIES, page 2

Three candidates run for Council

BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer

Phillip Biston, Glen Moritz and Kevin Alm are running for the Kirksville City Council seat available in the April municipal election.

On April 3, Kirksville citizens will vote for the open city council position.

Biston’s seat on the council is up for reelection, so he faces two challengers — Moritz and Alm.

Candidates in the 2018 Kirksville City Council election Kevin Alm

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The registrar position is one of the faculty and staff openings at Truman State University. Budget cuts have forced the University to think of creative ways to fill open positions.

BY BRENTLY SNEAD AND JOHANNA BURNS Editor-in-Chief and Assistant Editor

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ recommendation for cuts to the highereducation budget forces Truman State University to think critically about open positions.

In previous years, the University has eliminated positions while finetuning others as a way to strategically navigate budget cuts without sacrificing the quality of the University.

Moving forward, the University will continue to look at open positions carefully while encouraging departments to make difficult decisions after considering creative solutions to the distribution of duties.

As of March 6, the University had 11 faculty, eight staff and three administrative positions available for hire. Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said these positions will not be affected by budget cuts, and if a position is listed, it will be filled. Gooch said the University will start to evaluate on a case-bycase, department-by-department basis whether or not the open positions should be filled or if the department should consider an alternative approach.

“As new positions come open, we will probably take a real critical look

to see whether the duties of the person who is leaving can be redistributed maybe, or if we could redistribute some of those duties,” Gooch said.

Gooch said the University could redistribute duties by funneling all those duties to another position, or only reconfiguring some of those duties and then hiring a part-time position to handle the rest of the responsibilities. For faculty positions, Gooch said this process starts at the department level as deans confer with department heads to evaluate their needs. This process and the hiring requirements won’t change in the face of budget cuts.

Departments and their chairs will still submit a position justification form, which establishes why the department needs the position, what the consequences of not filling the position are for the department and its curriculum and what alternative measures have been considered. Then, the deans decide which requests to find alternative solutions for and which to pass to the administration because they have a holistic view of their school, Gooch said.

University President Sue Thomas said this is meant to be a collaborative process for the University to determine what decisions make sense in their individual units and within the goals and mission of the University.

See POSITIONS, page 5

• Previously ran for City Council, has never served • Wants community members to bring more ideas to the Council • Calling for a total review of city codes and ordinances

Phillip Biston • Current mayor of Kirksville, first elected in 2015 • Prioritizes conomic development and infrastructure improvements • Wants to improve quality of life in Kirksville by improving roads and parks

Glen Moritz • Former mayor of Kirkville, served 2013-2016 • Wants more Council accountability, transparency and advanced planning • Would like to improve Kirksville Regional Airport and surrounding area Election Day for the City Council is April 3, 2018 Biston was first elected April 2015 and is looking for a second term after a year as mayor. He said since he was elected, a lot has happened for Kirksville. Economic development and city infrastructure have been priorities. He said because he was on the council when these projects began, he would like to remain on and see them from start to finish.

Biston said he is highlighting the economic development of Kirksville in his campaign. In the last three years a number of businesses have opened or announced intentions to open in Kirksville, including Menards, Hobby Lobby, Marshalls and two hotels.

See COUNCIL, page 5

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Student media fulfills University, community missions Submitted by junior Tyler Hanson Dear Index, Who actually reads you? What do you even do? These, admittedly, were my first thoughts when I found out that Truman published a weekly newspaper. Over the course of my few years here at Truman though, I’ve come to realize that you may well be one of the most important traditions that our university has, benefitting both the campus community and the surrounding Kirksville community as well.

You see, my experience with Kirksville didn’t begin when I decided to go to Truman. I grew up here. In fact, it was hardly a decision to go to Truman so much as a given that I would. My family has always been involved with

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 22 © 2018

Truman State University. Actually, that’s not quite true. They’ve always been involved with Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, Northeast Missouri State College, Northeast Missouri State University, and Truman State University. You see, I’m a fifthgeneration Truman student. As such, I’ve gotten to witness the unique relationship between Truman and Kirksville firsthand. One of the things that many incoming students fail to understand is that, while occasionally seeming separate, the Truman community is the Kirksville community. And as such, the students are an integral part of the relationship between Truman and Kirksville. In the same way, you (The Index) are not only Truman’s paper, but Kirksville’s paper. As well as communicating news and events, you

have also served to keep the two sides of the community informed as to what is going on in Northeast Missouri as a whole. Without your integral role, our community would find itself divided, with Truman lacking important information about what is happening on campus as well as in Kirksville. As Joseph Pulitzer once said, “We are a democracy, and there is only one way to get a democracy on its feet in the matter of its individual, its social, its municipal, its State, its national conduct, and that is by keeping the public informed about what is going on.”

For those residents of Kirksville not directly involved with Truman, you serve as a window into the world of Truman, communicating both events and stories from the Truman campus

as well as providing fresh angles on larger news stories. For those of us within the Truman life, you serve both as an informative source on relevant issues as well as a way to be in touch with the community around us. You recently ran a piece called “Truman lacks healthy identity” that encouraged students to, “Connect with [their] community and become part of something bigger than [themselves].”

You are one of the opportunities to do just that. For nearly eleven decades, you’ve been molded by the identity of every student that had the privilege to work with you. More than that, you’ve preserved the ever-changing identity of each generation within your pages. In many ways, you’ve come to represent who we are. You are our identity.

See LETTER TO THE EDITOR, page 3

The Index

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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

College GOP hosts author D’Souza

Photo by Aerin Johnson/TMN

Top: Dinesh D’Souza speaks with students before his speech at Truman State University. Truman’s College Republicans sponsored the appearance by the conservative author and filmmaker.

Right: Senior Korbin Keller greets D’Souza. The March 6 appearance was D’Souza’s second at Truman after he came in the early 2000s.

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN

BATTERIES | Student Government pushes battery recycling Continued from page 1

If not disposed of properly, batteries are toxic to the environment. Elder said that batteries should not be in landfills and require a strenuous process to recycle. With a permanent facility on campus, Truman can reduce its footprint on the environment when students begin recycling their batteries.

The recycling proposal met resistance with Residence Life because the bins are a potential fire hazard in the residence halls. Senior student adviser Jacob Hobbs said this decision more than likely came from the fire code Residence Life is legally bound to.

Hobbs said it is difficult to modify residence halls.

He said in the past, West Campus Suites staff wanted to install a compost bin on site to promote sustainability. The idea had student backing but was denied because of hygiene concerns.

Hobbs said it’s not that Residence Life is unwilling to work with students to start initiatives, but there are certain rules and standards which must be maintained on campus. Hobbs said a battery recycling proposal was something a lot of student advisers could get behind.

Opportunities for student involvement in sustainability are hopefully coming soon, Kolok said. Following the battery recycling proposal, he said he hopes to pass an initiative that would promote glass recycling on campus, something previously dropped from lack of funding and faculty. With these elements back, Kolok said he has been working with Student Government to form a glass recycling resolution.

Students can also use recycling bins at the Office of Sustainability located in Violette Hall. The office also stands as a resource for anyone interested in learning more about sustainability and how to promote it on campus.

Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Recycling stations, like this one in Dobson Hall, are available in all Residence Halls on campus. Student Government has taken steps to begin a battery recycling program and reinstate glass recycling on campus.

staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief Brently Snead Assistant Editor Johanna Burns News Editor (Text) Nicolas Telep Features Editor (Text) Rachel Fechter Opinions Editor Morgan Gervais Sports Editor (Text) Rachel Steinhoff Sports Editor (Multimedia) Jeremy Jacob Copy Chief MacKenna Palazza Assistant Copy Chief Trevor Hamblin Photo Editor Bethany Travis Design Chief Mariah Radle

Distribution Manager Jessica Rose Staff Writers Jase Willhite, Ashley

Murphy, Kennedy Martin, Paul Province, Patrick Pardo, Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Travis Maiden, Ryan Pivoney, Dana Bartch, Gordon McPherson, Justin Newton, Aura Martin, Lindell Sconce Sales Manager Joey Iaguessa Copy Editors Molly Thal, Bethany Spitzmiller, Ellen Thibodeau, Allyson Lotz, Elise Hughes, Cara Quinn

Cartoonists Annie Kintree, August Davis Designers Georgia Gregory, Maddie

Kamp, Emmett Divendal, Emily Taylor, Kaitlyn Farmer Photographers Lawrence Hu, Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Daniel Degenhardt, Hannah Ahlenius, Samantha Garrett Distribution Representatives Greta Roettegen, Amanda Claywell Adviser Don Krause

The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Student speaks on the importance of The Index Continued from page 1

But now, the next generation of Truman students is in danger of losing you. As budget cuts loom, your future is in jeopardy. Many may have difficulty explaining why you are necessary to Truman. In fact, your necessity to Truman is a result of your necessity to the students. Truman’s tagline reads, “Don’t follow. Pursue.” That’s exactly what you allow students to do. Instead of simply following your stories, they get to write them. Instead of watching from the outside, they get to pursue career goals from the inside. The vision statement here at Truman State University’s

states that, “Truman will demonstrate its public liberal arts and sciences mission by developing educated citizens needed to protect our democracy and offer creative solutions to local, state, national and global problems… [doing] so through transformative experiences that foster critical thought, daring imagination and empathetic understanding of human experiences at home and around the world.”

If that’s not what you do, I don’t know what is. You provide an opportunity for students to hone their journalism skills, students who may eventually hold positions in media that could shape the very future of

our country and democracy. You give voice to creative solutions to our local problems, as well as to those outside our immediate area. You embody the very vision of Truman State University, and that is why you are utterly necessary to our community.

To that end, I want to thank you.

On behalf of Kirksville and on behalf of Truman, thank you for all the years that you’ve kept us informed. Thank you for the late nights and long hours that you spent in the office. Thank you for everything that you’ve done.

For 109 years now, you’ve helped us; guiding us through times of darkness and making sure that we do not re-

main in the dark. As one of my professors once stated, “Instead of dragging darkness out of the room, introduce light.” In this way, there is no doubt that you have been a light, not only to Truman, but to our community that extends out into Kirksville and the world. Thank you for fulfilling your mission, “…to educate, inform, and create discourse with [y]our audience while seeking and reporting the truth.” We certainly appreciate it.

Many thanks, Tyler Hanson Class of 2019

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | MIPA Board of Directors suggest alternative budget cuts

To the Editor,

This week, we heard that due to the higher-education budget cuts facing our state’s universities in the coming months, Truman State plans to make cuts to the communication department including potentially cutting funds for printing costs of the campus voice, the newspaper.

The MIPA Board of Directors is writing you today to express our disappointment that those voices may be silenced and opportunities to train the next generation of journalists in Missouri may be closing.

Missouri Interscholastic Press Association serves 60 schools, nearly 100 journalism teachers and thousands of high school journalists across our state. Our member teachers work tirelessly day after day preparing their students as journalists across all media, but we find the media that students hold in their hands

like newspapers or newsmagazines are by far the most read and most effective in reaching the student body, and in some cases our schools work with their local community newspaper and reach an audience similar to the one your newspaper reaches.

We understand the Truman newspaper also acts as one way the Kirksville citizens learn about the University and its students. This is an essential communication tool. One would think the University would want to keep every line of communication open between itself and the City of Kirksville open. Every opportunity should be utilized, including continuing the print publications.

Yes, in recent years many professional print publications have been consolidated, closed or moved online, yet we’ve found through our members that print journalism is not “dead” in rural portions of our state. There is still a need for the

print format, and a need to prepare responsible journalists to fill that need in our state and in our nation.

Despite the changes we are seeing on the professional level, as teachers we still see value in giving our students these “laboratories” to practice journalism and learn to tell stories effectively. Learning cannot happen by reading text or reviewing theories. Teaching for this generation of students in our classrooms needs to be authentic. In the high school world, teachers are told to create “performance-based learning” or “real-world” projects where students can directly apply the skills and knowledge they have studied.

There’s no more authentic way in communications to teach PBL-style than to provide these opportunities to students. Yes, online is a cheaper medium that could provide similar chances, yet print makes these students pause and think a

bit longer. After all, if an error is made online, it can be corrected in a few keystrokes. Yet, with print – it lasts, there’s no instant corrections, we find it makes students more thoughtful and purposeful with their intentions, their editing, and their story-telling.

As journalism teachers, we keep our eyes on collegiate opportunities for our budding writers, photojournalists, broadcast journalists and web/social media staffers. With the proposed cuts to the Truman communication program, our highachieving students will keep that in mind as they make their choices.

MIPA hopes the University looks for alternative cuts that could be made on campus, rather than cutting a valuable communication and education tool for its students.

Sincerely, MIPA Board of Directors

NEWS IN BRIEF Rec Center Spring Break Hours

SHSE Dean Finalists

City Purchases Vacant Lot

The Student Recreation Center will be open for limited hours during Spring Break.

Two finalists have been selected in the search for dean of the School of Health Sciences and Education. The finalists are Özlem Ersin, associate dean of Health and Behavioral Sciences at James Madison University, and Thomas Pujol, chair of the Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation at Southeast Missouri State University. Janet Gooch vacated the position when she became Truman State University’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. The University hosted Ersin’s open forum Tuesday, March 6, and Pujol’s open forum will be Tuesday, March 20.

The Kirksville City Council approved the purchase of the lot at the northeast corner of Franklin and Jefferson streets, just south of City Hall. The site has been vacant since 2013, when the four-story building standing on it was demolished. Since the demolition, city officials have considered purchasing the lot, but it was cost prohibitive because the lot was appraised for more than half a million dollars. Recently, the owners of the lot offered to sell it to the city for $335,000. The city will pay for the land with money from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax and the General Fund.

The city has no specific plans for the land, and officials will discuss possible plans with community leaders.

Friday, March 9: 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday, March 10-11: Closed Monday-Friday, March 12-16: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 17: Closed Sunday, March 18: 4-7 p.m.

Regular hours will resume Monday, Mar. 19.

calendar Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline March 12 11:59 p.m.

University Art Gallery Display March 20 - April 19 Ophelia Parrish 1114

Photovoice Gallery March 20 6 p.m.

SUB Alumni Room

Applications for Truman State University Foundation scholarships are due by midnight March 12. Submitted applications can be revised until the deadline. Foundation scholarships are established by donations of alumni and friends of the University. Recipients of scholarships must be full-time Truman students. Applications can be submitted through TruView.

The University Art Gallery will display the exhibits “Tales from a Sketch Hunter” by Cora Lynn Deibler, who is also a guest juror for “Annual Juried Student Exhibition.” The gallery exhibits will be open to the public and free of charge.

Anyone interested is welcome to attend the opening reception at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 20.

Student researchers will display photovoice submissions from the student research project on mental resilience. The Institutional Review Board approved the research project.

Participants in the study took photos of certain objects, places, people, etc. that helped them adapt to stress, adversity, tragedy or trauma.

Now Renting for Next Year “White Apartments” and other close locations

• Nice 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments • Great location • Dedicated office and maintenance staff • Variety of floorplans Call: 660-627-2060

Apply Online

www.TheWhiteApartments.com

ATHEISM TAKES FAITH, TOO. John Clayton returns to Kirksville Mar 23-25.

Ekklesia.truman.edu for schedule.

Science & faith are not enemies, but friends. http://www.doesgodexist.org/ FOR RENT: Move into this house with your friends for the school year 2018-2019.

7 Bedroom, 3 1/2 bath , 3 living rooms, sun porch, deck, patio and washer and dryer.

Available May 1. Call or text nancy 660-341-1805 Newer 2 bedroom duplex apartments 4 blocks from Campus.

Walk in closet, washer, dryer, refrigerator, central air, garbage disposal and off street parking. Available May and August.

Contact 660-665-3208 or online at Kirksville4rent.com Want to advertise with TMN? Contact us at 660-785-4449 advertising.trumanmedia@gmail.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

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[ Our View]

Cutting The Index cuts journalism education

As a production that focuses on objective, productive, highquality communication, it has been been disheartening to have so little discussion within our department about the recent budget cuts. As most know, Truman State University is facing intense budget cuts for next year, and a hopeful ending isn’t in sight.

The communication department is expected to shave off $20,000 from its budget, and the department is planning to meet the bulk of this requirement by decreasing student media funds, which includes reducing student pay and making cuts to The Index’s printing budget. Decision-makers forget the value of our publication and the countless hours students commit and find it all too convenient to cut printing costs by reducing the amount of papers we distribute. It was even recommended to move the publication completely online. This is a weak suggestion on many points, but it’s also disappointing this was not proactively discussed with the students of TMN. The first problem with moving The Index completely online is its audience. In Kirksville, a

lot of community members and students pick up the newspaper as a primary local news source.

The relationship between the University and the city is one that should be considered. The Index has remained a public forum for students for 109 years, and it allows voices to be heard by community members.

The Index circulates more print papers on and off campus than it sees online visitors. It is the main connection between Truman and the Kirksville community, and the paper allows the community to know what is going on at this University.

In previous years, Detours Magazine faced budget cuts and had to switched from print to digital and has seen a reduction in readers. Even if other, larger printed publications might be able to adapt to a digital publication, Kirksville is not a large community. Our community is smaller and older, and there’s a preference for a physical newspaper.

The bigger problem with moving to a digital production base is the 24-hour news cycle, which is not currently an option for full-time students. Not

only do assignments require a lot of our time as students, but many individuals also have additional responsibilities which demand their time. If you think digital news can be done less frequently than daily, that is an inaccurate assessment. This 24/7 cycle is not sustainable for students.

When The Index was shortstaffed last year, it decided to publish a print edition and online content on alternating weeks. This did not have the best outcome because there is a lack of a digital audience.

Seeing how our online readership did not and has not significantly increased after submitting more online content, this leads us to view moving completely online, especially suddenly, as an ineffective way of maintaining our readership.

While our educators have taught us time and time again that we should write with our audience in mind, our department is now telling us we can take this publication in a very different direction and our audience will follow — contradicting all we’ve learned.

We, The Index Edito-

rial Board, disagree with these claims about our audience and our availability as students, and we don’t approve of the way the situation is being handled. It was insensitive for decision-makers to propose these cuts to TMN, and mostly The Index, without discussing it with members of the organization. It is especially indecent of someone who is supposed to lead us.

The truth is nearly no one in the administration or even the communication department, with the exception of our adviser, knows the amount of work each member of The Index contributes. We produce a 14-page paper each week of the semester, and it’s filled with heavily researched and edited stories, plus photos, ads, infographics and supplemental designs. The editorial staff commits at least 20 hours a week just in the media center, plus additional hours outside reporting and writing. The fact that administration and staff is out of touch with what goes on in the office is further proof they might not be the most qualified people to make this decision.

TMN is a learning lab for

students to gain professional experience. There are few journalism courses available at Truman, and with one less faculty member teaching journalism next year, TMN significantly makes up for this learning gap. Making substantial cuts to the platform that produces the most content makes it suggests the journalism track isn’t a priority.

Aside from developing journalists, TMN appeals to many different studies and has become home to students from different majors. Just at The Index, someone can build managing, writing, editing, page design, graphic design, photography, marketing and sales skills.

Altogether, The Index and student media shouldn’t be lost over budget cuts, especially when we’re the ones reporting them. The Index is the connection between Truman and Kirksville and also between the communication department and various other departments around campus. To cut all these ties would be ignorant of the department and ultimately hinder the University rather than help anyone.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Publisher argues print matters As a long time publisher of a community newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri I can certainly speak to the value of having a community news source dedicated to covering news and events in and around our community. Community newspapers are often considered the life blood of a community because they connect on [with] so many different levels and so many different people in the community. Additionally, residents and readers are able to learn of events that may interest them or their families. Sadly, however, there are those shortsighted individuals that control the purse strings

at colleges and universities who fail to see the value of a printed newspaper, wishing to instead get their news from Facebook or Instagram.

Newspaper is the only medium where the true heart of news can be found. Print journalists are the only ones doing the deep dives necessary on issues of importance to the community. Where other news is limited to a two or three minute soundbite (if you’re lucky), newspaper reporters have the time and space to go into more detail, covering points of a news story that otherwise would end up on the cutting room floor.

I can’t stress enough the value of a printed newspaper over other news sources. Hopefully this letter and others published in your print edition this week will sway those with the power of the purse to rethink their sad decision to shutter the campus newspaper and deny future journalists the practical experience they need in order to succeed.

SUBMITTED BY MICHAEL BUSHNELL Publisher for Kansas City Northeast News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Alumni expresses concern of losing printed word I am writing today as a high school English teacher and proud alumna of Truman State University. My husband and I both attended the University, and as I begin to look at colleges with my 11th grade daughter, Truman is at the top of her list. Truman is a place that allowed me to grow into an intelligent, compassionate, concerned member of society. I am involved as a debate coach where I teach, and those skills for impassioned and logical rhetoric were honed at Truman State University. I am thankful that it was a place that valued education, tradition and excellence.

It has come to my attention recently that budget cuts have led to a decision to cut printing costs for an important Truman tradition. The Index is something that I remember from my time there over twenty years ago. There was just something about grabbing a paper and relaxing with it in the dorms or at the run-down house that I inhabited with friends. These are quintessential memories of EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501.

The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions.

Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor.

LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors.

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words, except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-inchief. The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, and should offer a valid argument. Submission does not guarantee publication, especially when submissions fail to add something to the current discussion. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will be taken into consideration.

college in Kirksville. In a time where my high school students sit stony faced in front of computers or phones, it saddens me to think that we cannot find a place for the printed word at our higher-level institutions. I understand that budgets need to be cut, but there must be a way to do that without removing a key community connection like The Index.

I believe that even in a changing world, there is still a place for the printed word. Many people still choose to buy a book at a bookstore instead of the Kindle version. Many people still grab for that magazine in the grocery line rather than seeing the stories as they scroll through Twitter. We still need printed material to take us away from screens and back to the roots of the written word. I urge you to reconsider your decision and continue the fantastic traditions of excellence that Truman State University is known for.

SUBMITTED BY ROBYN HAUG Class of 1997

Contact tmn.truman.edu

660-785-4449

index.editor@gmail.com

ADVERTISING POLICY: For up-to-date information on current advertising rates or to inquire about the availability of classified ads, contact Truman Media Network’s Advertising Manager, Joey Iaguessa, at 660-785-4449 or jai6847@truman.edu.

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The Index

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POSITIONS | In time of budget cuts, faculty and staff positions remain open Continued from page 1

“I don’t know which faculty positions must be maintained and which ones might have flexibility to be done in another way, or what’s true in athletics or student affairs or in maintenance and repair budgets,” Thomas said. “So, it’s really the people that work, and that’s their lives at the University who need to make those kinds of decisions and figure it out.”

Gooch said part of a dean’s job is to be aware of the balance in their school, taking into account the history of the different departments. Deans use that knowledge to prioritize the open positions by level of necessity. A phase one faculty position needs to be

hired during the current hiring phase or the curriculum will suffer, while phase two and three positions can be advertised at a later date.

The request is then passed to the provost before moving to the University president for approval.

Gooch said she and the University president looked at the overall cost of the position to the University, whether the department has considered creative ways to reassign those duties without hiring a new faculty member, and what the consequence of not filling that position would be to the department.

Gooch said one strength that surfaces when a department has to fill a position is when the department is forced to do something during the interim. She said

departments start asking how they can reorganize to meet their needs in the meantime.

Gooch said staff positions are approached in a similar way. The office fills out a request and justification, which are then passed on to the supervisor before being approved or rejected by the University president’s advisory council.

“I don’t think there is one set method for how we’re going to do this but department by department,” Gooch said. “We’re going to be looking at how we might be able to do things more efficiently so that, if there are positions, we can either not rehire or rehire at a smaller capacity, then we’ll try to do that to save more money.”

Open Positions on Trumanʼs Human Resources Website

Open Faculty Positions •

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Director of Summer Talent Academy for

Professions in Health

•

Temporary Part-Time

•

Assistant Professor

•

Disorders

•

Instructor in Education of Communication

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor of Health and Exercise Sciences

•

Tenure Track Faculty

•

Non-Tenure Track

•

Position in Biology

Open Administrative Positions

Position in Biology

Dean for the School of Health Sciences and Education Executive Director of International Education Vice President for University Advancement

Assistant Professor of Justice Systems

of Education

Open Staff Positions • • • • • •

Controls Electrician Two Housekeeper Positions Police Officer Registrar Residence Hall Directors McNair Program Advising Specialist

• •

Assistant Football Coach & Instructor in Exercise Science Assistant Athletics Director Compliance & Operations

COUNCIL | Three familiar candidates running for one spot in municipal election Continued from page 1

“Economic development is the key to everything,” Biston said. “Once you have economic development, you have growth, more people, and higher wages and jobs, which then helps generate more sales tax to improve Kirksville.”

Biston said he would also like to look at helping existing businesses in Kirksville flourish and would expect reasonable growth in coming years. Biston said he wants to improve the quality of life of Kirksville residents by addressing road concerns, creating more activities and improving amenities in the parks system.

“We have been doing well for the past two years,” Biston said. “So I am hoping for a lot of the same. The economic snowball doesn’t look like it is melting yet.”

Biston will be available at the Chamber of Commerce Spring Candidate Forum March 20.

Moritz previously held a city council seat from 2013-2016, holding both the mayor and mayor pro tem positions. Currently, he runs an airport shuttle service he founded in 2014 and is working on building a homeless shelter. Moritz said he is running because he would like to see more progress, accountability and transparency from the city council. He said the Council does not do enough advanced planning and there is no clear, strong leadership.

Moritz said street improvements are an area that he would like to address, as is development of the Kirksville airport and the surrounding area. He said he would like to see more attractions and businesses there, as well as improvement of the facility itself.

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Moritz said he could provide strong leadership and “Some of the ordinances are so old they need to be direction to the City Council. updated,” Alm said. “Some are irrelevant and need “I would give direction to departments and the city to be thrown out because now there are too many manager, instead of the other way around it seems to restrictions in place, and I don’t think that is fair.” be right now,” Moritz said. “I would be more proacAlm said that he would be receptive to the peotive with getting things done because right now [proj- ple of Kirksville, listening to their needs and what ects] are not being finished as quickly as they could.” they want. He hopes to make Kirksville better for Moritz said he would work hard for Kirksville be- everyone, he said, bringing fresh ideas and listencause of the passion he has for the city. He has organized ing to the ideas of the current Council members. He door-to-door campaigns and yard signs to gain support, would also encourage more businesses and factoand said he encourages people to look at his current re- ries to locate to Kirksville. cord and activity in the city to help decide their vote.

Alm is the only candidate in the race without prior experience on the Council, even though he has run before. He said he is running for City Council because he sees problems with the way the current Council is run. Alm said the main issues he would like to address are the street problems and the Codes Department. These issues are important, he said, because they are what the citizens he has spoken to are Submitted Photo concerned about.

Candidates for City Council in 2015 Betty McLain-Iles, Robert Russel, Alm said he would like to see a total review of city Kevin Alm and Phillip Biston speak at a forum that year. Alm and Biston are both running in the 2018 race. codes and ordinances.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

7

Queen Of Bluegrass Conquers Kirksville

Bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent to perform in hometown

Submitted Photos

Renowned, Grammy-nominated bluegrass musician Rhonda Vincent is visiting her hometown of Kirksville, Missouri, to perform.

BY JUSTIN NEWTON Staff Writer As the eight-time International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year with the most-awarded band in bluegrass history and a Grammy nomination for “Best Bluegrass Album,” Rhonda Vincent tours the country for 11 months out of the year, bringing her high-energy music to audiences across the world.

However, for the woman dubbed as the “Queen of Bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal — home is Kirksville, Missouri.

“That’s always exciting for me to get to come back home,” Vincent said.

“I actually live there when I’m there, I’m just not there that much. It’s great, I get to sleep in my own bed, see my family, have family at the show.”

Rhonda Vincent said she attended Truman State University for two or three years, back when it was Northeast Missouri State University. Her mother Carolyn Vincent said she brought the same enthusiasm to school that she now brings to every live show.

“She always has been good at school and always enjoyed everything,” Carolyn Vincent said. “Whatever [she does], she always has fun at it, anything she does.”

Carolyn Vincent lives north of Kirksville in Greentop, Missouri. Her husband Johnny Vincent is dead, but featured prominently in Carolyn and Rhonda Vincent’s memories. Carolyn Vincent was wearing a pink T-shirt with a design of a banjo and fiddle on the front as she sat at the wooden table in her home.

Her double bass was still laying on the floor in the living room from a jam session the night before. Music has always been part of the Vincent family’s life.

“When [Rhonda] came home from school, her dad and grandpa always was waiting on her, and they’d play till suppertime,” Carolyn Vincent said. “And then a lot of times friends would come in and play, older people who liked to play. So we played music just about every night it seemed like, and we all enjoyed it, family and friends. Johnny’s brother and his wife and their boys they played music too, so it’s kind of in the family.”

Carolyn Vincent said the VOLUME 109

ISSUE 22

Vincent family musical group, the Sally Mountain Show, performed around the Kirksville area on radio and TV stations like KTVO and KIRX. They eventually founded their own bluegrass festival in Queen City, Missouri, held every year Fourth of July week, which has seen its 32nd year.

“We were over at Marceline and worked for a guy called Buck Cody,” Carolyn Vincent said. “He ran a country music show over there. So we were over there, I think Rhonda was

Rhonda Vincent poses with her mother, Carolyn Vincent, who currently lives in Greentop, Missouri and her father.

still very much a family affair. Both of Rhonda Vincent’s daughters are married to a member of their mother’s band.

“Mom was an EMT for 30 years, and she always wanted to deliver one of my children on the bus, because we would be in Texas like two weeks before I was due or on the road traveling as a family, so it’s amazing,” Rhonda Vincent said. “My girls have grown up around the music and on the bus, and it’s just such a natural thing. My

Rhonda Vincent said her mother instilled in her the attitude of always being ready for whatever happens. This attitude stood her in good stead in her music career. She recounted receiving a request to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, the premier country music show of the world, at noon on the day of the show.

“In a few hours notice, I started calling around, found musicians,” Rhonda Vincent said. “Some of my musicians were out of

She always has been good at school and “always enjoyed everything. Whatever [she

does], she always has fun at it, anything she does.

”

-Carolyn Vincent, mother of Rhonda Vincent

about six or seven years old. She sang ... on the Saturday night show, and she sang every week on there — the whole family did.”

Carolyn Vincent said it was difficult to remember anything that stood out about her daughter’s early years with the family band.

“We had a bus, and we was down in Arkansas right on the line and got water in our diesel, and we had quite a time for that,” Carolyn Vincent said. “It’s usually been pretty good, our playing times. We’ve done a lot of traveling, got to go to Finland. Our first overseas job was in Finland, and we enjoyed that.”

Rhonda Vincent was always interested in music, said her mother. Her first instrument was mandolin, but she also plays fiddle, having won the Missouri State Fiddling Championship in 1973.

“Her dad was in a car wreck back in ’64, so he had a lot of time to sit around and work with her, but she’s always enjoyed [playing],” Carolyn Vincent said. “She’d get records out and do it herself, too, a lot of times.”

Rhonda Vincent said the music parties at her home prepared her for her career.

Her current touring schedule makes getting together at home more difficult, but Vincent-style bluegrass is tmn.truman.edu

daughter Sally travels with us now.”

Rhonda Vincent said she

town, but in a moment’s notice, getting musicians and performing on the stage of

ed this year went to women, but Rhonda Vincent did not focus on the apparent number disparity, but rather how fortunate she was to be one of the few.

“I don’t think music has a gender,” Rhonda Vincent said. “I think music is music. I would hate to think it’s like, ‘I’m gonna nominate somebody just because they’re a woman, not on the merits of their music.’

That I don’t agree with.”

Rhonda Vincent said she has never felt held back by being a woman. Vincent said she thinks women should go out and make music rather than having a “poor me attitude.”

Rhonda Vincent said her parents’ example also had a big effect on how she approaches this issue.

“My dad walked with a cane, could not do a lot of things,” Rhonda Vincent said. “My mother is the one who stepped in and drove the bus. She did all the driving till my brother was old enough ... But here she is driving a bus, double clutching the bus and just learning

Rhonda Vincent lounges with her mandolin. Vincent said her family influenced her current position as one of the most powerful women in the maledominated bluegrass music industry. loved the new experiences that traveling brings.

“I could never be one that just sat in the same place doing the same show over and over,” Rhonda Vincent said. “We don’t use a set list. We do a different show every day. It’s always something new.”

the Grand Ole Opry — how fun is that?”

This positive attitude extends to the way Rhonda Vincent views being a woman bandleader in the male-dominated world of bluegrass music. Rhonda Vincent said only 17 percent of the Grammys award-

www.facebook.com/TrumanMediaNetwork

to do that on the fly.”

Rhonda Vincent said, despite his disability, her father’s advice has had a great impact on her.

“Dad said, ‘Don’t ever let somebody say you can’t do something — you just do it,’” Rhonda Vincent said.

@TrumanMediaNet

© 2018

The Index

8

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

United Speakers provides learning opportunities for Congolese immigrants

BY TRAVIS MAIDEN Staff Writer Senior Megan Kraus, president of United Speakers, has an obsession with foreign languages. She said it began at the end of her freshman year of high school because of a song called “Jueves” by La Oreja de Van Gogh. She said she spent the next year finding out the exact words and the meaning behind the lyrics, and from there she realized other countries had similar stories and emotions.

“I kind of really like how language opens doors to completely new places,” Kraus said. “It’s kind of a way of meeting new people, and you learn so much about a culture, about people and their language. This is just for me personally, but grammar just kind of makes sense.”

For two hours every Sunday, Kraus and other members from United Speakers can be found teaching English skills and American culture to the Congolese population in Kirksville.

Kraus said many of Kirksville’s Congolese citizens came to the United States through the diversity visa, which is a visa for people from countries who don’t often immigrate to the US. She said it worked through a lottery system, so once they’re 18 and have received their high school diploma, they’re able to enter into the lottery system. If chosen, they can get a visa to the United States.

Kraus said it is important to continue teaching the Congolese population because it’s not likely they are going to go home soon because of the diversity visa.

She said it is important to learn about their situations.

Photos by Lawrence Hu/TMN Students in United Speakers teach Congolese students vocabulary words pertaining to seasons and weather. United Speakers is a group of students at Truman State University who wants to help the community by teaching English as a second language. have done an excellent job in helping.

“I think Truman has stepped up to the plate to help that community in a variety of ways,” Cook said. “I’ll give Megan and several people before her who had graduated a lot of credit to seeing the need.

We’ve worked actually collaboratively which has been nice. I’ve been a profes-

“

The Congolese are a part of our community now. They’re here living in Kirksville, and they’re not going anywhere. So it’s important we make everyone feel like they’re a part of the community, especially the kids in the schools, because they’re receiving the education they need to have the same opportunity level as their peers and there shouldn’t be any reason for language to be a barrier for that.

”

-Freshman Jonie Welland

A United Speakers worker tutors a Congolese citizen in Baldwin Hall.

Many of the Congolese citizens come to Kirksville with diversity visas, planning to stay for a long time, and seek to learn English.

Kraus said it is important to be aware of immigration issues, not just in Kirksville, but in general. Since immigration is a topic of concern in the news and there a lot of people with strong opinions, it’s best if the teachers are up to date on the situation, Kraus elaborated.

Linguistics professor Sally Cook, who has a passion for teaching English as a second language, said offering English language classes will help members of the Congolese population look for jobs and career paths they wouldn’t previously have been able to pursue. She said Truman State University and the United Speakers

sor, but I consider Megan and United Speakers as an extension of what I do.”

Cook said she and French professor Ronald Manning ran an English class several years ago, but it wasn’t sustainable because of time constraints. She said Truman offers a great deal for the Congolese community through English learning services, but it is mostly students going out into the community to help them through organizations.

Cook said this community aspect helps the students remain engaged and keeps the task of learning a new language from becoming daunting or overwhelming.

“So it’s a small step, but it gives them input and the chance to improve their English on a more personal level instead of just trying to sit in a classroom with 25 native speakers trying to figure it out,” Cook said.

In 2015 Cook was invited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to work on an English program as part of a national English language symposium from the US Embassy’s outreach. Their goal was to try to update the curriculum that wasn’t updated since 1979 for English language instruction. She said the curriculum helped her get a better idea of the education system, so she could help people in Kirksville.

Cook said conditions in the Congo were different from the United States. Not only is traveling difficult, maybe even dangerous, because of road conditions, but many schools lack necessary resources.

“The schools we went to and distributed books to, several of the schools, they really didn’t even have a library,” Cook

said. “So we were bringing in books, but they didn’t even have a facility available in the traditional sense of a library, so the resources available at schools were very limited.”

Freshman Jonie Welland works with United Speakers, Pi Delta Phi and Enactus. She said all three clubs go together because the projects she works on in all of them have to do with the Congolese population.

Welland said she had the opportunity to teach the Congolese population in Baldwin Hall with junior Grace Miller.

She said she volunteered in the Kirksville R-III School District and worked with middle school students as a part of Pi Delta Phi. “Some of the students need translators because they literally speak no English,” Welland said. “I think a couple students last semester, it was their first or second week here. Even this semester, we’re still getting students in the district where it’s their first week here.”

Welland said she never expected to be involved in something as interesting as teaching English to immigrants because it is particular to today’s time and place of right now. She said it had been extremely interesting learning about Congolese culture.

For Welland, the experience has gone beyond what she has learned in the classroom. She said she recognizes not many people get the opportunity to learn about another culture the way she has.

“It’s different reading about different cultures and studying countries in your class versus actually getting to talk to people about what their life is like in a different country and hearing lots of stories,” Welland said.

She said it is important to help the Congolese feel at home and welcome them to the community.

“The Congolese are a part of our community now,” Welland said. “They’re here living in Kirksville, and they’re not going anywhere. So it’s important we make everyone feel like they’re a part of the community, especially the kids in the schools. Because they’re receiving the education they need to have the same opportunity level as their peers and there shouldn’t be any reason for language to be a barrier for that.”

Top 5 Inexpensive Spring Break Activities As told by Assistant Editor Johanna Burns, a broke and homebound college senior 1. Go on a picnic.

Spring Break is all about rest and rejuvenation, and what could be more refreshing than enjoying tasty treats in the brisk spring air? Take advantage of the strong seasonal winds and fly a kite. Who knows, you might even get some ‘Gram worthy photos out of the experience.

2. Explore local thrift stores.

With all the spring cleaning going on, there’s sure to be some great deals on quality vintage pieces. Don’t need any new clothes? Try looking for your next DIY or craft project. Not crafty? Do your own spring cleaning before the semester picks up again.

3. Read a book.

One of the most frustrating things about a busy student schedule is never having time to read the books I want. Between projects, papers and assigned reading, I have a leisure book list that lasts a mile long. Take this time to cross one or two off your list.

4. Explore someplace new.

If you’re feeling envious of all the beach photos popping up on Facebook, take a drive and see if you can find an exciting new locale. I always love stumbling into cute, new cafes or undiscovered lookout points.

5. Go bowling or skating.

Check out your local bowling lanes or skate rink — they often have discount nights where you can bowl a couple games with your friends on the cheap.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

The Index

Visiting writer David Elliott uses niche experiences to teach students about storytelling

9

BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer

the prologue of “Bull,” which introduced the Minotaur, but he didn’t know where to go from there. Then one day he heard Visiting writer David Elliott wrote a the character Poseidon say, “Whaddup, short story when he was 16 years old bitches?” Elliott said it shocked him but and submitted it to The New Yorker — he finally found a way into the story. He only to have it sent back to him ripped decided that Poseidon would speak in in half. This rejection did not crush Elverse, and so would the other characliott — he shrugged off the experience, ters. He picked some poetic forms and thinking something happened to his assigned one to each character, except story in transit and not understanding for Poseidon, who was not restricted. It right away he was rejected, saving him was liberating for Elliott since he could from destroying his creativity. In fact, talk about mature topics and swear a lit“the writer as a fool” was the first topic tle too. He did not censor himself and let he lectured during his week-long class. the characters speak in their own voices.

He said the archetype of the fool “That is just the way the characis the writer’s best friend. It’s about ters wanted to speak, and so I did not developing child-like curiosity and want to self-censor them or myself,” being brave.

Elliott said.

“It was the fool in me which has acSome writers struggle to be funny, tually allowed me to be as successful as but Elliott said he has been told all I am in many ways,” Elliott said. throughout life he was funny so that And he has found success. Elliott trait comes naturally. has published 25 books, appeared on His current project is another book The New York Times bestseller list for written in verse. It uses medieval poetic “And Here’s to You!” and won multiple forms to tell the story of Joan of Arc. awards. He specialized in writing chilHe didn’t plan on writing about Joan dren’s stories, including “The Transof Arc immediately after “Bull.” His edimogrification of Roscoe Wizzle” and tor and agent told him to write another “Finn Throws a Fit.” He also wrote a severse book, and Elliott settled on retellries, “This ORQ!” and volume of poetic ing the fairytale of the Seven Ravens. books including “On the Farm,” “In the He began working on that, then he Wild,” “In the Sea,” and “On the Wing.” woke up in the middle of the night and His latest children’s book, “In the Past,” realized he had to write about Joan of is forthcoming.

Arc. Elliott believed in the power of the Elliott did not set out to be a chilunconsciousness and he thought it was dren’s author — it took him a long time telling him to write Joan of Arc. This to figure out what he wanted to do. project, he admitted, was the hardest After graduating from The Ohio State, Submitted Photos book he has ever written, and he said he joined the Peace Corps, and after he is trying hard to get it right. that, he developed wanderlust and David Elliott from Lesley University in Massachusetts visited to teach a “When it gets hard, I remember travelled all through his 20s. He lived week-long writing class at Truman State University. Elliott draws on his that moment and I tell myself, there and worked around the world, includ- experiences in music and traveling to write children’s books. was a reason that your unconscious ing washing cucumbers in Greece, makwanted you to write this book,” Eling popsicle sticks in Israel and singing liott said. “So when I’m feeling like Elliott learned there were many ways to live, such in Mexico. Seeing and experiencing the world at a as how to eat, have a family and form friendships. I’m not the person for this, I try to remember that young age changed his worldview.

Travelling has helped him become a citizen of the moment.”

“I am comfortable in almost every situation, even world. He returned to the United States when he was He did a reading last Thursday in Baldwin Hall some that I should not be, because of that,” Elliott 30, where he taught at a boarding school and audi- Little Theatre where he read sections from “Bull” and said. “When you’re traveling like that you learn to tioned for the New England Conservatory. He trained some sections of his upcoming Joan of Arc novel. He be responsive.” as a classical singer for three years and then left, real- wanted students from his class to hear different forms izing it was not something he wanted to do profes- of medieval poetry — which included triolets as eightsionally. He said he was an average singer, but his lined eight-syllabled rhymed poems and sestinas, as six-lined six syllable poems that feature a great deal of range was limited.

“I can sing a good folk song and Broadway tune, repetition. He gave the students packets to help teach but I just could not get classical music in my body,” them how to use medieval forms, including examples from his upcoming Elliott said. book. The class also Elliott then met workshopped their his wife, started When it gets hard, I remember personal materials and teaching English learned about book as a second lan- that moment and I tell myself, publishing. guage, an, he had Elliott previously a son. He began there was a reason that your untaught at Colby-Sawyer publishing chilCollege in New Hampdren’s stories be- conscious wanted you to write shire and now teaches cause he initially this book. So when I’m feeling Lesley University’s Low wrote them for Residency Program his son. His most like I’m not the person for this, I in Creative Writing in recent book, pubMassachusetts, a prolished last year, try to remember that moment. gram he helped found. was a step away Elliott said writing from children’s definitely played a role stories. It was his -David Elliott, visiting writer in his teaching, but Elfirst young adult liott discovered teachnovel, and it has ing played a role in his received six-star writing as well.

He heard himself saying in class stureviews and is often compared to “Hamilton.”

Elliott does not consider himself a poet and said dents should let the language lead the work and that he didn’t have the temperament, training or knowl- they should take their work seriously but not themedge of poetry, but he thinks he is a good lyricist. selves. He realized he had to follow his own advice Many people who read his book, “Bull,” have said too. He said teaching has affected his writing because they wished someone would set the book to a musi- it helps keep him honest.

Elliott said that someone cannot be a writer unless cal score so they could hear it.

“It’s important to me that whatever I write has the actual writing is done. He said thinking about writmusic of our language in it,” Elliott said. “Music is re- ing, talking about writing, or having a good idea for a ally connected that way to my writing. I read aloud poem or book doesn’t make anyone a writer.

“What makes you a writer is writing it,” Elliott everything I write, and I want people to read my said. “Learn the craft and understand that it’s not books aloud.”

Elliott said “Bull” was a different approach because about you — it’s about the work you’re putting on it was the first book he wrote for young adults and it the page.”

“Bull” is the first young adult novel Elliott was written in formal verse. It was a retelling of the wrote. The book is entirely written in formal Greek myth “Theseus and the Minotaur.” Writing versverse and based on the Greek myth “Theseus es was already in his head because he had written poand the Minotaur.” etry and verses for various children’s books. He wrote

“

”

Local waitress talks about working in small town eatery

BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Located just a few minutes from Truman State University’s campus lies the small, homey diner, Pancake City.

While the wide assortment of freshly prepared, syrup-laden pancakes draws customers in, Pancake City is far more than a breakfast establishment in the eyes of Sheila Billington.

Billington has worked at Pancake City for 11

I thought if you knew “ how to waitress, you could do it anywhere.

[Springfield] is nothing like my hometown of Kirksville.

”

-Shelia Billington, Pancake City supervisor and waitress years as a supervisor and waitress. As a waitress, she puts away dishes, waits on tables and addresses customers’ concerns.

The friendships she’s formed throughout the years with customers and staff separates Pancake City’s work environment from other restaurants, Billington said. She’s made a lot of personal connections during her time at Pancake City, with some customers even traveling from Milan, Missouri, where she used to live, to visit her. “[My regular customers and I] talk about family, kids, experiences,” Billington said. “I can tell

you what they’re goplays a large role ing to eat or drink bein Billington’s satfore they even get to isfaction with workthe table.” ing at Pancake City.

Billington said she Billington said tries to socialize with when she lived in customers even if she Springfield, Misdoesn’t always know souri, the atmothem. sphere was com“I like conversapletely different tion and interacting than Kirksville’s. with people, and you “I thought if you get that [at Pancake knew how to waitCity],” Billington said. ress, you could do it “While at [a fast food anywhere,” Billingrestaurant], it’s more ton said. “[Springof just like, ‘What field] is nothing would you like, here’s like my hometown your food and go on’ of Kirksville.” … there aren’t really No matter where any challenges workshe goes in Kirksing here — I just enville, Billington joy making people said she’ll recognize happy.” people she knows, Billington said oftentimes her custhese bonds extend tomers at Pancake to the staff members, City. particularly the man“You don’t get agers and owners. that in a lot of the “When you have bigger cities befamily issues — your cause there’s too Photo by Gordon McPherson/TMN much action gokids are sick or you need a day off — ing on,” Billington they’re all there for Kirksville-native Shelia Billington stands for a said. “I really like you,” Billington said. photo at Pancake City. Billington said she likes it in [Kirksville] “That’s always nice to the small-town, personal atmosphere of the diner. that you can actuhave that personal, ally have one-onone-on-one family.” one [conversations] Even so, Billington jokingly said only specific with people. People actually care about a lot more cooking staff are allowed in the kitchen. than just themselves, which is nice.”

“I don’t do any of the cooking. [The cooks] are like, ‘That’s my place, you stay out!’”

The small-town atmosphere of Kirksville also

The Index

10

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Questions on The Quad What are your plans for Spring Break?

Ehi Oribhabor, senior

“I will be heading out to New Mexico, to a camp called Glorieta, New Mexico, with CCF — that’s Campus Christian Fellowship.

And we’re gonna do service projects on the campsite, amongst other things, but I guess that’s the main essence of the trip.”

“My plans for Spring Break are to go home and stay home the entire time, because I haven’t been home since the end of Winter Break, and I miss my dad and just wanna catch up with my friends back home and see what they’re up to ... home is Kansas City, Missouri — more specifically Liberty, Missouri. I love it.”

Carlen Fidler, senior

“I’m just going home. I really miss my dog, and I guess my family. But yeah, just to chill out.”

What are some things you do to destress and ensure that you’re staying mentally healthy?

“It’s always good to talk to family, friends, people back home, people that haven’t been here … just to kind of take you outside the bubble for a second. On top of that, spend time by myself, reading, sleeping, doing anything but just, keyword, by myself. Taking time to recharge.”

What is a relatively new album or song that’s come out that you’ve enjoyed listening to?

“There’s an album called ‘Freudian’ by an artist named Daniel Caesar. It’s pretty chill.

Chill vibes. I’m a fan of that one … I suppose R&B is how you’d categorize it.”

“I have this weird obsession with making Spotify playlists. I do them monthly. So if I hear a song I like during that month, I compile it into a monthly playlist. And they can be as long as like 10 songs to like 100 songs. Right now I’m working on my March 2018 one, and there’s a total of 14 songs in it right now. So if I get bored with school or stressed out with school, I just go to Spotify and just compile all my music into one little playlist.

It’s kind of weird, but I like it.”

“The song is the name of the album. It’s called ‘Little Dark Age’ by MGMT. I’ve liked that band since I was like a junior in high school, and I’m a senior in college, so it’s kind of cool to see them still create music that I’ve been listening to since high school.

They’ve kind of modernized their sound a little bit, so I’ve been really into them recently … it’s kind of alternative, synth pop.”

“I watch a lot of Netflix. Sometimes I meditate, too. Or actually hanging out with friends really helps me a lot.”

“‘Melodrama’ by Lorde. I love it. It’s the best album. Or ‘Rainbow’ by Kesha. So good.”

Chloe Gracia, freshman

Brian Lavalle, senior

“For Spring Break, what I’m planning on doing is staying up here in Kirksville to just work at [Kirksville] Manor Care [Center], the nursing home, as well as Chariton Valley [Association], just pick up some extra hours so I can make some extra money. That’s about it.”

“I’m on the Truman State [University] Tennis team … playing the sport is relaxing to get away from school. I work out regularly, I get to the rec, I make sure I’m there a couple times a week … my favorite thing to do is hang out with my dog, Nia, and we go for long walks, or I rollerblade around campus. People see me doing that.”

“I’m going to New Mexico with CCF … I think there’s like 211 people going, so a lot of people.”

“I go to yoga ... I’ll hang out with friends, watch movies, play board games — but mostly yoga.”

“‘Pick It Up’ by [Famous Dex feat. A$AP Rocky]. It’s just like a hip-hop song. It’s kind of the song I use to get me pumped up or motivated before a workout or something.”

“I like ‘The Greatest Showman’ soundtrack.”

Jessica Foster, freshman

30

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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

The Index

’Dogs take down No. 24

BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer The Truman State University softball team opened its home schedule winning both games against No. 24-ranked Saginaw Valley State University with a pair of walk-off hits.

In the first game, Truman scored off a wild pitch, but Saginaw Valley was up 4-1 until Truman answered with three runs in the seventh which tied the game. After a scoreless inning and a half, junior outfielder Christa Reisinger lined a pitch into centerfield and stole second base during sophomore infielder Alyssa Rivera’s at bat. Later, Rivera executed a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman, who threw it errantly to home plate resulting in Reisinger scoring to end the game 5-4.

Truman also scored first in the second game, but Saginaw Valley caught up by the sixth inning, tying the game 3-3. Senior infielder Ashley Murphy ended another Truman victory with a walk-off sacrifice bunt to the third baseman, who tossed it to the catcher, but Rivera dodged the tag.

Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Hajduk was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs in both games.

Hajduk pitched three-and-twothirds scoreless innings in the first game and one hitless inning in the second game. She improved to 5-1 this season and received the GLVC

Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Hajduk winds a pitch Saturday afternoon.

Hajduk was credited for both wins.

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Sophomore infielder Alyssa Rivera drives a pitch at the Saginaw Valley State University defense. Rivera went 3-7 at the plate last weekend.

Pitcher of the Week for the first time in her career.

The Bulldogs started the season with a 4-4 record. After 14 canceled games from weather, the team quickly scheduled other ones on short notice. Head coach Erin Brown is in her 12th season as the Bulldog head coach and has led the ’Dogs to the NCAA tournament in the last four seasons.

Despite the negative impact of the weather, Brown said the cancellations have benefitted the Bulldogs in some ways.

“Having some time after tough losses can be helpful to be extremely motivated to get better,” Brown said “No one likes the way that feels, and we had to think about it for two weeks.”

Because of the pleasant weather last week, the ’Dogs were able to practice outside on their field for the first time this year. Brown said that helped prepare them for Saginaw Valley.

Brown said the team has focused on defense and reacting in pressure situations in these two weeks without games.

Senior utility player Kadie Orenstein said it was great to play after having a long break from the last games, and it was even bet-

ter to have a great home opener beating tough competition. Orenstein said the team was energetic in both games and said she thinks it can be that way for the rest of the season.

Rivera played a role in both walk-off wins and said everyone on the team can contribute when they have to come from behind, regardless of the weather.

“The other team is experiencing the same thing as us, whether it’s wind, rain or cold temperatures,” Rivera said. “We have to be the team that makes adjustments first regardless of the weather, and stay along the path.”

Rivera said something she loves about this team is the positivity they carry throughout the entire game, even when they’re down. She said this drive and passion to win kept the Bulldogs in the games against Saginaw Valley last week so they could win in unexpected fashion.

The Bulldogs were scheduled to see GLVC opponent University of Illinois Springfield this week, but the games were rescheduled to April 19 because of weather. If the weather cooperates after Spring Break, Truman will play a doubleheader against Wayne State College March 14.

11

COLUMN | Voices of athletes should be heard

BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, the athlete, has been many things in his life, such as a three-time NBA champion, four-time NBA league MVP and the only man in NBA history with more than 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists. LeBron James, the activist, has been just as noteworthy through many charitable ventures such as the Boys & Girls Club of America and Children’s Defense Fund.

James and fellow NBA star Kevin Durant have been quoted talking about multiple social and political issues, but James has caught the most backlash from it, as the more public figure.

More backlash came when Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham attacked James in February, calling his commentary “barely intelligible” and “ungrammatical” and mentioning the fact he chose to forgo college. She ended her rant with a simple statement which no athlete in the world, no matter the age or level, should ever listen to.

“Shut up and dribble.”

Ingraham said this to a man who has provided constant support, emotionally and monetarily, to thousands of youth around the world. James has donated $42 million under his LeBron James Family Foundation, which has provided about 1,100 kids in the inner city of Akron, Ohio — James’ hometown — a chance to go to college, according to ESPN. A chance James said not many people from his community get to even think about.

Athletes and supporters from all over the country have taken to James’ side in the matter, defending him while also proving athletes can do much more than dribble. Just Sunday, the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film went to Kobe Bryant for his work “Dear Basketball,” a short film that depicts the life of Bryant growing up and eventually becoming one of the best players to ever step on a basketball court.

The film, while a retelling of Bryant’s life, also calls youth to pursue their dreams and stop others from saying they can’t do something.

“As basketball players, we’re supposed to shut up and dribble,” Bryant said upon accepting his award. “I’m glad we do a little bit more than that.”

All of this is not to say athletes need to be famous to make a difference in their communities. Take our Bulldog athletes, for instance. The Truman State University football, baseball and basketball teams hold camps throughout the year for kids in the Kirksville community.

During these camps, the kids learn about the respective sport and how to live an active lifestyle and do well in school, thus promoting a better lifestyle overall.

Children in various communities would not benefit as much if athletes wanted to simply shut up and dribble.

To all the athletes out there who are role models to millions of kids around the world, remember this — you have a voice. Let it be heard.

Baseball comes out even in Music City

BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer The Truman State University baseball team traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, last weekend to face Trevecca Nazarene University and split the four-game series with the Trojans.

On Friday, the Bulldogs won the first game 4-3 and lost the following game 13-3. On Saturday, Truman split again, winning the first game 17-7 and then falling to the Trojans 9-8. The Bulldogs’ overall record is now 4-8 before heading into conference play.

Trevecca Nazarene is a regional opponent, but head coach Dan Davis said there is more to the Trojans than being in the same region. Davis said Trevecca Nazarene has always been a solid program that plays at a high level. So, more than anything else, he said Trevecca Nazarene was great competition to prepare the team for GLVC play.

During the first game, Truman had the most strikeouts from a Bulldog team since 2004, with 13. Sophomore pitcher Bryan Clark supplied a career-high 10 strikeouts while going a career-high seven innings. Clark said this was a milestone for him, but above all, he was more excited to get a win as a team.

“There’s no feeling like throwing up zeroes on the scoreboard for the boys who field behind me and score runs for me,” Clark said. “It really gets me going to get a win for the boys.”

Pitching was not the only thing working well for the Bulldogs this series. During Saturday’s doubleheader, Truman scored 17 runs in the first including five in the first inning.

Davis said he was pleased seeing aspects of the game come together for the team, but he was more happy to

Submitted photo Senior pitcher Matt Tometz strides down the mound in a home game last spring. The Bulldogs haven’t yet played a home game in 2018 but will open in Bulldog Baseball Park at 2 p.m. Friday. The ’Dogs are 4-8 on the season. get his players healthy and their lineup back in the game. Truman baseball has a few players recovering from various injuries ranging from hamstring issues to shoulder surgery.

Davis said the top of the Bulldogs lineup swung the bat well during Saturday’s doubleheader. In the first game, where the offense scored 17 runs, the first five hitters each had three hits. He said it was great seeing this happen alongside good outings on the mound.

Senior outfielder Josh Abegg said this was also a big weekend for the

team because the team’s outside practice time was limited by the cold weather. Abegg said the team is finally putting together all aspects of its game. He said everyone, including the less experienced players, is becoming more confident on the field.

In the final game against the Trojans, Truman fell 9-8 and almost tied in the last inning after scoring two runs before the final out. Abegg said the team didn’t do too much and maintained a high energy level. He said this

weekend’s performance showed their best baseball is yet to come.

“There are extremely good things to come for this team on the horizon, and I have the utmost confidence in our abilities,” Abegg said. “I think the focus for this weekend was just to play clean baseball and to be locked in on every pitch, and I felt we did a good job of doing those things.”

The Bulldogs will begin their conference and home schedules March 9-11 in a four-game series against University of Indianapolis.

The Index

12

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

MEN | Three ’Dogs on All-GLVC First Team for third time in program history

Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Junior guard Jake Velky attempts a shot in Truman’s first game against Bellarmine University. The Bulldogs will play Bellarmine a third time this Saturday.

continued from page 14 Thomas said he couldn’t have had the success without the encouragement of his teammates and coaches. He said having three players all with First-Team accolades says a lot about the team as a whole.

“More than just one person stands out on this team,” Thomas said. “And a big part of that is that there is not one person on the court that cares about scoring more than winning. We play for each other rather than ourselves, and that shows on the court.”

Thomas said the selflessness and trust he and his teammates have for one another is something not every team gets to experience and is a big part of the success it has had this season.

The GLVC tournament was in Edwardsville, Illinois, this year. The Bulldogs defeated Lewis University Friday 103-56. The semifinals against Drury University proved to be a close game, as Truman won 68-67 on Velky’s lastsecond free throws. The ’Dogs fell to nationally-ranked Bellarmine University 75-61 in the championship game.

Despite losing the conference championship to Bellarmine, the Bulldogs still had hope of a spot in the national tournament. After losing to Bellarmine, Fischer said the players huddled around a smartphone on the bus ride back to Kirksville that night, waiting to see whether they made the NCAA tournament.

Fischer said it was stressful waiting for the news, not knowing whether he had played his last game in a Truman

uniform. Once Truman appeared on the screen, though, the whole bus started cheering so loudly they actually woke and startled Velky, leading him to think the bus had gotten into an accident.

The Bulldogs found out their opponents were the nationally-ranked team that sent them home without a conference title — Bellarmine.

Fischer said he looks forward to the rematch, and he and the team are getting ready for the challenge preparing hard in practice this week.

Head coach Chris Foster said it’s tough to have to play a good team like Bellarmine again, but in terms of practice and preparation, it’s easier. The Bulldogs have already played the Knights twice this year, once in regular season play and again last weekend in the conference championship.

Foster said a main focus for the Bulldogs for this third matchup is discipline on the offensive end.

“They’re a very good defensive team,” Foster said. “They make it very hard to get good shots, so we have to be disciplined and move the ball well. And we’ve done that for stretches both times we’ve played them, but against a really good team like that, you have to do it for the full 40 minutes.”

The Bulldogs will tip off against Bellarmine for a third and final time this season at 1:30 p.m. Saturday inside the top-seeded Ferris State University’s’ Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan.

WOMEN | Lewis University ended Truman’s five-game win streak and season continued from page 14 Hartwig said the team will be starting postseason workouts now that the Bulldogs have been eliminated from the tournament. She said the team does this every year to prepare for the next season. This will be the first time in four years that Hartwig and the other five seniors will not participate.

Junior forward Rachel Edmundson only shot 22 percent from the field on nine attempts. Edmundson shot 33 percent this season.

“It just wasn’t our day to win,” Edmundson said. “The returners can use it as fuel for next year to now get better in the off season. We might not have accomplished what we wanted to this year, but we learned a lot and can use it for next season.”

Heading into the postseason, the Bulldogs are preparing to focus on individual goals and figuring out how returners can improve during the summer to prepare for next season.

Eagan said the program will be without six seniors, along with their good

Sophomore guard Sloane Totta defends a William Jewell College guard in one of the final games of the regular season. The Bulldogs were not able to extend their five-game winning streak in the first round in the GLVC tournament. leadership, starting next season. She said the returning talent will have to step in for the team to be competitive again.

“I think we have some great talent coming back, but if you don’t work on developing them, it doesn’t mean

much,” Eagan said. “We will have a lot of conversations on what we need to do to get better for next year.”

30

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The Index

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Bullets build in spring

13

March 9 Friday

Men’s Basketball

1:30 p.m. in Big Rapids, Mich. vs. Bellarmine University

Wrestling

TBA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at NCAA Championships

Baseball

2 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of Indianapolis

10 Saturday Wrestling

TBA in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at NCAA Championships

Baseball

Noon in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of Indianapolis — Doubleheader

11 Sunday Baseball

Noon in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of Indianapolis

Submitted Photo The Truman State University women’s rugby team finished their fall season with a 2-2 record and will play nine games during spring. The Bullets lost against Kansas State University and won against University of Central Missouri.

BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer Truman State University’s women’s rugby team, the Bullets, is looking to continue its success from recent games into the rest of the spring schedule.

The game March 3 against the University of Central Missouri was the team’s second of the semester, after losing its first game of the spring season to Kansas State University February 24.

Sophomore Haley Mills said the Bullets’ first game was against the best team in the region. She said everyone played in the freezing rain, which added to the difficulty.

“During that game, no one played their best because it was so cold and couldn’t feel their hands,” Mills said. “We, unfortunately, didn’t win the game. However, against UCM, we really pulled together as a team and played one of the best games we have played since I’ve been on the team. Everyone communicated and pulled their own weight on the field, and we were able to win.”

Mills said she loves the sense of confidence the team has given her to push her body to its limits and go outside her comfort zone. She said the Bullets are like her second family, but it is a family that tackles one another at practice.

Building on its fall season, the team is looking to finish strong this spring with a few more wins under its belt.

This semester, the team will play nine games during five weekends of play, which includes two tournaments.

The Bullets went 2-2 in the fall, losing their first two games to John Brown University and University of Missouri. Senior Megan Whitelock said rugby is a game where it’s best to learn by doing.

“Practice can only prepare you so much,” Whitelock said. “Really, you just gotta get thrown in the game, get confused and learn by experi-

ence. After those two games, our nine rookies put it together, and we really bonded as a team and put up some wins.”

Whitelock said she is happy with how the team played in the fall because the members played a much cleaner, more tactful game compared to previous seasons. She said the team wants to build solid core players this spring because of the number of seniors it has.

Because the game’s positions demand similar skills, Whitelock said rugby allows everyone a chance to

become the staple of Bullets rugby.

Whitelock said the team did well maintaining composure and putting together some big plays that allowed them to win.

“The forwards put together a strong scrum, even when the opposing team was much bigger than them,” Whitelock said. “We won most of the scrums even with rookies playing. The backs did amazing work finding the gaps in the line and getting their sprint work in.”

Freshman Holly Findling said although this is the first time she has

“In rugby, the family aspect is bigger than any other sport. It’s kinda like having 25 kids to worry about and making sure they all eat their veggies.”

—Senior Bullets president Megan Whitelock succeed. She said the team members think of themselves as one big family where everyone roots for one another.

The team is comprised of 25 players with seven executive board members. Whitelock serves as the team’s president, so she said she tries to be a leader for the younger members.

“They are just learning the game, so I help them out any way I can,” Whitelock said. “They all know that I am here for them, on and off the field. In rugby, the family aspect is bigger than any other sport. It’s kinda like having 25 kids to worry about and making sure they all eat their veggies.”

Potentially one of the team’s better performances was a game against University of Central Missouri last weekend. Whitelock said the game went really well, even though the team played a slightly different version of rugby than it normally plays.

Whitelock said the Bullets were winning because this was a fastpaced game and this playing style fits the team better. She said the team has the speed to compensate for its small size, and this speed has

ever played rugby, the defensive and offensive concepts make sense because she’s played basketball her entire life. Findling said the hardest thing to grasp is tackling with full-on contact, and technique she has to pay close attention to. Despite the hard work, Findling said practices are really fun because she is out there with her best friends.

Findling said she feels really close to the women on the team even though she is a rookie. She said this chemistry is a major factor for the team’s success.

“I’ve been on lots of teams throughout my life that were full of drama, and we never did well,” Findling said. “That doesn’t seem to be the case with these girls. They all respect one another, and I think it makes for some great chemistry on the field.”

The team has two tournament weekends left this spring which will be played in St. Louis and Nashville, Tennessee. The Bullets’ next home games won’t happen until fall 2018.

14 Wednesday Swimming

TBA in Greensboro, N.C. at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

Softball

Noon in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Wayne State College — Doubleheader

15 Thursday Swimming

TBA in Greensboro, N.C. at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

16 Friday Swimming

TBA in Greensboro, N.C. at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

Baseball

2 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Saginaw Valley State University

17 Saturday Swimming

TBA in Greensboro, N.C. at NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

Baseball

Noon in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Saginaw Valley State University — Doubleheader

18 Sunday Baseball

Noon in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Saginaw Valley State University

21 Wednesday Softball 2 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Lincoln University — Doubleheader

Bulldog Swimmers Competing at NCAA Meet Junior Sam Heveroh

Senior Nikki Sisson

Freshman Natalie Galluzzo

Senior Grace Fodor

50-yard freestyle 100-yard freestyle 200-yard freestyle

50-yard freestyle 100-yard freestyle 200-yard freestyle 500-yard freestyle

200-yard individual medley 100-yard breaststroke 200-yard breaststroke

200-yard medley relay 400-yard medley relay 200-yard freestyle relay 800-yard freestyle relay

Senior Will Shanel

Senior Jamie Fitzpatrick

Senior Jasmine Roghair

Senior Libby Opfer

200-yard individual medley 400-yard individual medley 200-yard bu erfly

50-yard freestyle 100-yard freestyle 200-yard freestyle

200-yard medley relay 400-yard medley relay 200-yard freestyle relay 800-yard freestyle relay

200-yard medley relay 400-yard medley relay 200-yard freestyle relay 800-yard freestyle relay

14

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Trio earns All-GLVC First Team First Team All-GLVC Bulldogs Three members of the Truman State University men’s basketball team were named First Team All-GLVC for the third time in program history and the first time in 62 years. The three had high-ranking conference statistics in several categories.

Redshirt Senior Forward Zach Fischer 17.6 points per game — 5th 9.9 rebounds per game — 3rd 64% field goal — 1st

Junior Guard Jake Velky 16.8 points per game — 8th 39% 3-point — 6th

Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer taps in a layup in Truman’s last home contest of the year. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with an 18-9 record.

85% free throw — 8th

BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer

redshirt Sophomore Guard Brodric Thomas 16.4 points per game — 10th 4.3 assists per game — 6th 1.6 steals per game — 4th

The Truman State University men’s basketball team headed into the GLVC Tournament with confidence and three First-Team All-Conference honorees — the first time in 62 years and only the third time in school history.

The GLVC announced redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer, redshirt sophomore guard Brodric Thomas and junior guard Jake Velky made

the All-Conference team a week prior to the tournament.

In the GLVC, Velky, Fischer and Thomas rank in the top 10 in many statistical categories.

Each has averaged at least 16 points a game this season, meaning Truman has the only trio in the GLVC with that distinction.

The three have more accomplishments to reflect the season’s success. Velky became the 29th member of Truman’s 1,000-point club this season, Fischer recorded dou-

ble-double after double-double on his way to three GLVC Player of the Week honors and a James R. Spalding Sportsmanship award nomination, and Thomas was revealed to be part of the Conference AllDefensive Team.

Being his first year suiting up for the Bulldogs, Thomas said it felt gratifying to be named to the First Team coming to Truman as a transfer from Southwestern Community College.

See MEN, page 12

BY PATRICK PARDO Staff Writer

Amy Eagan said. “I thought we fought very hard. It came down to when Lewis stepped up we just weren’t able to match that.”

Eagan said she is really proud of the team and said they could have easily thrown in the towel during their seven-game losing streak last month. After they strung some wins together, the team’s record rose to above .500.

Senior forward Ashley Hartwig scored seven points and shot 43 percent from the field on seven attempts.

Hartwig finished her final season at Truman with 201 points, making her one of two Bulldogs to score at least 200 points each of the last two years.

“Obviously, I wish it wouldn’t have ended like this, especially as it is my senior year, but I am really grateful for every opportunity I’ve had here at Truman,” Hartwig said. “This program has been a true blessing, and I’m going to miss my team the most.”

See WOMEN, page 12

Bulldogs season comes to end in conference tournament

Freshman center Katie Jaseckas ended her season on a high note against Lewis University scoring 16 points. The Bulldogs will have to wait on next year to play for postseason.

Last Thursday, the Truman State University women’s basketball team’s season of highs and lows came to an end. After coming off a fivegame winning streak, they lost to Lewis University in the GLVC tournament.

There were seven ties and 10 lead changes in the game against the Flyers. Lewis was able to escape the second and third quarters with a narrow lead because of a 3-pointer and outscored the Bulldogs by nine in the final quarter.

Freshman center Katie Jaseckas led Truman with 16 points followed by junior forward Rachel Edmundson’s 11, but the Bulldogs could not get past the Flyers’ timely shots and 13 steals.

“I think Lewis University is a very good team, and when you possibly have National Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year, it’s tough to find a way to win those games,” head coach

ATHLETE o f

t h e

w e e k

Sophomore pitcher Bryan Clark had a winning start Friday against Trevecca Nazarene University.

Clark lasted a career-high seven innings, striking out 10 batters. This is the first time a Bulldog starter has pitched for at least seven innings since Clark’s outing on March 14, 2017, and the first Bulldog pitcher to strike out at least 10 since Jarrett Eiskina on March 15, 2010.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 22

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Bryan Clark

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