The Index Vol. 112 Issue 2

Together, Apart: Campus living in the pandemic page 7

Music department changes classroom protocol, page 6 Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” is bold and relentless, page 8 Changing of the seasons, page 12

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

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TRUMAN REIMBURSED FOR COVID-19 COSTS RACHEL BECKER News Editor

Brenda Higgins, associate vice president for student health and wellness, said the University and the Adair County Health Department often collaborate on communicable diseases. The Adair County Health Department gave the University Health Center an Abbott ID Now COVID-19 analyzer. Photo by Rachel Becker

To prepare for students on campus, Truman State University had to secure supplies and funding for certain COVID-19 precautions.

Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the University has spent roughly $256,000.

This includes $175,000 spent by the University as well as $81,000 in received assistance from Adair County via federal funds.

However, all the money spent is being reimbursed by the state and federal governments. Rector said the Governor’s office wanted schools to reopen, so they allocated Coronavirus Relief Fund money to reimburse universities around Missouri for COVID-related expenses.

The reimbursement offer stands from April of this year to Dec.1.

See SPENDING page 3

Sodexo moves to In-person sustainable options Homecoming events cancelled BRITTANY MORROW Staff Writer

ANAKIN BUSH Staff Writer

Truman State University has cancelled all in-person activities for Homecoming and Family Day during the fall semester, as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

The announcement was made in the Aug. 17 issue of Truman Today, which stated that the events were cancelled to limit the spread of coronavirus and minimize exposure. The statement explained that it would be difficult for these events to maintain safe social distancing measures. The events also encourage non-Truman

The University cancelled all in-person Homecoming activies for fall 2020.

This is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo from TMN Archives

students to come engage in the events. “[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines still advise against large gatherings, and it is not logistically feasible to plan multiple events which would allow participants to maintain proper social distance,” the announcement stated.

Truman is in the process of planning virtual events to replace the in-person events. The Student Affairs Office and Alumni office are working on finalizing the details of these events, like a virtual 5K, virtual tailgate and trivia.

Janna Stoskopf, vice president for student affairs, said the decision was made by the Executive Leadership Team. This team is composed of President Sue Thomas, Stoskopf and Chief Information Officer Donna Liss.

“While Homecoming events are planned for current students, the original intent of Homecoming was — and continues to be — to invite alumni to return and celebrate their connection to the University as a collective, and to reconnect with friends from their days at Truman,” Stoskopf said.

See HOMECOMING page 3

Following the many precautions of COVID-19, Sodexo and the dining services implemented a new form of carry-out containers for meals.

Instead of the green box, which was a reusable container, Sodexo made the switch to a single-use container for students to use. There have now been two carry-out containers this year, the original option was a styrofoam container, but many students saw an issue with styrofoam because it was not sustainable.

Ethan Kershaw, Student Government environmental affairs chair, said the nearest recycling center for styrofoam is in Iowa, making it difficult to ensure

that the containers were recycled.

A petition was soon started by the Sustainability Office. The petition, which received 473 signatures, called for Truman State University to switch to a container that was more sustainable for the students to use for carry-out.

“So the idea came off of just eating in the dining hall and being on campus myself and working in the [Sustainability] Office,” Jessie Coleman, Sustainability Office events coordinator, said.

“I had been bouncing the idea off of one of my bosses, Payton Sullivan, and Caroline Vogl who is an intern at the office, talking to those two girls, thinking what can we do to work towards a better option than styrofoam.”

See SUSTAINABILITY page 5

Freshman Josh Dans walks out of Ryle Hall with a carry-out meal in hand. Sodexo General Manager John Stewart said styrofoam was almost the only option to use for the time being. Photo by Bidan Yang

Ryle Hall responsibilities split up after Director leaves ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor

Sophomore Abbie Chruma manages the front desk in Ryle Hall. Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the Residence Life budget dropped from $21.876 million last year to $17.819 million this year. Photo by Emily Collins

VOLUME 112 ISSUE 2 © 2020

Former Ryle Hall Director Laina Porter left her position in Residence Life Aug. 24, putting the current number of Truman State University hall directors at four, with six residence halls and two on-campus apartment buildings under their supervision.

The Ryle Hall director responsibilities will be divided among three of the remaining hall directors. Ka-La Harris, Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall and Dobson Hall director, will oversee students living on the first, second and third floors of Ryle. Missouri Hall Director Lindsay Boggess will oversee students living on the fourth and fifth floors. David Boughton, West Campus Suites Hall director, will oversee facility and resident-related issues.

Ryle Community Coordinator Margo Motes, who was hired by Porter, will

continue working in Ryle to mentor student advisers, oversee the hall’s front desk operation and help the hall directors facilitate staff meetings in Ryle.

Residence Life Director Jamie Van Boxel said he cannot speak about Porter’s reasons for leaving or any other personnel-related information.

“I can talk a little about hall directors in general,” Van Boxel said. “Less than 5 years is the average longevity of a hall director in the United States. Laina was here for much longer than average. So often hall directors depart to leave the field of Residence Life or to advance, to take a position with more responsibility, more authority.”

Porter declined to comment on the matter.

Van Boxel said there are currently no plans to hire a new hall director. He said the number of students living on campus decreased by 400 since last year and four hall directors is enough to cover this year’s 1,500 residents.

See RYLE page 5

The Index

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Never fully dressed without a face covering Freshmen Diego Butron and Max Driver enter Ryle Hall. For the fall semester Truman State University has implemented a rule that masks or face coverings are required in all University buildings. Photos by Bidan Yang

Juniors Allen Fortenberry and Franklin Morris walk through campus. As of Tuesday, Sept. 15, there are 19 student COVID-19 cases on campus active and in isolation, one employee case and 64 cases that are recovered.

Sophomores Pod Riordan and Kate Wilson stroll while wearing masks. On other campuses, like the University of Missouri, masks are now required to be worn inside and outside university buildings.

Freshman Rylan Harness walks in front of Ryle Hall through a misty morning. Even when a mask or face covering is worn, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends people stand six feet apart.

Crime Reports staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Pivoney Managing Editor: Elisabeth Shirk News Editor: Rachel Becker Features, Opinions Editor: Erica Lindsay Copy Chief: Julie Thomassen Designer: Nora Grojean Podcast Editor: Trevor Grandin Photographers: Emily Collins, Bidan Yang Copy Editors: Kayley Lawson, Gillian Burkes, Jessica Robinson, Sami Harris Dusty Davis, Lacy Gorenflo, Brooke Barnes, Leighya McNeely, Lauren Leeteh Sta Writers: Chase Potter, Allison Maschho, Anakin Bush, Brittany Marrow, Savannah Kluesher, Ari Klokic, Genna Tlustos, Abigail Prince, Jack Ratliff, Taylor Herdon, Kennedy Cooper Joey Dougherty, Jenna Manzelli Adviser: Don Krause

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9/11 Sex abuse reported at the 400 block of East Washington St. 9/11 Burglary reported at the 100 block of East McPherson St. 9/11 Theft of motor fuel reported at the 2200 block of North Baltimore 9/12 Burglary reported at the 700 block of East Illinois St. 9/12 Third degree assault reported at the 2400 block of South Baltimore St. 9/12 Second degree stalking reported at the 100 block of East McPherson St. 9/13 Theft reported at the 900 block of South First St. 9/13 Stolen property and resisting arrest reported at the 500 block of South Franklin St. 9/13 First degree trespassing reported at South Main St. 9/13 Trespassing reported at the 800 block of East Washington St. 9/13 Theft from a building reported at the 1400 block of North Walnut St. 9/13 Fraud reported at the 300 block of North Baltimore St. 9/13 Second degree property damage reported at the 300 block of Pfeiffer Ave.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

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SPENDING| University spends $256,000 on pandemic precautions, gets completely reimbursed by state, federal government Continued from page 1 The CRF was given to the state from the federal government and then divided up to universities by enrollment size.

Rector said Truman has had no problems when it comes to COVID-related deficits or cash flow thanks to the reimbursements.

Rector explained that the reimbursement also counts toward staffing. When students moved out in the spring, staff had to go through and clean all the dorms.

Rector said without the money from the state, staff members would have had to be furloughed and taken off the payroll.

He said the hardest part has been getting supplies from vendors.

Back in March, the University put in orders for hand sanitizer dispensers, Rector explained, and since then they have gone through three vendors trying to fulfill that order. Rector said getting masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes has been difficult.

One thing the University has not had to pay for is a rapid testing machine.

Brenda Higgins, associate vice president for student health and wellness, said the University and the Adair County Health Department often collaborate on communicable diseases.

Jim LeBaron, administrator at the Adair County Health Department, said his department received the Abbott ID Now COVID-19 analyzer several months ago from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services that was placed at the Northeast Regional Medical Center. The department then purchased a second and third testing machine that it gave to the Truman Health Center and to Complete Family Care, where the Kirksville R-III school district has associated

medical staff. The machine was installed on campus right before Truman Week started.

LeBaron said the department bought both testing machines for around $2,500 each, and they used money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to pay for it.

The department is given about 12 boxes of tests a week, with approximately 24 testing kits in each box, and those boxes are being divided up to the three local testing machines, LeBaron said. However, his department has recently asked the state to increase the boxes to 15 a week.

Higgins said the Abbott ID Now rapid testing machine would increase how many students could be tested on campus and take the stress off of other testing sites within the community.

Higgins said rapid testing is beneficial for the University, as identifying positive cases rapidly can boost contact tracing efforts and keep case numbers down.

As for how accurate the Abbot rapid tests are, Higgins said that is controversial, but not an anomaly in COVID-19 testing.

Higgins said the rapid tests are very specific, and when they pick up a positive, there is 98-99% assurance it is positive. However, when it picks up a negative, it can be a false negative anywhere from 5-35% of the time.

Higgins said to combat the false negatives, the Health Center does a rapid test, and if someone is very symptomatic or has had contact with a positive case, they may recommend following up with a polymerase chain reaction test.

The PCR test gets sent out to a lab, where it takes one to two days to get the results, but the tests are more accurate.

Higgins said Truman has administered 125 rapid tests with 27 positives, while out of 59 PCR tests, 0.03% had positive results.

Rector said in talking with other college campuses in Missouri, he doesn’t think anyone else has a rapid test on campus, especially for free.

At other universities they might have to send COVID tests out of state, costing

about $100 per test plus a two-day wait to get results, Rector said.

Rector also said Northeast Regional Medical Center has been running athletic tests for free as well.

“Just because you get a negative test does not mean you should ignore the masks or physical distancing,” Higgins said.

HOMECOMING| Administration cancels all in-person Homecoming activities due to COVID-19 concerns Continued from page 1 Stoskopf said the virtual events are still being planned. The team is working with students to gather ideas as to what events they would like to see. Stoskopf said they are trying to make these events fun and memorable, in spite of how different the events will be compared to previous Homecoming events.

Stoskopf said the fall semester will be different without Homecoming, but emphasized that everything has been different this year due to COVID-19.

She is sure there are some people who will be upset at the cancellation of these longstanding events, but hopes everyone will understand.

“I am so appreciative of the commitment of people across campus being willing to make personal sacrifices and focus on the overall well-being of the

community as a whole,” Stoskopf said.

Laura Bates, director of the Student Union and Campus Activities, said the cancellation of any large event is difficult. Bates is hopeful students and alumni will be understanding of the cancellation and the reasons behind it.

“Events like Homecoming bring people together for a variety of reasons, and it is difficult to conceptualize how that could happen with today’s challenges,” Bates said.

Bates said the cancellation of Family Day and Homecoming are another example of the difference between this semester and past terms. She said everyone has to look at how things can be done differently and safely. Bates said she is looking forward to planning future Homecoming events once public health parameters permit it.

Check the TrumanAlumni Facebook page for virtual Homecoming events through October

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Campus COVID-19 initiatives are commendable No matter where you go on campus, it seems like you cannot avoid the effects of living and learning in a global pandemic. Nearly every part of the Truman State University campus has undergone some kind of change to continue operating efficiently in the face of COVID-19.

Recently, The Index has covered some of the changes in Truman’s theatre department, music department, Residence Life and Sodexo, among other areas on campus. Under guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University, numerous changes have been made to better shield Truman’s community from COVID-19.

We, The Index Editorial Board, commend these innovative changes on campus. At a time when it is difficult to find the motivation to leave the house or attend yet another Zoom meeting, many areas on campus are finding new ways to operate under new conditions.

It’s inspiring to see Truman’s theatre department putting together outdoor and virtual performances, the music department practicing outside and new safety guidelines in the residence halls. We’re happy to see that the campus community is taking COVID-19 seriously and not conducting the semester as usual.

While it is understandable to want Truman’s campus to go back to “normal,” it’s just too early. For the time being, we encourage students, faculty and staff to embrace this new normal and recognize the introduction of different practices as a measure to protect the community.

Even here at The Index, we’ve made some operating changes to limit the spread of COVID-19. When the University announced last semester that the campus would close to combat the spread of the virus, The Index began exploring new ways to deliver campus news. We introduced a newsletter and podcast, both of which can be found online, as well as ramped-up digital production — adding more opportunities for students to study different media production and formats. While we are limiting the amount of time we spend in the office, we diligently wear masks and practice social distancing when we need to use the facilities.

This ability to collaborate and innovate in fresh ways is part of what makes Truman State University so great. It’s no surprise that so many areas of campus have found cutting edge ways of making campus feel like home or teaching the most in-depth subjects to students — it’s what Truman does best.

While this semester might not be exactly how you pictured it, there are still some exciting ways Truman is adapting to the pandemic and providing a distinct atmosphere. Hang in there Bulldogs, we’re in this with you!

Truman should close for Election Day On Aug. 31, I started a petition in partnership with the student organization I am associated with, the Student Climate Union. The petition calls for cancelling classes and exempting all students from school work on Nov. 3, Election Day, 2020. The petition has garnered well over 200 signatures, but that is still not enough to amply effect change. Therefore, I am writing to you today to call for unity of the Truman State University student body in favor of cancelling all school activities on Election Day. This very well could be the most consequential election in modern American history.

It’s safe to say that every issue of substance is on the ballot this year: healthcare, climate change, civil rights, reproductive rights, voting rights and the list continues on and on.

That being said, every member of this campus has a stake in the November elections.

Our right to vote is slowly being purged from us, as Americans and also college students. Young people are often the targets of ridicule when it comes to electoral politics, as we are accused of not taking issues seriously or being disinterested in our government. I care to offer a different perspective and say that it’s hard to vote in this country as a college student. Let me be clear, it’s too hard to vote in this country, and that isn’t because the system is flawed, it’s because it’s designed that way. Voter suppression is sadly becoming more and more common, especially against groups that seek to benefit from changing the status quo, and college students are not free from this act of repression.

Truman is made up of students from not only across Missouri, but from across the planet in general, meaning students registered in other states have a hard time voting when they are stuck in Missouri on the first Tuesday in November. Furthermore, considering the current state of our postal service, it’s a fair point that voting by mail is not going to be easy this fall either. Therefore, Truman needs to cancel class on Election Day, for the sole purpose of allowing students to go home if they need to. But even if they don’t need to go home — even if they are registered to vote in Kirksville — no one should be forced to choose between receiving an education and exercising their right to vote.

It is obvious that we must come together as a student body and call for the cancelling of all school work on Election Day 2020. If it is on us to go to the polls and cast a ballot for our future, then it should be on our school to support us every step of the way in doing so. This movement isn’t just about picking leadership: it’s about a generation demanding respect and calling for change on behalf of our future.

SUBMITTED BY: William Henrickson, Junior

Podcasting is the best thing since sliced bread Communication Commission does not reguPopularity in podcasts has been growPodcasts are free on almost every late podcast distributors. The FCC regulates ing throughout the past few years. Take platform and focus on a wide range of word choice and content. The lack of regulathe true crime podcast “Serial” by This topics. Audio stories are a perfect for tions allows for more creative expression and American Life. “Serial” is the reinvestiga- procrastinating homework, or using as results in the creator having a stronger contion of a teenager murdered in Baltimore background noise during homework.

A podcast is Netflix for the ears. It is a I am going to make a very bold state- nection to the audience than experienced with 1999. The show has 12 episodes in which a journalist documents her interviews perfect cure for boredom. ment and say that podcasts are the best radio. Podcasts don’t have time restraints or The best podcasts for new listeners are thing since sliced bread. This is 100 per- regulations with advertisements, and the only and collects information to find out if “Serial” by This American Life, which is cent accurate because podcasts are a issue podcasters might encounter is the copy- Adnan Syed was rightfully convicted of the crime. The show was able to find new perfect for true crime fans, “Conspiracy combination of two things people enjoy righting risk of using music on the show.

Podcasts are amazing because they are and contradicting information not present Theories” by Parcast Network, which looks — books and movies. No matter your inin the original trial — the case has since at different theories of historical events and terests, I promise there is a podcast for you. available on multiple platforms. Podcasts can be found everywhere — Soundcloud, been appealed, and Syed was granted a places, TED Talks Daily by TED, which adPodcasts, for those who don’t know, are Spotify, iTunes and blogging websites — retrial. “Serial” not only directly impacted dresses a wide range of topics, and Hidden pre-recorded audio shows uploaded and making them accessible on most mobile the lives involved in the factual real-life Brain by NPR, which takes a scientific look streamed online. They’re similar to radio events but has influenced the increase of on unconventional topics that most people programs, but the creator and publisher of the devices. The accessibility of the shows allows listeners to tune in at anytime. popularity of podcasts. might not fully understand. show has more freedom because the Federal 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 EDITORIAL POLICY: forum, and content of TheThursdays Index is the responsibility of Thyear e Index staff. Theateditor-in-chief withKirksville, the staff and The Index is published during the academic by students Truman Stateconsults University, MOadviser 63501.but ultimately is 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 responsible for all decisions. forum, and content The Indexare is the of The Indexofstaff.

The Editor-in-Chief consults with the staff but represent ultiOpinions of Th e Indexofcolumnists notresponsibility necessarily representative the opinions of the staff or the newspaper.

Our and Viewadviser editorials Submit corrections or contact the editor. mately is responsible for all decisions. theOpinions view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote.

Th e Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials repeditors, chiefof and copy chief.

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We’re bringing back an old piece that’s still relevant today! Truman Throwback showcases a piece previously published by The Index, yet still has some relevance today.

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LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon LETTER POLICY: theThe Sunday publication become of The Index upon submission.

Once submitted, letter isare subject tonoon editing grammar Indexbefore welcomes letters and to the editor property from the University and Kirksville community.

Letters to the editor due by thefor Sunday and spelling errors. and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar, before publication punctuationmust and contain spellingaerrors.

Submissions well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or ediSubmissions must contain well-developed theme andLetters cannotcontaining exceed 500 words,attacks, except at the discretion ofinaccurate the opinions editor and/or tor-in-chief. Submission doesanot guarantee publication. personal libelous attacks or information will not Editor-in-Chief. The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, and beshould published.

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Letters which are not submitted will rates not beortaken into consideration.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

SUSTAINABILITY| Combating COVID-19 concerns, Sodexo no longer uses reusable carry out bins Continued from page 1 Sodexo had been working on something more sustainable since the beginning of the school year but found it difficult because many places are doing carry-out, so supply and demand are high.

Sodexo General Manager John Stewart said styrofoam was almost the only option to use for the time being until Sysco, the company that Sodexo receives products from, had more supplies available.

“Sodexo is very sustainable as far as trying to reduce that carbon footprint, so it wasn’t an intentional thing to use the styrofoam,” Stewart said. “It was just kind of a pandemic thing, so I feel really good that we were able to score the containers.”

Stewart said the new containers are a biodegradable, foodgrade container that is an earthfriendly, compostable product.

Some students, however, still find issues with the new containers.

“The plastic on top, it says it’s a number five, those can’t be recycled in the dorms at all,” Coleman said. “The box is not recyclable for the freshmen that live on campus and for anyone who lives on campus.”

If students wish to recycle them, they can go to the Sustainability Office in Violette Hall 1310, as long as the containers have been washed beforehand.

Two Sodexo workers serve food in Ryle Hall. Instead of the green box, which was a reusable container, Sodexo made the switch to a single-use container for students to use. Photo by Emily Collins

Students are asked to put all compostable food onto the conveyor belt. This food is given to the Truman Composting Project.

Photo by Rachel Becker

A trashcan full of disposable food containters and cups. The new to-go containers cannot be recycled in the residence halls. Photo by Rachel Becker

RYLE HALL| ResLife does not plan to replace the Ryle Hall Director, instead responsibilties are being split between other employees Continued from page 1 “Although I would prefer to have five hall directors, certainly, and I would not have hoped that we would have a mid-year resignation, I am very confident that [with] the talent and professionalism and the desire to serve students and do good work that our hall directors and community coordinators have we will manage with this temporary structure in place,” Van Boxel said.

Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the Residence Life budget had a dramatic drop from $21.876 million last year to $17.819 million this year.

Rector explained that Residence Life is not eligible for any of the state appropriations the University receives and, instead, uses money that students pay for their room and board to pay for its operating expenses.

The drop in students living in on-campus this year is likely the reason for the decrease in the budget, Rector said.

“If all goes as planned and everyone stays here this semester and we have a normal semester in the spring, there will be enough revenue to cover what is budgeted,” Rector said.

Freshman Mike Owsley leaves Ryle Hall with a to-go container. Rector said that if all goes as planned and everyone stays here this semester and we have a normal semester in the spring. Photo by Bidan Yang

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Music department changes classroom protocol KENNEDY COOPER Staff Writer The music department at Truman State University has undergone many changes in response to the COVID-19 virus.

Some of these changes include smaller class sizes, outdoor rehearsals, shorter lesson times, the use of masks and bell covers and more individual practice.

Many of these changes are being made because of research done about how particles are spread through the air. Jazz Studies Director Tim Aubuchon referred to a University of Colorado study which shows that singing and playing wind instruments produces more aerosols than just talking and breathing. With more aerosols in the air, there is a higher chance of coronavirus transmission.

The Truman music department has made its changes in response to this study. One notable change is large outdoor rehearsals for the bands, with social distancing measures in place.

For choral music, outdoor rehearsals are challenging, Choral Activities Director Mark Jennings said. The choirs are addressing this by doing split rehearsals or having the entire rehearsal on Zoom.

“We hold most of the choir rehearsals on Zoom,” Jennings said, “which is a little strange because everyone is singing, but I can’t hear them because they are on mute.”

Students are on mute so that they can still practice, while not causing lagging and other interruptions, Jennings explained.

In order to make lessons safer, assistant music professor Xin Gao has placed a plastic shield in his office to allow for his students to have indoor practice opportunities.

Music professor Jesse Krebs said he has put more materials on Blackboard and has been recording lessons on Zoom.

Tim AuBuchon said he thinks that some aspects of his courses could be more efficient

online in the future.

Music lecturer Elaine AuBuchon, said her students are doing a great job of communicating and being positive.

Even with all of the changes that have occurred, the music department is still trying to move forward and adjust with this new normal.

Krebs said there might be a possible outdoor concert.

Jennings said the choral groups will be preparing some recording projects this semester.

“The Music Department is obviously...not the vibrant place it normally is,” Jennings said.

“When you can walk by and hear the full symphony orchestra playing in a rehearsal or hear a full choir singing — without those students in class, it’s not quite as exciting for me as a musician.

These circumstances do, however, show us how creative we can be to provide meaningful experiences in music for our students.”

Freshman McKenna Blenk plays alongside other percussion members. The music department as a whole has had to make changes due to COVID-19. Photos courtesy of Truman Percussion

Graduate student Adam Grim, senior Adam Lamb and freshman Lauren Fick all practice. One of the precautions the department is taking is asking all students to wear masks, or if that is not possible, to practice outside.

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Together,

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apart

Students living in the closest quarters of campus describe life during the pandemic SAVANNAH KLUESNER, TAYLOR HERNDON & ERICA LINDSAY Staff Writers & Features, Opinions Editor COVID-19 is still affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands in the United States. As of Sept. 9, there were almost 100,000 cases in Missouri, a spike of almost 2,200 since the previous day. On that same date, Adair County had 287 cases. COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly through many communities, and members of Truman State University’s campus are responding to the challenges this virus presents to theirs.

Students expressed mixed feelings about safety living on campus. While most concerns were regarding in-class interactions and transitions between classes and buildings, some students voiced concerns about on-campus living.

Sophomore Georgia Hollingsworth, a resident in Missouri Hall, noted that living in a shared space is less than ideal.

“We all have to share the same bathrooms, which kind of sucks, and of course we have to brush our teeth, and sometimes you have to brush your teeth next to someone, so you’re both not wearing masks,” Hollingsworth said.

She added that, although many students are wearing masks when required in the halls, uncertainty about safety in academic buildings and outdoor expectations is one of her main concerns, indicating that some students do not wear masks outside or do not cover both their noses and mouths.

Most of Hollingsworth’s concerns stem from a lack of certainty about other students’ commitment to maintaining a safe living space during the pandemic,

and that life within the residence halls accentuates this fact.

“You can’t have a clean environment, completely free of [the] virus, ‘cause you don’t know what anyone else is doing,” Hollingsworth said.

The most common places students report discomfort also happen to be some of the places that define a college experience. For example, both Hollingsworth and freshman Rebecca Goodin, a resident of Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall, revealed concerns about classroom safety and mask usage.

Additionally, senior Christina Woelk, who lives in Campbell Apartments, expressed anxiety at mask removal when outside.

“I’ve seen a lot of people while walking on campus will take it off … Even if we’re outside, someone can still contract it from somebody else,” Woelk said. “I can understand why you’d take a mask off, but especially when you approach the building or other people, [I] just wish people would wear masks a little bit more often.”

Other areas of concern were those inherent to a shared living space. Hollingsworth was uneasy about the sharing of community spaces such as the lounge, where students sometimes congregate in larger, close-contact groups.

She also cited her concern regarding the repercussions of sharing a bathroom due to sanitary issues associated with coronavirus spread.

“Since we have a shared bathroom between the entire dorm, I’m concerned that if one person gets sick, we’d all have to quarantine, and if they didn’t quarantine us all, then what would happen?” Hollingsworth said.

In an effort to keep surfaces sanitized, cleaning supplies are placed in high traffic areas around campus, including residence hall lounges. Nonetheless, some students have voiced concerns about the safety of living on-campus this semester.

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tmn.truman.edu

Students line up in the Ryle dining hall to get food. Residence Life has featured housing-specific COVID-19 updates on its website in prevention of coronavirus spread and the consequences to potentially follow. Photos by Rachel Becker Current protocol requires residents ful in COVID times,” Woelk said. “I do who feel ill to inform suitemates and like being on campus. I wouldn’t mind roommates as well as Residence Life if my classes were virtual, but I’d rather staff of symptoms or test results. Under live here.” quarantine, a resident would be asked Truman’s Frequently Asked Questo refrain from leaving their room, and tions page maintained that there is no in case of isolation, placed in a single predetermined case threshold for camliving space with individual facilities pus departure, although circumstances — repercussions that some students feel can change with little to no notice. anxious to bear.

Goodin, in knowledge of this unpredictHollingsworth is not the only one ability, said she fears that in-person learnwho feels uncomfortable about com- ing will not be permanent for this semester. munal areas during these times. Goodin “We definitely do not have as many also shared that she didn’t feel very safe cases right off the bat as a lot of other in the residence halls. colleges, but I don’t think we are going “It’s a lot of close quarters and shar- to last the whole semester,” Goodin said. ing a room with another person … they Hollingsworth agreed and said she don’t know where I’ve been, I don’t assumes the campus will close before know where they’ve been,” Goodin the end of the semester. said. “There’s a lot of passing by people Although premature dismissal this in the hallway, and sometimes I don’t semester remains a concern, students know if the lounges or kitchens have can access several resources to aim tobeen disinfected.” ward mitigating the possibility. Over the Although there are students who feel past five months, Truman released muluncomfortable in shared living spaces, tiple online pages with a Student Health others feel that they are able to navigate Center Testing Update, Fall 2020 Camthrough these difficult times safely. pus Plan and case statistics.

Residence Life has implemented stratResidence Life has featured housingegies such as wearing a mask, keeping specific COVID-19 updates on its webgatherings to under 10 people, limiting site in prevention of coronavirus spread guest visits and reducing interactions and the consequences to potentially with those outside personal living spaces follow. Among these precautions are to in attempts to promote social distancing. avoid close contact, cover coughs and “Everyone is very separate from each sneezes, clean and disinfect. other because we all have our own indiResidence Life Director Jamie Van vidual apartments, so it’s a lot easier to Boxel said students should follow these socially distance,” Woelk said. guidelines to make the most of their colProximity, however, is inevitable in lege experiences in a safe and healthy on-campus housing. manner. Van Boxel added that, despite Woelk indicated that, although Camp- risk of infection within the residence bell residents do not have much contact halls, his department is staying hopeful with one another, her main concern was that these regulations are taken seriously. the laundry room.

While the current situation might be “That’s the one place that everyone seen as out of residents’ control, Res will definitely use,” Woelk said.

Life encourages all to take responsibilWoelk acknowledged those concerns, ity for their personal health. At the conas well as the fact that her housing is clusion of its COVID-19 update page farther from the rest of campus than oth- sits a four-line honor code, reading: ers and that she does not come into con- “We are all in this together. What I do tact with as many people as students in impacts you. What you do impacts me. other halls.

What we do impacts all of us.”

Woelk explained, however, that she beOnly time can tell the true magnitude lieved social interaction is important for of these effects, but for now, one thing well-being, especially because this interac- is clear: the impact of daily decisions tion allows her to maintain social contact made by students and faculty will be and close friendship with her roommate. here to stay.

“It’s definitely been a lot more help@TrumanIndex

@TrumanIndex

© 2020

The Index

8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” is bold and relentless takes a crash course in controlling and utilizing a future technology that — bear with me here — reverses the entropy of certain objects, in Facing delay after delay — a essence flipping their flow through fate several media have borne for time. A character demonstrates this the past six months — Christopher by “catching” a bullet that is reNolan’s “Tenet” finally released versed entropically, a concept called to theaters Sept. 3. Being his 11th “inversion” by the film’s characters. project, Nolan continues to folWhere a normal gun would shoot low his tried-and-true formula — a a normal bullet, an inverted gun bold piece of fiction obsessed with catches an inverted bullet. The Proa concept, often told in a cerebral, tagonist must firmly understand this nonlinear fashion. Although the technology in order to pull off the word “formulaic” commonly conmission Tenet has designed for him. notes something bland or uninRegardless, it is clear that Nolan spired, Nolan’s films are anything anticipates the struggle of followbut. ing such a jargon-laden plot device, His stories often orbit around a single, ambitious idea that becomes so he elects that a character express the sentiment, “Don’t try and central to the plots thereof. In “The understand it; feel it.” I recommend Prestige,” for instance, he focuses this approach as a viewer, though I on the idea of cloning and even wish the film didn’t need to say it dabbles in the more intangible in the first place. Nolan’s attempt is realm of magic. With “Inception,” admirable, but there is something to he plays around with dreams, be desired regarding exposition — and consequently dreams within it’s a rare thing indeed, asking for dreams. For his latest venture, time — a concept Nolan teases in 2014’s more exposition rather than less.

In a film where “Interstellar” and now “Despite its overwhelm- most of the dialogue is exposiplunges into headfirst. With ing plot and performative tory to begin “Tenet” and its mixed bag, the film flaunts with, Nolan may have bitten off narrative fixation on time, a keen understanding of more than he could chew.

Nolan presthe filmmaking craft: big “Tenet” starts ents his most shine as the confounding thrills, tireless action and a to plot gets underproject yet.

At its most respect for cinema that di- way. In order to contact Sator, basic, genre level, “Tenet” rectors like Nolan still car- The Protagonist meets with is an action ry in the age of streaming.” first the arms dealthriller that er’s wife Kat. trickles into Despite having the sphere of Joey Dougherty, an underlying espionage. despondence On the hunt Staff Writer resultant of a for an arms controlling husdealer who band, Kat brings attacked him a cool composure to the tortured using mysterious ammunition durcharacter and plays an integral part ing an operation, a nameless CIA in the story to boot. Meanwhile, officer — unequivocally dubbed The Protagonist — comes across an The Protagonist teams up with the charming Neil, who serves as a nice international secret society known foil to our main character’s someas Tenet. He learns that Tenet is what boring personality. All in all, after the same man, a Russian arms the ensemble cast shapes up nicely, dealer named Andrei Sator. The and provides a much-needed ground society believes Sator will usher in to an otherwise overwhelming film. the dawn of a third world war, and On a technical level, “Tenet” is recruits The Protagonist to put a nearly a masterpiece. One of Nostop to his plans. The intuitive porlan’s directorial trademarks is his tion of Nolan’s narrative ends here. utilization of practical effects over What follows is a thought expericomputer-generated imagery, or ment of the grandest scale.

By joining Tenet, The Protagonist CGI, often lending his work a sense JOEY DOUGHERTY Staff Writer

John David Washington portrays the dry and stoic role of The Protagonist in Nolan’s “Tenet.” Bullet holes are used to represent signs of entropic “inversion,” or reversal of movement throughout the film. Photo by Warner Brothers Media Andrei Sator, though his Russian of genuineness that rarely falters, accent could be more convincand “Tenet” certainly elicits this ing. And, unfortunate as it is, John sense. Set piece after extensive and David Washington provides a rather expensive set piece, I was in awe dry portrayal with The Protagonist, of the sheer scope Nolan manages a character I can only hope was to attain, much of the work accomplishesd sans green screen. Further- made so blank so that the viewer might project themself onto the role more, the sound design is almost and experience firsthand the confuimpeccable, with a tight and excitsion he is subjected to. ing score from Ludwig Göransson.

By the end of its 150-minute There are times, however, where runtime, at which point I had surit is difficult to understand the rendered to its confounding nardialogue, as scenes are regularly underscored with Göransson’s com- rative, sat back and enjoyed the show, “Tenet” concludes effectively position. begging for a rewatch, and I’m here Lastly, “Tenet” boasts a number for it. Despite its overwhelming of impressive performances, most plot and performative mixed bag, notably with the roles of Kat and the film flaunts a keen understandNeil. Elizabeth Debicki embodies ing of the filmmaking craft: big the bent-but-not-broken attitude thrills, tireless action and a respect of Kat flawlessly, and steals every for cinema that directors like Nolan scene she’s in. Robert Pattinson’s still carry in the age of streaming. portrayal of Neil is equally realIf you’re willing to lend a keen eye ized, offering a smart-aleck type and ear, then “Tenet” is willing to that is both suave and urgent when thrill you. appropriate. Moreover, Kenneth Branagh brings a respectable, and often intimidating, performance as

Storytime with

Allison

Focusing on someday ALLISON MASCHOFF Staff Writer “Today I am so sad that I feel like I will never be happy again,” read the cautious cursive letters in my old diary. The date was exactly five years ago.

I remember that day. I remember crying in my college dorm room, clutching my pillow, wishing I could just go back to sleep and not wake up again until the pain was gone. Wondering how my heart would ever feel whole again. College can seem like the most inconvenient time to be depressed.

There’s always something you need to be doing. Always another homework assignment waiting on the desk. Always another meeting on the schedule.

That day was the first time I sunk that low, but it wasn’t the last. As time went on, I would learn that what comes after college also feels like the worst possible time to be depressed. I would learn that there is never a good time to be sad because we never want to be sad. Not that kind of sad.

Sometimes we want to cry, sure, so we turn on a sad movie. But we never ask to be so completely deep in the sea of sadness that we don’t know which way to go to reach

the surface. We never ask to feel that out of control. Us humans, we like control.

Yes, it’s true that day five years ago was a new low point for me. But it was also the first time I looked at the words that had spilled out of me onto the page and decided I would do everything in my power to stop feeling that way. It was the first time I picked myself up, the first time I started swimming because even finding out that I was going the wrong way would be better than just continuing to sink— continuing to drown.

And the funny thing is, when I’m not looking at this diary, I don’t think back on the last five years and see the bad. I don’t look back on it as the time when I struggled with emotions I had never expected to feel, had my heart broken time and time again, and lost people I never thought I’d lose. I look back on the last five years of my life and I see all the reasons I had to be happy.

I see the joy of finding that love could enter my life again. I see the good memories I had before the goodbyes. I see the journey during which I learned to conquer my anxieties and depression instead of letting them conquer me. I look back on the last five years and my chest swells with pride

because look at me now. Look how far I’ve come from thinking happiness had become unattainable.

There’s a knock at the door behind me.

I close the diary and slip it into the desk drawer. Turning around, I find my mother standing in the doorway, looking at me with such a pure smile on her face. Her eyes glisten with tears of joy.

“It’s time, sweetheart,” she says.

I look down at my hands, folded in my lap, resting on a sea of white. On one hand, a diamond full of promises sparkles with hope. On the other, a small daisy on a tarnished silver band reminds me of the promise I made to myself so long ago. The promise to always keep swimming.

I wish I could go back to the girl who wrote those words, that broken cry for help, for some sort of sign that she was wrong, and tell her it would get better. Tell her that, in five years, she would be wearing the prettiest dress she had ever seen, getting ready to walk down an aisle lined with everyone she loved. And maybe the person standing at the end of that aisle wasn’t the one she had desperately wished would come back to her, or the one she had fallen in love with next, or the next,

but the person standing at the end of that aisle was so deeply worth the wait. Maybe the guest list wasn’t exactly what she would have predicted back then, but now she couldn’t imagine it being any other group of people. I wish I could have told her that she had what it takes to keep on swimming and swimming until she found a future worth continuing to live for. And that no matter what sadness the future holds, it would hold happinesses sevenfold. That you only learn how happy you can be once you’ve seen how sad you can be. Thankfully, I had other people there who could say it for me, even if I wasn’t ready to believe it yet back then.

As I step up to the door that leads to my future, my father takes my arm and says, “You ready?”

I smile like I never have before, I smile for all the past versions of myself that couldn’t remember how, I smile for all the times I picked myself up off the bathroom floor, for all the times I decided to keep swimming. I smile and I smile and I know someday I won’t feel like smiling, but for today, I don’t have to think about that. Because today I am ready to be happy.

The Index

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

TOP {5}

by Erica Lindsay, chaos coordinator

9

Ways to organize life at college

3.Take advantage of alarms When devising a scheme to get stuff done, it’s crucial to account for not only what, but when items should be completed. Using your trusty planning method — see No. 5 — assign logical segments of time throughout the day to certain activities so you can maximize your productivity. Luckily, your phone can help further regulate these intervals by alerting you ahead of time. That way, you can fully focus on an endeavor without additional exertion spent on clock-checking. Make sure to allot time for breaks and food, too, of course.

If you’re a Typical Truman Student, you’re probably well-acquainted with the struggle of managing multiple responsibilities at once. As to-do lists continue to expand with the combination of online and in-person work this semester, it’s important to build more structure into your plans while maintaining mental clarity. During a time of particular distress, these five tips can provide guidance on how to organize your materials as well as your mind.

2. Reserve regular cleaning times

It’s easy to feel trapped in an endless work cycle when so many obligations are stuck in your head. The brain can only handle so much, so why not jot it down? Getting it out on paper, a planner, calendar or even your Notes app can allow you to sort through tasks less sporadically. Let these resources do the work of remembering so your mind can allocate that energy toward more important things.

Although I love the idea of personal expression, a messy room and desk should not stand as a metaphor for the state of your worries. If heightened stressors have you feeling like life is turning to shambles, a good first step toward fixing that — or preventing further damage — could be as simple as tidying up visible clutter. Even when circumstances might feel out of your control, cleaning is something you have the power to achieve with enough willpower and planning. Set aside an hour or so every day or week to sustain the sanctitude of both your space and soul.

4. Make friends with your notebooks, binders and dividers

1. Recognize that physical organization is half the battle

When it comes to organizing subject matter, these supplies are your true besties. I like to use notebooks for lecture takeaways and binders for exam review so class and book material are separated. There are several other ways to sort through concepts, but the key is to take thorough notes. Just as writing down daily duties can help systemize your workload, releasing information on paper rather than simply skimming Quizlets can make abstract knowledge seem more tangible, and in turn, more manageable to understand.

Sure, it’s great to feel at peace with your physical surroundings, but neglecting similar psychological balance can make it challenging to manage much of anything, even if it’s perfectly arranged. Take some time each day to reflect, relax and restructure disorganized thought patterns. Make use of meditation and journaling as often as you clean up and study. Maybe even leave a little leeway to do nothing at all. And if left to choose between maintaining material belongings or your personal health, try to prioritize the latter — after all, there’s never been a more crucial time to defend your well-being.

5. Write it down

“The Talk”

Ari

With

Truman’s Sexual Health Advocacy Group president answers all the sexual health questions you were too afraid to ask ARI KLOKIC Staff Writer Hello and welcome to “The Talk” with Ari, The Index’s reoccuring column about sex. Yes, you read it correctly. Sex. No, this is not a column for the faint of heart. This is for the ones who wanna get down to the nitty gritty of getting down and dirty, from the foreplay and lube to the lust versus love concept. Not everything written will include sex, but everything written will relate to either being intimate with someone or the parts and pieces involved.

Since the dawn of time, people have been having sex. Animals have been having sex — and not just for procreation reasons. It’s for the pleasure behind the act, your partner’s and your own because everyone deserves to have pleasurable sex. It’s for relieving stress, especially during finals week or after a long work shift. It’s for connecting with someone else, if you’re looking for that, or having fun with yourself.

There is no gentle way to avoid the topic of sex. It does not just include the discussion of abstinence or, “when two people love one an-

other.” It starts with the meaning of consent, communication and learning about one’s body. These are all things we have been taught about in different ways from when we were kids to now as adults, yet they don’t seem like stuff that would relate to sex. You hear the words “vibrator” or “porn,” and suddenly your mind goes to a place society has considered dirty, obscene, or taboo.

My name is Ari Klokic, and I’m here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with wanting or having sex.

There is nothing wrong with using birth control, sex toys or being

“promiscuous.” There is no shame in wanting to be in control of your sexuality and wanting to learn more.

It’s what I’m here for: to give you resources and foundational information on things you might not have considered. It’s what the lovely campus organization Sexual Health Advocacy Group is here for: to answer any and all questions related to sexual health. So, make sure to keep your eye out for my next article and follow SHAG on Instagram so you can keep up to date on all the latest information related to sex. Until next time, stay inquisitive Bulldogs!

Contraceptives: Let’s talk spermicide and Plan B ARI KLOKIC Staff Writer For the first installment of “The Talk” with Ari, visit tmn.truman.edu.

In my last column, I mentioned some of the more popular forms of birth control and ways to prevent STIs. This is a follow-up on the other birth control methods, emergency contraceptives and myths about contraception.

So, let’s start with the next most effective method, almost as effective as the pill, the patch – Xulane.

Similar to the other forms of contraception, the patch has hormones, estrogen and progesterone, embedded in it. Unlike internal or oral birth control, the patch sticks to your skin.

You can place it on your bicep, lower back, butt or your stomach, and it will release hormones through the skin to thicken cervical mucus. The patch runs on a weekly schedule and needs to be replaced each week on the same day for three weeks, and then you go patch-free the week of your period.

According to Planned Parenthood, it is about 91% effective if you replace it on time, every time. If the patch falls off for more than two days, there is a higher chance of becoming pregnant, so make sure to check that it is

on your skin every day.

The next three birth control methods are used with spermicide, a method that takes on multiple forms like gels, creams or suppositories. Spermicide has chemicals in it rather than hormones. For people who do not want birth control with hormones, spermicide on its own or with other methods is the way to go.

Another benefit is that you can get it over-the-counter. However, a side effect is that it can cause vaginal irritation and infections. The birth controls that spermicide can be used with are the diaphragm, the cervical cap and the sponge. The diaphragm is the most effective of the three. It is shaped like a dome and is inserted into the vagina prior to sex. It covers your cervix, preventing sperm from entering it. Similarly, but not as effective, the cervical cap is used the same way. It is shaped like a small bell with the smaller part blocking the cervix. While you can keep a cervical cap in for up to two days, which is longer than the diaphragm, it is still not as effective. The next method you can use with spermicide is the sponge. As the name suggests, it is a sponge that is soaked in spermicide and inserted into the vagina.

While it could be as effective as the patch, if you have ever given birth,

the effectiveness decreases.

The last two birth control methods are the withdrawal method and fertility awareness. Even though they don’t use hormones, these methods make pregnancy more likely. For the withdrawal technique, it requires some finesse. While pre-ejaculate does not contain sperm, the chance of pregnancy is still likely. Therefore, even if you withdraw before ejaculating, there is still a chance for sperm to enter the cervix. For the fertility awareness path, there are three different ways to monitor your fertility ̶ the cervical mucus route, taking your temperature every morning or tracking your menstrual cycle.

When all three parts are put together, they are more effective than if used separately.

If there is a chance you could be pregnant, emergency contraceptive is an option if you want to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. You can choose between two pills – one that contains ulipristal acetate or one that contains levonorgestrel. The best morning after pill is one with ulipristal acetate because it is effective longer than other competitors, functioning up to five days after unprotected sex. There is only one on the market – Ella, and you need a doctor’s prescription for it. Most people

buy levonorgestrel pills like Plan B from drug stores and pharmacies.

Pills with levonorgestrel are most effective up to three days after unprotected sex.

One myth with emergency contraceptive is that it will affect your fertility after taking it a certain amount of times. This is not true. You can take emergency contraceptive as much as you want. However, it is not a viable option for long-term, so that is where birth controls come in handy in preventing pregnancy. Another myth is that emergency contraceptive is an abortion pill. It does not attack a fertilized egg, but rather it kills any viable sperm trying to make its way to an egg.

With any birth control method, it is best to discuss with a doctor which one would be best for you. There are methods that promote fertility, lessen acne or help people have a consistent period. Something to be said about any birth control method is that there is no one right method. If the pill is not working for you, you can talk to a doctor about changing it to either another brand of the pill or another method like the IUD. Until next time, stay informed Bulldogs!

The Index

10

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

In Perspective Narratives from the campus community

How has COVID-19 affected your daily campus activities?

Genesis Sanchez,

Madeline Bostick,

senior theatre major

senior cross country runner

“It’s weird … The faculty have been so sweet, really trying to lighten everything up as much as they can. Everyone’s really accommodating, and it’s super great that we’re all still really trying, but casts can’t be too big anymore, and rehearsal spaces can’t have too many people. So for our show right now there are four characters, but they double cast the show, so that there are two actors playing one character just in case an actor needs to quarantine and gets sick, someone can take their place. Rehearsals are split up between in-person, socially distanced and over Zoom. Acting now, they had to be like, ‘how can we not touch each other?’ The script will be like, ‘He grabs her hand,’ and it’s like, we can’t do that, so we have to ‘look at her fondly.’ It’s really interesting. There’s always a directing class, the capstone for the theater major, and they have to deal with all these things.

It’s such a right of passage that’s now so weird for everyone. I was in that class last semester so halfway through the semester we were like ‘um … how do we direct if we don’t host people?’

So yeah, it’s a huge adjustment. The good thing is that we’re gonna learn a lot about just what goes into a show. That’s really cool to know that it really takes a village, and that village is now like 20 people less than it usually is … it’s a wild time, but we’re just smiling through it. We have to be positive, because what’s the other alternative?”

“COVID-19 has made the past couple of months very challenging. You can see it very clearly in collegiate athletics. It’s been difficult to remain optimistic in the middle of all of this. So many aspects of our competition and training have been adjusted to make this season safe and possible. Spectators aren’t allowed at meets. Our season has fewer meets. Social distancing and fear of spreading the virus makes it difficult to spend time with teammates. It’s not the season I was hoping for, but I am so glad I get to spend this time doing what I love. I’m hopeful that we can make the most of this season, whatever comes of it, and I feel very proud of what my teammates and I have accomplished this season and in the years before.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

CHANGING SEASONS “Football is more than just a game to me and my team. It’s home to us.”

-Robert Greco, defensive lineman

Athletes, coaches reflect on defeated hopes, new possibilities JOSIE WAGNER Contributing Writer Truman State University’s football, volleyball and men’s soccer teams are among the sports whose fall 2020 championships have been postponed to spring 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head Football Coach Gregg Nesbitt said it was a Great Lakes Valley Conference decision that postponed most fall sports to the spring. In compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the football team has eliminated all in-person practices, weight training, meetings and social activities for its roster of 101 athletes.

“Oftentimes, right or wrong, young male athletes — their identity is wrapped up in sport, and it certainly is their fraternity, their sense of belonging, and that was taken away,” Nesbitt said.

Six out of seven fifth-year seniors had the opportunity to graduate in the Spring of 2020 but remained in school for a semester with hopes of playing a final season, Nesbitt said. He is also concerned for the roster of 40 freshmen, who will not know Truman football until at least the spring of 2021.

Because his players’ identities are often wrapped up in sports, Nesbitt said the mental health of the team is one of his primary concerns in this new off-season.

Defensive tackle Robert Greco acknowledged the pain that losing the football season could have on members of the team.

“I won’t lie, I feel a little agitated about the fact I can’t play the sport that I love,” Greco said in a written statement. “I know safety comes first but this still stings a lot. Football is more than just a game to me and my team. It’s home to us. It’s a place where we bond, share memories, laugh and cry. It’s a place where we sharpen our skills and better ourselves as men, and most definitely, it’s a place where we also relieve our stress. At least for me, football is a place of peace where I can look to my brothers for a good time. Where I can focus on something fun instead of pressuring assignments and tests. So, all and all, I really miss the home that football provided.”

Wide receiver Spencer Newell has also expressed grievances with the loss of the season, but he remains optimistic that the team will maintain their fraternity by safely working out together and staying active off the field.

VOLUME 112

ISSUE 2

Newell said he feels confident the team will be prepared for the season in the spring.

“Without football in the fall, it can definitely cause hardships for guys in different ways,” Newell said in a written statement. “As a way to help cope, we as players have gotten together to work out on [the] field and continue to bond as teammates and stay active. This is of course with masks and staying six feet apart as much as possible. Even without a clear outlook of the season, we are optimistic that there will be a chance for us to compete in the spring, and as we continue to stay close as a team, we will be ready for that time.”

Coach Nesbitt said he encourages his players to come visit him whenever they are feeling stressed about the situation, as a means to help them destress and to get to know them.

Head Volleyball Coach Ben Briney, whose team is also not able to meet or practice, is worried about the mental health of his players. With the inability to meet in-person, he has found other ways to be sure that his players are staying mentally healthy.

Briney said he wants to make sure that his team feels engaged and mentally healthy without the volleyball season.

The volleyball team works with a

company called MindSport to support mental wellbeing during both the on and off-season. The MindSport app features sessions that are tailored to the volleyball team, as well as programs like meditation and yoga.

“We really wanted to make sure that [mental health] was something that we focused on,” Briney said.

“Volleyball is what you do, not who you are.”

Men’s Soccer Coach Duke Cochran said his players have taken time to practice outdoors with masks and other safety precautions, but they have not had any official practices together.

“I think it’s good because it’s forcing them to do a lot on their own,” Cochran said. “Those that are getting together, the chemistry can build from there because, you know, it’s just them.”

It is important, Cochran said, that the team is still able to get to know each other and build the “family” feeling that the team needs to be successful in the on-season.

The athletic weight room in the Pershing Building has recently reopened for use by a reduced number of athletes. Because of this, athletes may begin weight training in anticipation of spring championships.

Scholarships for these sports have remained intact despite the postponement of the championship season as mandated by the NCAA.

Above: Truman Volleyball players celebrate a victory against Bellarmine University Oct. 5, 2019. Despite not having a season this fall, the team and head coach Ben Briney are working together to focus on staying mentally healthy. Photos from TMN Archive

Right: Members of the men’s soccer team gather together after a win against Quincy University Sept. 15, 2019. Coach Duke Cochran said his players have taken time to practice outdoors with masks and other safety precautions, but they have not had any official practices together.

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