Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 tmn.truman.edu
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Governer’s budget Library sprinklers to be replaced calls for more cuts BY NICOLAS TELEP News Editor
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens released his recommendations for the 2019 fiscal year budget Monday. Within the governor’s recommended budget, $1.1 billion is allocated to the Department of Higher Education. This includes $678.4 million in core funding to Missouri’s 10 four-year public colleges and universities. Under this recommendation, including standard withholdings, Truman State University would receive a reduction of 7.7 percent in core funding from the previous year. Dave Rector, vice president for administration, finance and planning, said the University expected a cut but was only informed last week to expect a cut of this magnitude. Rector said the governor almost always withholds an extra 3 percent of each state university’s core funding, which would bring Truman’s core funding down to $36.4 million under the current proposal. This would be a reduction of $3 million from fiscal year 2018.
Actual Fiscal Year 2018 Expenditure Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN After the front desk and multimedia lab in Pickler Memorial Library were updated during winter break, the Library and the Campus Planner’s office will work together to renovate the building’s fire supression system. Work on the project will begin during the summer of 2018 and is expected to be finished by the beginning of spring 2019. BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer Beginning in May, a new sprinkler system will gradually be installed in Pickler Memorial Library to replace the outdated system currently in place. An efficient sprinkler system is important to campus buildings in the event of a fire, especially the library, which holds thousands of books, historical materials and records. The current system is made of 30-year-old steel pipes that have started to leak and rust, making the system less effective. Along with the sprinkler system, the fire alarm system will also be replaced. “The system that we currently have is a [preaction] system, which means when the fire alarm sounds the system loads and the water then comes into the pipes at high pressure, and after the alarm is over, then it drains out,” said Janet Romine, associate dean of libraries for research and instruction. “That in and out can lead to rust because there is air in the pipes.” Campus planner Mark Schultz is working with librarians and architects to design a wet sprinkler
system for the library which will last longer and prevent the steel pipes from rusting as quickly, if at all. This widely-used system always keeps the pipes filled with water rather than only filling when the fire alarms go off, which lowers the chances of the pipes rusting from humidity building up inside. The new system will maintain the use of concealed heads, which prevent the pipes from accidentally being struck and bursting. While deciding on an updated sprinkler system, the librarians and architects ran into a problem with the Special Collections room on the third floor. The room contains irreplaceable books and documents that cannot withstand water in the case of a fire. A different system will be used in this room that extinguishes fire with a sprayed gas rather than with a liquid. In the event of a fire, the non-toxic Novec 1230 will be sprayed in a gaseous form into the room, and the gas will absorb the heat and pull the oxygen out so the flames cannot spread. The downside of incorporating this gas system into the construction plan is it comes at a higher cost. See LIBRARY, page 3
Kirksville Arts Association plans for new building
Submitted Photo The Kirksville Arts Association’s new building, the Sue Ross Arts Center, will be built on the site of the old Kirksville Arts Center at the corner of Jefferson and McPherson Streets near The Square. The Arts Center was destroyed by fire in December 2016 and the Arts Association is currently fundraising to finance its replacement. BY RAQUEL PITTY-DIAZ Staff Writer The Kirksville Arts Association has received land approval from the City of Kirksville to begin construction on a new arts center. Getting approval took several months of working with architects to develop renderings of the new building.
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Linda Treasure, President of the Kirksville Arts Association, said it will most likely be another year before the Arts Association will break ground because the Association will need to hire architects to finish designing the building. This process should take around six months to finish. The new Arts Center will be built on the vacant site of the old building. See ARTS CENTER, page 5
$39,440,512 Governor’s Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2019
$37,516,593
Recommendation with 3% standard withholding
$36,391,095 Reduction of
7.7%
A new, key feature of the governor’s budget proposal is the withholding of 10 percent of each university’s core funding to be released if each institution meets six performance goals set by the state’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Rector said this is different from previous years in that meeting goals in the past meant receiving additional funding instead of having withheld funds released. The six performance goals focus on career placement outcomes, degrees granted, success on senior tests, core expenditures on instruction, the increase in the University’s payroll, and the change in net tuition and fees for instate undergraduates. Rector said the University expects to meet all the performance goals, and have the full funding released, but the final results have not yet been announced. Rector said Truman is exploring multiple strategies to deal with the possible funding shortage. He said representatives from the University will be testifying at an appropriations hearing at the State Capitol next week. He also said there has not been any discussion of another surcharge. “Higher ed’s going to work with the General Assembly and the State [Representatives] to try to get some money put back in,” Rector said. “It might work, it might not.” Rector also said a bill has been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly to raise the tuition cap currently in place on all state universities. He said the cap is based on the change in the consumer price index, and the change for this year is expected to be between 1.5-2 percent. “The state does have a revenue problem,” Rector said. “They cut the tax rate, and so there’s lower tax revenue coming in.” Rector said most university presidents think they need the increased flexibility to raise tuition above the cap, but institutions recognize they must be responsible when raising tuition because it heavily impacts students. However, he said some institutions might face hard decisions about raising tuition. Rector said University President Sue Thomas is planning to discuss the budget and possible plans to address reductions at the All University Address 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms. In an email to staff and faculty, Thomas said the University has been working throughout the past few years to prepare for a monetary challenge. Additionally, Thomas reiterated that all current estimates point toward Truman meeting all six performance goals. “While this recommendation is very distressing, please keep in mind that the governor’s recommendation is the first step in the state’s budget process and legislative consideration of the recommendation will now begin,” Thomas said in the email. “We will be actively engaged during the legislative session.”
The Index
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Percussion Ensemble performs ahead of conference
Photos by Nicolas Telep/TMN Above: Michael Bump directs Truman State University’s Concert Percussion Ensemble I in their performance Monday, Jan. 22. The Ensemble performed a program they prepared for the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference which will be hosted later this week in Osage Beach, Missouri. Right: Four members of the Ensemble perform in a section of the program. The program consists of four contemporary pieces and must be completed in 30 or fewer minutes for the conference. Bottom Left: Members of the Ensemble perform a section of the program which includes drumming on a guitar and finger cymbals. The Ensemble consists of 15 undergraduate students and two graduate teaching assistants. Bottom Right: The performance happened in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. The unconventional arrangement of the instruments on the stage replicates the setup the Ensemble will use at the conference.
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 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
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
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LIBRARY | Sprinkler update will prevent rusting Continued from page 1 “There’s about five times a difference in cost, but it’s a small area,” Schultz said. “If I put a wet system in [the Special Collections room], I’d lose the top shelf or two, and then I’d have the possibility of water damage to irreplaceable items.” The construction will take place from May 2018 to January 2019 in a series of phases, said Schultz. The plan is to complete the first floor of the library at the beginning since the first floor is a high-traffic area because of printers, Starbucks and IT offices. The second and third floor construction will be worked on in phases once the school year starts, so students will be mildly affected. The University has not yet called for bids for the project, which is still in the planning stages. The bid will be introduced to the public in February and is due in March. The exact cost for the project will not be set until a contractor has accepted the bid, but the estimated price is roughly $2 million.
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN The Special Collections department on the third floor of Pickler Memorial Library will have a fire supression system that uses gas instead of water. Some of the items in Special Collections are irreplacable and water could do irreperable damage to them.
Sprinkler Replacement Timeline Construction Process Bid Process
Feb 2018
Mar
First floor construction
May
Second and third floor construction
Aug
Jan 2019
Estimated cost: $2 million CORRECTION: In last week’s issue, the front page graphic, “New printing system uses ID cards, queue,” incorrectly stated Mac users should select “Generic PCL Printer” in the use dropdown menu. The correct driver is “CP3525.” Please visit the Information Technology Services website for more information.
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[ Student Voices ] Student Government supports maintaining COMM170 test-out Throughout the year, Student Government has worked to stay in close contact with the student body in order to better serve student needs and keep students informed. To further increase communication and transparency with the student body, Student Government will now be regularly featuring its most pertinent projects and initiatives in this column. This week, we would like to highlight the efforts of our Academic Affairs committee. Among the various projects this committee takes on throughout the school year, the Academic Affairs committee regularly handles issues related to academic policy, works to strengthen the relationship between faculty and students, and hosts the Academic Accolades banquet during each Spring semester to honor outstanding professors and research mentors here at Truman. Nominations are now open for the Educator and Research Mentor of the Year awards, and we strongly encourage students to fill out a quick nomination form at senate.truman.edu/ Nominations-2 before February 7 to nominate any faculty member who you believe deserves to be recognized for their incredible work inside
and outside the classroom. We appreciate your help! One of the primary projects of the Academic Affairs committee this year has been advocating to keep the COMM170 test-out option here at Truman. Prior to this year, students who entered this university with sufficient public speaking abilities were able to test-out of the required COMM170 class after scoring high enough on a written exam and delivering a persuasive speech to a panel of faculty. However, in the fall of 2017 this option was temporarily suspended when the Communications Department brought forward a bill to Undergraduate Council, asking to permanently eliminate this test-out option due to it being an “inefficient use of faculty resources.” Student Government has been very active the past few months in vocalizing opposition to this elimination by calling attention to the various disadvantages this would impose on a significant number of students. In November, Student Government unanimously passed Resolution 117.004, “A Resolution in Opposition to the Elimination of the Test-Out Option for the Speech Essential Skill of the Liberal Studies
Program” asking faculty to continue to allow students to test-out of COMM 170. Despite Student Government’s action, Undergraduate Council voted to remove the testout option. Now, the bill goes to Faculty Senate. After discussing the bill in December, Faculty Senate will continue to consider the issue at their meeting on January 25th, and could potentially vote on the permanent elimination of this test-out option. Student Government has facilitated discussion among itself as well as with faculty and administration pertaining to proposing a new testout option for COMM 170. This new proposal would be the product of a work group charged with investigating options which are neither an excessive burden on faculty, nor unfair towards students. We strongly believe that with the inclusion of suggestions from Student Government, we could produce an option that would greatly benefit students as they seek to maximize their opportunities and prove their capabilities during their time at Truman If you have concerns about the removal of the COMM170 test-out and want to let us know, please contact us at trumanstatesenate@gmail.com.
Embrace new beginnings BY JOHANNA BURNS Assistant Editor
Recently, I sat at my desk and did something I do at the start of every semester — I wrote out a list of 10 goals to accomplish by the end of the semester. The list contained all the usual hallmark resolutions of a full-time student including: 1. Achieve a 4.0 grade point average. 2. Get seven hours of sleep every night. 3. Finish all my homework before Friday. I knew I wouldn’t be able to accomplish many of the goals — In fact, after the first week of school I can already kiss number three goodbye. That’s life. But this semester I added a new goal. 10. Graduate from Truman State University. As soon as I put my pen down I was overwhelmed by a sudden sense of fear. Now before anyone rolls their eyes and turns the page, rest assured, this isn’t an angst-ridden goodbye to college. It’s just the opposite. I realized as I was sit-
ting at that desk that in a few short months I will have achieved a goal that has been the driving force behind every decision I’ve made for four years, a goal that has often felt far off in the future and far from attainable. I was genuinely terrified at the thought that it will all soon be over. There I was, facing the end of “The Plan” and I didn’t even recognize the 2014 version of myself that wrote out my first list of college goals. But I’m not scared of graduating — I’m 100 percent ecstatic to be done. I just couldn’t imagine what would drive my future from here on out. What I was really scared of was starting over. What is it about change that seems so crippling? Not the gradual kind that creeps up on you and is over before you even realize it is happening, but the kind that looms up suddenly around the corner and sets your stomach to churning. Is it because of the risk? Would we rather stick to
the devil we know? Is it because endings, no matter how much we might look forward to them, always carry a hint of the bittersweet? I don’t know the answer to those questions, and I’ll leave answering them to the philosophers and social scientists. That’s not the point of this essay. Instead, I’ll challenge you to take fear out of the equation, not as an ending but as the start of something new. Reframe your resolutions and goals as a way to add something to your life, rather than to remove. For those of you graduating or leaving Truman at the end of the semester, don’t picture starting over. Instead, embrace new beginnings as a chance to redefine what drives you. So before I tacked my goal sheet up on the wall, I picked up my pen and made one final edit to the list. 10. Graduate from Truman State University. Live with purpose.
[ Our View ] Public transportation important for Kirksville development It’s common for large cities and urban areas to have a wide range of public transportation, but it’s not something that is given much thought in rural areas. While Kirksville might not seem like it’s a large enough city to need a bus system, Kirksville is home to a number of colleges, a growing population and various new businesses, so public transportation is a must-have. We, The Index Editorial Board, recognize that public transportation can be extremely helpful for members of the community. There are many larger schools that offer transportation around campus and nearby off-campus locations. These institutions understand the importance for students to have reliable transportation to and from classes and campus activities. At universities and colleges where pedestrian and bicycle traffic is also high, shuttle or bus systems are beneficial for reducing traffic and maintaining a safer campus environment. This type of public transportation can easily be seen as useful for students and for college campuses, but public transportation throughout the city would remain beneficial for the Kirksville community. There are many people who don’t have a personal vehicle or reliable transportation, yet still have jobs around Kirksville. Based on those circumstances, public transportation is even more important for community members. We, The Index Editorial Board, see the value in public transportation for students and for members
of the community. While we might like to see more flexible times or greater variety in transportation options, we appreciate the options Kirksville already offers. Kirksville currently offers a public transportation system called Kirk-Tran, which operates as a partnership between the City of Kirksville, the Kirksville Regional Office, OATS Inc., the Region II Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Adair County SB40 board. Kirk-Tran runs on both a demand-response system and a deviated-fixed route. The demand-response system schedules rides on an as-needed basis to any point within a 15-mile radius of downtown Kirksville. Customers can call a dispatch center to schedule a reservation, but the reservation must be made a day in advance. The system runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. We, The Index Editorial Board, commend the city for providing a public transportation system, but we also recognize a system is only effective if people know it exists. While the schedule for the deviated-fixed route is posted on the city’s website and on signs at each bus station, many Truman students don’t know Kirksville has a bus system. Better advertising of their services could lead students to use the public transportation offered by the community more. If a greater need develops with Kirk-Tran, we might see other public transportation offered in the future, which could better satisfy the needs of the community.
My boyhood hero, Robert Kennedy, used to say that, “Jobs are better than welfare.” As a liberal/progressive Democrat, I agree. But I would add that having a job that pays a good and living wage that is well above the federal government’s “official poverty line” is the human right of every American who is willing to lead a responsible and productive life. Therefore, I am proposing that following the November 2018 elections, our President and Congress reverse the 2017 tax cuts and instead spend $1 trillion on a new federal government jobs-creation bill that guarantees a job with dignity and respect to all Americans that not only pays well above the official poverty line, but also pays well above the official “near-poverty line” (which is between 100-125% of the official poverty line.) It is the HUMANE and JUST thing to do. Sincerely, Stewart B. Epstein
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.
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KPD to begin wearing body cams BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer The Kirksville Police Department is expected to begin using body cameras following this morning’s training session, which covered how to use the new cameras. On Dec. 4, 2017, Kirksville City Council approved the purchase of body cameras for Kirksville Police Department officers from Axon, previously known as Taser International. The cost of the new equipment is $13,323 per year for five years, for a total cost of $66,615, according to the City Council report from Dec. 4. This comes after more than three
years of effort to get approval from City Council to purchase police body cameras. Hughes said he was one of the biggest advocates for the purchase. Body-worn cameras started as an idea in fall 2014, but required more research, said Hughes. After conducting more research, he brought the idea to the City Council, who rejected it based on a lack of need. Hughes said after presenting his position paper — in which he states the benefits of bodyworn cameras as transparency, reducing citizen complaints, accountability, evidence collection, community confidence and limiting liability exposure — City Council agreed following additional consideration.
Hughes said the new equipment includes the latest generation of audio and video cameras from Axon, as well as coat and shirt mounts and charging docks that automatically download video to the cloud-based storage system. This system also has a routine purging system to make the video data easily manageable. This works by ranking the video data based on the severity of what is occurring in the video, which then determines how long the data is kept. What is determined as more severe content by the Department is kept longer, while simple non-confrontational stops would only be kept for 30 days, said Hughes.
Hughes said with the new equipment also comes a policy regarding how the equipment is to be used and what behavior is expected of the officers when wearing the cameras. “I have been a fan of this concept for years and finally the technology has caught up with my idea of what I thought this could do when we were thinking about this thing years and years ago,” Hughes said. “This was primarily a police-driven initiative, and I am confident with the abilities and the capabilities of the officers at the Kirksville Police Department, so it was never a question for me if something like this was a good idea.”
ARTS CENTER | Arts Association to rebuild at previous site Continued from page 1 “The immediate plan is to get our capital campaign going, so we can then see if we have enough money to go forward to build the building,” said Judy Neuweg, Kirksville Arts Association Executive Director. Treasure said the Arts Association will be launching a capital campaign in early February to raise money to fund the construction of the new arts center. Treasure also said several groups at Truman State University have held fundraisers for the capital campaign, and if any groups have any interest in helping raise funds, they can contact the Kirksville Arts Association. “We’re providing a variety of options if people want to make multiyear payments, if they want to make it in one lump sum, if they want to make it monthly — we’re trying to provide all options to accommodate the different ways that people like to donate,” Treasure said. The Kirksville Arts Association is temporarily operating the arts center at 1902 S. Baltimore St. Many of the arts center exhibits are temporary or travelling exhibits with a small permanent collection. The most recent exhibit at the temporary arts center is called “Remembering the 2016 Kirksville Arts Fire.” Many of the pieces feature artwork lost during the fire. “[The Kirksville Art Association is] more about trying to nurture the arts and help local artist gain recognition, notoriety and opportunity for sale,” Treasure said.
Submitted Photos
calendar “Game of Thrones” Trivia
University Showcase Day
The Power of Social Styles
Slam Poet Porsha O
SUB Georgian Rooms
Saturday, Jan. 27 8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium
SUB Hub
Monday, Jan. 29 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 31 7 p.m.
Businessman and author Tim Augustine will present a professional development seminar about different social styles and practices to work with various personalities. The event is sponsored by Delta Sigma Pi, Alpha Kappa Psi, Beta Alpha Psi, the National Association of Black Accountants and the Funds Allotment Council.
Boston-based poet Porsha O will visit campus as the Student Activities Board Spring 2018 Slam Poet. She is the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and the 2015 National Poetry Slam Champion. Porsha O integrates political analysis into her performances to examine injustice and reveal solutions.
Friday, Jan. 26 7-9 p.m. The Student Activities Board will host a “Game of Thrones” trivia tournament with teams of 3-5 players each. The top three teams will receive prizes. Teams must register ahead of time online at the SAB website, and refreshments will be available.
The Office of Admissions will host a showcase day for prospective students on Truman State University’s campus. Any student wishing to attend should RSVP online through the admissions website. Prospective students will be touring campus, including residence halls. Some campus organizations will be doing presentations for prospective students, and hall directors might be seeking students to give tours of residence halls.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Cartoon exhibit comes to Truman
Photos by Nicolas Telep/TMN
Above: The art of Robert Crumb and Laurie Lipton is on display in Pickler Memorial Library. Art from many different eras, styles and artists is included in the exhibit. Top Left: The exhibit “Satiric and Political Graphics in the Modern Times” opened in Pickler Memorial Library Jan. 19 and will be on display until March 4. The exhibit is housed in the first floor gallery of Pickler Memorial Library. Bottom Left: The exhibit is an overview of the history of graphic art and examines its satire and visual power. The exhibit was originally presented by Carleton College.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Stu den ts fac ing fina nci al cha llenges ant icip ate furthe r str ugg les after higher educat ion cut s
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The Hard Numbers: Budget Cuts To Higher Education • Approximately 50% of full-time Truman State University undergraduate students receive need-based financial aid, which on average equates to about $8,000 per student • Truman’s budget was cut 8% last spring, resulting in a $50 surcharge, as well as a 2.1% in-state and 3.3% out-ofstate tuition raise in the 2018 fiscal year, for all full-time undergraduate students • The national budget for 2018 called for a $9 billion, or 13.5%, cut for the U.S. Department of Education • The Perkins Loan, a federal loan which helped 428 Truman students pay for college last semester, was not renewed by Congress last September and is no longer providing financial assistance to those students • There has been a $3.9 billion cancellation of unobligated carryover funding for the Federal Pell Grant • The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which provided $732 million in need-based aid for college students, has been eliminated • TRIO and GEAR UP, programs that help prepare low-income, first-generation and disabled students for college starting in middle school, took a $193 million cut
Sources: The Index, The US News And World Report and National Public Radio
Photo by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN BY RACHEL FECHTER Features Editor Picture this — Students taking a second, third or fourth job to have enough money to pay for things like tuition, books, gas, phone bills, rent and car insurance. Students praying to God their cars don’t break down before their FAFSA checks come in the mail. Students blindly applying for grants and scholarships because they are the first person in their family to go to college, and the process was a foreign dream to their families.
“It’s tough because there’s just not a lot of education about how to get a higher education.” -Junior Kay Harvey Students finishing up a long day of class just in time to get ready for that nightly shift at Walmart. Students wondering how they plan to back the thousands of dollars they’ve borrowed. Among these concerned students are junior Kay Harvey, and sophomores Miranda Fotis and Samantha Radke. Harvey was raised by her mother who, for a long time, didn’t have a high school degree and supported four kids on a food service salary. Despite not having much money, Harvey said her mother empowered her, and from a young age she instilled in her children
Photo by Rachel Fechter/TMN
Junior Kay Harvey answers the phone for a takeout order at China Palace. Harvey now only works part-time and is able to get some help from her birth father and grandparents to pay for school but used to work at Walmart in the evenings almost every day after her classes. the value of education. “I guess some girls dreamed about getting married, but I dreamed about that sweet, sweet degree,” Harvey said. “It’s still my dream. It’s still my goal.”
Photo by Rachel Fechter/TMN
Sophomore Miranda Fotis reads an article on her laptop for her Justice Systems class. Fotis wants to go to graduate school abroad and eventually get a law degree. VOLUME 109
ISSUE 16
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Harvey’s biggest cheerleader has always been her mom, who had Harvey when she was 15. Despite not growing up with a lot of money, Harvey said her mom compensated in other ways. “My mom was so excited about college,” Harvey said, tearing up. “She was really excited about college, way more than I was — and I was ecstatic. Even though she never finished high school, the entire time we were growing up she was always making sure that we had books, that we were studying … it makes me emotional because I don’t think I could be more proud of another person than someone who spends their entire life just being so nurturing, even when she didn’t really have a chance to grow up.” Going into college, Harvey knew her mother and stepfather would not be able to afford to help her pay for school, so she applied for all the scholarships, grants and loans she could. Harvey said her FAFSA money and a Parent Plus Loan covered the cost of her tuition, but she had to pay for her other bills by working a job at Walmart every night after classes. Last year, Harvey had class until 3:30 p.m., then worked at Walmart from 4-11 p.m. most days. She also financially helps out her mom whenever she can. “You can’t work enough to pay for an adequate living while going to school,” Harvey said. “You can’t. There isn’t a job in Kirksville that I feel like I’ve been able to find that can appease my financial problems at least moderately without giving me mental stress … if my tire pops because it’s cold outside or if I mess up my car because of the ice or something, that’s it. I’m done until maybe I get my money from my FAFSA return to fix it, and that’s stressful because if I don’t have things like that — I don’t get a car. I don’t have a ride to work. I lose my job, and then I don’t have any money.”
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The Index
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
FINANCIAL CONCERNS | Students talk about experiences paying for school and the stress of growing higher - education expenses Continued from page 7 Like Harvey, Fotis knows the struggles of having to get a job — or in her case, three jobs — to pay for school. Fotis comes from a single parent household and worked constantly in high school to save up enough money to pay for what her mom or her loans and scholarships couldn’t for college. In addition to working three jobs and potentially getting a fourth to pay all her expenses, Fotis is also in two sororities. She said she sometimes feels she has to miss out on social events happening within her Greek organizations because of how much she works, but she likes keeping busy. “It’s not always that I can’t afford to do this,” Fotis said. “It’s I don’t have the time to afford to do this. I can’t just quit my job. I have to work as much as I can to pay for my bills. It sucks, but it’s what I have to do. I have to make those sacrifices to sur-
the American higher education system. “It’s such an important thing in our society to be college-educated, yet at the same time it’s juxtaposed by [the government] cutting higher education,” Radke said. “It doesn’t make
es like food, rent, car insurance, gas and phone bill. Radke and Harvey are both first generation college students, and Harvey has loosely aligned with First Gen United on campus. Harvey said the first
“It’s such an important thing in our society to be collegeeducated, yet at the same time it’s juxtaposed by [the government] cutting higher education. It doesn’t make sense to me when we’re told from a young age, ‘You need to go to college,’ but then once we get to the age where we go to college, it just seems like no one wants us there.” - Sophomore Samantha Radke sense to me when we’re told from a
generation college students group is
Photo by Rachel Fechter/TMN Sophomore Samantha Radke and her friend, sophomore Isaiah Oakes, study together inside a Blanton--Nasson-Brewer Hall study bubble. While Radke spends her weeks at Truman studying, during every long weekend or beak she goes home to work as mnay hours as she can to pay her bills.
vive.” Fotis often worries about the $21,000 or so she will have in debt after finishing at Truman State University, especially since she wants to go to law school and is anticipating more expenses. Because of this, Fotis said she is looking into going abroad for graduate school — particularly in Russia. Fotis said one school in Russia she’s been looking at has a graduate program in human rights law that costs about $4,000 a year. In comparison, the average cost of in-state college tuition in Missouri was $13,462 for the 2016-2017 academic year, according to collegecalc.org. Fotis said she wishes the United States had more affordable higher education. “I don’t understand why America doesn’t understand you need to invest in brain profit,” Fotis said. “The government just doesn’t care about people furthering themselves. When you only get people whose daddies and mommies can pay for them — there are people who could cure cancer, and you don’t get these people because they can’t afford to go and do the things they need to do to go to college.” Radke shares similar frustrations when it comes to the current state of
said. “I feel like some groups are prioritized and the [groups] that need to help [lower-income students] out, aren’t.” Harvey said there have been times when she discovered certain groups or resources that could have led her to ex-
young age, ‘You need to go to college,’ but then once we get to the age where we go to college, it just seems like no one wants us there.” Radke said in high school her parents left their jobs working at a bank and began doing freelance work that
one of the support groups for low-income college students that she thinks have not received enough publicity or attention at Truman. “It’s more like these groups are only alive because these students really need a place to meet each other, and
tra financial assistance earlier that she missed out on. “It’s stressful because I could have had it this entire time for these last couple years, and I’m just now hitting the gun, and sometimes it’s too late,” Harvey said. “It’s terrible because the money is there, and I can’t reach it … I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I know about this at the beginning, Truman or government?’” Additionally, Radke and Harvey both said they have seen their Pell Grant money decreasing each semester. As a result, Radke said she has had to take out private loans with high interest rates, causing her to sink further and further into debt. “Compared to not having to take any out, it was quite a jump,” Radke said. “Even last semester to this semester, I’ve had to take out more loans. The steady increase in what I have to take out is really stressful. It’s the source of many of my stress cries.” Harvey said it would be helpful if there were more resources for both students going into college and students currently in college to help them navigate filling out FAFSAs because she often finds the paperwork overwhelming and confusing. “It’s tough because there’s just not a lot of education about how to get a higher education,” Harvey said. Despite their financial challenges, Harvey, Fotis and Radke all intend to stay at Truman and power through the years to come. “It’s crazy because I can’t quit now because I’m so close to a degree, and I’m so close to being able to be like, ‘Ha, gotcha world,’” Harvey said. “I’m used to being really hardworking when you don’t feel like you
“I don’t understand why America doesn’t understand you need to invest in brain profit. The government just doesn’t care about people furthering themselves. When you only get people whose daddies and mommies can pay for them — there are people who could cure cancer, and you don’t get these people because they can’t afford to go and do the things they need to do to go to college.” - Sophomore Miranda Fotis made them happier, resulting in her family falling below the poverty line. Radke receives the full amount of FAFSA money a person can get, and even then, she still has to go home and work full time every break to pay for expens-
this is where they spend their time together, and it’s less that the University has given these groups the information and the money to do whatever they need to stand up and really recognize themselves in the community,” Harvey
want to be, and I like that motivation and that work ethic I have, and I feel really proud of it.”
Photos by Rachel Fechter/TMN Radke and Fotis both plan out their days with color-coded planners each week. Additionally, Harvey said she often uses marker and cork boards to remember to plan her payments.
The Index
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
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“The Post” showcases journalism in a reverent, informative light Movie Review Rating
4.5/5 Meryl Streep Oscars
BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Steven Spielberg’s “The Post” is a riveting, informative and timely love letter to journalism and the First Amendment. The film primarily focuses on Katharine Graham, portrayed by Meryl Streep, the first female publisher of The Washington Post. Graham and determined editor Ben Bradlee, portrayed by Tom Hanks, grapple with whether or not to release the Pentagon Papers, a confidential cover-up of the United States’ political-military involvement in Vietnam between 1945 and 1967. Releasing the Pentagon Papers could spell the end of The Washington Post, as well as land anyone involved in prison. As Graham and Bradlee realize, the truth cannot be silenced. Streep gives a masterful performance as Graham, perfectly capturing the immense pressure of proving herself in a male-dominated workplace, and deciding whether or not to publish potentially life-changing information about government lies to the American people. Hanks also gives a solid performance, convincingly showcasing Bradlee’s unwavering integrity and dry sense of humor. While the central story itself would have been enough to recommend
TOP 5
“The Post,” Spielberg goes above and beyond with his directing. Spielberg presents this story in an elaborate, highly cinematic way. The camera glides smoothly throughout every environment, drifting elegantly from office to office in The Washington Post newsroom, while sounds of clicking typewriters resonate in the background. This particular “Hollywood” treatment successfully ratchets up the tension. Viewers are unable to avert their eyes from the screen, marveling at the perfectly-framed shot compositions while also being completely enveloped in the relevant, tense proceedings. “The Post” isn’t immune to Spielberg’s occasionally blatant sentimentality, especially concerning Graham in the latter half of the film, but this doesn’t lessen the film’s dramatic impact. While certain characters give prolonged monologues near the conclusion of the film, viewers can overlook their heavy-handed nature and enjoy the raw acting on display. Spielberg’s film entertains as both a suspenseful retelling of an extraordinary true story, and a timely ode to journalistic integrity and freedom of the press. No matter viewers’ political standings, “The Post” should satisfy anyone interested in investigative journalism and top-notch acting and is an incredibly significant film that everyone should see as soon as possible.
best cartoons meant for kids that are great for adults as told by Rachel Fechter, features editor and kid at heart
#1 Spongebob Squarepants
It’s hard not to take a trip down nostalgia lane thinking about your favorite giggling sponge, bumbling starfish, curmudgeonly squid or capitalistic crab.
#2 Steven Universe
Whose heart doesn’t melt following Steven’s magical adventures with his radically feminist, gay, socially awkward alien pals?
#3 The Magic School Bus
You never forget the first time you watched your favorite gang of cheesy ‘90s kids travel inside the digestive system of their classmate or explore the solar system, led by Ms. Frizzle and her lizard companion.
#4 The Powerpuff Girls
I’m not team Marvel or DC — I’m team PPG. This dynamic trio never fails to kick some booty in the cutest way possible.
#5 Phineas and Ferb
Will these two ever go back to school? Why is Ferb’s hair green? Where’s Perry? These questions keep me awake at night.
Mielke discusses writing process and projects BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer
Pop,” when his computer broke down. It took a long time for it to get fixed before he could get back to that Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two project, but as he was in a writing part series. mood, he grabbed a legal pad and a notebook and started writing poetry. Bob Mielke met his fiancee, Grace Even with his computer restored to Avery Ke, by writing “Kirksville,” a full-functioning order, Mielke’s handpoetry book about the small town. written poetry continues. Ke wondered one day about what “I tend to do everything but poother former acquaintances were ems on the computer. With poems, I doing, which helped her discover love long-hand writing and editing,” Mielke and his book about Kirksville. Mielke said, grinning. “It’s an obsesShe ordered his sion. So I have book from Amobsessions and azon, and after “I feel that my identity is interdisciplinreading it, dea writer. A writer, and now ary interests.” cided to move Mielke conI’m a filmmaker, too.” to Kirksville. siders himself “The big sucprimarily a playcess here is that -Bob Mielke, English professor wright, with two the woman I’m plays under his engaged to debelt. A poster cided to marry for one of them, me because of this book,” Mielke said. “Sun Ra,” is displayed on his office Mielke published “Kirksville” near- door. “Sun Ra” is about a jazz artist, ly six years ago — his first published and St. Louis Community College book of poetry, and it was an answer Forest Park performed the play in St. to “Paris” by Jim Barnes. “Kirksville” Louis, Missouri in spring 2015. Mielwas actually a break from his other ke’s close friend Mary Hurley, a former projects. Mielke was working on his Communication professor at Truman music book, “Adventures in Avant- State University, directed the play. The other play, “IHM (Immaculate Heart of Mary)” is a historical play about the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters in Los Angeles, California who got excommunicated by a conservative cardinal. It has yet to be performed, though, there has been a cold reading of the play with costumes. “What I learned is that it’s harder to get a play performed than it is to get published,” Mielke said. “And it’s hard to get published, but it’s harder to get a performance because that requires such a commitment.” Parts of “IHM (Immaculate Heart of Mary)” have been read at the Gender Studies Conference throughout the years. His play, “Discipline 27-II,” will be coming out in the spring from Golden Antelope Press. “I feel that my identity is a writer,” Mielke said. “A writer, and now I’m a filmmaker, too.” Mielke is working on a second This is the book cover for Mielke’s book of poetry, but it does not have the same focus as “Kirksville.” As published book. “Kirksville” is both the book that brought his fu- an undergraduate student, he had ture fiancé to Kirksville and also an excellent professor at Marquette his first published book of poetry. University who taught a James Joyce class and assigned “Ulysses.” He
Submitted photos Bob Mielke reads with one of his cats. Mielke has a vast amount of interests and enjoys writing both poetry and plays. wondered what the point of picking up a pen in creative writing when he thought he could never compete with Joyce. This held him back for decades. Then he read Charles Bukowski and realized he didn’t have to write like Joyce, giving him the courage to get started with his own writing. In his new collection of poems, he stepped away from the formal style of poetry. “Left to my own devices, like almost everyone nowadays, I write free verse,” Mielke said. “So my new poems are loosey-goosey, free verse stuff.” His new collection of poetry is not really inspired by anyone nor does it answer another book of poetry. Some of his recent poems feature Catholicism, which is on his mind because his fiancee is converting. He also has an unpublished manuscript about cats.
He wrote a long poem, roughly written in iambic pentameter because he thought the cat’s personality needed to be written in that formal way. It is a poem within a prose work. He does not know when his manuscript will be done, but whenever he is in the mood to write a poem, he writes poetry and adds it to the collection. “It’s a real jumble as opposed to “Kirksville” which had a lovely, tight focus,” Mielke said. Nonetheless, he writes on. “My advice to anybody who is a creative writer is [to] be yourself and see what kind of audience you get,” Mielke said. “You can’t woo an audience. They are sort of like cats, they have to come up to you.”
The Index
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Questions on The Quad What do you think about the new printing system and some of the other library updates?
Syrus Duffy, freshman
Anna Carl, sophomore
Deanna Rush, senior
Alyssa Freiner, sophomore
“I think they’re really cool. I think they’re, one, very convenient for students that print. I live in Ryle, so if I want to print on the way to class, I can print it in the library, stop in, pick up my paper and head to class. I think that’s really nice. It also saves a lot of paper, so that’s a plus.”
“I actually really like it because I think it’s easier to find your paper when you print ‘cause you just go up there, and you’ll get it right away when you scan. I don’t know how it’s gonna work when it’s really busy, though, because it might form a line to scan it before it prints, but so far I’ve really liked it.”
“I have not used it yet. I’m kind of avoiding it ‘cause it seems a little confusing, but I think, honestly, it will be really good. All four years I’ve gone here I’ve thought the extra sheet of paper is such a waste, so I think in the long run it’s gonna be really useful. And it will probably be easier to use for people who don’t know the old system.”
“Honestly, I just found out about them a couple days ago. I live off campus, and so I work at the hall desk in West Campus Suites, and I just saw someone using the card, and I was like, ‘What’s that do?’ and they told me about it.”
What is your reaction to the proposed reduction in higher education funding in 2019?
“I think that it’s really detrimental. I’m actually a history major, pre-MAE, so I feel like that’s disappointing to say the least, to not fund education as much. If anything, we need to increase it to get more bright minds out there and learning and bright careers.”
“I haven’t really heard much about it … it doesn’t sound good, and I’m wondering how that will affect the tuition.”
“I don’t know how to put that more eloquently besides that’s crap, because higher education is already so expensive ... and once you take away that funding obviously you have to increase tuition ... it’s just crappy because everyone is expected to go to college, so when you’re making it this big expectation but not everyone can afford it, that’s just not right.”
“I don’t have an opinion. I don’t follow that as closely as I should.”
How do you feel about the knowledge that Kirksville police officers may soon be wearing body cameras? “That’s always a touchy thing because it’s a privacy issue. If it brings more public confidence in the police and has good results then I’m all for it. I don’t know, I wouldn’t be having a run in with the law, so I wouldn’t really protest it.”
“I’m not really sure if it’s that necessary, but I do trust the Department, and if they feel that’s a good step, they should go ahead and do it.”
“It doesn’t really bother me … I’m from St. Louis, [and] there’s so much controversy around what happens … so there’s no questions around what happens with police and how they go about things because I feel like there’s a lot of trials that could have been a lot easier if there were body cameras.”
“That is new knowledge to me. I guess it’s a good idea just so we have an objective source of information and if there is questionable reports.”
The Index
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
11
All ‘Dogs contributing in GLVC BY PAUL PROVINCE Staff Writer
The Truman State University men’s basketball team is in the bulk of their conference season right now, fighting to secure a spot in the GLVC tournament coming up in March. With a 6-3 conference record, the Bulldogs have put themselves in a good position to make it to postseason. While there are consistent high scorers and leaders on the team, head coach Chris Foster said there continues to be players coming off
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt junior forward Connor Lusso drives to the hoop around a defender. The Bulldogs allowed 59 bench points.
the bench who are improving and contributing to the team’s ongoing success. Foster said he has been impressed with a number of players, including redshirt juniors forward Connor Lusso and guards Taurin Hughes, Jacob Socha and Jack Green “We’re seeing a lot of production from the young guys,” Foster said. “We’re going to continue needing those guys to develop and perform well.” As the Bulldogs continue playing conference games and approach the tournament, they’re focused on winning each game. Regardless of the opponent, their next game is the one that matters most. Last week was up and down for the Bulldogs. Last Thursday, they defeated University of Indianapolis for the first time in five years. It was close throughout the game, but the Bulldogs held on to the win with numerous Bulldogs scoring and executing big plays. Truman had nine players score during the game, including three in the double digits. Two nights later, Truman faced off against the University of Southern Indiana. The Bulldogs had strong performances from senior forward Zach Fischer, redshirt sophomore guard Brodric Thomas and junior guard Jake Velky, but it was not enough to push them to victory. Truman led into the second half before Southern Indiana went on a 42-20 run to seal the Bulldogs’ fate. “We played well for a majority of both games,” Velky said. “There were a few stretches of the games that we
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt junior guard Jacob Socha jumps over Drury University defenders to put in a layup. The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs on a last-second shot. struggled, and we need to work on finding ways we can eliminate that from happening.” While the games had varying results, Hughes said the Bulldogs’ mindset is to look for positives in rough stretches rather than brooding over unwanted results. He said they should learn from mistakes and take note of where they excelled. Hughes said productively moving on from a mistake can be applied to during games. He said this is evidenced by the rapid pace the
team played at last weekend which helped them score more easily in transition. “We need to focus more on our defense and rebounding the ball better as a unit, along with getting great shots every possession on offense,” Hughes said. The Bulldogs will continue pursuing the conference tournament playing Maryville University at 7:30 p.m. tonight in St. Louis and Drury University at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 1 in Springfield, Missouri.
Wrestling loses at start of GLVC schedule
had great stamina. Gaining an extra 30 pounds this year has helped him gain strength to balance his stamina. Reeves said despite the 0-7 start the team is facing this season, the ‘Dogs are focused on what each of them needs to do to find success as a team. “Our main focus is just trying to win,” Reeves said. “This season hasn’t been going how any of us would have liked. One thing we can consistently do is continue to take things one match at a time and hope for the best when it comes time for Regionals and hopefully get some of us going to [NCAA] Nationals.” The Bulldogs returned to Pershing Arena for a home match against Hannibal-LaGrange University Tuesday night winning 28-18. This was the team’s Senior Night and they celebrated Luke Komotos and Ethan Rentschler.
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt junior Dakota Schutter attempts to overtake an opponent during a match. The Bulldogs began their conference schedule Saturday losing both duals to nationally-ranked Maryville University and McKendree University. BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer
Truman State University wrestling faced No. 6 McKendree University and No. 23 Maryville University in a dual last Saturday. The Bulldogs battled it out but fell short 46-12 to Maryville and 41-6 to McKendree. Despite this, the ‘Dogs are focusing on the positives and taking things day by day, head coach Dave Schutter said. Schutter said he stresses to his players that they should not get discouraged — they must keep believing in the process and continue working at it every day, and the results will come. This weekend also opened up GLVC play for the team, and to do so against such highly ranked teams is something junior 197-pound Sam Reeves likes to take advantage of.
“McKendree and Maryville are very good teams,” Reeves said. “It’s always good to see them earlier in the season before [NCAA] Regionals. Wrestling some of the top teams in the nation gives us a sense of where we’re at and shows us weak points and things we should capitalize on more.” Schutter added this is great preparation for the regional tournament — because the GLVC is such a strong conference, the team will be able to compete at a high level as postseason approaches. Sophomore heavyweight Ashton Mutuwa said this preparation is tough but necessary if the team wants to find success the rest of the season and into postseason. “I think we need to work on our morale,” Mutuwa said. “With such a difficult season comes a lot of negativity. If we can all just learn from our mistakes
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and improve instead of letting it get to our heads I think we can finish out the season strong.” Mutuwa said the team has been struggling with weight management and working on pins this season, but there is still a lot of room for improvement before postseason begins. He said hitting target weights and avoiding being pinned will help the team wrestle better. Schutter said he saw some great things from the team during this dual including the steady performances of Reeves and Mutuwa. Mutuwa holds an 8-6 record and leads the team with 79 match points this season. He said trying to find a balance of his strength and stamina is a key component to qualifying for regionals this year. When Mutuwa weighed 200 pounds last year, he said he struggled against the stronger wrestlers even though he
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt freshman Angelo Talabert grapples an opponent. The team will look to avoid pins moving forward.
The Index
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
FISCHER | In his first year as a Bulldog starter, redshirt enior forward Zach Fischer dominates the stat columns averaging a double-double. Fischer leads the conference in the double-double category. Continued from page 14 From his observations, he said Fischer has always been a team-first player with a positive attitude, he focused on the success of the team and worked until his opportunity came. Fischer is a great lesson for the younger players in the program. Redshirt junior guard Jack Green, said Fischer has been a huge part of the team’s success this season. He said Fischer’s energy helps give the team a mental edge as it shows the rest of the team what it takes to win. In this way, Fischer’s leadership is valuable on a daily basis. Green said Fischer is having such great success on the court because he is always trying to impact the game in some way by scoring or rebounding. “He is relentless on the boards and takes pride in his ability to get so many [rebounds] each night,” Green said. “Our team is able to do a lot more when [Fischer] is playing at his best. He gives our other guys confidence to score the ball and helps put other teammates in a position to be successful on the court. He’s always striving to be the best he can be.”
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Left: Fischer rises up for a 3-point shot in last Monday’s home contest against Drury University. Fischer scored 20 points against the Panthers and was a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line. Right: Fischer defends a Lincoln University forward as he drives to the basket. Fischer is the only senior for the Bulldog men and leads the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game.
TRACK AND FIELD | The new year brought six gold medals for the Bulldogs as they competed on the indoor track and field of the Illinois College Snowbird Open Continued from page 14 “I would love to place top 3 in conference for the weight throw and to hit the provisional mark for nationals,” Stewart said. “I’m making a big push for that in these upcoming meets.” Stewart and Smestad qualified for the University of Kansas relays meet this Friday. It is a Div. I meet, so Stewart said it is always a great competition for them. Smestad said despite her successful weekend, she’s still pushing to improve her throwing marks and is not content with her performance. She said she is only 20 centimeters away from her personal record in the weight throw. To get where she wants to be, she said she needs to focus on the basics. “Throwing takes a lot more training and technique than anyone realizes,” Smestad said. “People think that you can just be strong and go throw something far, but there’s actually a ton of technique involved.” Smestad said she once tried to throw javelin and hit herself in the head, proving it takes a lot of focus and specialized training to be successful in throwing or in any other track and field event. Smestad said her goal this year is to improve her shot put distances to the level they reached during her
Submitted photo Junior thrower Cassidy Smestad warms up in the discus ring. Smestad led the throwers last weekend finishing first in shot put and fourth in weight throw. freshman year. She said she wants to return to nationals for the second time as a Bulldog.
Photo submitted by Truman Athletics Senior thrower Sam Stewart heaves a shotput at a previous meet. Stewart finished second in the event last weekend with a mark of 46-7.5.
Submitted photo Junior sprinter Elijah Farrales takes a handoff in a relay last spring. Spring season opens Saturday, March 24.
Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band
7:30 p.m. • Saturday, Jan. 28, 2018 Baldwin Auditorium
30 2017 - 2018 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series PRESENTS
With renditions of songs spanning the entire career of the Beatles, and precise attention to every musical detail, along with costume changes, vintage instruments and special effects, you will feel like you are watching the real thing.
Tickets are $5.50 per person and are available at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville, at the Truman cashier’s window located on the first floor of McClain Hall, between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or online at lyceum.truman.edu. For more information visit lyceum.truman.edu.
The Index
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
13
Players to Watch Charlie Kreh, junior first baseman
Christa Reisinger, junior outfielder
After ranking second on the team in doubles and slugging percentage in 2016, Kreh appeared second in slugging percentage again at .503 and took the top spot with 19 doubles in 2017. He ranked 22nd in the GLVC in slugging percentage and fourth in doubles.
After becoming the program’s first GLVC Freshman of the Year since 1999, Reisinger followed that with a sophomore season that earned her a nomination for NFCA Div. II Player of the Year. She led the country with 110 hits, 75 runs, 152 total bases and 31 walks. Reisinger was second in stolen bases and on-base percentage.
Brendan Trimble, senior third baseman/outfielder
Lauren Dale, junior pitcher
While splitting time between second base and the outfield his sophomore year, Trimble led the team with nine doubles and sustained a 12-game on-base streak during the season. He had another good year last season, ranking third on the team in major offensive categories, like RBIs and doubles, while hitting .309.
Dale was the Bulldogs’ third pitcher during her freshman year, but was able to bust out as the ace of the staff last season. She set a school record for appearances and pitched the second-most innings in the program’s history with 203.1, making her one of only six GLVC pitchers to throw at least 200 innings last season. She also led the team with a 2.41 ERA, 22 wins and 17 complete games.
Peter Young, senior right-handed pitcher
Nicolette Simpson, senior pitcher
Young has been a mainstay as the Bulldog closer the last three seasons collecting a total of 21 saves. He was able to pitch for a 0.94 ERA in his freshman season and follow that with a 1.80 the next year. He had a team-leading 2.81 ERA to finish last season.
Simpson was a standout at Kirkwood Community College before her first season with Truman State University last year. As a Bulldog, she ranked second on the team in the major pitching categories like ERA, wins and complete games. She ranked in the GLVC Top 20 with a 2.63 ERA and 13 wins.
‘Dogs face tough GLVC in last month BY PATRICK PARDO Staff Writer Last weekend the Truman State University women’s basketball team faced Rockhurst University, Drury University and University of Indianapolis, who are all a
part of the GLVC. The Bulldogs were defeated in all their matchups. “This season, we started off really strong, and we had a little rough patch this past week,” senior forward Ashley Hartwig said. “We can definitely learn from the three losses.
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Junior forward Rachel Edmundson shoots a free throw. She has averaged 10 points per game against the GLVC.
Our goals are still all completely achievable.” Hartwig said she would like to improve her leadership skills as a senior. This type of leadership would have to happen off the court because on the court, Hartwig’s stats are not far off from her 2017 totals. Last year, Hartwig’s field goal percentage finished at .438 and is currently .413 with plenty of time to improve. She is on pace to pass her total assists of 30 from last year as she currently sits at 25. Junior forward Rachel Edmundson said the team’s goal is to win the conference tournament and make it to the national tournament. To accomplish this, Edmundson said the team will have to wade through a challenging GLVC. At this point, the Bulldogs are 5-4 against GLVC opponents with nine more conference games remaining before the GLVC tournament. “We plan on bouncing back from a couple of tough losses and focusing on what we can get better at to win,” Edmundson said. “The GLVC is a talented conference, and truly any team can win on any given night.” Edmundson said the Bulldogs should not let the tough competition discourage them as they need to finish the season strong which they fully intend to do. Head coach Amy Eagan said defense wins games and defense might be the team’s strongest aspect. “Our problem is the fourth quarter specifically,” Eagan said. “We have had way too many turnovers. Some of that’s mental. When the other team steps up and takes their game to the next level, how do you respond to that? That’s
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Senior forward Ashley Hartwig launches a three-pointer. The Bulldogs made five as a team. what we need to figure out at this point in the season.” The Bulldogs have played five games in 10 days. While the team doesn’t normally play so frequently in a period, Eagan said the players have to be able to play well in back-toback games. Eagan said certain players are good at focusing on the next game even after a loss. She said players like freshman center Katie Jaseckas are able to impact the game in areas other than scoring when the point opportunities are not there.
“I think we are very wellrounded,” Eagan said. “Our freshman Katie Jaseckas is so good at controlling what she can control. That doesn’t mean always scoring, but doing the other things.” Jaseckas has been a pivotal player for the Bulldogs, averaging 10 rebounds a game with a season-high 18 rebounds in their loss against Drury University Jan. 15. The Bulldogs will play Maryville University at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 in St. Louis, then Drury University at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1 in Springfield, Missouri.
ATHLETE o f
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w e e k
Last week, CollegeSwimming.com named junior swimmer Emma Barnett GLVC Athlete of the Week. Barnett was given the honor after her Saturday performance in Truman State University’s sweep against William Jewell College. She now has three such honors after winning the 200-meter backstroke and the 1,000-meter freestyle, setting a team season best.
Emma Barnett
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Mr. Double-Double
As the lone senior for the Bulldog men, redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer leads the GLVC in double-doubles, averaging 18.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer Truman State University men’s basketball is off to another successful season, currently sitting at a record 10-5. Leading the team this year is redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer. As the only senior on the team, Fischer has been a standout player and major contributor to the team’s success. He is currently leading the GLVC in double-doubles, averaging one per game for the Bulldogs. Of the 15 games the Bulldogs have played so far this season, Fischer was Truman’s high scorer in five of them and had the most rebounds in 12 games. Despite the high success, Fischer said his main goal coming into his final season was to focus on the team and contribute to the team’s overall success the best he could. “Averaging a double-double was never a goal of mine coming into my final season,” Fischer said. “I honestly just wanted our team to have the most success as possible. We are a young team that is capable of achieving a lot.” Fischer said he owes a lot of his success on the court to his team as they regularly get him involved on the offensive side of the floor. He said the team is a selfless group that loves sharing the ball. In 15 games this season, Fischer has scored 269 total points in 450 minutes. On the defensive end, Fischer has 164 total rebounds. “We have made it a priority to rebound as a team,” Fischer said.
“We start a smaller line up and all five guys on the floor need to be able to rebound.” Leading by example is something Fischer said he has always believed in. He said the team is young, but the players are fitting the Bulldog culture that emphasizes energy and effort.
“He has refused to be outworked by others, and it has finally paid off for him …”
-Redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer Head coach Chris Foster said Fischer’s leadership has been very important to the team. He said Fischer is a selfless, hard worker and a great student. “Not only is his vocal leadership on the court [important to the team], but the example that he sets everyday with his work ethic,” Foster said. “He is everything we want our Truman players to be.” As a player, Foster said Fischer’s greatest talent is how hard he plays. He said his effort on every play allows him to be the player he is. Fischer is also a tough matchup at the center because of his ability to score outside and inside. Foster said Fischer has improved every year he has been in the program because of his workman’s mentality. See FISCHER, page 12
Photo submitted by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer goes for a layup in a contest aginst the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Bulldogs are 6-3 in GLVC play.
Six ‘Dogs take gold in 2018 opener
BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer
The Truman State University track and field team had its first meet of the new year Jan. 20 at Illinois College’s Snow Bird Open. Based on their performance last weekend, the players are shaping up to have an impressive 2018 season as the team won six gold medals after a long layoff. Head coach Tim Schwegler said their play was a little rusty because it was the team’s first meet in a month, but he was pleased overall with the team’s performance in Jacksonville, Illinois. Schwegler said he hopes to build on last weekend and keep improving as a team so the players are performing at the highest level by the time they get to the indoor conference meet in February. Of the Bulldogs who finished at the front of the pack, Schwegler said there were a few standouts, including senior thrower Sam Stew-
art and juniors jumper Hannah Oberdiek, thrower Cassidy Smestad and sprinter Eddie Barrett. Oberdiek finished first in the women’s long jump and ninth in the women’s 200-meter finals. Barrett finished first in the men’s 200-meter dash, eighth in the men’s triple jump and first place in the men’s 4x200 relay. Oberdiek said the team appeared really fast last weekend, with Barrett and senior sprinter Heather Hughes running well in the 200 and receiving first and second respectively. Additionally, she said she felt fast down the runways, which helped with her longer distances. “Speed is essential in every single track and field event,” Oberdiek said. “Throwers want to get faster in the ring, jumpers want to get faster down the runway and runners want to be faster on the track.” Oberdiek said speed and technique are crucial for improvement, and the
team needs to focus on these things during practice. As far as her competition, Oberdiek said she also competes with herself. Regardless of what place she gets, she said it’s the improvement that is important. “I did end up getting first in long jump but was more happy about a jump that I scratched on,” Oberdiek said. “I put it all together on my last jump and performed really well in the areas I was lacking in my previous jump. Sometimes in field events, it isn’t about the place you get, but rather the throws or jumps that you improved on, despite the mark or scratch.” While the entire track team put up good numbers last weekend, some of the most impressive showings of the day came from Truman’s more experienced throwers. Stewart took first in the men’s weight throw and second in the men’s shot put, while Smestad took first in the women’s shot put finals and fourth in the women’s weight throw finals.
“Sometimes in field events, it isn’t about the place you get, but rather the throws or jumps that you improved on, despite the mark or scratch.” -Hannah jumper
Photo submitted by Truman Athletics Senior thrower Sam Stewart aligns to throw the discus at Truman State University’s home meet last spring. Stewart has topped the podium in both of Truman’s season-opening indoor meets in the weight throw event. VOLUME 109
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Oberdiek,
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Stewart said he was happy with the first place wins he and Smestad had in the circle. He agreed with Oberdiek that the toughest competition is always yourself, but there were some other tough matchups as well. He said the men’s team from William Woods University was formidable including their shot put thrower who took first place. Stewart broke a school record in the weight throw at the first meet of the season Dec. 9, but he is still about a meter off for nationals in the event. See TRACK AND FIELD, page 14
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OLDS G DOGEVENT L L BU DAL ME
Snowbird Open Jan. 20 Weight Throw
Sam Stewart, senior
200-Meter Dash
Eddie Barret, junior
4x200 Relay
Eddie Barret, junior Carson Lackey, freshman Ike Gholston, freshman Joseph Niblock, sophmore
Pole Vault
Cassie Jennings, freshman
Long Jump
Hannah Oberdieck, junior
Shot Put
Cassidy Smestad, junior
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