The Index Vol. 111 Issue 7 by Truman State University Index

“Joker” is thoughtprovoking chaos

Student Government acts as student voice, page 6 Tailgating at Truman, page 7

page 8

Bulldogs prepare for Homecoming, page 14

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

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University lawsuit moves along to hearing RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief

The lawsuit filed against AKL, Truman and a former student is moving forward. The lawsuit was filed July 31. Photo by Bidan Yang

Forensics starts season strong ELISABETH SHIRK Managing Editor The Truman State University forensics team has competed in two tournaments so far this season, advancing into elimination rounds in multiple events and securing 12 nationals qualifications. The team picked up four nationals qualifications at the Western Kentucky University Round Robin and Fall Tournaments Sept. 19-22 and eight nationals qualifications at the Derryberry Memorial Speech and Debate Tournament hosted by Southwest Baptist University Oct. 4-5. Forensics Director Chris Outzen said at the most recent tournament at SBU, senior Caleb Daniels was a semifinalist in debate and freshman Zoie Francisco made it to the quarterfinals of the novice division in her first tournament. He said on the speech side, Truman students made it to elimination rounds in persuasive speaking, prose interpretation, impromptu speaking and more. “I’m happy to say we didn’t really have any stand-out strengths because we did well in a number of different categories,” Outzen said. Outzen described the team as cohesive and well rounded at the tournament, which showed off its comprehensive forensics education that seeks to value speech and debate equally. Among the competitors who received nationals qualifications was junior debater Cami Smith. See FORENSICS page 3

The lawsuit against Truman State University, the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and former student and fraternity member Brandon Grossheim is moving forward with a motion hearing scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21. The lawsuit, filed July 31, is a wrongful death suit from the parents of two students who committed suicide in the 2016-17 school year. The lawsuit claims Grossheim was close to all five people who committed sui-

cide in that school year and was either the last person to see them alive or the first to find their body. The parents’ attorney, Nicole Gorovsky, has also accused the University of failing to be transparent about the alleged psychological manipulation occuring. University General Counsel Warren Wells, AKL’s attorney Mark Wasinger and Grossheim’s attorney Benjamin Gray have each filed a motion to dismiss the case. Steve Smith, professor of business administration and a former practicing attorney, said the motions to dismiss seem to be standard practice.

“There’s nothing even very significant about [the motions to dismiss] at all,” Smith said. “That happens all the time. Even if you think there’s a good reason to dismiss or if you think there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell of getting it dismissed you’ll file a motion to dismiss, probably.” Smith said the case looks to be fairly routine in its preliminary phase thus far and seems to be on a usual timeline. See LAWSUIT page 3

SCOOTER’S COFFEE COMES TO KIRKSVILLE and Young said Scooter’s is no exception. A competitive dynamic already exists in Kirksville with Caffiend Fix Coffee and Starbucks, and so far Young said they seem to coexist peacefully. Young said competition brings unknown economic outcomes and business transitions, as seen with Petsense closing because of the addition of PetSmart in town, but he is curious to see how the new addition will impact existing businesses. Young said he does not think Scooter’s will harm local coffee businesses, but will instead help the overall economic structure, citing that Kirksville has never been as economically pros-

ORIELLE HEILICHER Contributing writer

perous as it is this year. “A successful, locally owned restaurant and coffee shop can be just as competitive in many respects and certainly just as enjoyable as a national chain,” Young said. Young said despite his initial thoughts on new business in town and local competition, he cannot be certain of what new businesses will bring, believing that the market will dictate what happens next. Despite market tendencies, potential competitors of Scooter’s Coffee are confident with their business’ ability to stay stable.

A chain drive-thru coffee shop is being built on Baltimore Street, likely posing competition to other coffee businesses in Kirksville. Scooter’s Coffee is a drive-thru regional coffee shop chain that will be joining the Kirksville community by mid-November this year. Scooter’s menu offers iced, hot or blended drinks and a variety of burritos, sandwiches and baked goods. The new coffee shop will be located at 1506 South Baltimore Street, the old site of Papa John’s See SCOOTER’S page 3 that closed Jan. 2018. The company contacted the City of Kirksville in pursuit of the building to buy and use for a new Scooter’s location, Assistant City Manager Ashley Young said. The Scooter’s property is currently owned by Mark Freiburg, but the Scooter’s location does not currently have a franchiser, Reid Yardely, Kirksville code enforcement director, said. Scooter’s is currently working with the Kirksville Codes and Planning Department to move forward with construction. The company along with the Kirksville Codes and Planning Department are doing a remodel of the existing building and making improvements to the parking lot. Currently, there is no set opening date for Scooter’s, Yardely said. With new corporate businesses comes competition, Young said. Scooter’s Coffee, the drive-thru regional coffee shop chain, will be coming “Rising tides raise all boats,” Young said. New business should boost to Kirksville by mid-November. It will be located at the old site of Papa the overall economy of Kirksville John’s. Photo by Orielle Heilicher

Prayer and meditation room available to all KIRA HINTZ Contributing Writer The Interfaith Center has a prayer and meditation room available on the first floor of Baldwin Hall which is open to Truman State University students and faculty and can be accessed any time the building is open. The prayer and meditation room has items supplied by the IC such as a rug,

pillows, a shelf, a bulletin board and a room divider. Students and faculty can use these items or bring their own belongings to help them meditate, pray or reflect. The IC has nothing explicitly religious in the room because all different belief systems are welcome. One philosophy the IC has about their center and the room is for people to take time to examine, understand and reflect on different personal and world perspec-

Homecoming

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tives as a way to grow. People can’t leave personal belongings in the room, but they can store them in lockers at the IC. The room was originally located on the first floor of Kirk Building, but it was moved to Baldwin in fall 2017. J.D. Smiser, director of the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards, said the prayer room is a safe place for people to not only express their worldviews but to do activities that correspond to them. The

space can also be called a meditation room with many universities putting a slash between the two names, Smiser said. Although the prayer room is not meant to be used as a place to study for classes, Smiser said the IC is open to the rationale of why studying in the prayer room could be part of a worldview. See PRAYER page 5

Saturday, Oct. 19 8 a.m. 5K run/walk @ front of Barnett Hall 9 a.m. Parade @ east side of Franklin St. 10:30 a.m. Plaza ribbon cutting @ University Mall 11 a.m. Bulldog Forever Tailgate @ Franklin & Patterson St. 11:30 a.m. Golden Alumni Luncheon @ SUB Activities room 12 p.m. Pep rally (Crowning of royalty) @ Tailgate parking lots 2 p.m. Football game @ Stokes Stadium

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Truman hosts annual Oktoberfest

Left: Freshman Luke Larabee and sophomore Jacob Kolb playing cornhole at Oktoberfest. SAB, Residence Life- and Union and Involvement Services sponsored the event and partnered with the Student Recreation Center and JED Committee. Photo by Patrick Bynum Below: Live music was performed at the event. Oktoberfest is a fall tradition at Truman State University. Photo by Ryan Pivoney

Left to right: Junior Trinity Mills, freshman Kara Pruett and sophomore Amanda Denno in the inflatables. There were inflatables and lawn games at the event. Photo by Patrick Bynum Student Activities Board members handed out free rootbeer at the event. The first 700 attendees received a free root beer mug. Photo by Ryan Pivoney

Crime Reports staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Pivoney Managing Editor: Elisabeth Shirk News Editor: Rachel Becker Copy Chief: Cara Quinn Design Chief: Emmett Divendal Photo Editor: Rachel Becker Designer: Jake Bertish Photographers: Caleb Bolin, Kara Mackenzie, Daniel Degenhardt, Bidan Yang, Emily Johnson, Mary Van Winkle, Patrick Bynum Copy Editors: Kayla Lewis, Luke Jacobi, Emile Hummel, Jessica Robinson, Maddie Lee, Sami Harris, Natalie Wilson, Autumn Dodd-Hinds Staff Writers: Travis Maiden, Gordon McPherson, Allison Maschhoff, Chase Potter, Brittany Conley, Erica Schamel, Matthew Frank, Alex Crawford, Erica Lindsay, Josie Wagner, Andrew Holder Adviser: Don Krause

DPS & KPD 10/3 Social media threat, making a terrorist threat and criminal negligence in the 3rd degree reported at the 1500 block of S. Cottage Grove Ave.

10/9 Theft reported at the 1300 block of Alexander St.

10/4 Dead body reported at the 200 block of E. Burton St.

10/11 Theft reported at the 100 block of Manor Crest Dr.

10/4 Weapons offense reported at the 1300 block of S. Cottage Grove Ave.

10/11 Animal attack reported at the 100 block of E. Buchanan St.

10/6 Unlawful use of weapons, drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession reported at the 800 block of S. Baltimore St. 10/7 Arson reported at the 1700 block of N. Centennial Ave. 10/7 Motor vehicle theft reported at the 700 block of N. Osteopathy St. 10/7 Narcotics offense reported at the 300 block of S. Osteopathy St. 10/7 Burglary reported at the 600 block of N. New St. 10/7 Motor vehicle theft reported at the 100 block of S. Main St. 10/7 Motor vehicle theft reported at the 2100 block of E. Normal Ave. 10/8 Theft reported at the 900 block of N. Green St. 10/9 Theft reported at the 400 block of W. Michigan St. 10/9 Theft reported at the 900 block of N. Green St.

10/9 Theft reported at the 60 block of Leisure Dr.

10/11 Theft reported at the 1300 block of S. Cottage Dr. 10/12 Unlawful possession of firearms, drug possession, stealing and possession of drug paraphernalia reported at Potter Ave. 10/12 Theft reported at the 500 block of W. Gardner St. 10/12 Theft reported at the 1600 block of N. Green St. 10/12 Unlawful use of a weapon reported at the 100 block of W. Northtown Rd. 10/12 Fight, unlawful use of weapon reported at the 100 block of W. Northtown Rd. 10/12 Theft reported at the 2000 block of N. Baltimore St. 10/12 Drug possession reported at the 800 block of W. Jefferson St. 10/13 Narcotics offense reported at Eastgate Dr. 10/13 Narcotics offense reported at the 20 block of Eastgate Dr.

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

SCOOTER’S| Coffee chain adds to competition with local businesses

Continued from page 1 Rayne Wells, owner of Caffiend Fix in the town square, believes there will be an initial downtick in sales because of the introduction of a new business. Caffiend Fix separates itself from other coffee businesses in town by having lounging areas and personalized drinks made from locally roasted beans, Wells said. “People who come in want to sit down and relax. They aren’t in a hurry to go, and that’s another reason I don’t think Scooter’s is going to affect us that much,” Wells said. Wells attributes the success of Caffiend Fix to its products and the business they receive by word of mouth, not from local competition. Caffiend Fix directly competed with Sweet Espressions, which closed last spring. Wells does not attribute Sweet Espressions closing to the competition between the two businesses, but he said he creat-

ed his low prices to provide the best deal in town. Wells said he thinks Scooter’s opening will affect the Hy-Vee Starbucks because of the drive-thru aspect of the new business. With winter coming, people will not want to get out of their cars, Wells said. Wells said he thinks the new Scooter’s will drop Starbucks’ sales numbers by a considerable amount, with a shortlived upset for Caffiend Fix. Hy-Vee’s Store Director Scott Johnson is proud of the Starbucks brand and its huge following. Johnson explained there will likely be initial harm to Starbucks’ sales, especially with Scooter’s operating a drive-thru business, but he thinks the impact will be minimal on its area of business. Johnson said he is still confident Starbucks fans will be faithful to their business and he is hopeful they will be able to maintain current

sales. Hy-Vee will remain focused on Starbucks’ sales instead of worrying about other new businesses, Johnson said. “In the meantime, we will remain focused on all the traditional fall and holiday drinks that come out this time of year and are favorites with our customers,” Johnson said. Regardless of the competition with Scooter’s opening, Young said he thinks the brand names of both Scooter’s and Starbucks will attract new visitors to the City of Kirksville.

Rayne Wells, owner of Caffiend Fix Coffee, believes there will be an initial downtick in sales because of the introduction of a new business. Scooter’s will be introduced to Kirksville in midNovember. Photo by Orielle Heilicher

LAWSUIT| Hearing for AKL, Truman and former student lawsuit to be held Oct. 21

Attorneys have filed a motions to dismiss the case. Steve Smith, professor of business administration and a former practicing attorney, said the motions to dismiss seem to be standard practice. Photo by Bidan Yang Continued from page 1 Marty Jayne, professor emeritus of justice systems with a law degree, was the interfraternity council advisor in 2016-17 when the multiple suicides occurred. Jayne said he didn’t have a lot of knowledge about

what was going on in relation to students’ mental health at the time because the University isn’t allowed to release personal health records of students, however, he said he was aware of increased efforts by Truman to support the men in AKL.

Gorovsky originally sued the Truman State University Foundation, which collects funds for the University, but after the foundation filed a motion stating it was the wrong party, the plaintiffs’ attorney amended the suit to sue the University itself. “What I haven’t seen yet — and I’m waiting to see if it’s there — is any allegation in their petition about why sovereign immunity does not apply,” Jayne said. “If you sue the government, you’ve got to have an exception to the basic rule that the government can’t be sued, and there wasn’t any allegation of that in the original.” Truman’s motion to dismiss first suggests that the University cannot be sued because of sovereign immunity, and the premise liability doesn’t apply because Truman doesn’t own the fraternity house. The motion states that Truman cannot be liable for when people commit criminal acts on its campus, only when the University or physical campus property create an issue. AKL’s motion to dismiss suggests that because the incidents occurred

in the local chapter house it does not mean that the national organization is responsible, Jayne said. The motion references the premises liability, but the lawsuit doesn’t allege that the national organization owns or operates the property. Additionally, the motion states that the lawsuit doesn’t present facts to indicate the national organization was aware of what Grossheim was allegedly doing and it doesn’t have a legal responsibility to supervise tenants or keep them safe. In Grossheim’s motion to dismiss, the first point states that the former student wasn’t charged with anything and there’s nothing to indicate he is responsible. The motion also questions the lawsuit’s application of the negligence standard. Jayne said if the case survives the motions to dismiss it will move to the discovery phase in which each side will attempt to learn what the other side knows and find evidence for their conclusions. Wells declined to comment at this time. Gorovsky and Gray could not be reached as of Tuesday evening.

FORENSICS| Team earns nationals qualifications Continued from page 1 Smith earned her qualification at the Western Kentucky Tournament by making it to double octofinals in the Lincoln-Douglas debate. This year, competitors are debating energy policy in the U.S. Smith said one thing she does to prepare for a debate is called “spreading”— a popular practice in the debate community — which means speed reading. Debaters will speak as fast as they can often to the point of being incomprehensible to listeners. “Then at the tournament, I will sometimes listen to really fast rap songs and try to rap them and enunciate all of the words to practice speaking for my round,” Smith said. Smith said the team meets every Tuesday as part of its preparation for competition, but a lot more individual work is done outside of team

meetings and practices. Outzen said the team owes its success first and foremost to the students. He said while he and Assistant Director of Forensics Craig Hennigan can coach and give advice all they want, everything ultimately comes down to the students. “Their willingness to work, make decisions and care about what they’re doing provides us the base for all of this,” Outzen said. Outzen also credits the team’s success to the legacy of Truman forensics, which has been around, in some form or another, since 1880. Included in that legacy are alumni who know the value of the activity and those who are willing to support it. Outzen said some alumni have come back to help coach the team, including Kevin Minch, associate provost and former forensics director. “We may not always know where

some of our practices come from and we may not always know why we do some of the things we do, but the tried and true practices that have made Truman forensics special get passed down through the generations and there’s something to be said about a program that keeps some of its traditions alive, that continues to value this activity and what this program is,” Outzen said. Senior Austin Sopko said he spends nearly all of his time thinking about the team or working on speeches. Sopko finaled in multiple speech events at the SBU Tournament. He placed second in Prose Interpretation, third in Duo Interpretation with junior Audrey Baker, sixth in Impromptu Speaking and fifth in Individual Sweepstakes. Sopko said this was the first tournament of the season where many of the competitive Missouri schools like

SBU, the University of Central Missouri and Webster University were together. “Doing well at this tournament is a really good sign for the rest of our season because that means that we’re still at the same level with these other really good and competitive schools,” Sopko explained. Sopko said he has met a lot of friends all over the country through speech and debate. He said speech will always be a part of his life in some capacity. “The power of being in control of a room and having everyone listen to what you have to say and making people think, making people laugh or making people have a new perspective on something is just so fascinating to me and it’s so much fun,” Sopko said. “It gives me such a rush.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Stu Gov

City mobility plan is a good start

Buzz

StuGov supports open dialogue

The City of Kirksville recently approved a new mobility plan which will add a sidewalk along the entirety of Baltimore Street. While this addition is both necessary and beneficial to the infrastructure and transportation along one of Kirksville’s busiest streets, there is still more to be done. We, The Index Editorial Board, believe the City of Kirksville’s plan is a great way to improve mobility, however, other streets within town are also in desperate need of sidewalks and sidewalk repairs. Many streets in Kirksville outside of Baltimore Street are without sidewalks or have sidewalks in very poor condition, preventing those with mobility issues and residents in general from traveling safely around town. While Baltimore Street might be considered the main street in Kirksville, other streets in town are just as deserving of safe sidewalks. Residents of Kirksville utilize neighborhood streets just as much as Baltimore Street, and witnessing senior citizens and individuals with mobility issues struggle to safely travel down their local streets is an issue the City needs to address. There is a large population of elderly and mobility-inhibited individuals in Kirksville who deserve safe sidewalks that do not inhibit their mobility aids and their mobility in general. Nobody should have to walk in the street, and the lack of safe sidewalks within neighborhoods poses a safety issue among all Kirksville residents. Baltimore Street, although a major street in town, is only one street which poses mobility issues, and we, The Index Editorial Board, believe City Council needs to give just as much attention to these neighborhood streets. Improvements to mobility need to extend to the entire city and not be limited to just one street. The residents of Kirksville, whether they have mobility issues or not, deserve to have a safe means of transportation around town, and the City needs to address additional sidewalk issues.

It’s often said that the people closest to the action have the clearest understanding of events. At the same time, all of us carry a perspective distinctive to ourselves. Both of these are certainly true of a college campus environment, where every student, faculty member, and administrator can bring a unique perspective to approaching campus-wide challenges and opportunities. In order to take advantage of all those unique perspectives, what’s needed is dialogue. The second Presidents’ Round Table occurred Thursday October 3rd. Organized by Student Government, presidents of all student organizations were invited to join for an evening of discussion with student senators. The first topic of discussion covered Truman’s culture and its nexus with student mental health. Attendees discussed the good and the bad of being part of a high-achieving university and ways students and the administration could better address the pressure many students feel during the semester. The second topic covered Truman’s ongoing efforts to increase enrollment and retention. Many presidents discussed their experiences when applying to Truman, from their desire to find a rigorous academic environment and a sound financial choice. The third round of discussion was a topic of each president’s choice, ranging from environmental and school spirit to academic and diversity-related topics. With the Presidents’ Round Table and other discussion events, student government hopes to encourage dialogue between campus leaders and find solutions to problems that face our university community. Students do not have to wait for such an event to occur, however, and should always feel free to reach out to student government representatives with their ideas and concerns. SUBMITTED BY: Emma Rollings, Environmental Affairs Committee Chair

Take time, be self-centered Elisabeth Shirk Managing Editor

As we briskly move into the fall season, I am filled with excitement for the cooler nights,

the holidays and the family time to come. I am also, unfortunately, reminded of the mental and emotional weight the fall and winter seasons bring to many people and have brought to me before. As classes, projects and assignments pick up, the sun seems to pack up and leave, leaving in its absence depression, anxiety and more unnecessary weight. During this time and through the winter months in particular, I implore you to put yourself and your health first. Assignments, work and whatever else you have on your plate should be a strict second to your own well-being. While there is an overarching societal problem with overworking people and not caring about their mental and emotional

needs, there is also a Truman State University and general college problem, too. We can each work to combat these problems. Professors, bosses, friends and family should understand your need to be self-centered sometimes, so there is no reason to feel guilty for taking the time you need. Also, as a professor, boss, friend or family member, you should be understanding toward those you know need to take some for themselves. As far as what you do during your “you time,” I recommend doing whatever it is that makes you happy, comfortable or relaxed. What I do for myself varies depending on my mood. I like taking walks, talking to my mom, watching mindless TV shows and play-

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ing Candy Crush on my phone. Most of those things don’t take very long and I can quickly get back to being productive. Sometimes, though, you need to take longer, and that’s okay, too. That’s all part of being self-centered and doing whatever you need. My message is simple and seems to be preached often, but until our University and the rest of the country can get on board with supporting mental and emotional health in this way, it’s a message that I will repeat over and over again. If you need to take time for yourself, go ahead. If you’re feeling guilty about taking time for yourself, don’t. And if you know someone who needs to take time for themselves, let them.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

calendar HARVEST FEST 1-5 P.M. THE QUAD The Student Activities Board is sponsoring the Halloweenthemed Harvest Fest event on The Quad. Attendees can participate in pumpkin carving, play games and make s’mores while supplies last.

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The Women’s Resource Center is sponsoring an annual event showcasing the talents of women on Truman’s campus. Artwork, singing, dancing, poetry and more will be showcased. Free food will be provided.

SAB is sponsoring a viewing of the 1975 cult classic film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The viewing will be interactive, and the first 100 people in attendance will receive props. The film is R-rated, so viewer discretion is advised.

OCTOBER

news in brief

CELEBRATING WOMEN OF TRUMAN 6-8 P.M. SUB HUB

“THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW” 8-10 P.M. SUB DOWN UNDER

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2019 A CAPPELLA FEST 7-9 P.M. BALDWIN AUDITORIUM Six musical groups will be performing at this free event sponsored by Truman’s Minor Detail. The featured groups include Saint Louis University’s Bare Naked Statues and Decadence, University of Missouri’s Naturelles, and Truman’s True Men, Sweet Nothings and Minor Detail.

Three Truman students recognized by Gov. Parson Missouri Gov. Mike Parson recently awarded Missouri Public Safety Medals to 18 emergency personnel and six civilians for their life-saving actions during a 2018 axe assault. Those recognized include Truman State University students Tyler Preston, Gabriel Gowen and Jordan Lambay, who helped intervene amid the attack. W. Burton Street to receive repairs Street surface repairs on W. Burton Street, from N. Osteopathy Street to west of the city limits, will begin Monday, Oct. 14. The road will be reduced to one lane or possibly closed throughout the estimated one-to-two week project duration, so it is suggested that motorists consider an alternate route and use caution if necessary to drive through workzones. W.L. Miller Company, contractor for the City of Kirksville, plans for the project to improve drivability in the area. Library holds writing workshop for students Pickler Memorial Library will be hosting a free one-hour writing workshop at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in PML 103. The event will demonstrate Zotero, a tool to help students while writing papers. The new online app allows students to save citation information and create customized bibliographies in MLA, APA and Chicago citation styles as well as in-text citations. No registration is required, but it is recommended that students bring their own laptops. Volunteers needed for Trunk or Treat The National Education Association and Student Missouri State Teacher Association will be hosting a Trunk or Treat for local Kirksville students from 3:30-6 p.m. Oct. 27. The event, located at the southwest corner of Patterson Street and Franklin Street, is intended to provide trick-or-treaters a safe and efficient way to gather candy. Members of Truman organizations and academic departments are encouraged to decorate trunks of their vehicles, which will be judged in competition for the fan-favorite prize. If participants choose not to decorate, games for trick-or-treaters are also acceptable.

PRAYER ROOM| The Interfaith Center’s prayer and meditation room is open to all

Continued from page 1 Leah Dieker, Campus Christian Fellowship women’s minister, said the CCF has their own prayer room and was not aware there was one located on campus. Dieker said she likes the idea of Truman offering a room for students to pray or meditate in, especially if they don’t have a space of their own and if there is no discrimination against any faith. She said college can be a very stressful and personal time for young people to experience. “A lot of students come into this phase of life trying to figure out who they are and it’s easy to feel lost,” Dieker said. “I think it’s easy for Truman students to root their identity in school and their life and that just includes a lot of pressure.” To combat this, Dieker said she thinks finding a community, particularly one that is faith orientated, can be an important support system for students. Dieker said a student can have the opportunity to feel included, make friends and have a specific space to focus on what they believe in. A big reason behind the prayer room’s presence has to do with learning and developing knowledge. Truman is a learning institution, so students have the opportunity to explore many topics and ideas they’ve never been exposed to before, which can involve or take place in the prayer room, Smiser said. He explained that this understanding of different perspectives can be a life skill for breaking down fear and misunderstanding. Brad Turnbull, program coordinator at

the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, said opportunities for students to experience something or someone outside of their comfort zone or identity is an excellent way to craft a broader worldview. Turnbull said understanding and validating other people’s perspectives can also help create more inclusive spaces in the community, on campus and in society. One of the challenges of trying to be more open to other’s experiences is becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, Turnbull said. “I think that when we are willing to take in and consume other perspectives and process them and validate them as someone’s lived experiences, then that in turn helps us to be more empathetic,” Turnbull said. “We can then contribute to an environment that’s ultimately supportive of those things.” There are several emotional and existential benefits associated with taking time to pray, reflect or meditate in a prayer room, Dieker said. “It can be just an opportunity to center yourself and to remind yourself about bigger purposes,” Dieker said. “I think it can be a way to realize what your life is about today. Praying is another way to pull ourselves out of our tendency to be really self-absorbed and takes time. I don’t know if it comes naturally to a lot of people because there are a lot of other things you deem as more important. Like, ‘I need to study for five more minutes for this test,’ or, ‘I have such a busy day, so I need five more minutes of sleep.’ But you can pray

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anyway. You don’t have to be prostrate on your knees to pray.” Smiser said the IC doesn’t actively monitor the space, so they don’t know the number of people who use the room. He said he personally checks the room out three days a week and has staff who use it when they are on their shift. The arrangement of the room does often change, which indicates that people use it, Smiser said. The IC checks the room for personal belongings and to make sure it has not been vandalized, Smiser said. The room has also been used as a resource for participants in conferences held by Residence Life. Smiser said he has not heard of any backlash about the inclusion of the prayer room. He said he thinks Truman is serious about respecting people’s different world and faith perspectives because it supports the IC sponsoring the prayer room. Smiser said there can be a lot of different reasons behind adding a prayer room to campus, but he doesn’t know if its existence is a direct response to a need to increase diversity at Truman. “I don’t know if I’ve looked at our prayer room as being a conscious effort to support diversity,” Smiser said. “I think it does . . . if we’re doing something for the sole purpose of showing how we’re diverse, then I don’t think we’re going as deep as we need to.” There are numerous different criteria for creating structurally inclusive spaces, Turnbull said. Although the existence of an IC and a prayer and meditation room is

important and meaningful, Turnbull said it is crucial to realize that the sheer existence of something is not always an active process towards embracing inclusivity. He said it is integral to make sure that different identities are being represented, but representation is only a small part of furthering an inclusive environment where people have the chance to equally navigate all spaces and opportunities. Turnbull said safe spaces don’t always have an active role in helping other people understand why diversity and inclusion are important. If anything, a safe space is so people can make sure they’re validating and supporting the people who need them, Turnbull said. “Simply the existence of the prayer room is at maximum a conversation starter,” Turnbull said. “But I think the broader conversation is moreover, ‘Do you know that we have a prayer room? And do you understand why we have one?’ I think that conversation is more impactful because we have a prayer room for anyone, any religious, faith or spirituality needs, but we only have that space because those spaces are not necessarily otherwise existent in the community. Why is that and what does that look like?” Dieker said there are other spaces for faith at Truman like the Catholic Newman Center and the Baptist Student Center, but if students feel the need to have more religious spaces then they should feel comfortable asking for them.

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The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Student Government acts as student voice on campus MATT FRANK Staff Writer

Truman State University’s Student Government is an organization on campus comprised of over thirty students who are tasked with various jobs in the community, student life and academics. All members of Student Government share the goal of listening to and making the student body’s voice able to make positive change. Student Government acts as a liaison between the student body and other groups on campus and in the community, such as faculty, staff, administration and community groups, Student Government President Deanna Schmidt said. Student Government also represents the student body’s voice through committees, projects and policies the organization pushes through. Student Government consists of an executive board that guides the organization with help and communication from all members. The executive board is comprised of five members: the president, vice president, speaker, secretary and treasurer. Under the executive board is the executive staff, such as the P.R. director and I.T. director, which includes individuals with specific skill sets to help Student Government run smoothly. Student Government also has an executive committee comprised of the six standing committee chairs that deal with their respective areas such as academic affairs, external affairs, student affairs, health, wellness and safety, environmental affairs and campus diversity. There are also multiple secondary and sub committees that do specific tasks. One example of this is the appropriations committee, which looks into the allocation of funds to various students, student organizations and campus-wide efforts. Additionally, the parking appeals committee is another sub committee that reads student appeals on parking tickets and look into getting ticketed students their money back. The committees are comprised of voting senators, who are voted on by the student body in fall and spring elections, and those individuals serve on at least one standing committee and can vote at Student Government meetings. A committee has an area they focus on such as the environment, diversity or student affairs and tries to listen to student input and create projects to enhance student experience.

Additionally, there are associate senators, who are not voted on by the student body, but instead appointed by the Student Government president and approved by the organization. These individuals do not have the ability to vote at meetings, but can still serve on committees, and help committees achieve their agendas, by participating in their meetings and events. Schmidt said her job is to represent the body of Student Government to other organizations and higher levels of administration. Schmidt meets weekly with Student Government Vice President Katie Alexander, President Sue Thomas and Vice President for Student Affairs Janna Stoskopf to talk about the projects Student Government is working on and what is happening on the administration side so Student Government can voice input when needed. “Student Government is also involved with faculty governance,” Schmidt said. “Every other week there is either a Faculty Senate or Undergraduate Council meeting, and I go to Faculty Senate and Vice President Katie Alexander goes to Undergraduate Council. This is so that the student voice is heard in curricular matters.” There are also various activities that do not fit under any of the committees that Schmidt might work with, such as the annual Presidents’ Roundtable. Schmidt said she and Alexander contacted every club and organization’s president and invited them to a meeting to discuss campus issues and how to work together as leaders to solve them. Speaker Jared Kolok said his position is a neutral and unbiased member of Student Government that is both part of the executive board and the senate. “My job is comprised of running meetings, sending out agendas every week, as well as serving as a resource as a senior who has been with Student Government for three years,” Kolok said. “I am also a procedural guide, because I know the procedures, the constitution, the standing rules and the kind of questions that arise from those areas.” Directly underneath the executive board is the executive committee, where the standing committees are. The executive committee is comprised of the six committee chairs who each oversee their respective committee. Environmental Affairs Committee Chair Emma Rollings is on the executive committee, and she said that the Environmental Affairs Committee

PJ Wuennenberg, voting senator, working in the Student Government office in the SUB. Student Government acts as a liaison between the student body and other groups on campus and in the community, such as faculty, staff, administration and community groups. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt deals with both the environment in general as well as more local issues. “Last year I was involved with getting enough signatures to put forth a carbon neutrality proposal,” Rollings said. “Then Student Government put together a carbon neutrality goal for Truman by the year 2030, in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement, which was eventually adopted by the Faculty Senate.” All members of Student Government work together to get the student body’s voice heard through their work through committees and passing resolutions, but that can be difficult when there are different views. An example of this can be seen with the International Flag Display in Pickler Memorial Library. When it was being built, an issue arose on whether or not the display should include the U.S. flag. Student Government heard from political organizations on campus, international students on campus and other individuals to create a dialogue to discuss this issue and bring everyone together on a decision. Student Government attempts to listen to students of differing opinions to create a voice that represents the entire student body, rather than just the voice of the members of Student Government itself. Student Government also pushes for fixing issues that might impact students. An issue that Student Government was active in and helped push forward was

the class retake policy that was changed last year. They were vocal in their support for students to change policy and bringing the issue to the attention of administration when necessary. Another example of Student Government helping the student body is when they pushed to get a suicide hotline on the back of student I.D. cards. Student Government also advocates for students by passing resolutions. An individual or a committee can come up with an idea, formulate it into a formal resolution and then bring the resolution to the general body meeting so that members of Student Government can have a discussion, voice opinions and ask questions. After the discussion on the resolution, all voting members of the organization vote on it, and if it passes the first read it will be brought to a meeting again the following week where changes can be made. At the second meeting it is voted on again, and if it passes with a simple majority it will be passed along to relevant parties. After this step it is mostly out of Student Government’s hands, but this is to create discussion and present current opinions on issues that are present within Truman’s community. It is then up to the relevant parties to either take the students’ input or not. It’s through this process that administration and other such influential groups on campus can hear about what the students have expressed they want using Student Government as a way of expression.

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Homecoming 2019!

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Tailgating at Truman

Your guide to the big pregame party

This year’s tailgate and pep rally

General Policies

Saturday, Oct. 19 at noon Southwest corner of Franklin and Patterson streets.

• Couches, coffee tables and other indoor furniture must stay indoors and not on the tailgating grounds.

History of tailgates at Truman

• The only open flames allowed are charcoal grills. If you use a charcoal grill, please do not dispose of the ashes on University property, including University dumpsters. • Parking spaces for tailgaters will be available on a first come, first serve basis and the designated lots will be marked.

For a full list of rules and policies visit the Truman Homecoming website.

Elisabeth Shirk Managing Editor Stacy Tucker-Potter, director of engagement in the Office of Advancement, said tailgating at Truman State University has not always been part of Homecoming celebrations. For many years, Truman would host class reunion lunches around Homecoming time, Tucker-Potter said, but after noticing low attendance at the lunches, the Office of Advancement decided to do something different and began hosting a pregame tailgate for Homecoming. Tucker-Potter said when many people think of a tailgate they imagine it having drinks, particularly alcoholic beverages, but that posed a conflict with Truman’s dry-campus policy, so the wet tailgate had to be approved by the President’s office. The first wet tailgate at Truman occurred only six years ago and even still, the Department of Public Safety monitors the event each year. “We had some test events to see how that would work in terms of security and other kinds of things,” Tucker-Potter said. “Then we made it official with the Homecoming tailgate.” The tailgate was designed to allow Truman students and alumni to gather as a large group while also connecting and reconnecting with the personal groups and organizations with which they affiliate. Groups can register for the event on the Homecoming website and secure a specific spot at the tailgate. Some of the groups have included alumni organizations, ROTC and current student organizations. Tucker-Potter said the Office of Advancement’s tent served food, via Sodexo, to about 350 people last year, but she said that is probably a minority of the people who were actually there because many people bring their own food. “Everyone’s Truman experience is unique and they find different things to connect with, and I think we’ve created a mechanism where people can identify with their group, have their connections on that level and also be connected with something that’s bigger,” Tucker-Potter said.

Rules About Alcohol • The law prohibits people under 21 having alcohol and that extends to Truman’s tailgate. If you plan on drinking, bring a valid photo ID to let security know you are 21 or older. • Truman only permits alcoholic drinks at the tailgate, so do not take them outside of the designated tailgating area. • Only beer and wine are allowed at the tailgate and all drinks must be in cans or cups. Glass containers and kegs are not welcome at this event. • To help promote safe celebration, drinking games and other activities that encourage excess drinking are prohibited.

Hundreds of people gathered for the Homecoming tailgate and pep rally last year. This year’s tailgate will start at noon and be located at the southwest corner of Franklin and Patterson streets. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt VOLUME 111

ISSUE 7

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The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

“Joker” is thought-provoking chaos Your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer gives this film 4.5/5 angry faces Gordon McPherson Staff Writer

Todd Phillips’ masterful “Joker” is a deep dive into the dark recesses of a damaged mind and a society on the verge of violent civil conflict. While I can understand the criticisms many have with the film, as well as the controversy it has stirred up since its release, “Joker” remains magnificently compelling throughout. Should you trust the opinion of your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer? Yes, you most assuredly should. Ignore the haters. “Joker” stars a sublime Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and comedian in 1980s Gotham City with severe depression and a condition that makes him laugh uncontrollably when he’s upset. He also lives in a decrepit apartment with his delusional mother, barely sustaining the will to live day by day. As tensions in Gotham City continue to escalate between the rich and the poor, Fleck begins a downward spiral into violence and brutal revenge against authority figures — and Gotham City itself — that wronged him throughout his life. Thus, Batman’s arch nemesis is born. Bucketloads of unwarranted, woke criticism follow suit. Of course, Phoenix’s performance remains the central reason to watch “Joker.” Everyone who sees the film can objectively agree that this is an Oscar-calibur performance on par with Heath Ledger’s portrayal in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” Which is the better Joker, Ledger or Phoenix, readers might wonder? Neither. Both actors tackle different interpretations of the character. Ledger’s Joker is basked in mystery, while this film presents the character’s rise to malevolent prominence in blunt, heavy-handed detail. Phoenix — with a spindly, Christian Bale “Machinist”-esque physique — commands his every scene with a disturbingly

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perfect mixture of sadness, despondence and repressed rage. In a brilliant decision by Phillips, Fleck also contends with a mental condition that prompts uncontrollable, physically painful laughter, which Phoenix fully embraces. Indeed, “Joker” depicts the suffering Fleck faces on a regular basis, primarily because of his mental illnesses. He desperately wants to fit in, but Gotham City resists his every effort toward self-advancement, leaving him broken, abused and volatile. “Joker” immerses viewers into Fleck’s psychology, often blurring the line between reality and Fleck’s imagined reality in several sequences that, while somewhat predictable, attempt to subvert viewers’ expectations. The controversy surrounding the film, mainly relating to whether it condones violence and makes viewers sympathize with a mass murderer, is, frankly, overblown. Depiction of harsh subject matter does not equal endorsement. While “Joker” remains an uncomfortable watch from beginning to end, the film realizes the importance of understanding the motivation behind people like Fleck and how that appreciation should not necessarily translate to sympathy. Through this understanding, Phillips invites viewers to consider how they fit into the society that created Joker, and what they will do to fight injustice in the real world. Gotham City, while not particularly well-developed, shares similarities with contemporary America in regard to political division and oppression of minorities. The dialogue in “Joker” is, admittedly, sometimes ridiculous. None of the characters are “subtle” — especially Robert De Niro’s exaggerated talk show host Murray Franklin — but this all serves a purpose in creating a vision of a city in turmoil. Fleck nonetheless remains the only character with any real development. Through presenting Fleck’s descent into violent crime — and how much sup-

Places to run around Kirksville

Erica Lindsay, Hobby Jogger

Joaquin Phoenix stars in “Joker,” a recent film which critic Gordon McPherson describes as magnificently compelling. McPherson said Pheonix’s performance remains the central reason to watch the film. Photo by Niko Tavernise, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. port he receives by those who share his revolutionary ideas — “Joker” prompts introspection about the hatred many of us feel toward the Other, whoever that might be. By referencing the deep-seated hatred permeating a fractured society, and people acting on that hatred to a radical extent, “Joker” presents an apocalyptic reality where those real, tangible sentiments are brought to horrific fruition. And that’s undeniably admirable and ambitious, in my humble opinion. And polarizing, sure, but all good films should be. Oh, and guess what? “Joker” is a comic book film. How amazing is that! More filmmakers should take notice of how Phillips will lure unassuming audiences to theaters and pull the rug out from under them. While Phoenix’s performance and thought-provoking, though blunt, themes make “Joker” unmissable, Phillips’ direction and the awe-inspiring soundtrack are also worth noting. Employing prolonged one-takes, wide-angle shots and an overabundance

of slow motion and interpretive dance sequences, the cinematography in “Joker” feels more like an independent art film than a mainstream, comic book character origin story. This won’t be to everyone’s liking, obviously. Many will say that “Joker” is boring and slow. I couldn’t disagree more, but readers will note that I have absolutely no qualms about deliberate pacing in films. The orchestral soundtrack is also impeccable, matching Fleck’s fractured psychology beautifully. Sure, some of the ties to DC Comics feel somewhat shoehorned into the story. Sure, the dialogue is a bit too on the nose. Sure, the film shares numerous similarities with Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver.” But who really cares? Most of us students are relatively well off and living in the blissful, stressfree heaven of Truman State University. Sometimes it’s important to see the other side. Viewers should brave the controversy and go watch “Joker” for themselves. I trust that my readers won’t follow Fleck’s example.

3. A.T. Still Trailhead Situated west of campus behind A.T. Still University, the hidden Kirksville valley is a great place to work some serious hills. The location is also perfect for appreciating ponds, grassy surfaces and occasional deer sightings.

1. Thousand Hills State Park

4. Orrick Trail

With trees, shrubs and an entire lake around which to frolic, what more could you want from a trail run? While there are plenty of twists and turns to hold your attention, be careful not to twist an ankle.

Faint of heart, beware. Combinations of pavement, gravel, dust and incline make the route ideal for mixing up terrain, as well as weakening all willpower. Orrick’s brutality spares no one, making this route all the more exhilarating.

2. Rainbow Basin Trail

5. Stokes Stadium

This area is home to not only an abandoned ski lodge but a land uncharacteristic of quotidian Kirksville. A rocky road leading to vast rolling plains, this path is a must-run for those seeking a temporary escape.

Trying to work out but short on time? Prefer short bursts over long distance? Look no further than Truman’s own stadium, home to a track, turf field and countless cross-training resources.

Truman, fraternity host music festival Anna Mercer Contributing Writer

Truman State University’s Department of Music and Sigma Alpha Iota are hosting the annual North Star Music Festival Concert Oct. 25 and 26. The festival will feature student and faculty composers and will premiere a piece written specifically for the festival by guest composer Ivette Herryman Rodríguez.

Festival Director Victor Marquez said North Star has been a campus tradition for over 20 years. The festival features contemporary music, which Marquez defines as music that has been composed within the last 50 years. “The general perception in the world of art and music is that all composers are dead because most orchestras play music by dead composers like Beethoven and Mozart,” Marquez said. “These com-

Graduate student Alex Grim will be one of the composers featured at the North Star Music Festival Concert this year. The Festival will take place Oct. 25 and 26. Submitted photo

posers wrote amazing music, but there’s a new music community, a large number of living composers creating music today and, in my opinion, that music is easier for us to relate to. These composers wrote in a reality that is much more similar to our reality.” This is Marquez’s first year as director of North Star. He said the general structure of the festival is similar to previous years which featured Truman’s various choirs and ensembles. Marquez said North Star is funded through a Funds Allotment Council grant, which allows the festival to fly in a guest composer to debut a piece written specifically for one of Truman’s performance groups. This year Rodríguez is the guest composer, and she has composed a piece for Truman’s wind symphony. Marquez said the festival planning is done by Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity. This group of female music students help Marquez with the details of the festival, and many of the members participate musically. Shayla Hinson, co-chair of the North Star Music Festival Committee for Sigma Alpha Iota, said the festival features many different kinds of music. “Contemporary music has a wide variety of directions it can go,” Hinson said. “Sometimes you’ll listen to it and think to yourself, ‘Wow, what just happened?’ but just try to appreciate it for

what it is. Allow the music to take you where it will take you.” Hinson said on the second day of the festival there will be a student-driven recital. This will feature contemporary music written and performed by students. The recital adds variety to the festival and allows students to showcase their work. “There’s a new cycle of music every year because there is always new music coming out, whether it’s professional composers or student composers,” Hinson said. “There are at least two pieces this year composed by two graduate students at Truman.” One of the graduate students is Adam Grim. Grim graduated from Ohio Northern University in the spring, making this his first year with the festival. He urges students to attend North Star to get a better sense of what Truman’s music community can provide. “We are extremely lucky to have all of this being brought to Truman,” Grim said. “Many of the works being presented are not typically being performed for the general public to see, especially for free.” The festival features two main concerts at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There will also be two smaller concerts and a meet and greet with guest composer Rodríguez during the day on Saturday. All concerts are held in the Ophelia Parrish building and admission is free and open to the public.

The Index

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019

Sir Babygirl, Nyssa take the Truman stage

Left: Sophomore Mikayla Haehn, freshman Carolina Fleming, Sir Babygirl and senior Lydia Helfrich sing together on stage. Sir Babygirl and Nyssa performed a concert Oct. 3 that maxed out the 120-person space and was hosted by 88.7 KTRM, Truman State University’s student-run radio station. Photos by Rachel Becker

Left: Sir Babygirl identifies as gender non-binary and tries to reflect that piece of identity through music and performance. KTRM Station Manager Monica Fallone said a lot of attendees spoke about how inclusive, safe and warm the atmosphere was. Above: Singer Nyssa opened for Sir Babygirl. The Toronto-based artist is known for bringing a female perspective to the rock and electro-glam genres.

Storytime with

Allison

The Witch of East Valley High School What is this? This story is a part of a series of stand-alone short stories written by The Index’s fiction writer, Allison Maschhoff. None of the fiction stories this semester are connected to one another. You can find this and other stories by Allison Maschhoff at tmn.truman.edu. Allison Maschhoff Staff Writer October Jones was a force to be reckoned with. She walked the halls of East Valley High School with her head high, her arms full of books organized and well contained, her eyes somehow staring both straight ahead and above the buzzing crowd of students. She walked with a purpose, every step determined and forceful. The slight bounce of her body as she walked was not one of peppiness, but the reactionary force brought about by the smacking of her soles against the linoleum. Yet along with all this confidence and power, she had the unfortunate circumstance of having parents and genetics that were working together to create a systematic irony within her very being. October Jones was 5’11” and utterly unable to hide the fact that she had bright green eyes and carrot-colored hair. Or, as many have pointed out over the years, pumpkin-colored. I will never forget the first time I saw her, the first time any of us saw her. She was new to town, it was freshman orientation and none of us could believe our ears when the pale, lanky new girl stated that her name was October. Her hair was so orange she could barely be called a redhead. Her all-black outfit only added to our growing collective concern that we had a witch in our midst. Even as a freshman she exuded confidence. Her poise came across more cold than graceful — she almost never met anyone’s eyes and rarely said more than five words at

a time. Even in class, October Jones was a brisk wind. She left us on the edge of our seats, never quite sure what she would do, even though she always did the same thing. October came to school always wearing black, or dark jeans, or dark purple or navy. Never yellow, or red or orange. Not even green. She spoke to no one, raised her hand once per class and ate her lunch — a peanut butter sandwich — alone. When the day was done, she went straight home. She was far more predictable than her namesake. In our Midwestern town, the chill of the October month knocked on our doors a different day each year. Sometimes September would suddenly turn frigid, sometimes Nov. 1 would have a high of 70. But October’s falling temperatures and ever-earlier dusks always came eventually. I never saw October Jones arrive late to anything. And that included fall. Somehow she knew before any of us exactly when to switch from shorts to pants, from sandals to boots. Not that I ever mentioned that observation to her. What I would have meant as a lighthearted compliment, a “tell me your secret” kind of moment, she would have taken as just another stab at her name. No one mentioned anything about fall or Halloween to October. No one. And this was why: by our freshman year of high school, October Jones’ skin was already so thick that no one could bear to raise her defenses any higher. Anything so much as a snicker turned her eyes into daggers and sent her arms into a protective crossing over her chest.

Her heart had enough of her existence’s blaring ironies by the time she was fourteen. And since all of us assumed she had a long road ahead of her, we did our best to keep the comments to ourselves, sharing looks and whispering jokes when we thought she wouldn’t notice. High schoolers always think they’re clever enough to know when the object of their snickering won’t be listening. In reality, October Jones spent most of her life listening. She sat in the back of classrooms, observing everyone around her. She never took notes. It was as if she could absorb information through her skin. That girl could repeat any fact she’d ever heard and recount any scene she’d ever watched. But for the thirty-one days of October, she had everyone else’s attention. Because for thirty-one days, without fail, October Jones wore the brightest colors imaginable. Bright yellow boots, sky blue shirts, magenta sweaters, bright green pants, any and every bright shade of purple. All of the colors that belonged in the other months. All of the colors no one else was wearing. Our freshman year, some people thought she was trying to start a new trend. One boy supportively dug out a bright blue pair of jeans and a lime green polo. But when he tried to strike up a conversation with October, she frowned at him, her eyebrows furrowed. “You’re trying to be funny?” she said. She was definitely not laughing. “No!” Arthur Darnell replied, his cheeks turning red. “I thought it was some sort of . . . I don’t know . . . a tradition! Maybe where you

come from you wear bright colors for fall!” “Where I come from?” “I mean —” “You think I’m weird?” Not even Arthur was brave enough to answer that question. He wasn’t even brave enough to lie to her. He simply walked away. For the rest of our high school experience, everyone but October wore bright clothes in the warm months and everyone but October wore fall colors in October. When October missed school on Halloween four years in a row, no one said a word. Our senior year, I finally asked her where she spent every Halloween. We were sitting in the library in mid-November and with no one else around, I thought I had a chance at a real answer. She seemed startled that I was speaking to her. “What?” “I totally get why you wouldn’t want to be here,” I said. “But where do you go?” Her lips parted, but she bit her tongue. I could see her trying to determine my end goal, calculating the odds of this turning into a joke at her expense. “I’m honestly just curious,” I promised. She still hesitated, but eventually, her lips curled into a small smile. “I go to the children’s hospital for the day and hang out with the kids.” She reached over to her backpack and pulled out a long, skinny, plastic wand painted to look as though it was made out of wood. Her green eyes sparkled when her smile grew, her orange locks framing her face. “They think I’m a witch.”

The Index

Ouestions ?

Madeline Bostick, junior

Mika Zans, junior

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

the

Ouad ? Elly Levy, freshman

Question 1: What is your favorite fall drink? “Hot chocolate … with marshmallows.”

“My favorite fall drink would be hot apple cider.”

“Basic. Pumpkin spice latte.”

Question 2: What is the scariest place on campus? “The Pershing locker rooms. Never have I been so horrified than when I shower there alone.”

“Maybe the Sunken Garden at night.”

“Kirk Gym. Especially at night. Just Kirk Building in general … like you’re going up the stairwell and it’s just squeaky, and you see cobwebs in the windows.”

Question 3: What was your best Halloween costume? “When I was in middle school, I dressed up as a cat and my grandma made me this costume. It was kind of like a tube dress, almost, and it had straps. It was super cute, and I had the little ears.”

“Probably when I was a kid and I went as the Greek goddess Artemis.”

“Last year for A Cappella Fest, I was sexy Patrick from the Spongebob movie — with the fishnets and the boots. Yeah, I was that. I had a pink party hat and a pink crop top … It was very D.I.Y.”

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The Index

UPCOMING EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Cross Country • Men’s, women’s cross country at GLVC Championship Saturday, Oct. 26

Volleyball • At the 2019 Midwest Region Crossover TBD. Friday, Oct. 18 through Satur-

Football • Vs Missouri University of Science and Technology at 2 p.m. Saturday,

• At Drury University at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 • At Southwest Baptist University at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26

• At William Jewell College at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 Soccer

Swimming • Men’s, women’s vs. McKendree University at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 • Men’s, women’s vs. William Jewell College TBD Saturday, Oct. 26

• At Missouri University of Science and Technology at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct.

Basketball

• • •

18 At Maryville University at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 Vs University of Southern Indiana at noon Friday, Oct. 25 Vs McKendree University at noon Sunday, Oct. 27

• At Illinois State University at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23

• • • •

At Missouri University of Science and Technology at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 At Maryville University at noon Sunday, Oct. 20 Vs University of Southern Indiana at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Vs McKendree University at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27

Oct. 19

Men’s

Women’s

HOMECOMING| Bulldogs will play Missouri S&T for the Homecoming game Saturday Continued from page 14 In addition to allowing the most yards this season, the Bulldogs secondary gave up all four of the Lion touchdowns through the air. However, Nesbitt said the Bulldogs will rely on verteran leadership and the team culture to make up for the loss of experience on defense. Now 5-1 and entering the back half of their schedule, the Bulldogs are focusing their attention on Missouri S&T. The Miners enter the game with a record of 5-1 overall and 2-0 in GLVC play. They will kickoff with the best record of any Bulldog opponent to this point in the season. The Bulldogs have lost the last two games against Missouri S&T, including last season’s emotional loss which eliminated the Bulldogs from bowl game contention. While the coaching staff said there will be no changes made to their approach for the Miners, they will be counting on the crowd at Stokes Stadium to support a team trying to bounce back at home. With a win this weekend the Bulldogs would move up to third place in the GLVC, and would be one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 with a pep rally and tailgate starting at noon.

Tight end Jake Ellis catches the ball in a game against Southwest Baptist University. The Bulldogs’ five game winning streak was put to an end last weekend against Lindenwood University. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

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Men’s

Women’s

• At University of Missouri at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 Golf • At Park University Fall Classic Monday, Oct. 21 through Tuesday, Oct. 22

SOCCER| Both men’s and women’s soccer teams steady as season progresses Continued from page 14 Getting any points on the road is beneficial, Cochran explained, so the two wins at Rockhurst University and William Jewell College at the start of the season were big for the team. Despite multiple injuries on the team, Cochran said there are some positives this season. With a new volunteer coach and a new trainer, Cochran said there is new energy on the team this year. He said the abundance of injuries has also allowed new players to hit the field. “The depth’s been good from the standpoint of the next guy is giving everything he can and the guys on the field are just as patient as they can be and trusting that they can do the job,” Cochran said. “I’ve been really pleased with the effort that has come from the bench because it’s not easy.” The men’s team has lost four starters because of injuries this season, but Clayton said the bench has had a large impact on confidence and keeping spirits up. “Thankfully we’ve had good depth in the squad and people have been really having to step up and do the best they can,” Clayton said. “I think the team has done a great job of adapting to these injuries and working around them and still going strong.” Clayton said the team has been taking the season game by game and week by week, changing and adapting to make the ’Dogs successful. The women also recently lost to the Lewis Flyers 0-2, but beat the IllinoisSpringfield Prairie Stars 2-0. The team continued that winning streak against the Drury Panthers 2-1 and swept the Southwest Baptist Bearcats 4-0. Women’s soccer head coach Mike Cannon said the past few games for the women have gone well with the Bulldogs playing better and getting results. “We just kind of got through a tough

stretch and seem to be hitting a little more of where we want to be as far as how we’re playing,” Cannon said. Cannon previously said the team wasn’t cohesive and the practice wasn’t showing in games earlier in the season, but now the team has moved some players around and has since been playing better as a group and scoring more goals. Cannon said passing and maintaining possession of the ball has gotten significantly better throughout the season. With the Bulldogs playing less defense and seeming to be on the same page out on the field, there are more scoring opportunities and they have found success. The .500 win percentage isn’t the best the team has ever had, but Cannon said this season has been more challenging. The Bulldogs still have a shot at the conference tournament and moving on, but Cannon said the team needs to win a majority of the remaining games to give itself a fighting chance in the tournament. “I’d much prefer us to be in this situation where things didn’t start as great but now we’re kind of heading in the right direction as opposed to the seasons where you start great and it just kind of falls off the table,” Cannon said. “The girls were excited before, but I think they’re really excited now.” The women are focusing on team dynamics and maintaining winning momentum, Cannon said, but there is still some work to do before the conference tournaments. He said right now, the Bulldogs are just trying to break into the tournament to prolong the season. The women’s soccer team will compete against Missouri University of Science and Technology at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. The men’s soccer team will also face off against the Miners at 7:30 p.m. the same day.

Midfielder Anna Meyer plays in a game against Bellarmine University. The women’s soccer team competes next against Missouri University of Science and Technology. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

SEASON STANDINGS The Index

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Placings

29, 47, 171, 21

2nd/2, 2nd/15, 6th/11, 1st/8

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

Placings

23, 31, 109, 15

Overall 5-5-1

Overall

1st/2, 1st/11, 4th/11, 1st/6

MEN’S SOCCER

Conference

Home

Away

4-4-1

2-1-1

3-4-0

WOMEN’S SOCCER

5-5-1

FOOTBALL

Overall

Score

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Conference

5-1

2-1

TENNIS

Home

Away

3-0

2-1

Overall

Conference

Home

Away

3-2

0-0

0-1

3-2

GOLF

Score

Placings 1st/9, 3rd/6, 8th/16

640, 682, 663

VOLLEYBALL

Conference

Home

Away

Overall

Conference

Home

Away

Neutral

5-4-0

3-1-0

2-4-1

8-11

2-5

1-2

1-3

6-6

Alumni to be inducted into Hall of Fame Each year, Truman State University Athletics recognizes the achievements of former student athletes by inducting them into the University Hall of Fame. To view the full list of inductees, visit TrumanBulldogs.com Cassy (Felkerson) Haddox — Volleyball

• First, first team American Volleyball • • • •

Coaches Association All-American Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association MVP Led Bulldogs to school record of 37 wins and two losses in 2001 Ranked 10th in the program’s career kills and seventh in blocks Earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic AllAmerican honors

TENNIS| As the season comes to a close, the tennis team is looking to improve with practice

Continued from page 14 Before competing against the Hawks, the Bulldogs travelled to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to compete in the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tournament on Oct. 4-5. Smith said the tournament was rough, mainly because the Great Lakes Valley Conference has some tough tennis competition. He said with a younger team he expected the tournament to be a tough one to tackle. “In general the better people you play, the better you play yourself, win or lose,” Smith said. “It helps you get better, it helps you improve your game, but with a young team you have to be a little bit careful about playing a bunch of tough matches and getting down on yourself.” He said the team has remained positive this season despite any losses. It was important for the team to secure some wins early on in the season, Smith explained, because it encouraged and motivated the team for future play. Smith said the season’s lineup was appropriate and he liked the way doubles were paired up. He said there can be some pressure and jealousy on tennis teams for players to get a good spot, but that wasn’t the case this season. “We don’t have any problems that way,” Smith said. “We all want to see each other succeed and we want to help each other become better — and I want to help them become better.” To help with that for the spring season, Truman State University has hired Jonathan Gooch as an assistant coach for the tennis team. Smith said Gooch will help with technique and strategy, and generally act as another pair of eyes on the court. “I am looking forward to being a part of a team and a staff that will maximize the potential in our athletes, and with the results our program has already achieved this fall, I can’t wait to build on that momentum and have that contribute to future seasons,” Gooch wrote in an email statement to The Index. Smith said the team will work on improving ground strokes, hitting the ball with pace, consistency and getting the ball deep in the court. He said some players will be looking to change their serves while others might be working on movement or balance. “One of the things that’s fun about tennis is you can try going to get a little bit better every day,” Smith said.

Eric Howe — Football

• Holds school records for career •

• •

passing yards, completions, attempts and touchdown passes. Threw 9,097 yards in 38 games, ranking him sixth on the MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletics Association’s passing list All-MIAA performer for three years Holds school record for longest pass play with a 93-yard strike.

Haddox and Howe will be inducted at the Alumni and Friends Banquet during Homecoming. The 1997 men’s soccer team and the 1972 men’s track and field team will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this year.

Sophomore Rachel Shelley plays in a match against Missouri Valley College. The tennis team’s fall season ended Oct. 8, but the team is practicing for the upcoming spring season. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

The Index

GOLF| With one tournament left, the Bulldogs RUNNING| Men’s and women’s cross country are looking for another win this season take first place before GLVC Championship Continued from page 14 “It was a little surprising, but it felt good knowing that I am right up there with the older girls on the team,” Hunt said. After Drury, Truman took home eighth out of 16 teams at the Lewis Flyer Intercollegiate Tournament near Chicago, Illinois. Compared to the Drury Fall Invitational, none of the girls had previously golfed on the Lewis course, Fitzpatrick said, so that — along with some last minute schedule changes occuring at the Tournament — posed a challenge for the team. The Drury Fall Invitational tested the team’s attitude and mental toughness with this tournament being the team’s highest level of competition for this fall season, Fitzpatrick said. On the first day, the team ended with a score of 335 and finished with a score of 325 on the second. The team concluded the tournament with a score of 663, one shot behind McKendree University. “I was really pleased with how they did considering the level of competition,” Fitzpatrick said. “We had no expectations going in and to finish in the top half against conference teams and other teams from throughout the Mid-

west, was very promising.” Truman’s top scorer at Lewis was sophomore Emily Ducaji, who started the tournament with an 82 and ended with a 79, tying for 14th. Fitzpatrick said she is one of the team’s most consistent players on the course. “All the hard work that I’ve done this fall is really paying off and that goes for the team as well,” Ducaji said. “We are so close to shooting an incredible team score and I think that will be reflected in our performance at Kansas City.” The fall season will conclude Oct. 21 and 22 at the Park University Fall Classic. Lindsey Repp, Katie Gastrau, Ducaji, Maya Schnable, and Hunt will attend as they are the top five players on the team. Fitzpatrick said the Bulldogs will also be bringing two more women to compete, who are currently undecided, giving tournament experience to those who haven’t traveled yet this season. Fitzpatrick said the team is confident going into the tournament because last season it placed second, and he said he believes this would be a great way to end the season and send off Repp, whose time with the Bulldogs has meant a lot to the team.

Continued from page 14 After a sickness that required her to leave school and prevented her from running last year, Bostick said she finally feels like she is getting back to the point of performing at her best. Bostick said while there wasn’t a lot of competition from other schools, it was a good experience competing against other teammates. Tom Cormier finished first for the Bulldogs and the men overall with a run time of 26:46 for the 8K. Despite competing against mostly Div. III teams, Cormier said Truman has to take the wins when it can. “Our team also did very well at grouping up and pushing each other throughout the race and working with the teammates around us,” Cormier said. While Truman will only compete against one of the schools again in the GLVC Championship, Cormier said the team scores do indicate future potential and provide a confidence boost for the cross country teams. “Overall we competed really hard and I think we got a good momentum now going into the conference meet in two weeks,” Schwegler said. To prepare for the GLVC Championship, Schwegler said the teams have been cutting down practices and sharpening

up — meaning fewer morning practices, shorter runs and more rest. Schwegler said the GLVC Championship is wide open as of right now. While he said he always expects Truman to finish in the top five, realistically placings could range from fourth to eighth for the women and sixth to 10th for the men. He said Truman is in a tough conference, so it’s not out of the ordinary to have an open field. The GLVC Championship is a flat course, Schwegler explained, so the Bulldogs are expected to run fast throughout its length. The last time Truman competed on a flat course, Schwegler said he thought some of the runners were holding back, but he said that should not be an issue Oct. 26. Cormier said the men’s team also has a few guys consistently dropping times on their personal records, meaning they are getting faster each race. Bostick said she has a personal goal of finishing the race in the low 23s and hopefully beating the personal record established at the Illinois College Invitational. The men’s and women’s cross country teams compete next in the GLVC Championship Saturday, Oct. 26 in Evansville, Indiana.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Cross country takes Tennis rounds first at Illinois College out fall season RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief

The men’s and women’s cross country teams both took first place at the Illinois College Invitational and are now setting their sights on the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship. The women took first with the lowest possible score of 15 and an average runtime of 23:53 for the 6K, while the men also grabbed the first spot with a score of 21 and an

average runtime of 27:18 for the 8K. Head coach Tim Schwegler said the Invitational went well and the Bulldogs ran hard. Schwegler said some of the other schools held back some of their better runners, possibly because they were tired, which was disappointing. Schwegler said he expected the Bulldogs to take the top spots, but assumed it would be more difficult than it was. Despite breezing past the competition, he said it was

good practice for the runners. Madeline Bostick, who crossed the finish line first for the Bulldogs and the women overall, set a personal record with a runtime of 23:38. “I kind of went out with my group of teammates and then after the first mile I just started pushing the pace and I just kept going,” Bostick said. “I ended up with a PR in the 6K and it was also a PR for my 5K time too, which was really cool.” See RUNNING page 13

RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief The tennis team closed out its fall season after a matchup against Quincy University Tuesday, Oct. 8. Head coach Steve Smith said the team had a good meet against Quincy, with single matches being particularly exceptional. Smith said Morgan Eby, Caprice Huitron and Rachel Shelley all had solid matches against the Hawks, which allowed Huitron to win her first single of

the year. Smith said despite the pressure, Huitron moved well, anticipated well and hit the ball well to earn the win. “She was actually smiling during the [match] — they had to play a super tiebreaker for the set and she was feeling good, she was in the zone and I like to see her play well and enjoy it,” Smith said.

See TENNIS page 12

BULLDOGS PREPARE FOR HOMECOMING CHASE POTTER Staff Writer

Above: Running back Cody Schrader runs the ball in a game against Southwest Baptist University. The Bulldogs won the game 52-7. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

After a long week of celebration and activities, the Truman State University football team will take the field against the Missouri University of Science and Technology for Homecoming’s main event. The Bulldogs enter this weekend’s afternoon game with an overall record of 5-1 after last week’s heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Lindenwood University. With just one minute and 20 seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs were up by 10, on their way to their sixth win and continuing their undefeated sea-

son. With one minute and 16 seconds to go the Lions scored a touchdown, leaving Truman just three points ahead. On the ensuing onside kickoff the Lions recovered the ball and proceeded to drive down the field and score as the clock expired. This loss dropped the Bulldogs to 2-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Despite dropping their first game of the season last week, head coach Gregg Nesbitt and the Bulldogs are treating this weekend’s Homecoming game like business as usual. “Winning or losing does not affect how good teams go about the business of their weekly preparation,” Nesbitt said. “We will simply attempt

to learn, both coaches and players, from last week’s setback.” As the Bulldogs continue to prepare as they do every week, the Bulldogs injured secondary unit will need to improve upon last week’s performance for the team to win its second Homecoming game in a row. Last week the secondary missing starters Lawrence Woods and Wyatt Fishel allowed Lindenwood to pass for 329 yards, the largest total the Bulldogs have allowed all season. Prior to last week, Truman had not allowed more than 260 yards through the air. See HOMECOMING page 11

Right: Running back Jaylen Jefferson avoids a tackle while running the ball. Truman is looking for a win in its Homecoming game against Missouri University of Science and Technology on Saturday. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

Golf nearing its Men’s, women’s soccer steadies final tournament at .500 win percentage ERICA SCHAMEL Staff Writer

The golf team came in third at the Drury University Fall Invitational and eighth at the Lewis Flyer Intercollegiate Tournament. Even though the Bulldogs didn’t place in the top three at Lewis, head coach Clint Fitzpatrick said their goal is to win their last fall tournament at the Park University Fall Classic in Parkville, Missouri. At Drury, the ladies came in third out of six schools. The team’s stroke consistency improved by two on the second day, but unfortunately Fitzpatrick said scores weren’t ideal on either day. On the first day, Truman State University scored a 342, placing them three points behind Columbia College. The team was not able to catch up with Columbia on day two with a score of VOLUME 111

ISSUE 7

340, but it was able to maintain its lead against Quincy University and Southwest Baptist University, finishing with a total score of 682. Fitzpatrick said weather and tougher competition also played a roll at the Drury Lady Panther Event. “At our first tournament, the weather was beautiful and at this one it rained really hard and made for some difficult conditions,” Fitzpatrick said. “Also, there were more conference teams at this event, making for an increase in the skill of the players.” Sophomore Kara Hunt was Truman’s top individual scorer at Drury, tying for 11th place. She finished with an 86 after the first round and concluded with an 83 for the second.

See GOLF page 13 tmn.truman.edu

RYAN PIVONEY Editor-in-Chief

The men’s and women’s soccer teams are maintaining a .500 win percentage as their seasons progress. The men recently lost to Lewis University 0-3, then to the University of IllinoisSpringfield 1-5, but came back to tie against Drury University 0-0 and beat Southwest Baptist University 5-1. Men’s soccer head coach Duke Cochran said it was good to be back home facing Drury and Southwest Baptist after being on the road five of the past six games. Defender Will Clayton said the tie against Drury was good coming off a four-game losing streak. Cochran said he hopes the team’s goal can be more lofty than .500, but that is typically a score that can bring the team to the conference tournament. Cochran said the Great Lakes

Valley Conference is a difficult league, but there’s hope the Bulldogs can pull ahead of that 50% mark. “We’ve had a lot of games

on the road, so to be where we’re sitting right now is good with the teams we play,” Cochran said. See SOCCER page 11

Defender Zach Vahlkamp protects the ball against a player from Bellarmine University. The Bulldogs recently ended a fourgame losing streak with a tie against Drury University and a win against Southwest Baptist University. Photo by Kara Mackenzie

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