Truman State University tmn.truman.edu
Happy Halloween Truman! Truman mourns loss of senior student THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 tmn.truman.edu
@TrumanMediaNet
TrumanMediaNetwork
BRENTLY SNEAD Editor-in-Chief
Abigail Fones, a Truman State University student, died Sunday, Oct. 21. Fones was a senior communication disorders major. Janna Stoskopf, vice president for student affairs, sent out a campus-wide email Monday afternoon to share the news and remind students there are services available to those who might need them. “The death of a peer is always difficult,” Stoskopf wrote in the email. “It may be helpful for you to talk about your thoughts and feelings in reaction to this situation with members of our close and caring campus community. There are faculty and staff who would be willing to talk with you and to share their perspectives on positive ways to cope with grief and uncertainty.” Stoskopf ’s email also provided contact information for various resources around campus and reminded students to take care of themselves during this time.
Director of Public Safety Sara Holzmeier shared a statement with The Index on behalf of DPS encouraging students to not be afraid to ask for help. “The Truman Department of Public Safety would like to express our deepest sympathies to Abbie’s family and friends,” Holzmeier wrote in her statement to The Index. “I know that the students at Truman are here to get an education and to learn, and we are here to make sure they do that in the safest environment possible. I hope that if they only learn one thing while here, it is to ask for help when they need it. We have multiple resources on campus and in the community to assist them with anything they might need. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.” Kirksville Police Department detective Justin Jones said while the investigation is ongoing, there is no foul play suspected at this time. The Index reached out to University President Sue Thomas for an official statement, but she declined.
Campus Resources for Counseling & Mental Health University Counseling Services McKinney Center, behind Kirk Memorial (660) 785-4014 ucs.truman.edu After-hours crisis line: (660) 665-5621 Janna Stoskopf Vice President for Student Affairs Student Union Building 1110 First Floor in the CSI Complexx (660) 785-4111
UNIVERSITY PLANS TO HIRE IN UCS
Truman State University is looking to make three new hires at the University Counseling Services. The part-time hires are paid for by the student health fee, which increased as a result of a student vote last semester. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt
Truman plans to hire three new staff members to help address mental health DANA BARTCH Digital Director
Truman State University has plans to hire a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and an equine therapist as additional mental health resources for students. Brenda Higgins, director of the Student Health Center and Counseling Services, said the health center currently has a part-time physician and two full-time nurse practitioners that provide primary care services for psychiatric disorders and conditions, along with seven counselors at the counseling center. The University is looking for ways it can better serve students and their needs based on the results of the JED Foundation survey.
“Our goal is to provide as much on-campus service for students as we can and to collaborate with the JED Foundation committee in looking at what students identified as their needs and to provide that for them as much as possible with the constraints that we have,” Higgins said. The University is hiring a psychiatric nurse practitioner who will be available in the McKinney Center for half of a day every week, or more if the need is shown by students, Higgins said. Equine therapy will be offered to students hopefully starting shortly after midterm break, Higgins said. Beth Miller, an equine therapist and former Truman counselor, has agreed to return to campus on a contract basis to lead this therapy opportunity for students.
“Equine therapy is a form of therapy using horses,” Miller said. “We have a group of six to eight students, and we go out to the farm with horses, and we ask the students to do certain activities, and they are able to build metaphors that transfer to their own life and come to some solutions. Equine therapy is a solution-focused therapy where you’re engaged in action and can help come up with solutions to the reasons that they’re coming to counseling in the first place.” Miller said students can request to participate in the equine therapy group, but most students will need a referral from counselors. In addition to the psychiatric nurse practitioner and equine therapist, the University plans to hire a psychologist that will be shared with
A.T. Still University on a 50-50 basis. Janna Stoskopf, vice president for student affairs, said University President Sue Thomas and ATSU University President Craig M. Phelps came up with the idea of a partnership between the universities because neither campus has the individual resources to hire a full-time psychologist with a doctorate. “We have come to the notion that if we can bring a person into Kirksville, specifically to the Truman campus, and make that service available to both Truman students as well as ATSU students, we should share the cost of that,” Stoskopf said. See COUNSELING page 3
Sig Ep to host Fall Festival in honor of Roger Festa JESSICA VENVERTLOH Staff Writer Truman State University’s Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter is hosting a fall philanthropy festival Oct. 27 at the Sig Ep chapter house in honor of the late Roger Festa, a Truman chemistry professor who died of oral cancer last May. The festival will have a variety of team games, booths, concessions and a silent auction for services Sig Ep will provide. Senior Isaac Julius, Sig Ep member and part of the event planning committee, said games for registered teams will include cornhole, tug-of-war and three-legged race. Booths will be selling sweatshirts and fall-themed food like hot chocolate and crepes. Julius said 80 percent of the proceeds raised from this
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 7 © 2018
event will go to the Oral Cancer Foundation. The other 20 percent will go to a charity chosen by the winning team, which will also receive a plaque to be displayed in the Sig Ep house. Julius said the fraternity hopes to host this event every fall for their philanthropy to pay homage to Festa and his legacy. Festa was the faculty adviser for Truman’s Sig Ep chapter for almost 30 years and Julius said he was the glue that held the chapter together. “He’s pretty much embodied everything that Sig Ep has been,” Julius said. “He’s done so much for this chapter. Any time anybody needed any sort of thing, if it was like a financial situation they were put in, or if they just needed help with talking something through, or legitimately everything, Roger was always there to help us.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon is hosting a Fall Festival in honor of Roger Festa, their former adviser. Festa died in May from oral cancer. Submitted photo
The Index
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
City chamber hosts candidate forum before elections RYAN PIVONEY News Editor The Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum last week, giving local and state candidates a chance to share their views and discuss topics important to voters less than a month before voters go to the polls Nov. 6. The forum gave candidates in the races for circuit clerk, Adair County presiding commissioner, associate 2nd Circuit judge, state representative for the 3rd District and state senator for the 18th District an opportunity to answer questions about experience, expertise, priorities and their plans for the future. Running for circuit clerk are Republican Angie Sullivan and 28-year incumbent Democrat Linda Decker. Both candidates answered questions about their experience and why voters should choose them on the November ballot. “I filed for re-election as I have the proven knowledge, skills and experience of service in my 28 years as the circuit clerk,” Decker said. “I have provided Adair County and anyone and everyone needing access to our court system with honest and ethical service.” Sullivan said she has an attention to detail and a can-do attitude. She said she is a quick learner and has experience in the court system. Sullivan said her involvement in the community and church also add to her understanding
Democrat Crystal Stephens addresses the audience at the candidate forum. Stephens is running for the state senate seat in the 18th District against Republican Cindy O’Laughlin. Photos by Nicolas Telep
and ability to succeed in the position. Republican Mark Shahan and Democrat Rick Steele are running for Adair County presiding commissioner. The two candidates answered questions about their plans for the county budget and what challenges they would like to address if elected. Steele, who currently serves on Kirksville city council, said he thinks the budget is one of the county’s biggest challenges that he would like to address. He said he would like to increase the budget with grants and improve the county’s infrastructure. Shahan also spoke about the county budget and his plans for improvement. He said he would look at how the county budget is spent and how to get more grants to improve the roads and bridges in Adair County. Independent Ben Gray and Democrat Kristie Swaim are running for associate 2nd Circuit judge. The candidates were asked about their sentencing philosophy and how they could ensure smooth and fair processing in court. Gray is not a judge, but he has been practicing law for 15 years throughout the state. He said he thinks he could implement a smoother process to get people through quicker and would impose fair and reasonable sentences. Swaim has been serving as the associate circuit judge for the past 15 years. “I want to be re-elected because I’m a steady judicial leader who cares deeply about the office, my pledge to support our constitutions and my promise to be faithful and impartial,” Swaim said. “I already know how hard this job is and how to get it done.” She said she already understands how long days in court are and always works to ensure a smooth process. Swaim said she believes sentencing is bound by state law and anything else is judicial activism. Running for state representative in the 3rd District are Democrat Joni Perry and Republican Danny Busick. Republican Nate Walker currently holds the seat but will not be seeking re-election. The two candidates were asked about priorities for Kirksville and Adair County, Amendment 1, the state of K-12 education and health care.
Democrat Joni Perry is running for state representative in the 3rd District against Republican Danny Busick. Republican Nate Walker, who currently holds the seat, will not be seeking re-election. Busick addressed the issues of eco- munication and connection accessibility nomic development, declining popu- to allow for growth. Stephens said she lation and the need for a larger water supports significant change to campaign supply in the area. He said he opposes finance laws to restrict dark money from Amendment 1 and thinks public K-12 coming into Missouri politics, and she education should be fully funded by the fully supports Amendment 1. She said state and handled by local school boards. she does not support Proposition D beHe also said insurance companies should cause she said it needs to be modified to cover pre-existing conditions, but he does be less broad. She thinks higher educanot think a government solution can tion funding is a high priority because it is an investment in the future. solve high health care costs. Perry said she would like to see im- O’Laughlin said funding the Greenprovements to infrastructure, area rev- wood Autism Clinic is one of her priorienue, and funding for higher and K-12 ties if elected, as is broadband access, education. She said she is open to hear- entitlement reform and education reing citizen input and perspectives to bet- form. She said she thinks the solution ter represent the constituency. She said to campaign finance reform is electing she thinks Amendment 1 is a step in the ethical people instead of government right direction for campaign finance re- intervention. She said she supports inform and education has not been fully frastructure funding but does not supfunded as it should be. She also said port Proposition D because Northeast health care is an issue she would like to Missouri does not see enough return address by participating in the Medicaid from the taxes taken out. O’Laughlin expansion program, which is already said she thinks higher education fundpaid for by Missouri voters, and listen- ing is important, but higher education ing to people in the area, other state leg- institutions and universities should look at how they are spending money islators and experts in the field. Republican Cindy O’Laughlin and to reduce costs while still providing Democrat Crystal Stephens are running quality education for Missouri students. for the state senate seat in the 18th Dis- She recognized Truman State Univertrict. The candidates answered questions sity and A.T. Still University for their about priorities specific to Kirksville and spending models and ability to provide Adair County, current campaign finance recognized fine education. laws, Proposition D and higher educa- Midterms elections are Nov. 6. Absentee voting through mail or in person tion funding. Stephens said she would like to see is available at the county clerk’s office improvements to the local infrastruc- for voters who will be unavailable on ture, more trade schools, and more com- Election Day.
CORRECTION: The article titled “Politics in Person brings officials and candidates to campus,” appearing on page 2 in the Oct. 11 edition of The Index, incorrectly states, “[Joni Perry] invited the College Republicans to participate in the event, but they turned down the offer.” While Perry did contact the College Republicans about a voter registration drive as part of Politics in Person, they did not feel they had enough details about the event. CORRECTION: An ad appearing on page 11 of the Oct. 11 edition of The Index promoting Kristie Swaim, associate 2nd Circuit judge candidate, incorrectly omitted “Paid for by Committee to Elect Swaim Judge, Dick Gooch, Treasurer.” CORRECTION: The article titled “Women’s tennis struggles through season,” appearing on page 13 in the Oct. 11 edition of The Index, misspelled senior Maura Dunn’s first name.
staff Serving the University community since 1909 Editor-in-Chief: Brently Snead Managing Editor: Nicolas Telep Digital Director: Dana Bartch News Editor: Ryan Pivoney Opinions, Features Editor: Morgan Gervais Sports Editor: Curt Wichmer Copy Chief: Allyson Lotz Design Chief: Emmett Divendal Photo Editor: Daniel Degenhardt Distribution Managers: Dustin Snead, Tyler Hanson Cartoonists: Annie Kintree Designers: Georgia Gregory Photographers: Kara Mackenzie, Mary Van Winkle Copy Editors: Elise Hughes, Cara Quinn, Jenna Faulkner, Jessica Robinson, Emma Gottfried, Katie Puryear, Lindell Sconce Staff Writers: Travis Maiden, Gordon McPherson, Lexi Mueller, Aura Martin, Elisabeth Shirk, Rachel Becker, Jessica Venvertloh, Cassidy Krewson, Elissa May, Allison Maschhoff, Isabelle Cenatiempo, Brea Schorn, Adam Moran, JD Hurd Adviser: Don Krause
Crime Reports DPS & KPD
10/12 Ambulance emergency reported at Ophelia Parrish
10/18 Property damage reported at the 400 block of North Main St.
10/14 Stolen electronics re- 10/19 Physical domestic disported at Dobson Hall turbance reported at the 500 block of North High St. 10/15 Burglary reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Dr.
10/19 Physical domestic disturbance reported at the 1700 block of North Centennial Ave.
10/15 Forgery reported at 10/20 Fight reported at the 300 the 600 block of South Bal- block of West McPherson St. timore St. 10/16 Sex offense report- 10/20 Physical domestic dised at the 100 block of East turbance reported at the 1200 McPherson St. block of North Elson St. 10/16 Sex offense reported at 10/20 Property damage rethe 1900 block of North Oste- ported at the 700 block of opathy St. North Franklin St. 10/17 Fraud reported at the 100 block of Valley Forge Dr.
10/21 Property damage reported at the 400 block of North Davis St.
10/17 Stolen consumables re- 10/21 Ambulance emergency ported at Ryle Hall reported at West Campus Suites 10/18 Physical domestic 10/22 Shoplifter reported at disturbance reported at the the 500 block of North Balti21000 block of Crest Trl. more St. 10/18 Property damage re- 10/22 Dead body reported at ported at the 500 block of the 700 block of South BradWest Mary St. ford St.
The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
Truman looking to remove safety poles CASSIDY KREWSON Staff Writer
The Department of Public Safety is considering the gradual removal of safety poles around campus as a result of low usage and the cost to maintain them. The safety poles cost Truman State University $5,000 to $6,000 each year depending on the need for repairs. In the past five years, one actual report came from the safety poles; others were false alarms or pranks. “I know that they’re a visual cue of security for people; however, they’re very rarely used,” Director of Public Safety Sara Holzmeier said. Low usage could be because of Truman’s small town location. Unlike other universities, Truman is not located near a major interstate, and Kirksville residents have a purpose for where they live, meaning they are occupied with professional or family commitments to the area, Admission Director Melody Chambers said.
The safety poles are outdated, as technology has become mobile and they are costly to maintain. DPS does emergency phone tests twice per month to ensure everything is working correctly. When they find an impaired safety pole, repair is costly. Given the high repair costs and rare usage, DPS is considering a plan to remove the safety poles. As they malfunction and the repairs outweigh usage, they would be taken offline and eventually removed, Holzmeier said. DPS is looking to upgrade and utilize modern technology. The money currently used to maintain safety poles might go toward a campus safety app. Because almost everyone carries a cellphone, the app would be more accessible. “The problem is if you’re going to use the emergency poles, you’re going to have to stop running or walking, push the phone and stay right there,” Holzmeier said. “Whereas if you have a safety app, you could dial 911 from the app or push a panic button. You could
keep moving, you could keep going.” Because many cell phones are GPSenabled, DPS would be able to track a person’s location. Even if that person is not able to talk, DPS would receive the location where the panic button was pressed. To spread awareness of the app, DPS would post advertisements for the app in previous safety pole locations as well as high traffic locations like Pickler Memorial Library. DPS could make videos on how to use the app and its services, which would be available through the department’s website, Holzmeier said. During Truman Days, DPS is given 45 minutes to speak to incoming freshmen about safety, campus rules and active shooter training. If the app is developed, they would organize a talk about the campus safety app. To inform prospective students and families about safety on campus, admissions works with DPS. Student ambassadors are required to meet with Holzmeier to learn about
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safety statistics and what resources are available to Truman students. When giving tours to prospective students, ambassadors are currently trained to discuss their own experience with safety on campus, the lack of frequency with safety poles, and resources such as escorts and DPS, Chambers said. At freshman orientation, parents attend a safety session where they learn about available resources, general safety and the emergency text alert system. If the safety poles are gradually removed, student ambassadors would attend a training session or receive an email or newsletter on the new safety app from an adviser. To ensure prospective students and families are aware of new safety procedures, ambassadors would discuss the changes during tours. “I’ve always thought that safety poles are kind of a mixed thing,” Chambers said. “The fact that they’re there probably causes families to think more about if this is a place where people have to be concerned for their safety.”
LETTER TO THE EDITOR| Laws should not COUNSELING| UCS is expected to gain be created by and for fragments of society a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse
I was dismayed to see the anti-abortion rights demonstrators lined up on Baltimore St this Sunday afternoon (Oct 7). I felt I should be on the street demonstrating against them. I am writing this letter instead. Yet I harbor them no ill will. I am sure they earnestly believe, as their posters proclaim, that abortion is a sin. If you, too, believe that abortion is a sin, perhaps nothing I can say will persuade you otherwise. That safe, legal abortion saves women’s lives; that outlawing abortion does not significantly reduce its incidence; that lack of adequate access to full reproductive healthcare prevents the achievement of gender equality—perhaps
none of these things count for much with you against the weight of that sin. But should the religious beliefs of a fragment of the population become the basis for the law of the land? Separation of church and state, which means not imposing the religious beliefs of some citizens on all, remains deeply enshrined in our norms, as well as our constitution. Thus, people with the biological equipment to bear children ought not to be told by anybody’s church or by the government when or whether to do so. The freedom and privacy of us all are at stake. SUBMITTED BY: Linda Seidel, Professor Emerita of English
practitioner, and an equine therapist
Continued from page 1 Stoskopf said the universities are currently working on finalizing the job description for the position alongside a system to ensure the hours the psychologist works are tracked and paid for by the appropriate institutions. The universities are looking at hiring the psychologist primarily through Truman and contracting them out to ATSU, Stoskopf said. The position will be advertised soon. The resources the University planned to use to help cover the cost of the psychologist and the nurse
practitioner were intended to come from the increase in the student health fee, but because of the decrease in enrollment this year, Stoskopf said funds are lower. “The reason it’s important for me to move forward on this, even though resources are lower than we anticipated, is because that’s what we told the students that is what we were going to do,” Stoskopf said. “That if they passed this increase, this is how we were going to use it, and I need to see true to my word.”
Highway Patrol hosts Community Alliance Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers from Troop B instruct Community Alliance participants firing Highway Patrol service Glocks. The Index managing editor Nicolas Telep is participating in and documenting the Community Alliance program at Troop B headquarters in Macon. Photos by Nicolas Telep
Trooper Jessie Halley and Corporal TJ Adams guide participants through a mock traffic stop. All troops of the Highway Patrol host Community Alliance programs periodically, but Troop B is the only troop to host annual programs.
calendar SAB PRESENTS: KENAN THOMPSON OCT. 25 7 TO 8:30 P.M. BALDWIN AUDITORIUM
STUPID F*CKING BIRD OCT. 25-27 8 TO 10 P.M. BLACK BOX THEATER
TRUNK OR TREAT OCT. 28 3:30 TO 6 P.M. PATTERSON EVENT PARKING LOT
The Student Activities Board has invited Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson to perform on campus with Luke Null. Thompson is the longest tenured cast member at SNL and is known for his numerous impersonations. Free tickets are available to students with a student ID and can be picked up until 3:30 p.m. today, while supplies last.
Truman State University’s Theatre Department will begin their 2018-19 Lab Show season with “Stupid F*cking Bird,” a play written by Aaron Posner and directed by senior Greg Ayers. The play is a contemporary adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” Tickets are free and can be picked up at the Box Office in Ophelia Parrish this week.
The National Education Association is hosting its second annual Trunk or Treat. The free event is open to the public and will consist of trick-or-treating, games, crafts, pumpkin decorating and a costume contest.
SLEEP HEALTH PRESENTATION OCT. 29 6:30 P.M. PERSHING BUILDING 3102
UNIVERSITY PRESS BOOK SALE OCT. 30 TO NOV. 1 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. STUDENT UNION BUILDING MAIN FLOOR
GLOBAL ISSUES COLLOQUIUM OCT. 30 7 TO 9 P.M. SUB GEORGIAN ROOM A
The first event of Sleep Awareness Week 2018 is a presentation about sleep and its impact on health. Brenda Higgins, director of the Student Health Center and Counseling Services, will give the presentation.
Truman State University Press is hosting a three-day book sale. Students are welcome to stop by the collection and look for their favorites to purchase.
Fermina Zarate Dominguez, a Mixteca farmer from Oaxaca, Mexico, will be giving a presentation about conservation efforts and the farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing model. Dominguez is part of the technical team of Center for Integrated Small Farmer Development, a community-run project emphasizing reforestation efforts, native seed use, promotion of local markets, local food consumption and sustainable farming practices.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
Why I’m not voting NICOLAS TELEP Managing Editor I don’t know where life is going to take me in a year. If all goes according to plan, I will graduate from Truman State University on May 11, 2019. After that, I’ll be headed wherever the job market takes me. I’ve looked at entry-level jobs as close as St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, and as far away as Texas and Washington, D.C. I wouldn’t say I’m desperate to leave the state or the region, but if that’s where life takes me, that’s where I’m going. Why does all this matter for the Nov. 6 election? Because if I vote for John Candidate to serve a four-year term in office and he wins and takes office in January, there’s a very strong possibility I will only be his constituent for four months of that 48 month term. That doesn’t seem fair to the voters of Kirksville, Adair County or the state of Missouri. I also don’t feel comfortable voting on constitutional amendments or referenda because those policies will affect the state for years and decades to come, and I might not be here to experience anything but the very beginning of that. This isn’t to say nobody should vote, and I’m not trying to discourage you from voting. I certainly have a right to vote, and so do people in my exact same situation. I’m just choosing not to exercise that right. My situation is special. Plenty of students at Truman will not graduate for three or four more years, are staying for graduate degrees or will decide to live in the community after their time at Truman is over. I would encourage anyone in those situations to vote. I think qualified people who permanently live in Kirksville should vote. These decisions affect you and the people you live with. There are many people doing great work trying to register and inform as many voters as possible, and that shouldn’t stop. My decision came after considering the political situation of my adopted hometown of Kansas City,
Missouri. I lived there for four years during high school and two summers during college. I regularly visit my parents, sister and friends who still live there. Next summer, there will be an extremely consequential mayoral election in Kansas City. The city has changed drastically in the seven years since I moved there, and the next mayor will play a hugely important role in the future of a growing and evolving city. Over half a dozen candidates, each with their own vision for the future, have thrown their hats into the ring. When reading, writing and thinking about this election, one idea that stuck with me is Kansas Citians should determine their own future, free from outside interference. If a person like me, who doesn’t know where they will live in nine months, were to vote in this consequential election for the city I love so much, I would find that problematic and disrespectful. I don’t want to be that person for the Kirksville community. That said, just because I’m not voting doesn’t mean I don’t care what happens in Kirksville or Missouri. I’m doing my part as a journalist in this election cycle. This week, news editor Ryan Pivoney and I collaborated to cover a forum for candidates in local and state elections. In the days and weeks to come, I’ll be part of the team working on election coverage for the Truman Media Network, doing my best to make sure members of this community can choose the candidates they think will best represent them for years to come. Again, I believe voting is very important, and I will be working with TMN to make sure you have the opportunity to make the decision that’s right for you. People should be free to make the right choices for themselves and their communities, especially in small towns like Kirksville. I will most likely not be part of this community much longer, so I will step aside and let those who have more at stake make those decisions.
Student death leads EIC to question University again BY BRENTLY SNEAD
Editor-in-Chief
Monday afternoon, we received the dreaded email that no student wants to open — the news that a fellow student had passed away. My heart breaks not only for her friends and family, but also for this University. Whether a close friend or someone who never met Abbie, all of Truman State University is affected by this event. Eight months ago, after the loss of a Truman student, I wrote a column confessing my concerns for this University. While I would love to say things are better, that things are looking up, the fact is they aren’t. Eight months ago, I commended our then new vice president for student
affairs for reaching out immediately to the student body. However, I then went on to say that I expect more out of a university that struggles to address such an issue. Eight months later, I have a similar stance. I know there are things that the University is putting into place such as additional services through University Counseling Services. I know plans are in the works. I just wish those plans had come sooner. I wish we would have acted sooner. I wish our University would address the issue at hand. I wish our University communicated more and that we did more than send out a single email to the campus. I want so badly for our community to come together and improve things.
Stu Gov
Buzz
You’re InviTED: TEDxTrumanStateUniversity
Truman State University’s first TEDx conference, TEDxTrumanStateUniversity, is just two weeks away, and we couldn’t be more excited. TED is an internationally acclaimed, non-profit organization that hosts conferences around the world. Their conferences feature a variety of speakers who give short, powerful talks about their unique ideas and perspectives. The TED organization grants individual licenses to schools, cities, and community organizations to host their own TED-like conferences — known as TEDx — and this is what we’re bringing to Truman. Our conference has been organized entirely by students, who have been hard at work since last March to make this event a reality. Our primary goal for the conference is to showcase the brilliant ideas present on our campus. As a student or faculty member, it’s easy to find oneWith the recent announcement of plans to hire a part-time psychologist, psychiat- self caught up in the events surroundric nurse practitioner and equine therapist, Truman State University is undoubtedly ing your particular major or discipline. taking steps to address the mental health of students, staff and faculty on campus. There is so much incredible work Additionally, Truman has enlisted the help of JED Campus to better understand the being done in every area of study at problem of the “typical Truman student” and how to change the negative mental Truman, and we hope that our conferhealth culture currently associated with the University. While the effort to address the ence will offer the audience a unique problem is commendable, it raises numerous questions about effective, responsible opportunity to hear ideas across a wide variety of disciplines. and timely solutions. To ensure that the conference would We, The Index Editorial Board, still have a lot of questions about how Truman is looking to answer the calls for action on mental health. It is not entirely clear how be truly representative of the univeror why some decisions are made. These questions are particularly relevant as we sity, our speaker applications were ask why the psychiatric nurse practitioner and psychologist will not be full-time staff only open to Truman students, faculty, members, why an equine therapist was chosen as one of the new hires, and how these and alumni. Despite this limited pool new positions will effectively provide the action needed to address the mental health of applicants, we were absolutely crisis on campus. We also expect the University to promote these additions in a sub- overwhelmed with the response. We stantial and thoughtful way throughout campus. The stated reason for the part-time received over fifty applications submitpositions is a lack for resources, but was that not the reason for increasing the student ted from nearly every discipline on health fee last semester? Students and stakeholders should be asking what the best campus, all of which could’ve been course of action is for addressing mental health, and it is the responsibility of the Uni- amazing TEDx talks. Narrowing down versity to disclose information about future plans, how and why decisions are made, the field to just twelve speakers was an extraordinarily difficult process. If and how it is supposed to improve the Truman community. EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public EDITORIAL POLICY: forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff e editor-in-chief consults the staffKirksville, and adviserMO but 63501. ultimately is The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by. Th students at Truman Statewith University, responsible for all decisions. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designatedofpublic forum, and content The Indexrepresentative is the responsibility of TheofIndex staff. Thenewspaper. editor-in-chief consults withrepresent the Opinions The Index columnists are notofnecessarily of the opinions the staff or the Our View editorials staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions. the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. 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LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon LETTER POLICY: theThe Sunday before publication andtobecome property ThUniversity e Index upon submission. submitted, the letter is subject editing fornoon grammar Index welcomes letters the editor fromofthe and KirksvilleOnce community. Letters to the editorto are due by and spelling errors. the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to Submissions containpunctuation a well-developed anderrors. cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or ediediting formust grammar, and theme spelling Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500attacks, words,libelous except attacks at the discretion of information the opinions tor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. 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Counseling services hire raises questions
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you’d like a sneak peek of our speakers, check out our Facebook @TEDxTrumanStateUniversity! The conference will be held in the Georgian Rooms in the SUB on Sunday, November 4, and will consist of two sessions, each featuring six speakers. Light refreshments will be provided, and there will also be interactive activities based upon the subjects discussed in the talks. The first session will run from 1:00-3:00, and the second session will run from 3:30-5:30. Tickets will be available for all students, faculty, and staff during the week of October 29-November 2. You can pick up your free ticket from the Student Government office in SUB 1107, located on the lower level of the SUB in the CSI complex. Our office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every day, with additional hours from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 1. Per TEDx rules and regulations, we can only have 100 guests in each session of the conference. We strongly encourage you to pick up a ticket early in the week, to ensure that you are able to attend. Because of the limited availability of tickets, guests will be asked to select a ticket for just one session, and may be placed on a waitlist for their least preferred session if they would like to attend both. If you miss out on a ticket, no worries — we will also be offering a livestream of the conference in the Baldwin Little Theater! You can drop in anytime between 1:00 and 5:30, and no ticket is required for entry. Thanks for your support, and we can’t wait to see you on the 4th! SUBMITTED BY: Katie Alexander
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The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
5
TSU hires SEM Works to address falling enrollment JESSICA VENVERTLOH AND ADAM MORAN Staff Writers
Truman State University has seen a decrease in enrollment of full-time students. Last week, SEM Works, an enrollment management consulting firm, visited the campus to assess the University after being contracted to assist the University with the declining enrollment. SEM Works visited Truman and evaluated how the University handles different procedures like admissions, financial aid, and student recruitment and retention. Jim Black, president and CEO of SEM Works, said the process is currently in the discovery phase. SEM Works also evaluated what programs make Truman stand out to prospective students. The current number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the University for the fall 2018 semester is 5,980. At
the Faculty Senate meeting, University President Sue Thomas said that is a decrease of about 250 new students and about 400 full-time enrolled students overall. She also said the retention rate, the University’s number of students that enroll for additional semesters, has been gradually decreasing over the years. To reverse this downward trend, the University contracted SEM Works. The firm was selected based on their prior work with similar schools. Black said the goal is to create an enrollment plan unique to Truman that supports the University’s mission and resources. He said SEM Works’ job is to address client needs and wants. “They have lots of experience with universities like ours,” Thomas said. “They understand liberal arts institutions. They understand institutions in rural areas. They were by far the unanimous choice; they were heads and tails above everybody else.”
Full-Time Enrollment Full-time students Full-time student enrollment has fallen 6%
2017
6,364
2018
5,980
The projected enrollment increase is currently undetermined, but the goal is to get Truman’s enrollment increasing. Thomas said results will be noticeable by fall 2020. Regina Morin, vice president for enrollment management, said SEM Works will help the University overcome enrollment challenges such as appealing to a new generation of students, a declining number of high school graduates in the Midwest and Truman’s rural location. Morin said a few challenges have led to the poor enrollment. With the number of high school graduates declining, this is a struggle many universities across the state are facing. Truman is listed as the only highly selective public institution in the state, which is another factor to consider when looking at enrollment numbers. Morin said the students Truman accepts can succeed anywhere, so it is very competitive. She assures, however, that Truman will not lower its standard of students the University accepts. “The name [SEM Works] tells a story: Strategic Enrollment Management,” said Dave Rector, vice president of administration, finance and planning. “Our freshman class is smaller this fall, and we saw that coming late last spring by the number of applications coming in, so we felt like we needed a consultant to take a look at what we were doing.” The approximate cost of hiring SEM
Works is $154,000. “We did a bid, or a request for proposal process,” Rector said. “[SEM Works] just jumped out based on their experience. It wasn’t really so much price that you’re looking for there as experience and results. They just felt like a good fit based on the kind of campuses they’ve worked with.” Hiring SEM Works will not result in an increase in tuition for students. Rector said it will be a one-time expense, and money has already been set aside in the budget.
The total enrollment at Truman State University has dropped by nearly 400 students. The University has hired SEM Works to address the problem. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt
news in brief LIBRARY PATIO GIVEN A NAME
SENATOR CLAIRE MCCASKILL CAMPAIGNS IN KIRKSVILLE
THE SUB OPENS RESERVATION REQUESTS
ATSU WINS THE FITNESS CHALLENGE AWARD
Longtime Truman employee Roger Johnson cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony for the library patio, which is now named the Roger J. Johnson Patio. As part of Homecoming, the dedication ceremony of the patio and its new name occurred Oct. 13. The space now features a bulldog statue and a plaque with its dedication.
Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill visited her Kirksville campaign office Monday, Oct. 22. McCaskill is seeking re-election to the United States Senate against Republican Josh Hawley. She gave a speech to a crowd of supporters in which she talked about her views on health care and campaign finance reform, as well as encouraged supporters to canvass, make phone calls and write postcards to motivate other people to vote.
The Student Union Building began accepting room reservations for the spring semester. The Student Union Reservation office will only accept paper requests until noon Oct. 26. Reservation packets are available in student organization mailboxes and online. Confirmations will be mailed to campus offices and student organization mailboxes. Submissions received after the deadline are processed on a first-come first-serve basis.
A.T. Still University won the Fitness Challenge against Truman State University. The results of the competition were announced at the Truman and A.T. Still Bonfire Oct. 4. University President Sue Thomas will now have to display a photo of Bucky, the ATSU mascot, in her office until the results of next year’s competition are announced. Individual fitness challenge winners for each university were also announced.
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The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
Truman celebrates 2018 Homecoming
Above: Members of the Truman State University Statesmen Color Guard and Marching Band march in the Homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 13. The parade route ran down Franklin Street from The Square to the south end of Truman’s campus. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt Right: Truman cheerleaders perform in the Patterson Street parking lot at the end of the parade route. Both campus and community organizations participate in the parade each year. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt Below: Members of Sigma Alpha draw on sidewalks in chalk to promote the organization’s Homecoming events. Homecoming events go on throughout the week and culminate in the parade and football game Saturday. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt
Right: The tailgate party before the Homecoming game was held in the Patterson parking lot. Homecoming king and queen were announced and crowned at the tailgate party. Photo by Daniel Degenhardt Below: Members of the Second City’s Improv All-Stars perform in Baldwin Auditorium as part of the Homecoming festivities. The troupe came from Chicago to perform in Kirksville. Photo by Mary Van Winkle
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
life
BOO
7
truman, kirksville community celebrate halloween BY ELISABETH SHIRK
Staff Writer
It’s the middle of October, campus is ablaze with autumn’s auburn leaves, and the howling wind sends shivers right through you, igniting your desire to sip a warm beverage while you watch “Halloweentown” for the hundredth time. It can be difficult to satisfy the craving for some fall festivities, especially when classes and responsibilities are weighing heavy on your mind. Thankfully, many at Truman State University understand this circumstance, and some have set out to help. Sigma Alpha, Truman’s agricultural sorority, proudly organize their haunted corn maze each year. Junior Jessica Filla is a co-chair of the committee that organizes the entire event. Filla said the committee first talks to University Farm manager Bill Kuntz, who plants the corn. During the summer, Sigma Alpha members hand-pull the corn to create the maze. They then order event shirts and begin advertising. “Then all the girls will pick a character according to the theme, and they will dress up or figure out an outfit to wear for the maze,” Filla said. This year’s theme is “The Trail of Fearful Tales,” which means the scenes will be based on traditional fairy tales, but the characters will be darker, gorier and scarier. The maze will feature classic fairy tales like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Little Red Riding Hood. Filla said the corn maze will be open 7-10 p.m. today and 8 p.m. to
midnight Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27. Sunday, Oct. 28 will be for kids in the community and free for everyone. All other days, the cost is $3 with a student ID and $5 without. “For the kids’ day, we aren’t dressed in our costumes,” Filla said. “We wear either our corn maze T-shirts or, if someone is a scary bunny, they’ll be a fun bunny that day.” There will also be face painting, games and candy for the kids, Filla added. Filla recognizes that it is a stressful time of year for Sigma Alpha members, too, but members get together afterwards and tell stories about their experiences and how they scared people. “Once you get out there, it’s a really fun time,” Filla said. Another fall tradition at Truman is Missouri Hall Director Zac Burden’s Night Tour, which happened at 8 p.m. Monday, and I had the chance to participate. Since 2001 when he was a student adviser, Burden has been leading chilly evening tours around campus, telling the history of the University to students and other interested people. Burden said he has been interested in the University’s history for a long time, and his interest created the idea for the tours. “The whole point is to take people on a walking tour of the campus and share some of the more interesting stories from our past, examine some of the quirky or funny stories of our history, and focus in on having people have a sense of pride in our tradition that we have here, understanding the rich heritage that makes up who we are,” Burden said. October is a good time for the tours because when it is chilly, people can huddle together, sip on hot cider or cocoa, and enjoy the stories in that atmosphere. Doing the tours at night, Burden also explained, works more with students’ availability and also adds a bit of intrigue and mystery. That is exactly the experience I had on Monday when, with a mass of more than 30 people, we all huddled together to hear Zac speak. The tour is not scary and is not meant to be. Burden said he will typically tell one ghost story, because a lot of people want to hear one, but
that is not his favorite part. My favorite part was a story, one of Zac’s favorites, about how Truman and the Kirksville community rose together out of the ashes of great tragedy. “There’s a story that I end with that talks about the aftermath of the big fire in 1924, and it, to me, very effectively shows how [Truman and Kirksville’s] history is interwoven, how our success is dependent upon one another, and how time and time again we have seen that realized,” Burden said. “I just love sharing that story.” Burden said he thinks his storytelling gets better each year, not only in dramatic style, but in historical value and how he is able to piece together the stories. Burden understands that storytelling can become construed over time, and he said he wants to make sure the stories he tells keep moving closer to the truth. “So many of these stories are things that are fleeting, and I hope that if I can learn some of these stories and share them with others, maybe they won’t be so fleeting,” Burden said. “That’s what a storytelling tradition is.” I laughed a lot on that tour, and my hot cider was especially delicious, but I will continue to hold onto those moments when I stood in awe of the spirit and vision that Truman students, faculty and staff had in past years leading us to where we are today. I feel a new sense of purpose in what I do here at Truman to make a lasting impact on its future. Many students are familiar with the Student Activities Board’s annual pumpkin carving event. A committee of SAB members planned and hosted the event Oct. 16. This year the event was called “Harvest Fest,” and the committee did things differently from previous years, SAB president senior Megan Neveau said. “In the past, it’s just been
called ‘Pumpkin Carving,’ but this year they wanted to add a new unique element to it, so they brought in some fire pits onto The Quad,” Neveau said. The fire pits helped keep people warm and provided a way to make s’mores, which have not been offered in previous years. Neveau said the committee has been working for months to plan the event. She said the coordinating responsibilities are usually given to a new member. “It’s an annual event, so there’s a lot of information built up about it, suggestions and advice on how to do things,” Neveau explained. Neveau said the goal of any SAB event is to get people to have fun in Kirksville and maybe forget, at least for a little while, about school or problems they are having. One of the most interesting parts of this event is when many international students attend, Neveau said. “A lot of the international students have never carved pumpkins, so we usually get a big group of them that come by and get to do that for the first time,” Neveau said. If you missed Harvest Fest, SAB has a few other events planned for October. Comedian Kenan Thompson is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 25. SAB is also hosting a movie night at 7 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. They will be showing 2017’s “It.”
Bender Family creating lifelong pumpkin patch memories BY LIZ LOVESEE
Contributing Writer As soon as customers step out of their cars and set foot on his gravel driveway, John Bender waves and welcomes them with a hospitable greeting. The Urban Garden pumpkin patch and corn maze offers Kirksville residents an authentic pumpkin patch and farm experience within the city limits. Located at 701 W. Laharpe St, John Bender and his family own land on which they grow pumpkins, gourds, corn and other produce that he sells at the local farmers market. Customers get to pick their own pumpkins while enjoying a family-friendly atmosphere. Bender and his wife are the main workers on the property,
Photos by Liz Lovesee VOLUME 110
ISSUE 7
but occasionally their children help as well. Often calling his customers “sweetheart” or offering them help carrying pumpkins, Bender makes customers feel comfortable and welcome while on his family farm. He said the main goal of his business is to bring families together because Kirksville doesn’t offer a lot of options for affordable family fun. “It’s for the kids — I wanted it for the kids here to have something to do,” Bender said. Bender also takes pride in serving groups of children who were removed from their families for various reasons. Children in these situations are able to come to the pumpkin patch and enjoy the welcoming environment Bender and his family have created. The Bender family hopes to bring positive memories to their surrounding community. A memory that sticks with Bender and continues to motivate him is of an elderly couple who once visited the pumpkin patch. Bender remembers the elderly woman sobbing, and out of concern he asked if she was okay or needed him to call 911. The woman explained to him that she was in her late 80s and had never picked her own pumpkin out of a pumpkin patch before, so her experience at Urban Garden was extremely meaningful. These are the types of memories Bender aims and continues to provide for people — the authentic experience that isn’t felt when someone buys a pumpkin at a store. “[Urban Garden] is something that the city needed that families can come out and take their pictures,” said Barb, an annual customer. tmn.truman.edu
Barb comes to the patch every year to pick out gourds for decorating. When asked about the type of gourds she likes the most, Barb replied with, “the weirder the better!” Urban Garden is decorated with mums, homegrown pumpkins and gourds, and even some giant pumpkins. Bender said he often has people ask to take wedding photos or fall portraits on the property because of the beautiful landscape. Dave Davis, grower of the giant pumpkins, is the sheriff of Davis County, Iowa, and a good friend of Bender’s. Davis often makes trips down to Kirksville with his family to support Bender and partake in the family fun. “It’s quite the corn maze,” Davis chuckled.
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Bender said the corn maze is a little over two acres. Typically the corn maze is just that — a maze. However, the maze turned spooky Oct. 18 and will remain so through Halloween. “Halloween night is going to be really good here,” Bender said. He said he hopes to attract a lot of Truman students to his haunted corn maze, which costs $10 per person. Pumpkins start at $6 and increase in price according to size. Gourds start at $1 each. The regular corn maze is $7 per person, and once finished, Bender gives each kid a free, miniature pumpkin as his way of saying thank you. “When the gates are open, we’re open,” Bender said. “Anyone is welcome.” @TrumanMediaNet
© 2018
The Index
8
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
FeStAs fAlL fEsTiVaL Fraternity hosts event to remember Truman professor BY AURA MARTIN
Staff Writer
Senior Isaac Julius thought college professors were just people in suits who wouldn’t talk to anyone outside the classroom. Then he met Roger Festa, former chemistry professor at Truman State University and chapter adviser for Sigma Phi Epsilon Missouri Mu. “He talked constantly and never shut up,” Julius said with a laugh. “It had been an hour, and maybe I got in two sentences. The perfect summation of Dr. Festa was his kindness and how much he talked.” Julius, along with his fraternity brothers at Sig Ep, are hosting the first annual Festa’s Fall Festival to honor Festa, who died of oral cancer this past spring. For 27 years, Festa had served as chapter adviser for Sig Ep, one of the longest tenured Sig Ep chapter advisers in the whole country. Sig Ep wanted to honor their adviser in a way that would make Festa proud and raise money for a good cause. “[Festa] was caring like a father,” said senior Nathan Verzeaux, Sig Ep president. “I think he was everyone’s father away from home. He was just ready to help us at any time to talk to us and guide us.” When Festa’s health started declining, members of Sig Ep stepped up to help him. They shoveled snow off his car, bought him groceries, drove him to medical appointments and even arranged for brothers to visit him while he was treated in St. Louis.
“He was almost 50 years older than us, but he still had this friendship with us,” Verzeaux said. “We knew he would do the same thing for us.” Sig Ep members decided as a group they wanted to host a philanthropic event. Junior Josh Russell said they were tossing around ideas during a meeting when they realized they wanted to host a fall festival coinciding with the completion of their new chapter house. He said they wanted to keep Festa’s legacy alive. “We have all been instrumental in planning the event,” Russell said. “We really just wanted to make it an event that everyone can come to, whether they want to compete or just be there, have fun and do it for a good cause.” Festa’s Fall Festival, a philanthropic event to raise money for the Oral Cancer Foundation, is scheduled for Oct. 27 at the new Sig Ep chapter house. Verzeaux said this event will include team competitions, pie throwing and a silent auction. To compete as a team, people need to purchase tickets online. Russell said the Google sign-up sheet for teams can be found on Sig Ep’s Facebook page. Teams consist of four members, and tickets are $5 per person. A discount is applied if someone buys a ticket and a sweatshirt, which Russell said will also be sold at booths during the event. People can also show up at the event and pay to take part in individual activities. The teams can compete in contests including bubble soccer, a three-legged race and tug-of-war.
TOP (5) [ ] According to Elissa May, Staff Writer
Throwback halloween movies
Teams earn points, and the team that scores the most points will earn 20 percent of all the proceeds donated to their charity of choice. Verzeaux said the winning team will also have their team name engraved on a plaque to be mounted inside the chapter house. There will also be booths at the festival selling hot dogs and crepes along with hot beverages. Verzeaux said there are non-team activities such as Pie-a-Gep for a dollar and a Halloween costume contest. At the silent auction, Sig Ep members will offer services such as washing cars, mowing lawns and cooking dinners. Julius considers this a social gathering that Festa would have loved because it will involve a lot of interaction. Festa would have kept people there until midnight trying to talk to everybody. “I think that this festival really encapsulates Dr. Festa, except that there will be no Cardinals,” Julius said with a laugh. “He was a huge Cardinals baseball fan.” Russell said he hopes people will come to this event and remember it as a fun time and will want to come back next year. He also hopes it will honor the memory of Festa in some way. “Whether it’s through name or some personal connection with him, I hope that people will look back at this event and their relationship with Dr. Festa,” Russell said. The event will start at 10 a.m. this Saturday.
3 “The Haunted Mansion”
On a vacation gone wrong, a workaholic played by Eddie Murphy takes his family to stay in a haunted mansion. This Halloween classic is one of the best performances of Eddie Murphy and is truly a great Halloween throwback.
1 “Hocus Pocus”
This movie is a Halloween classic. Who wouldn’t love a movie about three witches trying to become immortal while dealing with three kids and a cat trying to stop them? Halloween is not complete without this movie.
4 “Halloweentown”
2 All “The Addams Family” movies
5 “Twitches”
Anyone who watched Disney Channel as a kid will de initely remember this fabulous movie. It really made everyone wish they had a crazy witch for a grandma.
Here is another Disney Channel classic! Twins separated at birth who just so happen to be very powerful witches and also princesses of a magical kingdom? Yes, please!
With a catchy theme song and hilarious characters, you can’t go wrong with this throwback. These movies are a hilarious addition to your Halloween movie marathon.
Storytime with
Allison
What is this? It is Part Three of a story. Not a story about Truman, nor a story of real people, but a work of fiction. A short story from the brain of a person with too much going on inside her head. And this is only the beginning of it. Each edition will bring you a new piece of the story until it has been fully told. Then, perhaps, I’ll tell you a new story. For now, welcome to the world of five teenagers living in Finder’s Point, Washington, a town that one of them describes as a “hideout for the lifeless.” This is the story of the creative, passionate, and animated living among the dreary, dull, and almost dead. This is the story of a group of friends whose own parents didn’t know what to do with them. A group of friends committed to staying alive. To catch up on Part One and Two of The Testimony of the Living, check out tmn.truman.edu.
The Testimony of the Living, Part Three BY ALLISON MASCHHOFF
Staff Writer
One rainy Friday in April, during the spring of our junior year of high school, I sat with my four friends around the circular table in Easton’s kitchen. None of us had been entirely sure how to spend the day, and what began as an effort to think of something to do had transformed into a prolonged and contemplative silence. April showers create a rather stellar backdrop for the thoughts of those who are about to move to a new phase of their lives; it was exactly what our noisy brains needed. We were individually reaching what would become a collective realization and, as we listened to the rain, each of us was struggling to find the courage to leave the safety of the ignorance we’d been feigning for some time now. Autumn was the one to speak up; she was always the bravest when it came to words. Or, maybe it wasn’t bravery. Maybe she was just filling the silence because her thoughts were too loud to continue on unheard. “Did you guys know that my parents think I’m weird? They think I’m crazy for reading and writing and putting so much emphasis on words. They can’t fathom the idea of reading outside of educational purposes, much less the notion of writing a book yourself. If I try to talk about it, they freeze up, unsure how to respond. It’s as if they lack some level of training they believe is necessary to handle something so outlandish and animated as a daughter who’s taken to wordsmithing.”
No one said anything. I wasn’t sure if she took this as a sign to continue, or maybe she would’ve kept going even if someone else had started talking. Maybe she had started something she couldn’t stop. I wonder now if she already knew where we were headed somewhere in that brain of hers, and she needed us to join in her enlightenment. She always seemed to understand the story of our lives so clearly; I wouldn’t have been shocked had someone told me she was the one who had been writing it all along. It seemed at the time that telling us her story was the only way she could get to her conclusion, but perhaps she knew where she was going. Maybe the story was the only way she could make us understand. But, I digress. No matter the reason, no matter how much Autumn understood in that moment, she carried on. And we listened. And the rain continued to pour. “You know, I gave them one of my essays once. Asked them to read it. It was the one that all of you guys thought was so good, the one about the tree. They were sitting at the kitchen table; I just walked up and handed it to my mom. I sat and watched her read it, and then she handed it to my dad and I watched him read it, and when he finished it I watched him set the papers on the kitchen table. And he looked at my mom. And I swear I wasn’t breathing. It was silent for a solid minute and everything in me was silent, as if the movement of one microorganism within me could somehow shatter the silence and then everything would fall apart. I had never shared
anything I’d written with them. I wanted them to like it. “Well, my mom looked at me and she just barely smiled. It was the faintest trace of happiness I’ve ever seen in my life. There was even less emotion in her voice when she deadpanned, ‘That’s real nice, dear.’ “It wasn’t as if she didn’t mean it, or had some malicious intent, or was trying to hide some other emotion. She was merely devoid of any reaction beyond that slight upward turn of the corners of her lips. My dad had the exact same look on his face. They weren’t trying to be cruel, I know that. But their disinterest, their lack of feeling, it bordered on cruelty all the same. You know I don’t even have a copy of that essay anymore? I tore it up. I walked calmly back to my room, without a word, and as soon as the door closed I began ripping those papers to shreds. A switch flipped inside me, and suddenly I couldn’t stop sobbing. I buried my face in my pillow to muffle the screams that I couldn’t bear to keep inside of me.” The image she painted with her words was so vivid. All of us had our eyes glued to her face, but none of us were sure what to do. I almost reached over to grasp her hand, to try to give some sort of comfort. But the idea of disrupting her felt wrong. She continued, “around the time I stopped shaking, my mom knocked on my door. ‘Time for dinner,’ she said. I got up. I wiped off my face. I went back to the kitchen. And I sat at that table for thirty-seven minutes, eyes glancing up at the clock about every three. I sat there silent with red eyes and they didn’t say a word
about it. They didn’t even speak to me. They talked about the factory and about the neighbors. They discussed the weather in great depth. They made time for everything under the sun in their dinnertime palaver. Except me. “And you know, if they had been talking about an impending world war, or my grandmother being ill, or fear of not making that month’s bills, I would have understood. I would have thought, maybe that’s why. Maybe it’s not that they don’t care. Maybe this is just a bad time. But that wasn’t it. There was nothing else going on. They were just ignoring me. And I think it was because of the same thing I told you all in the beginning: they saw emotion in me, they saw passion in me, and they didn’t know how to handle it. Maybe, just maybe, it made them a little afraid. Because they’ve never felt what I feel when I write. And they can’t understand it.” A tear slipped out from beneath her closed eyelid. She took a deep breath. I timidly took hold of her hand. She squeezed my hand, allowed herself three more tears, and then her eyes fluttered open and there were no more tears in them. “I haven’t asked them to read anything else I’ve written,” she whispered. “I haven’t said a word about writing since that day. I haven’t even mentioned reading anything. And they never ignore me. They’re always interested in me and how my day is going. And they don’t think anything of the fact that I’m not behaving like myself. That I’m… that I’m some sort of phantom. It makes them more comfortable, somehow, to interact.”
The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
9
Ouestions ?
on
Jenna Szczeblewski, junior
the
Jake Collins, sophomore
Ouad ? Lauren Reddin, junior
Question 1: What is your favorite scary movie? Why? “Scary movies don’t really scare me because I live one, but ‘The Conjuring 2’ freaked me out. Also, I went with a group of friends, and we all have that one friend who really freaks out, and I saw it with her. She was cracking me up.”
“‘Children of the Corn,’ because it is the only scary movie that I find relevant to my life because there is a lot of corn in Missouri.”
“I really like the ‘Halloween’ movies because they are scary and Halloween-y, but they are not too scary to where I am scared for my life.”
Question 2: What is your craziest, scariest Halloween memory? “When I was younger, my parents always told me that if I didn’t close my closet door all the way at night, a monster would come out and get me. So one year, my cousin, who was, like, five at the time, hid in the closet wearing a leprechaun mask. He jumps out of the closet, scars me for life, and I’m still scared of leprechauns because of him. ”
“When I was in first grade, I was dressed up in all black. I think I was a ninja that year, and I got separated from my group. On my way home I fell into a rose bush and got a bunch of thorns stuck in my arm, and I ran back to my house crying.”
“There was one time my friend and I were supposed to go trick-or-treating together as Thing 1 and Thing 2, but I got sick, so I couldn’t go. So my friend was trick-or-treating by herself as Thing 2. It wasn’t really crazy, but it did suck, and I didn’t get any candy that year.”
Question 3: What are you dressing up as? “[I’m] being resourceful this year, so I’m going to be a sailor one night and a fireman the other night, so all I have to do is change hats.”
“That is going to be up to my girlfriend. We normally do couples costumes.”
“I have no idea what I am going as this year. I really want to dress up as the Little Mermaid. I don’t know if that is going to happen this year, but maybe next year.”
“Halloween” is a self-aware bloodbath This movie gets 4/5 teeth BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer Minor spoiler warning. The new “Halloween” movie, brilliantly titled “Halloween,” is a wry, brutal thrill ride that ranks among the year’s most purely entertaining films. “Halloween” takes place 40 years after the events of the 1978 original. Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, is tormented by her memory of the fateful Halloween night she encountered Michael Myers, the iconic cinematic serial killer, and barely escaped with her life. Molded by her pain and fear, she’s become a hardcore survivalist. She also has a dysfunctional relationship with her family, especially her daughter, caused by her extreme paranoia. Strode wants to finish Myers off once and for all in case he ever reappears in her life. Myers himself has been locked away in a mental institution since that night, but eventually — surprise, surprise — he’s on the prowl once again, with Strode and her family firmly in his sights. David Gordon Green, taking over the directorial reigns from John Carpenter, has crafted a film that’s both horrifying and occasionally hilarious, making me chuckle during some moments and squirm with suspense during others. Curtis gives a marvelous performance as Strode, lending her character a razor-edged determination that makes her compelling and, in certain moments, even heartbreaking. Strode, filled with rage, is a character practically any viewer could root for, and Curtis lends ample emotion to her performance to heighten the film’s dramatic tension. What sets both “Halloween” films apart from other horror films, though, is the combination of white-knuckle suspense and darkly comedic humor. For every scene of brutality, the filmmakers give viewers self-knowing winks that keep the films highly watchable. Part of this film’s charm comes from the filmmakers’ self-awareness. It’s easy to pick out which characters will live and which won’t, but “Halloween” plays along with this cliche to humorous effect. It is a slasher film, after all. It might as well have some bait for the slashing. Green seems to set up certain scares like punchlines — they’re relatively easy to predict, but there’s a strangely heartwarming feeling in seeing those predic-
tions unfold with visceral detail. (As a side note, I’m not a psychopath. I just really enjoyed watching this film. Don’t judge me.) While “Halloween” contains characters whose only real purpose is to perish by Myers’ hands, most characters are developed enough to make their deaths uncomfortable, though not emotionally involving. There’s obviously been a lot of technological advancements since 1978, including in costuming and makeup departments, and “Halloween” really piles on the gore in certain scenes. This represents something of a departure from the low-budget thrill of the original, which relied more on menacing atmosphere than graphic kills to make an impression on viewers. Indeed, watching “Halloween” is like eating a jalapeno –– eye-wateringly intense, but likely to elicit awkward laughs from everyone involved, as long as milk is readily available. “Halloween” also seems taken from a better era of horror films. Beginning with an atmospheric opening credits sequence utilizing the same font and blissful, synthy, incredible main theme from the original film, it’s apparent Green made this film with a love for the good old days. The film doesn’t emulate the shaky-cam, found-footage garbage being shoveled into modern cinemas. I love the original “Halloween” largely because of John Carpenter’s innovative, Hitchcockian filmmaking techniques, and Green adopts much of the same style in this iteration. Headache-inducing horror tactics are replaced by beautifully composed shots, well thought-out staging and lighting that enhance the mood and atmosphere. But nothing’s perfect, and “Halloween” most assuredly is no different. Strode’s granddaughter, played by Andi Matichak, takes up far too much of the film’s runtime. While viewers are supposed to care about her and her high school friends, they seem wholly generic and don’t bring any notable surprises to the table. It’s actually baffling how much of the film’s runtime is spent away from Laurie Strode, the only memorable, emotionally gripping character in the whole film. The dialogue, while occasionally containing hard-boiled sting, is also quite exposition-heavy and seems overdone in several instances. Without spoiling anything, the ending was also abrupt and, while reminiscent of the original’s style, could have been strengthened with a more modern touch. Though not without faults, “Halloween” should satisfy both horror and nonhorror fans alike –– at times almost surpassing the original’s greatness.
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“Ain’t Misbehavin’” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 Baldwin Auditorium Kirksville Tourism is a platinum level sponsor of this event.
Want to advertise with TMN? Contact us at 660-785-4449 advertising.trumanmedia@gmail.com
General admission tickets are $10 (includes tax) and can be purchased at the cashier window in McClain Hall, at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville or online at lyceum.truman.edu.
Questions regarding the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series can be directed to the Truman State University Public Relations Office at pr@truman.edu or (660) 785-4016.
The Index
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
COLUMN| Smaller teams in GLVC might struggle
CURT WICHMER Sports Editor Truman State University Bulldogs have faced off against Lindenwood University countless times during their collegiate athletic history, but starting July 2019, the Bulldogs will face Lindenwood as a conference opponent. Previously a member of the MIAA, Lindenwood was approved to join the GLVC in an Oct. 2 vote by the GLVC Council of Presidents, according to an article published on the Lindenwood Athletics website. Lindenwood has an enrollment of more than 4,000 students and has provided plenty of competition for Truman and similarly sized schools over the years. Comparing the enrollment for Lindenwood with the enrollment of other GLVC schools, Lindenwood is among the smaller schools in the conference, while the majority of schools fall within a range of 5,000 -- 7,000 students. In addition to Lindenwood, Southwest Baptist University, with a student population of just under 3,500, will also be joining the GLVC over the summer. Though each of these schools are a good fit for the conference, selecting a suitable team for conference expansion isn’t always such an easy choice, and one of the most important factors when considering adding a new team is the size of the university. One might not initially see how large an effect school size has on the
performance or quality of the school’s athletics, but the higher the number of students attending a university, the higher number of potential student athletes the school can recruit from. Of course, there will be exceptions, but generally speaking, bigger schools have an easier time finding skilled athletes. As a school with an average pool of students to choose from, as far as the GLVC is concerned, Truman is still able to put out winning teams (football and women’s soccer come to mind), and this is largely in part thanks to strong backing for our athletics programs. Smaller schools in the conference, however, are at a disadvantage when it comes to drafting teams. Contrast a school like William Jewell University, which has an enrollment of 932 students, with the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, which has an enrollment of over 17,000. Although UMSL has over 17 times more students, these schools compete in the same conference. This statement is not to disparage William Jewell — if anything, it’s a testament to William Jewell’s ability to keep up in most sports — but in sports that are highly dependent on having a large number of players on a team, William Jewell struggles to compete against larger schools, and their football team’s 1-6 record reflects this. On the opposite end of things, having the largest student body doesn’t make a team automatically dominant either. UMSL and Missouri S&T have larger numbers of students, but they routinely perform in the middle of the pack when compared to their conference opponents. While this does not necessarily mean a team with greater numbers does not have an advantage over a smaller team, it does show that there is always room for smaller teams to succeed in their seasons. Essentially, I would argue that smaller teams the size of William Jewell and Quincy University might want to exercise caution before lunging headfirst against their potential conference opponents. Even with the presence of smaller teams, the GLVC council of Presidents, the body responsible for accepting new colleges to the conference, shouldn’t restrict their selection process further. Despite the numerical disadvantage, smaller schools like William Jewell can and should absolutely continue to compete in the GLVC — I would never advocate for the GLVC to prevent smaller colleges from joining altogether. However, I would recommend any school with fewer than 3,000 students planning on joining the GLVC to be prepared for tough competition.
Truman’s glvc standings: october 25 Conference Record
Overall Record
Sport
GLVC Rank
Women’s Soccer
2/14
8-3-1
12-3-1
Football
2/8
4-0
5-3
Volleyball
8/14
8-6
18-8
Men’s Soccer
13/14
1-8-3
3-8-4
These standings were last updated at noon Oct. 24.
RE-ELECT
JUDGE KRISTIE J. SWAIM MIZZOU LAW CLASS OF 1993 JURIS DOCTOR OVER 25 YEARS
EXPERIENCE INDEPENDENCE LEADERSHIP Judge Swaim’s Steady Judicial Record Judge Swaim presides over Associate and Probate Divisions of Adair County Circuit Court, as elected by the citizens of Adair County, with over 15 years of judicial training and judicial experience in thousands of state court cases! Judge Swaim presides over Kirksville Municipal Division, as elected by the City of Kirksville, without additional cost for hearing and determining municipal court cases!
STEADY AS SHE GOES Paid for by Committee to Elect Swaim Judge, Dick Gooch, Treasurer
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Judge Swaim serves the Missouri Civic Education Committee, as appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court, and the Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Judge Association Board!
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Judge Swaim serves as appointing authority for Adair County, as unanimously chosen by the Second Judicial Circuit judges!
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Judge Swaim performs judicial duties without fear or favor of pressures or interests; requires decorum from every person in court; and refuses campaign funds from all lawyers!
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Judge Swaim achieves Missouri Supreme Court time standards for processing cases in every case type category and has never been reversed on appeal!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
The Index
Wrestling alumni speaks on behalf of organization RYAN PIVONEY News Editor
At the Oct. 12 Board of Governors meeting, a representative for the Truman State University wrestling team gave a speech about the decision to drop funding for the program. The wrestling team had their funding cut last year because of reductions to state appropriations. The team needed to fundraise $75,000 to compete this year, a goal they met at the beginning of October. Justin Naumovitz, a 1995 alum of Truman and the wrestling program, said he cares a lot about the University, the wrestling program and the direction they take in the future. He said the decision last year to cut the program felt personal, and was a loss for Truman and future generations of students. Naumovitz made his decision to attend Truman because of its wrestling program and fine academics.
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Upcoming Events 26 Friday
Naumovitz asked the Board of Governors how the decision to cut the program was made and questioned the prioritization of different programs at Truman. He said the University has enough funding for wrestling, and the program costs less per student athlete than any other athletic program. Naumovitz also emphasized the wrestling program’s successes over their time in action. He said the University’s decision to require the team to raise an additional $2 million to continue competing after this season is not right. Naumovitz also questioned why other athletic programs are not required to do the same fundraising to continue playing. Naumovitz gave a similar speech to the Board of Governors when the wrestling program was cut in 1994. The program was also cut in the late 1980s. It is the Board of Governors’ policy to not respond to public comments.
SOCCER| Women’s soccer has success in conference play
Continued from page 12 The team is using these games as a learning experience going forward. Liljegren says good teams find ways to win close games, and this season has taught them how to do that. While the team is fully capable of battling late in games to earn wins, it’s not something the players want to make a habit of. Junior midfielder Isabel Kurzban said the team is focusing on controlling games going forward. “We want to put teams away early and not concede goals after we get ahead,” Kurzbahn said. In their previous game against Illinois Springfield, Truman opened the scoring in the 19th minute before giving up two unanswered goals in 30 minutes. The women were able to equalize early in the second half, giving them the opportunity to score the winning goal nine minutes into extra time. If Truman can execute its plan to not let opponents back into games once they have a lead, the team knows it can finish exactly where it wants.
Volleyball
7 p.m. in Rolla, MO vs. Missouri S&T
27 Saturday Football
2 p.m. in Kirksville, MO vs. Quincy University
Volleyball
3 p.m. in Springfield, MO vs. Drury University
28 Sunday Women’s Soccer
At GLVC Quarterfinals
Women’s Basketball
4:30 p.m. in Macomb, IL vs. Western Illinois University
30 Tuesday Women’s Basketball
5:30 p.m. in Kirksville, MO vs. Illinois College
Volleyball
Sophomore midfielder Paige Peterson dribbling past a Bellarmine defender. After tying Bellarmine, The Bulldogs won their next two games to improve to 12-3-1. Photo by Kara Mackenzie
6 p.m. in St. Charles, MO vs. Lindenwood University
WALKER| New football coach settles in at Truman Continued from page 12 Walker dedicated his time to his search for the remainder of the semester and throughout the summer until he found a spot. After Walker’s search, the position found him instead. “Truman picked me,” Walker said. “I’m glad Coach Nes did. I think this position was the best suited one for me as far as growing in my career, learning and moving forward.” Head coach Gregg Nesbitt said he was positive he had chosen the correct coach for his team. For one, Nesbitt said he was impressed with Walker’s outstanding character. Nesbitt said Walker is a confident, hardworking man who genuinely cares about his players. Nesbitt said he felt Walker expressed good leadership skills after serving as a two-time collegiate captain. Another important characteristic that Nesbitt saw in Walker was his sincerity in pursuing his goal of becoming a collegiate coach. “He has worked diligently to learn our playbook and has a solid knowledge base of what we are trying to accomplish and what he is attempting to teach,” Nesbitt said. Since Walker has been with the team, he has impacted the players in a positive way. Senior wide receiver Mitch Nichols said he enjoys how Walker coaches the unit. “Coach has helped me build confidence,” Nichols said. “Knowing that he has our back allows us to play more confidently.” The Bulldogs wide receiver unit was previously coached by Andy Allison. Players said they enjoyed having Allison as a coach because he was able to relate with every player and had a good relationship with them. During the summer of 2018, Allison announced he would be accepting another position as a receivers coach at Macalester College. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Dante Ruffin said losing Allison impacted the players he had created a close bond with.
“After hearing that our previous coach was leav- called, make a play,” Nichols said. “Before, I wouldn’t ing, I was pretty upset,” Ruffin said. “It was an uneasy say we were non-confident, but having a coach who feeling knowing that we were going to have a new has your back goes a long way as a player.” coach because there was no way of knowing if he was Despite the success and his experiences so far at going to be a good coach or not.” Truman, Walker said leaving home was difficult for After being with Walker for a few weeks, Ruffin him and that homesickness hit him at times on his 17said he created his own bond with the new coach. hour drive to Missouri from Florida. “I like Coach Walker as a person and as a coach,” Walker cares about his family. Instead of going out Ruffin said. “He is a great person and a cool guy to to parties with friends, Walker said he would rather be around.” hang out with his brothers and laugh all weekend. Be Walker said he has been taking this new journey ing away from home isn’t fun for Walker, but as soon one step at a time because he understands it can be as he got out of his car, Walker felt an energy, and difficult for players when a new coach steps in. Ruffin everything felt fine after that point. insists Walker’s experience has made it easier for play- “Being around the guys and the coaching staff, ers to trust in what he is telling them. Walker knows man,” Walker said. “There’s just something about gaining trust is a long process, but he has already it. Puts me in a good mood, can’t be sad, can’t be made huge steps. upset.” Nesbitt said throughout this process of gaining the trust of the players, Walker has helped the receiving core improve tremendously. “This position group was a question mark coming into 2018 and is rapidly developing into a position of strength,” Nesbitt said. Walker said he expects a lot out of this wide receiver unit, and he continues to push the group week in and week out to become the most dominant group on the field. Nichols is happy to have a coach who pushes the group so they can be the best for Saturday’s games. “He just wants us to play Redshirt junior QB Jaden Barr dropping back after a snap at Saturday’s game fast, always be the aggres- against Southwest Baptist. In addition to his 111 passing yards, Barr also postsor and, when our number is ed 81 yards on the ground in the team’s 38-14 win. Photo by Kara Mackenzie
ATHLETE of the week
Quarterback Jaden Barr has continued his leadership role for the Bulldogs Football this season and has been an offensive powerhouse both on the ground and in the air during conference play. In his last three games, the redshirt junior has thrown for a combined 313 yards and two touchdown passes without throwing an interception. Barr has also rushed for 337 all season yards and ran in two rushing touchdowns of his own in Truman State University’s clutch 45-38 win over McKendree University.
Jaden Barr
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BULLDOGS 4-0 IN THE GLVC
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
Truman State University celebrates at the Homecoming game Oct. 13. The team is currently 5-3 overall and undefeated within the GLVC. After Saturday’s game against Quincy University, Truman will face the other undefeated GLVC team, University of Indianapolis. Photo by Kara Mackenzie
Football dominates with new receiving coach Isaiah Walker ZACH RICHARDSON Contributing Writer
Despite a rough start to the season, Truman State University’s football team is currently undefeated in the GLVC. One of the newest members behind the winning team is Isaiah Walker, the third wide receivers coach in the last four years. With the addition of Walker, Truman looks to fill a vacancy with a coach who is willing to do everything to prepare his unit to perform to the best of their ability to help the football program win games. Walker grew up in Lakeland, Florida, where he attended and played football at Lakeland High School. Walker then played at Georgetown College and then went to play at Savannah State University for a year to experience Div. I football firsthand. “We all have that dream of playing at the Div. I level growing up,” Walker said. “I got the opportunity, and I took it.”
He then returned to Georgetown, where he graduated in spring 2018. Truman isn’t Walker’s first coaching experience. While in college, Walker coached high school football at Foundation Christian Academy, where his brother was the defensive coordinator. During the summers, Walker helped with the school’s summer training program. Walker was also a graduate assistant at Georgetown College. Walker said his ultimate goal is to coach football at the Div. I level. Coaching a Div. II team is a good starting point to achieve this goal. Walker started searching for open positions two months before his graduation. Walker filled out multiple applications, and wrote resumes and cover letters. He would go on the website nearly every day to keep up with the process. Walker eventually picked three schools. “Whatever [the schools] required, I would do it,” Walker said. See WALKER page 11
Volleyball drops after midterm homestand ALLYSON LOTZ Copy Chief
Truman State University’s volleyball team dropped four rankings to No. 8 in the GLVC following three conference losses in Pershing Arena. The Bulldogs have spent most of the season outperforming lukewarm preseason predictions, exemplified by their eight-match winning streak in September. Since then, however, the team has gone 1-4 in the GLVC, a costly stumble with only five games left to stay in playoff contention. Truman faced tough teams in all of their recent losses. Two of them came from Rockhurst University, a team consistently ranked among the top 25 Div. II teams in the nation this season. On top of that, University of Illinois Springfield is on a 12-match winning streak, and McKendree University knocked the Bulldogs out of last year’s GLVC quarterfinals,. Head coach Ben Briney said the team has taken the losses as a learning opportunity. He said the players are especially working on staying disciplined on the court against their opponents. “Really it’s about accountability,” Briney said. “It’s about making sure that, individually, you’re taking care of your job, and then as a group making sure that whatever the task is, we’re taking VOLUME 110
ISSUE 7
care of our jobs. It really comes down to those two things.” Briney also said this homestand, in which the team played three matches in four days, emulates the playoffs, where teams play three matches in three days. Before the playoffs, however, he said the team needs to take everything one day at a time to prepare for the challenge right in front of them. Senior setter Savvy Hughes shined in Pershing Arena despite the losses. Hughes scored an average of 11.17 assists per set during the homestand, a rate that could land her in Truman’s record books. She said she felt the team put its best foot forward against a slew
of strong teams, but at the end of the day, the matches didn’t go in the Bulldogs’ favor. Hughes agreed with the three home matches resembling the GLVC tournament and said her teammates were laughing at how they had one day of practice between the McKendree and Rockhurst matches. Nonetheless, she said they worked hard that day, especially on focus drills. The Bulldogs had fixed their focus squarely on Rockhurst, however. Hughes echoed Briney and said the team focuses on the present instead of what’s beyond the horizon, like the team’s upcoming road trip to Missouri S&T on Friday.
Defensive specialist Elle Renault setting the ball against Maryville University. The Bulldogs aim to hang onto their tournament berth through the final matches of the regular season. Photo by Kara Mackenzie tmn.truman.edu
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Women’s soccer wins in OT JD HURD Staff Writer
Truman State University’s women’s soccer team will play their opening match in the GLVC Championship tournament this Sunday. Before Wednesday’s final regular season match against William Jewell College, the team sat atop the conference in a four-way tie. Junior midfielder Hanna Liljegren said the team has a positive mindset heading into these important games. “We will be going into this game the same way as the rest: ready to fight for a result,” Liljegren said. “We want to finish first, and we know we are capable of getting that result together.” The women’s team has shown it is willing to fight and grind out results, as its last three matches have gone to overtime, including back-to-back wins in OT.
See SOCCER page 11 @TrumanMediaNet
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