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KPD investigates narcotics report BY SETH WOLFMEYER Editor-in-Chief The Kirksville Police Department is currently investigating a report from an off-campus, drug-related incident involving a female student Sept. 18. KPD Deputy Chief Steve Farnsworth said the woman involved thinks a narcotic was put in her drink at a party off campus. Farnsworth said KPD is investigating the report and rumors of additional victims. “Some other people said it happened to them at other parties,” Farnsworth said. “As of today, we’re still trying to validate those [claims] and try to find some people that actually felt that way.” Farnsworth said KPD is checking one other female student’s claims who might have been affected, but KPD has not confirmed anything. Students who are minors should not be concerned about consequences of underage possession if they come forward, Farnsworth said. “We’re not looking to file charges on someone for a minor in possession,” Farnsworth said. “We’re actually trying to find out what happened, and if something did happen, try to get it resolved.” Farnsworth said KPD contacted Truman State University’s Department of Public Safety to cooperate on an email they sent to the student body Oct. 2. He said they sent the email to encourage people to come forward with any information related to the incidents. The email included basic information of the incident, how to contact DPS or KPD, and information on how to protect yourself from a drug-facilitated assault.
Photo by Brently Snead/TMN Senior Kyra Cooper, Student Senate president, speaks at the Faculty Senate meeting Thursday, Sept. 28. Cooper presented a resolution passed by Student Senate giving students more say in the curriculum change.
Student Senate asks for more curriculum input BY BRENTLY SNEAD Managing Editor Truman State University’s Student Senate brought forth a resolution — which passed at the Sept. 28 Faculty Senate meeting — to request faculty postpone voting on a new Liberal Studies Program. Senior Kyra Cooper, Student Senate President and Faculty Senate student representative, presented the resolution,
which said students should have more input on the curriculum before a vote. Cooper said the resolution was based onan overall neutral position taken by Student Senate, and their goal was to postpone voting so they could get students involved. Cooper was invited to be on the summer committee about the curriculum change, however, she was unable to attend meetings, and no alternate was chosen to be a student representative.
Sophomore Deanna Schmidt, Student Senate academic affairs chair, said she attended the Strategic Planning and Assessment Workshop presentation with other members, and that’s when they realized how time sensitive the LSP change is. Schmidt said prior to this year, student senators were invited to attend meetings to discuss the curriculum change, but it never seemed like a serious matter. See STUDENT INPUT, page 4
Nine additions to Student Senate BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer Nine new students were elected to the Truman State University Student Senate for the fall 2017 semester. Voting opened Monday, Sept. 25 and closed Wednesday, Sept. 27. All nine candidates who ran for office won seats. Five senators — a senior, a sophomore and three freshmen — joined the body. Additionally, four incoming senators — all freshmen — were elected with fewer signatures. Senior Keaton Leppanen, Student Senate election administrator, said fall elections are primarily when freshmen run and get involved with student government, while upperclassmen typically run in the spring elections. “Student government is a framework for enacting change on campus,” Leppanen said. “As to what change that is, it depends on what senators are really passionate about at any given time.” Leppanen said issues candidates ran on included changes to the liberal studies curriculum, student parking concerns, student mental health and other less defined items. Leppanen said student government has already started looking into some of these issues, such as the changes to the liberal studies program and parking concerns. Leppanen said while many students suggested an initial interest in running for student government, there were few that actually ran. More than 95 election packets were signed out by Leppanen, but only nine returned. Leppanen said this has been the case for the past few years, and the student government executive leadership thinks the high barrier for entry might be a factor deterring people from running. He said it is hard to generate interest. This year, students could only vote online, but Leppanen said he
does not think this was a limiting factor. While voter turnout this year was higher than last year, Leppanen said he does not think it is significantly higher. Leppanen said voting is important because candidates have the power to enact change in line with the wishes of the student body. Student senators are the ones to express the student body
Fall 2017 Student Senate Election Results ei Senators who recieved at least 150 student signatures.
Freshman Caleb DeWitt 250 Votes
Senior Joseph Slama 236 Votes
Freshman Adam Barker 218 Votes
Sophomore Jared Kolok 224 Votes
Freshman Rachel Holt 190 Votes
ei Freshmen incoming senators who recieved at least 75 freshmen signatures.
Sophomore Freshman Katie Alexander 96 Votes
Freshman Danny D’Nagy 82 Votes
Freshman Adam Parts i 67 Votes
422 Total Student Votes
Career fair Students met with potential employers in the Student Union Building Wednesday, Sept. 27 as past of the Career Fair hosted by the Career Center.
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 7 © 2017
opinion. Leppanen said he is optimistic about these new senators. He said he does not think the uncontested elections are an indicator of subpar senators, and the senators are devoted and passionate individuals. “Once you have jumped through that many hoops to get elected, you are in for it,” Leppanen said.
Freshman Sophomore Caroline Costallo e 67 Votes
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
Library hosts annual book sale
Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN Top left: Students browse materials at the Pickler Memorial Library’s annual book sale. The book sale took place Wednesday, Sept. 27, and Thursday, Sept. 28 outside on a sidewalk between the library and Magruder Hall. Top right: Sophomore Lindsay Picht looks through a paperback book at the annual book sale. In addition to books — CDs, video tapes, vinyl records and other forms of media were available for purchase. Left: Books from an array of disciplines were on display at the book sale. Many items were donated to the library. Proceeds from the book sale are used to fund materials and programs for the library.
calendar Friday, Oct. 6
Monday, Oct. 9
National Truman Spirit Day
Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship Information
Alumni, students and supporters of Truman are encouraged to wear purple and participate in the “Bulldogs Biggest Fans” photo contest for a chance to win free Tshirts and a VIP homecoming package.
Student Union Building 12:30 p.m. Students interested in the Gilman Scholarship Program can speak with program adviser senior Sydney Russian. The scholarship is open to all Pell Grant recipients. The program is accepting Spring 2018 applications.
Tuesday, Oct. 10 and Wednesday, Oct. 11 Student Union Building Student Senate will host two student forums during homecoming week to discuss proposed changes to the University’s Liberal Studies Program. There will be question and andswer periods and student surveys The Tuesday formum will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the Wednesday forum will begin at 7p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11 Alumni Recital Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall 8-9 p.m. The Truman State University music department will be welcoming alumnus Joshua Baum to perform. Baum is a tenor vocalist that is coming back to perform a medley of music. The recital is free.
staff Serving the University community since 1909 Adviser Don Krause Editor-in-Chief Seth Wolfmeyer Digital Director Ben Cook Managing Editor Brently Snead News Editor (Text) Nicolas Telep News Editor (Multimedia) Brea Parnell Features Editor Rachel Fechter Sports Editor (Text) Rachel Steinhoff Sports Editor (Multimedia) Jeremy Jacob
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[ Our View ] Title IX changes causes uncertainty among students
The US Department of Education has decided to make changes to Title IX concerning how colleges and universities address discrimination and sexual assault. One of the main changes the department requested was to adjust the evidence standard for campuses. Currently, universities go by the preponderance of the evidence standard that places guilt on the accused if 50 percent of the evidence is present and just. The department has now adopted a clear and convincing standard said to require more information. These changes lead to multiple questions. What does this mean for students? How will these changes affect the way sexual assault is handled on campus? Though we understand the need for some changes, we don’t necessarily understand how it will affect us as students. We also understand the changes were bound to come with the appointment of a new secretary of education. The issue here is the lack of consultation with other entities on the changes where Title IX is a particularly sensitive subject and requires care and collaboration when amending aspects of it. We, The Index Editorial Board, think the USDE poorly handled changes to Title IX and students should be able to understand how the changes affect campuses. Though the changes are emphasized as only temporary, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the USDE only announced changes in early September. They then released a document Sept. 22 suggesting colleges adhere to these changes. The department should have spent more time consulting with colleges, universities and experts on Title IX proceedings to come up with the best solution for issues in the previous standard. Students shouldn’t need an advanced law degree or extensive research on Title IX to understand how changes will directly affect them. One of the changes DeVos made was to get rid of the time limit on Title IX proceedings. It has not been explained what the benefits and disadvantages of the previous time restraint were and how this new procedure might help students. DeVos said these changes will protect students’ right to due process, which defends the rights of all parties in court. How will these changes protect our right to due process? Were due process rights actually violated with the previous law? None of these answers have been made obvious to students. The most frustrating thing is, students are the ones that will be most affected by these changes, yet it seems decisions are being made without their consultation. Students dealing with sexual assault and discrimination on campus should be able to have a better understanding of what could happen if they choose to speak up. It is our view the Department of Education should help ensure students are better aware of what these changes mean.
Hand dryers no more efficient than paper towels BY KORBIN KELLER Staff Writer In today’s age of hot-button political issues, I would like to shift course from grand policy questions, such as whether or not taxation is theft, to a more pressing issue that I fear we have neglected. I am talking, of course, about the use of paper towels in restrooms. A knee-jerk reaction to paper towels is typically — “Ban them!” After all, we have hand dryers, which stops paper waste and clutter in restrooms. Sounds like a win-win, right? Indeed, there are forces at play within Truman State University student government to remove them altogether and transition to the cleaner alternative of hand dryers. Let me say, this would be a grave error. Finding a shocking lack of paper towel apologetic literature, consider this to be a manifesto on the defense of the utility of paper towels rather than hand dryers. First of all, paper towels are more effective and less burdensome than air dryers. Hand dryers come in two varieties — the low-power, ineffective, breezy kind, where it takes nearly a full 60 seconds to accomplish what paper towels do in 10, or the jet engine kind, which causes partial deafness while still falling
short of paper towels. For the timecrunched student, paper towels are far more convenient than hand dryers. Grab a couple, wipe your hands — bada bing, bada boom — you’re out of the bathroom. Meanwhile, hand dryers take far longer, cause early-onset hearing loss and often leave hands wet even after using them. When given no alternative, I find myself opting out of using a hand dryer, meaning my sopping wet hands drip on the floor, creating a safety hazard in the process. Paper towels save time and lives. Furthermore, let us consider the environmental cost. Paper towels create paper waste. The average American creates 45 pounds of paper towel waste per year, leading to 13 billion pounds of waste, nationwide, according to the Paperless Project. By eliminating paper towels from Truman’s restrooms, our campus would help make a miniscule, almost non-existent dent in that waste. So by all means, let’s make it happen. However, 80 percent of Missouri power is generated by burning coal, the most carbon-emission-intensive form of energy, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Essentially, we would be trading one sin for a greater sin. We can assume these new-fangled hand dryers would be powered by
coal and other fossil fuels, contributing to the greenhouse effect. Our landfill footprint would decrease, but our carbon footprint would increase. I consider this too high of a price to go paper towel-less. For the sake of our planet, paper towels are the superior alternative. Now let us consider cost. A quick Google search for hand dryers reveals a basic model, “Xlerator,” is $400 per unit. Throw in added cost of installation and maintenance for each and every bathroom on campus, and the costs quickly climb. Meanwhile, Uline paper towels provide 4,000 paper towels per $35 case. Is one hand dryer worth thousands of paper towels in terms of cost? Maybe in the long run, hand dryers could offer some savings, but in such budget-strapped times as these, the initial start-up cost should be a non-negotiable to transition into a hand-dryer exclusive campus. Finally, paper towel use is not limited to drying hands. Picture a beautiful spring day in Kirksville. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and sinuses are running. Some of our poor allergy-afflicted peers really need to blow their noses before their next classes. They duck into the nearest restroom and, to their relief, there is a paper towel available to them. The case is not
EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501. The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of The Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions. Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor. LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar and spelling errors. Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinions editor and/or editor-in-chief. Submission does not guarantee publication. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by email to index.opinionseditor@gmail.com or online at tmn.truman.edu. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the email. Letters which are not submitted digitally will not be taken in consideration.
so for the paper towel-less campus, where sleeves, or worse, hands are the only option. In these circumstances, germs spread, creating a campus where sickness abounds. There’s also the instances where a deliciously-crafted Sodexo pizza splatters on your perfect outfit, leaving an embarrassing stain. A quick trip to the bathroom, coupled with a wet paper towel, provides an emergency measure for a stained article of clothing. Its opponent is left out to dry in this round. The further uses of paper towels are endless. Need a napkin? Paper towels. Want a handkerchief? Paper towels. Something to dispose of your gum? Paper towels. Need to clean your shoes? Ding, ding — we have a winner — paper towels. So it appears all of this hooplah surrounding hand dryers is nothing but hot air, and for all these reasons, nay-sayers really should throw in the towel. Paper towels are no wet blanket, providing a multi-use, efficient tool for our everyday bathroom needs. So hand dryers can hit the showers, as paper towels have everything we need in an easily-dispensed package. Let Truman never forget the debt of gratitude we owe to — nor forsake and replace — the real MVP, paper towels.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
NEWS IN BRIEF Public relations internship application open
“Shark Tank” entrepreneur to visit in spring
Photo donation honors university history
The public relations office is now accepting applications for spring 2018 interns. Public relations interns are responsible for helping plan events, including Lyceum performances. They help with Truman Today and alumni newsletters. Interns can earn 6-9 credits and work about 30 hours per week. The internship also requires students take two 3-credit courses during the semester. Applicants should have a background in writing and editing, as well as AP style proficiency. Applications are due to the public relations office in McClain Hall 202 no later than Nov. 4.
Daymond John, one of the hosts of “Shark Tank,” will give a presentation at 7:30 p.m. April 13 in Baldwin Auditorium. John is a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, a branding expert for FUBU clothing, the CEO of The Shark Group, author of “The Power of Broke,” and he’s member of the advisory board of Understood, an organization dedicated to fighting dyslexia. John’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs has brought him international recognition. The presentation is made possible through the Holman Family Distinguished Speakers Series, named in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda Holman, and funded through an endowment from the Truman State University Foundation.
Alumnus John R. Andrews donated a photo album to Truman State University with pictures from the 1860s and 1870s. The album contains photos of Joseph Baldwin, John R. Kirk and William P. Nason. The album also includes photos of faculty and staff from that time. Andrews’ hope for donating this album was to spark interest in the University’s history during its 150th anniversary celebration. The album is part of the University’s Special Collections and is currently on display in the Ruth W. Towne Museum & Visitors Center.
STUDENT INPUT | Student Senate presents resolution to host student forums Continued from page 1 Schmidt said different committee members who worked on each of the LSP proposals have attended Student Senate meetings this year to share each proposal. After hearing the proposals, Schmidt said Student Senate decided to write a resolution to request the Faculty Senate not take a final vote until students gave their input. During the meeting, Facutly Senate member Mary Shapiro, who worked on the summer committee for the LSP change, said part of the problem with including students is Truman State University has to adhere to certain standards. “I don’t want to do this thing where we’re like, ‘We invite you to come, give your input,’ knowing that we can’t possibly listen to you anyway — that’s just frustrating and insulting and doesn’t help anybody,” Shapiro said. Shapiro said she thinks more student involvement is needed in the process of creating the seminars the new curriculum might implement. Senior Keaton Leppanen, Student Senate speaker, said some faculty members argue students don’t need a say because it won’t affect current students. However, he said that’s an inaccurate view. “I would say that, yes, while we are not those future students, we are the most representative members of the current University of those students,” Leppanen said. “It’s our job as student government not only to represent the interest of current students, but also future students. And on top of that, a change of this magnitude will also affect our University’s reputation going forward.”
Student Senate will be hosting two student forums during homecoming week. The first will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Student Union Building 3203. There will be another 7-8 p.m. Oct. 11 in SUB 3203. Schmidt said the forums will include information on the different proposals, a time for questions and a survey for students to complete.
Photo by Brently Snead/TMN Academic adviser Jonathan Vieker, business professor Barbara Price and sophomore Deanna Schmidt attend the Sept. 28 Faculty Senate meeting.
Namaste Napal hosts Dashain Night
Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN Above: Namaste Nepal — Truman State University’s Nepali student group — hosted its annual Dashain Night Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Baptist Student Union. Namaste Nepal hosts two other annual events throughout the school year — Himalayan Night and Holi festival. Right: Dashain Night is a one-night event which coincides with the 15-day Dashain festival annually celebrated in Nepal. At Dashain Night, people participate in Nepali song and dance, and the members of Namaste Nepal serve traditional Nepali cuisine.
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The fly in the ointment “Good Kids” grapples with sexual assault, ethics of social media and moral ambiguity BY RACHEL FECHTER Features Editor With recent changes to Title IX as well as more people in society speaking out against sexual violence and asking questions about how social media plays a role in the process, the Truman State University Theatre Department put on its production of “Good Kids” last week to add to this conversation. “Good Kids” revolves around a group of high school students reacting to the video of an unconscious girl being raped which goes viral on social media. Written by Naomi Iizuka, “Good Kids” is loosely based on a 2012 rape case in Steubenville, Ohio. Director Dana Smith said she chose the play because she liked its nonlinear, artistic structure and the difficult questions it asked. Smith said while the play touched on darker themes, she thought the actors did a good job of separating the subject matter from reality and not getting too caught up in the play. Smith said the actors in the show had a dual persona on stage as both themselves and the characters they played. “By breaking the action once in awhile to just have the actors be actors, I was hoping to draw attention to the fact that this is hard, and these are just actors,” Smith said. “These are kids themselves — young people — who are tasked with taking on some very uncomfortable lines and actions, and I think they needed those moments of just breaking character and remembering, ‘This is not real.’” At one point in the play, a recording is played that is meant to be the sounds of the rape video of the main character. Smith said the two male actors who had to talk in this audio were affected by the script. Smith said while some of the more emotional scenes were difficult for the actors, the cast still found ways to keep from dwelling on the brutal subject matter or from becoming their characters off stage. Smith said she personally known of five or six sexual assaults involving Truman students during the last three years, and she said her limited exposure to campus lets her know sexual assault must be impacting other students as well. “I know that it’s an issue — that’s still a problem,” Smith said. “It’s an issue that people are still divided over. And I think that the play does a pretty good job of presenting the ambiguity of so much response to extreme reports, like the rape that is depicted in the show.” Smith said the Truman theatre department has always encouraged plays that ask difficult questions, and she said theater does not have to always be lighthearted and fun. Smith said she hopes the play started a dialogue after the curtains closed. “Theater is always the fly in the ointment,” Smith said. “Theater is always the prick of the conscious. It is the mosquito flying around in the
Photo by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN The “Good Kids” cast performs on stage at their opening night production. One of the shows included a talk with Title IX Officer Jamie Ball, Joe Hamilton, Assistant Director of University Counseling Services and Women’s Resource Center Director Nancy Daley-Moore.
Theater is always the fly in the “ointment ... It is the mosquito
flying around in the dark. A lot of people don’t understand that about theater. They think that theater is something that should make you feel good, and that is just really not the case — never has been.
”
-Director Dana Smith dark. A lot of people don’t understand that about theater. They think that theater is something that should make you feel good, and that is just really not the case — never has been.”
A talk-back panel with Title IX Officer Jamie Ball, Women’s Resource Center Director Nancy Daley-Moore and Joe Hamilton, assistant director of University Counseling Services,
Photo by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN
happened after one performance of “Good Kids.” Smith and Ball both said the timing of the play’s opening at the same time as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ announcement to amend Title IX was an interesting coincidence that might have sparked extra conversation about the topic of the play. Ball said she thought the talk-back was effective at creating a dialogue for sexual violence. She found it important that the story of “Good Kids” took place in a high school because, as a Title IX officer on a college campus, one of her biggest worries is that younger people are not having the same conversations about sexual assault. Ball said she thought the play did a good job touching on the bystander effect, moral ambiguity and pressures of social capital when reacting to and deciding to report a case of sexual violence. “One of the things I thought [the play] explored really effectively was the experience of slut-shaming, victim blaming [and] how that plays out — but then, the counterpoint of emphasizing that the victim in the play, the Chloe character, was passed out, not awake, unconscious, which is a definitive sort of line in the sand,” Ball said. Ball said audience members would focus on how the main character was dressed, but, at the end of the day, an unconscious person cannot consent to sex. She said it doesn’t matter if you didn’t like her outfit, it was still assault. Ball said she hopes this play will spark people’s interests in learning about and initiating conversations about Title IX. “It’s important for our community to engage and not just say, ‘Oh yay, Title IX. I support Title IX,’” Ball said. “If you have questions, criticisms about any sort of policy issue, I want to hear that too. So the increased awareness from every perspective I think is something that ultimately benefits everyone.” Cast member and dramaturg — or the one who does primary research and informs the cast about the background of the play — sophomore Austin Cable said sexual assault has occurred on high school and college campuses as long as those respective places have existed, but he said now we’re starting to see a lot of them in the media because people are standing up and speaking out. Cable said he liked that “Good Kids” added to a conversation of people standing up, fighting against and talking more about sexual violence and rape culture. “I think the play doesn’t shy away from rape culture at all,” Cable said. “I mean — this is a play that primarily deals with a rape but really doesn’t shy away from how. With social media, we’re all in one big conversation nowadays — and I think it reflects that — and rape culture has become an entirely new beast because of it.”
Cast members of “Good Kids” apply makeup before their opening night show. The cast members participated in a choric narration, with the characters often breaking the fourth wall in unison.
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Nursing majors gain experience in Philippines BY TRAVIS MAIDEN Staff Writer Truman State University nursing students took a 21-day trip to the Philippines last summer where they helped deliver newborn babies, had conversations about cultural appropriation, and were exposed to a foreign health care system. They left May 18 and returned June 11. Former Truman nursing professors Kit and Steve Hadwiger went with students to Iloilo City and the island of Boracay, a popular vacation spot. Senior Mallory Meyer said the trip was planned since they were freshmen. She said before their senior year, nursing students always knew the Philippines was an option, and it would be a wonderful experience. Every year, nursing students who have gone on the trip give a presentation about their experiences in the Philippines. “It looked like a great opportunity for learning more skills that we don’t get to see here,” Meyer said. “Otherwise, [nursing students] didn’t really get an opportunity to study abroad because [courses abroad don’t] really fit the nursing curriculum.” Meyer said 21 days was the longest she has ever been away from the United States and her family. She said being in a different time zone made it difficult to communicate with her family. Meyer said it was intimidating to work with the real nurses because she didn’t want to embarrass herself. She said they were helpful, and she never felt homesick because they were so welcoming. Meyer said for the first week they worked in government hospitals in Manila. She said if a nursing student was interested in a specific unit, they could request the government hospital assign them to it. “My first night was labor and delivery, and the biggest thing we got to do in the first week was deliver a baby,” Meyer said. “Each of us were able to deliver a baby, so that was super exciting. Labor and delivery isn’t really what I am interested in, but you’ll never get that experience ever again so it was really eye opening.”
I’m not speaking locally here, but I mean “America is a very different reality — socially, ec-
onomically, medically. And to go to another society and see how things operate there — they see what Filipinos have taken from us and utilized, but they also see what else they do that is different from what we do.
Submitted Photo
”
Seniors Mallory Meyer and Allison Lucash pose together. The two have grown close through the nursing program and went on the trip to the Philippines together.
-Former nursing professor Steve Hadwiger
is about as big as New York, and it’s crowded with a lot of people. I was relatively taken aback with how many people there were.” Lucash said she thinks the practice of nursing is universal. She said the experience made her more aware of nursing’s reality. Lucash said nursing is not about reading a textbook — it’s about helping people with care and compassion. Kit Hadwiger said she and her husband Steve Hadwiger have been part of the program since 1997. She said the health care system in the Philippines is different from America’s, so preparing the students to function in an unfamiliar environment is important. Kit Hadwiger said it is important for the students to have this study abroad program because the world has become so small with the introduction of the Internet. She said it is important to be culturally-sensitive to help the variety of patients they will take care of in the future. Steve Hadwiger said he had two goals in mind for the program — he wanted the students to learn cultural competence and to obtain a global perspective on health care. “It gives them a better understanding of that global perspective, and you cannot get that in the local hospital system,” Steve Hadwiger said. “I’m not speaking locally here, but I mean America is a very different reality — socially, economically, medically. And to go to another society and see how things operate there — they see what Filipinos have taken from us and utilized, but they also see what else they do that is different from what we do.”
Meyer said she could handle another international experience and improve. Meyer said it helped her realize how much she loves nursing and solidified her investment in caring for others. She said the Truman nursing students became very close because they were able to learn with one another. She said she cares more about what she does in the future than what grade she gets on a test. Meyer said there are differences in the culture, like the Philippines’ stronger emphasis on involving family members in the health care system. For example, she said where nurses might give baths to patients in the US — in the Philippines, that is a responsibility of the family. Senior Allison Lucash said nursing students don’t have a lot of study abroad opportunities, so the trip to the Philippines allowed students to see health care in a different culture. Lucash said the nursing students weren’t going to the Philippines to take classes. She said it was scary because they were using skills they felt confident in but were still developing. Lucash said nursing students were the minority, so they had to adapt to being stared at. Lucash said it was good that Manila and Iloilo were different because it let them see the differences between the urban and rural environments of the Philippines’ health care system. “When we were in Iloilo, we went to the villages and different communities,” Lucash said. “In Manila, we were working at the government hospital in the city. There was definitely that aspect of culture shock, because Manila
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“Live from Baghdad”
Movies About Journalism
This movie follows two Washington Post reporters investigating the Watergate Scandal. The scandal was prompted by the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate apartment complex in 1972 involving President Richard Nixon.
By Features Text Editor, Rachel Fechter
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“Citizen Kane” This 1941 classic follows journalist Charles Foster Kane’s journey from an ethical, truth-seeking professional to a ruthless, power-hungry millionaire.
2
“Spotlight”
5 w.t.f.
This movie follows a team of investigative reporters working for The Boston Globe in 2001, uncovering cases of child sexual assault in the Catholic church.
This movie highlights journalists covering the Persian Gulf War in 1991 for CNN. The station must grapple with the ethics and consequences of running on a 24 hour news cycle.
“Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”
This comedy follows a journalist who is put on a long term assignment in wartorn Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2003 who must learn to adapt to a new lifestyle in a foreign place from her comfortable life back in the United States.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
The Index
Tip of the Week Travel From Rosa Virgina Mendez, Interim Assistant Director of the Study Abroad Office
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“If you are interested in studying abroad and overwhelmed by the website, come to the Study Abroad Fair from 12 - 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 in the Student Union Building and visit with sponsors, faculty directors, and exchange and returnee students. When you are ready to apply for studying abroad, come to the study abroad office in Baldwin Hall 106.”
Entertaining Kingsman sequel does not live up to original BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer
An outlandish, disjointed and overlong film, Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” doesn’t recapture the tongue-in-cheek charm of the original, but is nonetheless entertaining. Picking up where 2014’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” left off, Kingsman, a United Kingdom-based spy organization, is faced with another global threat. An over-the-top villain, played by Julianne Moore, viciously targets Kingsman, forcing them to contact their American counterparts, the Statesman. Eggsy who is played by Taron Egerton, and Merlin who is played by Mark Strong, reluctantly team up with the Statesmen, whose nationalistic ideals and impoliteness contrast Kingsman’s formality and professionalism. To say that “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” is outrageous would be an understatement. Matthew Vaughn, who previously directed 2010’s “KickAss” and 2014’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” never shies away from irreverence in his films. Featuring profanity and ultraviolence, Vaughn’s films often have an excessive yet entertaining flair. From the first scene on, “The Golden Circle” is on par with the original’s craziness. The film proves exhausting by the end of its nearly 150-minute runtime. The Statesmen, agents with their southern slang and cowboy attitude, amusingly contrast the Kingsman agents, who possess a peculiar mixture of politeness and crudeness. Similar to the first film, “The Golden Circle” has the potential to offend just about every type of person. Targeting British and American stereotypes, the war on drugs, government officials, and mental illness, “The Golden Circle” embraces political incorrectness. While the original’s irreverence proved endearing, several sections of “The Golden
Circle,” played for laughs, serve little importance to the plot. One particular sequence halfway through the film involves Eggsy implanting a tracking device into a woman. This prolonged sequence feels distasteful, uncomfortable and sexist, reflecting Vaughn’s sporadically immature sensibilities. The original film handled its controversial scenes more skillfully. In “The Golden Circle,” by trying to one-up the original in terms of profanity, the film’s humor occasionally swerves into the realm of bad taste. The stylized action scenes, filmed with copious CGI, lend “The Golden Circle” the feel of an animated film. The characters perform incredible acrobatics and use ridiculously over-the-top weapons and gadgets. While undeniably impressive, “The Golden Circle” doesn’t contain a sequence as satisfying as the visceral, well-choreographed ultraviolence of the church showdown from the original film. Unfortunately, the film’s use of CGI proves distracting in several action scenes. In trying to make some fight scenes appear as one continuous take, Vaughn has the camera maneuver directly through the action, switching angles and transitioning into other locations. While initially visually appealing, the floaty camerawork proves difficult to follow. The film’s all-star cast, including Channing Tatum, Halle Berry and a clean-shaven Jeff Bridges, is surprisingly underused, with some actors only appearing in a few scenes. While Egerton, Strong and Colin Firth give solid performances, “The Golden Circle” doesn’t use the cast’s star power effectively. Shockingly, singer Elton John is featured more prevalently in the film than Tatum’s character. Though not as consistently entertaining as the original, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” should please viewers looking for a fun, action-packed spy adventure.
Midwest Antique Fest comes to NEMO Fairgrounds
Customers browse antiques, repurposed finds, artisan creations, and vintage and new items at the Midwest Antique Fest & Flea Market. The festival took place Sept. 29-30 at the NEMO Fairgrounds.
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN
Customers look at various new, antique, and repurpsoed jewelry and clothes inside the NEMO fairgrounds. Along with shopping, the festival included food and musical entertainment.
MOSI Art Guild hosts reception with members’ work
Left: Kirksville citizen Joel Cagle looks at artwork produced by members of the MOSI Art Guild. The artwork is currently on display in the Pickler Memorial Library Cafe. Bottom Left: MOSI member Denise Hilton stands proudly with her award. Hilton’s piece “Herron” came in first place at the reception. Bottom Right: MOSI member Barb Adams poses with her certificate. Adams’s piece “Doorway to Salvation,” was selected as the viewers choice.
Photos by Austin Dellamano/TMN
The Index
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
Questions on The Quad What is your favorite class you’re taking this semester and why?
John Giesey, sophomore
“Probably CHEM 131. I’m a bio-premed major, so there’s not a whole lot of interesting classes I guess … but [chemistry’s] always kind of interesting — especially when you know what’s going on — just because it’s explaining the natural world.”
“I’ve just gone out to a field outside Kirksville, and I’ve had a lot of fun in just random fields. You just get some friends and a blanket and stargaze, or do other activities, and that can be a lot of fun.”
What production would you like to see Truman’s theater department put on this year?
“I’m really not a cultured person in terms of theater. I don’t know. Whatever the kids are talking about, I guess.”
“My favorite class is perspectives in classical music, I would say, because it’s something I haven’t studied before. And because it’s such new material, it’s more interesting to learn.”
“I would say maybe the conservation area where there’s the Smokey the Bear statue and the woodchip trails or the A.T. Still trails. I run back there with my team, and it’s an area where, if you didn’t really have someone telling you where it is, you probably wouldn’t find it, and it’s really pretty.”
“I’ve seen a couple productions this year. I think, for me, anything comedic, I don’t have necessarily a particular show in mind. I love a good comedy.”
“I guess my senior [seminar] class with D’Agostino. He’s a nut. He’s amazing. I’m excited about my project because I’m asking people questions about their profile and their character. It’s a cool environment to be in.”
“The Oscar Weinermobile. It’s always parked by the Kraft factory, and it’s kind of neat to just ride by or get a picture with it. It’s usually at the New Student Welcome and for special events.”
“I guess one I would like to see is maybe ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ but I doubt they can do that because of copyright things, but that’d be interesting.”
“My favorite class I’m taking is my English class because I like the books we’re reading. It’s world English literature. It’s just contemporary books from different cultures.”
“I think the Mexican restaurant La Fuente because no one from Truman goes there. Everyone goes to [El Vaqero,] but La Fuente is cheaper, and all Mexican food kind of tastes the same, so probably that one.”
“I’d really like for them to do ‘Les Mis.’ I feel like it’s too difficult, probably, but it’s really good.”
Kelly Doerr, sophomore
Phoebe Mellovitz, senior
What is a hidden gem, or cool place that a lot of people might not know in Kirksville?
Annika Eckenrode, senior
Throwback Thursday Lee Moody bridges racial gaps in 1969 In 1969, the State College Index did a human interest profile on then senior Lee Moody, a 22-year-old speech correction major from St. Louis. Moody was an asset to Northeast Missouri State University’s campus as the president of NEMO singers, president of Oral Interpretors, member of college players, treasurer of Baptist Student Union, and member of the track and field team. Moody captivated the attention of student media for being one of the few African American students at Northeast Missouri State University to bridge racial gaps in the arts, especially theater. “I feel that acting, dramatics and public performances are all mediums to help bridge the gap between black and white,” Moody said in the March 19, 1969 issue of the State College Index. “The basic conflict, between the races, is due to ignorance. This has grown from a negative background. Black is not only negative as color but also negative as being ... If people like a performance, they may wish to express congratulation and then discover an individual’s worth, and forfeit the negative ideals they were raised with.”
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The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
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‘Dogs fall to No. 10 UIndy BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer
The Truman State University Bulldogs quickly scored on their first two possessions — making it 10-0 — against the University of Indianapolis, but the Greyhounds came out on top, winning 34-19 against the Bulldogs in last Saturday’s football game. Senior defensive back Jordan Brown said the punt return from UIndy was a momentum changer for the game, but he said he thinks they played a tough game. “For the most part, I feel as if we played well,” Brown said. “We forced turnovers and tackled very well against two of the best running backs in the GLVC. We just let up too many explosive plays that are easily correctable.” Head coach Gregg Nesbitt said it was the most competitive game the ‘Dogs have played with Indianapolis, who is currently undefeated and in the top 10 nationally. The Greyhound offense is the best in the GLVC, averaging 35.8 points per game, 180 rushing yards per game and 11.2 yards per passing play. Nesbitt said there were too many critical errors in multiple areas of the game. He said the Truman defense played well against the UIndy offense, but not well enough to win the game. The Bulldogs were only able to limit the Greyhounds to 10 points and 75 yards below their season average. Moving forward, Nesbitt said the key is to improve as a whole. He said very few teams are able to maintain focus, health and a positive attitude, but that is the goal for the rest of the 2017 season. Freshman tight end Jake Ellis said playing as a true freshman as opposed to taking a redshirt year has been a good experience because of the high level of competition. He said the biggest difference from high school to college football is the physicality of the game. Ellis said the team’s consistency is something it can improve in all three phases from the UIndy game. After seven of the last eight games being on the road, Nesbitt said this upcoming game against Southwest Baptist University on Saturday feels like the real home opener for the ‘Dogs, especially because the only home game was delayed by thunderstorms. It will be the first of two games between the top 2 teams in the GLVC last season. The game starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 7 at Stokes Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Freshman midfielder Paige Peterson crosses a Maryville defender as she pushes the ball up field. Peterson led the Bulldogs in this match with four attempts and one attempt on goal. The Bulldogs were not able to score.
Women’s soccer uses bench BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer The Truman State University women’s soccer team is confident going into this weekend despite not winning last weekend. The Bulldogs lost to Maryville University 0-1 and tied University of Missouri-St. Louis 0-0. Head coach Mike Cannon is pleased with the direction the team is going, even though the last two games did not go the Bulldogs’ way. The Bulldogs only allowed two goals during the past six games — with four games ending in shutouts — winning four straight games in that period. Cannon said the team’s success stems from the experience the freshmen players obtained this season. “[We] gained valuable experience for our freshmen wingbacks along with our back four [defenders] getting used to playing with each other game after game now,” Cannon said. “Stepping into a big role as a freshman can be a tough thing to do, but there is no better way to learn than to be thrown into it.” Cannon said more women have played this season than in the past. After not winning in the first four
games, Cannon said he wanted to see what the bench players could contribute. All seven freshmen have played at least 90 minutes in the whole season. Cannon said freshmen like defenders Leah Bolskar and Camryn Sprague and midfielder Allie Cook have stepped into big roles early in their careers, replacing five seniors who scored a combined seven goals last season. He said stepping in for an experienced veteran is tough situation for any young player, but the team has performed well. “As a freshman, getting this much experience has been huge,” Bolskar said. “I am continuing to learn and hope to keep making a positive impact for my team.” Redshirt junior defender Laura Ney said team chemistry is a crucial element they needed to be successful. She said the Bulldogs’ team chemistry has been growing this season, allowing the team to make strides toward success. “We have really been focusing on working together as a team … the defense has finally settled in and has really started to click,” Ney said. The Bulldogs will travel to Lebanon, Illinois, and then Evansville,
Indiana, to play two opponents this weekend — McKendree University Friday, Oct. 6, and the University of Southern Indiana Sunday, Oct. 8.
Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Redshirt junior defender Laura Ney searches for a teammate as she throws the ball in play Sunday.
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The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
Men lose a couple close matches
Men’s soccer lose their fifth consecutive match continuing to allow late goals. Despite matching opponents’ totals with 55 shots in the last five matches, the Bulldogs have been shut out in three of the five games.
Sophomore forward Matt Yankowitz battles for possession against a Maryville University defender. Yankowitz accounted for one of Truman’s eight shots in the 1-0 loss.
Photos by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Freshman midfielder Ian McCluskey bumps a header pass toward Truman’s net amidst the Maryville University challengers. Maryville scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute.
BULLETS | Truman Bullets rugby opened its season with many new players Continued from page 12 The Bullets receive funding for their team through the Funds Allotment Council each year, which covers expenses for equipment and travel. The women fundraise additional money for travel. The team does not have a head coach, as it is player-coached — graduate student Breanne Durovic coaches the forwards, and senior Isis Baker coaches the backs. Hill said this coaching dynamic does not create tension or drama. “We understand that we elected our coaches, and we know that we have to listen to them because we have chosen them to be the leaders of our team, and most of the time they are the ones
playing with us, so it’s just knowing that we have trusted them to choose what is best for the team,” Hill said. Last year, the Bullets made it to regionals for the first time in four years. To make it to postseason, the Bullets must have one of the top 2 records in their conference to have a chance to play a game to get into regionals. To be successful this year, senior Maddie Moran said the team is focusing on specific strategies on both sides of the ball. “We are developing a strategy that utilizes both our strength and speed in all positions that leads to an aggressive and explosive offense,” Moran
said. “We are working on a defense that reads the field and reacts to offensive breaks quickly.” Moran said if the team plays at the level it has been practicing, it should make it to regionals again. Moran said the team’s schedule will look different this year because two new schools joined the conference. John Brown University from Arkansas and Kansas State University recently joined the Heart of America Rugby Football Union, and Moran said they will provide solid competition. The Bullets travel to the University of Missouri this weekend for their next game. The only home game for the Bullets will be Nov. 4 against Benedictine University.
Mark Your Calendar American Rhapsody: The Gershwin Songbook Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Oct. 6, 2017
Christmas from Ireland Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Nov. 10, 2017
Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band
2017 - 2018 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Jan. 12, 2018
Golden Dragon Acrobats Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 Tickets will be for sale starting Friday, Feb. 2, 2018
Truman State University’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series’ goal is to broaden the cultural experience of the community through speakers, dance, music and drama. General admission tickets for all Kohlenberg Lyceum events are $5.50 (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. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. in Baldwin Auditorium. Questions regarding the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series can be directed to the Public Relations Office at pr@truman.edu or (660) 785-4016.
The Index
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
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Five Bulls named Heart of America All-Stars Truman men’s rugby team traveled to Aspen, Colorado, to participate in national tournament
BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer Five of Truman State University’s club rugby players traveled to Colorado to participate in the 50th annual Aspen Ruggerfest Tournament as part of a team of select members in their conference Sept. 14-17. Among the Truman athletes selected to the tournament were seniors Michael Sit, Eann Diller and Torin Halbert, junior Connor Flairty, and sophomore Caleb Longley. Truman’s players were part of the Heart of America All-Star team, a selection of 31 of the best athletes in the Heart of America region. The All-Stars competed against high-end Colorado rugby teams like the Denver Barbarians and the Glendale Raptors. The competition was fierce and, though the All-Star team lost the tournament, Truman head coach Bill Sexton said the team showed good effort and gained experience. Sexton said Truman rugby accepts anyone interested in playing, but dedication and experience determine which players go to Aspen. Sexton said the All-Star team and Truman’s players performed admirably, and he said they played close games against high-level teams, forcing them to substitute rather than face defeat. Posting scores of 18-3 against Denver and 21-13 against Glendale, the All-Stars went 0-2 in the preliminary round but had the closest point differential of the 0-2 teams, leading the All-Stars to face off against Aspen’s team — the Gentlemen of Aspen. Overall, Sexton said the team had a great time, played at a high level and performed quite well. “The important thing for us was to play at a level of competition that really raised our level of play,” Sexton
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said. “We face against Big Ten, Big 12 teams, and we’re going toe-to-toe with these schools. But our main goal is having fun and improving ourselves.” Rugby Recruitment Chair Connor Flairty said rugby teams are divided into separate tiers similar to Div. I, II and III of other college sports, but the different tiers do not necessarily reflect the size of each university’s student body. For example, Truman’s conference — the Heart of America Conference — is a Div. 1-AA conference. Truman shares the division with University of Missouri, Kansas State University, University of Kansas and several other Div. I schools. Though the Heart of America All-Star team featured the best players in the conference, Flairty said the rugby community in Aspen came out in full force. “There’s a big difference in level of play,” Flairty said. “The Ruggerfest tournament was composed of men’s clubs, as well as a couple college clubs … Obviously, the guys we competed against in Aspen were bigger, faster and stronger than most of us have seen before. There are even a lot of international players that come by — which is nice. Being able to take what you learn from those teams and apply it to college rugby is really good, and it really prepares you for the season and makes me a far better rugby player.” Club rugby President Michael Sit said he agreed with Flairty’s position on dedication to the game and commitment. Sit said attendance and game performance are intricately linked, where dedication is key for a positive performance. He said it’s always a matter of building up the team — new or less-dedicated players might be inclined to not commit as much time — if somebody loves the sport, they will see it through. Sit said
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dedication to the sport builds camaraderie between players, and not always with just one team — in the case of the All-Star team, players from different schools can bond over rugby. “Before, we only played together as opposing teams,” Sit said. “But that weekend, we trained together,
practiced together as a team, and competed against some of the, best teams in the nation ... With Rugby you’re able to get a tight-knit support network going — definitely at your school — and sometimes with members of the clubs you’ve gone up against.”
Photo by Kennedy Martin/TMN The Bulls All-Stars and head coach Bill Sexton gather at the pitch in Aspen, Colorado. The five men were selected to compete on a team of 31.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017
Submitted Photo Dressed in purple and orange, Truman State University Bullets participate in a scrum with John Brown University last weekend. The Bullets compete again this weekend at the University of Missouri.
Young Bullets begin season BY STEPHANIE HULETT Staff Writer
Truman State University’s women’s rugby team, the Bullets, looks to teach its rookies the aspects of the game to fill the shoes of seniors the team graduated. Sophomore Hannah Reid said rookies make up half the team because they recruited a lot of new players this year. She said this gives the team a lot of learning to do, but she said so far they are seeing good adaptation from the newcomers. “We lost a lot of really committed seniors last year, and we have had to replace some really prominent posi-
GLVC in search of student ambassadors BY PATRICK PARDO Staff Writer The GLVC is offering students learning opportunities and experience through the return of its GLVC Sports Network Extra Credit Student Ambassador Program. The GLVCSN extra credit program offers students from any major the opportunity to gain experience in broadcasting, production, print media, digital media and social media. The different jobs are designed to keep people updated nationwide with their favorite GLVC schools, including Truman State University Bulldogs. The volunteer program will provide professional development in areas of GLVC brand awareness, recruitment, marketing, promotions, social media and communication as well as assessment and feedback to GLVC staff. Student responsibilities and duties will include staffing information tables, running campus events and wearing sponsored T-shirts, according to an email from GLVC Associate Commissioner Jeff Smith. Smith said the participants will also coordinate “GLVCSN Night” promotions at four varsity events throughout the school year. The events will involve posting on GLVCSN social media and providing feedback to the conference and athletic department about their ambassador experience. After its birth at the 2015 GLVC men’s and women’s basketball tournament — in which students took over coverage for two games — the program has added students from four other campuses. Truman Director of Athletics Communication Kevin White said he would love to see the program adopted on Truman’s campus and see students take advantage of what could be a valuable experience. “Our goal is really about offering students a chance to get involved,” White said. “We are aimed at really trying to make that connection with communication and journalism majors, or really anyone who is interested in this type of work.” White said more coverage opportunities will be present for undervalued sports teams at Truman with the extra help from students participating in the GLVCSN Extra Credit program. The GLVSCSN Extra Credit program will let students take full control over the coverage of games, giving them a realistic experience of what it’s like to manage the way media is consumed. VOLUME 109
ISSUE 7
tions this year that we have relied on a lot,” Reid said. The Bullets lost their second match of the season to John Brown University Sept. 30. They have four more competitive contests and one alumni match in the next five weeks before they play at least three tournaments in the spring. Reid said the John Brown game was a huge test for defense and a great learning opportunity for the team. “[John Brown University] has been doing ridiculously well, and we knew it was going to be a tough game,” Reid said. “It was a lot, physically, for us because we played defensively almost the entire 80 minutes, but it was definitely a learning experience.”
Senior JoAnna Hill said the team prepares for the physical matches during its three weekly practices. She said the first half of practice is spent on conditioning because players are more likely to get hurt if they get tired. Hill said the team focuses on players’ positions the last half of practice so they become accustomed to their individual duties. “We split up and do our individual things because the backs do a lot more running and drill running, whereas the forwards are doing a lot of tackling and a lot of contact because we are generally the ones who do tackling on the field,” Hill said. See BULLETS, page 10
Transfer George debuts at No. 2 for the Purple and White BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer The Truman State University women’s golf team is off to a strong start this season — especially with the addition of junior Montana George. After a record breaking performance two weeks ago, George joined the Truman lineup for the first time last weekend to be the Bulldogs’ second best finisher and help the ‘Dogs reset their program record. George transferred to Truman after spending two years at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She said she wanted to attend a junior college to play golf for two years, but then started looking into other schools after a year and a half. Besides golf, George said she chose Truman because of its education and community size. She said she is hoping to get into a graduate program for either physical therapy or pharmacy school. Though she said Truman has been a big change, she said she is getting acclimated quite nicely. “It’s different — it’s a lot harder,” George said. “It’s a prestigious school, but that’s why I came here, for a good education.” Along with the changes in her surrounding environment, the game of golf has, at times, come as a challenging adjustment. George said every dynamic of the school and team is different from her previous experience, including the build of Truman’s home golf course at the
Kirksville Country Club. After having time to adjust, George said she finally earned her spot and was given an opportunity in a tournament. “When I finally got to compete, I played very well,” George said. “I am proud of myself for taking the opportunity and doing as well as I could. I put up my best two-day round ever.” George said her two-day score was second on the team, so she said she’s excited about that success and what’s to come in her future. One thing George said she has been focusing on this season is her mentality. George said she does not consider herself a mentally tough person, but said before the tournament she prepared more than normal. George she said she attributes a lot of her success to staying calm. “I think that helped me a lot because when you struggle on a hole in golf, you can’t just give up and get mad, or your whole game goes into the trash,” George said. “You have to stay persistent and keep a positive attitude, and I feel like that’s what really helped me.” George said she has been doing research for her mental game by reading books, articles and finding ways to boost her confidence. While mentality has been a main focus for her, head coach Clint Fitzpatrick thinks her biggest assets are her demeanor and experience on the course. Fitzpatrick said junior college transfers are not typical additions to Truman’s golf team, but he said George has been a pleasant surprise.
“She has played extremely well in some very important events in her college career already, so she is not intimidated or overwhelmed with whatever she faces,” Fitzpatrick said. “She is calm and cool under pressure and relies on her past successes to get her through adversity.” Fitzpatrick said George was successful on the greens last weekend, and he said George has made a commitment to the team and has a desire to be a part of Truman’s golf culture. He said he has enjoyed watching George’s game start to come together in these early months. Fitzpatrick said for the Purple and White, George’s top-score helped the team surpass its previous record. With the growing success and attention surrounding the golf team in 2017, Fitzpatrick said he thinks George is capable of handling the pressure that might come along with joining the rotation of a team that is performing at a high level. Looking forward, George said she has high hopes for the rest of the season and plans to work on improving in all aspects of her game. She said her personal goal is to keep going to tournaments and playing to the best of her ability. George said her father always told her to not try to beat everyone, but instead focus on playing to the best of her ability. In using this as her personal motto, she said she hopes to keep breaking her own records and helping her team the best she can.
Submitted Photo Junior Montana George made her Truman State University Bulldog debut at last weekend’s MIAA Fall Preview at Northwest Missouri State University. George recorded the second best for score for the ‘Dogs, tying for 21st overall. tmn.truman.edu
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