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Candidates begin campaigns for State Senate seat BY SETH WOLFMEYER Editor-In-Chief Four Republican candidates have announced their intentions to run for the District 18 Missouri State Senate seat. Brian Munzlinger currently holds the seat but will be unable to run again because of term limits, which let a person serve no
Abby Wambach to visit Truman
more than two terms as a state senator. Munzlinger was elected without opposition the last time the seat was up for election in 2014. District 18 consists of 14 counties, which includes Adair County. The four candidates include State Representatives Nate Walker and Craig Redmon from Kirksville, State Representative Lindell Shumake from
Hannibal, Missouri, and businesswoman Cindy O’Laughlin from Shelbina, Missouri. Walker was the last candidate to announce his intention to run. Despite his late announcement, Walker has the most support of the four candidates among voters at 20 percent, according to a poll by the Remington Research Group.
Shumake followed close behind Walker with 18 percent, Redmon received 13 percent and O’Laughlin received 6 percent. At the time of the poll, 43 percent of voters remained undecided, according to the Kirksville Daily Express. This year’s primary election will be Aug. 7, and the general election will take place on Nov. 6.
Perkins Loan Program ends
BY SETH WOLFMEYER Editor-In-Chief Abby Wambach, retired professional soccer player and two-time gold medalist, will be speaking Thursday, Nov. 9, as the Student Activities Board’s fall speaker. Wambach will give her speech at 7 p.m. in Baldwin Auditorium. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the speech will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Tickets are available for free with a student ID at the SAB office in the Student Union Building. Before her retirement in 2015, Wambach scored 184 goals total — more than anyone in international soccer history — ending her career with two gold medals as part of the United States women’s soccer team and receiving the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year Award. Last year, Wambach published a memoir titled “Forward,” which broadens Wambach’s identity further as an author, according to National Public Radio. The memoir became a New York Times bestseller and includes stories of her childhood, romantic relationships and struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. The SAB takes feedback and suggestions about past and future events through its website at sab.truman.edu.
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Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Students work in Pickler Memorial Library at Truman State University. The discontinuation of the federal Perkins Loan program might result in a loss of fiancial aid for hundreds of Truman students. BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor The Federal Perkins Loan Program — a campus-based federal loan program administered by many universities, including Truman State University — has expired, and Congress has not renewed it. While renewal is still possible, the funds will be unavailable to students after the current school year if the program is not renewed. Four hundred to 500 Truman students receive Perkins Loans, totalling up to $800,000 yearly. This money is meant for low-income students in addition to federal direct loans and Pell Grants. Financial aid director Kathy Elsea said Perkins Loans are federal loans, but they are separate from federal direct loans. The University administers the loans and they are taken out of a revolving fund, which means the money paid back is distributed to other students. Elsea said the fund is self-sustaining and does
not cost the federal government anything beyond the initial seed money given to the University when the fund was established. Elsea said the program was established so it would expire if it was not renewed by Congress. No renewal action was taken by the Sept. 30 deadline. However, Elsea said this is not the first time the program has expired. In 2015, the program expired, but was reinstated for a two-year extension in December of that year, with additional restrictions. The loans are no longer available to graduate students, and students may not change majors while receiving the loans. “It didn’t look good last time, but we got it back,” Elsea said. “It’s that same thing. It doesn’t look good, but it’s possible.” Elsea said 428 Truman students have received Perkins Loans for this semester. She said there is no interest on the loan while the student is in school and for a nine-month period following graduation. After the grace
period ends, interest is 5 percent. Elsea said while there is support for the program from both parties in Congress, some politicians favor a transition to a single loan program as opposed to the multiple loans the federal government currently has available. “[Sen.] Lamar Alexander is one of the senators that’s been around forever,” Elsea said. “He keeps pushing for one loan, one grant, that type of thing. So his thinking was to get away from … the Perkins Loan and just have the federal direct loan. But there’s no proposal to increase the amounts you can borrow under the federal direct loan. So you go to a one-loan program, that means less money for students.” Regina Morin, vice president for enrollment management, said the Perkins Loan is a campus-based loan students apply for when they file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid along with college work study and supplemental grants. See PERKINS, page 2
VPSA search continues with new committee
BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor
Six applicants have been chosen for interviews to fill Truman State University’s open vice president for student affairs position. After an unsuccessful search for a candidate to replace Lou Ann Gilchrist during the summer, Gilchrist postponed her retirement until after the fall semester. A new search committee was formed in September, which called for applicants and is now in the process of selecting candidates for a video interview. Search Advisory Committee Chair Elizabeth Clark said the committee is
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 10 © 2017
aiming to have someone in the position by January, but it is more important the person chosen for the position is a good fit for Truman. “Our primary concern is having the right person for Truman, rather than rushing to make sure we have someone in place January 1 or January 15,” Clark said. “If, for some reason, the person who is the right person for us would not be available until May or June, we would manage that.” Clark said the committee has chosen six candidates to contact for an online interview before bringing anyone to campus, and the committee is currently trying to schedule the interviews. See VPSA, page 2
Photo by Nicolas Telep/TMN Students working in the Center for Student Involvement office in the Student Union Building. CSI is one of the programs a new vice president for student affairs would oversee.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
ABC hosts conversation about race
Top left: Members of the Association of Black Collegians deliver opening remarks at “Let’s Talk About it: A Conversation About Race.” The Multicultural Affairs Center co-sponsored the event which featured a panel discussing racial issues nationally and on Truman State University’s campus. Bottom left: Freshman Noorah Amin (left) and junior Valerie Alvarado lead discussion at the Conversation About Race. The event was hosted in Violette Hall 1000 on Thursday, Oct. 26. Bottom right: Brad Turnbull, Multicultural Affairs Center program coordinator, moderated the panel discussion. The panel was made up of seven students.
Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN
VPSA | Search to fill position continues Continued from page 1 Clark said the candidates were being evaluated on criteria outlined in the position’s ad. She said each of the candidate’s attributes will be considered, including their experience, their philosophy for managing student affairs and their interactions with students. Candidates were required to submit a one-page philosophy statement as part of their application materials, according to the advertisement posted online. “We want someone who is wellversed in the challenges that are facing higher education as a whole,” Clark said. “We want someone who is well-versed in the challenges related to student affairs in general, and we want somebody who has done some research and knows something about Truman and Truman students and the kinds of experiences and challenges our students have had over the last several years.” Clark said online interviews will take some time, and the committee will have to coordinate schedules with each candidate. She said once the online interviews are done, finalists will be invited to interview for the position on campus.
PERKINS | As federal program goes unrenewed, students are left with fewer options for aid Continued from page 1 Morin said these programs are intended for the students with the most need. Morin said the University is not allowed to lend out any of the money after September 2017 because the program has expired. However, the University can dispense funds to students for next semester, which is considered the second half of a fullyear loan. Morin said unlike Pell Grants and direct loans, institutions have more control on the amount of money they award students in campus-based aid, including Perkins Loans. She said the average loan is $1,800-2,000. She said the program is especially helpful for students who have so much need they will not be able to pay the cost of attendance, even with the maximum federal aid award. She said Perkins Loans can be used to make up some of the difference. “It’s kind of a conundrum that Congress would not extend a program that is clearly helping so many
students, and it’s not taking additional federal dollars,” Morin said. “This is a fund that, if they were going to worry about federal dollars … this is the one they should worry about the least because it’s the same dollars, and we’re doing all the work for the federal government.” Morin said there was a large push from Truman for the program to be extended, as the University does not have the funds to replace the money that will be lost when the Perkins program expires. She also said advocates have proposed an alternative plan, one that combines all campusbased loan programs into a single program. Morin said she hopes the program will be replaced with something better, so institutions effectively distribute federal education funds to students. Rhoda Kennard, Perkins and Nursing Loan counselor, said it has not been decided whether or not Truman would have to return its Perkins funding to the federal government. She said if the University does not have to turn over its funds,
disbursements will end June 30, but the loans will be repaid as usual. However, that money will not be available to incoming students. Kennard said there is a bill before Congress to reinstate the program, but there is no guarantee it will be renewed. She said the revolving fund is made up of federal funds and University funds, but there has been no additional funding for the past 10 years. “Right now, Congress and the Department [of Education] have no plan in place to replace these funds,” Kennard said. “So they don’t have a plan in place to increase the amount of direct loans you can get or increasing Pell Grants. They don’t have anything in its place. Basically, this money just goes away.” Kennard said students who would usually receive Perkins Loans might not be able to continue their education under these circumstances. They might also have to take time off to earn money before coming back to school or take out private loans.
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 Copy Chief MacKenna Palazza Assistant Copy Chief Trevor Hamblin
Photo Editor Bethany Travis Design Chief Mariah Radle Distribution Manager Jessica Rose Staff Writers Jase Willhite, Ashley
Murphy, Kennedy Martin, Paul Province, Patrick Pardo, Stephanie Hulett, Brooke Bailey, Curt Wichmer, Kayla Perkins, Spencer Foust, Johanna Burns, Travis Maiden, Ryan Pivoney, Dana Bartch, Gordon McPherson, Justin Newton, Aura Martin
Copy Editors Katie Puryear, Bethany Spitzmiller, Ellen Thibodeau, Allyson Lotz, Julianna Foster, Elise Hughes, Cara Quinn Cartoonists Annie Kintree, August Davis Designers Clarissa Todd, Lawrence Hu, Georgia Gregory, Maddie Kamp, Emmett Divendal, Emily Taylor Photographers Lawrence Hu, Athena Geldbach, Austin Dellamano, Daniel Degenhardt, Hannah Ahlenius, Samantha Garrett Distribution Representatives Greta Roettegen, Amanda Claywell
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
[ Our View ]
Missouri should focus on current infrastrcture
There’s been a lot of talk about bold projects which could happen in Missouri. Recently, it was announced Missouri is one of the top 5 contenders for the first hyperloop, which would span from Kansas City to St. Louis and allow citizens to travel between the two cities in a fraction of the time a typical drive takes. A hyperloop is a form of transportation that uses electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. The vehicle essentially floats above the track through the use of magnetic levitation, which causes it to glide at airline speeds for long distances. In addition to the hyperloop, Gov. Eric Greitens asked Amazon to consider placing its second headquarters in Missouri because the hyperloop is a possibility, which might appeal to Amazon. It’s easy to get excited about these new ideas that could help the state’s economy. However, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and look at what the state is currently dealing with. We, The Index Editorial Board, think Missouri should not forget the current infrastructure issues we face. In 2013, Missouri received a below-average rating for its overall infrastructure, according to a report from the federal government. In an updated report, 24 percent of the state’s roads were said to be in poor condition, meaning they ranked low in safety, resilience and other aspects. Last week, The Index printed a story about how the Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Kirksville have put in requests for two federal grants to help improve the conditions of U.S. Highway 63. If federal funds are necessary to take care of our current infrastructure, we need to take a serious look at the issues we already have before rushing into new projects. We’re not saying it isn’t worth looking ahead and continuing to make advancements — a hyperloop would be a huge addition to Missouri. The state just needs to remember that many would still be reliant on our current roads.
Degree Works isn’t perfect — use your resources BY TREVOR HAMBLIN Assistant Copy Chief
I thought Degree Works would never let me down. After all, it was the system I was referred to since freshman year to plan out classes and check my degree progress. We were all taught how to use the system as freshmen, so that we could prepare for our class loads in the future. I had no reason to distrust the system — it had worked every time before. So it caught me off guard when Degree Works — which said I only needed nine credits of communication electives — said I still needed four more in addition to my current nine. Given the communication department’s preference for three-cred-
it-hour courses, this was two more classes than I had originally planned. My adviser was not well informed on how to resolve this situation. I was, in fact, the fourth student to come to him with this exact concern — and he still had students to meet with. He said it was likely because the credits required for the communication major had to be shifted after the department changed the capstone to two credits instead of four, but he had never been given the specifics on the change. Upon examination of the catalog — admittedly an underutilized resource — I found the reason for the discrepancy. While there are 13 total credits needed, nine of those must be at the 300 level or higher, thus the confusing description on Degree Works. But this leaves me with another question —
why is it 13 credits? Almost all of the classes in the major are three credit hours, meaning the student must either take 15 credit hours, or find a way around the requirement, such as an extra practicum or a readings course. The requirements for a student’s major are some of the most straightforward things an institution should provide its students. Students should never be left with uncertainties about their major requirements, as it is easily one of the most important factors in picking classes. In my case, I purposefully registered for a lighter load this semester, thinking I was closing in on my requirements — I certainly hadn’t planned on two or three extra classes next semester. What I’m saying is Truman State
University needs to re-evaluate its methods of informing students about major requirements. Sure, the catalog does have some of this information, but that has rarely been an option suggested to students because we’re told to use those other two sources. This means many students often forget that it contains that information at all. Clearly, some of this confusion is my own fault. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have been made clearer or explained in more detail to me earlier, and it doesn’t mean I can’t warn those of you not graduating next semester to plan ahead. Don’t repeat my mistake — check with multiple sources, and make sure you double check your math. You might just save yourself the headache later on.
“Ozarks” inaccurately portrays Missouri culture
BY KORBIN KELLER Staff Writer
During the summer, Netflix unveiled a crime drama with a hook I couldn’t ignore — a show set in Missouri’s own Lake of the Ozarks. Although it is certainly no “Breaking Bad,” it was enjoyable enough for me to finish the season. However, as a Missouri native, I could not overlook a brazen fault of the show. The Missouri represented in “Ozarks” is one many Missouri natives wouldn’t recognize, portraying the state and its people as so basic and simple-minded that they border on being condescending. Financial adviser Martin “Marty” Byrd launders money for Mexico’s second largest drug cartel — and it’s very important to understand it’s the secondlargest cartel — in Chicago. That is until the cartel boss discovers Marty’s partners had stolen $8 million from the cartel without his knowledge. Needless to say, the boss is not happy and executes Marty’s partners. Marty was only able to save himself from death by selling a potential money laundering scheme in the Lake of the Ozarks. As described by Marty, Lake of the Ozarks is a cash-driven tourist hotspot that would be ideal for laundering dirty money. The cartel boss promises to spare Marty’s life and his family’s if he is able to gain enough money. However, the show’s portrayal of Missouri seems like what the West Coast, East Coast or Chicago elite would think Missouri is like — a crime-ridden, impoverished area with thick southern drawls and a peculiar fixation on hillbillies and rednecks. You could walk into a corner store one minute and walk out the next with a fully-automatic rifle, no questions asked. The show’s Missouri looks like a stereotypical portrayal of West Virginia, rather than what the state
of Missouri actually looks like. As someone who regularly visits the Lake of the Ozarks, I can tell you that, yes, there are seedier portions of it, but the town isn’t just some backwoods area like the show would lead you to believe. “Ozarks” does make the point that people of all walks of life frequent the Lake, yet continues to portray the state of Missouri as one big hillbilly backdrop. Furthermore, Marty’s interactions with all of the Missourians he encounters make it look like they are simple-minded and naive. The show makes an effort to portray Marty and his cunning attitude as simply as being “that smart,” but rather often portrays instead that Missourians are simply “that dumb.” It seems that Missourians are no match for the intellectual prowess of a Chicago native. And then there are the residential area crime lords of the show, the Hansens. The Hansens are unhappy with Marty and his Mexican employers coming to the town and interfering with their heroin farming. First of all, Missouri’s chief drug operation is meth, not heroin, and second of all, the Hansens are just an offensive stereotype of Missourians — offensive not in the sense that it’s hurtful, but that it’s inaccurate. Thick Appalachian accents, simple ways and a primal viciousness make them dangerous. It all just comes off as condescending. I do not entirely belittle “Ozarks” — it has moments that would make any Missourian smile. The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals rivalry is joked about, references to “Mizzou” are cracked, and a shot of one of the state’s many “choose life” billboards made me chuckle. Although no one has yet to utter “ohp,” the few genuine Missouri moments were refreshing. However, these moments are too few and far between. It’s a shame I had to wait so long for a show set in Missouri and still find myself waiting for that show to happen. “Ozarks’” Missouri just seems to be a cookedup idea of what Missouri is like to someone who has never lived here.
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.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
calendar Nov. 5
Nov. 4 Cantoria Concert 8 - 9:30 p.m. Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall
Nov. 6
Aiming for Wellness 5-7 p.m. Pershing Building Small Gym
Self-Defense Workshop 6-8 p.m. Kirk Gym
The Women’s Resource Center and Kirksville Truman State University’s Cantoria — led by Rob Garver, outdoor skills specialist for Mark Jennings, music professor and choral acthe Missouri Department of Conservation, Taekwon-Do will host a self-defense workshop. tivities director — is hosting its fall concert. The will be teaching archery. Students can sign The interactive class will focus on defense and protection, and it is open to men and women. concert will feature music that embodies the four up for one of four 30-minute sessions and seasons. Cantoria will be performing music such will have time to practice. Bows, arrows and as “A Spotless Rose” by Herbert Howells and snacks will be provided. “The Promise of Living” by Aaron Copland.
Nov. 6
Nov. 7
Nov. 7
Business Ethics Workshop 7:30 - 8 p.m. Violette Hall 1424
Opioid Summit 7:30-11:30 a.m. SUB Georgian Rooms
Faculty Presentation — Anton Daughters 7 p.m. SUB Georgian Room A
Phi Beta Lambda will host a business ethics workshop — one of multiple workshops hosted throughout the year by the organization. Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion, will speak about ethics in the workplace.
The Adair County Health Department will host a free summit discussing opioid abuse and intervention within the state of Missouri. State and regional experts from a variety of fields will be attending. Breakfast will be provided.
Anton Daughters, assistant professor of anthropology, will present the history of the Hopi people from 1629-1680 and their relationship with Spanish Franciscan missionaries. Daughters will discuss documents and interviews related to his publications in the field.
Nov. 9
Nov. 8
Nov. 8 New Physics Colloquium 4:30 p.m. Magruder Hall 1000
Uncommon Practice Fall Concert 8 - 9:30 p.m. Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall
Poetry Reading by Arisa White 6:30 p.m. Baldwin Hall Little Theater
A new physics colloquium is coming to Truman State University entitled “Sounding stars while hunting for planets with the Kepler, K2, and TESS spacecraft.” Steven Kawaler, physics and astronomy professor at Iowa State University, will be giving the talk. It will be about the contributions of the archive of Kepler photometry.
Truman State University’s contemporary music ensemble Uncommon Practice will be hosting its fall concert. The group will be performing music by Fedrik Gran, Dušan Bogdanović, Altamiro Carrilho and others. The event is free and open to the public.
The Clayton B. Ofstad Readings Series at Truman State University is hosting endowed writer-in-residence Arisa White, who will be reading from her work. Some of her publications include “You’re the Most Beautiful Thing That Happened” and “A Penny Saved.” The event is free and open to everyone.
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A Big World in a Small Town International students share experiences at Truman BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer
Matvey Gorbunov
O
Senior | Finance Major | Russia
ver four years ago, Matvey Gorbunov arrived at St. Louis Lambert International Airport and felt like he couldn’t breathe. “It was the humidity — where was the air?” an anxiety-stricken Gorbunov asked himself. It was more than the surprising change in climate — it was also the heaviness of the first time in his life away from his family and arriving alone to America, and preparing to travel to a school he had only seen online. Gorbunov is a senior finance major with a statistical methods minor from Russia. Gorbunov said he initially planned on attending college in Europe, but his brother fell in love with America and gave him the idea to study in the United States. When Gorbunov arrived, he used to video chat with his family every day. Now, he’s so busy he wonders how he ever had time to talk to his family so often. “I like the United States — every time I was leaving my hometown, I always felt homesick almost immediately,” Gorbunov said. “When I came here, I found the right people immediately in a few weeks, and then I never missed home … but in the beginning, I called my parents a lot — not because I was homesick [but] because I didn’t want them to worry about me much. [I] called them to make them feel better.” Gorbunov said he looked at various universities and eventually chose Truman State University because he saw the value of the University and was offered a scholarship. Gorbunov also heard the business program was the best in the state and there weren’t any Russians already studying at Truman. “I didn’t want to go to a university where I would meet a lot of people from Russia or Russian-speaking countries because they would not talk in English,” Gorbunov said. Gorbunov wanted to be able to learn English and said he felt he could not learn the language effectively if he was tempted to surround himself with Russianspeaking people. Gorbunov said he felt welcomed in the United States, though his first weeks were learned that he should not ask about GPAs and what grades his classmates received bestressful, and he didn’t necessarily always know what to do. Coming to the United cause Americans do not typically share that sort of information. Gorbunov also noticed States meant that everything was new to him, including the culture, language and peo- the eating habits are different in the U.S. because he normally eats late at night. At first, ple. Gorbunov had never met so many international students he wasn’t a huge fan of the food and didn’t expect to like it. from literally all around the world, and he had a tough time “During my freshman year, I went home for the summer, and talking to others because of the language barrier. As soon as you get here, my mom made me a salad,” Gorbunov said. “I told her that it “What I learned — and this is what I always tell internationwas so delicious, and she thought that was funny. Cucumbers al students — is that there are a lot of things you don’t know it will take some time to here are awful.” and you need to learn them as soon as possible,” Gorbunov adjust to the culture which He said he was able to adjust to the American culture said. “Professors, classes and organizations are helpful.” once he began meeting people and going out to eat and will change your attitude to The people at the international office helped Gorbunov to attending parties. get acclimated, and he started making friends with other inter- everything — it just takes One thing he could not effectively do in Russia was learn Engnational students. lish. Gorbunov said Russian language classes have a lot of stutime. Gorbunov said he felt welcomed among Americans despite dents, and the professors mainly concentrate on grammar and it being difficult to talk to a lot of them because many fell prey writing skills rather than speaking. It was hard for him when he to Russian stereotypes, such as thinking that all of Russia is first came here, but he fortunately had math and chemistry classSenior, Matvey Gorbunov cold and believing that Russians own bears. es which had familiar terminologies. He said economics classes “I once told my friend that I had a bear named John, and I here are challenging, but he learned to be independent and figwas believed,” Gorbunov said with a laugh. ure out what he needed to do because he has to. He was also often asked about what was happening in Russia involving Ukraine One of the things he said he likes about studying abroad is that he is becoming and Syria. Gorbunov said he noticed often-times Russians are depicted as villains in more independent. American movies, so it was nice to come here and show Americans Russians are not “I’m sure that if I stayed in Russia then I would be more dependent on the people all bad people. around me,” Gorbunov said. “I was told how stupid Russians are and [how they are] completely wrong and not Back at home, Gorbunov relied heavily on his family to make decisions for him but following any laws,” Gorbunov explained, with a hint of frustration. “It was interesting coming here, he was confronted with making decisions on his own, such as which orgato talk about it, but everyone was asking, and it was all on me. Some people even asked nizations he should join or whether or not he should spend money on going out to eat. me about communism. That’s part of what I expected actually. It’s just a little annoying Gorbunov said he would advise international students to refer to the international office sometimes, but it didn’t affect my thoughts of American people, and it was still nice to for assistance and guidance. He is also an ambassador, and he often talks to students to meet them.” not be afraid of coming to America. He said he has a good time and never really stresses about these views and just aims “As soon as you get here, it will take some time to adjust to the culture which will to show that Russia is not as terrible as some make it out to be. change your attitude to everything — it just takes time,” Gorbunov said. Gorbunov said the people at Truman are nice and have been helpful, but he has
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or Grace Chen, drinking hot tea is an important part of her daily routine, even during summer. Tea is not only something that Chen enjoys, but it also has personal meaning. “Tea is like your life,” Chen said. “You pick leaves from the tree, dehydrate them, boil them and then drink them. Your experience in life is hard, but then you can taste the victory of your life.” Chen is a junior from China and a marketing international business major with a psychology minor. Chen chose to study in the United States because she preferred the American education system over the Chinese education system. She said Chinese education is fixed and everyone has to study the same thing. Chen said the United States offers more academic freedom, and everyone can individually figure out what they want to study. Chen wanted to study abroad because she likes to explore, and her mom was really supportive. Chen is from Shanghai, a huge city in China. She said everyone in Shanghai does not really care about one another because it is such a big city — whereas Kirksville is a small town with a smaller population. “It’s such a small community, and everyone knows each other, and they are really close to me, and they are really close to everyone,” Chen said. She said people in Kirksville were friendly and wanted to talk. Chen really enjoyed that environment and felt welcomed here. Chen said it was not hard adjusting to American life since it was what she expected, although there was still some culture shock. Chen said she likes the close-knit community of Truman State University and Kirksville and how there are so many ways to try new activities and meet new people. Although she had a hard time getting involved at first, after finding a niche and clubs she cared about, she has had a lot more fun at school. Chen is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity. She is also VOLUME 109
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Grace Chen
Junior | Marketing International Business Major | China
a member of Enactus, an international professional and service organization. Chen said college life in America is more enjoyable than in China. Most students in China will go to classes, study and occupy themselves with activities outside of school rather than enjoy college life. Here, there are more activities and organizations that differ from China because more are organized by students. “These organizations help improve yourself and get you more involved in making new friends,” Chen said. While living in the United States, Chen found it odd that Americans use degrees Fahrenheit instead of degrees Celsius. She also found it strange that Americans do not use the metric system. “I have a hard time switching between them,” Chen said with a sigh. “And I still have a hard time using Fahrenheit, so I just use degrees Celsius all the time.” When she works at the Student Recreation Center, people talk about how cold it is, and when there is snow on the ground, people also ask her where she sets the thermostat. “I have no idea what I tell them sometimes,” Chen said with a laugh. Chen’s advice to international students is to join clubs and make friends. She said homesickness can be isolating and prevent others from participating with clubs or hanging out with friends. “And if you do that, it will reduce the stress of being away from home,” Chen said. “So make more friends and expand your social circle.”
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Hamza Ashfaq Raja
The Index
Senior | Economics Major | Pakistan
In the summer of 2016, Hamza Ashfaq Raja decided he no longer
tered by people from abroad. One of the things that did surprise Raja was that some Americans eat pineapple on pizza, which is something people would not normally do back at home. Raja said it was not a big transition from high school to college because he was already used to a collegiate environment with having two older siblings. He was influenced by them and had an easier time transi-
wanted to live alone. He spent a decent amount of time thinking of a solution and instead of getting a roommate, he decided he would go to the animal shelter and adopt a cat. “He’s now a huge cat,” Raja said smiling. “And I love coming home to him every day after school.” Raja is a Pakistani senior ... the most important point of coming economics major with a statis- to the United States was the experience tics minor. He of being here for four years and learning arrived in the United States every single thing that the culture and several years the environment has to offer. ago to attend high school. He came to the - Senior, Hamza Ashfaq Raja United States because he said it was the land of opportunity where tioning into college. Raja said he was welcomed when he could do anything. he started college, but he tried to “I could choose any passion in any field that can interest me, and I can avoid hanging out with only internamake a living without having the in- tional students. “Even when I was wrestling, I was fluence of having other people telling me to do certain stuff,” Raja said. trying to stay away from all that stuff Raja said people in Pakistan are not because I have an open mind, and I able to choose their own careers. If really don’t want to stop myself or someone was born a boy, they would restrict myself to a certain degree,” be named a doctor or engineer, and if Raja said. Raja said having freedom in the someone was born a girl, they would United States enabled him to get be named a nurse or teacher. “I wanted to do something that out of his comfort zone, which was can benefit me and [is] what I want something he could not have done if to do for myself instead of other he stayed home. He did not have his people deciding for me,” Raja said. “I family to guide or monitor his perforthink that was the main reason why mance, so he had to be responsible for himself, but that meant he had no I came here.” Raja said he transferred to Tru- one but himself to blame if he made man State University because he got the wrong choices. In high school, Raja said he was a scholarship for the wrestling team. Raja said he had no culture shock surprised by the racism, stereotypes when he came to the United States. and assumptions about him because There was some surprise living in he was from Pakistan. “The most common reaction I get a foreign place, but he went to a school back home that was adminis- from people is that they don’t even
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
know where Pakistan is,” he said with a hint of irritation. He had a hard time accepting that people thought that way about him, which is something he had to overcome and counteract. “You will have people who will stereotype, and then you will have people who will not,” Raja said. “And you have to find the right environment that suits you.” Raja’s advice for international students is to get out of their comfort zone. If international students stay in their comfort zone, then there is no point in coming here, and they might as well have stayed at home. He advises students to get involved in activities and meet people. Raja said there is comfort in restricting yourself to like-minded people from your home country, but you are not able to learn anything new if you don’t go out and meet new people. He said to take the initiative and talk to people from different countries and cultures. “I know that you’re here to get a degree, but at the end of the day, a piece of paper won’t even matter, that piece of paper that you call a degree,” Raja said. “It is important, but it is not the most important thing — the
most important point of coming to the United States was the experience of being here for four years and learning every single thing that the culture and the environment has to offer.”
Meg Parlangeli
Senior | Senior International Business and Management Double Major | Italy
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argherita “Meg ” Parlangeli admitted she got weird looks when people saw her put vinegar and salt on her salads. “We don’t have bottled-up ranch or stuff like that in Italy — it’s just a cultural thing,” Parlangeli explained. Parlangeli is a senior international business and management double major. She attends two or three classes per day and works as an Italian tutor at the international office. Then she usually does homework, and she might go to a friend’s house in her free time. Parlangeli said she chose to study in the United States because she was an exchange student during high school, attending Reedsville High School in Reedsville, Wisconsin. Parlangeli did not have as many options in Italy, and she knew she wanted to get to know other cultures and gain new experiences. “I wanted to work in the United States, so I might as well study here and see how it goes,” Parlangeli said. Parlangeli said she received scholarships from several universities but chose to study at Truman State University because it was the best choice in quality and price. Parlangeli also said she saw Truman had a really good business program, and people were saying good things about it online. Parlangeli said she felt welcomed when she arrived to Kirksville, and people from Missouri are usually nice. “They are interested in other cultures, and it’s nice for international students, so we can talk about what we have at home,” Parlangeli said.
Parlangeli said Italy and the United States are similar countries because their citizens are both friendly and energetic, and the people there love life. She said she can see that Americans really love things — whether it is family or work. Parlangeli said she thinks the United States is a country that values individualism and patriotism. Italy is like that, too, but Italy is several thousand years old and the United States, comparatively, is still a new country. “The United States is a melting pot of different cultures from all over the world. I like it here because you can find so many different things here, like people from different countries,” Parlangeli said, as she gestured to the students seated in the cafeteria. Parlangeli has discovered the differences between the United States and Italy. She said she noticed some students went to classes in pajamas, while in Italy, people always dress up. She said people at Truman seem non-judgemental about what other students wear when attending classes. During her freshman year, Parlangeli said she had trouble adjusting to dining hall hours because Italians tend to eat later. She said she would normally eat lunch between 1-2 p.m. and would never eat dinner before 8 p.m. — but the dining halls close at 7. Parlangeli said she noticed the relationships between students and teachers were different here. She said there is a level of authority and respect between a student and professor in Italy, whereas in the U.S., professors know the names of their students and want to be perceived more like equals. Parlangeli also said American universities have a more practical approach to things and let students take hands-on experiences. “In Italy, we would be doing a lot of studying, and here, there are projects and teamwork,” Parlangeli explained, “Truman teaches you what happens in the real world. I feel like I am more prepared than people who are just on an academic path as they would back in Italy.” Parlangeli said she advises international students to talk to people even though students might feel like other people don’t want to talk to them. From her experiences, others do want to talk and get to know international students especially since domestic students are not that different from international students because many of them are away from home for the first time in their lives, too. Parlangeli said international students should say hi to someone — there are 6,000 students on campus, so if that person doesn’t work out as a friend, there are other people to meet. “Don’t be afraid of your accent or that you don’t speak English very well or you’re afraid because of cultural background and some differences,” Parlangeli said. “Just get up and go and ask. Don’t just hang out with people from your same
Pip Wirth
Senior | Accounting and Finance Major | Germany He said he was always interested in the Wirth said he found small talk reUnited States’ higher-education system, ally strange when he came to the United which is why he chose to study here. States, and to this day, it is still odd to him. Wirth was offered a scholarship, and “You just go up to random people he thought the school looked nice online. and you start talking to them, but it’s He said he thought Truman had a good on such a like shallow level,” Wirth said. accounting pro“And the next time gram which also pass by that Americans tend to have this you played a part in person you act like like ‘can do’ attitude, and that you don’t know the his decision. Wirth said it positively influenced me. person anymore.” was not hard adIf there are injusting to Ameriternational students can life, especial- - Senior, Pip Wirth considering Truly in the Midwest. man, Wirth said he loves the school and “The Midwestern American culture would recommend it to others. is, like, 80 percent German culture. So, “Kirksville is certainly not the most to me, there was almost no cultural ad- exciting spot in the United States, but justment,” Wirth said. “The way people I would highly recommend Truman,” treat each other is very comparable to Wirth said. the German way.” As for international students who are Wirth said he felt welcomed in Kirks- already here, Wirth highly recommends ville, and when people found out about they get involved as much as possible and his heritage, they often wanted to tell him get out of their comfort zones. about their own German roots as well.
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merican optimism is an internationally recognized trait, something that German native Philip “Pip” Wirth came to love about the United States. “Americans tend to have this, like, ‘can do’ attitude, and that positively influenced me,” Wirth said. On a local level, Wirth noticed that hunting was an important aspect of Midwestern culture, and he eagerly partici-
pated. In Germany, it is a luxury normally reserved only for people in the top 5 percent of income earnings because European hunting grounds tend to be both very dense and expensive. “Here, it’s a much more common thing because you guys have so much more game and so much more land to hunt on. So I went hunting a couple of times, and that was really cool,” Wirth said. Wirth is a senior accounting and finance major at Truman State University.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Vince Vaughn proves range as an actor BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer
Featuring some of the most extreme hand-to-hand combat since 2011’s “The Raid: Redemption,” “Brawl in Cell Block 99” leaves a lasting impression. Directed by S. Craig Zahler, “Brawl in Cell Block 99” stars Vince Vaughn as an ex-boxer named Bradley Thomas. Thomas — a devoted family man despite his ferocious appearance — turns to crime to provide for his family when there’s no other option. After a botched drug deal lands Thomas in prison, he must fight and kill his way through a harsh prison system to ensure the safety of his wife and unborn child. Despite the B-movie title, “Brawl” features more depth and character development than most contemporary action films, while also providing enough uncompromising violence to satisfy hardcore action fans. Vaughn gives a sharp performance as Thomas. Previously known for his comedic roles, Vaughn’s performance vastly exceeds expectations, demonstrating his range as an actor. Although Zahler peppers the film’s script with darkly humorous dialogue, Vaughn demands to be taken seriously by viewers. “Brawl” has a surprisingly methodical first half, taking time to develop Thomas as a protagonist who is worth caring about to the audience. While threatening in his towering appearance,
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Thomas has a strong moral compass which renders him relatable and likable — to an extent. The film’s second half adopts a relentless pace which contrasts the thoughtful and deliberate nature of the film’s introduction. Near the conclusion of the film, “Brawl” becomes ridiculously dramatic, not taking itself too seriously. The film frequently contains drawn-out scenes, reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino films, which amplify the sardonic dialogue and lend to several scenes to palpable suspense, reflecting Thomas’s pent-up rage. “Brawl” is most-assuredly a niche film, potentially polarizing because of the extreme brutality on display. Zahler doesn’t shy away from showing the grisliness of prison life. Viewers can smell the grimecovered cells and feel every skull-crushing punch. While the bone-crunching violence proves occasionally hard to watch, viewers feel emotionally attached to Thomas, rooting for him despite the vile acts he’s forced to commit by a crime lord who holds his wife hostage. Zahler eschews the quick editing and shaky camera techniques of most modern action films, utilizing wide-angle shot compositions that allow viewers to have a clear understanding of what is happening. “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” though not for everyone, is worth the price of admission for Vince Vaughn’s committed performance alone.
Women’s Resource Center hosts LGBT art gallery Right: Students look at artwork and supplemental information about famous LGBT artists as well as the work of LGBT Truman student artists on display in the Student Union Building. The Women’s Resource Center hosted the event Monday, Oct. 30. Bottom Left: A student reads information about famous LGBT artists like Frida Kahlo — a famous painter thought to be bisexual, as well as Harvey Milk — a famous photographer and politician who identified as gay. Bottom Right: Students read and discuss the artwork of LGBT artists on display. Sophomore Shelby Dennis and freshman Emily Hayes were in charge of organizing the event for the Women’s Resource Center in honor of LGBT History month.
Photos by Lawrence Hu/TMN
Top {5} Hidden Gems on Netflix
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By Gordon McPherson
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“Look Who’s Back”
An occasionally hilarious, sometimes deeply disturbing film, 2015’s “Look Who’s Back” sees Adolf Hitler brought to life in present-day Germany.
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“Okja” 2017’s “Okja,” from South-Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, might convert you to veganism. “Okja” revolves around a young girl and her deep bond with a “super pig,” engineered by a sinister corporation for consumption by the masses.
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“The Host” Another film by Bong Joon-ho, 2006’s “The Host” is a monster movie with soul and well-developed characters. Featuring equal parts humor and horror, “The Host” explores how a dysfunctional family copes with a destructive science-fiction creature.
“Train to Busan” In this South Korean horror film, a divorced workaholic is trapped on a train full of passengers when the zombie apocalypse begins. “Train to Busan” proves to be an immensely rewarding watch, especially around Halloween.
“Turbo Kid” In this Mad Max-inspired flick, a teenaged comic book fan becomes his favorite superhero, named Turbo Kid, ba ling a malevolent overlord to save his best friend in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Truman women celebrated with performances in SUB Hub
Photos by Rachel Holt/TMN Top Left: Truman State University’s all-female a capella group, Minor Detail, performs in the SUB Hub for an event honoring the women at Truman. Other women who took to the stage during the event last week were two comedians from stand-up comedy club Up-Chuckles. Top Right: TSODA’s Hip-Hop group performs a dance to the song “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers. In addition to its hip hop group, TSODA’s jazz group also performed a dance to Lady Gaga’s “Marry The Night.” Left: The Truman Showgirls performs a dance in the SUB Hub. To supplement the performers, there was also artwork from female students on display.
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The Index
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Golf makes a name for itself BY RACHEL STEINHOFF Sports Text Editor
Heads turned and records fell this fall for the Truman State University golf team with a historic season and a rush of confidence heading into winter training. After the program’s first top10 GLVC finish last spring, the Bulldogs still ranked in the middle of the pack in the conference and flew under the radar on the regional scale until finishing fifth in the conference. The women concluded their season last Tuesday with a second place finish out of eight teams at the McKendree’s Bearcat Fall Collegiate. It was the Bulldogs’ second consecutive second place finish, and fourth top-5 finish of the fall. The women finished in the top 6 in all of their competitions, often finishing several slots ahead of where they were ranked. Head coach Clint Fitzpatrick said he knew this fall could be a special season for his team, most of which he attributes to the women’s off-season training. “Coming into the season, we knew this was going to be our best team in a very long time,” Fitzpatrick said. “That meant all of our ladies had to work even harder on their own this summer to be prepared for the fall, and they kept a strong work ethic going all season. To have all 10 of our ladies capable of contributing and competing has really helped add needed depth.” Although the Bulldogs did not take a victory at any of the tournaments this fall, they did shoot some of the lowest scores in Truman golf. The bar was set high when the women shot a recordlow, one-day score of 308 on the first day of the season at the Ferris State University Bulldog Fall Preview. That opening tournament was a preview of what was to come for Truman. The very next weekend, the record setters became the record resetters, shooting a one-day school record of 306, and finishing sixth at the MIAA Fall Preview in which they were picked to finish last. The Bulldogs ended each week with more top finishes, personal bests and
attention on a team that was overlooked in the past. The ‘Dogs finished fall 2017 with their best-ever GLVC ranking, notching the fifth place slot after beating out conference opponents who had previously ranked higher. Truman’s fifth place rank is significant, with the GLVC serving as one of the most renowned golf conferences in the nation. The University of Indianapolis, as the No. 1 team in the nation and the University of Missouri-St. Louis as the No. 4 team, are two of the four schools picked ahead of Truman in the conference, according to rankings. For a team that has never finished in the top 5 of the GLVC, Fitzpatrick said the recognition is incredible. “It is so rewarding for these ladies to see their hard work pay off in the form of better rankings and lower scores,” Fitzpatrick said. “Four years ago, we were last in the conference, and every year we have improved. This has always been our goal, and I don’t think our mindset has changed or will change. We will always play with a chip on our shoulder and try to prove people wrong, no matter what our ranking is.” Truman now finds itself in the top half of teams nationally. Out of the 180 Div. II women’s golf teams, the Bulldogs are now ranked as the 73rd best team. This effort is led consistently by senior Nicolle Barmettler, Truman’s top finisher in all six of the team’s fall meets. For her career, Barmettler has been Truman’s top-finisher in 25 consecutive tournaments, and she picked up her first individual meet win this season. After several second place finishes, Barmettler got a win at the Lady Panther Fall Invitational two weeks ago. Shooting a 72-77, Barmettler finished the meet in a tie for first place, sending her into a shootout for the crown. It took two playoff holes to break the tie, but among the 50 spectators watching the two women duel, Barmettler earned her first individual win — an accomplishment that had been in the works for a long time.
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Junior Montana George sends a ball down the fairway. George was the second best finisher for the Bulldogs in two fall tournaments. “While winning the tournament is extremely difficult, it is even more so when you are in a playoff with the added pressure of everyone watching you,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was no surprise to me or any of her teammates that she won, as she is the coolest player under pressure I have ever seen. She has worked so hard, and no one was more deserving of a victory than she was.” Other Bulldogs had best-ever finishes this season including senior Stephanie Hulett and sophomore Lindsey Repp who shot personal bests September 25 at the MIAA Fall Preview. In addition to the experience and consistency of his returners, Fitzpatrick said he has more to look forward to in the spring because his team added junior transfer Montana George to the roster in August. Despite a quick transition to Div. II golf from her junior
college Murray State College, George settled in for the Bulldogs and was the second best scorer in two tournaments. George said she struggled to adjust at first but is finally settling in to the new team and type of play at this level. She said she is excited to be a part of a team with such great chemistry and also to be on this team as it really starts to hit its stride and move up the conference ladder. “I definitely think that Truman’s women’s golf team is making a name for itself and will be a team to watch, not just this season, but in the future years to come,” George said. Bulldog golf will take to some rest and rehabilitation for the next few weeks before picking up after winter break. The ‘Dogs will begin their spring season in March with the GLVC Women’s Golf Championships in late April.
Volleyball rallies behind veterans to a winning record BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer
Backed by the strong leadership of veterans, the Truman State University volleyball team is hitting its stride, winning six of seven matches since Oct. 13. With only five matches left in the season, the Bulldogs look ahead to the GLVC Tournament starting Nov. 17. Head coach Ben Briney said a lot of the success the team has seen is because of the leadership from the veterans on the team. He said senior outside hitter Jasmine Brown has been one of the biggest influences on the team’s success.
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Sophomore setter Meghan Gasper dives to dig a ball. Besides Gasper, senior outside hitter Jasmine Brown has more than 200 digs this season. “[Brown] has really grown into her leadership role this year,” Briney said. “It is something she has embraced and has worked to be more vo-
cal in practice. [Brown] works incredibly hard anytime she is on the court. She has also been a leader by example by working hard this past offseason to improve her serve receive so that she could play six rotations this year.” Briney said the mix of other veterans’ experience — players like redshirt juniors libero Claire Wandrey and middle hitter Holly Hildebrand — along with the rest of the team, have all been essential to the team’s success. Briney said these leaders have thrived in this role, helping the team stay focused through the away matches the team had the first part of the season. Hildebrand said she has embraced the challenge of being a leader for the team, and she said she credits her teammates for helping to mold her into the player she is today. “I think this team has had more of an effect on me,” Hildebrand said. “They have helped me to grow into the player I am, the captain I am and the person that I am. Stepping into this leadership role has been an immense challenge. Nothing about leading a team is easy in my opinion, but what makes it worth it is seeing them come together as a team, finally getting those drills we have been working so hard on, or getting a big win.” Hildebrand said she is excited to be back on home territory, especially with the season drawing to an end. She said she is also excited to see the familiar faces in the crowds that pack Pershing Arena when the Bulldogs step onto their home court. Hildebrand said it has been a team effort to get to where they are right now as every player has embraced and expanded their roles. In addition to the leadership roles on the team, the Bulldogs are deep at every position on the court. Elle Renault, redshirt sophomore defensive specialist, said this has helped keep the Bulldogs fresh and helped their recent success. “Our team has a lot of depth, so when we are hit with adversity, we are able to keep pushing,” Renault said. “Everyone on our team has a huge role in how well we are doing. We really play for the game in front of us. There are no big moments.” This saying is common around the Bulldogs’ locker room. Renault, along with Hildebrand and Briney, said it is all about the next game and then the one after that. The team takes every lift, practice and game with the same mindset and intensity. They said this helps the team remain ready when the important moments appear — it helps them to look at it as a chance to get better. The Bulldogs will end their season with four of five home games as they prepare for the GLVC Tournament. They host Rockhurst University 7 p.m. Friday.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
HYLEN | Hylen’s GLVC meet included a top-15 finish and a proposal Continued from page 12 Parisi said he decided to propose at the end of the conference race because he wanted to create a moment that would last a lifetime. “I just thought it’d be a great memory,” Parisi said. “I knew all her friends, teammates and my family would be there to see it and celebrate with us.” Parisi said Hylen had mentioned once before that she would like to be proposed to at the end of one of her races, but Parisi had told her that he would never do it. So it seemed like an easy way to surprise Hylen. He said a lot of planning went into the proposal, and it almost did not happen because Hylen sprained her ankle two weeks prior to the championships. Parisi even waited until halfway through her race before deciding it was alright to get down on one knee at the finish line for her.
“He is my No. 1 fan — in athletics and in life. He is a part of the reason I do so well.”
to an All-GLVC athlete wasn’t easy. Cross country head coach Tim Schwegler said it took some time for Hylen to get to this point, but he said he had faith in her abilities to become an All-GLVC athlete since the day he recruited her. Schwegler said he is happy with the progress Hylen has made as an athlete in his program the past four years. This Saturday, Hylen will compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Schwegler said it’ll be tough to be All-Region, as it’s the top 25 runners of the Midwest region conferences, but he said he hopes Hylen can pull off another stellar performance. “The last couple years she has developed herself into a really good distance runner,” Schwegler said. “This could be her last college race coming up. Hopefully she can make All-Region team and finish on a very high note.” The GLVC Championship was a competitive race and, even
with a sprained ankle, Hylen was able to finish in 12th place — the top 15 are named All-GVLC. Although the proposal and conference championship made for a remarkable experience, she isn’t finished running or getting married just yet. Saturday, Hylen will compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Cedarville, Ohio, and Parisi will be driving more than 8 hours to watch Hylen’s potential last collegiate race. If she makes the top 25, she will move to the NCAA Div. II Championship. Parisi is extremely excited for this upcoming race and has faith in his “life-long partner-incrime,” as he said she has been surprising people all season and put in a ton of work hard to get where she is now. He said he thinks it’ll all pay off at regionals. “I’m still trying to get used to the ring on my finger, but also trying to figure out what’s next for me with running since I won’t be doing it in the Truman uniform much longer,” Hylen said.
- Senior Michaela Hylen Submitted Photo Redshirt senior Zach Fischer does pullups in a preseason workout as a crowd of teammates cheers him on.
FISCHER | Senior earns full scholarship Continued from page 12 He said his mother was worried that he got into trouble the night before, but fear quickly turned into elation when she heard the real reason for the call. Fischer said he was initially drawn to Truman for its devotion to academics, but he said he did not want to stop playing basketball. He said it was tough to earn playing time during practice and knew he had to do something more to get the coaching staff ’s attention. Fischer said he noticed how upperclassmen like alumni Cory Myers, Cole Myers, Kyle Kanaskie and Billy Daniel approached the game working outside of practice. He said it reminded him of a quote he lives by that reads, “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.” He said he started spending more time in the weight room and gym practicing his shot. As a senior, Fischer said all that extra work paid off. “Gradually, my role with the team and program just kind of continued to increase,” Fischer said. “I just tried to make the most of every opportunity that was given to me.” Fischer is the lone senior on this season’s roster, but he said the team has many new faces and seems competitive and energetic in practice. He said this is mainly because each player is competing for a limited amount of minutes, and he said this motivates him to be better so he can retain his spot in the rotation during his final season. “As a senior, there’s only so many more times I get to lace [my shoes] up and wear the Truman Bulldogs across my chest,” Fischer said. Foster said the coaching staff is always looking at the status of the program’s scholarship money. He said NCAA Div. II rules limit the team to about 10 scholarships with a budget it can choose to distribute however the staff wants. He said this includes awarding partial scholarships to some players so more than 10 can receive scholarship money at one time. Foster said this year’s decision ultimately came down to choosing between giving a full scholarship to a new player or to one already in the program. He said the coaching staff decided to give the money to Fischer because they felt like he earned it after his first three eligible years. “He represents everything that we want our men’s basketball players to represent, so we felt like it was the right thing to do,” Foster said. Foster said Fischer never talked to the coaching staff about a scholarship, but af-
ter watching him develop as a player, Foster said it was an easy decision. Foster said Fischer has improved his three-point shot and rebounding, but Fischer’s lack of “bad days” impressed Foster the most. Foster said Fischer would have an upbeat and energetic demeanor despite having a bad shooting performance. Foster said Fischer exceeded the coaching staff’s expectations every year and eventually earned a spot in the rotation through highlevel play in practice. More than once, Foster said the coaching staff asked one another why Fischer wasn’t playing in more games. He said the Bulldogs need Fischer’s leadership because they lost five seniors, and Foster said he is glad he was able to reward Fischer for his hard work going into this season.
“He represents everything that we want our men’s basketball players to represent ...” - Head coach Chris Foster
“We always want them to be better and do better,” Foster said. “It’s really nice when you get a chance to sit back and really reward a kid.” Junior guard Nathan Messer said the rest of the team didn’t know the reason for Foster’s impromptu meeting. After hearing the news, Messer said Fischer and the team were happy because of the moment’s significance. Besides the financial implications, Messer said the moment was important because the honor signalled his friend’s hard work had finally paid off. Messer said he lives with Fischer. He said Fischer’s hard work could be measured by how much time he spent outside their house. Any given week, Messer said Fischer typically could be found in the gym. Messer said Fischer’s effort is never questionable because he is energetic every day. He said he is amazed by this because there are days when an athlete is tired and sore, but Fischer’s love for the game allows him to fight through this and Messer said he admires this about him. Messer said Fischer’s positive attitude is contagious making him a worthy leader. “Last year, even at the beginning of the season when he wasn’t getting much minutes, I always saw Fisch as a leader of the team,” Messer said.
Parisi said he is happy he was able to propose during this special moment and is excited to be engaged to his best friend. Hylen and Parisi have been together for three years. Parisi is a senior at Truman and studies history. Hylen said her now-fiance provides her an immense amount of support, making sure she is always eating healthy while he takes care of the dogs, so she can concentrate on her athletics. “He is my No. 1 fan — in athletics and in life,” Hylen said. “He is a part of the reason I do so well.” Parisi said he thinks his role is to keep her in check during her season. He said sometimes he has to be the mean one to make sure she isn’t eating “ridiculous amounts of sweets” the night before a race. “Usually she gets upset with me because I take away the carton before she gets halfway through,” Parisi said with a chuckle. Although Hylen has support from her loved ones, her road
Submitted Photo Seniors Michaela Hylen and Joey Parisi pose for their first post-proposal photo. Parisi surprised Hylen at the GLVC race.
FOOTBALL | Bulldogs put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season Continued from page 12 Killday said in some aspects of the game, he still uses a similar style of play in his approach at Quincy. However, he has also grown and made adjustments as a coach in many facets since coming to Truman. Overall, Killday said he was pleased with the Bulldogs’ performance in the Saturday matchup against the Hawks, and he was pleased to see the team go 1-0 last week. Sophomore running back Jordan Salima said Killday’s inaugural Quincy return meant even more to the players. He said the players did not let those emotions interfere with their focus, but it did add a little something to the Bulldog offensive drive on Saturday. “Yeah Coach [Killday] was returning to his former school, and there’s always a sense of wanting to make them regret parting ways,” Salima said. “But Coach Killday explained to us that’s not really why this game meant more to him — the reason it did mean more is because he knows us as players, and he knows them as players. He knows the work that we put in during the offseason, and he knows the work they put in during the offseason. He knows how much we care about the program and how much they care about the program. See, Coach Killday knows the ins and outs of both sides, and he shared with us that one side is a little bit more deserving than the other. And that really stuck with us.” Offensively speaking, Salima said Truman is on the edge of being a great program, but minor mistakes have been holding the team back. Salima said a sharp attention to detail really brought it all together for the Bulldog offense last weekend. Salima said even though Killday is familiar with the Quincy football program, most of Truman’s game preparation came from watching film. “Coach Killday’s approach for this game was to pound the ball, then take our shots when we have them,” Salima said. “We felt there were a lot of mismatches for us on the field, and Coach
intended on exploiting them for it. All in all, our offense was consistent with what we usually run. We just executed much better.” Last weekend, Salima rushed for a total 98 yards on 19 ball carries and contributed 54 yards, receiving a 22 yard touchdown run. Senior wide receiver Jordan Jorgenson also spoke about the offensive efforts this week. He said although Killday used to coach at Quincy, the Bulldogs focused more on their own efforts and staying consistent with their offense. “Our offensive approach does not change much from week to week,” Jorgenson said. “We emphasize effort, consistency and a great understanding of why we do what we do, week in and week out. We do our best as an offense to control the looks that the defense gives us with certain formations, and run plays out of those formations that we are confident in our execution. We run what we are good at running,
and we throw what we are good at throwing.” He said the team thinks it has built up some good momentum going into its last two home games against tough opponents. Jorgenson said the team is finally putting all the pieces together offensively and playing more confidently than it has all season. Jorgenson said the team can be a threat in the air or on the ground and did well of adjusting to what was working against the Hawks. Despite being 3-6 on the season and out of contention for protecting its GLVC title, Jorgenson said team morale has remained high through the season, and the players are looking to bring the same energy and effort this week . The Bulldogs will finish their season with two home games, first at noon against Southwest Baptist University on Nov. 4 and at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11 against McKendree University.
Submitted Photo Junior running back Andy Satulla breaks a tackle in the Bulldogs last home game. The ‘Dogs have since won two in a row.
The Index
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Myers brothers pursue passion BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer It’s no secret former Bulldogs and twin brothers Cory and Cole Myers are passionate about the game of basketball and are inseparable on and off the court. From the moment the Myers brothers stepped on Truman State University’s campus in fall 2012, basketball would become more than just a sport, rather a lifestyle. The Myers brothers each studied at Truman for five years. Cory Myers suffered a season-ending lower body injury his sophomore season, causing him to take a medical redshirt year. Cole Myers finished his four years of athletic eligibility without having to redshirt but stayed a fifth year to be a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs. The two brothers thought their basketball careers had ended when they graduated in spring 2017. However, the two now work as skills coaches for the highly-selective basketball organization called Pure Sweat Basketball impacting others who love the sport like them. Rather than following in their parents’ footsteps, the Myers brothers are able to continue their college lives and use it as their careers. Their parents both work for Century 21 Signature Real Estate in Iowa, and the Myers brothers said they thought real estate would be their future upon graduation. Alhough the brothers said this lifestyle would have been totally fine with them, the two are both extremely excited to work together through their true passion — basketball. Pure Sweat is a basketball training company that offers a variety of products and services to players and coaches at every level. It is considered one of the most elite basketball training programs in the world, with coaches training first-year, young basketball players and professional players alike — such as Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Dwight Howard of the Charlotte Hornets. Of the countless aspiring coaches who apply to become skills coaches for this organization, Pure Sweat told Cory and Cole Myers they were among less than 2 percent selected.
Cory and Cole Myers said they first heard of Pure Sweat through former teammate and current Bulldog junior Nate Messer. Messer’s older brother, Mike Messer, is a Pure Sweat skills coach in the St. Louis area. Intrigued by Pure Sweat’s mission, Cory and Cole Myers said they contacted Mike Messer about joining the “Pure Sweat Fam” so they could bring the organization to Iowa. Mike Messer put the Myers brothers in contact with Pure Sweat CEO Drew Hanlen and Jason Fry, director of Pure Sweat skills coaches and with the help from Truman basketball assistant coach Mike Annese, the eager pair was hired. Pure Sweat hired 21 coaches this fall. Cory and Cole Myers, along with two others, said they were hired in Iowa — these four are the first and only Pure Sweat skills coaches in the entire state of Iowa. The two said it was amazing that it all worked out — they knew deep down they still wanted to be involved with basketball somehow. Cory Myers said he has never been away from his brother. He said he isn’t sure if they will always work together, but it wouldn’t surprise him if he is working with him down the road. They said their main focus is to do something they are passionate about. Cory Myers said this passion stems from their basketball experience at Truman. He said he could see that head coach Chris Foster and assistant coaches Annese and Grant Peterson appeared to be enjoying their work every day, and this impacted him. “Basketball is what I’m most passionate about,” Cory Myers said. “I couldn’t see myself stepping away from the game at this point in my life.” Cole Myers said watching his coaches at Truman had a significant impact on his decision to coach. He said he is a competitor at heart, during the game, so it would be the same as a coach. Although Pure Sweat is a basketball training company, the Myers brothers said it is more than just basketball that it will be teaching. The Myers brothers have a coaching tagline and hashtag — #BeBetter. To them, it doesn’t simply mean “be a better basketball player.” It is about being a better person by taking the high road in every aspect of their lives and by
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Submitted Photo Cole (left) and Cory Myers thought they would go into real estate after graduation. They will instead be working with the game they love — basketball. always doing what’s right. They said they live by this simple motto and have integrated it into their professional career to help others. Like his brother, Cole Myers said he is looking forward to building relationships with other athletes who share the same passion for the game to help grow themselves on and off the court. He said he and his brother are both grateful for the opportunity Pure Sweat has extended to them to have a positive impact as role models in each and every athlete’s life they come into contact with. Currently, the Myers brothers are training players in Ankeny,
Iowa. The brothers began their coaching careers working with the Ankeny Centennial High School boys varsity team and are also currently leading a Pure Sweat Winter Skills Academy. Although neither is sure what the future holds, they said they are more than content with their positions right now. They said they want to stay around basketball as long as they can and are excited to see where this rewarding career can take them and the athletes they coach. Cory and Cole Myers said they might never be able to take a break from the game they love.
Women’s basketball recruits inside threats
SOCCER | Women end 2017 in GLVC Tournament
BY PAUL PROVINCE Staff Writer
The 2017 senior class visited the NCAA tournament twice, making it through to the Sweet Sixteen last year. Both Murphy and Mattingly said their most memorable game at Truman was in 2015 against rival Quincy at the conference tournament. Murphy made the first penalty kick and a senior made the game-winning one, which helped to the win the tournament. With the graduation of many upperclassmen, the Bulldogs will see openings for younger athletes to step up and fill playing time. Freshman defender Leah Bolskar said she is already looking forward to next season after everything she learned about the game this year. Bolskar said the team dynamic will be different next year, and they will definitely miss the seniors. “Coming to play collegiate soccer, I didn’t know what to expect because of how fast and aggressive it was, but I quickly learned from the upperclassmen,” Bolskar said. “Having this group of seniors lead us this season was awesome. They all were such good players and teammates — a cohesive class that worked well together.” Bolskar said they’ll work to achieve what the seniors had during their years at Truman to continue the legacy of a winning program.
The Truman State University women’s basketball team is preparing for the season, readying themselves for their first game less than a week away. The Bulldogs will look to fill the void left from graduates with new players. The team is returning nearly everyone from last season, excluding alumna Cassidy Clark, who is continuing her basketball career in Germany. Additions to the Bulldog squad this season include freshmen forward Maddie Re, guard Tiffany Davenport, forward Maya Mouton and center Katie Jaseckas, along with senior guard Remy Davenport. The three players in the incoming freshman class all play the same position. Re, Mouton and Jaseckas are all post position players working for the same spot. This causes tough competition within the team, but the Bulldogs are using this to push themselves to work harder rather than let it come between them. Head coach Amy Eagan said the team needed to narrow down on specific positions it needed to recruit for. “We felt like we needed three post players this season to satisfy needs for the year,” Eagan said. “And with three post players graduating after this season, we will have some experience. As far as competition within the team goes, I think the players really understand that if you
work hard to make the person across from you better, the team grows and becomes better.”
with the shot clock. You have to understand the game a little more and really break down your fundamentals.”
“The biggest difference freshmen learn is the speed of the game. Everything is so much faster, and that starts with the shot clock.” - Senior forward Ashley Hartwig Eagan said the incoming freshmen seem to understand they should be teammates and work to improve, instead of trying to beat one another out of the position. Jaseckas said she is already close with the other newcomers. She said she, Re and Mouton are all friends and live in the residence halls together. Jaseckas said they each focus on playing well in practice, so the team is prepared. The freshman class is also transitioning from high school to collegiate basketball. While the season has not yet started, the underclassmen are adjusting to the fast-paced style of play and physicality of college ball. The added pressure of a shot clock — along with other elements of the game — are things that players must have to become acquainted with. Communication within the team is another key component to being successful. “The biggest difference freshmen learn is the speed of the game,” senior forward Ashley Hartwig said. “Everything is so much faster, and that starts
With the start of the season approaching quickly, the Bulldogs are hard at work. The team’s motto this season is “Unfinished Business.” Its goal is to win the GLVC tournament and compete in postseason. To do that, the Bulldogs are focusing on perfecting the small aspects of the game. Hartwig said the team is learning how to work together and play to each player’s strengths. She said the team is working on communication for defense, improving ball pressure and helping side defense. She said the post position players specifically are focusing on dominating the inside, block work in the lane and having patience in the paint. She said working on these areas will give the Bulldogs the edge they are looking for as they head into the season. The Bulldogs’ season begins with an exhibition game against Drake University Nov. 5, followed by the season home opener against Missouri Valley College Nov. 11.
ATHLETE o f
t h e
w e e k
Sophomore quarterback Jaden Barr scored three touchdowns in Truman State University football’s 31-7 win Saturday against Quincy University. Barr scored the first touchdown on the ground, then passed two more to sophomore fullback Hayden Holt and junior running back Malique Robbins. He had 162 yards passing and 66 yards rushing, adding up to 228 total yards.
Jaden Barr
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Scholarship reveal, Fischer earns full ride
Submitted Photo Redshirt senior Zach Fischer joined the men’s basketball program three years ago. Since then, he has worked his way to a full athletic scholarship. BY JEREMY JACOB Sports Multimedia Editor It all started with a typical 6 a.m. practice last spring for redshirt senior guard Zach Fischer and the Truman State University men’s basketball team — or so the team thought. Fischer found out that morning he would be given a full athletic scholarship in his final year as a Bulldog. Fischer was not part of the active roster his first year because he spent that season as a redshirt player after walking onto the program. As a walk-on, he played his next three years without scholarship money.
Bulldogs win on Killday’s return to Quincy University BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer
Jason Killday, assistant football coach and offensive coordinator, is in the middle of his second season with the Truman State University Bulldogs after six seasons with the Quincy University Hawks.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jaden Barr keeps his eyes downfield as he avoids a tackle. Barr threw for 162 yards in Truman’s lastest win vs. Quincy University.
ISSUE 10
BY BROOKE BAILEY Staff Writer The Truman State University women’s soccer season came to an end last Sunday in the first round of the GLVC Tournament with the Bulldogs falling 1-0 to Maryville University on a penalty kick. For Truman, the elimination resulted from the same problem the ‘Dogs were battling all season — not being able to score. Senior midfielder Kelsey Murphy said throughout the season it was a constant struggle to try to find ways to create scoring opportunities. After losing a lot of scorers last season, Murphy said it was difficult to fill those gaps. Although the record this year was not as good as previous seasons and 2017 did not end in an NCAA National Tournament appearance, Murphy said she has no regrets about her career here. “Each and every player put their heart on the field,” Murphy said. “We all put in so much work in the offseason, during preseason, and in each and every game. I am proud of everything this team and this program was able to accomplish.” The Bulldogs finished 2017 with a 6-6-5 record, going 6-4-4 in the GLVC. Offensively, the Bulldogs went without a goal in seven games, but on the opposite end of the field, the Bulldog defense stood strong to shutout opponents on seven different occasions. With even results, senior goalkeeper Katie Mattingly said it’s difficult to say why the Bulldogs were unable to maintain their position at the top of the conference. “It’s hard to pinpoint why we weren’t as successful this year,” Mattingly said. “We played some great soccer this season, but unfortunately weren’t able to come up with the results that we did in the previous seasons.” Looking ahead to next year, the Bulldogs will be graduating eight seniors — a class that will be tough to bid farewell after all itd success. In the last four years, Truman has won the GLVC tournament and been crowned regular season champions — all four seasons had .500 or better records. See SOCCER, page 9
All-GLVC engagement
During his time at Quincy, Killday coached the quarterbacks and wide receivers, along with overseeing recruitment and academic coordination. Prior to Quincy, Killday served as the offensive coordinator at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois, the assistant coach at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois. He has coached in three Illinois State Championship games, taking the title in two of them. Last weekend, Killday returned to Quincy University and led the Bulldogs’ offense to an impressive 31-7 win against his former employer. “It was good to go back to Quincy,” Killday said. “I made some great friends during my time there and it was good to see those people.” He said there are still players at Quincy whom he coached, which made it interesting to stand on opposite sidelines. See FOOTBALL, page 10 Photo by Rachel Steinhoff/TMN
VOLUME 109
Fischer said he was confused when Foster called the team into the locker room for a meeting to present a thank you card to the team. Fischer was specifically mentioned by the card’s author — Foster’s wife. Fischer said he was called up to read the card and was shocked to discover his name linked to the words “full athletic scholarship” at the end. Fischer said he was not expecting this reveal because he thought the card would talk about other players. He said Foster canceled practice and took the team to Diner 54, where Fischer called his mother to share the news. See FISCHER, page 10
Women fall from GLVC Tournament
tmn.truman.edu
Submitted Photo Senior Joey Parisi takes a knee as he asks Senior cross country runner Michaela Hylen for her hand in marriage. Parisi holds the couple’s dog, Rigby. BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer Senior cross country runner Michaela Hylen made her way down the final stretch of the women’s 6,000-meter run Oct. 21 at the GLVC Cross Country Championships in Kirksville. Breathing heavily, she could see the finish line approaching. Waiting for her was the honor of being an All-GLVC runner — and her boyfriend Joey Parisi on one knee. Hylen said once she realized what was happening, she immediately started crying both because of the pain from her ankle and because she was overwhelmed by happiness. To top it off, Hylen said Parisi gave their dog Rigby a tag that said, “Will you marry me?” Hylen said she didn’t notice until Parisi pointed it out to her because she was overjoyed from everything that was happening. Both of the couple’s dogs were also dressed in tuxedos. Hylen said she was fighting to catch her breath while other runners crossed the finish line in the background, some even fell to the ground during this special moment. See HYLEN, page 10
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