The Index Vol. 109 Issue 13

Truman State University tmn.truman.edu FEATURES | English professor discusses published books Page 5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 tmn.truman.edu

@TrumanMediaNet TrumanMediaNetwork

Truman changes LSP

Photo by Brently Snead/TMN Truman State University Faculty Senate members meet and discuss changes to the University’s LSP Aug. 24. The plan was approved Nov. 16 and will take effect fall 2018.

BY RYAN PIVONEY Staff Writer

Truman State University Faculty Senate approved the 2017 summer bill, changing the Liberal Studies Program at the University, effective fall 2018.

The proposal, which was created during summer 2017, would replace modes with perspectives that students would be required to fulfill as part of Truman’s liberal studies education.

The summer proposal replaced a separate bill created last spring in a 17-9 vote, with one senator abstaining.

Faculty Senate then voted 15-10 to implement the new LSP at the beginning of next school year.

Terry Olson, a member of the committee responsible for drafting the summer bill, said the original proposal was

ambiguous and was opposed by some departments for different reasons. The essential skills embedded in the freshman seminars might have been a factor, as well as the depth of distribution requirements, he said.

“I’m absolutely sure it’s not the same issue for everybody,” Olson said. “That was really a big thing. Different people had different issues with the original proposal.”

Faculty senator Candy Young said the summer bill was thoroughly discussed and widely supported. The final vote for the bill, which included a number of amendments, shows most people were satisfied with the curriculum, she said.

Despite being passed, the summer bill did have some opposition. History professor Sally West opposed the summer proposal because her de-

partment thought the original bill had a more viable vision.

“What we really admired in the original proposal was the creation of a larger vision for the whole curriculum that would build interdisciplinarity right from the start and that would also foster the liberal arts more by encouraging students to explore where they want to go, rather than to take [predetermined] courses,” West said.

Faculty Senate considered 11 amendments to the summer proposal at the meeting and passed seven before approving the full curriculum.

One amendment removed the requirement of a 3-credit-hour course to fulfill the Missouri Statute requirement, instead allowing students the additional option of a 1-credit-hour or an online course.

See LSP, page 4

Updated LSP: Summer 2017 Plan Interconnecting Perspective

(4-17 credits, WE and IN can count for two) Truman Symposium (1-credit lecture/ discussion course to be taken with a corequisite, 3-credit Self & Society Seminar.

Transfer students have the option of substituting a 1-credit co-requisite seminar) High Impact Experience Writing-Enhanced (one additional WE course beyond ENG 190 WACT, JINS, and the research-based WE course in the Communication Skills Perspectives) JINS (3 credits) Intercultural (0-5 credits) Foreign Language (0-8 credits) Digital Fluency (integrated into Self & Society Seminar) Wellness Activity Capstone experience in the major

Perspectives

(33-42 credits, with limited double-counting) Social Perspectives: History, Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credits, includes Missouri Statute requirement) Communication Skills Perspectives: ENG 190 WACT, COMM 170 Public Speaking and COMP II or a research-based, writingenhanced course from any discipline STEM Perspectives: Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (10 credits), 7 credits from science and one 3-credit math course Humanities and Aesthetic Perspectives: Humanities and Fine Arts (9 credits) Two additional requirements from the MOTR list (5 credits): Self & Society 3-credit Seminar (Truman Week is built into the seminar) and STAT 190 Basic Statistics

Amendments

1. Remove 3-credit-hour requirement for Missouri Statute course 2. Remove 63-credit-hour requirement 3. Undergraduate Council will consider additional seminars at a later date

SPORTS | Bulldog volleyball coach gets milestone 200th victory Page 10

Candidates plan to run for state Senate seat

BY JOHANNA BURNS Staff writer

Four Republican candidates have announced their intentions to run for Missouri State Senate in District 18 in 2018. So far, no candidate from the Democratic party has indicated their intent to run.

Current Missouri State Rep. Nate Walker will join fellow representatives Lindell Shumake and Craig Redmon as well as Cindy O’Laughlin, political outsider and Northeast Missouri businesswoman, in a contest for a seat in the Missouri State Senate. All four candidates are anti-abortion and pro-Second Amendment.

Candidates have until March 27 to file for election. The open primary will take place Aug. 7, followed by the general election Nov. 6. Republican Sen. Brian Munzlinger currently holds the 18th district Senate seat and because of term limits is ineligible to run again. Missouri senators serve staggered four-year terms and are only able to serve for two terms. Munzlinger ran as the uncontested incumbent candidate in 2014.

See SENATE CANDIDATES, page 4

Northern Missouri’s State Senate districts

CSI approves First Gen United

BY DANA BARTCH Staff Writer

The Center for Student Involvement recently approved the application to create an organization on campus named First Gen United.

This was First Gen United’s second consecutive semester applying to become a club after being turned down in spring 2017. The CSI initially turned down the group because, while their intentions were strong, it lacked enough originality to thrive as its own organization.

First Gen United intends to be an organization at Truman State University that serves first generation college students.

“Our main goal for the organization is to create a mentorship program by pairing up incoming students with upperclassmen who have maybe already had the experiences ... to create a sense that you’re not alone,” said senior Brianna Caravella, a First Gen United member.

To become an organization, groups must apply through the CSI and submit paperwork explaining what its role at Truman would be and how it would benefit students. Damon Pee, program adviser for organizational engagement and leadership, said the CSI requires potential

organizations to be dissimilar from other organizations and intriguing to students. Organizations must also offer something of value to the University and maintain financial stability.

Truman is looking for organizations that will have the ability to thrive now and be relevant to students in years to come.

Pee said First Gen United’s original proposal was turned down by the CSI because the CSI thought the group was trying to become a resource for certain topics, such as financial aid, which can already be found on campus. First Gen United was urged to take a second look at its paperwork, consider the CSI’s feedback and apply again later.

The small group of students dedicated to First Gen United decided to apply again this semester. Caravella said about five students worked on revising and adding to the organization’s paperwork a couple weeks after the start of classes in August and submitted the final product Oct. 25.

Once the new paperwork was submitted, several members of the organization and their adviser were asked about their plans as a functioning group on campus. A week after the hearing, First Gen United was approved as an official club on campus.

Under financial pressure, University Press downsizes

BY NICOLAS TELEP News Text Editor

Truman State University Press is downsizing and will end scholarly publications in January while continuing to publish other materials.

The Press, which was established in 1986, currently publishes scholarly and nonscholarly books for worldwide distribution but has faced growing financial challenges in recent years. In January 2018, the Press will discontinue publication of scholarly materials, and its Early Modern Studies series will be transferred to Penn State University Press for continued publication.

University Press Director Barbara Smith-Mandell said the Press has always focused on scholarly and academic

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 © 2017

publications. She said the Press grew from the 16th Century Journal — a Truman publication focused on Early Modern studies — which includes studies of the Renaissance and Reformation era. After beginning with Early Modern, the Press expanded into other areas such as poetry, contemporary nonfiction and educational publications. Smith-Mandell said university presses generally focus on scholarly publications, and TSUP has historically focused on early modern and American history as its scholarly areas.

Smith-Mandell said smallscale scholarly publishing is expensive and the Press has recently had to cut back.

“As the state budget has decreased over the years, the amount of financial support

the University has been able to give us has decreased,” SmithMandell said. “We’ve been working for a while on making small changes to accommodate the decreasing level of support that was available. At this point, what we’ve decided is that we’re going to make some major changes, and one of the major changes is that we’re not going to be publishing any more of the scholarly books.”

Smith-Mandell said Penn State University Press — which has an Early Modern Studies series of its own — will be acquiring TSUP’s long-running and highly regarded Early Modern Series. TSUP did not want the series to end because there is still a market for the books, and it would not be a good option for writers who contribute to the series. She

said scholarly books can be sold for a long time, and some older books in the series are still being sold. As of Jan. 1, PSUP will also distribute books previously released in the Early Modern series.

As for other scholarly books, Smith-Mandell said the Press didn’t see a need to continue the American History series because most of the publications focus on Midwestern history.

She said there are other presses which publish similar books, so there are other options for the authors. TSUP will continue selling the backlist of the American history series as long as there is a market for it.

Smith-Mandell said the T.S. Eliot Prize, an annual poetry publication, is being suspended for one year while it reorganizes and changes

management. The Press literary magazine, “Chariton Review,” and its companion publication, “Young Voices of Missouri,” will continue to be published as usual. SmithMandell said Truman students work on the production of these publications, and the Press wants to continue to provide educational opportunities, student jobs and internships. She said essays and memoirs will be evaluated for publication on a case-by-case basis as usual.

Smith-Mandell said the Press is doing fundraising outside the University for the Schnucker-Presley Fund — started by and named for the first two directors of the Press — which will support the TSUP literary projects.

See PRESS, page 4

The Index

2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Students participate in Dance Explosion

Photos by Julia Siebecker/TMN

Top Left: Students learn how to do cultural dances at Dance Explosion. The event was a part of International Education Week, which took place Nov. 11-17.

Top Right: Students learn cultural dances from members of Namaste Nepal. Dance Explosion also featured dances from the African Students’ Association, International Club and the Student Recreation Center.

Bottom Right: The event was promoted as a workout in addition to a traditional dance lesson. The event was free to students and hosted in the Baptist Student Union.

calendar Dec. 1 English and Linguistics Alumna Career Talk — Allison Coffelt 1:30 p.m.

SUB Georgian Room A

Dec. 1 Princess Diaries Pajama Party 7 p.m.

SUB Hub

Dec. 2 Board of Governors Meeting 1 p.m.

SUB Conference Room 3000

Dec. 6 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series Presents “Christmas from Ireland” 7:30 p.m.

Baldwin Auditorium

Alumna Allison Coffelt will be the keynote speaker for the English and Linguistics department’s senior seminar conference. Coffelt is the author of upcoming nonfiction book “Trapped Heat: Meditations on Haiti,” and will talk about careers in traveling, writing and professional development.

The Student Activities Board will present “The Princess Diaries” and “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” watch party. Students are invited to wear pajamas and bring pillows and blankets.

The event is free and pear-flavored popcorn will be available.

Truman State University’s Board of Governors will meet to discuss potential policy changes for the University. This will be the last Board meeting of the fall semester.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will bring Celtic group Lúnasa and guest soloist Ashley Davis to campus. Tickets are $5.50 and are available for purchase Nov. 10.

Ticket sales continue until the day of the concert. Tickets sold the day of the event must be purchased 30 minutes before the performance.

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 Sales Manager Joey Iaguessa

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 30, 2017

[ Our View ]

Net neutrality has serious implications for journalists

The Internet is the 21st century’s newsstand, overflowing with both objective and biased journalism. Newspapers, broadcasters and news sites have found a home on the Internet providing journalistic content to be consumed globally, and each one should be treated equally.

We, The Index Editorial Board, believe net neutrality is vital to ensuring equality among news organizations online. Repealing this regulation could lead to extreme advantages in favor of the largest news sources, stifling smaller and younger organizations. This reality becomes even more frightening when you consider many of the most popular news producers are owned by Internet service providers, including NBC with Comcast, CNN with AT&T and The Huffington Post with Verizon.

People often forget American journalism is a business. Publications have to make money to stay afloat and keep producing content. Net neutrality could impact smaller, local online publications because larger, mainstream publications with an unregulated market of online content would have the money, resources and stronger following to lower access prices to their platforms. This would reduce the number of people using smaller publications who would likely have to charge more to remain running.

In a world where local news, issues and politics are not getting enough attention, local publications, which are often the most connected and dedicated to the communities they report and serve, will suffer if we abolish net neutrality.

Additionality, in this digital age, media has become more of a conversation.

Now that journalism is offered online, people have more choice in what content they consume. The Internet in general — especially social media and online blog platforms — has served as a way to give citizens the opportunity to express opinions, and repealing net neutrality could greatly hinder this. The act of removing net neutrality might lead to a “have” and “have not” dichotomy that will discourage and make it challenging for people to easily access online platforms and speak freely.

The potential reality of online journalism content access being determined not through free agency, but instead by whether or not someone has the available money, is terrifying for journalists and citizens.

We, The Index Editorial Board, encourage you to contact your representatives and tell them you are in favor of net neutrality. You can find contact information for government representatives at usa.gov/elected-officials.

Net neutrality isn’t actually neutral

BY ALLYSON LOTZ Webmaster

Twitter, Tumblr and Reddit used Cyber Monday 2017 as a platform to rally Americans against a recent proposal by the Federal Communications Commision to eliminate Internet regulations set in 2015 under former president Barack Obama.

These rules ensured Internet service providers — such as Kirksville’s AT&T and Cable ONE — would not charge websites higher prices to load faster on users’ computers. Every time these regulations have come under fire, including the response to the current repeal efforts, Internet content providers have protested. If users have to pay to browse specific websites or specific groups of them — rather than pay one big price tag for access to the Internet, like we do now — fewer people overall

will browse the web, which means lower profits for websites big and small.

Some Internet giants, like Twitter, have painted their efforts as a fight for the common website — a fight for equality, for what's right.

All of this is branded under the name “net neutrality.”

The vast majority of posts on my Facebook feed this weekend have been about “net neutrality” — and by that, I mean I’m seeing posts about it from classmates I haven’t seen since middle school graduation. My Twitter and Tumblr feeds are similarly cluttered.

This is noteworthy because social networks typically use algorithms to ensure users see content from the people they interact with the most, like close friends or family members. As a result, I normally only see updates from about 50 friends out of the thousand or so in my friends list. So why does Facebook

suddenly think it’s important to tell me Jane Doe from my seventh grade geography class supports net neutrality?

The sudden flood of net neutrality posts is not a coincidence. Just as Facebook can implement algorithms to show content I care about, they can also implement algorithms to show content they care about. They want net neutrality, and they want to make sure everyone else wants it, too. This is true of all social networks and all search engines — Tumblr can choose which reblogs you see and Google can prioritize certain results for search queries. This is an orchestrated effort to shape public opinion without admitting it outright.

Yet even when net neutrality isn’t on the chopping block, these Internet companies cater to the highest bidder, and the highest bidder is never the mom and pop website. Facebook and

Twitter sell ads while Google and Bing sell search engine optimization — a fancy name for buying earlier search result slots — to whomever will pay the price. Even digital news media outlets, another group claiming victimhood in this mess, are guilty of this via native advertising — advertisements which look like news articles to trick the consumer. These practices keep the Internet’s benefits with the wealthy and do not support the equality utopia they purport the Internet is and would remain if net neutrality were upheld.

Try as they might to convince the public otherwise, Internet companies are not friends — they are businessmen. We cannot forget that the moment they Tweet cute net neutrality memes to the masses. Net neutrality is not neutral — it is a misnomer glorified by preppy, rich hypocrites in Silicon Valley.

We’re taught to think critically, let’s apply it

BY MACKENNA PALAZZA Copy Chief

As students in higher-education, we are often asked to engage in “higher think ing”. Our college instructors ask us questions in class that require critical thinking, so why wouldn’t we be critical consumers? Too often I hear peers talk about information they have not researched or verified as true. Spreading info that might be inaccurate is dangerous. We’re not in high school anymore, so we should be aware of what constitutes something as a reputable source. One habit I picked up from working in the newsroom is always finding out who said something. I want to know who said what and the source of the information.

Like many topics, this is a conversation students should be having outside our institution. Just this semester, particularly, in recent weeks, a lot of rumors have been flying around campus. In recent years and months, fake news has been a hot-button topic. As a college student, I have heard many people our age — and I’m guilty myself — boast about being informed citizens. If we are aware of the potential bias and inaccuracy of

public information, why don’t we spend more time pursuing what is true? Why do we instead fall subject to the easy route and share information we haven’t verified?

This isn’t to say chatting with your friends will cause massive uproar concerning public conversation topics, but it might not be a bad idea to challenge your peers on where they got their information from. Discussion is linked to critical thinking because hearing other viewpoints helps someone learn and understand things they might have dismissed. I think sometimes others see arguing as a means of defending their point, when arguing can benefit both parties to come to a better understanding of each side and perhaps a common ground.

When others get offended during discussions, it is usually a misunderstanding or miscommunication that causes the tension. Shouldn’t we recognize everyone is different, and while we might have differing opinions, we should all be able to get along?

I don’t understand how someone with one opinion thinks they all of a sudden can’t be around a person with a different opinion. Don’t you know you’re surrounded by people of different opinions all the time? Arguing or discussion simply brings our differences to light in hopes of a greater understanding, not a greater fallout.

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Index is published Thursdays during the academic year by students at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501.

The production offices are located in Barnett Hall 1200. We can be reached by phone at 660-785-4449. The Index is a designated public forum, and content of the Index is the responsibility of The Index staff. The editor-in-chief consults with the staff and adviser but ultimately is responsible for all decisions.

Opinions of The Index columnists are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the staff or the newspaper. Our View editorials represent the view of the Editorial Board through a two-thirds majority vote. The Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief, managing editor, section editors, copy chief and assistant copy chief. The Index reserves the right to edit submitted material because of space limitations, repetitive subject matter, libelous content or any other reason the editor-in-chief deems appropriate. Submitted material includes advertisements and letters to the editor.

LETTER POLICY: The Index welcomes letters to the editor from the University and Kirksville community. Letters to the editor are due by noon the Sunday before publication and become property of The Index upon submission. Once submitted, the letter is subject to editing for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors.

Submissions must contain a well-developed theme and cannot exceed 500 words except at the discretion of the opinion editor and/or editor-in-chief.

The Index suggests that submissions be written about current events or public issues that need to be brought forth, and should offer a valid argument.

Submission does not guarantee publication, especially when submissions fail to add something to the current discussion. Letters containing personal attacks, libelous attacks, or inaccurate information will not be published. All letters to the editor must be typed and submitted by e-mail to index. opinionseditor@gmail.com. Include the words “letter to the editor” in the subject line of the e-mail. Letters which are not submitted digitally will be taken in consideration.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

PRESS | “Chariton LSP | Modified SENATE CANDIDATES | Four RepubliReview” continues program to take can candidates plan to run for Senate Rep. Nate Walker amid cutbacks effect fall 2018 Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

“There are things that are not completely decided yet that we’re going to be working on, and we’re looking at options,” Smith-Mandell said. “The bottom line is that when the resources are limited, you have to look at what is the most effective way to use them.”

PSUP Director Patrick Alexander said the arrangement for PSUP to acquire the Early Modern series started with a conversation between him and Smith-Mandell at a conference in June. He said the agreement emphasized doing the right thing for the authors and consumers of the series.

In addition to Early Modern studies, Alexander said PSUP publishes scholarly material on Medieval Studies as well as art and architectural history. He said published books in the series will remain in print, and current agreements with authors whose books have not yet been published will be honored unless the author does not wish to continue the agreement.

He said most of the authors he knew were happy with the agreement.

Alexander said the series will continue in a straightforward way, and he wants consumers and producers to be reassured the transition will be smooth.

He said because university presses tend to face outward from their institutions, presses and their activities might not be very well known among the campus communities. However, he said he thinks university presses do great work with the resources they have, even though many of them are underfunded.

Junior Allison Kester, “Chariton Review” assistant managing editor, said there are various opportunities for students at the Press, including internships and copy editing positions. She said “Chariton Review” is trying to get more student involvement in its publication, and the magazine is working more closely with the English department to give students opportunities for engagement.

“We want the Press to have a little bit more presence on campus … because we feel like it’s a little bit disconnected from the Truman campus, which is unfortunate because it’s a really great opportunity for students to get involved,” Kester said.

Kester said “Chariton Review” recently switched to an online submission process and is now keeping its records online, and students have helped with that transition. She said the Press will be slightly cutting back its student staff, but students are still needed to help in the transitional period. She said five students are readers for the “Chariton Review” and English professor James D’Agostino, “Chariton Review” editor-

Faculty Senate also passed an amendment to eliminate the 63-credithour Liberal Arts and Sciences requirement because of the large number of students who enroll with pre-existing credit. The rest of the amendments were changes to the wording of the bill to garner support. These discussions involved implementing additional seminars at a later date — including the high impact experience requirement.

Senior Kyra Cooper, Student Government president, said she thinks the new Liberal Studies Program changes and amendments mirrored what Student Government was trying to achieve with the resolution they passed.

“The resolution that we passed has the following opinions,” Cooper said. “We recommend the requirement of a high impact experience in the Liberal Studies Program, the inclusion of a wellness activity with the enforcement of clearly defined guidelines, maintaining opportunities to opt out of essential skills courses, requiring a common experience, further discussion of compromise between worlds and perspectives, and that faculty work to include students in further discussions of the core curriculum.”

Bridget Thomas, a non-voting member of Faculty Senate, said she would have liked to see a procedure to craft the bill similar to the process that created the original proposal. The summer bill should have been subject to more discussion and should have been approved by Undergraduate Council, as the original bill was. She said the opposition came more from people who thought the strenuous process of creating the original proposal should be respected and the new proposal was not as distinct as the old bill.

Faculty Senate is also planning for the spring semester, when faculty can learn more about the new curriculum before the faculty referendum — scheduled during the spring semester.

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in-chief, has a class focused on reading and working for the Press.

D’Agostino said “Chariton Review” has been able to continue throughout the years with an even smaller budget for the Press. He said since he became editor-in-chief in 2011, students have been involved as staffers, manuscript screeners and contributors. He said the magazine is completely produced oncampus, but its audience is off-campus.

He said the magazine has a small circulation, but has a boutique following in Missouri and nationally.

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Rep. Craig Redmon Redmon has served as the District 4 representative for four terms beginning in 2010. He represents Knox, Adair, Schuyler, Scotland, Clark and Lewis counties and lives in Canton. Redmon is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Appropriations — Agriculture, Conservation, Natural Resources, and Economic Development Committee. He also serves on the Agriculture Policy Committee, the Budget Committee and the Conference Committee on Budget.

Rep. Lindell Shumake Shumake has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2010. He has served four terms as the District 5 representative and represents Monroe, Shelby and Marion counties. Shumake resides in Hannibal.

Shumake presides as the chairman for the Elections and Elected Officials Committee. He also works on the Legislative Rules — Oversight Committee and the Veterans Committee. Shumake is running on a conservative platform promising to bring more jobs to Missouri.

Cindy O’Laughlin Northeast Missouri businesswoman O’Laughlin announced her candidacy for the open Senate seat in September. A co-owner of Leo O’Laughlin, Inc., O’Laughlin lives in Shelbina with business connections in Macon and Marceline. O’Laughlin is a former school board member.

She is running on a conservative platform of increasing support for skilled trade workforces and technical schools, citing her experience as a lifelong businesswoman and her time on the school board.

“We’re always on the lookout for ways to include new writers that will open us up to new kinds of new audiences and new readers,” D’Agostino said.

D’Agostino said Smith-Mandell has always supported and devoted extra time to the “Chariton Review” in addition to the Early Modern series and other publications from the Press. He said the publication has been a way for students to get practical job experience through internships and volunteering, and he said Smith-Mandell has supported this vision.

D’Agostino said he is interested in taking the print journal and giving it an online presence, something it has never had before. He said this is something in line with students’ interests and would be a low-cost way to remake the magazine.

D’Agostino said many literary magazines have faced the monetary challenges TSUP faces, and it is remarkable the magazine has been published for 40 years. He pointed to the new online submission process as a key factor in keeping the magazine running through the transition period at the Press.

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Walker has served as the District 3 representative for three terms beginning in 2012, representing Adair, Mercer, Sullivan and Putnam counties. Walker lives in Kirksville and is the chairman of the House Pensions Committee and vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement. He also serves on the Administration and Accounts Committee and the Financial Institutions Committee. Walker is running on a conservative platform promising to reduce government and support small business owners.

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5

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

All Booked

English professor Joeclyn Cullity discusses latest writing project

BY AURA MARTIN Staff Writer Six days a week, English professor Jocelyn Cullity wakes up at 4 a.m. and writes while everyone is still asleep. She brings a cup of coffee or orange juice and

bogged down in the history, which she found both fascinating and depressing.

“A historical novel assumes that you are going to be some sort of truth,

tesans and learned they were the women who funded the resistance to the English at that time. She also found an article by a New York scholar that led her down the path to more articles and libraries. She relied on primary resources, including accounts from Queen Victoria and Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence.

Then, Cullity discov- This is the cover of Jocelyn Cullity’s “Amah and the Silkered Rosie LlewellynWinged Pigeons,” inspired by one of her ancestors who Jones, a scholar and lived in Lucknow, India. Inanna Publications who pubexpert on Lucknow lished Cullity’s book designed the cover. and its culture who has done some incred- English professor Jocelyn Cullity ible research. writes in her pajamas. She therefore I became really “Her work ended this month. ten nobody knows what a doesn’t play music, and her worried about fact-checking up being the work that I “I’ve taken so long to short-story writer is doing computer provides the only and that the details were very much relied upon, in write my first one, so I de- unless their stories end up in light in the world. correct,” Cullity said. “At the end,” Cullity said. cided to sit down and with- the most famous magazines, “If I had the luxury of go- the same time, I’m writing Lately, Cullity has been out looking at my notes, like “The New Yorker.” ing longer into the morning a story, so there have to be writing a companion nov- I sat down and wrote it in Even though she lives in I would,” Cullity said. “If it’s certain things that I need to el to “Amah and the Silk- four months,” Cullity said. Missouri, the state has yet to a Saturday, I’ll go from 4-10 put in, and then leave out, Winged Pigeons.” The new “I was glad to have done appear as a setting in Culliand then start my day.” ty’s writings, but it might in Cullity’s advice for writthe future. ers is to determine what “My next novel is either they want to, and go for it. going to be set in either “If you really wanna do it, Arkansas or Southern Misyou will find ways to do it,” souri,” Cullity said.

Cullity said. “There are tons Cullity said writing usuof people out there who say ally cannot be a solitary octhat they want to write a cupation because very few book, and they never do.” people make enough money Cullity recently published selling books. To write, Culher first book, “Amah and lity said, one must be comthe Silk-Winged Pigeons,” mitted to writing and be inspired by her family hiswilling to miss out on all tory in Lucknow, India. Culsorts of things to make time lity’s great-great-great-aunt, for it.

Ellen Huxham, lived in Luc“It’s a big commitment, know and was in the middle and you either love it or of one of the most violent you don’t,” Cullity said. “For events of 19th-century Inpeople who write, they’re dia. In 1857, she and the smitten by the written word rest of the English in the and concoct how to put those city were held captive for sentences down, and how to five months during the “Inspin a story is either somedian Mutiny,” and she wrote thing you’re obsessed with or, about her experiences. That again, you don’t do it.” diary was passed down for Cullity used to work in film generations, and when Culand television but left both lity was 14 years old, she to write and teach. She said found the diary on a bookmost people don’t leave teleshelf and transcribed it. vision because that’s where “The whole event stuck more money can be made, with me, and I was really inbut Cullity thought it left litterested in women’s points tle room for personal writing. of view on the event,” CulAs a professor, she is given a lity said. little extra time to do writing The first people who because she has downtime helped Cullity on her writthroughout the year. ing journey were white, She did not want to be male military historians a teacher when she was from England, who lacked an undergraduate student, a woman’s perspective. though. It wasn’t until she Their work prompted her went to China to teach Engto dig deeper. Cullity dislish that she discovered she covered there were many really loved teaching. She white, male military histolistened to her mentors at rians who recorded English Florida State University, and Submitted Photos victories. To her dismay, but they confirmed they loved not surprise, Cullity realized teaching because it allowed Truman State University English professor Joeclyn Cullity recently wrote a there was very little inforthem to have conversations follow-up to her first book about a royal Indian couple fighting the English in mation about women who about writing with peers Calcutta. While Cullity has never before made the setting of one of her pieces fought and resisted English and students. Cullity enjoys of writing in Missouri, she said she has plans to make the setting of her next invaders. Cullity was at first walking into a classroom of work Missouri or Arkansas. interested in writing about people who want to write an English woman’s point and talk about writing. of view, but decided she and that takes a long time.” book will focus on the Indi- that, and I feel like it will be “It’s fabulous, and that wanted to include the InWhile she was writing an royal couple at the time, a good companion novel.” really makes my day, every dian woman’s point of view this novel, Cullity was also Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and Cullity said writing chose day,” Cullity said. “And that’s as well. writing short stories for Queen Begum Hazrat Mahal her. She knew that it was a why every class is always It took Cullity 10 years publication and raising two in Calcutta fighting the Eng- crazy thing to do, and her great for a writer because it’s to research and write her children with her husband. lish. Cullity wanted to write creative writing mentor told such a lonely pursuit othernovel. She said it took so She said chances to go to this book because there was her that if there were any- wise. So that’s definitely one long because there were few writing retreats were few a lot of research that she thing else in the world she of the reasons I teach, so I records about women in In- and far between. couldn’t work into her first wanted to do, she’d better can keep talking to people dia, and she had to dig to Cullity said she found an novel. Cullity plans to send do it because writing is a who actually like writing.” find them. She said she got article about Lucknow cour- the book to her publisher thankless task. She said of-

“It’s a big commitment, and you either love it or you don’t. For people who write, they’re smitten by the written word and concoct how to put those sentences down, and how to spin a story is either something you’re obsessed with or, again, you don’t do it.”

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 13

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The Index

6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Dark-comedy film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” proves to be entertaining

BY GORDON MCPHERSON Staff Writer A pitch-black comedy with cynicism and heart, Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is one of the most entertaining films of 2017 — for viewers with a tolerance for profanity and violence.

“Three Billboards” centers around the grieving Mildred Hayes, who paints three billboards near the fictional town of Ebbing, Missouri, antagonizing Ebbing’s police when they are unable to find her daughter’s murderer. The situation becomes increasingly violent, messy and darkly comedic as conflict sim-

mers between Hayes, local authorities and her own community.

McDonagh’s “Three Billboards” is a near-perfect black comedy. Wildly unpredictable and occasionally hilarious, the film shouldn’t disappoint fans of the genre.

The characters in “Three Billboards” converse with an exaggerated, brutal honesty that leaves viewers breathless.

McDonagh’s writing lends tremendous humanity to the morally flawed characters, while also bringing attention to the cyclical nature of violence and continued racial tension in contemporary society.

While McDonagh’s blistering dialogue strengthens the film, the main

reason to see “Three Billboards” is Frances McDormand’s heart-rending performance. Hayes possesses visible rage and grief concerning her daughter’s death. Her vulgarity, while often darkly humorous, underscores her character’s tragic past. Her threedimensionality, along with McDormand’s iconic performance, renders Hayes a compelling yet morally complex character.

Woody Harrelson also gives a noteworthy performance as the sympathetic police chief Willoughby, whose frustration with Hayes’ billboards is well-founded. Even more memorable is Sam Rockwell’s racist, amateur cop Dixon. An initially detestable character, Dixon’s surprising character arc

contradicts viewers’ expectations.

Almost every character, no matter how likable, has their own arc and backstory. This depth allows viewers to become fully invested in the increasingly tense proceedings.

Furthermore, the film’s cinematography perfectly captures the tight-knit atmosphere of a small town. Similar to McDonagh’s 2008 film “In Bruges,” most scenes in “Three Billboards” contain palpable suspense. Gruesome acts can occur at any moment, often unforeseen and brutally effective.

For fans of black humor, top-notch acting and heartfelt storylines, “Three Billboards” is an unforgettable viewing experience, among some of the very best films of 2017.

Safe Zone training promotes LGBTQ inclusivity on campus

Top Left: Professor, Summer Pennel hangs up papers explaining the goals of safe zone training. The purpose of safe zone training is to equip students and professors to serve as allies to the LGBTQ community to come to for support and resources.

Top Right: Pennel, addresses a small group of people during Safe Zone training. Pennel was the main speaker during the training.

When a person completes the training displays a Safe Zone sign it is an indicator they are committed to increasing their knowledge on LGBTQ issues.

Photos by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN

Bottom Left: Students and faculty convene in Baldwin Hall 201 for Safe Zone training. Participants in the training learned current LGBTQ terminology.

Bottom Right: Professor Dawood Afzal participates in Safe Zone training by writing various LGBTQ identities on a piece of paper.

TOP {5}

Things to do during winter while you’re waiting for baseball season.

As told by lifelong baseball fanatic and news text editor Nicolas Telep

1

Have a snowball home run derby On a snowy day, take a bat, and head outside all bundled up.

Have a friend pack some snowballs and throw you batting practice. The snowballs will explode like seagulls that dare to challenge Randy Johnson.

2

Keep up with the winter leagues There are parts of the world that are not like Northeast Missouri and have pristine baseball weather during what we think of as the long, dark November-March stretch. Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and even Australia have leagues to keep you occupied until Valentine’s Day, when the big leagues begin workouts in Arizona and Florida.

3 Look at the jerseys and hats for next year

With winter comes the unveiling of new designs for caps and jerseys for spring training, batting practice, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Canada Day (thanks, Blue Jays), home games, road games and games played on alternate Tuesday afternoons.

4 Keep track of the “Hot Stove”

When your favorite baseball players are not playing, the next best thing to do is imagine what it would be like if your favorite baseball players played for this team or that team. Hot Stove season is when baseball fans really get our gossip and giddiness on.

5 Complain about football

Legitimate or not, here is the annual litany of complaints from die-hard baseball fans about America’s dirty little winter secret.

We don’t understand football. How can you play only 16 games?

Why do you only play once a week? Isn’t having the ball go between your legs a bad thing?

The Index

7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Questions on The Quad How do you feel about the end of the semester approaching?

What do you think about the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming vote to repeal net neutrality?

How often do you shop at small businesses around Kirksville?

What was the most surprising part of 2017?

“Relieved. Scared because of finals.

It feels more like the end of the year than like the end of a semester, which I wasn’t expecting.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. I mean not the dumbest thing that people have ever voted for but like the second dumbest, maybe.”

“Not as often as I should, I guess, which is zero percent of the time.

I don’t have much of my own money to spend.”

“How easy it was to come here and transition from living at my house to living with a bunch of people all the time.”

“It’s like a very vague Tina Belcher scream just until like the 13th of December. So it’s happening.”

“I’m super against it. I think that’s ridiculous, but also I didn’t vote for this president so, you know, I’m against everything.”

“You know, I go to a whole lot of restaurants, but besides that, I don’t really buy anything here because I have no money.”

“Donald Trump was inaugurated and somehow still in office.”

“Looking forward to it. It’s been a stressful semester, so, glad that it’s coming to an end.”

“I think it’s a horrible idea … the chairman of it is looking to, you know, push his wallet, and so repealing it, that doesn’t have America’s interest at heart — it has his.”

“Not too frequently, but generally I don’t shop a whole lot except for like food, and I’ll just go wherever.”

“Probably, actually seeing Trump going into office or ... growing up as a Star Wars fan and seeing Carrie Fisher pass away.”

“I’m excited, but I’ve never taken a final before, so it makes me nervous.”

“I didn’t know it was happening.”

“I’ve been to Hidden Treasures — I really like Hidden Treasures, I go there a lot.”

“It’s just been a big change from high school. I’m surprised at how well it’s going. I thought college would be a lot more stressful, but so far, it’s been nice.

I’ve enjoyed it.”

Freshman Andrew Vazquez

Senior Emmy Nixon

Junior Kevin Hammond

Freshman Brianna Vice

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The Index

8

SWIM | Men and women seated in national top 25

Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Freshman guard Tiffany Davenport signals a play call to her teammates.

BASKETBALL | Women split close pair of games Continued from page 10 Eagan said she is pleased with not only how strong her starters are, but also how much depth the team has. Any given day, she said anyone could stand out for the ‘Dogs, but Jaseckas was very solid at this particular tournament.

For being a freshman, Eagan said Jaseckas gained valuable experience and Eagan expects Jaseckas to get better as she has done early on this season. She said freshmen typically struggle in high-pressure situations, but Jaseckas appeared ready for the challenge early on.

Jaseckas said her success would not have been possible without her teammates, as everyone seems to make an impact any given day.

“What I love about this team is that each girl knows what they can bring to the team in order to make the team be the best it can be,” Jaseckas said. “I think that it really showed during this tournament.”

The Bulldogs begin conference play at home this Saturday against University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Hartwig said the team wants to be in a position to win the conference tournament, so it needs to do well in these first few games to rise in the standings.

Jaseckas said the Washburn game showed how talented and passionate the team is based on the aggressiveness it played with during the game.

She said the goal is to maintain this for the whole game by running the floor well and having an offensive mindset. If they do this, she said the team will be in a good position to succeed.

Continued from page 10 “The culture of success that both the team and the coaching staff puts forth allows everyone to perform at the level we have seen this year,” Simek said. “Since I was an athlete, the team has really become a family which has allowed the team to continue to improve to the level we are seeing this year. At the TYR Invite, specifically, the energy that both sides brought to the pool deck allowed both sides to have the meet they did. The guys would pick up the [energy] for the girls after a bad swim and the women would do the same. They also congratulated each other after a great swim. They really do feel like a family.”

Overall, Simek was very pleased with how the team did at the TYR Invitational and said it was nice for them to test if the training they have been doing is paying off. Although there are some adjustments to be made, Simek said the training is leading to success in competition.

Simek attributes the team’s breakthrough into the national rankings to its success at the TYR Invitational.

“The work that they have been putting in has been unparalleled from the beginning of the year,” Simek said. “It is nice to see that they are getting recognized for the work we have seen day-in and day-out since August.”

Looking forward, Simek said the team’s goal is to get athletes to the NCAA championship. Simek said Shanel currently holds the top time in the nation in the men’s 400 IM, and he sees at least 12 other individuals that have the capacity to make the meet. Simek said it would

be great to bring a big group to nationals and have Truman represented well.

Senior Jeff Cavanaugh said he thinks the national ranking and positive outlook for postseason competition comes from the work the teams put in at practice.

“After every meet we have, our coaches tailor practices to what we need to work on, what we did not do well in the meet,” Cavanaugh said. “That way, when it comes to the big meets, everyone does exactly what they need to do in order to have the best swim possible. It also comes from the positive attitude we all bring as a team every day.”

He said breaking into the top 25 has been a huge confidence boost. He said the national recognition is just a reminder that all the work pays off. He said the team has a strong culture, and the new expectations will bring them together even more.

Cavanaugh said the men’s and women’s teams support each other so much that if one team is performing well or getting national attention, it is really a win for both teams. In this case, that unity has created two winning teams.

“For every relay at the TYR Invite, all the guys and girls not swimming stood behind the Truman lane, cheering as loud as they could,” Cavanaugh said. “Because both teams swim together every day, I think that we’re just one big team. When you go to a meet or practice, it’s not Truman men’s swimming or Truman women’s swimming, it’s just Truman swimming.”

The Bulldogs will compete at noon on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Western Illinois University and then return to Pershing for their last home meet of the season.

Photo by Daniel Degenhardt/TMN Members of the women’s swim team dive off the blocks at Truman’s annual alumni meet earlier this fall. The women are now ranked No. 19.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

BRINEY | Coach’s winning tradition surpasses 200-win mark Continued from page 10 Hildebrand said this is a huge testament to his recruiting and the fact that players want to play for Briney.

Past players still value the lessons taught by Briney. Truman alumna Lacey Hill said Briney’s coaching lessons stick with the players after college.

“Winning games was fun with him, obviously, but the lessons he taught me will stick with me for a lifetime.”

- Truman volleyball alumna Lacy Hill

“Coach Briney taught me so much about volleyball,” Hill said. “But more importantly, he taught me about values for a successful life — which, in my mind, is greater than the sport of volleyball. Winning games was fun with him, obviously, but the lessons he taught me will stick with me for a lifetime.”

Hill said she has used, and still uses, these lessons in her life as she goes forward in her career after college. She said she is extremely grateful for the opportunity to play for Briney and would not trade it for anything in the world.

Briney said he understands he has the ability to affect players’ lives after volleyball, an ability that he cherishes and seeks to ever improve on.

“I really want to work to improve our players individually and as a unit, and also hopefully prepare them for life after volleyball,” Briney said.

“Hopefully when they leave the program they have a solid work ethic, understand how to work well with a team and are gritty. They are ready to put in the hustle that is required to be the best they can be at wherever their next step in life is after volleyball is over.”

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welcomes

Lúnasa and guest soloist Ashley Davis as they present

2017 - 2018 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series

“Christmas from Ireland” 7:30 p.m. • Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 Baldwin Auditorium Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival, Lúnasa is known for their innovative and distinctive sound, featuring champion instrumentals and a driving rhythm section.

Tickets are $5.50 per person and will be available starting Nov. 10 at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville, at the Truman cashier’s window located on the first floor of McClain Hall, between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or online at lyceum.truman.edu.

For more information visit lyceum.truman.edu.

The Index

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Old faces arise as new leaders

BY KENNEDY MARTIN Staff Writer On Nov. 18, the Truman State University men’s basketball team took on the No. 1 team in the nation, Northwest Missouri State University, for the first time since 2013.

Five seasons after the Bulldogs left the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, they would lose 90-70 to the defending national champion Bearcats.

The team’s previous meeting four years ago resulted in a 81-77 win for the Bulldogs. The two teams had a back-and-forth rivalry for years before the Bulldogs switched conferences in 2014 from the MIAA to the GLVC. The Bulldogs had four players scoring double figures, including redshirt junior guards Taurin Hughes with 20 points and Jack Green with 16, junior guard Nate Messer with 11, and redshirt senior forward Zach Fischer with 10. Hughes made seven of nine shots and Green made six of 10 — combined, they made seven 3-pointers.

After spending much time on the bench last season, Hughes and Green have become regular contributors for the Bulldogs in the wake of redshirt junior Nikola Pesic being out for the year and two players starting the season injured — redshirt sophomore Brodric Thomas and redshirt freshman guard Turner Scott. Hughes has gone from averaging 9.1 minutes per game to 31.8, and Green has gone from 5.2 to 27 minutes per game. The two guards have been playing well together and connecting on the court.

Besides the pair’s chemistry on the court, the two redshirt juniors have been best friends since they stepped foot on campus in 2014.

They were roommates in Dobson Hall and both took a redshirt freshman year.

Hughes and Green talked about being on the court together since freshmen year, but it wasn’t until this season they played for extended minutes. It took time, patience and hard work to get to where the two are now in regards to playing time.

“Being roommates our freshman year definitely helped us grow together, both as friends and as team-

9

DECEMBER

02 SATURDAY Wrestling

9 a.m. in Indianola, Iowa at Simpson College Invitational

Swimming

Noon in Macomb, Ill. vs. Western Illinois University

Women’s Basketball Submitted Photo Junior guard Jake Velky releases a 3-point shot in the home opener. Velky had a game-high 25 points, followed by redshirt junior Jack Green’s 22. mates,” Green said. “He’s been here with me since the beginning.”

Green said he and Hughes know each other’s work ethic well after spending so much time together. He said seeing that hard work pay off for both him and Hughes has made their Truman experiences worthwhile.

Despite the duo’s ascension up the depth chart, they were equally disappointed with the loss against Northwest Missouri State.

Hughes said although losing is never fun, it was a great experience playing against the No. 1 team in the nation. He said going against such a talented team was a good opportunity for their team to get better.

Hughes said the challenge made the team better, and he said he hopes the team can bounce back from the tough weekend as they get closer to conference play.

The loss exposed some of the team’s weaknesses, and Green said it lit a fire under the ‘Dogs heading into conference play.

Head coach Chris Foster said the loss helped the players understand what they should do to be successful.

The Bulldogs learned when playing a team like the Bearcats, winning or losing comes down to preparation and focus, which amounts to how they approach practice and games.

Foster said having multiple players out with injuries definitely hurts the team, but he is

impressed with the way many of the younger and less-experienced players have stepped up, especially Hughes and Green.

Foster said it’s been good to see the two making the most of their opportunities after they didn’t see much action before this year. He said it’s been an even better lesson for younger players on the team.

Players like Hughes, Green and Fischer give the team a competitive edge.

“Those guys know what it’s like to not be able to play on game days,” Foster said. “And they play like they don’t want to go back to being those guys, which is a good thing, and that edge is something that we need.”

The men had a 10-day pause from games during Thanksgiving break. Foster said he thinks the good from this extended break outweighed the bad for the team.

“Yeah, we worry about having a little rust from such a long break,” Foster said. “But it gave us some time to heal. It gave us some time to work on what we needed to work on in practice.”

Foster said the team is healthier and even better now than they were two weeks ago. He said they’ll have to be prepared as they head into conference play, when they take on University of Missouri-St. Louis 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in Pershing Arena.

1 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of MissouriSt. Louis

Men’s Basketball

3 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. University of MissouriSt. Louis

04 MONDAY Women’s Basketball

5:30 p.m. in Kirksville, Mo. vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University

07 THURSDAY Women’s Basketball

5:30 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill. vs. McKendree University

Men’s Basketball

7:30 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill. vs. McKendree University

Women’s basketball coach Eagan begins fifth season at Truman with 150th win

BY CURT WICHMER Staff Writer When the Truman State University women’s basketball team won its first game Nov. 11 against Missouri Valley College, head coach Amy Eagan was

Submitted photo Eagan came to Truman in 2013. She has had two 20 plus win seasons since.

given an additional reason to celebrate, as she clinched her 150th win in the 10th season of her coaching career.

Eagan began her time as a head coach at St. Ambrose College in Iowa during the 2005-07 seasons before moving to Ashford from 2010-13.

Eagan started her tenure as Truman State University’s women’s basketball head coach in the 2013-14 season, where she led the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999. Since then, she has continued to head the Truman program, bringing in two of the program’s four 20 plus win seasons.

Eagan said she wasn’t initially aware she had reached 150 wins, and she said it’s a testament to the great people she has coached. She said a major part of what makes the Truman program so consistently competitive is its players and ability to find athletes who fit with the team during the recruitment process. Eagan said she was fortunate to join a program with so many talented players and credits the athletes with being able to transition and adapt, even during her first year as coach.

“I think what plays a huge factor is having selfless kids who love each other and work hard for each other,” Eagan said. “They’re driven …

I tell our staff I think we work hard enough that we should win, and we

put ourselves in that position because of how hard we work and how hard our kids work to make those things happen. I haven’t thought too hard about it, but I’m proud of all the people who have helped me achieve that.”

said Eagan pays attention in practices and picks up on minor details that often go unnoticed at the collegiate level. She said it has been exciting to be part of a program with a successful coach, and she said the athletes are all proud and grateful to have her as a coach.

“I think what plays a huge factor is having selfless kids who love each other and work hard for each other,” -Head Coach Amy Eagan

Senior forward Sam Andrews said Eagan’s 150th win is a huge accomplishment and one of many yet to come. Andrews said Eagan works hard at her head coaching role, and she said the athletes couldn’t be more excited for the coach to get recognition for the effort she has put into the program which has given it a winning culture.

Andrews said Eagan has the makings of a head coach in that she genuinely cares about her players, she holds them to high standards and is knowledgeable about the game. She said the team has noticed how hard Eagan works and is happy that she reached this milestone.

Senior forward Ashley Hartwig said Eagan holds her players to high standards, and these standards drive the students to be successful on and off the court. Hartwig

“She’s always brutally honest, but that’s what you want from a coach,” Hartwig said. “You don’t want mind games. Coach Eagan has pushed me to be the best basketball player and student I can be. I don’t think I would be nearly as successful as a basketball player if I never came to Truman, and I’m truly grateful to have been coached by her. As I’m going into my senior season, I hope this team can do something great this year for Coach — she really deserves it.”

The Bulldogs have started the season with a 3-2 overall record and an undefeated home record. Eagan has already posted two seasons with 20 or more wins, and this season the Bulldogs are looking to make it three.

ATHLETE o f

t h e

w e e k

Junior Sam Heveroh had two impressive performances during the third day of the Northwestern University TYR Invite. Heveroh finished first in the 100-meter individual medley with a time of 51.14 and second in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 44.67, breaking his own 100 free school record.

Sam Heveroh

10

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Unified Truman swimming earns national rankings

BY ASHLEY MURPHY Staff Writer

Photo by Kara Mackenzie/TMN Junior guard Mckenzie Jerks pressures a Missouri Valley guard in the Bulldogs’ first home match. The Bulldog women return to Pershing Arena on Saturday, Dec. 2, to open GLVC play against the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

‘Dogs fight to the finish in Thanksgiving Classic

BY STEPHANIE HULLETT Staff Writer The women’s basketball team traveled to Topeka, Kansas, last weekend to compete in Washburn University’s Parrish Hotels Thanksgiving Classic. The team faced Newman University and an undefeated Washburn University.

The Bulldogs beat Newman University 75-69 after being down 10 points with eight minutes left to play. Truman State University outscored the Jets 23-7 in the last 10 minutes to come out victorious. Senior forward Ashley Hartwig and freshman center Katie Jaseckas led the Bulldogs with 15 points each, and Jaseckas recorded a season high of 7-for-10 shooting from the floor.

Head coach Amy Eagan said she is proud of them for playing hard until the end of the game when they were in a tough situation.

“I thought we really chipped away and fought and got the stops we needed to get,” Eagan said. “We held them scoreless for six minutes straight and worked our way back into it, and so I thought that was really good just to see our fight.”

The ‘Dogs were challenged for the full 40 minutes in the second day of the tournament. Playing against the host school, Washburn University, Truman fell to the Ichabods on a buzzer-beater, ending in a 68-67 loss. Hartwig and Jaseckas led the team again, scoring 13 points each.

Hartwig said the team keeps attacking offensively and never gives up, but she said they will take this loss and learn from it.

“Against Washburn, we never gave up, we kept attacking them,” Hartwig said. “Unfortunately, it ended how it did with that buzzer-beater. But with that, we have a lot to learn, and we have to find ways to get a few more defensive stops earlier on. Luckily, it is still early

on in the season, but our effort and drive during games is great.”

As a whole, Eagan is pleased with how the ‘Dogs began their season. She said challenging themselves this early in the season will only make the team better. Offensively, the players need to keep adding to their success, but defensively, they have some room to improve.

Jaseckas said the team’s main focus was to come out strong from the start, and the team did that. Hartwig said the women did well offensively this tournament, too.

“We really moved the ball well offensively,” Jaseckas said. “Focusing on getting the ball inside and letting our posts do some work — our posts are also great passers — and getting the ball inside just really opens up lots of options for our guards on the outside as well.

We really emphasized boxing out as well to not give either of the team’s second opportunities to score.”

See BASKETBALL, page 8

The Truman State University women’s swim team has been a team to watch in 2017, holding spots in the top 25 national rankings. The women ranked No. 8 in the preseason TYR/ CSCAA Div. II Poll and were repositioned at no. 19 on Nov. 14.

To add even more strength to the Truman name in the pool, the Bulldog men’s swim team is slowly making its way into the national spotlight, breaking into the top 25 rankings last week alongside the women.

Head coach Jerod Simek, and Truman swimming alumnus, said the men’s team had a nice showing at the TYR Invitational at Northwestern University in Illinois last week, where the men’s team placed sixth and the women’s team placed seventh.

There were several standouts in the pool, including junior Sam Heveroh, who won the 100-meter individual medley, placed second in the 100-meter freestyle, and reset the Truman record for the 100 free. The men’s team also took home fourth for the 400 free relay thanks to Heveroh, sophomore Lliot Gieseke, and juniors JT Thayer and Austin Baker. The men finished with two fifth place marks by senior Will Shanel in the 200-meter butterfly and junior Caleb Kruse in the 50 fly. The final top 10 finish for the men came from Gieseke, who placed 10th in the 100 free.

On the women’s side, the Bulldogs snatched several top 10 finishes. Sophomore Megan Mensinger took ninth and junior Shannon Dague took 10th in the 1650 free, senior Nikki Sisson placed eighth in the 100 free, freshman Allison Garrett took ninth in the 100 IM and freshman Natalie Galluzzo took seventh in the 200-meter breaststroke. The women’s 400 free relay team — including Sisson and seniors Libby Opfer Jamie Fitzpatrick and Grace Fodor — took ninth.

See SWIM, page 8

A winning vision — Briney reaches 200-win milestone

BY JASE WILLHITE Staff Writer It has been quite the career for Truman State University’s head volleyball coach Ben Briney as he clinched his 200th win in nine seasons after the team’s Nov. 10th win against Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Briney achieved this, proving he knows what it takes to build a winning program. Of those nine seasons, Briney has never seen a season under .500, boasting six years with at least 20 wins. Add six NCAA Tournament appearances to that resume, and see that in under a decade, Briney has marked a placed as the second most winning coach in the Truman Volleyball record books.

While the string of successful seasons is in large part thanks to the system Briney has implemented with his team, he said the players and assistants are the main reason he has reached this milestone.

“It really is a testament to my players and my staff I have had over the last nine years,” Briney said. “To get 200 wins in that amount of time, you have to have good players that are bought into the process and a good staff that helps to implement your vision. I have been blessed, that is for sure.”

This process, Briney said, is the core of Bulldog volleyball. He said it is all about having the mindset of getting better each day and never taking a day off. Briney said mistakes are fine. As long as the mistakes lead to a better knowledge of the game and the player — then it is all worth it.

Winning can begin to feel routine or taken for granted, but this is not the case for Briney, as he said he looks to improve himself each year.

VOLUME 109

ISSUE 13

Submitted photo Fans and players in Pershing Arena recognized head coach Ben Briney’s 200th win after the Bulldog’s victory against Missouri University of Science and Technology on Nov. 10. Briney is second in wins in Truman volleyball history.

He said he and his staff sit down after the season to evaluate it and try to learn as much from it as they can.

Briney said he is constantly looking to his mentors as he tries to not only improve as a coach but also as a teacher of the game and life. He said he always seeks to improve his craft.

“If you are not getting better, you are getting worse,” Briney said.

“There is no staying the same.”

The 2017 season was no exception to the winning record of Briney and his athletes, despite only narrowly edging the .500 record marker. After winning the conference two of the past three years, the Bulldogs fell tmn.truman.edu

out of top contention this season, recently finishing the season with a 3-3 record in the month of November and losing in the first round of the GLVC Tournament. The team finished the season with an overall 1715 record.

This season’s disadvantage of a young roster will flip in 2018 when the Bulldogs return all but one team member. As Briney said, the team members are truly the key to coaching success, but it is hard for a coach to have success if the players haven’t bought into the system. Redshirt junior middle hitter Holly Hildebrand said this is not a problem for the Bulldogs because the players

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trust the system Briney brought to Truman.

“He has always been consistent from a coaching philosophy standpoint,” Hildebrand said. “He too believes in training ugly as a coach. He is always looking for ways to learn to get better himself so that he can then turn it around and help us.”

Hildebrand said Briney has impacted her life at Truman because he genuinely cares about his team and looks for players who are going to mesh well together in his system when recruiting.

She said the team becomes extremely close each year, even with the addition of new faces to the program.

See BRINEY, page 8 @TrumanMediaNet

© 2017